Thank you for reading and for indulging me with your reviews. *muah!* You guys are awesome.

Bruce waits until Jennifer hops to the ground. He prepares his own disembark, wind tussling through his curls. With a brief glance over his shoulder he glances around the half vacant air craft.

He knew he heard her voice, would swear upon it. If she were truly here, he'd lose his mind. Did he really want her around for what was about to happen? Maybe she was safer wherever she was. His fist clenches tighter against the metal doorway.

Maria catches his icy stare with a soft call out. He chest falls, nodding in response without actually hearing a word Agent Hill has to say. With a small jump he joins his cousin, now hidden behind her own boulder.

Walters adjusts the syringe, offering it to Banner. She wrinkles her nose after his refusal and frowns when he scoffs;

"Trust me, I don't need help getting angry."

"Just offering."

He leans against the boulder, peering over the surroundings;

"I don't need it."

She twists her mouth, seeing his distracted stare, "What does your gut say? Is she safe?"

He leans his back against the rock, "I don't have your intuition, but I'm hearing voices. Does that count..."

"I mean, no one has my intuition,' she nudges him, 'For real though; Focus on beating this idiot. Make sure the world's safe when she comes home."

When she comes home. If she comes home. His head pounds.

He grits his teeth, refocusing on the empty space around the field. His veins swarm with extra heat with eyes flashing a bright shade of green.

Jennifer glances only with her peripheral without a jump when she hears the rock split as a green fist pounds through it. His darkness evident and slightly to her dismay.

She clutches the intercom within her ear as the aircraft lifts from the area;

"We're a go."

. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

She skims through the selection with a scrutinizing gaze, each outfit worse then the next. Her nose wrinkles in disgust over the options before caving in to select a navy blue jumpsuit. Natasha layers with a black cardigan found at the bottom of the rack. Everything is so neatly organized and not her taste.

She places her cardigan over the outfit, observing the look in the full size mirror beside the dresser. She feels out of place.

The dreams felt real the night prior. Somehow engaged with Blonsky. Bruce was there- because of course he was. It was dark, it made her feel dark.

Natasha closes her eyes briefly to permit her heart rate to return to normal. Glancing at her ring she can hear his laugh, aching for his deep brown eyed stare.

"Mommy..."

She glances over her shoulder, unprepared to welcome the child into the room.

"What's wrong?" She answers in Russian. Unsure why, she barely makes the realization.

"I'm cold."

Romanoff shrugs, "So, grab a sweater? Maybe don't wear shorts everyday."

She steps outside of the room, Jason following close behind. Alexei had said he wanted to keep structure. Whatever that meant. She leans against the chair, watching the boy with his large eyes looking up at her for help. Natasha scoffs, cut off by the doorbell and a pounding at the front door.

She heads into the living room to answer, startled by Banner's sudden appearance. Natasha holds her breath for a moment until she sees the tattoo exposed on his wrist mid grand gesture. He invites himself in as she closes the door behind him;

"You left me hanging Nat. What happened last night."

She puts her back to the door with a shrug. She can't remember anyways;

"Something. I got busy."

"Uh huh."

He removes his jacket, unloading two devices from his pockets. There's a white band within his fingertips. Natasha allows him to reach for her wrist, startled when the younger boy begs for her attention.

"Mom!"

"Just,' she spots Banners jacket, 'Take Bruce's."

Bruce barely looks up, busy adjusting the band on Natasha's wrist;

"What...hi Jay."

Jason leans against the sofa, peering over the mechanics;

"Don't hurt Mommy."

Natasha yelps, pulling away within seconds, "I was about to say he wasn't..."

Bruce lifts a finger, sharing a small silver device, "This! This is how I can control a pulse."

"Through pain?! You shocked me."

"Like a dog collar."

Romanoff snarls, tearing the device before throwing it toward the doctor almost instinctively.

He scoffs, "Hey. You're angry. So it worked."

"I'm not going to be shocked like some wild animal."

Jason's eyes widen, "Mommy hurt."

She nudges him gently and falls into the kitchen chair with hands over her head, "I'm fine Jason. Go play."

