Chapter 14

They were on their sides laying on his bed so close to each other that their noses almost touched. Nat was wearing one of his hoodies and nothing else and he was well aware of the fact that she had stolen five of his hoodies by now but he didn't care. He would give all of them to her if she asked him to. Her small hand was on his cheek and she was smiling softly at him giving him brief kisses every other minute. His hand was under the hoodie stroking her smooth skin. He couldn't get enough of the way she was looking at him, her green eyes were somehow even greener and full of love.

She traced her finger over his nose and lips. "You're so beautiful, Steve. And so kind. You're the best man I've ever met. How could you have fallen in love with me? I'm everything you're not." She looked down and he tilted her chin.

"Hey, don't talk like that. You are everything I could ever want. You are such a good person and it breaks my heart that you don't see it." His hand under her hoodie moved to her waist to pull her flush against him. "You are so much more than they made you out to be. You are so strong and so kind. You are perfect. You are the most amazing person I've ever met. Of course I fell in love with you." He kissed her softly and he felt her body relax and she clung to him. "You are my soulmate. My heart." He kissed her again. "My girl."

She beamed and kissed him deeply. "Yes, that's who I am now." She kissed him again and her kiss almost felt desperate. "I'm your girl. Never forget that. That's who I want to be, no matter what they'll make me do. All I wanted was to be with you. But you didn't save me." She flipped him onto his back and straddled his waist. He didn't know what was happening. What did she mean by he didn't save her? He wanted to ask her but he suddenly felt a knife pressing into his throat. The love in her eyes was gone and she was staring at him with coldness and blood lust. "I'm going to kill you and it's all your fault. How could you let them do this to me?"

The knife went deeper into his throat and he felt blood running down his skin. Natasha's eyes never left his and she almost looked gleefully.

"Steve! Steve!" Someone shook him by the shoulder. "Wake up! We're here!" He opened his eyes and was looking at Bucky. It was just a dream. It was just a dream. His heart was racing and he tried to calm down. It was just a dream. His hand went automatically to his throat but of course there was nothing. It was just a dream.

He got up from the cot in the back of the quinjet and put his shield on his back. He wanted to leave immediately the jet and search for Nat but he knew that it would be unwise. Since Sam's face was unknown to HYDRA, they agreed that he would walk around Moscow checking out the few leads they had while they were waiting in the shadows as back up. Tony was still looking for Natasha worldwide and trying to hack into a server he was positive belonged to HYDRA since Bakshi's WiFi had been connected to it quite often. They planned to look for Bakshi if Moscow didn't get them any closer to Nat. The scum bag hadn't shown up to work since Steve got shot and he tried to remember if he had been on the ship but his memory was still foggy. He wasn't sure if Natasha's cries echoing through his mind were real or just a hallucination. Had she been in trance this whole time since she got back or did she got triggered on that ship? And if so how? With words? What was her trigger?

"Stevie?" Bucky asked softly and he could see the compassion in his eyes. "How are you?" Steve watched how Tony was staring at his screen while Clint was typing on his phone.

"I don't know. I keep waiting to wake up and realize that this was all just a bad dream. That Nat's still with me. What if we can't save her?" He whispered quietly. "What if it's too late?"

"We'll save her. You'll save her. I know that. You're the most stubborn son of a bitch that I've ever met. I know you won't stop until your girl is safe."

"Do you think she'll move on from this?"

"I...I don't know. I can see how much she loves you. I think when she realizes what she has done...She's gonna need you, Steve. You're gonna have to be there for her."

He nodded. "Always."

Bucky smiled a little. "That's my punk."

Moscow was a bust. Her mother wasn't here and neither was Natasha. Tony managed to track down Bakshi in Paris and they immediately left Russia to get there. He couldn't wait to beat the shit out of that bastard. Claiming to help Natasha and then doing this to her.

They were over Germany when Clint looked at them with a clenched jaw. "Fury has reason to believe that Pierce is HYDRA."

"What?" Sam asked incredulously. "The Secretary? Isn't he a liberal who turned down the Nobel Peace Prize?"

