Author's Note: Welcome back to the latest installment of Back to You. I hope you enjoy the chapter. And thank you Tt 45 and Bazingababe28 for adding this story to your alert and favorite list. It means a lot to me to get the support.
Chapter Fourteen: One Tin Soldier a.k.a. Poor Communication Kills
She sat stiffly on the examination table. Her eyes were fixated on the two way mirror. Betty knew who was behind it: Tony Stark and Thor. A sneer came onto her face thinking about the two. Betty's mood did not improve when she had realized how much time had passed since Bruce had been kidnapped. So much time had gone. What were the stats for kidnapping again? No, what were the stats for when a psychotic general kidnapped the man of his obsession? She got chills thinking from it. Either Ross had outright killed Bruce or was working to cut him open and pull the Hulk out. There was no good option. There never was when Ross was part of the equation. And here she was. SHIELD was working in tandem with Stark and he brought her to the Tower and were forcing her to undergo a medical checkout whether she liked it or not.
"Name?" The doctor asked.
"Doctor Betty."
"Full name?"
Betty didn't answer.
The doctor examining her sighed and wrote down, "Mrs. Elizabeth Talbot."
"Doctor Betty." She hissed. "My name is Betty. I earned my PhD."
The doctor flipped through a hefty stack of papers clipped to his clipboard. "My records indicate that you're mar-"
"Say that word and I will put your head through that mirror." Betty said coldly. "Tell Stark I'm not here for his observation." She stared directly at the mirror. "You can't keep me here. I swear the second your backs are turned, I'm running and you will never find me or Bruce."
A loud sound radiated from behind the mirror. Betty had been right. Tony and Thor were watching from behind the mirror and Tony, angered at Betty, ended up punching the wall.
"Calm yourself." Thor said. His arms were crossed. He considered putting Tony out of the room. He was far too volatile at the moment to work to find Bruce.
"She's the reason why Bruce is gone and you want me to be calm?" Tony fumed. "Why aren't-"
"I am upset." Thor answered but his tone was steady and even. "But I have made the mistake of allowing my temper to cloud my judgement. It cost me greatly. I refuse to let it happen again. For Bruce's sake we must let cooler heads prevail and at the moment, Lady Betty-"
"Talbot." Tony corrected partly out of spite to Betty.
"Lady Talbot is due the respect that a lady deserves."
"Sir, Captain Rodgers has been brought up to speed." JARVIS chimed in.
"Took him long enough."
"And a new theory has emerged to the kidnapping of Dr. Banner."
"Please ethereal voice, continue."
"Agent Coulson has discovered file footage from the creation of the Hulk. Ms. Talbot was present and became severely injured. Medical records for Ms. Talbot indicate that her recovery took an extraordinary amount of time. She returned to her position at Culver University only to go on a permanent sabbatical soon afterwards. She has rarely made any public appearances. The rest of the Avengers believe that Ms. Talbot's involvement in Dr. Banner's kidnapping was motivated by revenge."
"Her work was important to her?" Thor asked.
"Ms. Talbot was held in high regard in her field. I imagine she took the loss quiet hard."
Losing everything because of one stupid incident? Thor could relate, too much he was afraid. He stole a glance over to Betty. She still held her glare. Her eyes were full of hate and anger and, dare he even say, sadness and worry. Underneath, the bitterly cold and uncaring hate there was more. There was so much more but no one saw it except for Thor. Betty's anger was born from worry.
"Sir, Lieutenant-Colonel Rhodes is on his way."
"Send him up. I need to talk to him." Tony left and Thor having mixed emotions about the whole affair chose to leave too. He felt the need to speak to his fellow Avengers but he was intercepted by Jane.
"We need to talk."
At once, Thor remembered every single thing he had done that could have possibly offended her. It was one of those phrases that can do that to a person.
"About what?" He cautiously asked.
It was at times like these that made Tony want to pick up a bottle of vodka and down it. He needed a release but drinking meant that Pepper would be upset and she would guilt trip him on how much Bruce hated it when he drank which would make him feel more upset. This would lead to him still wanting to drink but now Bruce wouldn't leave his mind and how hurt Pepper would be if he did actually drink.
He missed his vices.
"Tony!" Rhodey was in military mode judging by the way he walked towards him. "We need to talk."
"Same here. What do you know about a General Ross?"
Rhodey managed a chuckle. "The man is certifiably insane. He runs this division, a super secret operation, towards capturing-" Tony threw a punch at him.
"YOU KNEW?!"
He was a Lieutenant-Colonel for nothing. He easily dodged the punch by grabbing Tony's arm and twisting it behind Tony's back. Rhodey pushed Tony against the wall to stop anymore attacks.
"What the hell was that for?!"
"YOU KNEW!" Tony shouted. "You knew that son of a bitch was after Bruce and you didn't tell me!?" He struggled to escape the tight grip Rhodey had on him. "Let go of me damn it!"
"Not until you calm the fuck down."
