The house was falling apart, but it was in better shape than most of the others in the deserted village. Pietro lowered Clint onto a mattress in one of the rooms, his arms aching from having carried him for so long and so far. But he wasn't done yet. He'd left Wanda several miles away, hiding in the forest.

Already tired from the physical exertions of the day, he was a little slower bringing her, and it was a half an hour later before they returned to the house he'd left Barton in.

Wanda checked on the sleeping man. "He didn't wake at all during the trip?"

Pietro shook his head. "No. He's pretty soundly asleep."

She chewed on her lip, a worried frown playing across her face. "Do you think I-, should I wake him?"

"No. His body needs the rest."

"I just…hope I didn't put him too deeply to sleep. I don't…I don't know exactly how much control I have."

"He needed to be calmed down to get out of there. You did the right thing. And I'm not surprised he's still asleep after everything he's been through."

She nodded.

Together the two went out into what had once been a living room. Wanda took a seat on the floor in one of the corners and Pietro joined her. For a moment they sat there as the shock of the past twelve hours hit them. Then Wanda buried her face in her arms. Pietro snaked an arm around her shoulders and she leaned into him.

They were alone again. Just the two of them once more. No one at their back. No home. No guiding goal. Untethered in a world that seemed to have forgotten them all over again.

"What have we done?" he asked, quietly, giving voice to the fear that had been gnawing at the back of his mind.

"What we had to. What they would have wanted us to do."

Pietro didn't have to ask who she meant. They both knew...their parents.

Bruce stepped out of the elevator and into the common room and was surprised to see that everyone was already there. Everyone but Tony of course. But then Tony usually was late.

There were a few nodded greetings which he returned. There was definitely a sense of strain in the room. Someone had already made a pot of coffee so he went over to pour himself a cup and took the opportunity to study the other three.

Thor, he was surprised to see, looked better than he had since…hmm, well perhaps since Bruce had known him. He looked more relaxed, more at ease. He did not exactly look happy but he looked…contented and at peace. Which would make him the only one of those present.

Nat was concerning. She looked exhausted. There was a tension in the way she stood, tight and controlled.

Steve was somewhere in the middle between these two. He looked uncomfortable but not distressed. As Bruce studied him, Steve met his eyes.

"Where's Tony?" he asked.

"Don't know. He wasn't in the lab this morning."

"What is this about?"

"I don't know that either."

The elevators opened and they all turned, expecting Tony, but instead, Fury stepped into the room.

"What are you doing here?" Steve asked.

Fury shrugged. "Stark asked me."

"Any idea what this is about?"

"No."

Bruce frowned. He'd seen Tony just the past afternoon and he'd mentioned nothing about any of this. He glanced up as Thor cleared his throat.

"Well, regardless of his reason," said Thor, "it is good to see you all. I have missed you."

"Me too," said Bruce. Thor beamed at him.

The elevator doors slid open once more, and this time Tony did step into the room. He appeared to be just hanging up a phone call and as he did so, he pulled his headset off, tossed it aside and took in the room. "Great, you're all here, which means we can get started." He headed over to where Bruce was standing by the coffee pot and poured himself some as well. Up close, Bruce could see he looked tired. He'd seen Tony on a couple of other occasions during which he hadn't gotten any sleep the night before, usually while working in the lab. Whatever Tony was up to, he'd been working hard.

"What is this about Stark?" demanded Fury.

"In about twelve hours, a newspaper is releasing an article detailing the connection between Clint and the Hydra in all its gory details. Correction: some of the gory details. I'll doubt they'll have everything. But I'm sure once the story leaks, people will go mining for a lot more. Which is why we need to move on this and move fast."

"Move how?" It was the first time Bruce had heard Natasha speak since coming into the room.

"We're going to release a statement. We're going to say that Clint came to Fury three years ago and told him about Hydra. He knew there were agents inside Shield but he had no idea how deep it went. Since that point, Clint's been working an undercover operation with Fury, completely off books since Shield was compromised. Given how far back Clint's connection to Hydra goes, we can't deny that he did once work for them, but people love a redemption story. We can't entirely save his reputation but we can stop him from becoming wanted. At least we can do out damn best. But we need to sell this. We need to present a united front. Or we lose creditability and we lose trust. Which is exactly what we need if want to convince governments that Clint shouldn't face charges."

"Then why do it?" asked Steve.

Tony crossed his arms. "Because when Clint wakes up tomorrow and see the news, he's also going to see that we stood up for him. He might not have a place in the Avengers anymore but he sure as hell isn't going to be hung out to dry."

"So what do you need us to do exactly?" asked Bruce.

"Well you not so much. You're good. The others, they need to move back to the tower. At least for half the time. Again: united front. Hopefully Fury can give us a couple missions as well. Nothing too difficult, just some good PR opportunities."

"Tony!" said Steve, a little shocked.

"What? Being heroes isn't about PR? Tough. We're not heroes right now. We're doing what we have to. I already have a press conference scheduled for tomorrow."

"If we've known about Clint all along, how are we going to explain why he isn't with us?" asked Bruce.

