A/N: Hello again! I'm sorry for the delay, this week was extremely tiresome (exams), but I've got some free time now and I'm back with you Guys. Before we start I'd like to give many thanks to all those who followed (I mean seriously, 13 follows? That's fantastic!) and faved (also impressive).

I'm so thrilled that someone out there, in the fictionverse, actually reads my stories and enjoys them.

DISCLAIMER: I own nothing. All rights to Marvel Cinematic Universe, etc.


CHAPTER 4: A voice from the past

You're gone gone gone away
I watch you disappear
All that's left is a ghost of you…
Now we're torn torn torn apart
There's nothing we can do
Just let me go, we'll meet again soon...

- Of Monsters and Man, "Little Talks"


20 hours earlier

The rogue S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, captured by Clint Barton and Bobbi Morse, was laying in the passengers area, bound with titanium handcuffs and put into unconscious state by an extremely powerful sedative, invention of Bruce Banner, who would use it on himself when turning into Hulk was unavoidable and possibly dangerous for the surroundings.

Clint smiled to himself. He snatched one dose of the sedative from doc's lab, just to test it. Bruce of course wasn't aware of that, but in Hawkeye's opinion, he would be more than glad to see what are the effects of his concoction on people unaffected by gamma radiation.

After an injection, Bruce would just stop becoming green and be drowsy for a few minutes and in consequence stay in his human form. However in case of a normal person – without the always-angry Hulk inside – the sedative worked like receiving a blow to the head with a bag of bricks.

"Agent Morse, Agent Barton can you hear me?" Fury's voice came out of the comlink.

"Yes, sir." they said collectively.

"Very well. You have a new objective to complete and that will be picking up Captain Rogers and Agent Romanoff from a secluded location outside Barcelona. Understood?"

"Yes, sir." said Bobbi, while Clint changed the settings on navigation computer. He changed the destination from triskelion HQ NYC to Barcelona, Spain.

"Agent Romanoff will send you detailed coordinates. Report back when you pick them up." Fury said. "Make this quick and do not attract excessive attention. You know the drill."


Present time

Natasha Romanoff and Clint Barton stood by Steve's bed in medical bay of the Avengers Tower, a workplace and private laboratory of Bruce Banner where even Tony wasn't always given access to.

The "Avengers hospital" or simply "hospital" as they called, was located on minus 4th floor of the Avengers Tower and was a large square room with dozen medical beds, each one of them equipped with essential devices and medicine cabinets, all of which provided invaluable support for them in times of need.

Bruce would carry out his research on medications and gamma radiation here as well as perform surgeries such as the one he did on Steve, almost three weeks earlier after he has been hit by the shock wave and shards from the bomb planted in his and Natasha's apartment.

As for the other guests Thor paid a short visit to Steve before he went back to Asgard in order to deal with new conflict among Nine Realms, (something concerning demons of Vanaheim), while Tony, Pepper Pots, Phil Coulson, Bobbi Morse and few other S.H.I.E.L.D. agents visited the soldier in the morning.

The only visitors Steve had at the moment and that was already evening, were Natasha and Hawkeye, both looking anxiously at still body of the super-soldier, their friend and leader. Bruce was working on a computer several meters away, carrying on some intricate analysis and tests on Steve's blood.

"It has been 3 weeks since the accident. How much will it take for him to wake up?" Natasha inquired not knowing which time she asked the same question, raising her voice so Bruce could hear her.

Doc removed his glasses, pinched the bridge of his nose and rubbed his eyes. "As I said his organism is still healing from the blast impact. I removed the shards from his body but it will take at least three of four days more for Steve to wake up." Bruce replied. "Then of course, rehabilitation will be essential."

Natasha and Clint looked at him with surprise. Bruce didn't mention that before.

"Steve was extremely lucky to have survived the explosion, even with his serum-enhanced body. The one who planted the bomb couldn't be an ordinary HYDRA agent." Doctor explained rubbing his short black-grey beard. "The only thing we can do right now is to wait."

"I fucking hate waiting." murmured Natasha and Clint looked at her with intrigued smile. He knew that redhead spy developed some kind of feelings for Steve in recent times and that certainly couldn't be labelled as simple friendship.