He lays his head against her shoulder, small hands attempting to hug her arm. She gives in and permits it, sighing deeply with an eye roll over Banner's voice. She's unsure of his words, disgusted as he moves to sit beside her;

"I really don't give a rats...tail what you need to do to get me home but I'm sick of waiting. I am forgetting. Do you realize how that feels?!"

"Well I-"

"No you don't. So just shut up."

"Hey Nat-!"

"Shut up."

She sighs, immediate guilt washing over her within seconds of her patience evaporating, "I'm sorry. I'm tired. I'm sick of the nightmares."

"Nightmares?"

Natasha stands, letting her thoughts spew in bulk as she paces,

"I'm seeing shadows. I'm hearing voices. I'm seeing people I love, they're hurting. I have 57 people counting on me to get them home."

She trembles, falling into the chair in front of her with a vague stare. With a gentle yet firm hold she feels his hands supporting her frame;

"I'm going crazy Banner- I'm crazy,' she laugh, 'You don't know what it's like. I see flames, I can feel the heat. I can hear familiar screams-I know I was thrown from a burning building as a kid but this is different. I have no idea what's going on. Just know I have to get home."

He waits patiently, releasing his hold with a silent and empty stare. She paces;

"The worst part? I can't stop it from happening because I'm stuck in this purgatory-"

She kicks in the door below the sink, denting the hinge. With a brief glance toward the mug near the sink, she chugs. With a few heavy swallows she stares forward, "And now you're rubbing off on me...leftover wine at 9am."

"9:30."

Natasha bites her lip, watching the doctor snatch up the band and fiddle with the mechanics. She leans forward after a moment;

"If you can't help me I'd rather you just be honest."

He shrugs, "I mean. I'd call the project a success."

She scoffs, "Excuse me."

Bruce stands up after laying his band down, gripping at her wrist. She rugs back defensively over his grip, fixated on his eyes as he grins and points toward a smaller sticker left on a pulse point of her wrist. He releases gently, allowing her to analyze the micro red light torn off abruptly.

"I was controlling some of that."

"Some off?"

"I can't control what you do, I can only get your pulse going...shocking."

She rubs at her wrists and hands over the device, "Is this better then the band?"

"It's part of the band. Just stuck to you after you ripped off the main device."

"So...the shock?"

"Eh. I wanted to test your patience. Didn't take much for you to explode."

"I'm stressed out! I want to complete my mission!"

He taps his lips gently, glancing toward the small child who has made his way back into the kitchen. With a calming gesture he returns to his project;

"It's ok. I get it."

She huffs out a laugh, lower in volume with the boy watching intently, "You don't but that's beside the point-"

"I do."

"You don't."

"Should we visit the lake and perform a test."

"Either it works or it doesn't,' she scoffs, taking up her glass, 'but I appreciate the offer."

Banners eyes follow the child, glancing toward Natasha when Jason moves in to give her a hug. She consents, rubbing his small back;

"So. If I get this done tonight- you'd be ready?"

She glances between Bruce and the child, mouthing so only the adult can hear, "He's not mine."

"Just asking,' he shrugs, 'Would you."

Natasha tilts her head, rolling her tongue over her cheek, "I still need to get...the 'gang', together. They wouldn't listen to me the other day. I can't convince people who don't want to hear to listen."

He motions, "Drag 'em."

With a deep inhale, her fingers move to brush the child's hair from his forehead, "As, tempting, as that sounds, I can't force anyone to leave what they think is home."

"So, solo trip."

"And Olga. Whoever else is a willing participant."

"And that's what you want."

She rolls her eyes defensively, "Yes."

He lifts his eyebrows, observing the gentleness in her protective hold over Jason;

"Really."

"Really. You're testing me."

"You just seem, tentative."

She clenches her jaw, speaking through her teeth, "I'm not."

He shrugs, slight nervous grin, "Then look at me and say that."

She rolls her eyes and laughs, keeping her focus down, "I don't have to do that."

"No, but it would help."

Natasha stays silent, lifting her head to avoid eye contact with either of them. She swallows hard, looking over her opposite shoulder.

