Steve's phone blared to life on the bedside table and he immediately threw his legs over the side of the bed to get going. He deactivated the alarm fast, reading the text from Fury.

They were heading to Belize to deal with a HYDRA outpost that had been wreaking havoc on the Caribbean.

"Fuck." Bucky grumbled on the other side of Chris who had been sleeping so heavily as of late. He climbed out of bed on the other side, tucking his pillow behind her back. She looked so small in the center of Steve's bed, wearing one of Bucky's shirts with her hair a wild riot of blonde strands across her pillow.

They managed to get dressed and get showered without waking her up. Bucky still ducked back into Steve's bedroom to brush a kiss to her cheek. Steve, at the last minute, decided to do the same while Bucky smirked at him.

"We going to let her know what's going on?" Bucky asked him.

Steve nodded. "I'll text her."

Bucky didn't like the idea of her waking up alone in a mostly empty compound, so he sent her a text too on the transport to the jet while Steve reviewed the files on the outpost with Tony.

BB: Doll baby, we're off on a mission. I'm sorry you woke up alone. I promise we will make it up to you when we get back. I miss you already.

Not even an hour before they'd reached their target site, Steve felt guilty he'd forgotten to text. He pulled out his phone, even though he wasn't supposed to ever send unencrypted messages en route to missions and sent her a text too.

SR: Hey, Beautiful. Buck's probably already mentioned we're off on a mission. We'll be back soon, and I'll take care of him. Feel free to sleep there while we're gone. I like the idea of you sleeping in my bed. XO

He hit send and tucked his phone away, he thought, without anyone noticing. Nat saw from the corner of her eye, shaking her head in amusement. Tony noticed it too in the reflection of the screen in front of him.

Chris woke up and stretched easily. That was the first clue that something was different. At first, she was afraid she'd overslept, and the boys decided to be chivalrous and get her the day off. No, her internal clock wasn't wrong. She woke up right before her phone was set to go off.

Blinking at her phone, she saw the two text messages. Bucky's had been sent just after 2 AM and Steve's delivered just ten minutes ago.

A mission. Well, she'd known to expect that.

She didn't send a text message because the last thing she wanted was to compromise them. She stretched and showered, using the body wash Steve kept in his shower so she'd at least smell like them while they were gone. She threw on Steve's robe and headed for her own apartment to get ready for the day.

The mission had to have been significant because there were surprisingly few people left in the compound. Her office was quiet as a tomb when she entered and sat down, studying the schematics for programs Tony had written to see if she could find any vulnerabilities. She'd been through the first three and it was nearly lunchtime when she heard activity in the main control room area near Tony's office. Deciding it was a good time to break for lunch, Chris wandered out to see what was going on.

What she saw on the screen was horrifying and she just stopped and stared. Phil Coulson stood watching the screen as intently as she, noting her arrival before returning his attention to the screen.

The team faced a huge band of HYDRA agents and other mercenaries from the looks of it.

"How long has this been going on?" Chris asked.

"Nearly two hours," Phil said without taking his attention away from the screen. The ironclad control he had over his emotions rivaled Bucky's.

Peter Parker was limping and slowing down. Nat was also injured, holding her side as she fought.

"When will the reinforcements reach them?"

Chris turned to see director Fury also staring intently at the screen. His emotions were open and raw. The fight wasn't going well, and Fury was concerned.

"They are already there," Phil told them.

Iron Man flew past the screen, his suit looking as if it had seen better days. And then she saw Steve.

Chris' heart dropped. Steve's heavily muscled arm had been cut. He was bleeding and she couldn't even spot Bucky. Panic started to seep in. Chris quickly became scared, her breathing starting to feel labored.

Aside from the horde of HYDRA operatives they faced, small robotic units like miniature tanks were all over the place sending bolts of blue energy surging at the Avengers, dropping land mines. Clint caught one of the blue energy pulses, screaming as it hit his right arm.

"Danforth," Fury said calmly.

"Yes?" Chris turned to face the intimidating director.

"Those robotic units," he pointed out. "Can anything be done remotely with those?"