Clint's codename not only referred to his unprecedented shooting skills but also to his ability to make watchful observations. In the past most of his mission didn't even require a bow and arrows. Lay low, undetected. Scan the area. Watch the enemy. Find its weak spot, than strike.

And now his old habit proved useful once again as his observations during last few visits with Natasha in the hospital confirmed his suspicions that something happened between those two back on their mission in Spain.

If somebody was to ask him, Clint considered himself to be Natasha's older brother and surprisingly she accepted that without protesting. Their friendship was unequal and Hawkeye would do everything to protect her. It was unbelievable that S.H.I.E.L.D. agent sent to eliminate infamous Black Widow, spared her life and actually became best friends with her.

Clint glanced at her. The redhead spy looked deeply concerned and bit her lower lip.

"She rarely shows such emotions. Something's gotta be going on between those two." he thought to himself as he wrapped his hand around Natasha. She silently hugged him back, still looking at motionless Steve. "He's gonna be alright Nat. He's tough, he'll make it. You know that."

"I do. Yet still I am worried about him." Natasha mumbled.

"Which kinda makes me jealous, now that I think of it. If I was lying there in bed, you would probably say something like 'you didn't see that coming?', huh?" Clint joked and his smile grew wider as he saw Natasha giving him a half-smile.

"C'mon Nat, our sleeping beauty needs rest so how about I take you to the city for a fancy dinner?"
Natasha nodded her head slightly, but before she went to the exit she approached Steve's bed and gave him a gentle kiss on the forehead, whispering something in Russian only he could hear. At least she hoped he did.

Natasha came back to Clint, who was smirking at her.

"I knew it." he said in an triumphant tone.

"You think too much Hawkeye." Natasha replied in a sinister tone, a sarcastic smirk appearing on her face immediately. "Oh, and the sushi comes from your pay."

"Who said I want to eat sushi?" Clint asked with a surprise in his voice.

"I did." Natasha said, strutting towards the elevator.

Clint looked after her, yet again amazed by her ability to bury her emotions deep so swiftly.

"You're just showing off, Romanoff." he said, as Bruce gave him an amused smile.

"Try me, Barton."


Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep.

Silent, steady, systematic beeping of the cardiac monitor showed his heartrate, much higher than average one, thanks to his serum-enhanced cardiovascular system. Steve's cellular metabolism was four times faster than regular one and thus it made him faster, stronger, more agile and pain-resistant. In exchange, however, his body required much, much more energy and had to be replenished regularly.

And so Cap lay on the hospital bed, connected to multiple highly-advanced medical devices, which provided his organism with vital nutrients and vitamins as well as monitored his body's parameters.

Fortunately Bruce Banner had access to his medical files, even the ones made all the way back in the 1940s by dr. Erskine and was able to study the serum Cap was injected with. How did he acquired the documents was a mystery to everyone but Nick Fury of course. And the director of S.H.I.E.L.D. was not keen on sharing this knowledge with anyone except for Bruce, the only Avenger who had medical education.

However Steve was currently in comatose-like state; he wasn't awake but wasn't completely unconscious either. He couldn't move or speak, but he had vague memories of someone sitting beside his bed and talking for hours and when he would finally fall asleep, he had nightmares – almost every night.

All of those terrible dreams always led to him holding Natasha's lifeless body in his arms. He screamed in his mind yet was unable to do so aloud. Helplessness was even worse than the fact that he almost lost her and had to face it every time he closed his eyes.

During his long, lonely nights Steve Rogers would experience both extreme physical pain (he burned off the painkillers extremely fast and their effect would wear of in a matter of minutes – In such moments he hated his serum-enhanced body) as well as mental one which was even worse.

And for latter there was only one reason…


"So, munchkin, tell me what's this all about with you and Steve." said Barton smirking at Natasha. "You behave differently ever since you got back from your mission."

"Don't call me that if you want to keep all of your fingers intact, Barton." she growled. "He's my friend."

"Oh, I see. Best one probably?" asked Clint ironically.