"I'm not going to do something you don't want,' He bites his cheek, 'How about, I get back to work. I'll come by when I finish duplicating the project. Just call if you change your mind."

She nods, finally changing her stance to walk with him toward the door. Natasha lays her head against it;

"Sorry I'm. Just."

He turns over his shoulder, suddenly gentle in his stare. She freezes. Vacant in her returning glance.

"Just make sure it's what you want."

"Ok."

She bites her cheek and watches as he gives her a final smile, heads down the path and climb into his car.

Natasha stands frozen an extra moment to view the yard. She feels the small child run back up beside her, lifting a small plane to share. Romanoff takes it into her hands, fingers pressed up against the wings. The boy mumbles something, busy with her own thoughts.

Be safe. Be smart. Really? She should've said she loved him.

"Mommy?"

Natasha grins, handing the toy back to the child;

"Give me some time. Do you want to go play? Maybe visit Grandpa?"

"No, I want you."

She gives in, with an eye roll she grumbles, "Fine. What do you want to do?"

. . . . . . . . . . . . .

The bridge stirs, alarms triggering at every movement. Maria scrambles at her station, trying to connect with Clint. Her buttons flash furiously as she taps her intercom;

"Barton! I've lost all visuals. Barton!"

She sighs, removing her ear piece and smashing it against the table. The craft shakes slightly, smoke filling the room. She taps her side to locate her pistol, aiming over her shoulder over the intruder. With a swift kick she pins the soldier.

Jane dashes into the room, weapon in her own hand as she acts in defensive to aid Maria;

"Darcy and Clint have cleared the quarters we have to go."

"This is ridiculous."

They begin to run before she turns to fire her pistol at the computer in order to destroy any remaining evidence.

"Blonsky should be easy to take down."

"He would be if it weren't for all his backup. Do we have eyes on Ivan?"

Jane nods, "Fury's on it."

They run from the craft, dashing onto the battlefield as Stark flies overhead. Running behind Clint to use his cover;

"I hear Fury located Ivan."

Barton fires his arrows before addressing the girls, "We think he's on the craft. Thor is going to blow him out of the sky."

Jane checks her weapon, switching to stun once she sees a teen enter the field area;

"So much for not destroying Russia."

Clint scoffs, "Blonsky's going to start World War III of we can't get him down."

"Why do the kids back him up!"

"Brainwash. Obviously."

Maria stumbles back, firing to protect Jane, "I need a new com before I find Fury."

With a strong lightning bolt the three fall back, watching their protection go up in flames. Barton's eyes go wide, pressing his earpiece to reach Thor;

"Good job! You almost killed us."

"You moved. Hardly a murder."

Jane clenches her jaw, "Brody wants to fight. He wants to make up for his mistakes."

Maria snaps, "No kids on the field. No more then we already have."

The ground rattled, wide eyes from Jane Foster glancing toward Maria, "What was that!"

"She-hulk." Barton and Hill reply in unison.

Jennifer lifts a boulder left out on the field, crushing a tank with a strong throw. The impending attackers causing her to stay engaged with the metal beasts while Hulk tussles with Blonsky.

The back and forth thrashing intermediated only by a few fires from Stark to provide a slight advantage. With a sharp fire Stark shifts his flight pattern;

"Someone get that plane down. Cap, I'm down a booster."

Thor makes his move, firing a stream of lightening through the aircraft.

With a requested boost from Jennifer, Steve tackles a machine gun, removing the previous user to take control himself.

Tony presses his com, "A little help over here. Blonsky just crushed my second weapon."

Clint aims his arrows, late to fire once Hulk lifts the Abomination to throw him across the field.

"Never mind." Stark lifts from the crowd now free of his capturer and circles over the field.

Thor lands with a swing of his hammer, ready to aid Hulk before seeing a dark haired teen step up behind them;

"What is that."

Rogers pants as he looks over his shoulder, eyes going wide;

"Clear!"

With a swift scoop Thor removes the captain from the bomb being thrown in their direction.

Fury's voice comes in strong;

"Ivan is not onboard."

