Peter

He didn't want to describe himself as a hyper person, but spending days laying in a bed and not being able to do anything was starting to drive him crazy. Peter was given a long checkup, but he was fine, just the problem with being able to stand. He was given some reading material, but he hadn't read a sentence. He was too bored to do anything but sit there and feel his spin occasionally ache. He could tell that his body was healing itself, he couldn't describe it, but he was getting better. It had been a good long day of nothing, except the three visits he got. Felicia brightened his mood, but hearing that everyone thought that Spider Man was dead, made him feel angry. He was only hurt, not dead, his body wasn't even there for it to be confirmed, and he crossed his arms thinking about it. Peter leaned back in the bed and eh felt his back shoot pain to his brain and he grimaced. He groaned slightly as he fought back the pain, he closed his eyes. He figured that if he wouldn't be able to do much, he would sleep, if that wasn't hard enough.

Peter didn't know how long he laid there with his eyes closed, but he was soon listening to the constant beeping of the heart monitors. He was soon counting them, he tried to get his mind focused on something so he would eventually get tired and just fall asleep. He got to four hundred before he stopped and let out a long annoyed breath. His eyes were still closed, and he shook his head at the darkness. His eyes opened and he took the thin blanket that laid over him and casted it aside. He sat up and his back constricted and pain flew up his back and into his head. He gritted his teeth as he made his way all the way up. He let out a heavy breath as he situated himself in his sitting position. He took a deep breath and he made an attempt to swing his legs over to the edge of the bed, but they didn't move. He clenched his jaw and tried again, his legs were unresponsive. Peter heard rushed footsteps, apparently the Doctor saw what he was doing.

"Stay put" he said

Peter looked at him "I can't just sit here and do nothing"

"Your back is broken, you can't just try and walk after a day"

Peter nodded "Yeah I get that notion since my legs are being stubborn"

"I have to advise you to lay back down" the Doctor said quickly.

Peter shook his head "No, I'm needed so I have to walk"

"Walking a day after getting your back broken is not going to work"

"I heal fast enough, it's all in the mind"

The Doctor shook his head "You may have accelerated healing, but you can't heal you back in a day" he said putting his hand on Peter's shoulder.

Peter gritted his teeth as his tried to move his legs, they didn't even twitch. He gasped in pain and he almost yelled from it. The Doctor began to push him back down, but Peter shoved him off and the Doctor flew back and landed in an open bed. He slowly got up as Peter closed his eyes and grimaced as he pushed his legs to move. The Doctor came back and put both his hands on Peter's chest "Lay back down" he ordered

"I can do this!" Peter exclaimed in pain

The Doctor cursed and walked away and went to get a sedative. Peter felt tears coming to his eyes as the pain pulsed and shot through his head. He gasped again and he sighed. He fought the pain and he closed his eyes and gritted his teeth and he flexed his legs as hard as he could. He yelped as his left leg moved to the edge of the bed, he felt like he was going to break his jaw from the force and he moved his other leg to the edge of the bed.

The Doctor rushed back with the sedative in hand and saw what he was doing, he dropped the sedative as Peter moved off the bed and he placed his feet firmly on the floor. He pushed himself up and stood still, he felt pain enter his feet and he slowly felt his muscles straining in his legs. His face turned beat red from the straining he was putting on himself, he yelled and eh moved his right leg and he took a step. He yelped in pain as the force of his weight bared down on his leg. He moved his other leg and took another forced step forward. Peter made it and he was breathing heavily and he felt all the pain fade and he closed his eyes and collapsed to the floor.

The Doctor rushed forward and he heard someone coming, Sam sprinted into the Medical Bay and saw Peter on the floor. "What happened?"

The Doctor looked at Sam "Help me get him back in the bed"

Sam reached them and knelt down and helped the Doctor pull Peter up and they carried him to the bed and placed him down. Sam looked and he saw blood running out of Peter's nose. The Doctor looked like he had just saw a miracle "He walked" he said

Sam frowned "What?"

"He took two steps and passed out"

Sam watched as the Doctor checked Peter's vitals, he nodded "He just used a lot of energy and then collapsed from the pain and exertion he put himself in."

"You're telling me that after one day of letting his broken back heal a little, he took two steps"

The Doctor put the blanket back over Peter and he looked back at Sam and nodded "Yes"

Sam frowned "He should have been bed ridden for weeks"

"Well apparently since the fact that he has accelerated healing helped"

"How exactly does he have accelerated healing?"

"He has his powers from radiation"

Sam frowned "Like Dr. Banner?"

"Yeah, just not Gamma"

"Then what kind?"

"Don't know"

"So he's basically got radiation poisoning"

The Doctor looked at him and his hands came together "Yes and no"

"Yes and no?" Sam exclaimed

"Mr. Stark would know more, he is the one who found him"

Sam nodded "Let me know when he wakes back up"

The Doctor nodded "You got it"

Sam walked out of the Medical Bay and the Doctor began to watch Peter closely.

Peter laid there unconscious, and the Doctor checked on him periodically over two hours. Peter's eyes slowly began to open as the Doctor was checking over him again. Peter coughed slightly "Told you I could do it" he said hoarsely

The Doctor sighed "Please do not do that again"

Peter smirked "I guess I heal pretty fast"

"You forced your legs to move"

Peter nodded "And they moved"

"Next time, let me help you walk"

Peter nodded as he felt drained and he slowly fell back into the embrace of sleep "No problem" he said as he trailed off and fell back asleep.