And just like that Chris' mindset to work. Darting forward to one of the consoles, Chris broke out of the network, finding a channel and sending out a search, trying to find the source of their control in Belize. It took several minutes, some of the longest minutes of her life as she listened to the battle on the screen above her.

When Bucky yelled "Steve!" her fingers froze on the keys.

"He's alive, Danforth," Fury said urgently. "Keep going."

Swallowing down her fear, she worked until she got lucky, finding an enormous signal within a mile of where the battle was taking place. The really amazing thing was that their encryption wasn't even a solid challenge for her. It took a few more moments before Chris was able to crack into one and then it didn't take long before she grabbed control of it.

"I'm in," she whispered.

Chris scanned the screen frantically until she spotted the unit she was controlling. Once she did, and it was right behind Clint and Nat, Chris sped it around them, laughing as Nat watching it with her jaw dropped, and used it to fire at the HYDRA agents. Surprised, they started screaming, trying to aim for it as she fired continually.

"There's got to be a way I can fire more rapidly," Chris muttered to herself.

By the time she'd figured out how to accelerate the firepower, one of the larger HYDRA soldiers took out her unit with one of the blue energy weapons. No matter. Chris commandeered another unit, sped it up and went with Peter Parker to take out more of the agents.

"Hey, thanks, little guy," Peter said to it as if it were a pet. Chris grinned, staying with the young man and covering him as he webbed up agents and kept them from harming the team. Clint was really hurting, and Steve's arm still bled. She hadn't even seen Bucky. She just hoped he was still alive.

"Danforth," Tony's voice filtered through the control room along with all the sounds of battle. "Any way you can run more than one of those at a time?"

Chris looked at Phil Coulson. "Ever been a gamer, agent?"

"I'd be willing to try," Phil told her.

Phil came to the monitor before her and she showed him how to navigate, how to fire. Chris went to another monitor and started over, commandeering another unit and watching in delight as she and Coulson helped out the team. Pulling in a few more eager agents, Chris soon had half a dozen units backing up the team.

The battle was tipping. Even though they had many injuries and from the looks of it they'd lost several non-enhanced agents, the momentum was shifting and the ability to help had Chris feeling more alive than she ever had. All of her anxiety was gone.

"Danforth," Tony called. "Take a closer look. Those things have real firepower."

"Really?" Chris replied. Pulling up a schematic, she laughed as she saw what Tony was referencing. The unit she was currently controlling followed Steve and Bucky and when she was ready she darted between them, knocking Bucky off balance and she cranked up her new weapon.

"Watch this," she told them.

The unit's feature was like a super-enhanced flamethrower and Chris focused hard as she aimed it at agent after agent. Yes, the men's suits likely offered some protection to them, but the fear of fire would slow them down, make them easier targets.

"Danforth, this way!" Steve called and even though his gaze couldn't meet hers, she was thrilled he knew it was her. She directed the unit to follow him. He stopped on the screen pointing at an old tower several hundred feet away.

"Take it out," he ordered. "I think that's where they might be controlling them."

That tone, the one he often used for her, had her heart hammering in her chest.

"On it, Cap."

Chris pointed the unit in that direction and aimed for the tower. As she directed it closer, she saw specifically what Steve was talking about. A signal was being emitted and that was how she was going to disable the entire lot of them. It took several shots, but finally, she hit it head on and the entire tower exploded into flame.

"Yes!" she yelled. All the units stopped functioning and the number of HYDRA agents left didn't seem capable of dealing with one pissed off Avenger team. Chris watched smiling as the remainder of HYDRA's agents were dealt with easily and quickly.

Finally, she spotted Bucky, and to her worry, he'd been shot in the leg, but he was still up and moving as if it didn't hurt.

"Danforth," Tony said over the comlink. "Excellent work."

"Thank you," she replied.

"Agreed," Steve added. "Let's get the injured back to the jet, sweep for the data, and get out of here."

And with that, the comlink went dead.

A hand dropped onto her shoulder. "Good work, Danforth," Fury told her then moving on to speak with Coulson.

