See Chapter One for Disclaimer
"I don't know what you said, and I don't need to know." Sam shook his head at his brother. "You're an idiot."
"You're adopted." Dean snapped automatically, bristling. The attitude was partially because little brothers weren't supposed to question you - and partially because little brothers were supposed to be on YOUR side - but Dean was too angry to care. "You don't know anything, Sammie, just keep your mouth shut."
Sam grabbed Dean's arm, pulling Deans attention away from the door Maddie had just slammed behind her. "Dean," he said seriously. "You're my brother. I know you, and I can practically see the giant superiority complex you're dealing with. I mean," Sam looked out Maddie's front window, where he could just see a blonde-haired man loitering outside, Steve Rogers nearby and speaking with two of his men. "I can understand why. But you've gotta trust how she feels about you."
Dean shot his brother a glare, and Sam shook his head. "Listen, you're crazy about her!" He shuddered a bit. "Honestly, she scares me a little. But you're happy for the first time in I don't know how long and I will protect that with every fiber of my being, from anything that threatens it. Even if you're the one doing the threatening."
"What does that even mean?" Dean snapped, and Sam just shrugged.
"She loves you, big brother, for reasons I can't fathom. Don't screw it up." Sam caught Cas' eye from across the room, and Sam nodded, leaving his brother to stew in his confused anger.
Dean stared blankly after his brother, more than a little upset at the way he's just been chastised, when he hears a low chuckle come from just behind him. Dean turned and groaned slightly at the sight of the blonde man next to him. "Your brother has a point," Steve Rogers said lowly, and Dean rolled his eyes. "Well I hardly think the competition is going to take my side," he retorted scathingly, and Steve raised an eyebrow.
"You're wrong on both counts there," he said with a shrug. "I'm no threat." But even as he spoke, he shot a wistful look down the hallway that Maddie had disappeared down. "I was just the band aid. You've made her better."
"You're also most likely Orie's father." Dean grunted, because how could he forget that? How could anyone? But Steve just smiled wryly.
"Yes." He agreed simply. "So we better figure out how the hell to get along, shouldn't we? That is," Steve raised an eyebrow, half inquiring and half suspicious, "if you plan on sticking around."
"I'm not the one who would leave," Dean argued, crossing his arms and just barely stopping himself from stomping his foot angrily.
Steve rolled his eyes. "Dean: ever since Orie called me Papa you've had one foot out the door." Dean opened his mouth to interrupt - but maybe the guy wasn't wrong. "Maybe it's because you're afraid of competition. On that front, I'll repeat myself," and Steve raised his hands in surrender, "I'm no threat."
"You two make great babies," Dean finally said grudgingly, because it was a valid point: SO valid in fact, that it bore repeating.
"Another thing we can agree on," Steve admitted practically. "But even when Mads and I were together, she didn't really want me, not even when I was on my best behavior. I've seen you two together for less than 24 hours, and I can tell you: she wants to be with you; your crappy attitude included, apparently." Steve sighed. "You fit her better. I don't mind sharing my son, but I'd only give up his mother to someone who made her happy." And Dean grimaced, because if that were so…
"Yeah, well that's not exactly something I'm doing right now." He admitted.
"Because you've got one foot out the door, and she can see that." Steve said frankly, and Dean made a face, because he'd heard the guy the first time.
"She's the best thing that ever happened to me," He finally responded, "other than my brother. Why would I be the one leaving her?" Dean forced the words out mostly to remind himself than to inform Steve. Because what he'd said was true - Mads was his better half. But Steve was also right: Dean had been backing away the last two days. And Captain Steve Rogers of America was standing in front of him, handing out free advice - it would be stupid not to hear the guys side of things. So Dean uncrossed his arms and turned to face Steve head on. "Why would I do that?" He repeated, and Steve went in for the kill.
"It's called a preemptive strike, Dean. And let me tell you, even as a form of protection, both sides still get hurt." Steve delivered one hard clap on Dean's shoulder, and then he was moving away, to join Bucky and Maddie's frazzled roommate, who was gripping Bucky's metal arm tightly.
It was a few minutes later when a group of police officers coughed lightly to get everyone's attention.
"We have an update," The officer who appeared to be taking the lead was tall, with broad shoulders and white-blonde hair. "Where's the mother?"
"Present," A hoarse voice spoke up, and Dean couldn't stop himself from whirling around to look at her.
Maddie had scrubbed her face clean of make-up, and her previously curly up-do was now just thrown into a high pony on the back of her head. She'd also changed; into gray sweatpants and a long tan cardigan, the bottom of her sweats tucked into thick socks.
She leaned against the wall, her shoulders sagging, but her chin was raised defiantly.
She looked equal parts fragile and strong, and Dean wanted to hold her; but she avoided his gaze and for some reason that small gesture made his heart clench.
"Proceed," She said stiffly, and the officer nodded.
"The BAU sent their team to speak with the individual you accused,"
"Because he did it." Maddie snapped, crossing her arms over her stomach, her eyes narrowing. "He confessed right away, didn't he?"
The officer grit his teeth, but nodded. "He admitted to having a part in taking your son, and allowed the BAU to take him into custody. He's currently in a holding room at the precinct, and the BAU is attempting to interrogate him, but," here the officer grimaced. "He says he'll only speak with you."