Stark growls, "Well shit."

Barton sighs heavily, aiming his next arrows, "It's getting hard to see who's a kid verses a minion down here. I need this smoke cleared."

Stark scoffs, "With two hulks and rock man on the field?! Good luck with that."

Abomination catches a green fist, tightening his grip as a roar echos across the field.

Jennifer leaps forward, swinging a kick around the Abomination to knock him down before pursuing her own enemies.

Abomination rises quickly to his feet, holding Hulks wrist solidly;

"Weak."

Hulk grits his teeth, giving a sharp kick to free himself;

"Stupid. And selfish. Hulk smash!"

Abomination dodges his fists, fighting back by throwing debris his way;

"Hulk won't kill?"

"Hulk not you."

He grins sadistically, "Even if I sent Natasha away."

Hulk screams, clenching his hold against Blonsky;

"Spider! Speak!"

He incited the green giant, flashing a hint of a smile;

"I would kill Natasha if I had the chance. Maybe I did."

His blood rushes, eyes tinged with hints of red in his pure rage;

"Hulk kill!"

He pushes back, thrashing each other with whatever they can lay their hands on.

Jane points, nudging Steve who has landed beside them, "Um. I spy Virbranium."

Steve's eyes widen over the vehicles coming up the hill;

"Stark! We have incoming."

Tony snaps back, "Yeah I'm on it."

Hulk throws his enemy, fists clenched over the head of the Anomination. With a sharp yell Jen pulls him back, dodging an encircle of purple smoke over the area.

The brown giant pushes through, stepping over Walter as he grabs her throat. Hulk takes his stance, yelling loudly as he pounds into the ground to rattle Blonsky's hold and free his cousin. In full rage he presses forward, eyes fixed intently on destroying. With a strong lift of a nearby tank, he crushes his enemy without mercy. Repeating with a second tank he thrashes it twice more.

Jen watches from the ground, pushed up on her green elbow as she pants. Her eyes stay wide, slightly put off even in her green state over Hulk's violent decision.

The two hulks make eye contact. His are fixated, rage pouring from his green and now reddened stare. She clenches her jaw, breathing heavily. To both of them, the world briefly goes silent.

His eyes close tight, skin fading only slightly from it's green with a brief sense of peace. With Betty, possibly Natasha, finally avenged, he should be able to breathe. He glances upward, with a sharp roar he fills the space, anger in full force.

Stark snaps, landing beside the hulks as he urges them along;

"Ok green beans, Virbranium coming this way let's move!"

Steve hops on;

"Stark! Get them out of there."

Tony glances toward the brown debris beside the Hulk. With slight shock he makes eye contact with his friend before replying;

"Trying!"

Fury lands a small craft, urging the team along while Barton defends the entrance.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Bruce waits in the lab, finding a small sense of comfort in the familiarity. With semi focus he holds a pen, giving Fury's request for a mass meta cure no attention.

Tony enters hesitantly, hands shoved into his pockets before looking down over his friend;

"Are we going to talk about...what was of that guy on the field."

Bruce shakes his head, eyes focused with empty emotion as he mumbles;

"I don't remember."

The doctor reaches for his glasses, writing an equation on the page. Stark crosses his arms;

"Ok. Let me refresh your memory. I went to grab you and Jen, and I found a very much crushed Abomination. More then usual-"

"I don't...!...want to talk."

"So you do remember."

Banner shuts his eyes, slight green over his fists. He can hear Emil's voice, hear Betty's screams. With a brief thought toward Romanoff, he can picture her smile. He throws the pen onto the table with a slight growl;

"Please leave."

Stark steps in front of Bruce as he steps toward the door;

"After you reassure me you won't be dissecting every enemy we come across. Frankly, I'm getting harassed by Fury to make sure you're calm."

Bruce laughs nervously, "He killed Betty Tony! He had his fists wrapped around Jen's throat in case you missed that. He told me he's the reason Natasha's gone! I couldn't control my anger enough to get an answer out of him other then she might be dead- what do you want?!"

