AN: A line signifies a time jump, or a change in scene or place.

Italics is someone other than Natasha speaking

Underline is announcements from the Sub

It's today Bruce.

Today's the day we're going on our mission, going to the bottom of the ocean to retrieve that Quinjet. The Quinjet that you're not inside, the one you can't be inside, because you're alive, aren't you?

Tony announced yesterday that it was finished, a high power submarine that can withstand the depths, that can retrieve the Quinjet, and bring it back to the surface. So we can know, for ourselves, that you are definitely not inside it. I'll keep recording the mission, give you a little insight into what we are doing, if you're listening to this Bruce.

I expect you are, that you are working out something so you can reply to us.

Steve's just told me to suit up. Here we go Bruce.

Wow Bruce, you'd be impressed. Starks done a grand job on this sub, you wouldn't believe we were in such a tiny space. He and Clint are piloting...is it still piloting in a sub? Or steering, or whatever they call it. Anyway, the rest of us are sat in the back, in a rather comfortable lounge. Stark said it'll be a couple of hours before we get down there, until we can retrieve the sub. So we're lounging around, bored but nervous. We all say to each other that you won't be down there, but there's always, always this little voice in the back of our minds, saying, 'but what if he is.'

Tasha, he won't be down there. Okay? Believe that, that this will be a wasted mission.

And that was Clint, shouting from the front. Hang on, I'll go speak to him.

Clint?

Tasha. We all know he won't be down there, that he would have escaped. I don't see Mr Green letting him die, and not escaping.

I know Clint. But, I still worry okay? I'm allowed to worry.

I'm going back to the others again.

She has it bad for him, doesn't she?

I heard that Tony!

It's true though Bruce. And I know you feel the same way about me, or at least you used to. I don't believe that you could be the sort of man to turn his back on his friends, to ignore all of us. I know that there must be something, something stopping you from replying to us. But please, please Bruce try to reply to us, to give us a small message, just to say that you're alive, that you're okay.

So, this mission. We have all the team, all the new Avengers, not because this is dangerous, or because we are expecting any enemies, or attacks, but because we all want the proof that you're not in that ship, we all want to know you're alive.

Steve's the captain, apparently in charge, even though I do believe that Tony, for this mission, is acting as boss.

Tony knows what we're doing, how we're doing it, how we're going to get down there.

Clint, he's piloting, and providing an anchor of sorts, keeping our hopes up.

Thor stayed for a while whilst we were planning this, it seemed appropriate that he came down with us, he wanted to anyway.

And then the newbies. I do believe Rogers is using this also as a sort of training exercise for them, but that they also wanted to see the truth for themselves.

Vision.

Wanda.

Sam.

It makes a change, me not being the only girl on the team now Wanda has joined us. A good change, something good that has come from the battle against Ultron. She still seems upset sometimes, but she lost her twin, the last member of her family. She's truly alone now, but she's coping I think. Distractions help, she's thrown herself into the training, improving her gift, and learning new skills.

Vision is one we sometimes don't understand, like Thor it seems as if he comes from another world. He's not human, but then again, which of us Avengers are?

We're a chemical mixture, that creates chaos. None of us purely human, all of us with gifts, abilities, own problems. None of us having had the best family life, the best past. But we found a family in this team, a family which doesn't have to be related, but looks after one another just the same. A family sharing the same home, the tower which Tony rebuilt, giving us all our own space to call home, whenever we wanted. Not necessarily all the time, but when we need an escape, someone who can relate to us, who we can speak to, and will understand us. Someone we can have a drink with, or someone you is just happy to sit in silence with you. You should be here though Bruce, you should be part of this family again.

Captain? Not to worry you, but come in here a second please?

That's Clint. Well if he hasn't worried Rogers, he certainly worried the rest of us in this room. Steve's closed the door to the, to the cockpit? Control room? Anyway, those three are shut in there and we can't hear them, only muffled voices. It should be fine, all fine, yep, everything is all fine, it's all okay.

It's okay, nothing to freak out about.

What was it?

That was Rogers and Thor.

They got spooked by a group of deep sea fish. Didn't know how we should react to them, but they've swum off now.

Okay.

'They got spooked.' Big brave men, who saved the world, got spooked by a fish. And we trust the safety of our world to them Bruce?!

It was a weird-ass fish Tasha.

I'd like to see you act so brave around it Natashalie.

Yeah, yeah Clint, Tony. Are you eavesdropping on me?

Tasha, you're kind of speaking out loud, everyone can hear you. Oh, and Bruce, if you are listening, please come back, she really misses you, and Tony is struggling without his Science Bro.

Really Clint? Science Bro?

But you don't deny you miss him? Tony?

Ha, Tony's not replying. But to be honest Bruce, everyone misses you okay? If only you could see us to realise that. You can hear it though, hear the truth in my words? Please say you can.

Apparently we're approaching the ship now. We've all rushed to windows, looking down, following the beams of the lights projecting from the sub.

There it is!

Highlighted in the beam of light, Clint was the first to spot the Quinjet, lying on its side, half covered in sand and dirt. At the controls of the ship, Tony is directing a large claw out to the ship, everyone is watching as it slowly opens, positioning itself around the ship, before closing, and becoming attached.

Here we go.

Slowly, but steadily, the claw begins to move towards us, towards the sub, sand sliding off it in a graceful, fluid movement as it settles back onto the ocean floor.

Tony, stop!

The claw freezes as Tony takes his hands from the control, looking at Clint who had called out.

It's slipping Tony. The claw, its not around it properly, its going to fall before you get it back to the sub.

Hang on, see you in a minute.

Tony's just ran off to the store room, I don't know whats in there that can help us.

AIRLOCK OPENING

Tony? What are you doing?

AIRLOCK CLOSED

Why's he gone outside?

He's doing something to the claw. What is it?

There's a cable there by the looks of it, yeah, he's putting the cable around the ship, connecting it round the back by the looks of things, to stop the claw from falling.

Yeah, you're right. Why isn't his mic on though?

I don't know. It looks like he's got another cable now, going around the Quinjet the other way.

Clint, you realise we can all see this right?

Bruce can't. Anyway, I still can't see him, what's he doing under there? He's taking a lot longer to do this one than the other one.

Something stupid. Probably admiring his reflection, having a quick drink.

Oh shit, fuck.

No! Clint, stop it!

Oh my God. Is it...?

No!

I can't do anything! It's slipped out of the claw!

Tony!

Tony!

Tony!

AN: This is for you (The quick update, not the terrible cliffhanger!), my reviewers for encouraging me to continue this story, especially DAIROXO, your review pushed me to write and finish this chapter today, and yes, I am definitely going to write up to the reunion!