They'd spent an uncomfortable night resting against the tire of one of the trucks. Steve offered to hold her but she insisted that she be treated just like one of the men. That galled him but one look at her green eyes told him to leave it alone. He was learning, he just didn't have to like it.

The next day they started their push for Phillips' base camp. Bucky was feeling better and joined Steve and Natasha at the head of the throng with a rifle in hand. Bucky kept staring at Natasha. It didn't escape his notice that Steve had adjusted his stride so she could easily keep pace with him.

"You going to keep ogling my girlfriend, Bucky?" Steve's tone was teasing and warm.

"I'm going to keep ogling both of you, actually." Bucky countered.

Natasha choked back a laugh. It was good to see the two friends with their easy banter. Keeping Bucky alive was her top priority. If she had to sacrifice herself, she would. Steve needed his 'brother' to live.

"I am curious though," Bucky said, "I'm wondering how long ago did you two decide to get together?"

Steve opened his mouth but Natasha chimed in. "Actually it was right after we had sex for the first time...before he got the super soldier serum. Best lover I've ever had. And now, he's even better because that serum enhanced EVERTHING. Right, babe?" She smacked Steve on the butt and he jumped.

Nat looked smugly at Bucky's incredulous face and Steve's blushing one. "I'm gonna ride for awhile. You two carry on with your chat."

She dropped back and hopped on the running board of the nearest truck as it rumbled along the road, enjoying the breeze in her hair.

Bucky stared open mouthed at her and tripped over a rock. Steve grabbed him before he face-planted on the road, his own face scarlet but with an ear to ear grin. God, he loved that woman.

They marched into base camp to the cheers and whoops of their fellow soldiers. Peggy came running out with Howard right behind her. Colonel Phillips pushed through the crowd just as Steve led everyone up.

"Some of these men need medical attention. I will submit myself for disciplinary actions, Colonel." Steve saluted Phillips.

"I don't think that will be necessary," Colonel Phillips smiled.

"Thank you, sir," Steve looked relived.

Phillips looked down at Nat and beckoned her over. "You, however, young lady. Did you jump out of that plane after Captain Rogers told you not to?"

"Yes, sir, I did. Captain Rogers did not feel he needed back up. It turns out he was correct. He handled the entire mission flawlessly." Natasha had snapped into parade rest and saluted the Colonel. She shot an angry glare towards Howard and Peggy, both of whom were smiling without a clue of what was going on.

"You are lucky he was in charge of you and not me. I would have paddled your butt after a foolhardy move like that." the Colonel informed her.

He looked back up at Steve. "Take her outside the camp and spank her privately. That's an order, Captain. We can't afford to lose an Agent like her. You can debrief me when you get back."

"You come to the debriefing with him after he's done with you," Phillips pointed to Natasha.

"Sir?" Steve spoke up, "I..uh...Agent Rushman was an asset on the mission. I had no plans to subject her to disciplinary action."

"Good thing I'm in charge then," Phillips said over his shoulder and he returned to his tent.

Steve looked at Nat, "I will fix this." He started for Phillips tent.

"Steve...Captain Rogers...wait." Natasha rolled her eyes.

"Natalie? Surely you don't think I'm going to follow that order."

"No, I don't expect you will. Do me a favor? Will you please wait for me at the SSR tent? I have to turn something in." She smiled at him and he couldn't refuse her. As soon as he was around the corner she ran to find Bucky. She found him talking to a couple of the men they'd rescued. He glanced at her. She beckoned to him then took off the opposite direction, away from the center of camp.

Bucky found her about twenty yards into the woods. "What's going on, baby doll?"

"Spank me."

Bucky thought he heard her wrong, "What? Why in the hell would I spank you?"

"Bucky please. Phillips ordered Steve to do it and we both know he won't. I need your help." Nat grabbed his arm, pulled him to a boulder and pushed him against it.

"Baby, you have got a crazy way of letting a man know you love him. Steve might just kill me if I hurt you."

"He won't. Right or left handed?"

"Right...but, Natalie, I really don't want to hurt you either."

She ignored him and moved to his right side then lay over his thigh. "Do it."

"Okay, baby doll but I'm not going to enjoy this any more than Steve would." He braced her against his leg and did as she asked.

It occurred very rapidly to Natasha that she was never going to be into any sexual spanking games. Bucky apparently wasn't either because she was right against his groin and felt nothing but his leg muscles as he held her steady. Meanwhile, she mentally chastised herself and was actually crying by the time he stopped. That seemed to upset him.

