Author's note goes here...

I only own the fluff (and the body bags come to think of it)...

Thanks to Nova for betaing.

TapTap

The warehouse was dimly lit, the goons were dressed in black and their leader was clearly stupid, as well as highly predictable.

He had started his stupid scaring tactics by stepping up to Claire, who was still holding on to baby Stark, and running his knife gently across the engineer's jaw. He was not even drawing blood, just enjoying his own, somewhat imaginary, superiority. All he really achieved was giving her time to use a trick taught to her by Natasha, Bucky, Tony and Wayne and thus get her hands free. She didn't let this on, of course. She wasn't stupid, and she was playing for time.

He then tapped the head of the fussy infant twice with the flat of his blade, sprouting ridiculous threats as he did so. Then, he put the point against the baby's finger and drew one drop of blood.

The captives might be keeping their cool, knowing stalling and waiting for the imminent rescue was the wisest option, but that was it for the Hulk. He lost his patience as he smelled the small amount of blood, and the result was beyond predictable.

Most people, when suddenly finding themselves in a confined space with an enraged Hulk, would panic in some way or another. It was certainly true for the goons and their arrogant leader, who all immediately scattered like particularly scaredy chickens.

Claire, acting quickly while they were distracted, headed for the railing leading up to the window. There was a nook she could crawl into, once up, and she correctly assumed she could use the cover. She wasn't afraid of the Hulk - who could smell her anyway - but rather thought he could use a clean field. It'd buy the Hulk time to take the men out, or at least so she hoped.

Climbing up the rails took her some extra effort with a baby against one shoulder, but fortunately the Hulk's terrifying roars as he tackled the men one by one had a soothing affect on the little one and she was still and quiet.

All in all, Claire had them out of sight, hopefully out of mind, in just a literal minute, before the kidnappers had gathered their wits enough to get their guns out. Most of them never had time to, and only a few got any rounds off.

By the time Iron Man fired his repulsors at the door, breaking it down in one try, the Hulk was silent, guarding the seemingly empty warehouse. He had taken enough hint from Bruce - and from history - to know not to try breaking the door down himself.

Bewildered, Tony Stark had lifted his visor and looked around the silent space. The bodies on the floor were literally torn to pieces, not a living soul visible except for the Avenger, now shrinking back into Bruce Banner as backup had arrived. So the genius, billionaire, playboy philanthropist did what any worried dad could be expected to do in this situation, the shout more of a scream of desperation than a call. "Claire!"

The rest of the Avengers filed in through the ripped off door, worried frowns on their faces, though relaxing minutely as the reply came. "Here, dad. By the window. My legs are asleep, I can't come down on my own... I... We're safe." The last came as an afterthought, half a second later, but it made everybody draw deep breaths of relief.

Tony lifted immediately, flying over to the window and smiling as he spotted his two girls, unharmed, wedged into the wall itself by the sloppily made window.

"Clever," Iron Man commended his emotionally adopted daughter as he reached out and gently lifted them both, shushing Claire as her eyes filled with tears the moment her mind registered they were safe.

Flying them steadily down, he landed carefully, Natasha immediately reaching out and taking Natalia. Her arms free, Claire threw both of them around Tony's neck, sobbing into the hard red metal of the Iron Man armour.

"That's ok, baby girl," he mumbled into her hair, squeezing her just a little. "That's alright. You're safe now. I've got you. Thank you for looking after both of you so well. My little girls... Shhh, it's ok. It's ok..."

For a few moments, silence reigned as Bucky and Steve looked over the floor, which was unpleasantly littered with body parts. The rest of them moved outside without a word. Then, Natasha spoke, voice restrained rage that wasn't aimed at anyone still able to hear her. "How long?"

The men all turned around and looked at her uncomprehending, but Claire responded as if it was the most natural question in the world. "Almost two hours when they took us."

"Tasha..." Clint coughed, giving her a significant stare, clearly a question.

"It's been nearly three hours since my daughter ate, don't give me that look!" Natasha frowned. "She's not a newborn, but she might have gotten cold, too. Claire did an absolutely brilliant job looking after her, I know, but she's a baby."

"Ah..." Tony gestured to Steve to take Claire, and reached out for his baby daughter. "I'll fly her back to the tower. Clint, where's that thermal blanket?"

The archer went into the nearby Quinjet, followed by his partner, who was supporting Bruce. The Black Widow wrapped the now de-hulked scientist in a blanket and updated him on events he might have missed or felt were blurry, as the rest of them saw to various things.

Just a minute or so later, Tony thanked Claire again and flew off with his baby girl. Steve carried Claire into the Quinjet as Clint dealt with the first few civilians who were turning up at the site. As Bucky closed the doors and headed to the pilot seat, they heard Hawkeye evenly state that, "No, there's no urgent ambulances needed. Just body bags... A dozen or so I'd say. It's kinda hard to tell..."