Here is the next part! If you don't like torture, then don't read this.

A shivering, wet figure lay on a soaking wet wooden table. The Avengers watched helplessly as Natasha was repeatedly doused in ice-cold water, but they could do nothing to help their friend. Alexei grinned evilly after catching a glance of the Avenger's shocked faces. Natasha had a high pain tolerance, but how far would she be able to go before breaking down, or worse, dying?

Alexei then ripped Natasha's shirt off and held a slim dagger to her chest. With a swift stroke, he cut open a straight line in her chest, from her collarbone to her belly button. The gash immediately opened up and began to bleed. Natasha's grip tightened on the wooden table and her eyes squeezed shut. Then, Alexei took a hold of her and tossed her back into the hallway, shivering. The Avengers rushed to her side. Blood covered the tiles of the Russian bunker.

Steve woke from his nightmare, sweating despite the air-conditioned room inside the Avengers Tower. At first, he thought of going to Natasha for comfort. Natasha, who always was willing to let him into her apartment and talk off the dream. They both were traumatized from what had occurred during their lifetimes. Then, reality came crashing down on him and he realized that now, Natasha needed him more than ever, and he wasn't there for her in the way she needed.

He slid out of bed and padded through the halls of his floor. Once he got to the elevator, he punched the button to Natasha's floor. Steve knew it would be empty. Natasha had one more day until she was released, and then he could finally talk to her again. Freely this time. Not in front of numerous security cameras that were most certainly recording their every conversation.

The elevator dinged and Steve stepped into Natasha's hall. It was shockingly bare, with nothing but furniture and pictures. There was nothing personal in there, except the framed collage of pictures that had been taken of Natasha. Every Avenger had one on their floor, but Steve liked hers the best. It showed her in the light that he always saw her- sarcastically funny and surprisingly witty. It wasn't the cold, ruthless killing machine that everyone else saw her as. Stark had done a good job.

Steve just took in his surroundings, staring in wonder as he walked through the halls for the first time. There was the necessary rooms- a bathroom, kitchen, and a bedroom, as well as a living room. But there was also other rooms, unique to Natasha's interests. A ballet studio, with gleaming wooden floors and a floor-to-ceiling mirror, with surround-sound and a large screen built into one wall. A gym, with acrobatic equipment. And startlingly enough, an art studio. It was filled with colorful paints, with colorful splashes on the walls and endless stacks of canvas and paper. There was also a computer, which was near a screened-off area with paper and pencil. Steve hadn't known that Natasha liked art.

The sense of terror from the dream vanished as Steve continued walking through Natasha's apartments. He boarded the elevator and went back to his own floor.

Two days later, the Avengers Tower

Steve waited, his heart thumping nervously, as the numbers on the elevator began to light up. The Avengers stood waiting for the new arrival on the main floor, which was the floor for all the Avengers to relax and chat. The doors opened and Natasha limped out on crutches. Thor immediately hurried to Natasha's side.

"Welcome home, Lady Spider!" he said, and quickly stripped the backpack from her shoulders and slung it on his own. Pepper clasped Natasha's free hand and exchanged a few words with the spy. The others began to come forward, one by one. Natasha looked surprised but warmed to them after five minutes. Steve let her adjust to her surroundings, knowing that anything that happened could cause her alarm. The torrent of greetings and well wishes died away and people began to move toward the food that Stark had provided, led by Thor.

The agent Hill was also there, but she stood a little back, too. Steve began to maneuver his way over to her to try and make her more comfortable.

"It's nice to see you again, Agent Hill." he said politely. Agent Hill gave him an appraising look.

"Please, Rogers, save the titles for in front of Fury." she said, rolling her eyes. "Call me Maria, and I'll try not to call you Captain America." Steve grinned and nodded.

"It's a deal, Maria." She smiled slightly and turned back to watch Natasha settle into a plush couch, and Pepper flit around her like an overanxious mother. Steve also watched the two women with an interested look in his eye.

"I don't know what to say to Tasha." he admitted. "It feels like everything is different now. People treat her specially, and I know that's not what she wants. At the same time, though, my instincts make me want to make her feel safe and loved."

"Sometimes, Rogers, you have to be the one to give her the first push into the world. You're the one who realizes what is not what she needs." Agent Hill told him gently. "It doesn't hurt to be stern sometimes. Just don't be too harsh and she'll appreciate your attitude more than everyone else's."

"Why aren't you a psychologist, Maria?" Steve asked jokingly. "You probably give better advice than some shrink." Agent Hill shrugged and sighed.

"You pick things up when you work with traumatized people." she said.

Steve waited until most of the Avengers had retired to their rooms before approaching Natasha, who was staring into her cup of red punch. He sat down across from her and let her register his presence before he spoke.

"You know, I don't think your punch is hiding any malicious information from you, Tasha." he said. Natasha's mouth quirked up slightly, but she didn't reply immediately. Steve picked up one of the coasters and began to toss it in the air.

"I know it's not a Kool-Aid spy, Steve." she replied. "I was just thinking about how unhealthy this drink is. My insides are probably forever dyed red from drinking this. Perhaps it should be tested for poison." Steve chuckled, but Natasha kept a straight face.

"You know, there are other drinks out there. For instance, I'm sure that water is a safe bet." Steve suggested. Natasha closed her eyes and leaned back into the chair. He heard her sigh and then she opened her eyes again.

"Water is very difficult for me now, Steve. Especially with ice." she replied. The realization of what he had said crashed down on Steve's head and he immediately had the urge to apologize, but he could tell that Natasha had already moved on from the topic.

"Tony and Pepper seem very happy together." she observed. Steve pondered this, eager for a distraction from his slip-up with his water comment. They did seem happy. Pepper and Tony were a good couple.

"We should make them a pepperoni pizza." he said after a moment. Natasha snorted.

"Pepperoni is a pizza topping, isn't it?" she said. Steve was panicked for a moment, and then he understood what Natasha was trying to say. "But I suppose they wouldn't appreciate the humor in that reference."

"I dunno." Steve said.

"We just might have to test that out." Natasha said. She sat up, snagged her crutches and hopped to the elevator. "Meet me in five minutes on my floor. I hope you know how to bake pizza, Captain America."

How was it? R & R!