Bruce groaned as his eyelids flickered open. He lifted his heavy head and looked around.

He was in a room that was sealed by a heavy door. There were no windows and only a single lightbulb lit the room from the ceiling. The scientist looked down at himself. His arms and legs were strapped to a metal chair. Another was around his waist and he discovered some kind of collar around his neck.

Where was he? How'd he get here? Last thing he remembered was leaving the craft store after buying more of the largest poster board they had for Hulk's lessons. They had recently started painting and Bruce knew how much Hulk enjoyed it. Tony had said that he'd keep them well in stock but Bruce had been out for another reason anyway so he picked them up.

Bruce looked over as the door opened revealing the man that haunted his nightmares. General Ross approached him and looked down with a wicked smirk. "So…I finally caught the monster."

Bruce glared at him silently.

"Catching you off guard isn't easy. The beast made you more aware of your surroundings." He walked around him. "Angry Doctor?"

"Oh you have no idea…" Bruce growled. "What do you want?"

Ross stopped before looking at his eyes. "No green. You have managed to control yourself. Bravo." He bent over and grabbed his chin forcing the man to look up at him. "The only thing that can hurt the monster is electricity. I'm going to kill you Banner. Slowly. Painfully. You and your monster will suffer for everything you both have done!"

Bruce glared and spit in his face. "He's not the monster Ross. You are!"

A punch across the face followed by an electric current answered him. He screamed in pain and agony!

Ross watched smirking before he turned and left shutting the door behind him.

Bruce panted and hung his head glaring at the floor and silently cursing Ross. He had to figure out some way to get out of here! He had to get back to the tower…back to his family…back to Hulk…

Bruce's expression softened and he shut his eyes. Ross didn't know about the separation apparently. That was good. Hulk was safe with the Avengers.

A lone tear fell down his face as he silently prayed for rescue. If that wasn't in the cards than he hoped Hulk could forgive him for leaving him.

()()()()()()()()()()()

When Bruce didn't return they knew something was wrong. The Avengers, Hulk included, began searching the city for the missing scientist.

It was Steve that found not only the craft store bag and poster board but the familiar brown coat with the elbow patches they had seen him wear. Among those items were his glasses. He gently picked up the items and pressed his earpiece. "Guys…meet me back at the tower. Bruce was kidnapped."

"What?"

Steve winced. "We reconvene back at the tower. Tony I want you to hack and review all security camera footage beginning when you see Bruce leaving Ben Franklin Crafts."

"On it," Tony said. "I have Hulk with me. Tell him?"

"He has a right to know. Try to keep him calm."

Tony only nodded as he turned to Hulk who was standing beside him. "Hulk I need you to remain calm. Getting angry will not help us find him." Hulk's glare made him cringe. "Steve said that Bruce was taken."

Tony watched a plethora of emotions flash across the green face and jade green eyes. Anger, sadness, fear, and back to anger.

"Bruce…" Hulk said quietly as he clenched his hands. "Why? Bruce hurt no one!"

"I know Big Guy. We'll find him and you can go to town on whoever was stupid enough to take him," Tony said retracting his faceplate. "Is there anyone you know that would want to hurt him?"

He shook his head. "Him no. Me plenty."

Tony cringed. "Right. Lets go. We'll find him and bring him home."

He nodded as he followed Tony back home.

Hulk hadn't been expecting the wave of emotions that hit him when he saw the coat and broken glasses. Steve handed them to him and he took them in his shaking hands. He brought the coat to his nose and sniffed it. He could smell the scent that was uniquely Bruce. He could also smell strange scents that had to have come from the kidnappers. His eyes narrowed.

"What is it Hulk?" Natasha asked.. They had been watching him closely.

Hulk looked at them. "Strange smells. Smell like…like…" He smelled the coat again. His eyes went wide. "No…"

They looked at each other now worried.

"What is it?" Thor asked.

Hulk let out a growl. "Ross…Hulk smash him!"

Clint gripped his bow. "Fury told Ross to back off and leave you both alone ages ago!"

Natasha growled angrily. "Oh there will be hell to pay!"

Steve put a hand on Hulk's arm. "If he's harmed a hair on Bruce's head he's yours."

Hulk nodded as he clutched the coat. He watched Tony as he contacted Director Fury before looking back at Bruce's coat and glasses. Fear gnawed his insides as he thought about what the insane general could be doing to him. What if Bruce was hurt? What if…what if he was dead?

Hulk didn't want to think about the possibility but the fear was there. He knew Bruce was human and that all humans die eventually. He knew that. He'd been the cause of it many years ago when he had first got zapped into Bruce's body.