"Yeah, I guess so." redhead spy replied, taking a sip of green tea.

"Well now I must say I'm offended." archer frowned. "America's golden boy took my place as..."

He didn't finish the sentence as he saw dangerous sparkles in Natasha's eyes. This was the signal he almost crossed the line. Clint was pretty sure she would not only cut his fingers off but a few other things if he wouldn't stop joking.

"I'm just kidding, Nat. You know you can tell me everything." Clint said, his voice turning from sarcastic into serious one in a second, seeing that she wasn't in mood for jokes.

Redhead spy looked at him and gave him one of those true smiles of her. Little, almost unnoticeable, half-smile that Hawkeye knew well yet saw so rarely.

"I know Clint. And for that I'm grateful." she said quietly, sipping her tea.

"Who is he to you?" archer asked gently.

"Partner. Companion. Friend. Very close one, if I am to be honest." Natasha muttered.

Clint was the only one who she would tell about her emotions without fear, he was well aware of that. Their friendship was extremely strong, forged in the fire of countless battles, forgiveness and mutual understanding – they were both agents all their lives and knew how much pain in the ass it could be.

"I see. You grew pretty much fond of each other over the last five years." Clint said. "I've never seen you so relaxed around someone else than me."

"Well there's something in him. Something much more than a heap of muscles that bitch Carter only thinks about." she said clicking ominously with her chopsticks. "I fucking hate her."

Clint smirked with clear disbelief on his face. Natasha Romanoff was jealous. And she was jealous about Steve.

He knew better than to laugh, especially because Natasha was armed with said chopsticks. Hawkeye knew very well she could murder Sharon with them in fourteen different ways.

"But those muscles are an asset, aren't they?" Clint asked grinning.

She ignored his comment and continued. "Steve was weak and sickly before the serum. He had troublesome and harsh childhood. His father died in WWI conflict and Steve's mom Sarah worked herself to death, so her son could live a fairly normal live."

"Damn."

"He got his amazing cooking skills from her, actually." Natasha added quietly.

"I didn't know."

"Me neither. I thought I could say I knew him after those five years... After all, we fight side by side, we live in the same tower, we dine together and yet there are still so many details about his past that weren't in his file..." she said, shaking her head.

"And that is why he got under your skin." Clint smiled. "You like to know everything about people around you, don't you?"

"Oh, shut up Hawkeye." She replied, but finished in her mind: "Yet you've got your point…"

Archer just leaned back with a knowing grin.

"He was weak before serum. After the transformation he could finally go running, can you believe it? He was so happy when he told me he could run and didn't get asthma attack after three minutes." Natasha said. "I don't know, what's so alluring about him but I guess the fact that he knows the feeling of being weak, rejected and not capable taught him an invaluable lesson. This humility, honesty and kindness reminds me that I would like to be the same, one day... Though I have no idea if this is even possible."

As she finished the sentence, Clint stood up and hugged her tight without a word.

Natasha, surprising even herself, didn't protest at all.

"It's gonna be okay. Those feelings you have, prove that you are not a heartless monster the Red Room wanted you to be. There is nothing to be ashamed of, Nat." The archer whispered into her ear. "If this is the right man, maybe it is time for Black Widow to show some emotions."

She didn't answer but when they broke from the hug, she nodded her head slightly.

Clint gave her a warm smile and left money on the counter. "Let's go check on your crush then, munchkin."

"Oh, you're so screwed right now, Hawkeye." She said, while Clint jumped away, avoiding her kick in his butt.


Barton drove Natasha back to the Avengers Tower and dropped her off at the entrance. Fury called on their way back and Clint complaining like he always did, had to go back to S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters. Natasha looked after black Audi until it disappeared at the end of the street, now lit by the vibrant lights of the NYC cafes and clubs.

She turned towards the Tower and headed for the entrance.

She called the elevator and when it arrived the door opened and she saw Tony. He was in his working shirt, stained with oil and grease, his eyes red and tired. He must have been working hard in his lab.

"Hello little Red. You wanna see Stripes? I was about to pay him a little visit."

She nodded, not wanting to kill him on sight for calling her the way he did.

