A/N: Hi guys, I'm back. :D

It's been a tough week training a new person and it's been slow going. I haven't had any brain space left to do more than jot down a paragraph or too. So, to try and get an update to you, I made a decision. I stopped trying to finish the chapter I was intending on giving you and simply split it in two, so you could have an update sooner rather than later. It's still ended up being 3000 words long, so it turns out I'm not short changing you after all. LOL Plus, you get a Pepper scene which originally wasn't going to be in there, so hopefully it's a win all round.

I must confess to not being thrilled with this chapter. I think it's a bit slow, which is why it was meant to go with what will now be the next chapter, which will have more action. But yeah, ran out of strength and time to do an uber long chapter. The first scene is meant to happen very quickly, all playing out in less than a minute, so hopefully it won't sound like them standing around talking in the middle of all this... although technically that is what is happening.

Okay, the next chapter is half-written but it's going to be another complicated one for me, so I'll o my best to get it to you as soon as I can. Thanks everyone for your patience. :D

Chapter Sixty-Five

Steve felt a sharp pain in his head and was momentarily dizzy. The next thing he knew, he was being kicked in the chest. He fell backwards against the wall, the breath leaving his body in a hiss. Natasha leapt to her feet and was about to kick him again when he held up a hand to her. "Whoa, what are you doing?" he asked in shock.

Natasha looked at him in surprise. "You can talk."

Steve pulled a face. "For quite a while now." He stood up and gave her a confused look. "Why did you kick me?" He hesitated and looked around. "And where are we?" Steve blinked. "How did I get here?"

"Stark, they're back," said Natasha in amazement. "What did you do?"

"I didn't do anything," came the reply, "but I've got control of the Iron Man suit again. Looks like the nano-bots are dead in the water."

"Are you talking to Tony?" Steve quizzed her and tapped his comlink. "My comlink has been playing up."

"Change back to normal frequency," Natasha directed Tony. "Clint, Thor, are you back with us?"

"Aye," replied Thor as he rounded the corner, Clint by his side, "we are here, Black Widow." He tensed when he saw Steve standing next to her. Thor raised his hammer and sent Steve a wary look. "Tis it you, Steve Rogers?"

Steve was trying to work out what was going on. He swept an arm at his uniform. "Do you know anyone else who dresses like this? And what is going on? Why are you all treating me like the enemy?"

Tony walked in from the other direction to answer his question. "Because you recently declared war on the United States of America on our behalf," he said flatly.

Steve's eyes went wide. "What? No, I couldn't have. The last thing I remember was, was-" He searched his memory and gave a gasp. "Ghost! I think I was talking to Ghost. One minute she was one of the guards and then the next minute she was this blonde woman." Steve's brow furrowed as he tried to work it out. "She must be some kind of shape-shifter." He looked around at them. "Is that a thing in this century?"

"Looks like," answered a grim Clint.

"Wait," Steve interjected, "I started a war?"

"Right now we have half of the US military above us and ready to take us out after you threatened to blow up the nuclear bombs in this place," Tony filled him in.

"I didn't do that," Steve argued fiercely.

"We know, it was the nano-bots inside of you controlling you," said Tony. He looked around at them. "They were controlling us all."

Clint's lips pressed together in an angry line. "That's it, now I'm pissed. I could live with being brain-jacked once this year but twice is unacceptable. I want to kick someone's ass."

Natasha grimaced. "Unfortunately you might get your wish. There is an army waiting for us right now, and that doesn't include the Defenders."

"But verily," Thor argued, "can we not tell your armies that we are no longer under the spell of the witch? We have our own minds and we do not wish to fight."

Natasha gave a short shake of her head. "I think they have orders to shoot first and ask questions later, Thor. Hammer has the guys giving the orders in his pocket and they're going to do whatever he tells them. Strike first and contain the threat, that's their plan."

"Fury, you getting all this?" Tony asked. "The Avengers are back on line."

"Are you responsible?"