Clint scoffed. "Yeah, but he's the one who sent Natasha to East Europe where she got captured. Went over Fury's head with that mission and apparently there is this secret SHIELD operation called Insight that Fury wants to put on hold until they found every mole and Pierce told him to keep going."

"What's Insight?"

"No clue. Fury wouldn't tell me but he starts to think that Pierce is not one of the good guys and that HYDRA wants Insight to launch. Fury just told me that this operation would change the world and make the fight against terrorism much easier."

Steve groaned. World security was never easy. He already knew he wouldn't like Operation Insight. Tony told them that he would try to find something about Insight in the SHIELD database.

"Fury's talking behind Pierce's back to the World Council to get them to stop Insight but I have a hunch that if he succeeds Tasha and her mom will come to DC to make sure the operation continues."

Clint had a point but he hoped it wouldn't come to that and Bakshi was in Paris to meet Natasha and her mother and he could save the love of his life and make sure that no one would ever make her do something against her will.

Tony managed to locate Bakshi's phone outside out of Paris at an old chalet that kind of reminded him of the mansion Natasha was kept at in Moscow. Was she here? Maybe her mother had a thing for old and luxurious villas. They landed the quinjet in the forest near the chalet and waited for the night so the darkness would keep them hidden. Clint already left saying that he needed a nest and Steve was pretty sure that he was sitting in one of those tall trees observing the chalet for movement.

Steve thought back to the last time he had been in Paris while they waited for the sun to go down. It had been right after he found out that Natalie Rushman was really Natasha Romanoff and he remembered how furious he had been with her and that he had let all of his anger out on her when they had sex after he ran into her in the elevator. He had apologized several times for his behavior when they got back together but Natasha had assured him that she had like it and they could have rougher sex from time to time. God, how mad he had been back then. He had tried to hate her so bad, thinking that everything she had told him was a lie. And here he was now months later, back in Paris hellbent on saving her because he knew her love was no lie and he had to bring her back.

"Bakshi just stepped out on one of the balconies. He looks nervous, almost scared. I've never seen anyone smoke so much cigarettes in so little time." Clint informed him over the comms. "Something or someone must make him really uncomfortable."

"You think they're here?"

"I haven't seen Tasha or her mother yet but I think that at least one of them is here. I can just feel it." Clint answered before he went silent again.

Please God, let her be here and let me save her!

Tony found out in the mean time what Project Insight was really about and he didn't really like what he was seeing. Killing people before they even committed a crime was wrong. That wasn't freedom, it was fear. Just pressing a button and hundreds of people getting wiped out without any trial or anything. It was wrong and definitely something that HYDRA would want to have to wipe out their enemies.

"Can you shut this whole thing down, Tony?"

"Not without any direct access to the helicarriers. But I have an idea..." Tony said and began typing again. "I told Rhodey to get his ass to DC to talk to Fury. I'm sure the guy had some kind of safety switch built in. Maybe War Machine can help him."

Steve nodded and prayed that the sun would go down soon. Another hour passed while they waited and then the sun was finally set.

"Guys!" Clint's voice was in his ear again. "I just saw her! Tasha's here!"

His heart was beating wildly in his chest and he tried to calm himself. He had to think straight to save her. He couldn't just storm in and act on impulse. Tony and Sam flew to the chalet hovering over it while he and Bucky ran silently through the forest to get there. He felt bad for pulling his best friend into it, having him face HYDRA but they needed every man they could get on this mission.

"Heat signature tells me that twelve people are in there." Tony said and he looked at Bucky who nodded and Clint suddenly dropped to the floor next to them.

"Okay, Buck, Clint and I go in while you and Sam stay in the sky keeping your eyes open in case someone tries to flee. Those people are evidence that HYDRA is still here, we need them." He took a deep breath and gave Clint and Bucky the signal and they walked over the grass to the house. Clint picked the lock for them and they were in. He didn't think they tripped a silent alarm off but they had to be careful so they wouldn't get surprised.

"Tasha was upstairs." Clint whispered. "You go up and look for her, Cap. Barnes and I cover the ground here."