They descended in silence towards level -4 where medical bay of the Avengers Tower was located.

They entered the hospital and saw that Bruce was gone and Steve was awake… doing push-ups. Natasha's smile slowly faded and was replaced by fiery anger. Before she knew what she was doing her voice raised and she started to shout.

"WHAT THE FUCK YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING ROGERS?!" she yelled at him so unexpectedly and loudly, that Tony jumped away from her and hit his toe on nearby table, cursing under his nose. "GET YOUR ASS BACK INTO THE BED YOU FUCKING IDIOT!"

Steve looked so bewildered that he just stopped there, not knowing what to do. Meanwhile Tony glanced on Natasha with fear in his eyes. "I guess uh… I'll leave you two uh… alone. Glad you're back Cap, we missed you."

Natasha was so surprised that Tony actually behaved tactfully that she stopped screaming at Steve. Although she suspected that Stark, without his Iron Man suit, was just scared of the Black Widow inside her. She preferred the latter.

As Tony entered the elevator and disappeared, just as quickly as he got here, she turned towards Steve, her fists clenched and voice filled with cold fury. Steve could swear he heard a thunder yet Thor was far away from the Tower.

"I'm gonna ask this once again and you're going to answer me, Rogers. What do you think you're doing?" she asked, slowly pronouncing each syllable.

Steve smiled awkwardly. "Well I… uh got better, you see. I wanted to exercise a bit to get back in shape."

"I see only one thing – that you're a complete idiot, Rogers. Get back to bed." She said.

"Natasha please, listen to me…" he began but she cut him off.

"Now."

He quietened immediately and lay down, giving her an apologetic smile, while she stood there not knowing what she would tell him next. After a few minutes of silence she grabbed a chair and sat beside him, turning her emerald gaze onto the soldier. When she finally spoke, her voice was quiet and calm and Steve thought it was a good sign.

"Do you remember what happened?" she asked without faintest sign of anger in her voice.

"Well, partially. I remember that I forced you out of the room and then everything went black." He replied, rubbing his beard, which he didn't manage to shave yet.

"There was a bomb in our room. Someone planted it while we were at dinner. When we got back to the apartment it exploded, the blast sent you four meters into the air and you collapsed at the bottom of the stairs." She said with a grim expression.

"That must've hurt. Glad I don't recall that part." Steve mumbled, smiling awkwardly.

"I had to watch you almost die on my hands, Steve. You were so still, lifeless, blood everywhere." Natasha murmured. "Bruce says that the shards from the bomb almost killed you on spot and you were lucky that Fury sent Clint in a quinjet to pick us up."

"In this case I must thank them both, do you think…"

"No. You must rest. Bruce says that rehabilitation is also required. And I'm gonna make sure you follow your doctor's guidelines, Rogers." She said with a sinister grin.

Steve quietened and they sat there in silence for a long time.

"Why did you do it, Steve?" she muttered. "You could've got yourself killed… for me."

"I would do it for anyone on my team Natasha. I had a faint chance to survive the blast, but you had zero chances. I took the impact of the explosion and that's OK. I'm glad you're alright." He said simply.

"I was a murderer in the service of the Red Room. I have blood on my hands just as Alcala did. Maybe even worse. Why would you risk your life for someone so worthless like me?" she asked quietly, her eyes piercing through his soul.

Steve sat on his bed and took her tiny hands into his big, rough ones of a soldier. Her body flinched slightly, but she didn't took away her hands.

"Don't you ever say that Natasha. You made amends and did a great deal of good deeds. Your past with the Red Room has been erased and your ledger is clean once again. You should never think about yourself in a way they tried to make you to."

"What about Peggy?"

"Our paths diverged a long time ago, even before my accident. She was a strong, confident, proud woman, but I guess we weren't destined to be together. You remind me of her a lot if I am to be honest." Steve said with something simply special in his blue eyes. "I consider myself lucky I met you after the whole defrosting thing."

She knew what he meant. She could feel it, but still she decided not to voice out her emotions.

Natasha blinked a few times, holding back tears. "What the fuck is happening to me…?"

"Just promise me something, Steve." she muttered, relieved that her voice didn't tremble and no tear fell onto the floor.

