A/N: Own nothing Avengers….hope you enjoy….There is some violence towards the end of the chapter, but is necessary to get General Ross taken care of and our boys can get back to some much needed lovin'…
Shout out for GHIM: Thank you for your recent review, just finished this chapter and hope you and everyone enjoys the action so now the story can get back to the 'Good' action...lol
A Need of Ten
You want some Ross with your Coffee?
Everything was set, everyone was in place and Bruce was ready, well for the most part. Tony hooked Bruce up with an ear piece so the Team could talk to him and hopefully keep him calm along with a microscopic pin camera attached to a lapel pin in the replica of Steve's shield was placed on Bruce camel colored sport jacket. Bruce explained to Tony that Betty knows his clothing style and if he shows up in anything different or flashy she would be suspect. Tony grumbled about updated Bruce's wardrobe when this is over but eventually agreed, if only reluctantly and made some minor adjustments to his tech.
Bucky and Steve were stationed in an unmarked van across the street with Agent Hill, Director Fury and a handpicked group of elite SHEILD agents were located in two more vans a few cars down on either side of Steve and Bucky's van; Sam was already seated at a table in the cafe facing the door with a ball cap, newspaper and coffee on hand. Tony was perched high with Clint, his Iron Man suit on sentry mode as he switched his special glasses to infrared, seeing clearly into the café, while Clint climbs up even higher so he could to see several blocks in each direction and eyes on all three of the SHEILD vans.
"Everyone check in?" Steve asks over the comms.
"Copy that", "In position", was heard several times over through the comms as everyone checked in including a "Damn this coffee is expensive" from Sam causing chuckles to be heard over the comms.
"Eyes on Bruce about to enter the café. Hey Bruce the 80's called they want their jacket back" Clint chimed in getting some chuckles over the comms, till Bruce holds up his middle finger in the air for Clint to see.
"Copy that Clint, Bruce put that away bud" Steve calls out, Bruce blushes smiling to himself hearing Steve's deep voice.
"Eyes on" Sam mumbles over comms as he watches Bruce enter the café and takes a sip of his overly priced coffee and picks up the newspaper in front of him.
Bruce enters the café at 1:55, easily finding Sam in the corner and then begins to look around for Betty, spotting her at another corner table with her back to the wall facing the door, leaving Bruce to sit across from her with his back to the door. Bruce makes his way over to her table; luckily the café is not overly crowded.
"Camera looks good Bruce, you're doing great, we're right there with you" Bucky relays over the comms.
Bruce takes a deep breath hearing Bucky's reassuring voice.
"Betty" Bruce says quietly as a very attractive woman looks up and smiles, her long dark hair pulled back into a low pony tail, a light application of make-up along with thick royal blue turtle neck sweater showing off her curves.
"Bruce" Betty smiles warmly at him.
"May I?" Bruce asks gesturing at the chair.
"Of course" Betty smiles again but Bruce can tell she's nervous.
"I've heard their green tea here is quite good, very soothing" Betty informs Bruce.
"It is, this is one of my favorite spots to pick up loose leaf green tea and Tony's special decaf blend of coffee that he likes and can't seem to get enough of" Bruce replies chuckling to himself as his nerves are on edge especially with his back to the door.
"What…why you…" Tony sputters over the comms causing everyone to chuckle.
"Good I took the liberty of ordering for us" Betty tells Bruce who smiles due to hearing Tony's words.
"Thank you" Bruce whispers when he hears Steve's calm voice through the comms.
"Bruce we have Natasha on the inside at the bar fixing your drink order so it will be safe" Steve informs Bruce.
The waitress brings over two steaming mugs, one coffee the other tea "Here you go, with extra honey sir"
Bruce looks up and recognizes Natasha through the wig and make-up and gives her a big smile, "Thank you ma'am"
"Just let me know if you need anything else, we have some freshly made blueberry tarts, just out of the oven if you're interested" the waitress/Nat comments giving Bruce a wink and a lite pat on the shoulder before heading back behind the counter to work/watch.
"Nice Widow" Clint says over the comms.
"Yeah great now I want blueberry tarts" Tony grumbles causing everyone to chuckle and Bruce grins around his tea mug hearing Tony's voice again.
"Lock it up people" Fury calls out and comms go silent again.
"Betty you wanted to talk so talk, what's going on" Bruce wants to move things along.
Betty looks down into her coffee mug before setting it down onto the table and sighs, "He's looking for you, planning something and he's never going to stop Bruce"
Bruce takes several deep breaths as he looks down into his tea mug listening to Bucky's voice.