He nodded and sneaked up the stairs looking for Natasha. He already knew that it wouldn't be easy to get her to break through the program. The easiest way would be to knock her out and to take her somewhere safe and hidden to get her back. He didn't want to hurt her but he knew that he had to knock her out. What had Natasha called it when they were searching for Bucky? Cognitive recalibration.

He was carefully walking up the stairs and pressing himself against the wall when he reached the first floor. He didn't want Natasha to shoot him again. His wounds weren't fully healed yet but the adrenaline running through his veins made the pain disappear. He checked the first room but it was empty. The next three were also empty and he was heading for the next one when he heard the wooden floor slightly creaking behind him. He whisked around and came face to face with Natasha's mother. She didn't appear to be armed but also didn't look worried that he was here.

"Where is she?"

"I wondered if you would come for her. I assume you figured out who I am?"

"Where is Natasha?"

"Home. My daughter is home. Tell me, what would you do for her? Natalia is the future of HYDRA, would you join us to be with her?"

"She's not HYDRA!"

Her mother gave him a friendly smile. It freaked him out. "Of course she is. She always has been. And now she's ready to lead us. What would you do for my child? Do you truly love her? Would you die for her, Captain Rogers? I have to say I was very disappointed when I heard that you didn't die. I had to punish my daughter for that. You know how painful that is for a mother?"

What the fuck was wrong with this woman? Did she really wanted his pity for torturing her own child? "What did you do to her?"

That monster was still smiling. "That is none of your business. I just gave her a permanent reminder of where she belongs." She stepped closer to him. "Do you wanna see her?"

"Don't come any closer." He warned and got his shield from his back. He was really tempted to throw it at her with full force to decapitate her but that was too brutal. That woman was still the mother of Natasha.

"Natalia, darling!" She singsonged. "Please come to your mother!"

Natasha came out of the room that he had wanted to check when her mother showed up. She had a black eye, chipped lip and it was like she was looking right through him. "Yes, mother?"

"Do you remember this young man?" Her mother pointed at him and Natasha looked at him for the first time. Her eyes were empty and cold. It was like Natasha was gone and just her shell was standing before him. He wanted to scream.

"Nat?" He whispered softly. "It's me, sweetheart."

"I don't know this man, who is he?" She said emotionless.

"He was your target and you failed your mission. You were supposed to kill him but he's obviously not dead." Her mother chided her like she just caught Natasha with her hand in a cookie jar. God, that woman was a psychopath.

"Nat, go back in that room." He said calmly. "I don't want you to see what happens next."

Her mother laughed. "You're gonna kill the mother of the woman you claim to love? That's not very Captain America of you."

"Captain America..." Natasha whispered and tilted her head at him.

"Yes, Natalia. Kill him!"

Something happened inside Natasha and she launched herself at him. He shook her off and pinned her to the ground. "Nat, it's me Steve. I love you and you love me. This isn't really you. You have to fight this. I love you!"

She kneed him between his legs and he yelled up in pain. "Love is for children." She dived under the table next to them and came back with a gun in her handd. She shot at him and he barely managed to hold up his shield to dodge the bullet. He used the shield to knock the gun out of her hand, Natasha snarled and used the table as support to jump on his shoulders trying to strangle him with her thighs. He let himself fall to the floor and managed to get out of her hold, he saw out of the corner of his eyes that her mother was watching them.

"Kill him, Natalia!"

"I'm sorry." He whispered and smacked her head against the table but she didn't lose consciousness and grabbed the tablecloth in one swift movement and wrapped it around his throat before he could react and started to strangle him with all of her strength.

"Nat, stop it." He choked out. "Fight it! I know you're still in there... You didn't kill me on that ship, you're still in there... You're still my girl..."

"Liar!" She hissed and strangled him harder. He snapped his head back and could hear bones cracking. He was positive that he had broken her nose. He stumbled to his feet and saw the blood running out of her nose. He felt sick to his stomach for doing this to her. He had broken his girlfriend's nose, he was a monster. She wiped the blood off with the back of her hand and and looked at him with rage in her eyes. "You're gonna pay for this, asshole!" She hissed, punched his chin and he stumbled back.

