A/N: Hi there my faithful readers and followers :) I've been really bad at procrastinating with this chapter; seriously the whole first half I was supposed to write out but I kept putting it off. Hope you all enjoy... and tell me what you think of a certain *coughs* pairing...

(and so sorry about the confusion earlier :/ please please PLEASE continue to review all those who like or appreciate this story)

Things were swiftly falling into place. All Stephen had to do was tip the balance and his actions would create a domino effect, causing both military empires to fall upon one another. To mislead an already angered General Ross would be a simple task for one so skilled in illusions. It was SHIELD, though, that would pose the greater problem for the sorcerer. Maria Hill would be watching for him, surely she'd know of his involvement right away. No, she would not be so easily swayed.

A slow smile spread its way over the sorcerer's haggard features, an idea coming to him. Stephen would deal with Hill personally. It was time the two had a discussion of sorts…

It was mid-afternoon when Stephen passed through the portal and entered New Mexico, finding a location not too far from the military base. He devised a spell of concealment in order to travel unseen through the territory. It would do no good if Ross became aware of his presence too soon.

The sun beat down from overhead, casting shimmering heat waves over the expanse of desert. The sorcerer hardly felt it, his focus only on the task that lay before him. It would be a simple thing to goad the general; all he'd have to do is stir some things up, leave behind a SHIELD signature. Shouldn't be too hard. After all, Ross was already very wroth with Director Hill. He'd by no means be gathering up his troops for combat before the sun set this evening. Stephen would have plenty of time to speak with the Director of SHIELD and prepare for the coming battle.

Ross had spent a lifetime hunting down and torturing Banner. He'd made the man's life a living hell. Stephen knew that as long as Ross was alive and breathing he would never stop hunting Bruce. Something had to be done about it. Banner was a good man and life had dealt him a harsh blow; if something could be done to ease his painful circumstances then Stephen was all too willing to help.

He'd learned a long time ago that it was time he started giving back. And once he'd begun, he hadn't stopped. This was his task in life; to give, to protect, to guide and counsel others. Stephen would continue to do so until his dying breath. He smirked, recalling a familiar adage "No rest for the weary."

Whisking his cloak about his shoulders the sorcerer set off, moving at a quick pace to avoid the rumbling military vehicles that traversed the area. Every few minutes or so he froze, checking over his shoulder once he heard a noise and thought someone might be following him. An army vehicle passed by on the road, the men talking loudly over the roar of the engine. He though he caught the words "The Black Widow-" and "SHIELD's meddling". Stephen waited until the truck was far down the road before continuing towards the base. He may be invisible but he'd taken note of the dryness in the air and ground; any movement would cause sand and dust to come up. Dust moving on its own would certainly arouse suspicion, especially considering that there was not a breath of wind to be felt for miles around.

Stephen reached the base within a matter of minutes, panting slightly when he felt a painful twinge in his chest, right over where he'd been shot. He pressed his back against the wall, breathing more quietly when an officer appeared, walking slowly and with a cellphone in hand as he made his way into the base. Stephen made a lunge and caught the door just as it was swinging shut, then slipped inside. It took a moment for his eyes to adjust to the dim interior.

'Alright Ross where are you hiding…'

The sorcerer walked at a calm pace, checking through every other doorway that he passed by. Once, when rounding a corner he nearly walked straight into a group of soldiers before swiftly backing up and turning to go in the other direction.

As he searched the base, intending to find the security panel and anything else that might be used to incriminate Ross, Stephen found himself wondering if this was the best idea. To set SHIELD and the general against each other… what could the repercussions be? How might this affect Banner, Stark, and the other Avengers, because of his involvement? Would this inevitably make things worse?

His goal ultimately was to pit the organizations against one another so their forces would cancel out. Maria was against heroes and, for some reason, she really hated Stephen himself, and Ross was simply out to destroy Bruce. If the two groups were so distracted with fighting one another then they'd have no time to focus on anything else. Such as, hunting down their escaped prisoners. It sounded like a good plan in Stephen's mind, but even he had to admit that there were still so many unknowns to factor in that it would be near impossible to keep such a situation under control, even being the Sorcerer Supreme he couldn't orchestrate everything.