If they found Bruce dead Hulk knew he would fly into a rage that he might never get out from.

()()()()()()()()()()()

They searched for two days before being forced to get some rest. Fury told them that he would continue the search and tell them immediately if they found anything.

Hulk never made it to his room. He settled himself against Bruce's bed with one arm on the mattress and resting his head on it. His other hand sat in his lap as he just stared around the room. He was tired but rest wasn't going to come easy. The green man looked at the bookshelf that was nearby and found the storybook Bruce read out of and opened it. For the first time he realized that the book itself was old. On the front was an inscription written in elegant handwriting.

"For my precious boy. Use these stories to help you through the hard times. No matter what I will always love you. Love Mommy"

Hulk felt tears in his eyes. He remembered so long ago when he had first seen Bruce as a child. His first memory of the boy was when he had seen him watch his father kill his mother right in front of him and then beat the boy to near death. That had been when he decided he would watch over the boy. In the state he'd been in at the time he couldn't help but he could see how the child turned out.

In a way Bruce was sharing his mother with him. He must take after her. Heaven knew he'd watched as Bruce helped the sick in those third world countries. He had a comforting touch.

Hulk shut his eyes and buried his face in his hands as the sobs came. A hand on his shoulder made him look up and at Clint. The archer frowned softly before reaching up and wiping the tears away. "Hey now I know you're worried. We all are. He will be found I promise."

Hulk looked at him sadly. "What if…"

"We'll find him Jade Jaws. Whatever state he's in we'll take care of him. If Ross was stupid enough to take his life than we'll honor him. We'll take care of you Hulk. Bruce will never be forgotten and his lessons and legacy will live on with you." Clint moved his hand to Hulk's hair. "I know you miss him. We all do. Tony's in the lab and he's just…sitting there. Steve's on his third punching bag and Thor's on the roof staring at the city. Natasha's in her room and I heard her crying."

"And you came to check on Hulk?"

Clint nodded. "Yeah. Had a feeling rest is the furthest thing from your mind."

Hulk nodded before looking down at the book. "Bruce read to Hulk. Then sing. Then stay until Hulk sleep."

Clint nodded with a small smile. "Watched him do it from the vents one time." Hulk scowled at him making him chuckle. "Oh come on! I was curious!"

Hulk only sighed and looked down. He ran his hand gingerly over the book. He blinked a bit when Clint's hand was on his own.

"Want me to read to you?" the human asked gently.

Hulk shook his head. 'Not the same."

Clint smiled sadly. "Yeah I know."

()()()()()()()()

The days passed slowly for Bruce. He had been electrocuted, beaten, and cut in several places. He could only groan in his chair as he slumped. Ross had done everything he could to bring out the Hulk.

It was to no avail of course. Through it all Bruce kept quiet about the separation.

He paid for it though. Blood coated his hair and his clothes were ripped and torn. Blood dribbled out of a broken nose and his face was bruised. He had at least one broken rib.

The door opened and Ross came in with a bat in his hands. He lightly smacked his hand with it as he approached the scientist. "No need to fight the monster. Let him out to play."

Bruce only glared silently.

"No need to be stubborn." Ross swung the bat and hit Bruce on the stomach making him gasp in pain.

()()()()()

The days passed into a week with no leads. When Hulk wasn't looking for Bruce he was taking out his agression in the training room. He was getting more and more angry as the days passed.

One day it finally happened. Director Fury followed the Avengers to the training room. The director just stood there and watched the Hulk before the green goliath saw him and stopped.

Fury looked at him. "We found him. Took a lot of surveillance and manpower as well as leads but we found where General Ross is keeping Doctor Banner."

"Where?" Hulk demanded.

"The Avengers will take you there. We were able to confirm that he is alive. Little beat up but alive," Fury said. "Ross was stupid enough to get drunk in a bar and tell a buddy of his all about catching the monster but for some reason the monster won't come out and attack."

Hulk's hands clenched as he got even angrier.

"Ross said he did everything he could to provoke it such as electrocution and beatings. Still the monster never came out and Banner kept his mouth shut."

Hulk let out a dangerous growl.

"Go rescue him," Fury said. "Then bring him to SHIELD and we'll help him as best we can."

Hulk glared at him. "No cage for Hulk. Hulk stay with Bruce!"

Fury smirked a bit. "Of course."

With that the Avengers raced across New York and to the hellhole Bruce was being kept in.

Tony scanned all the buildings before pointing to what used to be an old armory. "I have heat signatures coming from inside."

"Right. Natasha go inside and scout the building. Use the vents," Steve said.