"Anything for you Natasha."

"Never try to save my life again." She said, looking directly into his eyes.

Steve just gave her one of his dorky smiles she just adored. "We'll see about that."

Then the doors of the elevator opened and Bruce and Nick Fury stepped out, led by excited Tony. The trio hurried towards soldier's bed, all of them happy to finally see him awake and well.

"Steve! You're back!" Bruce said, putting on his glasses. "Natasha, if you don't mind I'd like to examine him."

"Sure, Bruce. This idiot almost got himself killed but you already know that." She said standing up. "Go ahead."

Bruce checked Steve's pulse and heartrate, and then searched through the analysis of the medical computer he and Tony created a few months earlier. Doctor updated soldier's medical files and turned towards him with an elated expression.

"Looks like you're back in the game Steve. You may leave the hospital tomorrow morning, but you still need rehabilitation, you know that?"

"Natasha told me before you came. I'll be cautious."

"I'll see to that, dumbass." Natasha said with a sinister smirk, while Fury and Tony exchanged intrigued looks.

"Very well then. I guess my job is done for today, I'm gonna get some sleep." Bruce said shutting down the medical machinery. He shook soldier's hand. "See you tomorrow, Steve."

Cap nodded and Bruce left. Then Fury approached, his bed and sat in Natasha's chair.

"It's good to see one of my best agents getting back in shape again." He said.

"Hey! What about me? Why no one is concerned about me?" Tony asked with feigned offense on his face.

"Don't you say anything else Stark or you will need a doctor as well." Natasha said, not turning back to Tony, who glanced at her Widow Bites and swallowed hard.

"Stark you are dismissed. Agent Romanoff you stay here. This concerns your mission." Fury said, while resentful billionaire strutted out of the room.

"What is it about, sir?" Steve asked with a concern in his voice. "Did someone else in the hotel got injured?"

"Three other guests and the receptionist. Fortunately their state is stable, S.H.I.E.L.D. took care of them in person." Fury replied in assuring tone and Steve exhaled deeply. "Yet there are bad news as well."

"What news?" Natasha scowled.

"We have our suspicions concerning the explosive planted in your apartment." Fury said with a grim expression. "Our experts state that it couldn't be an ordinary Hydra agent. Based on the reconstruction of the bomb we suspect that it was doing of the Winter Soldier."

Natasha grimaced and clenched her teeth. The Winter Soldier. She thought she heard it wrong but Fury confirmed that what he just said was true.

"Agent Romanoff knows what this is all about, however you Captain must be updated on this threat. I await your presence tomorrow at S.H.I.E.L.D.'s HQ." Fury said. "Your mission in Spain turned out to have dire consequences, which I should have foreseen. I failed – and for that I apologize."

"I understand, sir. How bad is our situation?" Steve asked simply.

"If our suspicions are correct, we are in serious trouble." Fury said and nodded them both. Then he turned back and exited the medical bay, leaving Natasha and Steve alone.

Soldier looked at redhead spy with quizzical expression on his face. "Natasha what's this all about?"

She sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. She didn't answer at first and when she finally started to speak she was talking so quietly that Steve had problems with making out what she was saying.

"When I was still with the Red Room I would be given training in various martial arts but this particular one... This was something different." She stopped and Steve saw something which he thought was impossible to witness. While her face didn't show any emotions her eyes certainly did.

Natasha's eyes were full of fear.

"I don't know his name. I don't even remember his face... He trained me so that I could become the best assassin in the world. And when I would fail the tasks given by him... He would punish me."

"What did he do to you, Natasha?" Steve asked with a hint of fear in his voice.

She ignored his question and continued. "What you must know however is that he is not a simple assassin who kills for money. He will eliminate you without hesitation and even though you can hold your own I don't think you're his equal." Natasha replied. "If Fury is correct than we are screwed. Pretty much dead already."

Steve looked at her wide-eyed. If Natasha Romanoff was scared of this… Winter Soldier than he had only thing to do. Soldier's eyes found hers and conveyed unvoiced message, followed by his quiet words.

