Natasha went back to Medical to check on Clint. He was restrained but conscious and talking. It didn't take long for him to vent to her how helpless and abandoned he felt while under Loki's power. She released his restraints and helped him sit up. As they talked she was struck by the familiarity she and Clint had developed over their long association. What stuck out was that for some reason the security she always felt when around him was completely different from the safe feeling Captain Rogers had given her.

"Clint, I don't know how to explain it but you're going to like Captain America, um...Steve Rogers." Natasha informed her partner.

"I hope he can see past this shit I caused." Clint murmured, looked down at his hands.

"I know that he knows it's not your fault,' Natasha affirmed.

"So Fury actually told him to spank you and Stark?" Clint chuckled.

Her face colored a bit, "Well, yes, but Captain Rogers was quick to point out that he thought we'd get along just fine."

"Well, if he actually does it, I will buy him a steak dinner because he's a braver man than I am." Clint laughed.

She punched him in the arm. "What the fuck, Clint?"

He ruffled her hair, "I'm teasing you, Nat. Mostly because I think you kind of like our new commander."

To his utter surprise, her eyes became teary, "What's going on?"

"After Banner...shifted...I couldn't…," she started.

Clint reached out and grasped her arm gently, "Nat? What happened?"

"Banner nearly killed me. If it hadn't been for Thor, I couldn't have made it out of the hull."

"And…?" Clint prompted.

"After I decked you, I had to take a minute, you know, get my shit together. And Captain Rogers showed up."

Clint frowned, "What happened?"

"Nothing, Clint. He was absolutely kind and sweet even. He just wanted to make certain I was okay. I've never felt so safe before; he really does care what happened to us. All of us." Natasha finished and watched Clint for his reaction.

"Wow, Nat." Clint said. "I'm impressed with him already if he made you feel safe. That's quite an accomplishment. I'm sure I'm gonna like him too." He moved off to the bathroom and shut the door.

Natasha leaned against the built in drawers and waited for him to come out. A scant minute later the pneumatic door slid open to reveal none other than the Captain himself.

"Time to go," Steve said.

"Where?"

"I'll tell you on the way. Can you fly one of those jets?" He asked her.

Clint stepped out of the bathroom in time to hear that part, "I can."

Steve looked at him, then at Natasha, who nodded her head, then back to Clint. "You have a suit?"

"Yeah," Clint responded.

"Suit up and meet me in the hanger," Steve withdrew from the doorway.

Natasha blinked. She'd known him for less than a day and he had just looked to her for acknowledgment that Clint was trustworthy to fly the jet. It felt so effortlessly comfortable; like he trusted her already. No one trusted her 100% but he just did. She felt vaguely bad about wanting to tease and irritate him as a distraction for her frustration. He had been nothing but genuinely kind to her, offering her his help, giving her his trust and she'd been pretty much a shit the whole morning.

She and Clint fell in step behind Steve as they headed for one of the quinjets. As they boarded, one of the junior agents popped up to inform them they weren't authorized to be there.

"Son...just don't." Steve said in a tone that raised Nat's and Clint's eyebrows. The poor kid paled and got the hell out of their way. Soon they were flying down to New York City.

Everyone worked together flawlessly. Even Tony Stark acknowledged Steve's de facto leadership, "Call it, Captain!"

Steve gave his orders and everyone instantly obeyed. To her surprise, he kept Natasha with him on the ground to fight the Chitauri head on. Again, he amazed her with his trust. That he would watch her back was a given as her commander but he put his life directly into her hands without question or hesitation. It was enough to boggle her mind and began a thaw in her cold Russian heart.

"If you want to get up there you're gonna need a ride." Steve scanned the skies above himself and Natasha.

"Oh, I can get a ride," Natasha assured him, pointing upwards. "Give me a boost, Cap?"

He looked at her and realized what she was intending, "You sure about this?"

"Sure," she said, licking the cut on her lower lip, "It'll be fun."

Steve tipped his shield and braced for her weight. She bolted across the road, leaped up onto the hood of a cab and double-footed onto his shield. Instantly, he threw her hard and high. She spring boarded off his shield grabbing onto one of the alien chariots racing through the skies of New York City. He'd never seen anyone as beautiful or brave as she disappeared down the corridor of buildings, high in the air.

After retrieving Loki's scepter, Natasha positioned herself to close the portal from which the Chitauri army was still pouring. Ironman, aka Tony Stark was still delivering a nuke released by their own government to the aliens; and nowhere to be seen. "I can close it!," she yelled through the comlink. "I can close the portal!"

"No, wait!" Stark yelled back, "I'm almost there!" Tony's delivery of the warhead to the aliens would save the city. It was worth the wait.

"Cap?" Natasha waited for his command.

There was a silence measured in the space of heartbeats as everyone waited. Steve was mentally counting down the seconds from when Tony last spoke and the amount of Chitauri still streaming through. Suddenly all the chariots, all the chitin-clad soldiers and the giant centipede ship all dropped like puppets whose strings had been cut.

