Lucy was driving a sleeping Clint and Coulson to the SHIELD airbase in Roswell, New Mexico. They had said their good byes to Selvig, Jane, and Darcy after Coulson insisted on debriefing them. "Hey guys, wake up." She roused the two snoring agents, "Look." She pointed to the destroyed Destroyer as other agents wheeled the inert form up the ramp of one of the larger aircrafts.
"Slow and easy!" one the agents directed, "We don't want to disturb this thing!"
Clint rubbed his eyes from the back seat, "The next time you call me in, I'd appreciate the opportunity to shoot something."
-permafrost-
Back at SHIELD Headquarters…
"We have lift off, sir." Coulson informed over the phone.
Fury nodded, "Good. Report back when you land." He looked up as a knock came from his door, "Enter." He called.
"I'm sorry to bother you Director, but our technicians flagged an unauthorized user in the database." An agent told him.
"We were hacked?!" Fury demanded.
The agent shook his head, "Actually no. This person had the proper encryption keys and authorization codes, but…"
"Who?" Fury interrupted, "Who is this person?"
"General Thaddeus Ross."
Fury sunk back into his chair rubbing his forehead, "Unbelievable."
-permafrost-
Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland
"General Ross." Fury greeted walking around various soldiers going about their duties among the various planes and helicopters.
Ross turned to the Director, "Colonel Fury! In the flesh!"
"A word?" Fury gestured to a more secluded area of the building.
"And here I thought you'd just send one of your snoops to hide in the shadows and take notes." The General proclaimed.
Fury cut to the chase, "I assume that you had this thought when you were illegally breaching my encrypted database?"
"Oh no, you've got it all wrong." Ross smiled, "The World Security Council gave me clearance for that. I mean… you didn't really believe that they'd trust you and you alone with the safety of this world?" his insincere smiled turned into a smirk, "The world needs both of us, Fury. I'm out on the battlefield killing our enemies, and you're safe behind a wall protecting all the secrets everyday citizens can't handle. You're the shield, and I'm the sword."
"You're not sharp enough to be a sword, General." Fury scoffed.
The general raised his eyebrows, "That's the old me. the new me is embracing the practical applications of advanced science in modern warfare. My team and I have made some very significant breakthroughs. I know you'd prefer to dig around in the ice for antiquated weapons, and to keep yourself in the good graces of the living one. Yeah I know about her, not that she's that useful, but I place more value in moving forward."
"The 'new you' could learn a few things from the 'old you'. Especially on the subject of rushing into things you don't fully understand." Fury replied pointedly, "Your half-assed super soldier experiment is dangerous. Everyone knows it, even that 'useless' super soldier knew. Why do you think she hasn't tried to stop you? I strongly suggest that you pull Captain Blonsky from the field immediately."
Ross rose to his full height, "I don't take orders from you, Colonel."
Fury sighed, "Stay the course and you will soon enough."
"Whatever helps you shut that eye at night. If you'll excuse me…" and Ross left to board a helicopter, "I have a hulk to catch."
Fury shook his head and dialed SHIELD headquarters, "Lock in on Mr. Green's location and then get that information to Agent Romanoff. I need her on the move right away."
-permafrost-
Harlem, New York
That night…
"We need to bring in Banner, anything to keep him out of General Ross' path." Fury ordered Natasha.
She was currently watching soldiers swarm a building, "Director Fury, General Ross beat me here. He's taken Banner into custody. They're taking him out in a helicopter, I won't be able to peruse."
Her phone speaker sounded, "Our intel had Banner meeting with a Doctor Samuel Sterns. He's a cellular biologist, got a lab on the third floor. Go make sure that Banner didn't leave him anything to work with."
"Copy that." She shut her phone and ran into the building. Before she could enter, Captain Blonsky who had turned into the Abomination broke out of the side of the wall. "Ugh, not again." She growled throwing herself out of the way. Car alarms went off and smoke was pouring out of the hole in the building structure. Holding up her cell phone she saw that the screen had shattered in her fall. "Of course." She sighed and continued up to the third floor.
Groans could be heard under the wreckage, "My goodness aren't you pretty?" a voice mused.
