It had been a few weeks since New York and Ross was finally being brought in front of the Security Council. He sighed, he knew that this meeting would not go very well for him, but it got worse when the door opened and Nick Fury walked out. "General Ross" he said with his one eye studying Ross.
"Fury" he replied preparing to step into the room.
"They aren't ready for you yet" said Fury sticking around to talk with Ross a little before heading off. "So how is Blonsky doing in his new cell?" asked Fury knowing that Blonsky had survived the building falling on him and Ross stuck him in a base that had been fitted for the Hulk in Alaska.
"I don't believe that you are privy to that information" said Ross facing forward.
Fury smiled "I'm privy to all information Ross."
"Including the location of Bruce Banner" asked Ross turning around to face Fury who showed no emotion to hint at "You think I don't see what you did? You staged Stark's construction site to fall apart and snuck Banner out while everyone was distracted and I am telling you…if you are holding him somewhere and keeping him safe I will find him and I will take him from you."
"The Security Council has checked out every single base and prison that Shield has under its command and Banner was not in any of them. I would invite you to do the same but quite frankly…it's above your pay grade" said Fury as he turned and began to walk away. "Be careful in there Ross, they seemed a little upset with you and besides the Council is suspending the hunt for the Hulk pending an investigation into your actions."
Ross looked down as Fury spoke he was going to get the Hulk one way or another no matter what it took.
As Fury was riding in the elevator up to the roof where Coulson had Barton and Romanoff waiting for him his mind flashed back to right after what happened in New York. Coulson had made an impulse decision and Fury agreed, they could not let Banner get poked and prodded by Ross for the rest of his days. Now Fury was sitting in a shack in Rio de Janeiro looking at the strongest thing on the planet. Banner was still sleeping, his body still recovering from the battle with Blonsky. Fury had been watching the fight through various versions including one of the Shield satellites that they used to monitor the city with, it was impressive to say the least the Hulk found itself out powered in just about every way but it persevered and found a way to win.
Fury had been able to return his focus to the Avengers Initiative after the last week but he needed to get more information about Banner, if he wasn't in than he could possibly be a threat and Fury needed to figure out where the man stood once and for all.
Banner began to stir and Fury eased his breathing, men were stationed outside ready to move in if Banner got angry and the Hulk made an appearance. Banner sat up slowly and scanned the room in a panic, "Relax" said Fury prompting Bruce to stop and stare at him. Fury noticed that Banner was sitting differently than all the footage he had seen of him, he was more confident, less scared and more accepting of what he was and that could be very good or very bad.
"I'm Nick Fury" he said as Banner looked him up and down.
"How long have I been out?" he asked forcing Fury to stop talking.
"A few days" replied Fury waiting to see what Banner might do.
Bruce sighed and cracked his neck a little "Look I've had a long few days… and quite frankly I don't care where I am or why I'm here but you will not keep me here…not today, not tomorrow, not ever. If you have a problem with that I can't stop you but the other guy will." Fury could see that Banner was not bluffing he had come to accept that the Hulk was there, no different than Black Widow when she used her sexuality to get what she wanted from someone, it's a part of his package and he was going to use it to his advantage.
"I have no intention of keeping you here, I would just like to say that I think you have potential to do good Dr. Banner. Keep doing what you are doing out there and we will let you be, Ross and his search are going to be suspended for a little while so you should be able to relax for a little bit at least" Fury stood up and began to walk out the door. Fury then turned back to look at Banner who was looking out a window watching as Fury's reinforcements began to clear out. "Just always remember Doctor, I've got my eye on you."
Fury left the shack and waited just to see what Banner was going to do, a few minutes later Banner walked out of the hut with a bag that Shield had left him with and walked off into the distance.
Talbot was sitting just outside of Blonsky's cell, they had come up with a name for him now that he really wasn't Blonsky anymore. "Ready for your long stay Abomination" he said prompting a growl from him. Talbot laughed and walked away, his body was still recovering from getting laid out by the Hulk but this whole situation could work heavily into his favor. If Talbot could get the timing right he could steal this whole operation from right under Ross's nose.
Betty was sitting in her living room but her mind was dimmed she was talking about Bruce to some guy who had asked her for everything she knew and she was giving it to him and she wasn't sure why exactly. She remembered screaming when she opened her door and saw him but everything after that was a blur, she tried to stop herself from talking but she didn't seem to have the ability to do it. All she could remember is the voice, familiar yet brand new continuously saying "Tell the Leader everything you know."