"No, but the answer to that question is for another day," he said in his usual, no nonsense fashion. "Right now we need to get on top of this situation. Agent Coulson is following up a lead and we may have concrete proof this is a set up very soon. Meanwhile, I need you all to get up there and contain the situation."

"Can't we just leave?" asked Clint. "I mean, we're not going to fight, so I say, let's get out of here until this is all sorted out. We're a bit too close to this nuclear silo for my liking."

"I don't think Ghost's plan is to make it easy for you to leave," said Fury grimly.

"We have to try," said Steve determinedly.

Tony's visor slid down. "I'm going after Bruce. Keep me in the loop." With that Tony engaged his thrusters and tore off back down the tunnels, heading for the outside.

"Bruce?" asked Steve in concern.

"Ghost has stopped his ability to transform and is planning on using him to create super soldiers," Natasha filled him in.

Steve's eyes went wide. "Just how long was I out for?"

"Just over an hour," Natasha informed him.

Clint nodded. "Turns out you're pretty productive when being controlled by millions of miniscule robots."

Thor scowled. "This sorcery is indeed unsettling."

Clint was looking at Natasha. "How do you know all this?" he quizzed her. "Weren't you out of it like the rest of us?"

"We don't have time to stand around talking." Natasha was already heading off to follow in Tony's path. "De-briefing is for after a mission, not in the middle of it."

Steve knew she was right. He broke into a run behind Natasha, the others following as they raced upstairs, not sure of the fate awaiting them.

oooOOOOooo

Ghost strode confidently towards where the Defenders were standing in front of a row of tanks positioned some distance away. She stopped in front of them. "They're inside the laboratory. Looks like you'll have to go in after them."

Rhino frowned. "What about bombs?"

Ghost sent him a cool look. "Let me worry about the bombs." Suddenly Jerry was in her comlink.

"Ah, Ghost?" he said hesitantly. "I think we might have a problem."

Ghost's lips thinned for the briefest of moments, annoyed at the man's perpetual state of fearful cowering when he spoke to her. Fear was fine, but it annoyed her when he always took so damn long to get to the point. "What is it, Weems?"

"Umm, well, I'm not sure what's happened and I don't know how-"

"Get to the point," she snapped.

"I've lost control of the nano-bots at the Tower," he blurted out. "It's all gone dark. The Avengers are no longer under your control." Jerry made a strangled noise. "Please don't kill me."

Ghost wasn't fazed. "It doesn't matter now, the die is cast. The Avengers have targets painted on their backs and that is all that matters now. Keep me informed of any new developments."

"Yes, ma`am."

Ghost turned her attention back to the Defenders. "You're going to spearhead the attack. Show no mercy, it's killed or be killed."

Beetle frowned. "You think the Avengers are going to try and kill us?"

"They're desperate and backed into a corner," Ghost returned. "Don't think they won't do what it takes to survive. You're the enemy to them and they're not going to hesitate to kill anyone of you if it comes down to it. You all have to take control of the situation otherwise you're not going to survive this." The others nodded but Ghost noticed Beetle still seemed unsure. "Do you have a problem with that, Jenkins?"

"If what you're saying is true, then no, I don't have a problem with it," he said slowly.

"Get into position, you'll go on my command."

oooOOOOooo

Bruce strained against the restraints tying him to the specially designed chair while the Chinook carrier helicopter gained altitude. "You're making a mistake!" he yelled at the two pilots at the other end of the helicopter. "You don't want to be in a helicopter with me."

One of the men turned around and smirked at him. "You're not special anymore, Banner. No one is afraid of you."

A huge wave of frustration welled up in Bruce as realised they were right. He was helpless and he hated it.

Suddenly the side door of the helicopter was ripped open and Iron Man landed inside. He looked sideways at the pilots. "How about me?" he challenged them. "You afraid of me?"

One of the pilots pulled out a gun and fired on Tony.

Tony made a disdainful noise as the bullets bounced harmlessly off his suit. "You're kidding me, right?" He pointed a finger at them both. "You two, get out."

