Chapter Twelve: Chalsea And Ross Come Face To Face
Her father has been on Asgard with Thor for almost a year and it's almost the summer of 2016 but they do get massages from him checking in and to see how Chalsea is doing. Her and Bucky are still going strong and it will be a year next week. They could not be happier and nothing could bring them down. Well almost nothing could bring them down because what no one knew was that Secretary Ross was plotting against them and making up false accusations about Sokovia. He was going around spreading lies that the team caused unparalleled destruction to the city that buildings were burnt down and it's citizens were severely injured. But the people of Sokovia and the world knew the truth. However that wasn't stopping Ross, so one day he showed up at the compound unannounced and demanded the team meet him in the briefing room.
Chalsea however was not present upon his arrival and was out for a swim in the lake behind the compound. And when she arrived back inside and had a quick shower and changed into a clean summer dress that flowed when she walked. When she walked into the common room she was confused because everyone should be in there at this time. "F.R.I.D.A.Y. where is everyone?" She asks the A.I curiously. "They are in the briefing room Miss Chalsea, the Secretary showed up for an unannounced visit." Her robotic voice replied back. So with that Chalsea headed for the briefing room to see what was going on. When she arrived she froze in her spot because standing in front of the team was the one man she never wanted to see again.
Wanda notices her first before motioning to her brother who was sitting next to Sam and he motioned to Clint who motioned to Vision who motioned to Natasha and she motioned to Steve and he got Rhodey's attention and he subtly kicked Tony in the shin and pointed his chin to the door where Chalsea was standing and looking at Ross. Tony's eyes went wide and he jumped up quickly and went to move towards her but Ross stopped him. "I didn't say you could leave Stark. What could be so important that you would leave this room?" Ross demands before turning to see what has everyone's attention. Chalsea's face drains of all color when he turns to look at her and she moves to step back. "Stop right there." Ross commands sternly. She freezes in her place as he steps forward.
"Who are you?" He demands. Her eyes quickly shoot around the room looking for a way to escape and finding none. "I asked you a question so you better answer me young lady." He hisses at her. She glances at Tony and Rhodey and they both give her encouraging smiles and as she looks around the room she can see the other's all giving her the same smile. So she stands tall and takes a deep calming breath. "You don't recognize me General after all you are the reason my father is who he is today?" Chalsea states confidently. "Chalsea Banner, I was wondering where you disappeared to." Ross smirks at her.
"I wouldn't have if you just left my father alone. He was close to succeeding with the Bio-Tech Force Enhancement Project but you just had to push him to speed up the process causing the explosion that turned him into the Hulk." She comments. "What do you know you were just a little girl." Ross patronizes her. "I know everything. I may have only been eleven years old when it all happened. But I was smart enough to know the explosion would have never happened if it wasn't for you. You're the reason I couldn't be with my father for four years because he had to leave to keep me safe from you. Not the hulk but you a man who doesn't care about anyone but himself. A man who threatened to use another man's daughter as bait when you have one of your own. My father never got to teach me how to drive, he never got to see me graduate high school at sixteen with honors and the top of my class. He never got to be there when I graduated from college and got my first PHD at sixteen or when I got two more at seventeen or when I got one more at eighteen. That is four years I will never get back with my father all because you wanted to destroy him because you thought he was too dangerous. A mindless beast is what you called him but he is no beast. He is a gentle giant who has more love, compassion, kindness and love in his little finger than you have in your whole body General." She finishes her speech by stopping directly in front of him.
The room is completely silent with the team sitting on the edge of their seats ready to jump up and stand in front of Chalsea if they need to. Bucky has the armrest on his chair in a death grip as he watches everything unfold. "But there are a few good things that came from my father becoming the hulk." She comments. "And what would that be. I can't be anything special." Ross smirks at her. "Oh it's very special. It gave me the world's best protector, it gave me three uncles who would do anything to keep me safe, it gave me eight best friends and it brought me the love of my life. So you see General I'm no longer afraid of you." She states with a voice full of conviction and strength.
"I am still the Secretary and you can't speak to me like that. This team will have to deal with the consequences of their actions in Sokovia." Ross growls. "Oh fuck off with all that bullshit. Your lies are getting you nowhere, the whole world knows nothing happened in Sokovia and that it is still all in one piece and it is also thriving from the help with the donations from the team. So if you just take your head out of your ass long enough you can see that this team is what keeps your ass alive. So you can just take that little document there and shove up your ass." She threatens.
Ross moves to grab her but is stopped by Bucky grabbing him by the throat with his metal hand and choke slamming him to the floor. "You will not lay a finger on her." Bucky hisses in Ross' face. "F.R.I.D.A.Y would you be a dear and call the UN and let them know about Ross." Tony orders. "Already done Boss, they are sending MP's to come and arrest him now and to take him to the raft." The A.I replies and Chalsea swears she can hear a smirk in her voice.
Steve steps up behind Ross and zip ties his hands together and shoves him down in a chair to wait for the MP's. Chalsea moves to the back of the room by the big floor to ceiling windows. She lets out a shaky breath once she is away from Ross and can breath. Bucky walks up to her and gently pulls her into his arms and she wraps her arms around his waist and grips the back of his shirt. "I got you Star. I'm right here baby." He soothes her. Tony walks up to them followed by Rhodey "You should take her back to her room. Get her away from him. I don't want them in the same room any longer than they already have been." "Tony whispers quietly to Bucky.
He nods before lifting her up into his arms bridal style and carrying her from the room and out of sight. The journey back to her room is quiet with only the sounds of her soft sniffles as she fights off the tears. He kicks her door closed behind him gently and walks over to her bed where he lays her down and takes off her shoes and his own before climbing in next to her. He pulls her close and she automatically hides her face in his neck. "It's alright now baby, he can't get to you. He is going away for a very long time. I've got you it's ok just breathe and let it out." He whispers against the top of her head.
She cries softly as he holds her close and gently runs his fingers through her hair to help sooth her and calm her down. Her breathing finally slows down and her tears stain her cheeks. He looks down to see she cried herself to sleep. He places a soft kiss on her forehead. Natasha comes to check on her an hour later to see her asleep. "How long has she been asleep?" She asks Bucky quietly. "Not long, maybe an hour. We are gonna stay in here for the rest of the day. Can you or Steve save us a plate for dinner, she may not want to eat right away?" Bucky replies. "Yeah of course. I'll let the others know not to disturb you." Natasha offers before walking from the room.
Bucky looks down when he feels Chalsea move only to find her adjusting to get more comfortable. He waits a few minutes to see if she will go back into a deep sleep before kissing her cheek gently and pulling her closer. He pulls the covers around them more before relaxing further into the sheets and drifting off into a light sleep. Chalsea sleeps for the rest of the day and all through the night until early the next morning. The MP's finally came and got Ross two hours after Chalsea told him off and the UN was notified of his agenda. After finding out Ross has been arrested Chalsea could finally let out a breath of relief and thank the gods above that he can never hurt her or her father again. Bruce is going to be in for a big shock when he returns in a few weeks and he is gonna be even more shocked when he finds out his daughter tore into Ross and ripped him a new one.