Perhaps he'd need a little help… Stephen's first thought was to ask the Avengers themselves but Stark had proven less than reliable of late. After all, he'd tried to kill Stephen only this morning. No, it'd be hard to trust someone after that. And Bruce was better off not knowing the particulars of Stephen's exploits. With a heavy sigh he turned his thoughts to other things, mind furiously working for a plausible solution while his gaze roved the corridors, searching for some means of direction in this place.

Ironically, SHIELD could be his only asset. If he could convince Maria to help him, to put Ross behind bars and deal out justice for the crimes committed, then that would make matters simpler for him. From what he'd already heard it sounded like Ross was still simmering over Banner's release, and the appearance of the Black Widow only added salt to the wound. Apparently Ross and Maria had made some sort of deal between them… and now it looked as though the Director had gone back on her word. If Ross were as mad as he sounded, then Maria would have hell coming her way before long.

Maybe they could make a deal. If Maria helped Stephen to take out Ross, then in return he'd make sure no harm came to her and her men. Stephen could only hope she'd be gracious enough to oblige. They may not be on the best of terms but the woman had to have a heart after all. And if not a heart, a conscience at the very least.

One had to hope.

…

At last he'd found the security room, and from there had been able to locate the other necessary information needed. As expected, Ross kept his most important files stored elsewhere, but with a little mind manipulation and some guilt on Stephen's part the sorcerer located the incriminating videos and information. A little over two hours had passed since he'd come here, and he could feel the agitation building up from the negative atmosphere and the anxiety that accompanied every time a soldier walked down the hallway. His head was on a constant swivel, and with every moment that passed by a little more of his energy slipped. Just holding that minor spell of concealment for as long as he had left him feeling spent. He'd have to finish up here quick.

Stephen loaded the memory drive with any and all videos he found of Ross and his 'experiments'. Not only the ones on Banner but also some of the general's own device, many files showed Ross's efforts at creating a super-powered gamma monster. Inevitably, all the experiments ended in failure.

He grimaced as a spike of pain shot its way through his hands, a tremble coursing down his spine. He hadn't recovered his full strength yet so he'd have to tread extra carefully with Maria when he got to the Helicarrier. Worst case scenario she'd just finish the job she started by picking up a gun and actually hitting his heart this time. Hopefully that could be avoided.

When the files were finished loading Stephen pocketed the memory drive and straightened. With a simple spell he removed the concealment charm and formed a disguise out of SHIELD attire. He planned on leaving with a bang. As an added idea he formed a copy of the memory drive he'd just made and planted it in the computer. One of the soldiers would find it and they could follow the trail of crumbs from there.

Satisfied, the sorcerer stepped out of the room, closing the door softly behind him. He sauntered down the hallway and even gave the cameras a little wave as he rounded the corner, being careful to keep his face tilted away in case Ross should recognize him. The SHIELD insignia on the shoulders of his suit stood out plainly for all to see. When he passed by an open doorway where a few soldiers stood within a shout rose up, cries of "Halt!" and "How did you get in here?!" echoing off the walls and ceiling.

Stephen began running.

…

"Sir, he- He just disappeared! We chased as far as the North fence but lost sight of him when we crested the hill. He works for SHIELD, we know that much."

"Dammit! Get SHIELD on the line for me! I want Hill's neck on a rope!" The general shouted, rising to his feet and knocking his chair back. "Thinks she can turn her back on me. I'll show her what happens when people mess with Thaddeus Ross!" he bellowed, grinding his teeth in pure frustration. "Get the troops ready! We're going to pay Miss Hill a visit…"

…

Maria paced around the command bay, head down while she mulled over the most recent events. She released a heavy exhale over her plight, visibly disgusted with the stresses building up from the damages on the ship to the prisoner who'd mysteriously disappeared without a trace. The woman was physically and emotionally drained from all the stresses weighing down on her. She snapped orders at her fellow agents, discontent yet again with losing her prisoner.