"Oh my god, baby girl, I really hurt you. Shit." Bucky ran his hand through his hair and pulled her into a hug. "I'm so sorry, honey. I just did what you told me to."

"It's fine, Bucky, really. Thank you. I need to talk to you later anyway, right now I have to find Steve before Phillips does." She hugged him back quickly then bolted off to find Steve with Bucky right behind her.

They found him pacing outside the tent and skidded to a halt. Steve took one look at Natasha's tear streaked face, then at Bucky's frowning one as they ran up to him and put it together.

"You spanked her? Jesus, Bucky...what the hell? Sweetheart, are you all right?" He tucked her into the shelter of his arms.

"I asked him to, Steve because I knew you wouldn't. Don't be mad at him. And yes, I'm all right except my ass stings." Natasha said through her tears. "Phillips is going to want to see us. I need you to be brave and crack me across the butt a couple of times. Hard."

"What?! NO!" Steve said in alarm.

"Steve, what did I say about trusting me? Just do it." Nat said.

Reluctantly, he tucked her under his left arm, braced against his left thigh and smacked her twice as she'd asked. Nat bit her lip when he connected. Those super soldier muscles were the real thing and that stung.

He let her go, looking at her reproachfully then drew her into his arms. "Honey, please don't ask me to ever do that again."

"Maybe on my birthday," Nat tried to smile through her tears but it came out more like a grimace. She grabbed his right hand and looked at the palm. It was deep pink from connecting with her leather clad ass. That should prove to Phillips that Steve had done as he'd been ordered.

"Be right back. Stay there." She disappeared into the tent she shared with Peggy.

Peggy was there, waiting for her. "Darling I'm sorry. I never thought that Phillips would order Steve...oh my god! He did? He really spanked you?" Peggy was staring at her tears.

"Yup." Natasha shimmied out of her suit and put it away then dressed in her uniform, slacks, blouse and jacket in full view of Peggy. She didn't tell Peggy it was Bucky and not Steve. She wasn't sure if that wouldn't get back to Phillips.

"You sure you didn't rat me out on purpose?" She stepped up to Peggy. "Because I thought we were friends."

"No, Natalie, I swear I was just relating the story. I actually think you're tremendously brave and I can see how much you love Steve. I was proud of you, that's why I told Phillips when he asked." Peggy looked truly upset.

"Darling, I would have taken the punishment myself if I had any idea." Peggy actually teared up then. Nat felt badly about making her cry but she'd had to make certain Peggy wasn't a sneaky bitch.

"Okay, it's fine. I'm gonna go with Steve to see Phillips. Can I talk to you after while?"

"Certainly. Of course. I'll be here." Peggy dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief.

Natasha marched out of the tent, saluted Steve and told him to come on and Bucky to stay there. He followed her until they got to Phillip's tent. She stepped back to let Steve enter first. She ducked through after him. Just as she thought, Phillips shook Steve's hand then glanced at it noting the pink color. He offered them a chair, Nat refused and stood, Steve stood next to her in solidarity.

After a few minutes, Phillips was satisfied that Steve had followed orders. He also observed that Steve had a bit of a crush on Agent Rushman. Combat relations rarely lasted. Phillips felt badly for Rogers knowing he would probably get his heart broken. That little girl though, she had more guts than sense and Rogers should be damn glad she liked him. He dismissed them both after congratulating them on a job well done.

Once they got back outside, Natasha pulled him to the camp's main gate. "If you go that way (she pointed up the road) about a mile there is a logging road to the left. Follow that path and you'll come to a lumber mill. Meet me there in an hour. Love you." She blew him a kiss and bolted.

She ran back to her tent, rummaged around in her bag and at her desk. Told Peggy they could talk in two hours. She was out the door again and ran back to where they'd left Bucky. "Come on, Bucky, we need to talk. It's important." He dutifully followed her to where he'd spanked her earlier.

"Bucky, listen," She had to take a minute to catch her breath. He lit two cigarettes and handed her one. She took it and leaned on the boulder next to him. He waited until she took a drag on hers.

"What's going on, baby doll?" His eyes were friendly but serious.

"Can you keep a promise?" She turned to look at him face on.

"Sure I can." She studied his face, he met her direct gaze squarely and she believed him.

"Okay, I'm going to tell you something which you absolutely cannot tell Steve or anyone. This is something that is going to have to remain between us."

Now he frowned at her. Why would she want to keep something from Steve? She saw the suspicion cross his face. "God damn it, Bucky, please just trust me, okay? Like I trusted you."

He searched her eyes, her face. "Okay," he finally said. "I trust you."