Maddie made a face. "Well that sucks trees, because I don't want to talk to him."
The officer in front of her almost rolled his eyes, but he caught himself. "Ma'am," he said seriously, "You're speaking with him is not necessary to my plan."
Dean almost laughed then, and he saw Steve grimace. Bucky and Clint shared grins and leaned forward, and Maddie's eyes narrowed as she stepped forward.
"I'm sorry, your plan?" Maddie's head tilted and her voice went so cold the man in front of her stiffened as if he'd gone frozen. "You seem to misunderstand your presence here." She said slowly. The officer shifted from one foot to the other uneasily, and Maddie caught his moment of weakness, her smile growing sharp.
"I didn't call you, but I'll use your presence. I don't want you here, but you serve a purpose. You are not my boss, and you are not in charge of me."
Maddie raised an eyebrow. "In fact, as officers of the city, where my taxes pay your wages, it would seem that I'm YOUR boss. And not only is the little boy whose missing my son, but his father is Captain Frickin America," The other officers eyebrows raised at Maddie's angry announcement, but Maddie either didn't notice or didn't care - she simply continued to advance on the officer in front of her, her voice raising with every syllable, "so if you thought you were in charge before you walked in here and were still holding on hope throughout this entire conversation, it is only my fondest pleasure to dash those hopes." And the officer in front of her had remained defiant for a few moments after she stopped speaking, but then his shoulders sagged, and Maddie nodded.
"Now." She said briskly, "Are you ready to listen?"
"Yes, ma'am." The officer choked out, and Maddie nodded in satisfaction.
"As I thought." Maddie paused, then smiled slowly. "Your work here is done."
"Excuse me?" The officer snapped, and Maddie's voice went rigid.
"I said, you're done here. You can check in at the office, but this is officially a federal case, and as such, I no longer have need of you. Get the hell out of my house – Now."
The man in front of her looked as if he were struggling internally: as if he weren't sure if he wanted to argue more, leave with his dignity intact, or try and punch her out.
After a long moment of indecision, he finally chose to leave with his dignity.
Well, with what was left of it.
Maddie waited for her door to slam, nodding in satisfaction at the noise. "Avengers?" She addressed, and the group straightened and turned to her. "Ultron sees himself as my ally, and you are the enemy, especially you two." She raised an eyebrow at Wanda and Pietro, and they shrugged in agreement. "As such," Maddie continued, "you don't leave this building unless I will it."
"Let me guess," Clint said dryly, "You don't will it?"
Maddie shrugged. "Not at the moment. I need one of you to contact your old crony; the one who made Ultron? We need to find out how quickly we can find a way to get my poor boss UN-possessed."
"Like some sort of weird technological exorcism?" Sam Wilson said skeptically. "Right. Shall I call in Vision as well? We can see if he can input,"
"Heh, input," Scott muttered,
"Anyway?" Sam rolled his eyes. "I'll see if he has anything else to add."
Maddie nodded. "Sherlock?" She raised an eyebrow at him, and he shrugged.
"Might I suggest that it would be a good idea to call in that FAVOR now," He said pointedly, and Maddie grimaced.
"I already have," She admitted. "I've got no leverage with your brother anymore."
Sherlock and John shared a look.
"What?" Maddie asked, and Sherlock pulled out his phone and moved to the hallway.
"Let me make a phone call," he said smoothly, and Maddie rolled her eyes.
"Okay then. Cas-" and when Cas looked up, instead of continuing to speak, she tossed him a small bag.
He caught it deftly in one hand, bringing it closer to his face so he could examine it. After a moment he looked up, his eyes wide.
Maddie nodded. "You three look into that," She ordered, eyebrows furrowing. "Gut says it aint good, but here's to hoping otherwise." Cas nodded and handed the bag to Sam, and Dean kept his focus on Maddie, hoping that she would look at him, acknowledge him in some way – but instead she moved to the kitchen.
"And now that I've done my part, I'm going to go sit on the porch and get drunk. The rest of you –" she shot a look at the group. "I'm trusting you will find a way to deal with Ultron. Don't make me regret that."
The slam of the back door shook the floor, and Steve took a deep breath.
"Alright." He said seriously. "Let's find my boy."
Outside, Maddie had about five minutes of awkward silence before she sighed heavily.
"Are you going to come over and talk to me, or just stare at me from my bushes like a creepy stalker?" She called out, and her bushes rustled, a figure emerging sheepishly from them.
"That was super creepy, wasn't it?" Theo Bradley admitted, and Maddie rolled her eyes.
"On a scale of one to ten, it was a 42."
And Maddie Sinclair was a little drunk, and a lot stressed, and very heartbroken. So it might've been a dumb move, but she jerked her head towards the seat next to her, and Theo moved to sit by her.
"So much for uncomplicated, huh?" He said lightly, and Maddie snorted.
"Right. I guess hoping for uncomplicated was too much to ask for," she said regretfully, taking a large swallow from the bottle in her hand. After a moment, she held it out in invitation, and Theo shrugged, and took a drink of his own.
And Theo and Maddie fell into silence, both thinking about a little boy with blue eyes and a dimple in one cheek.
Chapter Ten! Sorry about the long interlude: NaNo sucked out my soul, and December got away from me. Next chapter up in a mo!
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~CLC~