"Easy. The man has been in a life or death, deep undercover mission for the past three years. He's been under immense strain and taking some time away. Finding himself or his spirit animal or doing yoga. I don't care. Something between a spiritual journey and a mental breakdown. We can develop that into early retirement somewhere down the road." He turned to Fury. "Technically, you need to agree to back us up. But if you want access to anymore of my tech-"

Fury raised a hand to forestall him. "Stark, you don't have to force my hand. I'll do it."

"Good." Tony turned back to the others. "So, you're moving back in." It was very unclear whether it was a statement or a question.

"Tony…" said Steve slowly.

"Seriously Steve? You? I get that you hate Hydra. But I'd have thought you of all people would understand taking one for the team."

"It's not that." Steve's defensive posture had gone up several notches. "I'm still looking for Bucky…and I'm not going to stop."

Bruce sighed. Tony's parents. One bit of the Hydra puzzle that Bruce hadn't even gotten close to touching on with him. He knew that was a deep wound that Tony himself probably stayed far away from.

There was a long silence. Tony and Steve staring each other down.

"Fine," said Tony at last, in short clipped tones. "But I don't want to hear about it. Sounds like a deal we can both live with. If you find him…"There was an unreadable war of emotions on his face then he shut them down. "We reevaluate where we both stand." Steve seemed to hesitate. "It's the best either one of us is going to get here Cap."

Steve nodded. "All right."

Bruce hadn't realized he was holding his breath until this moment, when he let it out in relief. Tony clapped his hands together. "So everyone is moving back in. Like I said: we all have lives, I don't expect more than half your time. But I do expect that."

The elevator doors opened for a third time and Pepper entered the common room, flashing everyone a smile.

"Ah Pepper. She technically has better things to do these days than worry about my press, but under the circumstances she's agreed to help out and put us all through our paces so we know exactly how tomorrow is going to go down. Especially since you all haven't had as much experience as I have."

"It's good to see everyone again," said Pepper. She started to hand out folders with a printed out statement and a press guide. Once done she stepped into the middle of the room. There was an alien prince there, a super soldier, two master spies, a Hulk, and a self-described genius, billionaire, playboy philanthropist. But Pepper Potts easily took complete command of the room.

Clint was first conscious of restfulness. When he opened his eyes, it was still to a slightly dizzy world, but he was aware of having had a thoroughly deep slumber. He might still be a little tried, but the bone deep exhaustion he last remembered was gone.

A little slowly, more as a test to see how his body would react, he sat up. And a number of things surprised him. The first was that, while his body ached, it did not protest to the degree he had expected nor did it send his head swimming. There was a slight tilt of vertigo and then the world held steady. Secondly, he was not on the hard floor of his cell. He was on a mattress. It was dirty and lumpy but a mattress none the less. Lastly, he was not in fact in his cell at all. He was in a small room with a window that looked out over an overgrown wilderness of a backyard. There was a rusty, broken swing back there and what appeared to have been a shed once, with half of it smashed in.

For several minutes he sat there, trying to place how he'd gotten here. His brain was still waking up and it took a little while for his last memories to come into focus. Yes, Strucker, that was right, and then he'd been put into the chair. He could still remember Strucker's threats of brain damage ringing in his ears, try as he might to block them out.

He remembered the blast of pain…had there been something after that? Some sort of sound that he'd barely registered over the sound of his own screams and his body's concentration on what was being done to it?

And then…barely, a wisp of memory much like a half-forgotten dream floated by him…Wanda's face leaning over him and then a sense of peace and calm…

He stood. For a second his vision blurred a little but it was only for a moment. He did feel weak and his limbs heavy but he couldn't deny it was an improvement over how he'd felt when he'd last woken up.

Taking a tentative careful first step, and then a more confident second, he made his way towards the door.

When he opened it, he found himself in what appeared to have once been a living room. There was an old, moldy couch, pieces of wood that might once have been a coffee table, and a few chairs. Sitting in one of the sturdier of these was Wanda, her hand was up and she was absently twining red energy around her fingertips. Pietro was sitting on the ground, his back to the wall, feet crossed in front of him, flipping through an old magazine with evident signs of boredom.

As he stepped into the room, Wanda looked up and there was an unmistakable expression of relief on her face. "You're awake."

"Yeah. I think so." He stepped into the room, he stumbled a little. There was a woosh and Pietro was at his side.

"Are you alright to walk?"

Clint had tensed at the familiar sound that on previous occasions had led to his being cuffed and handed over to the guards but at the question he relaxed. "Yeah. A bit shaky on the legs but I can manage. Thanks." He made his way towards the couch.

Wanda stood. "I wouldn't sit there. We saw a rat yesterday. Here. This chair is safe enough."

Clint lowered himself into it. His legs could hold him but it still felt good to be off them again. He felt weak, as if he'd been sick and was only just getting over it.

"It's not surprising you're feeling weak," said Pietro. "You've been asleep for two days."

"I have?" Clint blinked in surprise.

"Yes. I was afraid I'd…overdone it," said Wanda, a brief flash of what might have been guilt flashing across her face, or was it something else? Fear?

