Chapter Three

It was half an hour into the car journey to Scotland when Wanda and Sharon fell asleep in the back seat. Clint was driving and agreed to swap with Steve when they reached the halfway point. Steve was reading a map and looking out the window. Clint took a glance in the interior window and saw Wanda sleep soundly.

"How has she been these last few months?" Clint asked.

"It's not been easy," Steve replied turning to look at his girlfriend. "How much did Nat fill you in on?"

"I know they diagnosed her with bipolar disorder not long after you busted us out the Raft."

"She's been taking her meds so, for the most part, she is stable. She does have moments where she falls into a funk but it's not as bad as it was when she was off her meds."

Clint took a deep breath. He remembered with great detail what Wanda had been subjected to on the Raft and he gripped his hand on the steering wheel harder.

"Easy, easy," Clint commented as he was shoved into the cell with his arms twisted behind his back. He shook the pain off as the guards slammed and locked the door. He looked to his left and saw Scott in the neighbouring cell and Sam in the one beside that. "This is a bit extreme."

"What do you expect when you have been declared war criminals?" Ross asked.

Clint looked to his left and noticed the cell on his right was empty, "Where's Wanda?"

"Ah, that. You see, you three do not have biologically enhanced abilities. So, Miss Maximoff is receiving some extra precautions."

At that point, the main guard, known as Lockwood, and another guard came in, holding up an unconscious Wanda by the arms. From the looks of it, she was wearing a straitjacket and had something around her neck. Without any care if she got hurt, they threw her into the cell. Clint ducked down to his knees and tried to see if Wanda was okay.

"Okay, I know that is against the human rights convention," Scott tried to assert.

"I don't think it applies to enhanced humans Mr Lang," Ross retorted.

In the midst of this exchange, Clint could see Wanda's eyes twitch open. She looked spaced out as whatever they injected her with began to lose its edge.

"Hey," Clint whispered. "It's me. I'm here."

"Clint," she groaned softly. Wanda just about pushed herself up. She looked dazed and confused and she began struggling against the straitjacket that she only just realised she was strapped in. "Where am I?"

"It's called the Raft Miss Maximoff," Ross answered. He was tapping something in his hand. "It's an underwater prison created for the sole purpose of detaining and incarcerating enhanced individuals. Your little stunt in Germany has earned you four criminals about thirty-five years."

"Are you kidding me, Ross?" Sam asked. "We were trying to get to Siberia. There's a lunatic-"

Sam's protests were cut off when he heard a pain-filled yell come from Wanda's cell. It was that moment that Clint knew what the thing around her neck was: it was a shock collar. Wanda panted as the pain wore off. At that point, Clint snapped.

"YOU SICK BASTARD! DO YOU HONESTLY THINK-"

Wanda's yells of agony came again, and then it dawned on Clint that the more they protested, the more that Wanda was going to get hurt. He looked her as tears pricked the corner of her eyes. Ross put the control for the shock collar down and left with a satisfied smug smile on his face.

"Is she okay?" Scott asked. Wanda's light sobs confirmed his answer. "So what do we do?"

"What can we do?" Sam asked.

"Wait for Cap?"

"That assumes he is still alive."

Clint ignored this conversation. Instead, he sat next to the wall looking into Wanda's cell. The young woman was shaking as the electrical volts left her nerve endings and Clint could see she was trying to regain control of her breath. He had made a promise to himself after Pietro sacrificed his life for Clint that he would look out for Wanda as much as he could. Seeing her now, he realised he had failed.

"Ten times they shocked her," Clint explained. "They did it three times after Sam, Scott and I made a fuss. The rest was for the guards' twisted amusement. I think she gave up. She did not eat or drink anything. She did not speak to anyone. I guess that she wished for death. I can't say that I blamed her."

Steve looked back at Wanda and smiled sadly at her sleeping form. The peace that coated her face was in such stark contrast to the sleep - or lack thereof - she had in Wakanda. The tossing and turning, the moaning, and the sobbing in her sleep before she woke up either screaming or in floods of tears felt like a distant memory.