"Rhodey, when I get my suit on, I'm going to kill you."
"See that? That's not calming down."
"JARVIS! Execute defensive protocol 7-A3!"
"Sir, I do believe that now, of all times, would be the best to lower your blood pressure."
Betrayed by his own A.I. How cruel…
Tony sighed and eased up. "Did you know?"
"No."
"Rhodey, if you did-"
Rhodey grabbed Tony and shook him. "I did NOT know! Look who you're talking to. You know me better than that."
Tony remained silent but Rhodey, confident that Tony wouldn't take another swing at him, let him go.
"I'm not the enemy here, Tony."
"I know." He mumbled.
"I'm your friend."
"I know." Tony said a bit more harshly than intended. "…I can't do anything."
"Yeah you can. Figure out the problem, suit up, and take down the bad guys. It's a normal routine for us."
"Not this time."
"General Ross? Tony, that's what I came to talk to you about." Rhodey shifted about uncomfortably. "An hour ago, three kids were killed on my front yard as I was getting home. The last one to die said something about a guy named Banner, there was trouble, Ross, and that you were being used. I want to know what's happening."
Being a SHIELD agent meant a lot of things. It meant that every day you faced the impossible, it meant that you took on bigger and badder monsters than anyone else, and, unfortunately, it also meant that when there was a lack of general communication, the mistakes that you made cost more. People were killed because of those mistakes.
Coulson fought back the emerging migraine. Everything was finally coming together into a giant cluster fuck.
"Is everyone present?"
The Avengers were plus Rhodey, Jane, and Pepper were gathered in the main common room.
"What about Mrs. Talbot?" Steve asked. "Shouldn't she be here as well?" He ignored Tony snort.
"Lady Talbot is resting." Thor answered.
"There were a few anomalies with her tests." Coulson illuminated. "The doctors wanted to keep her under observation."
"Ladies and gentlemen, as much as I hate to interrupt your meeting, I find it prudent to alert you that Mrs. Talbot kept her promise."
Natasha frowned. "And what promise was that?"
"She is running."
"Fuck." Tony groaned. "JARVIS, cut her off and send her here."
"As you wish, Sir."
Betty did feel terrible about knocking that doctor out. He had been doing his job and didn't ask to be stuck with her but she really did have to go. Bruce was in trouble and there was no time to waste. Just as she ran down one the many numerous halls, the door began to close by themselves. She was forced to retreat into the elevator.
"Terribly sorry Mrs. Talbot-"
"Doctor Betty." She snarled.
"My apologizes, Dr. Betty." The voice did sound remorseful. "But I have my orders to bring you to the main common room."
Betty eyed the elevator hatch. "And if I decide to not go to the main common room?"
"I still have my orders and I have yet to fail Mr. Stark." He said proudly.
"What's your name?" Betty asked getting ready to bolt.
"JARVIS."
"Sorry JARVIS, but it looks like this is going to be your first time in failure." Betty jumped and grabbed the hatch. She ripped it off and climbed out of the elevator. They passed another floor and Betty leapt out. She narrowly avoided falling, grabbing onto the next floor's ledge. She pulled herself up. She stood precariously on the tiny ledge.
"Dr. Betty, I am bringing the elevator back up. Please do not attempt that stunt again."
JARVIS sounded annoyed, as though life threatening antics were part of his daily life.
"Yeah, no thanks Jay, but I'm good here." Carefully turning, Betty face the closed door. "What are you anyway? A security guard?"
"No." Now he sounded offended. "I am just a rather intelligent system."
"Shit. You're an A.I." Betty took a moment to catch her breath. "Stark create you?"
"Yes he did. I must insist that you stop and please wait for the elevator."
Okay, Bets, you can do this. It's for Bruce." She forced the door open and walked away. "I'm on floor 37 out of-"
"60, Dr. Betty. There are 60 floors in the Tower. You are to report to floor 58."
"Why exactly?" Betty sneered.
"Sir requested it. There is a meeting regarding the wellbeing of Dr. Banner."
That got Betty's attention. "Bruce? They know where he is?"
"They are trying to pinpoint his location as we speak."
"And Stark is there?"
"It is his Tower, Dr. Betty. Sir, prefers to attend all meetings that are Avenger centric."
"I don't trust him."
There was not enough credit given to JARVIS sometimes. His observation skills were on par with those of Sherlock Holmes and they had to be when Tony Stark was your creator.
"I do not ask of you to trust him but to attend for Dr. Banner." JARVIS said soothingly. "You care for him, don't you?" Was it cruel to press the buttons of an emotionally troubled woman? Yes. But an Avenger was missing and JARVIS did have his orders.
"Mrs. Talbot, so glad you could make it." Coulson greeted.
Everyone could feel the hate radiate off Betty from being called Mrs. Talbot. Who knew that one woman could possess so much hate for one name.
"My name is Dr. Betty, thank you very much."