The agent's eyes narrowed, feeling an awkward vibe as a chill passed down her spine. Glancing up and around her she tersely reminded security to be on their toes, herself heading off in another direction with her focus intently ahead of her.

…

Stephen Strange slipped into the immobile Helicarrier unnoticed, his dark gaze shifting about restlessly as he walked the near empty corridors. The man assumed the lack of faculty was due to the fire damage and a need for repairs. This gave him an advantage that he was very much grateful for. He entered the lower cells first, intending to find a few belongings of his that SHIELD had taken from him the day of his capture.

Once the sorcerer had gathered his things, the items ranging from some of his clothes to the valued amulet, the most important of which he hung around his neck back in place where it belonged. The clothing he bundled up tightly and used a spell to fold the material into a paper-thin package, which he promptly stuffed in his back pocket. Afterwards Stephen checked the area before slipping out and making his way to the security rooms.

He passed by a couple of black-clad SHIELD agents, but there were notably fewer present since he'd last been here. No one took notice of his silent presence though, considering he kept a spell of concealment about his person. The ward he sought was located only one floor below him, and when he made it down to the security systems room Stephen was surprised to find it empty. This troubled him, for surely a place with such prized information would be well guarded, but he didn't plan on staying long so he chose to brush aside this mild agitation. Stepping up to the computer systems, he allowed the guise of invisibility to fall, his corporal form becoming evident as he hunched over the desk and began furiously typing away in search of information, video files, anything that could help him really.

Having gained access to the SHIELD files after several repeated attempts, Stephen wasted no time in syncing the video files and other sidenotes onto a memory chip, to be used later.

…

Maria's shoes clicked against the cool tiles, the sound echoing off the corridor before she second-guessed her careless action. Her eyes roved about the rooms intently while she pushed her weight towards the front of her foot, now walking in a more quiet fashion as she searched for what she knew not. Her brows lowered in suspicion when she spotted the shadow of a familiar figure. Maria lifted her pistol automatically.

"Come out of there. Drop whatever is in your hands."

Stephen tensed, glancing over his shoulder once before a smirk ghosted his features. Well, this made things a little simpler for him. Now he wouldn't have to track Maria down himself; she'd already come to him. The sorcerer stood, a mask falling into place that revealed nothing of his true thoughts or intents.

"Ah, Miss Hill. Nice to see you again," he said dryly, inconspicuously tucking the device into his pocket while he turned to face the woman.

She trembled in utter fear, her eyes closed over as she tried to express nothing but composure. "How did you escape Stephen?"

The sorcerer spread his hands in innocence. "Does it matter?" he took a step forward, a dark rage threatening in his gaze in remembrance of her cruel treatments of him. He inclined his head towards her. "Tell me, Maria, why are you so afraid of what you can't understand?"

"Maybe I'm just cautious of what I do understand." She raised her weapon slightly higher in a threatening stance. "Don't move another muscle Strange."

A still moment passed, a brief moment in which every muscle in Stephen's body tensed, physically anticipating the threat made tangible. He lifted an eyebrow, calling her bluff by calmly striding forward a final step and locking a hand around Maria's wrist. With a slight flick of his grip he shoved the weapon out of his range, the barrel now pointing harmlessly down towards the floor. His gaze bored into Maria's startled features.

"Do you really intend to shoot me again Miss Hill? You saw how well that worked last time." His voice was so low now it was almost a growl.

Maria was visibly trembling, looking him over as she took the smallest step back. "I don't know, you don't exactly look full of strength and back to your old self yet."

"Ah but looks can be deceiving." Stephen glanced past her shoulder, his brows creasing in veiled concern as he wondered when the rest of SHIELD would be showing up. Things were quiet for now but… he'd rather not take any chances. "You and I are going to have a little talk Maria," he said, roughly tossing the pistol from her grip. With a simple command he had the doors slammed shut and locked. No one was getting in, or out, until he gave the say-so.

