"Just concentrate- you can do this. Just like last time, it'll just feel like a little pressure. We're just trying to control it. Ok?"

Stark gently pressing two small white circles against the girl's temples once he receives her permission. He glances toward Bruce who waits for a signal to send the current her way. The doctor hovers over the button, only pressing it once he gets a nod from Tony.

Izabella stays in her position, head lifted up and back on their workspace. After a moment her teeth begin to clench. With a lighter shrill Banner abruptly ends the program;

"It's too much Tony."

Stark widens his stare, "We can't lower the current anymore then we already have."

Banner lowers his head, pressing his weight through his hands and onto the table. With an abrupt pound onto the table he steps away to look out the window behind him. With a bite at his lip his mind races.

Izabella timidly calls out, swallowing hard as her head lifts to see the two men. Her fingers hold the small circles, twirling them in her fingers;

"I can do it."

Bruce snaps, softening only slightly;

"You don't have to."

"I want, to."

Stark interjects, ready to test again;

"She wants to do it. We got a current going before-"

Bruce scoffs, rubbing his forehead, "It's hurting her Tony! We're done. I'm done."

"So we lower the pressure back down-"

"No."

Stark lifts his hands in surrender;

"Then we need to figure something else out. So what's your plan."

"Oh my plan,' Bruce tosses his glasses from his face onto the table, 'We see how well my plans have been working. Let's recap! I suggest we leave Natasha trusting her skills only to find out Blonsky has bested me again by inadvertently sending her off world. All the while my new plan, has been giving an innocent kid a headache painful enough she screams every time we hook her up."

"It's not the plan, it was working before. We were getting an energy reading, we just need to channel it."

Banners eyes flicker with green, a slight hint of red in their hue;

"I'm done."

Stark grinds his teeth, choosing to keep quiet with a nod. He lifts the page presently in front of him;

"Ok. I guess I'll just get back to the cure. You should take a walk."

Bruce kicks in the wall behind him, the noise causing both Izabella and Tony to jump. The girl takes step to place herself between the doctor and the exit. With her big eyes staring into his, he releases a sigh;

"What. I'm not going to hurt you. No. Nhet."

She steps to block him as he tries to walk around her;

"Wait."

She reaches her hands forward in an effort to stop him, with the lift of his own he attempts to nudge her to the side. His focus shifts from the girl with an anger filled gaze;

With a step from both their hands touch, a spark emitting from between their touch. The electricity broken the second both parties take a step back. Banners eyes widen, fixated on the young girl who glances at her hand. The two wait in silence, insure of what has just happened.

Izabella takes a breath and slowly raising her hand, hesitantly he extends his at a low angle, taking hers into his own.

Her eyes stay fixated, slightly cautious as their hands connect resulting in another spark.

Tony steps out from around the table, mouth open as he analyzes the two-some. With a quick grab over a tool left on the table, he lifts the small white circle over Banner. Bruce pulls away initially, giving in begrudgingly with slight curiosity. Tony points toward the girl once his device is attached;

"Do it again."

Izabella nods, laying her hand in Banner's open palm. Her eyes close as she focuses while Bruce stares ahead

Stark lifts a finger, frantically laying his tablet down;

"Bruce it's the gamma radiation! It's somehow harnessing her abilities...look!"

He glances sideways toward the screen, heart pounding with confusion over the graph reaching its highest point;

"How..."

"It's creating some kind of current that channels Izzy here-doesn't matter! Don't move! Just keep doing whatever you're doing!"

He scoffs, "If I keep this up I'm going to free the other guy-"

"Well don't do that, just focus on Natasha."

Tony reaches for the other circle, stepping around the doctor to place the second device on his opposite temple;

"Just focus..."

Izabella keeps her eyes shut, gently giving the doctor's hands an extra squeeze;

"I see her..."

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

Alexei waits on the side, hand holding onto Jason's as the mob all take bands given out by both Elizabeth and Bruce. Natasha watches by the river's bank, taking in the sight.

Her speech seemed to make sense to the mob. And at any rate everyone was willing to trust her, the infamous Black Window.