"Bruce deep even breaths, that's right good job, we are right here and we're not going to let anyone hurt you" Bucky whispers over the comm.
Bruce looks up at Betty, "Tell me something I don't already know Betty, tell me something useful that I can use to help protect myself, my friends and family. Or was this just another ploy to get me out in the open like last time, that didn't work to well last time did it" Bruce states his voice comes across hard and accusing.
"Calm big guy, calm" Tony whispers over the comms.
Bruce lets out a deep sigh and takes a sip of his tea hearing a "Good Bruce, you're doing so good." This time the reassurance came from Steve.
"Bruce" Betty reaches out to lay her hand on Bruce's arm, "the little press conference that the Avengers put on only enraged him and you know what he's like, he's become obsessed even more than normal….he's….he's a good man Bruce, he's just blinded by…." Betty doesn't finish her thought leaving Bruce wondering what is really going on, feeling more and more like this is a trap and the rat is going to make an appearance.
Bruce lays his hand over Betty's giving it a quick squeeze before removing it from his arm gently, "Betty, at one time yes I believe the General, your father was a good man, a patriotic war hero that fought for his country and knew right from wrong, but that man is gone and I can't live my life under a rock or on the run in some back water third world country again trust me I've tried, but not anymore, I won't Betty, not even for you"
There was a heavy silence at the table as everyone on the comms held their collective breathes.
Bruce leans in just a bit towards Betty, "Betty I found something here, I don't know what you would call it, a cause a purpose even. I help the Team and make a real contribution to SI's R&D and Science departments, I'm doing good work here and it doesn't matter what color my skin is, Betty I am wanted here and dare I even say loved for me" Bruce tells Betty whispering the last bit but is heard by all on the comms and Betty seems to deflate with the revelation.
"Damn skippy you are Bruce across the board buddy" Tony comments over comms followed by a "Damn straight" the other Team members and a surprising chuckle by Fury.
Steve and Bucky are so moved by Bruce's words that they are rendered speechless till Bruce's next words are heard.
"So if he wants me then he needs to man up and come get me, because I'm not going quietly and for once I have the law and the Team in my corner. If the rat wants to take the cheese he better be willing to stick his neck out and face the snap of the trap" Bruce tells her to the hisses heard over the comms.
"Damn it Bruce"
Bruce flinches a bit hearing Steve's voice but hopes Betty doesn't notice as he tries to recover enough by taking a sip of his tea.
Betty reaches out again to lay her hand on Bruce's arm, "I'm sorry Bruce….I'm sorry I couldn't give you more, what you needed"
"I know Betty and I want you to be happy and safe to, get married have kids…I just can't give you those things" Bruce says bringing her hand up to kiss her knuckles.
"Smooth Romeo" Sam mumbles through the comms.
"Hey no kissy kissy big guy, those lips belong to us" Tony calls out over the comms causing Bruce to smile against her knuckles and Sam to choke on his coffee.
"Stark" Fury groans.
"Cap heads up, we have some major movement coming down the street heading north towards the café and more emerging from the south, this is it guys whatever's about to go down is going to happen quick, eta 5 minutes" Clint calls out.
"Tony suit up, but stay low we don't want to tip them off" Steve orders.
"Copy that" Tony replies as he activates the Iron Man suit and it wraps around his body and links up with Jarvis.
Bruce sees Sam get up from his table and head towards the counter to check out, now standing closer to Bruce.
"How was everything sir" Natasha asks.
"Good, I would like to order 2 dozen of those blueberry tarts I heard you mention to the other table; I have a friend that has a thing for blueberries" Sam says grinning at Natasha who rolls her eyes at Sam.
"Two minutes, they're almost right on top of you" Clint calls out.
"He sure the hell not going for a stealthy entrance" Fury grumbles out over the comms, shaking his head at the chaos and stupidity of this move as a mass amount of jeeps, blacked out vans and even tanks begin coming from each direction.
"Figures he's within his rights and can't be touched" Steve responds to Fury.
"What the hell" Sam sounds pissed noticing the caravan of vehicles amassing in front of the café before he looks over at Natasha, both pulling out their hidden weapons when Sam looks over to Bruce who is starting to panic.
"Bruce, I'm sorry" Betty shouts out before she is violent grabbed from her chair by one of the café workers and dragged out the front doors and put into one of the blacked out vans, while the remaining customers and employees scrabble to get out with yells and screams leaving Sam, Natasha, and Bruce.
