Her eyes initial open to a blurry image, blinking twice and then a third time before forcing herself to sit up. The cold brushes through her hair, familiar dark leather suit shielding from the wind. Natasha takes in her surrounding, content as she taps at her side for her weapon. Looking at her wrist she spots her missiles. Around her the spies begin to wake. Olga stands over her with an outstretched hand which Natasha takes with a slight grin;

"We made it."

The older woman points to the walls;

"We should try to find evidence of the next black ops pickup point."

Romanoff nods, checking her utilities for some kind of communication;

"Or SHEILD."

Olga shakes her head, "We both know these spies don't fight for the same cause."

Natasha shrugs, "No, but I bet they'd settle for anyone who can get them home."

"We only trust you because you're one of us."

With barely a reply, Natasha hands her knife to Olga, giving up on defending her job and consenting to allow a search for their own headquarters.

With a few shouts the spies are called together and follow Olga up the steps. Natasha waits behind, pistol in hand.

With a step forward toward the staircase she freezes, the name 'Natalia' echoing from the walls.

"Ukhodit'." She mumbles, aiming her weapon toward the walls.

A spy ahead of her glances backward, cautiously addressing Natasha;

"Are you ok?"

The red head nods, "Fine. Go, I'll catch up."

She scopes out the area, foot steps creaking against the floor. With a second call out she mumbles;

"I'm not falling for this again. Show yourself!"

Natasha aims her weapon, eyes shifting as her jaw clenches. With her finger on the trigger she recognizes the smugness in the voice behind her;

"Is that how you're going to great me Natalia."

She grits her teeth, firing her pistol over Ivan's shoulder as she pivots to face him;

"Give me a reason not to end you, and all of this. Right now."

"No need to be dramatic."

He chuckles, taking steps forward equal to hers. He circles her as she pivots, aiming her weapon;

"Did you or did you not work with Emil Blonsky to test on children."

"It's more complex then that,' he lifts a hand, pointing to the tall gentleman at the entrance, 'Ask Alexei."

With a swift reach she removes her second weapon, each hand aiming with a focused stare;

"I want answers and I want them now."

Alexei mumble, holding his own weapon, "Put it down Natalia, we can't settle things this way."

"The children! Did you or did you not infuse them with the serum."

Ivan scoffs, "Oh that was all Blonsky. He promised us freedom if we caved. I saw no harm in a balancing act. Something that could eventually take down threats."

Alexei interjects, slightly more composed then Ivan, "I only want to protect my country..."

"And so far,' Ivan continues to pace, 'SHEILD, has destroyed over 4 cities in the last few days. If that doesn't call for a retaliation-"

Natasha grinds her teeth, "They're here to defend and protect, clearly something you don't understand-"

"Not at the cost of thousands of lives."

She turns her head to address Alexei;

"Tell me what the difference is between that and and breaking up families-!"

"You were trained at a much younger age then these children-"

She faces Ivan, "I never asked to be given up."

"You're better for it..."

"I didn't ask for this life."

"Oh don't be like this Natalia-"

She narrows her focus, "Take one more step toward me and I will shoot."

Alexei glances between the two, "We just want to talk-"

"I'm not interested-"

"You don't have a choice. The spies you freed all have a small, dime size bomb attached to their heels. If you kill us, I light them up."

She holds her stance, eyes fixated on Ivan;

"Doubt it. I sensed nothing and thanks to the training I know you're bluffing. I always knew you were crazy, I never took you for a mass murderer, which you are to have teamed up with someone who wants my husband dead so bad he'd hurt children- So stop rambling and answer me; Where is SHIELD."

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

Bruce slides over toward the injured teammate, tossing his bag from off his shoulder with urgency. Two young volunteers meet him on the opposite side, prepared to help and do whatever Bruce says next.

Off all the injuries sprawled over the field he naturally prioritizes a friend. The injured party clenching her teeth as she gives the doctor a grateful nod.

Izabella looks over cautiously, reaching to hand over a cloth. With a protective hover over the child, Bruce defends them as the explosions continue. The field swarming with revengeful minions of Emil.

He bites at his lip, mind half focusing on controlling his rage as he points to the young boy;

"Cover us!"

Brody takes his stance, harnessing every power he has to defend the group.

Barton takes a stand beside him, worry swarming as he looks down toward Maria and clutches his com;

"Maria's down."