"I won't let him hurt you again Natasha." Steve said with strange tenacity on his face.

Redhead spy glanced at him and gave him a lopsided smile. "We'll see about that."

Both of them could not know how gravely mistaken they were.


"Captain Rogers this is not a threat you are accustomed with. While you undoubtedly have experience in fighting HYDRA agents and soldiers, I need you to be prepared for the encounter with the Winter Soldier because apparently you or Agent Romanoff or both of you are on his target list." Fury was pacing around his office, while Natasha and Steve sat at the table, each of them with a file concerning the mysterious assassin.

"When you asked how serious our situation is I must say I did not lie. The Winter Soldier is responsible for over sixty-four confirmed murders and if you read the file you will know that these were not ordinary people." Fury said, pointing towards the documents. "These assassinations were carried out clearly for a specific reason, each one of them carefully planned and successful. Till the last one."

"Then why would he try to kill us just now? Why not Stark or Barton or any other S.H.I.E.L.D. agent?" Steve asked looking at the only photo of the Winter Soldier, the folder contained, which was taken on April 16th 1973.

The image was black and white, blurred, and the figure it showed was almost indistinguishable. The only thing Steve saw was that the assassin was tall and had long, dark hair.

"The Winter Soldier program was a secret just as the Black Widow one. And while Agent Romanoff was the only one to survive the training of the Red Room, the Winter Soldier had companions. We have confirmed information on seven individuals, however, only one seems to have survived.

The documents you see are unfortunately mostly incomplete due to the fact that the Winter Soldier was created to be rumour, something you easily forget or never believe it would exist. And while rumours usually do not kill people this one is responsible for elimination of numerous political figures worldwide, each of them listed in this file."

"His last activity before the bombing?" Steve asked, perusing through the documents.

"December 16, 1991. The day when Howard and Maria Stark were believed to have died in a car crash."

Steve froze with bewilderment. "Are you saying that this assassin murdered Howard? And his wife? Jesus..."

Fury nodded, while Natasha put her hand on his shoulder. "Calm down Steve. I'm sorry you had to learn it this way. I'm sure Tony would tell you someday."

"I've known Howard during war, he was my friend. He didn't deserve such death nor did his wife." Steve said sorrowfully. "Now I know what burden Tony must have carried all his life."

"That is why the winter soldier must be eliminated, Captain. I have deployed other agents almost immediately after your accident, to search for any trace of his activity. As soon as we gain any information I will update you on it."

Steve nodded his head slightly, looking at an old photograph of Howard Stark, which was took just three days before his death. He had grey hair and a moustache but his eyes and features definitely resembled Tony's.

"As for now we know that the Winter Soldier is the best assassin the Hydra ever trained. He is skilled in the use of almost every type of firearm, yet he particularly favours modified AK-74, RPG-29 grenade launcher as well as MP-443 pistol. Our intel also suggests that he uses knives in combat similar to those utilized by Agent Romanoff and possesses extensive knowledge concerning computer hacking and explosives, which you already know."

"Stark must be warned of this. Maybe he can provide better protection for our systems." Natasha said and Fury nodded. "This man can take down a whole country in one night and we won't even notice. We must be cautious."

Then the door opened and Phil Coulson rushed in with another folder in his hand. "Sir, we believe we got a recording of him. You must take a look at it."

Fury accepted the folder, took out a small, black flash drive and connected the device to the computer.

Soon, multiple photos appeared on the screen showing a tall man with long hair and baseball cap. He was dressed in a hoodie and had black glove on his left hand. He wasn't facing the camera directly but Steve was almost sure it was the assassin from the files he saw a few minutes ago.

"Thanks to Stark tech we were able to track the bastard and JARVIS says there is 99,79 % chance it is the man who tried to kill you, Cap." Coulson said with a grimace on his face.

Natasha knew that Coulson was a great fan of Steve and grew up on stories about the brave, American super-soldier. Phil considered him as a role model all his life (and had an impressive collection of Captain America Trading cards, which was thought to be extremely weird by his co-workers).

One way or another, Phil Coulson took the attempt on Steve's life as a personal insult.

"Where was it?" Steve asked looking at the screen. "And when?"