The two men looked at each other uncertainly.

"Get out or I'll throw you out," Tony warned them.

The pilots scrambled to their feet and rushed for a parachute each, hastily putting it on and leaping out of the helicopter to safety.

Bruce looked up at him. "You do know no one is flying this thing now, right?"

Tony's visor slid open. "It doesn't matter, you've got your ticket out of here." He his eyes ran over Bruce. "You okay?"

"Yes."

"I take it the other guy is out still being shy?"

Bruce scowled. "Yes, the rage is there, but it's like I can't reach him." His frown deepened. "How bad are things on the ground?"

"It's fine," said Tony blithely. "Don't worry, I'll get you to safety and the rest of the Avengers can handle it."

Bruce felt fresh frustration at being relegated to helpless bystander. "What's really going on?"

"There may or may not be the chance we're about to face off against half the US military and the Defenders while trying not to either kill anyone or be killed," Tony admitted.

"That's your definition of fine?" asked Bruce in disbelief.

Tony moved his shoulders a little bit. "It could be worse."

"How?"

He thought for a second. "It's a lovely day outside, really nice weather." Tony moved to remove his restraints. "Which you're going to appreciate from a safe distance."

"Wait," said Bruce sharply and stalled him.

"Ah, look, B, I don't mean to rush the moment here, but we're in a plane flying on autopilot and I've got somewhere I need to be. You have to let me do this."

Bruce's jaw hardened. "There is only one thing I want you to do, Tony Stark." He held Tony's gaze without blinking. "And it's what you do best."

Tony stared back at him and Bruce could see in his eyes he knew what was being asked of him. A silent exchange passed between the two men, of concern and unrelenting determination. Bruce knew this was crazy and that there were a million reasons why this was a bad idea, but he also knew there was one man in the world who wouldn't argue the point and he was standing in front of him right now.

"Do it," Bruce ordered him, resolute.

Tony nodded solemnly as his visor slid shut. "Make me proud," he instructed Bruce before lifting an armoured foot and pushed on the seat of the chair, between Bruce's legs.

The power of Iron Man's kick had the chair tearing a wall in the side of the plane as the chair, with Bruce still strapped to it, hurtled through the air on the way to the ground. Bruce had a brief glimpse of Tony standing in the hole he'd just made and then Bruce was spinning end over end, twirling and pitching in a wild dance as he and the chair plunged towards the desert below. Fear and adrenaline pumped through Bruce's veins as he fell. The beast inside struggled for freedom. For the first time ever, Bruce actively sought him out. He'd spent all those years trying to find a way to suppress the Hulk and running from the rage which would bring him roaring into being. Now Bruce let go of his fear and embraced the animal thrashing inside of him.

The nano-bots in his system struggled to maintain control over the creature, as Bruce reached out to the Hulk, buried deep inside of him. Instead of letting the anger overtake him, Bruce directed it towards one goal and as he did, the Hulk was freed. He felt the hot rush of through his body of the beast being released. Muscles swelled, his heart rate doubled as veins bulged. The restraints around his wrist started to rip as he grew, pulling them from the chair as though they were made of tissue paper. The Hulk batted away the chair, just as the ground came up below him. He made a guttural noise as he impacted with the ground, sending a cloud of dust and debris up into the air for at least half a mile. The Hulk threw back his head and roared, muscles flexing as he revelled in his freedom. The ground shook anew with the loudness of the sound.

A red and gold figure darted in front of him, hovering just out of reach. "Good to have you back, big guy. You have no idea how badly I want to kiss you right now."

Hulk snarled at him.

"Okay, I'm sensing I've invaded some personal boundary issues there."

The Hulk scowled, sorting through his emotions. "Talky man save Hulk."

The flying man waved a blithe hand at him. "You're welcome. Anytime you need to be kicked out of a plane, you know I'm your go to guy."

Bruce Banner's memories came back to him. "Hulk want to smash," he growled, remembering the men who'd tried to imprison him.