Hill clutches her leg, wincing as Bruce applies pressure in a solid hold over her calf;

"Talk to me."

She keeps her teeth clenched, "It's not bad."

Izabella stays focused, handing Bruce his tools. It was a small argument between Izabella and her Aunt to consent to her coming along. A battle the young girl won by pointing out that she would stay beside the hulk at all time, a man who has never let her family down before.

"I think I can remove the bullet, I see it, just hold still," Banner mumbles.

"Now?!" Barton snaps.

Bruce grinds his teeth, focused intently on the project at hand;

"Breathe."

Within seconds he's completed his task, reaching for the wrappings offered by Izabella. Banner addresses Maria with soft contact;

"You're off the field."

She nods, begrudgingly giving in to his order;

"I know."

With Cap's arrival, he and Barton help her up, leaving the SHEILD agents who have just arrived to aid her the rest of the way.

Steve points toward Banner, "We may have more injuries down in that direction. I don't know if any of the medical team has gotten to her- Younger girl. She's behind the boulder."

The doctor nods, making his way through the wreckage when Stark makes contact;

"The serum is ready! We can flood the field and stun any meta. Thor's ready to make it happen."

Bruce clutches his piece;

"You can't do that yet! We have kids down. They need their powers to heal-,' the com goes fuzzy, static swarming through the technology, 'Tony!"

Bruce tosses his piece, crushing it with a half green fist. Izabella stays close, eager to aid the next victim. She spots her friend, making the connection as she quickly kneels beside her. With a few Russian words she calms the startled child, making eye contact with Bruce;

"It's alright. We're gonna patch you up."

The girl shuts her eyes, letting the doctor brush over her forehead to view the bruise. He points to her head, addressing Izabella;

"Concussion."

She nods, reaching into her own bag to take out the medication Bruce previously advised was for 'the head'.

With a few maneuvers, the SHEILD agents rush to the scene to take over. Izabella is hesitant to part with her friend, refocusing on Banner with a renewed sense of urgency among the wreckage;

"Natasha need us."

He nods, reading her worried expression;

"I know. How close are we..."

She shakes her head, looking up toward the sky and over the field for something familiar.

He scans over the field, on the verge of exploding with his alter ego. The sounds surrounding the area seem to go mute under each of their thoughts.

It was an unpredictable vision. Barely visible to them. But they had heard the screams. The gun shots a vividly left in their mind. They could feel her pain. Unsure of when, Izabella could only go off of the light she was confident that she saw.

He reaches for his ear piece, recalling he had smashed it moments earlier;

"Well ugh. I can't,' he reaches to pull her to the side, 'Look out."

She hides her cheek against the rock, with one fist clenched her eyes shut she ducks over a blast aimed in their direction.

Izabella hugs at his bicep, arm left across her for safety. She looks up for reassurance, meeting a hazy stare;

"I lost my com Izabella, I can't reach the team-"

With a lifted fist she unfolds her fingers. He huffs, "Where'd you get that?"

She grins, "Stark gave me."

"Of course he did,' He takes it gratefully, pressed up against the debris for cover, 'Tony! We're not getting any closer to Tasha's homing device. We've been here for hours."

"Where are you?"

"Um. Hard to explain,' he moves slightly, jumping over the shot, 'Where Cap sent me."

"What does that mean-"

"One more shot this way and the green's going to come out."

"I see them,' Barton's voice comes through, 'Stay where you are I'm trying to land the jet now."

Stark yells, "Don't! There's a mob coming, we need to release the chemicals, it's now or never."

Banner lifts his gaze, glancing over the debris. Off in the distance he sees the figures. With a narrowing focus he recognizes the leader;

"Don't! It's Black Ops-"

"On our side?!" Stark shouts back.

Bruce presses the com;

"Don't. Shoot, anything. I just know it's them."

"How?! Fury is going to defend-"

"I recognize the leader- just stand down and trust me!"

Izabella watches carefully, following after Banner urges her to do so. They pick up the pace, greeting a softened Olga at the end of the hill. She grips at Banners arm, making eye contact as he asks for Natasha;

"She's there still. We have to go now."

Starks snaps over the com;

"Talk to us Brucey!"

He presses the button, "Just follow us. She knows where Natasha is."

Olga pauses, holding her hand out to restrain him from running off an extra minute;

"It might be time to get angry-"

"It might."