"Anchorage, Alaska. This footage was recorded four days ago, but we managed to extract it just now." Coulson said and started the video, which turned out to be very short.

It showed the assassin who was going towards the exit of the airport. Apart from the hoodie, cap and glove on his left hand he had a black worn backpack. He squeezed through the crowd of people and left the building.

"It is unusual for him to get caught on camera just like that. He was undetectable for over fifty years and now he reveals himself so carelessly?" Coulson looked puzzled.

"Or maybe..." Fury turned towards them. "...he wants us to think so."

"And lure us into a trap." Natasha finished the sentence. "He didn't show his face directly, but he probably hopes we will pick up the trace."

They were silent for a few minutes, each one of them pondering the possible motives of the assassin when Steve finally asked, as always, in a simple, soldierly way. "What are your orders, sir?"

Fury looked at him and scratched his black beard. "Agent Romanoff, I'd like you to do a bit of detective work along with Agent Coulson. He will provide more insight into this footage and photos. We must know who is controlling the Winter Soldier as well as his base and possible next targets, apart from you and Captain Rogers of course."

Natasha and Phil nodded their heads and exited the room immediately. While walking towards the exit Natasha put her hand on Steve's arm in an reassuring manner. "See you in the evening Steve."

Fury activated his comlink. "Agent Hill, get me the rest of the Avengers for a debriefing in two hours."

"What about me, sir?"

"You have almost died during your last mission and Bruce told me not to bother you for a few days. As I recall correctly you said you needed some time off." Fury said, packing his documents and files.

"But, sir..."

"That's an order, captain Rogers. You are dismissed… for now." director of S.H.I.E.L.D. replied, exiting the office and leaving Steve with his thoughts alone.


The door of the elevator opened and Natasha stepped out to the communal floor of the Avengers Tower. After whole day of unsuccessful detective work (which centred mainly around hacking various computer systems to find any clue about the Winter Soldier) she was extremely tired.

The exhaustion however did not dull her innate-spy senses and she immediately spotted someone sitting on the sofa. It was pretty dark already and she wasn't sure if that was Steve or Clint or any other Avenger.

"Who's that?"

The figure didn't answer but stood up and turned towards her.

"You missed me, redhead?"

Before she could comprehend what he said she drew her dual Glocks and fired at least dozen times aiming for his chest and head but he must have worn some kind of bullet-proof armour as he didn't stop approaching her.

That's why JARVIS didn't greet her at the entrance.

Someone hacked Stark's AI system along with the security system and then broke into the Tower. Honestly, she thought it was impossible.

But in that moment Natasha felt unbearably cold hand closing on her throat and realized it was not a normal human's fingers but silvery metal. Her feet rose into the air as the aggressor lifted her up and her guns fell to the floor. She growled trying to free herself from his grasp, which only resulted in his fingers tightening the hold.

She gasped for air, desperately striving for oxygen, but then everything began to blur. Almost unconscious she looked into his face, but realized he was wearing black mask with dark-red visors, one of them broken as she must have hit the eye.

Then the assassin spoke.

"Oh you're going to be a perfect bait." She wasn't sure what gave her bigger creeps – his sinister, muffled voice or the fact that she found it somehow familiar. "You see I'm not actually interested in such worthless bitch like yourself but I will enjoy watching your reaction when he dies, anyway."

"I'm gonna, krhh, kill krhh you..." Natasha managed to splutter but then she received a blow to her head and everything went black. Her body fell to the ground with a thud.

"Sweet dreams, honey. Don't worry, I'll take care of you… and your friend."

He put a sealed envelope on the kitchen table, picked up unconscious spy and left the Tower with Natasha flipped over his left shoulder.


A/N: What do you think about this chapter? I hope you find the plot captivating as I have a whole bunch of ideas to lead our favourite duo into an epic and dark adventure... As you can see Phil Coulson is alive and well in my series, so once again, I'd like to point out that I made some changes to the plot, shown by MCU. I would love to hear your opinions on my story so feel free to leave feedback. That's all for this week, the next chapter should be on schedule (at least I hope so). Goodbye! WS