"Well this is all horrible" Bruce comments sarcastically when General Ross is finally seen climbing out of one of the jeeps and shows himself full of pomp and swagger, grabbing a megaphone.
"Dr. Bruce Banner you need to come on out, we don't want anyone getting hurt and we don't want the monster of yours to show up either" Ross calls out over the megaphone.
Bruce sighs and begins to walk out of the café when he is stopped by Sam and Natasha.
"Bruce don't you dare" Natasha says.
"Why, so he can fire into the café with you all still in here, you know he will Nat and not think anything of it" Bruce calmly tells them.
"Steve we need a little help here, Big Cheese is going to feed the Rat" Sam calls out over the comms.
"Ah hell no" Bucky yells throwing off the headset grabs his weapon and throws the van door open quickly followed by Steve with his shield.
"Sir the cats are out of the cage" Agent Hill calls out to Fury.
"Damn it, Agents deploy keep Ross and his men in front of you, keep this mess contained and the civilians back" Fury orders as he and Agent Hill now exit their selected vans.
As Bruce, Natasha and Sam with their weapons drawn, exit out of the café General Ross couldn't help himself, smirking with arrogances and smugness till Iron Man carrying Clint lands next to Bruce followed by Bucky and Steve, who has not so subtlety been taking down a few of Ross's men to push their way through, so now they all stand together as a Team. Clint draws an arrow into his bow, Sam and Natasha raise their weapons, Tony powers up his repulsors, and Bucky raises his weapon. Steve, with his Shield on his arm steps forward.
"General Ross, I'm afraid there is a problem with that order" Steve informs Ross, his voice hard and firm.
"Oh really, and why is that Captain" Ross's arrogance shines through.
"See Sir Dr. Banner is a member of our Team and we don't take to kindly to any of our Team members being threatened, kidnapped, tortured or anything else you may have in mind. So I highly recommend Sir that you disperse your troops before somebody gets hurt" Steve tells General Ross to the huffs and snickers from the group behind him.
General Ross steps up to Steve, very much into his personal space, "That so Captain, tell me how've you been feeling, all healed up? Did your precious Team get you thawed out again?" Ross asks, his voice deep his attitude cocky.
Steve growls lowly at Ross who just smirks at him like he just discovered a secret, "Hmm, maybe a chose wrong man, maybe there's a monster inside of you? Interesting… and I know your friend Sergeant Barnes already has a built in monster along with Agent Romanoff… You're no hero's, you're just a group of dressed up pimped out monsters for that one eyed jackel"
Steve moves to take a swing at Ross and in response his men raise their weapons to take aim at the Team when Bruce calls out, "Steve don't"
Steve pulls back wanting to desperately knock Ross's smug look off his face but instead slowly backs away from him to stand with his Team.
"You are not welcome here General Mustache so I suggest you take your little toy soldiers and skedaddle back to whatever you hole you crawled out of" Tony calls out after lifting his face plate on the Iron Man suit.
While Steve and Ross were having their standoff, Fury and Agent Hill along with their SHEILD agents worked to surround Ross's men, systematically and quietly taking them down and removing them from the scene. Once done, Fury stepped forward.
"General Ross, on behalf of the Strategic Homeland Intervention Enforcement and Logistics Division you are being place under arrest" Furry announces noticing there is a crowd of civilians starting to gather.
Ross turns his attention to Fury and scoffs, "On what charges"
Fury stares down hard at General Ross, "For the kidnapping and torture of Captain Steven G. Rogers and the attempt to kidnapping, torture and experimentation of one Dr. Robert Bruce Banner"
Ross looks over at the Avengers still standing at the ready and then back at Fury, "It will never hold you one eyed bastard" Ross spit out.
What happened next, was in a blink of an eye, a millisecond of time; Ross sees an opening to Bruce.
Ross pulls a hidden pistol, takes aim and fires…..perfect head shot. Even with Steve's quick reflexes it wasn't enough. Bruce goes down and slides back towards the café entrance from the force of the bullet.
"NO!"…."OH GOD OH GOD"…."FUCK"….."BRUCE!…OH GOD NO!"
Screams and shouts were heard from his friends and lovers followed by gasps and cries from the crowd of civilian witnesses.
Fury knocked General Ross to his knees, kicking the gun away that was quickly picked up by a SHEILD agent for evidence, till he is joined by Agent Hill who not so gently cuffs him pulling him back up to his feet, the entire time Ross is laughing manically.
"You're in for it now, there will be no stopping the beast" Ross yells out as he is hauled away and thrown into the back of the SHIELD van. Fury and Agent Hill join the rest of the Team around Bruce's body.