He takes a step forward, paused again this time when she hands him an extra weapon. Bruce takes up the pistol with a nod, leading the group forward.

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

Natasha continues holds her stance. With her muscles tingling with fatigue she continues to stay strong;

"Your mistake was coming here without backup."

Ivan scoffs, now standing much closer to the red head, "Your mistake was sending yours away."

"Just tell me what you want with me. I'll give up, I'll surrender. As long as you pull the kids from the field and tell Blonsky to stop the assault."

Alexei retorts, "Blonsky is dead."

"Crushed to be more specific. Your tender, gentle Vrach ensured nothing was left."

She glares over Ivan's words;

"He deserved it."

"The threat is coming to pass and you're angry at the wrong people Natalia."

She snaps her head toward Alexei;

"Ivan's gotten into your head- what is he offering you?!? SHEILD could have used the Red Guardian."

"Quiet."

She shakes her head, staying fixated on her ex despite his protest;

"You know it's true. You could be a part of the team. You could be doing good instead of hurting families- what is wrong with you?!"

"It is no different from you or I,' he inhales, standing proudly, 'Unlike you, I accept who I am."

"Which is what?! Right now you're a mass murderer probably responsible for multiple deaths. Why?! Do you really believe this is the right thing to do?"

Ivan steps forward, "He does. And he'll defend me at all cost. So I would lower the weapon."

Natasha holds her pistols, prepared to take action;

"I should blow you both up for what you've done."

"Set a detonator?"

She narrows her focus, pressing her wrist without missing a beat;

"I flick my wrists, and we all go down. Turn yourselves in and no one gets hurt."

Ivan grins, laughing through his teeth. He glances up toward her;

"Oh Natalia. So much potential. Wasted on the young. If you'd just accept change things could be different."

She scoffs, "I'm trained to kill the bad guy. Stop talking and prove to me why I shouldn't-"

"Am I not your father?"

Natasha grits her teeth, angered by his dragging family into their confrontation;

"No. You're not my father. Not by blood. Not by any sense of the word."

"So full of anger-"

"You gave up that title when you gave me up."

"To protect you-"

"Svo-lach."

"My dear daughter. I loved you."

"You've proven otherwise."

"And you won't join us? For Russia?"

"Russia has nothing to do with your cryptic sadistic plot."

Ivan purses his lips. Taking a step back in his position. His hands fall to the back, clasping his fingers;

"I tried,' he exhales, 'I truly tried."

Natasha inhales, standing strong. While she watches with intent focus;

"Alexei?"

The younger man looks up attentively, ready to oblige. Ivan loads his weapon, eyes focused downward;

"Kill her."

Natasha raises her weapon, firing mercilessly in Ivan's direction with her eyes tinging red. The gun shot echoing in her ears. She flips to face Alexei and lifts her gun;

"Don't make me do this."

He lowers his own weapon, looking deep into her eyes. She swallows hard, memories rushing back in a flood.

His voice hurts her soul, heart crumbling with a heavy weight inside her. She stiffens her muscles, firm in her resolve as she loads her weapon. With the sound of a click she hears the sound of a million footsteps.

Her head whips to look over her shoulder, seeing a familiar disheveled shape entering the space with urgency as he leads in the Calvary. His cocoa stare causing her heart to pound.

A voice calls out her name. His gentle to tone ringing in her ears. Her attention deviates. With a nudge she shifts her stare, seeing a weapon aimed in her direction from a half lifeless Ivan all too late.

Time stops, her head rattling when she hears the sound of a shot and feels the weight of a man jumping to lunge in front of her. She reaches to catch him, feeling him fall into her arms.

With a brief look out over the room Natasha forces her own anger to subside. Seeing Ivan rot wouldn't be enough but watching the life leave her once trusted care taker remains a conflicting emotion. With Stark and Thor looking over Ivan, Tony confirms;

"He's dead."

Natasha clenches her jaw, unable to feel any emotion for the man. Her hand holds Banner's neck, gentle opposite hand brushing his curls;

"You're an idiot for jumping in front of me."

With hands clutching his side he grits his teeth, eyes half open long enough to see her. He mumbles and jokes half heartedly;

"I missed you too-"

Alexei drops his weapon, ready to kneel at Natasha's level before Steve steps forward to cuff the surrendering criminal.

Jennifer falls to her knees, opposite Natasha as she presses her hands over her cousin's side. She forcibly removes his own and with a worried stare addresses the team;

"He needs to transform- watch the blood. No one can touch it or you'll be in trouble, got it Izabella?"

