Natalia…

Natasha's sleep was fitful, her head tossing as her dreams threatened to begin.

Natalia…

Her forehead creased with discomfort, a hissing sound disturbing her sleep. She fought to open her eyes, it was much more difficult than it should have been. The hissing sound continued and Natasha rolled away from it, trying to cover her head to block it out.

Natalia you didn't really believe that it would be that simple did you?

Natasha sat up abruptly, drawing her weapon automatically and looked around, her face white. That voice wasn't a dream anymore. She was still next to Lila, who was sound asleep. All appeared calm, but for the hissing coming from the vents. Natasha got up to look more closely. She coughed as she inhaled a gas that she recognized immediately. A laugh from the other side of the door made her flinch, her stomach sick with dread.

"Clint, Laura wake up!"

"You know that they can't Natalia my dear. I just wanted to have a little chat with you without their interference, and since I am personally responsible for your immunity to this knock out gas, I thought it was my best option." Darya's voice was muffled slightly through the door, but Natasha heard every word. Her Red Room training had included poisons, and she had been subjected to many different kinds in order to build up a tolerance. This knock out gas was one of them. It made her drowsy, but didn't put her out. Natasha looked at the people she loved, all looking as though they were only sleeping, rather than unconscious. She had knocked out Clint and his family. Knocked out, but not killed. Her mind raced, why would she do that? Why hadn't she poisoned them all? Quickly Natasha started rummaging through the cabinets.

"Natalia. I want you back."

The words made Natasha pause with disbelief, "You tried to kill me only hours ago. You're going to need to be more creative with your lies."

Natasha could almost hear the other woman's smile, "I had to be sure you hadn't lost all my lessons after all these years. You're still as sharp as ever. I'm here to collect what is mine. We will start again together, and lead Russia to glory."

"I am not yours."

"No, from what I hear you belong to that joke of a hero, Mr. Steve Rogers." Natasha froze, her hands starting to shake. Darya continued, "Yes you two have been all over the news." Her tone quickly changed to one of scorn, "'Natasha's Revolution,' a peaceful overthrow of corrupt government. Sacrificing yourself for that clown. It makes me sick. Have you forgotten my most important lesson? Open your heart to no one if you want to be strong. They have destroyed you"

"We have different ideas of strength." The hissing suddenly stopped, making Natasha glance up at the ceiling. Darya's voice rose, "You turned your back on your country!"

Natasha felt her face flush in anger, "My country orphaned me and fed me to the wolves! I owe no allegiance to you or to Russia!" SIlence filled the space between them. When Darya spoke again, her voice was dangerous.

"It doesn't matter, soon we will be on the same page. I have complete control of the air in your little safe room. Surrender yourself to me or your friends will receive an aerosol form of Widow's venom."

Natasha gasped. Widow's venom was one tactic she had not brought with her when she escaped. She had vowed never to use it, it was a terrible way to die. Unless given the antidote in time, a person poisoned with Widow's Venom was rendered immobile as they suffered, unable even to call out for help. Frantically she rummaged through the cabinets again, "Come on Clint, help me out here.. YES!"

Quickly she pulled out five gas masks and grinned in relief, "Always be prepared. Well done." Starting with the youngest, Natasha fit each of the five gas masks on their sleeping forms, pumping oxygen back into their systems. She addressed the door, "You would kill me too? How do you benefit from poisoning them?"

"See, I don't think you will actually let such precious children suffer, and we both know I would do it." Natasha shuddered in spite of herself, beyond grateful that she had found the masks, even if there were only enough for them and not for her. She swallowed, suddenly sober. She was going to die here, and Steve would find her. She fingered her bracelet.

She's here, she's pumped poison through the vents. Be careful when you arrive, Clint and the others have masks on, be sure you have one too before you open the door. Steve… I love you.

She felt his question forming but quickly threw up her shield to block him out. She didn't want him to experience her death first hand. She walked to each of the beds, placing a kiss on each forehead. She was oddly calm. For though she would die, she was certain that the people she loved would be safe. Steve would find a way to survive, he always did. He would move on. She had been through so much in life, to her, death wasn't a burden as long as she had done the right thing.

"You have ten seconds to surrender yourself to me or they will all die." Natasha didn't respond, just finished her farewells and drew her gun, just to have it. She always knew she would die gun in hand. Darya's frustration was almost palpable, Natasha could hear her pacing outside the door. Suddenly her pacing stopped, and the sound of gunfire in the front yard made Natasha's heart leap. Darya cried out as gunfire from the hallway sounded, bouncing off the walls of the saferoom. Clint began to stir, the mask allowing him to wake. Suddenly a voice from the hallway made Natasha want to cry with relief.

"Natasha! I'm coming!" Steve had arrived. Natasha hit the star on her bracelet, removing her shield, Steve! Put a mask on!

Quickly she punched in the code to open the door, her heart hammering in her chest. Too late she heard Steve's response, Natasha? What is going on?

As the door slid open, Natasha stood there in confusion. The hallway was empty, and Darya Sokolov stood before her, a smile on her face. Quick as lightning Darya lunged forward, a flash of silver in her hand. The blade bit deep into her side before she even had time to even flinch. Natasha fell to her knees, the reality of her situation hitting her like a freight train. She had opened the door. Where was Steve? As if reading her mind Darya sneered, nodding to a voice recorder resting by the door. Darya hit a button, "Natasha! I'm coming!" Darya frowned at her, "You didn't recognize the recording off of the news footage?"

Natasha looked up at Darya, naked fear on her face. Darya regarded her with curiosity for a moment, then held up her blade, red with Natasha's blood, "This is no ordinary knife. It actually soaks in Widow's Venom in its sheath. It's a deadly little thing. Like you used to be. Now you fall for cheap tricks, so disappointing. I think I'll introduce myself to this Steve fellow when he arrives. I assume he's coming yes?" She laughed at the expression on Natasha's face, and knelt to pinch her cheek affectionately, "No man will be good enough for you my little killer."

Natasha blanched and pulled away. She felt the venom spread through her bloodstream like fire, slowly immobilizing her. Natasha struggled to reach for her bracelet to shield her mind from Steve but couldn't. Darya glanced into the panic room and noticed the gas masks. "Oh well aren't we clever? You nearly foiled my plan, or would have if we had found a way to weaponize Widow's Venom yet. I was hoping you wouldn't call my bluff. Lucky I had a plan B." Pain licked it's way up Natasha's limbs, tendrils of flame curling it's way up her veins to her heart. Darya studied her face, "The poison will be working now. Let's get this over with before you can't see straight anymore."

Natasha's vision darkened and blurred, but she tried desperately to hold onto consciousness. She was aware of being flat on the floor, and Darya stepping over her, her boots clicking with each step, into the room where the children lay. Natasha fought fiercely to move, to call out, but the poison had frozen her in place. Darya looked over her shoulder her at her, her knife still raised, and grinned. Clint tried to rise, but the gas had him moving sluggishly.

"Watch closely Natalia, I'm about to make you strong again."