"Oh god…no no no no no…please Bruce…please come back" Tony now out of the Iron Man suit sobs into Bruce's chest.
Bucky turns away from the scene and begins to hammer his metal fist into the brick wall of the café crying and screaming in anger, while Steve collapses down to his knees in shock, silent tears rolling down his cheeks. Natasha, Clint stand in shock watching not sure what to do while Sam places a hand on Steve's shaking shoulder as he lets out deep and painful sob.
Fury looks over at Agent Hill then down at his watch, waiting.
Tony notices it first, especially since his head was resting on Bruce's chest, a chest that is now breathing and growing rather quickly.
"Shit" Tony cries out.
Bucky turns to look at Tony before pulling him back from Bruce as everyone took a healthy step back and watch as Bruce's body slowly and very painfully grows into a very confused and pissed off Hulk.
"If any of you want to show off your Hulk wrangling skills, now would be the time to impress me" Fury whispers loudly.
Hulk grunts and groans as he stands up and spits out the bullet onto the ground at the Team's feet before letting out a vibrating roar. Steve bends down to pick up the bullet with awe before placing it into one of the pockets of his utility belt on his uniform.
"Hulk buddy, we got him…it's over" Steve says as Hulk moves to stand in front of Steve and releases a monstrous roar, but Steve does not move or coward away from him.
"Hulk please…you saved Bruce's life, you did it big guy…you did good" Tony says as he steps up next to Steve and Bucky joins them on Tony's other side.
Hulk roars again, "Banner hurt…promised….Hulk take care of Banner"
"We did our best big guy…can Bruce come back now?" Tony asks causing Hulk to huff at him and Tony to smirk at Hulks unique personality.
Hulk shakes his head no at Tony's request and plops down on the sidewalk in front of the cafe with a grunt, "Banner healing"
"Um…okay…are you helping him heal buddy?" Tony asks fascinated by the science of it all.
"Hulk help" Hulk grunts.
Fury looks over to Agent Hill noticing she has a small hand held camera and is filming this entire interaction, hoping that this could be helpful to SHIELD and possibly Dr. Banner at some point.
"Banner need rest" Hulk groans out as he falls back and the Team, Fury, Agent Hill and the massing crowd watch in awe as the Hulk begins to painfully shrink back down changing back into Bruce revealing his beautiful pale chest and only incased in the remains of his stretched out pants. Tony kneels down placing his fingers at Bruce's neck to check for a pulse and turns to the Team.
"He's alive"
Cries and cheers are heard from the crowd and heavy sighs of relief are released from the Team.
"Alright everybody, we need to get General Ross taken to a secure location for processing and Dr. Banner back to the Tower for rest and recovery" Fury orders out.
"Yes Sir" Agent Hill responds closing up her hand held camera, turns and begins to make her way over to the vehicle holding Ross. Sam, Clint and Natasha work with the local authorizes to help disperse the crowd of civilians along with Fury and the SHIELD agents, leaving Tony, Bucky and Steve with a unconscious Bruce.
"Tony do you want to take off in your suit and head towards the Tower to make sure the suite is ready for Bruce, I'm thinking a long rest for everybody is going to be needed" Bucky gently asks.
Tony doesn't immediately reply so Bucky kneels down next to him, lifting his head up so he is looking at him, "Tony love, it's okay…he's going to be ok and if it was safe for you to fly him to the Tower we would be all for it, but I think a slow gentle ride is best till we can get him into bed, okay" Bucky coos to Tony and Tony just nods his head, tears free flowing now.
Bucky leans in to whisper into Tony's ear, "Love, have Jarvis control the flight, shower and change, grab Mr. Bear for Bruce and I will personal hold you till you tell me to let go, okay…just be strong a little bit longer buddy…hmm"
Tony nods again.
"Verbal answer love"
"Yes sir"
"Good boy, now let's let Steve grab Bruce while I get you back into your suit and we can all head home" Bucky tells Tony as they both watch Steve slowly kneel down and gently pick up Bruce holding him tightly in his arms. Steve could feel the light puffs of breath from Bruce across his exposed neck causing him to hold Bruce just a little bit tighter to himself.
"Steve head of to the van and get Bruce secure while I get Tony set to go" Bucky instructs Steve as they watch him walk slowly to the van.
"Bucky" Tony whines.
"Almost there bud, we will meet you in the suite okay, remember what I said, shower, change, may be eat something, Mr. Bear and then I'm all yours" Bucky leans down to kiss Tony on the forehead before the suit surrounds Tony.