Chris blew out an exhale in belief, joining in on the discussion with the other agents who'd helped her run the units. You'd have thought they were talking about a multi-player game with the level of excitement that filled the room.

Chris didn't care. She was happy. Her boys were safe, she'd been able to help them.

It was a good day.

Steve was still making notes for the debriefing when the team began to file out of the jet. Bucky watched as Peter ran up to Chris and excitedly started talking about their battle today and, no doubt, her part in it. The kid stood there gesturing wildly and laughing as he told her his version of what happened and her pretty face colored as she laughed along with him. When he limped away, the kid had taken a beating, her gray eyes followed him, looking concerned.

Clint was taken out on a stretcher. Chris looked distraught over that until Nat stopped to talk to her, no doubt trying to put her nerves at ease. Nat hugged their girl carefully, she'd taken a beating too, and made her way into medical.

Chris talked to Wanda and Vision, Bruce, and finally, Tony who held her attention as he and Steve walked off the jet.

Steve cut him a look.

Yes, Bucky knew what they'd agreed to, but he didn't like it. He wanted to run up and throw their girl over his shoulder, carry her off to Steve's bed and make her scream in pleasure until she was fast asleep.

Oh, no. They were going to be "low key."

Tony saw them approaching as he was talking, winking at Bucky – he did know, that little shit – before walking up to kiss Pepper and lead her up into the compound.

Chris smiled up at them as they approached, and Bucky drank her in. In truth, they'd maybe been gone all of 24 hours. It felt like they'd been away from her for days.

"How are you?" Her gaze moved over the crude bandage wrapped around Steve's arm, at Bucky's thigh where he'd been shot. "Are you okay?"

"We're okay, doll baby," Bucky assured her, hating this "low key" shit. He walked up to gently hug her, as he might Nat, taking in the scent of her, needing it.

"That was some pretty good work out there, agent," Steve said smiling. "How were you doing that?"

"It's a long story," Chris warned them. "But according to Tony you're going to medical, it's required, so we have a little time?"

Steve laughed. "Yeah, we do. Come on."

Chris stayed with them through medical evaluation, neither allowing her to go in to see Helen and her crew. Bucky didn't want her worried about the injuries they had when they'd likely be gone by morning. When Steve and Tony were called in for debriefing, Steve looked at Bucky casually.

"No need for you to wait on me, Buck. I'll see you in the morning."

Bucky nodded, trying not to smirk. It was 3 AM after all and it was considerate of Steve not to make them stay and wait.

"Night, Steve," Bucky told him, standing. With Peter roaming around still, talking about the day, Bucky looked at Chris. "I'll walk you up."

"That'd be nice," Chris told him. "Thanks."

He could have been walking along with Nat as they made it to the elevator, made their way to the top floor.

Sam had made his way up hours ago and Bucky growled when she paused at her own door. There was no one in the hallway to hear right now.

"Don't even try to brush me off, right now," Bucky's voice was rough.

Chris' brow knit in confusion. "You were shot in the leg," she reminded him. "You need to rest."

"Rest with me," he implored her, giving her the look that so far usually made her give in. "You know I'll sleep like shit if you're not there."

Chris blew out an exhale. "Okay."

Bucky smiled, nodded toward her door. "Need anything while we're here?"

She shook her beautiful head.

They reached Steve's door and let themselves in quickly. As soon as the door was closed, Bucky shoved her back against it, punching the air from her lungs. Chris moaned into his mouth as he pressed her against the door.

Bucky was a storm of kisses and hands as his lips seared a path down her neck and his hands yanked her blouse free of her slack before ripping them open and shoving them to the floor. Kneeling he pulled off her shoes, pulled the slacks free.

That's when the scent of her reached him, thick and sweet. Bucky pressed his face against her covered mound before ripping her panties off with his metal hand. He surprised her by rising, throwing her over one shoulder and hauling her off to Steve's bed.

Bucky stopped himself after dropping her there, watching her panting under him with wide eyes. He had to remember that she wasn't as strong as they were. The last thing he ever wanted was for Chris to be afraid of him.