"Doctor Samuel Sterns?" Natasha questioned aiming her gun at the man.
"I think perhaps once I was…" the Doctor grunted, "but shall now become much more."
She regarded him skeptically not lowering her weapon, "Right, sure. I'm going to get you medical attention."
"Oh no, my dear. I am the only Doctor I will require." His face was starting to turn an unnatural green shade while his skin bubbled, "But I will be requiring you assistance."
"My assistance?" she adjusted her aim to his moving form.
Sterns stood up, "For I am changed now. I see my future unfolding. It is an illustrious future defined by power and influence. A future that begins this very instant. Assist me in gathering my work and eluding the authorities and this effulgent future will be yours also, my little Russian darling." He shuffled slowly closer to her, "Faint traces of your accent suggest that Stalingrad was your birthplace, but I sense that you have not seen a home in many years, my child. Whatever the evil men took from you , whatever your heart desires, it will be yours. All you must do for me is…" He didn't get to finish because the Black Widow shot him in the leg. "You will suffer for this!" he threatened.
"Oh hush, now." She rolled her eyes. To her barely working phone she said, "This is Romanoff calling in a cleanup team I'll mark the location with flares on the roof."
As she was on the roof thunderous crashes and painful screams could be heard from down the block. The Hulk and the Abomination were battling it out all over Harlem.
-permafrost-
Back at SHIELD HQ…
"Director Fury?" Natasha knocked on the door to the room he was seated in.
"Agent Romanoff." He acknowledged, "I hear that Banner escaped."
"Yes." She admitted, "But General Ross took position of that other…thing. Looked like a deformed dinosaur."
"That's unfortunate." Fury remarked.
"Sir," Natasha sighed, "it's too much. Too much for us to handle."
Fury looked up surprised, "Never thought I'd hear you say that."
"Don't misunderstand me because I fear no man." She placed her hands on her hips, "But this is different. These are gods, and monsters, and machines of war that we're mixed up with. I'm supposed to go up against the Hulk with 17 rounds of armor piercing bullets? I don't think so." She shook her head and continued, "I don't like it any more than you do, sir. But we're outmatched. The sooner we accept it the sooner we can fix it – or the sooner we can stop wasting our time pretending that we can make a difference."
"You're right." Fury agreed, "I'd like you to see something." He typed into his computer, making a call to the World Security Council and waiting for them to answer.
"Director Fury." One of the councilmen answered, "We understand that you have an important matter you'd like to discuss?"
"Yes, I do." Fury continued to click away at his keyboard, "I'm sending you a prospectus for SHIELD's new budgetary allocations. You'll see that it substantially increases funding for the agency, expands jurisdiction for my agents, and augments my strategic authority."
"You ask fro quite a lot, Director." A second member of the council spoke.
"The whole world, some world say." The first man added.
The second man continued, "Tell us… has there been any significant progress with the Tesseract recently?"
"Nope." Fury answered.
"Reigniting the tesseract was and will remain you primary objective as Director of SHIELD." The first man warned, "Yet you have made no headway."
"Hmm…Let me think…" Fury replied sarcastically.
"Please. Enlighten us. What have you accomplished as of late that would justify compensation of this magnitude?" the council man countered.
"It's been such a busy week." Fury reminisced, "I not only saved Tony Stark's life, but I also provided the guidance he needed to finish his father's work. The result of that being the creation of a new element, which might be extremely useful in reigniting the tesseract." He listed, "After that, I formed an alliance with the extraterrestrial Thor and then recovered the Asgardian weponized armor, which if I'm not mistaken comes from the same realm as the tesseract. Maybe my pal Doctor Erik Selvig, another recent ally, can learn more about the tesseract from the armor, or vice versa? Just a thought. After that I ran interference to keep that halfwit goon Thaddeus Ross from destroying New York city with his enhanced psycho soldier. I'd hate to speculate on how a man like Ross got his hands on the classified intelligence that led to that horrifying incident." He paused to let that sink in.
"Director Fury…" one of the council members tried to respond.