"I'm glad she is with you, Cap," Clint said breaking Steve from his thoughts. "You seem to have given her something to live for."

"She's my something to live for too," Steve replied softly.

-o-

When the finally arrived in Edinburgh, Steve and Wanda were greeted with huge hugs from Sam and Natasha. It was only then that Wanda realised how much she had missed them in the last couple of months, and was thankful that they were okay.

"So, how was Stonebridge?" Natasha asked breaking the hug.

"It was nice," Wanda replied. "I really liked being by the sea."

"Well, Edinburgh is not by the sea but it has its perks. So what have you two get up to?" Wanda's cheeks went a bit pink. "Thought so."

"Told you, humping like bunnies," Clint commented as he walked towards Natasha and gave her a hug.

When their pizza was delivered, Sharon and Clint ran through the plan again for Natasha and Sam's benefit, though when they heard Wanda wanted to speak to the stalker face-to-face, they had just as many concerns as Steve.

"Wanda, you really have to be sure about this," Sam said. "He's clearly determined."

"I know. However, if you were in my position, would you want to know?" Wanda replied.

"Before we hand him over to S.H.I.E.L.D, he'll be taken to MI6 in London. Agent Ross is meant to be meeting me to interview him," Sharon explained.

"Agent Ross… as in the guy who is your boss?" Sam asked.

"Yes. He doesn't know that I know where you are."

"Do you really think it is a good idea for Wanda to be there when he is there?"

"We have photostatic veils," Natasha interrupted. "Put a wig on her and no one will realise it is Wanda."

"I have thought it through guys," Wanda stated. "I know how dangerous this is. However, if you were in position, wouldn't you like to know why a stranger is obsessed with you?"

Steve and Sam looked to one another, Sam mentally asking if Steve was okay with it and Steve replied that he was not but if it gave Wanda some peace then he was not going to stop her. Sam sighed and nodded, "Okay, so long as you are sure."

"I am," Wanda replied softly

"The only downside is that I can only risk bringing Wanda with me," Sharon imputed. Wanda looked at Steve and realised that this would mean their agreement for him to be outside the room would be broken. "I know Steve wanted to be there but with MI6 already on red alert, sneaking more than one war criminal into the building is too risky."

Wanda rubbed the corner of her eye and waited to hear Steve protest. However, the only word she heard from his mouth was, "Fine."

Wanda looked up and saw his face was not agreeing with what he was saying. She wanted Steve there. However, Sharon was right. It was dangerous enough with her in the building and with Agent Ross there, she did not want to risk Steve's safety.

"So, at 10:00 tomorrow, Clint will position himself on the roof of this building while other CIA agents will surround the area ready to pounce when Clint shoots him with a taser arrow," Sharon explained. "Assuming that he comes of course."

"You sure the taser will work?" Steve asked.

"Worth a shot," Clint answered. "As you guys have said, we don't know how powerful this guy is and a taser may be the best way to subdue him."

"Right, now that we have gotten that sorted, I suggest we get some sleep," Natasha announced. "We need Clint on his A-game tomorrow."

Sam showed Wanda and Steve to their room and gave them a look to keep whatever they had planned quiet as he left.

Wanda shook her head and said, "I'm too tired to do anything but sleep."

Steve smiled and kissed the top of her head, "Come on. Let's get some sleep."

Except Wanda did not get some sleep. She spent most of the night tossing and turning, throwing the sheets on and off and staring at the clock.

02:43.

03:12

Finally, at 04:47, Wanda decided to get out of bed and go to the kitchen to grab some water. She braced against the kitchen counter and took a breath. She guessed that her inability to get some sleep was due to her nerves of having to confront her stalker the next day. She had no idea what to say to him and she had no idea what she expected him to say if he did say anything. There were just so many questions and Wanda did not know where to start. She doubted whether he would speak to her if she was in disguise.

"Wanda?" Steve asked. Wanda jumped at the sound of his voice and put her hand on her chest.