Natasha soon vanished inside. Clint got into position on the rooftop with Hulk.

After only a few minutes they heard Natasha swear in Russian silently!

"Our friend must be bad off," Thor said clutching Mjolnir.

"Oh that's not even scratching the surface," Natasha hissed over the earpiece. "Ross isn't here. Bruce…I'll have to go in to see but from here I'm afraid we might be too late."

Clint shut his eyes. "Nat come on…don't…"

Hulk looked over. "Spider Lady find Bruce?"

Clint looked at him fighting tears. "She did but…"

Hulk got the idea and stared at him! "No…"

"She's going to take a closer look…"

Hulk nodded but the sorrow was there.

()()()()()()()()()()

Natasha kicked open the vent and jumped down before leaping to her friend. "Bruce…Bruce can you hear me?" She reached over and felt for a pulse. She pressed her fingers hard against his neck until she found one. She breathed a sigh of relief as she undid the bonds and laid him on the floor so she could assess the damage.

Bruce groaned and his eyes fluttered opened. "Tasha?"

Natasha smiled softly and stroked his hair. "Shhh…its ok we're here."

"Ross…" he chocked out. "Hulk….danger…"

She shushed him again. "He's fine. Worried about you but fine." Natasha reached up to her ear. "He's alive and coherent."

()()()()()()()()()

Clint grinned and looked at Hulk. "He's alive and awake. Just waiting on us!"

Hulk let out a relieved breath. "No more wait!" With that he jumped on top of the other building and went through it.

Clint smirked. "Hulk just opened the front door."

He could almost see Tony smirk. "We noticed."

Clint could hear the sound of a car and looked over. "Cap we got company."

"I see him. Must be Ross. Leave him to me," Steve said darkly.

()()()()()()()()

Natasha stayed with Bruce and put his head in her lap as she wiped away the blood on his face. His eyes had slid closed in rest as they waited.

They didn't have to wait long before the door was torn off and Hulk lumbered in and over to them.

Bruce's eyes opened and he smiled weakly. "Hulk…you alright?"

Hulk knelt down and stared at the man's broken body. "Hulk fine…" Natasha moved back and allowed Hulk to gently pick up and cradle the hurt man to his chest. "Bruce broken."

"S'not bad as it looks," Bruce said hiding the wave of pain the movement caused.

Hulk snorted in disbelief as he left the room followed closely by Natasha. On the way they were met by Tony, Clint, and Thor as gunshots could be heard ricocheting off of something metal.

Hulk growled as he saw the battle between Ross and Steve. He looked down at the human in his arms before narrowing his eyes and setting him down on the ground.

"Hulk?" Bruce asked looking at him concerned.

"Bruce stay. Hulk fight," Hulk said gently before standing at his full height, growling, and turning to the fight roaring!

Ross didn't have time to move before he was picked up and face to face with the monster he had been trying to provoke. He smirked wickedly. "Finally…" His eyes flashed red.

To everyone's shock and horror Ross turned into a red Hulk! The two Hulks were locked together as jade green eyes met blood red.

"Red Hulk smash Hulk! Red Hulk stronger and smarter than green Hulk!"

Hulk growled. "Red Hulk hurt Bruce Banner. Red Hulk pay!"

Red Hulk only smirked before pulling back his fist and throwing a punch. It connected sending the Hulk backwards. Hulk roared angrily and attacked leading to a full out Hulk brawl!

Bruce watched the fight while the other Avengers gathered around him to watch themselves knowing that none of them could do anything to help.

Hulk tried to fight back but he wasn't used to an opponent that matched his strength. For once the fight was even as they tossed and threw each other about.

At one point the Red Hulk had him pinned. "I thought the angrier you get the stronger you get. That's what Ross says. You see you are fueled by anger. I am fueled by hate. You've gone soft Hulk."

Hulk glared up at him before his head was shoved to the ground and he found himself looking at the Avengers. His eyes landed on Bruce as the human was supported into a semi standing position. The brown eyes that had looked at him with such love and care since the separation were now worried and frightened for him. Bruce met his eyes before pointing at himself, drawing a heart on his chest, and then pointing at him. He did it a few times as tears began falling.

Hulk got the message alright. Three simple words. A simple phrase.

An understanding of just how strong that phrase truly was. Bruce had been willing to die to protect him because of it.

Hulk growled as he raised his arm and grabbed Red Hulk's foot before throwing him off of him! He then jumped to his feet and let out the loudest and most heart stopping roar he had ever let out in his life!

Bruce had protected Hulk. Now Hulk would protect his father.