But Fury cut him off, "Oh! And meanwhile I've kept a small team on the hunt for Steve Rogers. You know, the partner of another certain super soldier who I've also kept a close friendship with incase anything bad happens. She by the way, while not actually a part of SHIELD has been an immense help in all these events, not including the things she does in secret on her own time. I know this might be perceived as disobeying orders, I jus thought it might be handy to have access to the only human beings on this planet that have had any direct experience with the tesseract. Perhaps if the Captain were recovered, both of them would be more willing to work with us? Anyway," he leaned back in his chair kicking his feet onto the table, "that's what I've been up to. I've also done some thinking, and in doing so I've realized that the world is changing, getting more dangerous. One thing I know for sure," he sat up seriously, "nobody is better suited to protecting this world than me and my people. All we need are the means to do what we do best."
The room rung with silence as the Council deliberated all that Fury had just thrown at them. "We have reviewed your prospectus."
"You will have all that you require by month's end."
"Thank you." Fury ended the call. "I've made half a dozen calls of that nature and this is the first time they're really listened." He remarked to Natasha.
"That was good work, boss." She smiled.
"I just hope it's enough." Fury sighed standing up and looking at the various screens around the room displaying the events of the week, "Because I don't want to get caught off guard like that ever again."
-permafrost-
One year later…
Down in the arctic circle a researcher was traveling through the ice when his snowmobile hit something. Getting off and shoving around the snow he uncovered what looked to be some sort of symbol, it was a red skull with tentacles curled around it.
A truck pulled up to the evacuation site. The doors slammed shut as two SHIELD agents entered into the blistery cold wind.
"Are you the guys form Washington?" the researcher questioned?
The first agent responded dryly, "You get many other visitors out here?"
The investigator shrugged, "There used to be this one girl, but it's been years since she came. Before my time. Every year they hold out she'll come again. Kind of an urban legend really."
"How long you been on site?" the second agent asked.
"Since this morning." the researcher responded loudly against the wind, "A Russian oil team called it in about 18 hours ago."
"How come nobody's spotted it before?" the first agent questioned.
"It's really not that surprising." The scientist explained, "This landscape's changing all the time."
"You got any idea what this thing is exactly?" the second agent continued.
"I don't know."
"It's probably a weather balloon." The first agent joked.
"I don't think so." The researcher led them onward, "You know we don't have the equipment for a job like this."
"How long before we can start craning it out?"
The academic laughed, "I don't think you quite understand. You guys are gonna need one hell of a crane." And they came to a stop in front of the partially uncovered form of a massive black plane.
A few hours later, the sound of a laser drill could be heard rotating over and over on the ice, trying to break through the frozen metal. When a hole had finally been made the two agents propelled down into the unidentified craft with ropes.
"Base, we're in." the first agent notified.
Their flashlights shined in the dark cavern of a plane. Everything was concealed in frost and snow, a filmy white layer covered every inch of the space. "What is this?" the second agent questioned as they slowly walked around.
"Careful!" the first agent warned as he slipped in the ice.
The second agent walked over to a mound of snow and pushed it aside revealing some kind of colored disc beneath. "Lieutenant!" he called.
"What is it?" the other replied turning around and shining his light on the freshly unearthed metal. "Oh my god." He stared in disbelief.
"Base, get me a line to the Colonel." The second agent ordered.
The radio buzzed back, "It's 3 am, sir."
"I don't care what time it is." He replied still staring at the patriotic red, white, and blue. "This one's waited long enough."
-permafrost-
Back at SHIELD Headquarters Agent Coulson was making his way to a meeting. As he walked he passed labs where the teams of experts were studying the Whiplash Armor: Mark I, atmospheric disturbances, and Project Mr. Blue.
At the end of the hall he finally reached that held the Destroyer from New Mexico.
"Agent Coulson!" a scientist called out, "Thank you for being here."
"It's my job to be here, Doctor but…" he paused looking around at the equipment, "I do love my job."
"Of course. Now, I'd like to take a moment to curb your expectations…"
Coulson interrupted, "Consider them curbed. Let's proceed."
"But you must know that for years now we haven't been able to incite any reaction from…"
"I'm not concerned with what you couldn't do before, only with what you might do now."