"Don't scare me like that," she snapped turning to him.

"Sorry," Steve smiled a tired and sheepish smile. "Can't sleep?"

Wanda shook her head, "This man has been haunting my nightmares for months and I am scared to hear what he has to say."

"I know. I wish I could go with you."

"This is assuming that he doesn't get away."

"True, but that would mean doubting Clint." Wanda could not help but give a small smile. She turned toward the cupboards and began looking in them for something to eat, eventually finding some cookies with rainbow candies. Wanda held the bag up as though she was offering Steve one and he replied, "Sure." Wanda took two cookies out and handed him one. "Do you still think that confronting him is a good idea?"

"Honestly, I don't know."

"You know that I don't want you to do it, and that is not me wanting to have an iron hold over you. I'm just scared. I love you and don't want anything to happen to you."

Wanda chewed the sweet, chocolate cookie as she pondered this thought. In her determination to get some answers, she had not really considered Steve's feelings on the matter. Knowing that he would have to wait for her to come back safely was going to be hell for him, she imagined. Wanda wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her lips against his. Steve pulled her closer to him and rested his hands on her hips. Wanda pulled away and Steve pulled her into a hug.

"I don't want anything to happen to you too," she said softly. "I promise to be careful Steve. I'll have Sharon and Clint covering my back at MI6 as well."

"I'll still worry about you."

"Wouldn't expect anything less."

Steve kissed the top of her head and whispered, "Come on. Let's go to bed."

-o-

Wanda kept having to adjust the blonde wig as she strutted down the alley. The face she had appropriated was a Scottish police detective and Natasha had made a fake S.H.I.E.L.D identification badge so that she would be able to get into the interview room.

She hid behind the corner and looked over to the open area. There were many people fluttering about, but even among the clutter of people, she could see her stalker walking towards the bench. Wanda wondered whether he had been in Stonebridge the whole time and she felt a little sick. He had gotten a lot better at hiding it seemed.

"Okay, weirdo is in position," Clint stated through the comms.

"Agents are getting into position now," Sharon replied.

Wanda could see the woman sitting by a coffee shop with sunglasses on. Wanda could also see snipers on the roof and other agents pretending to do some mundane activity. She also looked up towards the safe house. She could not see Steve at the window, but she knew that there was a radio so that Steve, Natasha and Sam could listen in on the action. When she left the safe house, she had given Steve a longing look as though she was fearful that she was never going to see him again. So far, she was trying not to think about it.

"Okay, on my order," Sharon said. Wanda felt her heartbeat in her ears as she waited for Sharon's order. She looked at the blonde woman as she took her sunglasses off. That was the signal. Everything went into slow motion as an arrow flew through the air and hit the stalker right in the chest. The taser released and blue bolts released over his body. Just then Wanda caught a flash of something that she had to blink twice to ensure she was not seeing things. Sharon had also caught a glimpse because she asked: "Are you seeing this?"

"Son of a bitch," Clint commented.

The stalker struggled off the bench, only to collapse on his knees as the other agents surrounded him with guns. Wanda joined them, moving her body so it was directly facing the stalker. The taser seemed to be causing some glitches in what Wanda realised was a disguise. A disguise for someone whom she thought was a friend a long time ago.

"Vision?" Sharon asked as she walked up. She took a glance at Wanda and noticed her hands clenched in a fist. "What are you doing here?" The android did not speak. Sharon sighed and held up her badge. "You know we are going to have to take you in?"

Vision nodded as one of the agents pulled his arms back and handcuffed him in something that if he wanted to he could break out of easily. However, he seemed to submit to his arrest as though he knew it was the right punishment.

As he was led away, Wanda and Clint looked to one another in shock. He put his hand on her shoulder and asked, "You okay?"

"I don't know," Wanda replied.

"Come on, we might get some answers once we get to MI6."

Oh my God, it's Vision. No one guessed that ;). Yeah, I don't think I was being as subtle as I thought I was. Anyway, we still have some more answers to come. Until next week.