She stays fixated over the lake before feeling a nudge behind her. Her eyes automatically roll upon seeing Bruce with his goofy grin;

"For someone about to go home you look gloomy."

She shakes her head, "Not gloomy. Just thinking."

He nods, scanning over the open space;

"The Tasha here has a nice life. A little too serene for my taste personally."

Natasha shakes her head, "Love how you can call her 'Tasha'."

She steps forward, twirling her own band within her fingertips. Her eyes almost smile when she sees Jason and Alexei laughing over some animal that's rustling above the trees. She sighs, keeping her focus as she listens to the doctor behind her;

"Cute family."

She turns slightly, leaning up against the tree beside them;

"You know my whole life I've wanted one thing; A purpose. I've wanted to find peace and clear my past- all the red in my ledger. Being here I see what my life could've been and it's everything I've wanted."

He waits attentively, watching her pivot to lean on the tree beside him as she continues;

"True confession for your ears only doc. And this time, you have permission to analyze."

"As long as you don't punch me in the face,' he crosses his arms, 'Hit me. Not literally."

"This whole year my husband and I have been so fixated on having a child. It was my dream, our dream to raise a family,' she glances back at the band at her wrist, 'But I wonder if that's made us lose track of each other. Being so obsessed over wanting this family, maybe we've forgetten what's really important. Just being grateful for what we have in each other. I think I need to be content with what I have."

He nods, slight grin on his face, "As long as you're happy with yourself. No one can do that for ya."

"I needed closure. I got that."

He nods toward the boys, making eye contact with Alexei, "They'll miss you."

"Well. Hopefully the old me comes back and they get their happily ever after,' she nudges him, 'What about you? Going back to the office? Or signing up for alcohol anonymous."

He raises a finger defensively, "First of all, I don't have a problem...lies. Second! I'm thinking of reevaluating my career choice if this goes well. It was semi fun to create these things...Nuclear Phycisit Bruce Banner has started to sound much more appealing in the last few days."

"I have to agree,' She can't help but smile, shaking her head over him,

"But uh, if you're ever enticed to play with Gamma Radiation, just remember; small doses."

His eyes light up, "Oh so that's the secret. Gamma radiation to create the big green."

Natasha reaches forward to adjust the collar of his shirt, a Forest Green no less;

"I guess green's your color,' she leans forward slightly, 'Look after Alexei and Jason for me. Especially if this doesn't work or if the old me doesn't come back. Promise me."

"I promise,' He nods, serious for a moment before he smiles, 'No kiss goodbye?"

Natasha presses her lips against his cheek before releasing his collar.

Elizabeth calls from across the way, snapping her gum in the process;

"Hey idiot! Everyone's ready for Gandalf to arrive."

Bruce raises his voice to respond, "Thanks Cruella."

Natasha tilts her head as he goes to stand, eyes flicking toward Betty, "What about her."

He shrugs, "What about her."

"How'd you get her onboard."

He shoves his hands into his pocket to reveal a smaller device, "She's not all bad. Volunteered actually, I think she's waiting for me to blow everyone up."

Natasha laughs, placing the band on her wrist as she steps toward Alexei, "Watch your back with that one. And behave."

He scoffs. Romanoff takes Alexei's shoulder to give him a gentle hug and whispers;

"Everything will go back to normal. I promise."

"I know."

She nods toward Bruce; "Look after the pain in the ass."

Alexei laughs, "I will. Only for you."

She separates from him, giving a slightly confused Jason a pat on the back. Alexei grins hopefully, "Good luck..."

Elizabeth steps to lean an elbow over Banner's shoulder, the two sharing some sort of dialogue as Olga nudges Natasha with a nod.

Bruce raises his device and addresses the crowd, "Okay folks. Once I hit this button your triggers will go off and heighten all emotional responses,' he glances toward Romanoff, 'Hypothetically sending everyone home. Got it?"

The spies glance toward each other, suspicious over the simplicity.

Natasha stands closest to the doctor, shifting in her stance slightly as she looks at the group behind her. With one final nod she addresses Banner;

"See you in a minute."