"Then this is your lucky day, because I've got a group in need of a good smashing." The metal man dropped to the ground and walked up to him. He held up a finger. "But you have to listen to me now, okay? You can't hurt anyone with the green uniforms. Hulk can't smash the army guys, you got that? They're innocent, so you can't hurt them."

Old, angry memories came back to him. "Army try and hurt Hulk," he bit out, tensing at just the thought of it. All that being chased and hounded, shot at and attacked. The Hulk's fists curled into a tight ball.

"I know, I know, chequered history, I get that," said the talky many quickly. "But this time they don't know what they're doing and you can't hurt them."

Hulk glowered, not liking the sound of that.

"But do you remember the Defenders? Them you can smash. Does that sound like a deal?"

Hulk nodded slowly. "Don't smash army, smash Defenders." He was ready for a fight. As long as he could smash something, Hulk was happy.

The shiny man shot up in the air. "That's it, you've got it. Now come, get your great big, gorgeous green ass moving. We've got a war to avert."

"Talky man shut up now," grunted the Hulk. "No more voice in head."

"Yeah, that's probably not going to happen."

Hulk leapt up into the air, chasing after the man flying off in the distance. He sailed through the air in a gigantic leap and landed almost a mile away from where he started intent on finding things to smash.

oooOOOOooo

Pepper blinked blearily up at the row of lights which were flashing above her.

Suddenly Happy's anxious face was above hers, covered in dust and blood. "It's alright, Pep," he reassured her anxiously as he ran beside the gurney she was lying on. "We're in the hospital, you're going to be fine."

"Are you alright?" she croaked, feeling strangely disconnected from her body. "Lewis?" Her pale face tightened. "Hammer?"

"Mincemeat," said Happy and didn't look unhappy about that fact. "Lewis has a broken arm, and they're patching him up now."

The trolley Pepper was on had stopped and a slightly breathless Happy had hold of her hand. She frowned in confusion. "Where am I?"

"You're in the hospital," said Happy unevenly.

Pepper tried to think. "Why?"

Happy looked distraught. "You're hurt, Pepper. You're bleeding internally. They're taking you into surgery now to stop the bleeding." He leaned closer. "It's going to be alright. I'll call Tony and-"

"No," said Pepper sharply and then regretted the effort that cost her. She took a moment to catch her breath and for the room to stop spinning. "No, don't call Tony."

Happy shook his head. "Pepper, he has to know."

"Is everything in Los Alamos sorted, are the Avengers safe?"

Happy looked torn.

"Don't lie to me, Happy Hogan," she instructed him with as much force as she could.

"No," he finally admitted, "but-"

Pepper's lips thinned in determination. "No, buts. I'm not going to make Tony choose between me and the Avengers."

"There's no choice for him." Happy squeezed her hand. "He'll choose you, every time, Pepper, in a heartbeat."

"I know that," said Pepper quietly and she did. A hot tear escaped her eye and slid down her dirt-covered cheek. "But Tony has to be where he's needed the most, and right now that isn't here." Pepper had long ago reconciled herself with the fact that she shared Tony with the world. His desire to make a difference in this world was one of the reasons she loved him the way she did. Pepper gave Happy an uneven smile. "And I have you, Happy."

"It's not the same," he argued unhappily.

"You love me," said Pepper simply, "and I know you're going to be here when I wake up. There is nothing more anyone can do, and that includes Tony. If you tell him about this surgery then he's going to be no use to me or the Avengers. You have to do what I'm asking, Happy, please."

Happy grimaced. "He's going to go insane when he finds out."

Pepper half-smiled, feeling herself getting groggy. "Like I can't handle an insane, Tony Stark." Her mouth felt like it was full of cotton wool. Suddenly she had trouble keeping her eyes open. "Don't tell him," she murmured, words starting to run together. "Promise."

She heard Happy make a reluctant noise. "I promise."

Pepper felt relief wash over her and then the encroaching darkness claimed her and she knew nothing more.