"Alright, then." The scientist replied reluctantly. Then turning to the rest of the room he commanded, "Listen up people, we are a go! Everyone double check their components and then get behind the blast shield! I want to see goggles on!" putting on his own protective goggles he muttered to himself, "Okay, let's juice it up."
The inactive Destroyer flickered and then a huge jet of fire streamed out of the 'head' compartment, not unlike it did when it battled Thor.
"That's excellent work, Doctor." Coulson shook the scientist's hand.
"Thank you, Agent Coulson."
Coulson continued, "Now I need you to dismantle that thing, and make it about a hundred times smaller." He pointed to the smoking machine, "And put a trigger on it!" he shouted as he exited the lab.
"Wasn't expecting you here." Coulson stopped as he noticed Fury standing by the door.
"I was woken up by a call this morning." Fury smiled, "A call from up north with big news. We found Steve Rogers." He watched amused as Coulson started to hyperventilate. "Take a deep breath. I need you to gas up the jet and set a flight for these coordinates. But before you do, get Marie, and tell her about what we've been doing. I just have one errand to run before we take off for the artic."
-permafrost-
In the Mojave Desert…
"Sorry to rush you, but I have to be on a plane leaving for the Arctic in 2 hours." Fury apologized to Hawkeye.
"Couldn't you have put Nat on this?" Clint yawned.
Fury shook his head; "She's in deep cover in Asia right now. Besides I know better than to post that woman in an isolated bunker full of men."
"Can't argue with that." Clint agreed.
"Don't fool yourself Barton. This isn't jerkduty. Not only are you guarding the most important object in SHIELD's possession, but I also want you keeping tabs on Doctor Selvig for me. His lab assistants tell me he's been acting a little bizarre as of late."
Clint nodded, "I'm all over it boss."
-permafrost-
"… with this new element," Doctor Selvig was saying, "we've been able to create several power surges. My hope is to stabilize the direct current and then maintain a safe level of input and output energy."
"I look forward to a demonstration once I finish with this business up north." Fury said as he followed the scientist down the hallway to the lab.
"As do I!" Selvig agreed, "Tell me, has Mr. Stark named this element that he created?"
Fury sighed, "He's working on a patent for 'Badassium,' but has encountered several bureaucratic obstacles."
"Such an odd man." The doctor commented.
"You have no idea." Fury rolled his eyes. Introducing Clint, he continued, "Until my return I'm leaving Agent Barton here as a watchdog. He's one of my best men and good for a laugh from time to time."
"A pleasure" Clint shook Selvig's hand.
"Likewise." Selvig replied.
"ON that note, I have a plane to catch. Make him feel at home, Selvig, and I'll be seeing you both soon." Fury waved in goodbye.
"Safe travels, boss." Clint saluted.
"Agent Barton, were you amongst the men deployed to Puente Antiguo, New Mexico, about a year ago?" the doctor questioned and he entered the code to the tesseract lab.
"Yeah. I was." Clint nodded, "Why?"
"Just as I thought…" Selvig replied, unbeknownst to anyone else, he was operating under the influence of Loki, "…I remember you."
-permafrost-
"Phil!" Lucy answered as her phone rang. "Are you coming to visit me soon? And don't tell me this call is about that energy project you're working on again. I already told Nicholas I need to think about it."
"Actually," Coulson replied, "I was thinking maybe you should visit us."
Lucy scoffed, "Now why would I do that? I already spend too much time in Washington cleaning up after you kids."
"Because we won't be in Washington." Coulson responded excitedly, "We're going to the Arctic Circle."
"May I ask why?"
"We did it, Marie. We found him."
-permafrost-
…Curve ball, high and outside for ball one. So the Dogers are tied 4-4…
His senses were slowly returning to him. He blinked.
…And the crowd well knows that with one swing of his bat, this fellow's capable of making it a brand new game again...
The first thing that came back was his hearing. The radio was on and the announcer, narrating a ball game.