"Overdone it? Overdone what?"

Wanda shifted, taking on a slightly defensive stance but her voice, when she spoke, was defiant. "We had to get you out of there and your body was reacting badly to the chair. I…calmed you and put you to sleep."

Clint took this in. "With your powers?"

"Yes."

His first instinct was anger, but he knew that anger was a mask for his fear. The fear that came at the idea of someone else in his own head. And he owed these two. He might not want Wanda getting into his mind again, but they'd taken a leap of faith when they got him out of Hydra, so he could return that faith in them and in Wanda.

"Thank you," he said. "For getting me out of there."

The defensive posture Wanda had taken, relaxed. "You were right," she said seriously. "We had to make a choice."

"Thank you for making the right one. I know that wasn't easy. Believe me." He sunk back into the chair and for a moment thought he might just fall right back asleep here.

"How are you feeling? Other than weak?" asked Wanda.

"I think I'm going to be all right. Thanks to the two of you."

"You should eat something," said Pietro, "It should help." He left the room and came back soon holding a plate of food. "Here." He handed it to Clint.. It was very simple fair, and Clint, despite not having eaten in a couple of days found he had absolutely no appetite, but the gesture was appreciated so he took it and tried to eat.

After he started his stomach seemed to catch up to his brain and he was suddenly ravenous.

The siblings sat and waited as he ate, and once done he set the plate on the floor. He had to admit, he did feel better. "Thanks again. So, where are we exactly?"

"A bombed out village on the border of Sokovia," said Wanda. "One of the many casualties of our various civil wars. This area is littered with abandoned villages. We weren't sure where else to take you. The city seemed too risky, if Strucker followed. And we didn't have anywhere to go anyways. So." She shrugged a shoulder and looked around. "It's not pleasant, but it at least offers some shelter."

"I've been worse places," said Clint, looking around as well. "I'm not sure I'd recommend it to my friends, if I had any left, but I ain't complaining." He grinned. There was a pause of surprise and then Wanda gave a small laugh.

"We're good to stay awhile," said Pietro. "I uh, 'borrowed' some food from a town, about an hour away."

"An hour away for a normal person or an hour away for you?"

Pietro grinned. "An hour away for me. So we can hide out here, with supplies, until you're recovered. Then you can…leave."

"And you two?"

Pietro shrugged.

Clint opened his mouth to press the point and then stopped. He had felt something nagging in the back of his mind for the last few minutes, something he'd been forgetting, and he'd suddenly remembered what it was. He sat up straighter. "The scepter."

"What?"

"I don't suppose during the rescue, which again thank you for that I'm not complaining, you two managed to retrieve the scepter did you?"

"No," said Pietro and he didn't sound particularly interested .

"Right, then I need to go back to the base." Clint stood, his body reminded him now was not the time, and he sat back down again and swore.

"You can't be serious. Walking from one room to another wiped you out. You'd never stand a chance."

"Well, maybe give it a day," Clint agreed ruefully. "But I need to go back. And soon. I can't risk them moving base. Strucker can't be allowed to keep that scepter. It's too powerful and too dangerous in his hands."

"You barely got out of there alive after your first attempt," argued Wanda.

"Hey this time I won't have you two to deal with."

"And they'll also be more alert. You're crazy."

"I'll figure something out." He smiled. "Always do."

Pietro rolled his eyes. "You're going to get yourself killed." He huffed. "We'll go with you."

Clint blinked. "Really?"

"Yes. But only because you're clearly not capable of looking after yourself old man."

"Wait until I'm feeling more the thing and I'll show you how old I really am."

Pietro rolled his eyes.

"Pietro is right," said Wanda with a huff. "You need help if you're going back there. We're didn't save you just to let you get yourself killed within a week."

Clint smiled. "Thanks. Seems I'm saying that a lot to you two today."

Pietro sat back down to return to his magazine. Wanda joined him on the floor. Clint leaned back in his chair and, through lowered lids, eyed them thoughtfully. The two might put on an act of exasperation at having to help him return to the base, or only worried he was going to get himself killed, but he noticed they appeared just a shade more relaxed than they had been ten minutes ago.

The city seemed too risky, if Strucker followed. And we didn't have anywhere to go anyways…

He didn't doubt he owed these two his life. More in fact for he also owed them for saving him before Strucker broke him. Hydra wasn't much, but it had been what they had. And they'd sacrificed it to do the right thing. Something he'd never done and he'd had a whole lot more waiting for him on the other side to tempt him. And now they had nothing. So lost, with nowhere to go, that just taking on the job of helping him retrieve the scepter, a job that would take a couple of days at most, gave them some relief.

We didn't have anywhere to go anyways…

Wanda was reading over Pietro's shoulder. She whispered something and he chuckled.

Clint smiled. At least they had each other. And he swore to himself that he wasn't going to abandon them in this torn up country or allow them to be snapped up by some other organization little better than Hydra. They were powerful. It was possible they didn't even know the extent of their powers. Some would view them as a threat. Some would view them as assets. But right now, watching them joking together, seated on the floor, all he saw was a couple of lost kids.