Maria's eyes widened almost imperceptibly, her jaw clenched while she glared in his direction wondering what this monster could possibly want from her. "You won't get much information out of me if that's what you want."

"Fine then. Keep your silence. All you have to do is listen- and watch." Stephen set his jaw, anger heating his gaze.

Maria glared back angrily, her chin jutting in defiance. Curiosity got the better of her though over what Stephen was about to make her watch. She held her tongue, waiting.

Stephen backed up slowly, keeping his eyes trained on the SHIELD agent for any sudden movements. Subconsciously he wove an enchantment of silence about the place to ensure they wouldn't be interrupted. Hill needed to be enlightened on a few matters, and Stephen was all too willing to oblige. He set up one of the computers, then plugged in a video file he'd stolen from Ross. The footage pulled up almost immediately, showing a ragged Bruce Banner mercilessly tied down to a long metal table while two men in lab coats set up a procedure. Stephen turned towards Maria, using magic to pull her over to the screen.

"Sit down." He pushed her into a chair, circling around behind her and keeping his focus intent on both the video and Maria.

Maria felt her throat run dry, mortified with her heart dropping out from the video playing out in front of her. She kept her face stern for the sake of composure, though her stomach twisted itself into knots over the cruel and bloody images.

The sorcerer narrowed his gaze, watching the images onscreen with a cold fury in his eyes. He crossed his arms over his chest and leaned his hip against the counter, every few minutes glancing back over at Maria to gauge her reaction. The video closed but was just as quickly replaced with a new one, the image opening with Ross leering over Banner's shaking form, his palm raised to slap the poor man.

Stephen tensed, every fiber of his being lusting for vengeance, desiring to tear Ross from existence, to rend them man in pieces. He swallowed his anger, the action causing him to growl in discontent. He subconsciously flexed his fist, feeling the thrum of power just beneath his skin.

Banner was writhing on the cold table, trembling and crying out in helplessness of Ross's inhuman torture. Maria turned her head away, feeling slightly nauseous as she heard his weak and vulnerable cries, a small part of her feeling guilty.

"Alright Stephen," she said through clenched teeth, her eyes blinking away the graphic images. "I've seen enough. What's your point?"

He hit the pause button, silver gaze watching her intently. "You see now who the real monster is. Ross. That's the point Maria," he slammed a palm down on the table causing her to flinch. "And I'll be damned if something isn't done about this," he said, jabbing a finger at the screen. "You think I'm a monster? You've wasted your time Maria, all these years spent tracking down a man you barely know, when you should have been going after the real monsters," he spoke softly now, a haunted look to his gaze.

"I understand the general is a monster, you don't need to prove that to me. But Ross wouldn't feel a need to do any of this if he didn't believe Banner was a threat. You both are."

Stephen narrowed his gaze, leaning forward slightly. "Ross's actions are nothing but the product of a cruel and inhuman hatred. That's where his actions are no longer justified. Let me ask you a question Hill. Do you not think there's a possibility a man could be dangerous, and yet still be a good man? Take for instance, a dog. Would you put a faithful animal down simply because it has teeth and claws? Because that which it was born with makes it dangerous? I should hope not. Now, if you have a rabid creature like what the general is turning out to be, that's something to be considered don't you think?"

Images flashed up in her memory, burning behind her retinas whenever she closed her eyes. Maria swallowed hard. "Strange, I can't take sides."

"Why not." His voice was a low growl now, the tone of someone who'd just about had enough and wasn't taking no for an answer. "Hill I want something done about Ross. And you're going to help me with that endeavor."

"The general might be a complete creep but that doesn't give me the right to destroy him," Hill retorted, raising her brows in disgust. "He's only acting on what he thinks is right." She sighed, jaw tightening in place. "Where is Banner anyways?"