Taking a deep calming breath, he ran his flesh hand through his hair. "I'm sorry, Chris," he said gently. "I got carried away and I can't with you."

Sitting up, she slid the blouse off her upper body, looking a little less worried though she kept her eyes on him.

"I'm okay," Chris told him. "You just… surprised me."

Bucky kept his movements slow as he stepped back from the bed, stripping off his suit. Her gaze became heated as she watched.

"Can I interest you in a shower, doll?" he asked, grinning.

Chris nodded, removing her bra. He watched her slender figure saunter into the bathroom, get the shower going. Like him, she couldn't get showers hot enough and he waited until she'd stepped under the spray before he climbed in behind her, gently wrapping his arms around her from behind.

"Did I… did I scare you, baby?" he whispered by her ear.

"No, Bucky," Chris turned in his arms, wrapping her arms around his neck and stretching up to kiss him. An enticing kiss that had his heart speeding up. "I'm not afraid of you. You're always so careful with me."

"Your leg," she gasped, seeing the bullet hole there, the remains of the blood the nurse hadn't cleaned up. The wound looked a couple of weeks old now and would likely be gone by morning. "Bucky, we –"

"I'm okay, doll," he kissed the tip of her nose. "Enhanced healing, remember?"

Not to be put off, she darted out of the shower for a washcloth, coming back to thoroughly clean him up until all the blood, dirt, and grime for the battle was gone. It took all his self-control to let her wash his hair and his body and keep his hands off her because he knew it was important to her. He realized she needed to make sure he was okay.

She dried them off, wrapping herself in Bucky's robe and heading for the kitchen while he headed for bed. She came back with a tall glass of ice water, setting it on his bedside table.

"Thank you, Chris," he whispered, stretched out on the bed and naked. He loved the way her gaze raked over him as she dropped the robe to the floor to reveal her own beautiful form.

Gently, Chris climbed onto the bed, on top of him, straddling him with her lower lips weeping all over his cock that had been painfully erect since he'd laid eyes on her. For her, he could be patient. He gently placed his hands on her hips as she leaned forward to kiss him, sweetly at first. When the kiss became more demanding, her hands clutching in his hair, roaming his body, he willed himself to be still for her, to let her have her way with him for once.

When she moved down his body, her hands working his cock, he was ready to explode.

"Doll baby," he gasped before she could put her mouth on him. "I can't… Please, I need you."

He would have appreciated the smug little smirk she flashed him if he hadn't been in such a bad way. Lifting up, she lined him up with her entrance and slowly slid herself down until he could go no further. All that tight, wet heat had him losing his mind, but he let her set the pace, enjoying watching the way she moved on top of him.

"God, yes," he growled, sliding his hands up to cover her breasts as she began to ride him with increasing speed. His little beauty felt so good wrapped around him, her tight little body driving him wild as he felt his release nearing.

Bucky almost made it. As he felt his release about to slam into him, he grabbed her hips tightly and began thrusting up powerfully, hoping he wasn't hurting her as he chased the release that took the world away from him for long moments and left him with only the need for more oxygen. The sweet smell of her hair and the feel of her soft body on top of him were all he was aware of for the longest time there in the cool darkness of Steve's bedroom.

"Bucky?"

"Hmmm?" he managed.

"Are you okay?"

His eyes slit open to see her gazing down at him, looking like a golden-haired angel with her hair a wild halo about her head.

"I couldn't be happier," he whispered. "Are you okay?"

Nodding, she rolled to his side, her place in the middle when Steve finally made it up and tucked herself under her chin.

"You did a good job out there today, doll baby," he told her and meant it. "I don't know how you and Stark manipulate all of that technology, but I think I'm going to like having you on the team."

He felt her smile against his chest. "I was so happy to be able to help."

"Sleep, sweetheart. Steve's probably going to brag about you for a couple more hours yet. You can have him in the morning if you want."

Chris hummed happily at that and it was the last thing he remembered before he was lost to sleep.