Thanks ever so much for the kind reviews. I'm having fun writing this, but I don't own any of the lovely characters.


Day 9: Hanging Out With Friends

Nick became aware of something poking at his leg. He twitched slightly, then drifted back towards the warm darkness.

Another poke pulled him back.

Maria wasn't usually so active in her sleep. Even when the nightmares came, she usually remained quite still in her sleep.

He started to reach for her only to be hit by the realization that his hands were bound over his head. When his question was cut off by the tape over his mouth, he forced his eye open. He shook his head slightly in an effort to clear his vision.

The room was dimly lit. He looked up, finally able to make out the thick pipe overhead. His hands were tied to a rope draped over it. He studied it, trying to recall the series of events that had brought him here.

The day had started normally enough. Well, normal for the head of a super secret spy organization.

A couple of impending disasters averted, a half a dozen minor threats and one major one neutralized. A broken shoe lace.

A meeting with the Avengers seemed headed for more of the same. Then, the word came about a disturbance at a virtually unused SHIELD storage facility. While Nick was preparing to order a small team in to investigate, Tony offered the Avengers' services instead.

"It's been boring," he complained. "I have suit modifications that I need to test out in the real world."

"And you need us why?" Natasha inquired.

"Cause we're supposed to be a team and need to practice together and because you're as bored as I am if the number of nerf darts I've been finding are any indication."

In the end, Bruce chose to opt out, but the rest of team decided to check out what was going on at the warehouse. Fury, Hill, and Coulson went along to observe.

Not that there seemed to be much to observe. The warehouse had presented as quiet and unassuming as the other buildings in the area. After a quick fly-through, Stark had unsuited.

"False alarm," he sighed, standing in the middle of the empty space, surrounded by the others.

"That's a good thing," Coulson reminded him.

"I know," the billionaire responded, "but something small and manageable wouldn't have been so bad."

Clint was still looking around, eyes narrowed. "Careful what you wish for," he mumbled.

"What do you mean?" Tony asked.

"Something set off the sensors," Maria reminded him.

"Mouse," the man claimed, pointing at a furry creature darting across the floor.

"The sensors we use are designed to know the difference," Fury explained.

As Tony reached for the case his suit had folded into, Nick noted a slight buzz in his ear. Turning his head to ask if anyone else heard it, a wave of vertigo hit . He saw Maria clutch her head, sway slightly, then collapse in a heap. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Tasha follow suit. Clint was reaching for her, only to end up falling on top of her. Phil dropped, then Tony, too, succumbed to whatever was attacking them, collapsing on top of the case. One of the last things he remembered as the floor rushed up to greet him was the sight of Steve and Thor starting to sway.

Maria.

He started looking around, searching for the slender brunette. A grunt drew his attention to the man hanging next to him. Steve Rogers, he realized, had been the source of the pokes that had drawn him back to awareness. Once knew he had Nick's attention, he jerked his head to indicate the figure hanging on the other side of him, then started swinging enough to allow him to make out the familiar form of his lover.

He studied her for several moments, feeling reassured by the motion of her chest. Feeling reasonably comfortable that she was alright, Nick stretched and twisted, verifying that the entire team was lining the length of the pipe.

Now, to figure out how to get everyone out.

Steve tilted his head back, studying the pipe overhead. The amount of slack in the rope was just enough to make it impossible to grab it and pull himself up. He started swinging, but still couldn't quite get up enough momentum to swing himself up.

Nick started swinging, too, managing to slide himself closer to the other man, gritting his teeth against the agony that shot down his arms and shoulders with each small jump. Finally, he was close enough. After a moment, he started swinging. Watching him for a moment, Steve carefully timed his own swing, pushing himself off the other man's legs. The additional leverage allowed him to wrap his hands around the pipe and pull himself up.

Once situated, he was able finally loosen the knots in the rope binding his wrists, then pull the tape off of his mouth. After shaking his hands for a few moments to bring the circulation back, he managed to pull Nick up and release him from his bonds.

The director swung down and the two quickly worked their way down the line, Nick lifting each person to allow Steve to work the knots loose. Phil and Clint assisted when it was time to lift Thor's bulk.

Finally, everyone was back on solid ground, rubbing the feeling back into their hands as they discussed what had happened and how to strike back. With everyone upset with themselves at having been taken by surprise, they were all laser focused on working the plan and bringing in those who had brought them down. In short order, they had a surly inventor in custody and his equipment confiscated.

Back at the tower, the team discussed what had happened and brainstormed ways to defend against similar attacks in the future. Finally, Pepper bullied the group into the common living area where everyone was encouraged to partake of the buffet spread out on the table. Plates filled, they all settled in front of the television to watch the evening news.

"At least our little adventure didn't make the news," Clint commented.

Nick grunted acknowledgment as he tucked his phone back in his pocket. He pulled Maria close, his big hand gently rubbing at the angry red marks the rope had left on her slender wrists.

As the newscast started to wrap up, the perky news anchor faced the camera.

"Let's take a look at our 'Facebook' page. The question we asked our follower: How did you enjoy this beautiful weather we had today?"

She turned towards the comments posted on the screen behind her.

"Nancy M says she spent the day working in her garden with hubby. Mitch R answered: Pickup basketball at the park. And Nick F: Hung out with some friends and cleaned up some trash."

She turned back to the camera.. "Sounds like a great way to spend the day, Nick."

"Not as nice as you'd think," Nat told the television.


And that's another day. Thanks for reading. I hope you enjoyed. Please let me know.