Jane waved her over and Betty sat down next to her and Thor. Betty kept glaring Tony and Tony returned the glare.
"Why am I here?" Betty asked.
"There has been a few misunderstandings and we would like to sort everything out before moving forward. What is your relationship to Dr. Banner?"
"He is my…" Oh what was the proper way to describe the man who you were in love with to a crowd of complete strangers? "Lover." Was the word she settled on.
"Oh please..." Tony laughed.
"No, it's true." Jane stood up for Betty. "I saw their messages. He wrote I love you to her."
"I'm siding with Dr. Betty on this." Pepper said.
"Pep!" Tony was aghast. "How-"
"You didn't see Bruce. He was happy."
"What's his first name?" Tony was quick to start a round of twenty questions. To anyone else it might seem as though Tony was just being himself but he was digging deeper. It was the little quirks and tiny bits of personal that he was looking for that can't be found by a background search.
"Robert but he prefers to be called Bruce."
"What's his favorite color?"
"Yellow. It soothes him."
"Boxers or briefs?"
There was a chorus of exasperated "Tony."
But Betty smiled. "Boxers. He likes to sleep in on Sundays and enjoy the sunrise. Bruce is an avid soccer player and played on the Culver team. He was born in Ohio but likes to move around a lot. He has been like this since I've known him. He's a fan of cheesy horror movies and he also makes the best pizza that you will ever have. Bruce has this adorable habit that when he speak and he goes into his doctor mode, he will take off his glasses and gesture with them. I don't think he knows that he does it. He's also a brilliant man with the patience of a saint and is the most selfless person that I have ever known. Mr. Stark is there anything else that you would like to know about Bruce or did you bring me here to waste my time?"
Steve had turned a lovely shade of red at the load of personal information. "If we could please continue? Dr. Betty?"
"Yes?" She smiled as pleasantly as she could to the man unknown to her as Captain America.
"How did you end up getting shot?"
"Bruce and I had planned a private meeting." She said stiffly.
"What was the meeting for?" Natasha asked. She expertly twirled her knife in Betty's direction.
Betty sighed. "I was trying to convince him to run away with me. I wanted us to get away from all of this. Needless to say, I did not succeed."
"You wanted him to leave the Avengers?" Thor said, shocked. "But Bruce is a valued comrade and a dear friend. Why?"
"The Avengers Initiative is run by a secretive organization. The Avengers as you like to call yourselves, have Tony Stark a self-destructive arms dealer, you a Norse God who can command lightning, two expert assassins who are feared internationally, and a World War II hero who is the ideal soldier and the army poster boy. Do you really wonder why I don't want him near you people?"
"How do you know about the Avengers Initiative?" Coulson asked.
"I hacked you guys a few months ago at a party." Betty explained. "I'm not sorry about it though."
"Do you know where Dr. Banner is?"
"Why don't you ask Stark?" Betty asked. "It was his tranquilizers that took Bruce down."
"I didn't do anything!" Tony roared. Rhodey and Pepper had to push him back down.
"I saw the dart. It had your company's logo on it." She seethed. "I tried so hard to warn Bruce about you but he wouldn't listen to me. He called you his Science Bro and swore that he trusted you all with his life!" She was in a rage. "You don't have any idea how hard it is for Bruce to have that level of trust with anyone?! And you STABBED him in the back!"
"Dr. Betty," Steve intervened. "Tony and Bruce are the best of friends and that's saying something because Tony doesn't have that many friends."
"Hey!" Tony objected.
"I believe, sir, that is what you would call a burn."
"I didn't just hack into SHIELD." Coulson groaned at the amount of paper work he would have to do. Clint sympathetically patted him on the back. "My…husband is Glenn Talbot. He works closely with General Ross."
"And the rest of the military." Rhodey added. "Talbot has got a majority of all major projects. Everyone's got his card."
"Tony, have you worked with him?" Natasha asked.
"I don't know." He shrugged. "Pep?"
"We have before in the past." She scanned through the files on her tablet. "Some minor stuff. Talbot seems to favor Hammer over us."
"The idiot." Rhodey groaned.
"Oh no," Pepper's voice broke. "There was an order from Talbot. It was placed as a high priority item from the board but we turned it down. It was suspicious."
"In what way?" Clint asked.
"Talbot refused to give any information on the project and it veered into weapons development."
"And we're shut it down. Right, Pep?"
"We're currently shutting it down. The board has been fighting us every step of the way but come this spring, we'll be out."
"I saw the order form." Betty insisted. "It had Stark's personal signature."
"JARVIS check everything that Talbot's name on it. I don't care if it's a grocery receipt! I want everything!"
"It will take some time, Sir." JARVIS remorsefully informed. "Sixteen hours to be precise."
"That's time that Bruce doesn't have." Betty fretted.
Clint summed it up best, "Well fuck."
Author's Note: Hooray for a lengthy chapter. Please if you have the time, review. I love to know what you guys are thinking about the story. Have a lovely day.