"Banner is none of your concern right now. I never said you'd have to destroy Ross, did I? Tread carefully here Maria," he watched her almost lazily out of the corner of his gaze, confident in his control and mastery of the situation. "Remember who it is you're dealing with. For what Ross has done he is guilty of a thousand crimes, and I'm not going to rest until he's paid for every single one of those."

Maria's eyes showed how she thought over his words, shaking her head with bitterness in her tone. "I'll take care of it in my own due time. Ross will pay but not because someone told me to do it. And certainly not because of your persuasions. Give me one good reason why I shouldn't call half of security to my rescue and then make you pay as well."

"And how would you make me pay my penance?" he spread his hands wide, the torn tissue and crisscross designs of the stitches stood out plainly for her to see.

"I shot you once Strange, I can and will do it again if only I had my weapon!" Maria trembled slightly as she came to her feet, frightened by his evident recovery and the scars he had to show for it.

"You would just murder me in cold blood? Why? On what charges?" he suppressed his anxiety, keeping his gaze level with hers and his features expressionless. "Why are you so bent on killing me Maria? What have I done to earn such raw hatred?"

"Why shouldn't I?" she snapped back, eyes flashing angrily. "You have yet to give me a good reason why I should cut you loose."

"That doesn't answer my question," he said softly, haunted gaze regarding her with consternation.

"My job is to protect the public. That includes getting rid of and removing threats to humanity."

"And what happens when there are no more people like me, or Banner, left to protect those who are defenseless against the true evils? To fight what we war against it is a requirement we be a threat ourselves. Would you tell a man to guard a nation and then strip him of his weapons? What could be accomplished then, but the siege and downfall of that which he was entrusted to protect?

Maria watched him intently, taking in his words and mulling them over. She released a sigh once he finished speaking, feeling slightly defeated by him and his persuasive comments. She couldn't deny that the man knew what he was talking about.

"Ross is coming for you Maria, and he's coming with a vengeance. It's all on you, it really is. You gave Banner over to him and now the general thinks you went back on your word. He's not going to take such a blow lightly. Director, you can either have me as an ally, or as an enemy." Stephen paused, breathing a sigh of resignation. This was his last shot, and he wasn't giving up until Ross was in prison or was buried six feet under. "You can have me Maria. I'll give it all up for this, but not until I've handled Ross. I'll kill him if I have to. You help me do that and I swear to you, I'll come back and you can let me rot in prison for all I care. And I don't go back on my promises."

Maria's eyebrows lifted over the desperation in his tone, taking in his mannerisms and the words he chose to use in making his proposition. She contorted her mouth, gaze lowering slightly and a softer part of her becoming evident when she considered the extent he was willing to go to ensure Ross got what he deserved.

"Strange, I think I'll accept."

He nodded, swallowing thickly as he turned his face away. The light in his eyes disappeared, as though an inner fire had been extinguished, leaving nothing but anguished darkness. He spoke softly, condemning himself to his fate. "Very well. You have my word."

The agent felt her chest contract for a brief moment, as if she could feel some part of life flee from her enemy. She straightened her head upright, clearing the back of her throat before holding out a hand in an attempt to shake his, "Dr. Strange."

Stephen briefly glanced towards her, pain showing behind his eyes though he tried to veil it. He shook her hand quickly, sealing the deal.

"You don't have much time before Ross shows up. Perhaps til tomorrow morning. My advice is to get this place up and running and get all of your agents ready, Miss Hill. I'll be back before noon tomorrow to help."

She nodded her assent, at a loss for words momentarily while she listened to him. She'd noticed his brief slip of composure earlier, and it left her wondering at this man. Curious as to why he would sacrifice so much, over just one person.

"Yes, of course. Thank you." She lowered her head, glancing around the area. "Does this mean you'll free me for the time being? I'd be most appreciative."

Stephen nodded, bending down close to her to release the mystical spells that bound her. Maria could feel his fingertips brushing over her wrists, unweaving the enchantment. With a silent command the doors unlocked and the spell of silence was lifted over the area.

"Good day, Miss Hill." Ever cordial, he made his farewell and then without another word the doctor disappeared from sight.