During the next round of arguments, Steve didn't actually spank Tony Stark but he did sit him back on his ass a bit. The Captain was far from a shrinking violet and not used to mouthy, insubordinate advisers making trouble on a mission. Tony was yelling but somehow couldn't come close to the strength of delivery in Steve's calm, authoritative voice. When an explosion unexpectedly rocked the ship, Steve's command of, "put on the suit", brooked no disobedience. Tony scurried off to comply.

Natasha, meanwhile was in the middle of a heap of shit of her own. With her foot trapped when she and Bruce fell several decks down as the lab exploded, she was trying desperately to calm him before his Hulk transformation completed. Banner was breathing like a bellows and his shirt was beginning to rip from the expansion of musculature that came with the Hulk.

"Bruce?" Natasha said hopefully. A deafening roar was the only reply she got. Desperation lent strength to her struggle as she managed to free her booted foot. Getting her feet under her, she hauled ass away from the sound of the enraged Hulk. From the sounds behind her, she wasn't running nearly fast enough. Dodging, ducking, vaulting, she could feel the hot breath of Banner's alter ego on her back. She had seconds to live, moments to act when a large blonde blur slammed into the Hulk and took him through a bulkhead. Thor. Thank the gods, literally. She curled up in a dark corner, still shaking and tried to catch her breath after her near death experience. She heard gunfire and explosions above her but couldn't quite rally just yet.

Fury's voice came over her comlink, "Agent Barton spotted on the detention level; anyone copy?"

Her hand shook as she activated the reply, "Agent Romanoff here. I copy." Shakily, she stood up and went off in search of her best friend before anyone else found him and killed him.

In his defense, Hawkeye was impaired when she found him. Loki's scepter spell, lack of sleep and food had made him useless in a fight. The fight between them was short, sweet and ended with him out cold at Black Widow's feet. She called for medical after determining she hadn't killed him, then vanished into the corridors to collect her thoughts and her emotions.

Captain America and Ironman had managed to restart the engine damaged by the explosion so the ship was no longer in danger of falling out of the sky. Tony headed down to make a few repairs to the Ironman suit after being pummeled by the blades on the ship's engine while Cap went on a brisk walk to process everything, mentally doing a head count of his team. Fury, Hill, Coulson were all accounted for. Tony was all right, if a little shaken. Banner had leaped from the ship onto a plane, god only knew where he was; Thor was also with Fury; Clint Barton was now in medical; where the hell was Romanoff?

He frowned and pivoted toward a stairwell heading down into the bowels of the ship in the direction that he'd seen her and Banner fall. He hoped to god she was in one piece.

Steve heard her before he found her. She was breathing heavily and sniffling; bent at the waist, hands on her knees, backed up against a wall behind some machinery.

"Agent Romanoff? Natasha?" Steve asked gently, approaching her slowly.

Green eyes that were haunted by recent events flicked upward to his face, then down again. "I'm fine," she whispered. She was not fine and they both knew it.

"Come here," Steve said softly, opening his arms and beckoning to her. His gesture was automatic. She looked terrified and shaken; it was all he could think to do for her.

She straightened and looked at him quizzically with eyes that were still watery. "Natasha…come to me." His voice was still mild but there was a thread of command in it.

Her face crumbled and she fell into his arms, trembling. Steve scooped her up, carried her to a weapons box and sat down with her on his lap, setting his shield down next to them. He stroked her hair and she tightened her grip around his neck. "It's all right; you're safe. It's all right."

In response she burst into tears and clung to him. Steve gathered her closer, holding her tightly and whispering soft platitudes to her. After a minute, she stopped shaking, straightened, let go of him and tried to pull away but he wouldn't let her.

"Talk to me." Steve's silky baritone was a balm to her jagged nerves but she wasn't quite in a cooperative mood yet.

"I'll be fine. Please let go of me." She was mortified at her behavior and wanted to get as far away from him as she could. When he didn't immediately release her, she thought about freeing herself but she'd have to hurt him to do it and somehow she didn't want to hurt him. He was simply too kind, too gentle.

"Natasha, we are a team. For what it's worth, it is my responsibility to see to the safety and to the needs of my team." Steve's gloved hand turned her face toward him.

When her eyes lifted to his, he continued, "This is just between us. I know you don't really need me or my help. We all have moments where it's too much. We all need to be able to lean on one another during those moments."

Her eyes searched his face wondering if he was for real. "I work alone mostly, Cap. I've never had a family, only the occasional friend. I'm used to handling things myself."

Steve smiled and fished an actual handkerchief out of his utility belt, handing it to her, "Natasha, back in my day there were very, very few women like yourself. Now I'm in your time and I am well aware that you don't need my help, my protection, or my lecturing. I am not here because I don't respect you or your abilities. I do respect them and I respect you. I am here because occasionally everyone needs to vent a little with some support."

She blushed, wiped her nose and eyes and looked directly into his glorious baby blues. "I don't want you to think I'm weak...Cap."

He laughed then. "Weak? Hardly. I think you are my teammate who was just very nearly killed by another teammate and who then had to incapacitate yet another teammate. That would shake anyone up."

"I'm sorry...sir," she stumbled over the title, "but you're not the one sniffling on their commander's lap."

"Natasha, there is no shame in any of this. I don't want you to feel scandalized or embarrassed. I told you this is just between us." Steve's voice held that firm commanding presence that he embodied. He made her feel safe. That in itself was a very new feeling for her.

She studied his face, his eyes; she wanted to believe him. Men in general always tried for an advantage with her, except Clint, Phil and maybe Fury. Yet here she was, completely isolated in the lower levels of a crippled ship with a man she probably couldn't take in one to one combat and he was being a perfect gentleman, sweet even.

"Okay," she finally said.

"Okay?" Steve echoed and gave her a little half hug before lifting her off his lap and onto her feet. He stood up, adjusted his shield and looked down at her. "Anytime you need me, Natasha, I will be there. I hope I can count on you for the same support."

As he started to leave, she put her hand on his arm, "Thanks, Cap. Just don't tell Tony, okay?"

"Anytime. And not a word to Stark. I promise." He was halfway down the corridor before her voice stopped him again.

"Cap? About what Fury said…," she blushed and looked at her boots.

Steve half turned back to her, "About spanking you?"

Her blush made her look much younger and fragile, "Yeah."

"According to Fury, if I spank you, I'd have to spank Stark and right now that might not be the best course of action for anyone. How about we save that situation for your birthday?" He winked at her and moved off. It wouldn't occur to him until later that he'd just had a long talk with a beautiful woman.

She shook her head. He couldn't possibly be real yet there he was. She felt very confused. She had never ever allowed anyone, not even Clint to comfort her like that. Somehow in the handsome Captain's arms, she'd felt secure, important; wanted. Wanting to belong, wanting to better herself had been the reason for joining S.H.I.E.L.D. Maybe this was the place for her after all.