Still no Tony though.

Thor was next to the Captain, watching him and the play of emotions on his face. It was a moment anyone who had ever been in command during a war dreaded: Whether to sacrifice one to save many. He was aware there was no love lost between Stark and Rogers so it should have been an easy decision. Obviously, by the look on Steve's face it wasn't.

"Come on, Tony," Steve murmured, mostly to himself.

Seconds dragged by. Steve drew a heavy breath and activated his comlink. "Close it." The pain on his face was glaringly evident. Thor's respect for the human commander grew.

Natasha turned the scepter instantly. As the hole in the sky began to collapse on itself, a small gold glinting figure fell through. The hole sealed behind Tony's exit.

Thor and Steve recognized the danger instantly. "He's not slowing down," Thor said, whirling his hammer in preparation for flight.

Out of nowhere, the Hulk bounded in, catching Stark's limp form and bringing him down to street level where Steve and Thor waited. Giant green hands deposited the Ironman gently onto the pavement. Steve removed the gold face plate to reveal Tony's pale face, eyes closed and unresponsive.

There were a few seconds of terror for Steve, Hawkeye and Thor that Tony was actually dead. The Hulk was pacing nearby and bellowed out of frustration. Whether it was the noise or the vibration, no one could tell but Tony's eyes snapped open.

"What the hell?" He looked around wildly for a moment. "Please tell me nobody kissed me."

Everyone laughed in relief. Steve reached out and shook Tony's shoulder. "Glad you're all right, Tony. You had me worried there for a minute."

Tony searched Steve's face with his eyes, "Really?"

"Really." Steve said, nodding.

Tony sat up and to his surprise, Steve reached over to give him a quick hug. "Please don't do anything like that again. I can't afford to lose any one of you." Steve's rich baritone held a wealth of reprimand and genuine warmth.

Thor reached down to grab Steve's shoulder. Steve stood to look the blonde giant in the eye. Thor pulled him in for a quick hug as well.

"I will follow you, Captain; into battle or into Valhalla."

Steve was genuinely moved, "Thank you, Thor. I am very honored." He meant it.

The Hulk clumsily patted Steve on the back, nearly knocking him back down to the pavement. "Thanks, Dr. Banner. We couldn't have done it without your help." Steve's gratitude was genuine.

Tony shakily got to his feet, "There's a shawarma place down the street from here. I think we've all earned a little fun, right? I've always wanted to try it. You guys with me?"

"We are not finished yet, Tony." Steve's deep voice was rough as he looked up to Stark Tower.

When they all converged on Tony's home, they found a very obsequious Loki, battered and beaten by the Hulk. Thor took him into custody immediately as well as containing the Tessaract in an Asgardian box, with Steve's and Fury's approval.

Tony insisted on dragging everyone out for shawarma. He paid, of course. They all sat together tiredly munching on their meals. "So, Cap...I'm sorry I worried you."

Steve looked up, "It's fine, Tony. You did a good thing. Just don't make a habit out of nearly getting yourself killed, okay?"

"Or…?" Tony pushed.

"Or...what?" Steve frowned at him.

"So, you're not going to do what Fury said?" Tony pressed on.

"Spank you?" Steve was incredulous. "Tony, you're a grown man. Do you really want me to put you over my knee?"

Tony looked a little crestfallen and played with his french fries. Everyone stared at him. "No...I...it's just nice to know you care, I guess."

"He said he'd spank me on my birthday." Natasha piped up around a mouthful of shawarma.

Steve colored at her announcement. She winked at him and nudged his foot under the table. Tony looked shocked. "Oh, I see. It's okay to spank her but not me? Is that it? Is she your favorite now?"

Everyone nearly choked on their food. Steve wondered again what the hell he was thinking when he decided to take Fury up on his offer. He could have just quietly retired to the country, visited Peggy in England; lots of options were open to him.

Bruce had reverted back to his human form. He and Hawkeye were coughing shards of pita out of their throats. Thor managed to get control of the shawarma that threatened to lodge itself in his windpipe. "I believe Captain Rogers has had a full day. If we were in Asgard I would send a dozen maidens to bathe him and to see to his comfort. Skoll!" He toasted them all with his root beer.

Steve's blush crept further up his neck. He looked around the table and realized they were all smiling at him. It occurred to him then that they were teasing him; welcoming him into their fold as one of their own.

"Great job today, Cap." Tony toasted him with his drink. "Welcome to the family."

"To Cap!" Everyone echoed and saluted him. Steve was wildly embarrassed but pleased that they all seemed to be accepting of him.

"You guys did all the hard work. I just directed traffic." Steve said smiling. Natasha leaned over and kissed him gently on his cheek. It tingled where her lips touched him. He looked up into her very green eyes as she returned his smile. The Avengers Initiative was a success.