Stark bites at his cheek, "Well, we didn't know what happened. We just saw the corpse and Jen saw your reaction."

Bruce turns his head, seeing Jennifer enter the room with the team behind her, "He was a sadistic monster so I don't believe that she's dead."

Bruce snaps, numb upturned grin accompanied by a lack of eye contact for the mob that has just entered his safe space;

"I know what he's capable of and he hates me so."

Tony correct him, "Hated."

"Yeah whatever. And why are you two tag teaming...?! She's gone and I can't do anything about it so I might as well focus on the kids. That's what she'd want anyways."

Walters shifts in her stance, eyes focused on Bruce, "I don't think you should give up."

"Jen, if she's dead I don't want to know. Frankly, I can't know."

Clint lowers his focus, nodding toward the door, "We may have someone on board who says otherwise."

Darcy enters behind a poised Izabella. Her expression soft, eyes wide and focused on the doctor. Darcy mumbles, trying to get Bruce to soften his stare, "She really wanted to talk to you. She says. Well. Go ahead Izzy. He won't hurt a kid messenger..."

Bruce steps forward tentatively, lightening up only slightly as he gently addresses her;

"I'm listening. What did you want to share."

She inhales in preparation to speak. Her accent is thick, broken English rehearsed as if she's shared this before, "I send Natasha away. I have powers."

Banner takes in the room, realizing none of what she's about to share is news to anyone but him. He nods, urging her to continue;

"From Blonsky...?"

"Yes,' she swallows, 'He threatened Aunt if I, not kill her. So I sent her away. Her and spies. He want me to make disappear, to kill, to turn dust. But I sent away."

"Away where."

"Not know."

He gradually falls into the work bench, lifting a hand over his face. With eyes closed he clasps his hands together;

"So. You, telepathically...sent Natasha to, no where. Blonsky must've formatted the letter Tasha and I got..."

"He want to kill Vrach, kill Natasha and experiment,' she steps forward, eager to explain, "To save Natasha, I create Russian storybook character to lead away from danger. He play out emotion and wants. Give her a place in...other world."

Stark interjects, "Like some multiverse. Another timeline."

Bruce leans forward, gentle eyes craving hope, "Can you bring her back."

Izabella stays stern, voice timid;

"I not know."

"Can you send me there-"

"Bruce no,' Jennifer interrupts, 'If you go we'll be stuck trying to bring you both back."

Thor nods, "And there is still Ivan of Petrovich and Alexei, of Shoshtakov."

Tony paces, directing his comments towards the doctor, "It's not that hard to try and draw the powers out of Izabella. We can train her to use them, dedicate a bit of research- this doesn't feel impossible."

Banner holds his stare forward, "No it doesn't. Izabella, can you just tell me if she's ok. Can you talk to her."

Darcy speaks up from the back, "She can't."

Izabella keeps her focus on Bruce, "I feel that, Natasha is safe."

He nods, glancing over the team;

"And everyone knew this but me."

Maria shrugs, "We wanted to make sure it wasn't empty hope."

"We can work with this,' Tony swipes on his computer, 'Come on. Let's work with the kid and get Red home."

Barton nods, ready to urge the mob to exit the room, "And find the kid cure. In the meantime we'll look for Alexei."

"Yeah, yeah. Get out,' he glances toward the doctor, fixated back downward on a project, 'We still need to talk about the other thing, eventually-"

"I'd like to focus on helping the kids."

Stark waits an extra moment before nodding and giving Izabella a gentle smirk, "Sit down kid. You're going to be spending some time with us. You're a science sister now."

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Olga was out again, for what she couldn't remember. Natasha has made her way into the barn, busy brushing the Orlov Trotter. Clarice's speckled coat soft to the touch.

She can't help but chuckle over a music choice from the young child;

"Do you seriously listen to this music? Who showed you George Harrison."

He bounces to his tune, settled on a bench within the barn. His legs dangling to the beat;

"You Mommy. It's your favorite."

She shakes her head, "Maybe. It's a little slow for me today."

Natasha follows through on her long strokes, petting the horse one more time before stepping away. With a devious look she spots the boy, lip syncing the incorrect words to the song. With a swift scoop she lifts him from his seated position, giggling she spins him in the air.