…Just an absolutely gorgeous day here at Ebbets Field. The Phillies have managed to tie it up at 4-4. But the Dodgers have three men on…
He breathed deeply trying to establish his surroundings. He was laying on a bed. A fan leisurely turned above him as soft lighting streamed through the partially open window. The walls were painted stark white and a muted green. The furniture was sparse and resembled that of a hospital.
…Pearson beaned Reiser in Philadelphia last month. Wouldn't the youngster like a hit here to return the favor?
He sat up on the bed listening closer to the radio, his brows furrowed in a frown.
Pete leans in. here's the pitch. Swung on a line to the right. And it gets past Rizzo. Three runs will score. Reiser heads to third. Durocher is going to save him in. Here comes the relay, but they won't get him…
A motion caught his eye, the door opened. A young woman walked into the room and shut it behind her, "Good morning." she smiled soothingly, "Or should I say afternoon." She checked her watch. She was dressed in clothes that fit the 1940s military uniform. Her hair curled and coifed with dark red lipstick, signature of the time. She came to a stop in from of him, her hands clasped in front of her.
"Where am I?" he breathed out studying her every move.
"You're in a recovery room in New York City." She replied comfortingly.
…The Dodgers take the lead, 8-4. Oh Dodgers! Everyone is on their feet. What a game we have here today, folks. What a game, indeed…
He paused still listening to the game on the radio. His sharp gaze flickered back to her accusingly, "Where am I really?"
The woman smiled confused, "I'm afraid I don't understand."
"The game." He clarified, "It's from May 1st 1941. I know because I was there." He remembered him and Bucky dragging Lucy along even though she didn't know a single thing about the sport.
Her face lost it's gentle smiling and became a tense grimace.
He stood up menacingly, "Now I'm going to ask you again." He walked toward her, "Where am I?" he demanded.
She pushed a panic alarm hidden in the palm of her hand, "Captain Rogers…" she tried to calm him.
"Who are you?" he shouted, tired of the games. The door opened once more and two men in suits walked in. A moment later they were thrown out the fake hospital walls. He followed them through the hole and saw that the room was a set located in a much larger empty room.
"Captain Rogers, wait!" she frantically shouted after him as he ran through the building. "All agents, code 13! I repeat. All agent, code 13!" the woman spoke into her radio.
Running into a more populated part of the building, he pushed his way past more people who tried to stop him and burst outside. He found himself in the middle of a road. But it was unlike any road he had ever seen in his life. Everything was brighter, louder, taller… everything was different. He ended up in some place that faintly reminded him of Times Square, but everything was moving, the images, the people, the cars. He spun around in circles trying to find something that looked familiar. Then multiple unmarked vehicles quickly pulled to a stop, surrounding him on all sides.
"At ease, soldier." A voice rang out. Looking back he came face to face with a one eyed man in a trench coat. "Look, I'm sorry about that little show back there, but we thought it best to break it to you slowly."
"Break what?" he huffed still disconcerted at what was going on.
Fury sighed, "You've been asleep, Cap. For almost 70 years." He watched as the super soldier frowned a distressed look spreading across his face. "Are you going to be ok?"
"Yeah…" he replied unable to look at the Director anymore, his chest was swelling up as breathing became difficult. He cleared his throat, "Yeah… I just…"
"Steve?" came a familiar voice from behind the soldier, a melodic sound he'd never thought he'd hear again. He almost didn't want to turn around, scared it was just a hallucination. Looking back over he met her glittering blue eyes and her kind bright smile. He couldn't form words as she walked up to him and stroked his cheek. Her soft fingers made contact with his skin and suddenly she was real.
"Hey, soldier." Lucy beamed as her arms wound their away around his neck, "I've been waiting a long time for you to come back from war." a tear escaped the corner of her eye, "Don't you know it's rude to keep a lady waiting?"
"I'm sorry ma'am." Steve blinked, still trying to bring her into focus. His arms naturally found their way around her waist, clutching her to him like a lifeline, "I'll try not to do that again."
"I'm going to hold you to that promise." She grinned and leaned in close, their mouths a hair's breadth away from each other, "By the way," she spoke their lips dusting against each other with every word, "I love you too." And she sealed their reunion with a passionate kiss.