He grumbles from the ground, fingertips changing color, "Relax Jen-"

"Oh, you're welcome."

Stark makes his way over, taking the opportunity to push Alexei as he makes his way to his friend;

"That's gotta hurt."

Bruce scoffs, angry through his humor, "You think?!"

Natasha keeps her hand running through his curls, eyes fixated on her husband;

"I don't think he can change- I want the bullet tested for Virbranium."

Tony shakes his head, watching Steve drag away Alexei toward Nick Fury who has now met up with the crew and walls with the Captain;

"I'll scan it. If I can get to it."

Natasha points, "It was Ivan's weapon."

Stark stands to go investigate, switching his suit to scan.

Izabella nudges Jen at her shoulder, lifting the medical bag;

"I do it."

Jen shakes her head, "Are you listening to me? You can't touch his blood. You'll turn green yourself."

The girl kneels to stare Jennifer directly in the eye, "I can."

Walters freezes, sensing her determination as Stark mumbles from the sidelines;

"Mild Vibranium detections. There's some other component I've never heard of in the mix- probably what's causing a delay in transformation."

Romanoff looks over the team, "I want him on the ship before the bullet gets removed. I can stitch him."

Walters shakes her head, "Oh hell no. I got this."

Bruce grits his teeth, turning his head to see Izabella;

"She can do it,' he tentatively reaches his slightly trembling hand, 'I'll help her."

Natasha snaps, "Are you kidding me right now?!"

Tony lifts a hand to calm both women;

"Just let her do it. She's got a strange tolerance to gamma rays. If she can get the bullet out he can transform,' He receives an evil glare from Natasha who he turns to address, 'I'd just recommend eventually thanking the both of them for getting you home."

Jen helps the girl unpack her tools, carefully leaning forward to see his injury, "You know what you're doing?"

Izabella gently guides her tool toward the open wound, eyeing the bullet. She speaks a few words to Natasha in their own language, urging her to be calm and to trust her. Romanoff shakes her head, and looking down at Bruce she whispers;

"You brought her out on a battle?!"

With his eyes shut he manages a grin;

"She wanted to come- Easy Izabella, gently!"

"Her aunt seriously let you do that?!"

"She knows!"

Natasha shakes her head, "I'm going to pretend you're just irresponsible because I wasn't around."

"Tasha! Ow!...Can we talk about this later-?"

"Yeah. We can talk about that and how you're not supposed to jump in front of bullets!"

He waits an extra moment, teeth clenched tightly as he mumbles, "I'll always take a bullet for you."

"You are...so sweet and so dumb. I can't live without you."

Jen rolls her eyes sarcastically, "He needs to stop talking so he can breathe. Please and thanks,' she turns toward Izabella, 'How old are you?!"

The Russian girl gives her an angry stare down before refocusing on the doctor. The girl looks up apologetically toward Bruce, hating to hurt her mentor and continues to work under his direction. Walters turns her head and grimaces slightly over the procedure;

"I'm ready to turn green."

"Don't! -Fury is going to kill me."

Stark frowns, "Oh shut up. He'll get over it."

Jen shrugs, "I meant I might throw up but...yeah, understood."

The young girl bites her lip, maneuvering for an extra moment before successfully revealing the bullet. Natasha nods, ready to leave the building and it's memories behind;

"Great! Stitch him up and let's go."

Jen looks down, feeling her own senses tingle;

"I think he might be able to fix himself from here..."

Natasha glances down toward him, seeing his eyes shut loosely. When they reopen, green floods his iris. She grins;

"Go for it Hulk."

Tony gently urges the young girl to step back, "Back it up Izzy. He's gotta rage."

Natasha stands once her husband has transformed. She looks up toward his eyes, connecting after what feels like forever.

She turns her head toward Tony,

"Where's Clint?"

"With Maria,' he suits up, 'They're on the ship. She got injured on the battle field so she's resting."

She turns between Jen and Tony;

"I'm going to find Clint, Izabella, come with me. After I drop her, I'm going to shoot my ex."

Jen's eyes widen, "Romanoff! Geez! Don't ask me for help when you're dragged to court. I really don't want to defend the guilty anymore."

Natasha rolls her eyes over not being understood, "Get my man back to the ship in one piece. I'll meet you all in onboard."