"Daddy!"

Her smile shrinks, lowering to boy down once she see Alexei kneel to the child's level. She holds her elbows.

"Looks like you guys had fun today."

She grins over Alexei's comment, moving to arrange the brushes back on their rack.

"Mommy and I danced and she taught self defense."

"Oh did she now."

Natasha shrugs, seeing a look from the older man, "Just a few things. I didn't hand him a gun or anything...you're home early."

He scoffs, "Early...? It's almost 8:00."

She holds her stare, thoughts spinning, "That late."

Natasha walks ahead of the family, entering the quiet home. She glances around, sitting at the table while Alexei tucks Jason into bed.

She stared vacantly, briefly twirling at her wedding band. For reasons unknown it stayed on her finger. With everything else lost she was grateful to have part of him with her;

"He was supposed to come."

Alexei looks up over her mumble, settling at the table beside her;

"You have time."

She scoffs, "I don't. I spent the whole day with your son, playing with animals...I need my code words."

He opens a nearby book, handing her a page written by her. She takes it, analyzing her letter to herself. After a brief read and a vacant stare she crumples it, throwing it a few inches in front of her before holding her head;

"I know I'm an assassin, I know I have a life I don't feel it! I don't feel like myself. Why am I doing this."

"This is important to you."

She lifts her eyebrows, "I'm hearing voices. Like someone's trying to reach me and I have no idea who or why."

He leans forward, "What do they sound like? Maybe I can help."

She laughs, "It's an echo. It's. I can't hear words. It just comes to me jumbled up. And I don't know any little girl that would be trying to talk to me...it's like some, horror movie."

With a sharp slam of the suddenly opened door, Alexei jumps up from the table. Romanoff doesn't miss a beat before taking a defensive stance with a knife snatched from the table.

"Please tell them to stop talking! It's driving me insane!"

The drama in the woman's voice is met the instant her dark hair falls forward. Her arms are extended, nails clicking with a guttural noise as she holds the door for the mob entering behind. Olga enters next and grins toward Romanoff over the familiar spies currently entering the home.

Banner waves off the few behind as they enter under protest. He pushes one, nudging another;

"Oh suck it up buttercup! Be glad we even bother-"

Natasha shares a smile with Alexei, recognizing the spies as she replaces the knife to the table.

Olga steps forward; "That's everyone."

"Everyone?,' Natasha glances toward Bruce with a shrug, 'What'd you do now."

He tosses off his jacket and places a device in Natasha's hand;

"I called Betsy and paid her off to help collect your friends and borrow some scrap metal."

"Just like that."

He shrugs, "A bit more complicated but Elizabeth won't admit to anything else. So I brought the gang to you."

She takes the device into her hands, turning it over within her fingers;

"So this is it then..."

He nods, "And I have everyone."

"How..."

Betty rolls her eyes, "Before you put me into a psych ward, just tell me you've been feeling some kind of extra presence..."

"Possibly."

"Okay good. Because I'm freaked out. And stupid things are happening. I'm so ready for you to go so things can get back to normal."

The red head refocuses on Banner who keeps his head down as he shoves his hands into his pockets;

"There's some kind of extra boost in the air tonight. Can't explain it but I'm confident in this version...we could head to the lake and, hypothetically, send you all home tonight. You know, if everything works and all."

Natasha glances over her shoulder, seeing Alexei currently holding a recently awoken Jason. The boy rubs at his eyes.

Alexei gives a nod;

"I don't care what happens as long as I get my house back sooner then later so my boy can sleep."

Elizabeth steps forward to see the child. Natasha lowers her head to glance back at the device.

"I think, I'm ready to go home."

"That was tentative again...yes? No?"

She looks up and focuses on his deep brown stare. For a moment, the room goes dark. Nothing else matters. Her heart moves into her throat.

She can practically smell the freshly cut gala Lillie's, feel his soft touch over her hands. Natasha keeps her focus downward, toying with the wedding band left on her finger;

"I'm ready to go home."