"I love you, Nat." He pleaded with her. "Please remember me. You love me, Natasha. You're my girl. My everything. The love of my life. I wanna marry you some day!" She looked at him with big eyes and he saw this as his opening. "You told me that I was the love of your life. Remember the first time you told me you loved me? You bought a home planetarium and we were laying on your living room floor looking at the ceiling, doll! I love you!"

Natasha blinked at few times. "I...Wha-...Steve?"

"Kill him, Natalia! Remember your mission! Kill him!" Her mother screamed and came closer. "Kill him! Finish your mission!"

Natasha blinked again and her eyes were cold again. "Right. Finish it." She muttered under her breath and picked up her gun. Before he could really process what was happening Natasha pulled the gun on her mother and shot her in the head. She looked at him with tears in her eyes and then ran away.

"We got Bakshi!" Clint was suddenly in his ear. "How is it going upstairs?"

"Not now!" He barked back and ran after Natasha. Did she break through the program? Was she back? "Natasha, wait!"

She ignored him and ran up the stairs and through a door. He followed her and they both ended up on the roof of the chalet where a helicopter was. Fuck, she wanted to flee! She jumped into the chopper and started it. He ran towards it and jumped up grabbing the skid of the helicopter. He clearly didn't think this through because his feet were dangling in the air. He was about to climb up when someone grabbed his ankle.

"Jesus, Steve!" Bucky groaned. "I know you wanna be romantic and shit but that's just dumb!" He looked down and Bucky was holding onto the roof and him, keeping Nat from flying off. Tony showed up in his Iron Man suit and held onto his other ankle bringing the chopper back down. Tony blasted the blade of the helicopter away and Nat had no way to fly off with it now. He saw how she got out of the chopper on the other side and then ran to the edge of the roof and jumped.

"No!" He screamed and barely noticed how Tony flew after her but Sam appeared over the edge of the roof with a squirming Natasha in his arms. He thanked Tony a thousand times in his mind for making Sam new wings after he had heard about Sam's missions in Afghanistan. Sam let Natasha drop onto the floor because she started to punch and kick him and Steve only realized now that she was crying and sobbing. She was back and she seemed broken. She curled herself into a ball and her cries grew louder.

"Natasha?" He asked softly.

"No! Stay away!" She sobbed. "I remember. I remember everything."

Lights were suddenly lightening up the roof and it seemed like it was day again. "Stand down, Romanoff!" A male voice echoed through the air. Fuck, they found her. How did authorities know that she was here? Remembering that they had a kill order, he threw himself on her covering her body with his. They had to kill him first. "Step away, Captain Rogers! We don't wanna hurt you."

"Listen guys." Tony suddenly said. "I don't want to blow up your choppers but I also have no problem with doing it so don't do anything stupid!"

"We are giving orders by the President to arrest Agent Romanoff. We are not here to kill her."

Natasha had been silent during the whole thing but now she was speaking very quietly. "Let them take me."

"No!"

"Please, Steve. Please. If you love me, then you'll let them arrest me. Please."

He closed his eyes, weighing his options. Natasha needed professional help and he couldn't get her that if they were on the run. Clint said they had Bakshi, they found this HYDRA base, maybe this was enough evidence. "I do love you and I will do everything to help you. And I forgive you." He whispered and got off of her. Natasha stumbled to her feet and another chopper was landing on the roof.

A dark haired man in a military uniform was walking towards them. "I'm General Talbot." He introduced himself. "I take it you're surrendering yourself, Agent Romanoff?"

"Yes." She said and held her hands out. Talbot handcuffed her and one of his man put gyve around her ankles. Natasha didn't look at him and followed Talbot and his man into the chopper where they put a bag over her head.

"You just let them take her"? Bucky asked him.

"It's the only way to help her. To clear her name and to stop HYDRA."

"What if that guy is HYDRA?"

"Then it's a good thing I put a tracer on his chopper while he arrested Natasha." Tony said with a smirk on his face." We'll follow them as soon as they left Paris so they don't get suspicious."

He nodded and watched how the chopper took off praying that he had made the right call and not signed Natasha's death sentence.