"Jarvis" Bucky calls out.
"Yes sir" the suit answers outside so Bucky can hear it.
"Home Jarvis, keep him safe, Steve, Bruce and myself will follow directly"
"Of course sir" Jarvis replies as the suit quickly takes off heading back to the Tower.
-30minutes later—
Tony was cleaned up and dressed in his footed pajamas that always make him feel safe, Tony choked down some buttered toast and Mr. Bear was sitting on the bed waiting for Bruce, but Tony was barely holding it together. Steve and Bucky finally made it back to the suite, Steve still carrying Bruce who was still out cold.
The two men walked into the bedroom to find Tony sitting on the bed waiting for them, their lounge clothes were laid out and ready. Bucky walks over to Tony and wraps his strong arms around Tony, "Good job Tony" as Tony begins to quietly sob into Bucky's stomach.
Steve lays Bruce down gently onto the bed before heading towards the bathroom to get a couple of warm wash rags and some towels as all three men begin wiping Bruce's skin down of any sweat or grime as well as looking for any other injuries. Once done they dress Bruce in loose fitting lounge pants and the baggy "What's up Doc" bugs bunny shirt and maneuver him till he his laying comfortably on the bed where Tony crawls in on Bruce's right side to wrap himself around him with Mr. Bear between them, leaving Steve and Bucky to watch.
Bucky pulls on Steve's arm, worried about how quiet he's been, "Come on babe, come on Stevie…let's get cleaned up so we can join them…hmm" Bucky coos as he gently pulls Steve into the shower. It was quick, not wanting to be away from their boys for too long. Steve and Bucky exit the bathroom and quickly dress in the lounge clothes Tony had laid out for them. As promised Bucky crawled in next to Tony to cuddle and hold him for as long as he needed while Steve crawled in on the other side of Bruce, wrapping his long arm across all three of his boys as he buries his head into Bruce's neck and begins to quietly sob.
"I'm so sorry Bruce…please come back…please" Steve whispers around his sobs but in the quiet of the room it is clearly heard. The three continue their vigil all night till finally Bruce starts to wake with a full body stretch like he always does in the morning.
Bruce lets out a moan from his aches and pains, reaching up to rub his forehead trying to elevated the dull ache their as well when he realized what he's feeling or more important what he's not feeling and sits up quickly startling awake the three other occupants in the bed.
"Bruce?" Tony says his voice thick with sleep.
Bruce sits with his head in his hands as Steve begins rubbing his back and kissing his shoulder gently.
"Did that really happen?" Bruce asks still feeling confused trying to sort everything out.
Bucky come around to kneel in front of Bruce, lifting his head from his hands to look into those beautiful but confused brown eyes.
"Yes babe it did"
"Oh God" Bruce whimpers out and begins to tremble, "Oh God….Did I…did he…did the Hulk come out…did he…did he hurt anyone" Bruce asks in a whisper.
"No love, Hulk saved you…he came out and healed you, spat the bullet at our feet and had a rather interesting conversation, then he slipped back and allowed you to come forward again and you've been in a healing sleep since." Tony tells Bruce.
Bruce raises an eye brow at Tony, "Conversation?"
"Oh yeah…it was great…I mean once we figured out what was happening" Tony adds causing Bucky to just roll his eyes at Tony.
Steve remains quiet but continues to drop light kisses on Bruce's shoulder, neck and temple, "How are you feeling Bruce" Steve finally whispers.
"Hmmm… achy and tired which is normal under the circumstances, a bit of a dull headache and maybe a little hungry" Bruce lets everyone know.
"Tell you what, why don't you just rest and relax for a while longer and I'll make everyone some breakfast and we can have breakfast in bed" Bucky recommends.
"Mmmm…sounds good" Bruce moans out as his stomach growls loudly only to be matched by Steve causing a round of chuckles.
"Hey Buck, did Sam ever pick up any of those blueberry tarts?" Tony asks.
"Tony" Bruce moans.
"And don't think I've forgotten about you bring decaf into my Tower buster, sacrilege…all my coffee pots have been polluted and must be destroyed" Tony claims dramatically.
Bruce chuckles at Tony's antics and that felt good and sounded good to the other three.
Once breakfast was cooked and eaten the dishes were taken back into the kitchen and quickly dealt with as all four decided to move out into the living room and cuddle up on the couch and watch some movies. It was a peaceful day filled with cuddles, kisses, laughter and love….and above all this is love.
A/N: Wow that was exhausting….but now we can get back to the good stuff…if you still want me to…Read and Review and let me know. …..