"See you in a minute Mrs. Banner."

"Wait what-" Bruce gives a salute before she can respond. The lights flash under her eyelids the buzzing returning to flow through her veins as the world goes dark.

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

"There's been some activity over at that old abandoned building-"

Clint looks up once Maria makes her comment, glancing toward the team;

"What kind of activity?"

"Some kind of radioactive explosion, I don't know."

Jennifer's eyes widen with a realization as she sits at the table with the team;

"Radioactive how..."

Maria taps her screen, "Gamma rays? This makes no sense. We searched the building..."

Jennifer leaps up without a second thought. She exits the main room, hurrying down the hall toward the lab. She passes Barton the way, a foot from knocking him over. With a slide, Walters grabs at the entrance to the lab and pulls herself inside;

"Bruce-!"

Stark laughs, holding his tablet in one hand as he sits on the table;

"It worked didn't it?!"

Banner lifts a wire from his temple, calmer in his stance. With a vacant stare he makes eye contact with Jen and softens his tone;

"What now."

Walters pants, "It's that old building where we left Nat...they are getting gamma readings. It might not be abandoned anymore-"

Tony shamelessly nudges the fixated doctor and jumps up to leave the lab;

"I think we did it!"

Bruce steps forward with sudden urgency, eager to reach the front of the ship and see for himself. Izabella takes a small step to make him pause, carefully removing the second wire from the doctor. With a nod and a smile she mumbles something in Russian. Bruce smiles gratefully, turning to head toward the bridge. She follows as he runs ahead and with Jennifer in the lead, Tony picks up the rear.

The group meet on the bridge, Izabella smiling toward her aunt who takes her up in a gentle embrace.

Banner presses ahead, addressing both Fury and Barton who look over the readings;

"What is it."

Fury shakes his head, "It's as if there was a gamma explosion and suddenly we got readings."

"What kind of readings."

Clint grins, grabbing Bruce's shoulder as he points to the screen;

"That's Nat's homing device. If it's not her, we're at least one step closer."

Banner lifts his head up toward Maria, "How soon can we get there?"

"We're en route now doc."

"I wouldn't get too excited,' Steve enters with a vague stare, 'We've spotted Ivan headed in the same direction."

Thor steps in behind the Captain;

"Prepare for another altercation with his many minions."

Stark laughs, "Hey, if we can beat Blonsky we can beat these fools."

Fury snaps, pointing a finger toward the group, "Which reminds me, I want Hulk out of this-"

The team grumbles with disapproval, ready to argue. Nick raises a hand;

"I'm not going to have a bunch of casualties because of a lack of self-control."

"It was Blonsky what did you expect!" Jennifer retaliates.

Tony frowns, "You're being dramatic Nick-"

"Call the drama club!" Darcy snaps.

"It's a little much to make him stay."

Barton interjects over the voices.

Bruce stays fixated on the flashing red light over the map, barely hearing the team behind him. He mumbles without turning his head;

"I'll go as me,' the room goes silent, 'I don't think I'll need the other guy, for this..."

Fury nods with approval. Banner turns to view the crowd, focus on Izabella as he stares almost vacantly;

"The quicker we can get there the better. I'm in no mood for arguing."

The young girl stays fixated on the doctor. With the echo of gun shots crowding the majority of their thoughts, the two share a subtle and knowing glance.

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

"Natalia?" Alexei stands over a groggy red head, the dust settling over the lake. With light speckles left over in the night sky the calm returns to the night.

The woman sits up with a grumble, glancing over the field;

"Why am I outside?,' she points toward Elizabeth and Bruce, green eyes full of genuine confusion, 'Who are they?!"

He shakes his head, "Betty? Bruce?"

She stares at him with wide eyes, shaking her head;

"Am I supposed to know them?"

"Answer me one question,' Alexei leans in gently with a whisper, 'Are you a spy?"

She laughs, "If I was...?"

Alexei grins, satisfied with her answers. He glances toward Jason, now asleep in his arms;

"Oh, we have the ultimate bedtime

story to share with you tomorrow."