Natasha

She stood at the doors that led to the containment cell, she was going through her process again. She needed to get things out of him, without hurting him, clearly Bucky thought she was the one who could get it done. One positive for someone that knew her when she was a kid, she'd gotten plenty out of other kinds of people, Sean Richardson was no different. She just had to get past the part that he put the man she loves in a coma. Yeah, she would do fine. She took a deep breath and stared at the doors. She took a step forward and they opened. In the center of the room was the containment cell, Sean was laying on the floor. There was a chair set up and she walked forward.

Sean inclined his head upward to see who was coming, his eyebrows raised slightly as he saw her. He sat up as she took her seat. He kept his face plain as Natasha tilted her head. He smiled and she stared back at him. They were both in a staring match, and Sean finally blinked and shrugged. Natasha couldn't stand to look at him, she wanted to shoot him in the head, but from the report he would live through that, but that would just mean she could shoot him again, and that didn't bother her.

Natasha knew he wasn't going to speak first or at all, so she started the conversation. "Sean Richardson" she said plainly

Sean nodded and he looked right at her "So what, you here to interrogate me?"

Natasha raised her eye brow "You could say so"

Sean smiled "The famous Black Widow, I should feel honored"

"You can feel whatever you want, I just want information"

"Who doesn't?" Sean said calmly

Natasha looked away from him for a second and her eyes went right back to him "You served in the United States' military"

"Marines" he said as if he was annoyed.

She nodded "Yeah I get that, but what I don't get is why ONI became interested in you"

Sen scoffed "ONI were looking for a candidate"

"You?"

"I guess so"

Natasha nodded, she needed to keep the conversation slow paced, let him relax, make him think that he's slowly gaining control. "So, that village you were in, in Pakistan"

Sean seemed to tense up as he heard the word "What about it?"

"Well you tell me, I read that you killed everyone in it"

Sean scoffed "Government bullshit, don't believe everything you read"

"I never said I believed it"

Sean's lips parted slightly and he smirked "You don't think I know what you're doing, making me feel like I'm in control. Funny, clearly I'm not"

Natasha gave him a fake smirk "Well, being locked up does that to you"

Sean chuckled "I could get out if I wanted to"

"Then why don't you?" Natasha challenged

Sean was quiet, he took a moment before answering "I don't feel like it"

"Well feeling is a great way to get killed"

Sean smiled and nodded "Right, the woman with no feelings, the heartless assassin"

Natasha kept her emotions in check and let his words slide "Well, I don't go killing innocent people"

"Not anymore" He said bluntly

Natasha had to admit that one hurt, but she hid it behind her calm face, she smirked "Well, you got me, so what. They were just in the way" she said coldly

Sean shook his head "All these years and you haven't changed, still the puppet following orders"

"I call the shots around here" Natasha said quickly

Sean raised his eyebrows "I was sure that Captain Rogers led the Avengers"

Natasha stayed quiet and he tilted his head "Well I did break him"

She held back her felling of anger and stayed quiet. Sean stood to his feet "It's your fault that I had to do that to him" He nodded a she stared at her "You and the others just infected him, Captain America used to mean something, now it's nothing but an old memory. Constantly deceiving and confiding in other's paychecks, your own agendas" Sean walked to the right and lightly tapped on the glass "You all have agendas, even the Captain has an agenda, and you know I would be ok with that if it was the right one"

"Who decides if it's right or wrong?" Natasha asked

Sean smirked "Clearly the one who owns the agenda, this government is morally flexible, a village here, a few soldiers there, not caring about the damages afterward. Written off, hidden away, and covered up, for what? So they can sleep better at night? No, so they can have an excuse so they can feel good about themselves"

Natasha stayed silent, she needed him to keep talking, Sean chuckled "Well, what's your agenda?"

"Protecting people from you" She said

Sean shook his head "I could be a protester and you wouldn't give a damn about what I had to say, but I shoot people then you listen. This system is corrupt and it makes me sick"

"We can't protect everyone"

"Well you should"

Natasha sighed "You may need to accept that what happened, happened, life is not a fairy tale"

Sean laughed loudly "Of course it isn't, you think I'm naïve? I was there in the city when it happened, 1995, I felt the force of it, I saw it kill my friend. I stared into her eyes as she was dead!"

"You were a kid"

"Doesn't matter, the world is grey and cruel. I knew this growing up, but all I want is the government to grow some balls and take a hit!" he snapped

"It's more complicated than that"

"Is it?" Sean asked, he raised his eyebrows and stared at her. "Is it that complicated, how about the wars, countless Americans dying for their country, for what, what kind of country slanders the names of its soldiers? What kind of government puts itself higher than a soldier fighting so the country stays intact, so you can wake up in the morning and not be trampled upon?"

Natasha didn't really know what to say to him, Sean shook his head "This system has zero accountability, and I cannot stand for that. I know I can't change it, and I don't plan to. I just want my men to be commended. They deserve better, their families need better, if their families were still intact"

Natasha stood "So that gives you the right to open fire on the populous?"

Sean walked forward and placed his hands on the glass "I did what I thought would let me be heard, tell me I could have done something different and I really would have been heard, tell me the other way! Because I can't see another one"

Natasha was losing control of the situation and she was letting it happen, she needed him to. Sean shook his head "I will take my punishment, just get the real story told"

"It's not that…"

"Bullshit! Send the information and a recording of me and see if that gets you far enough, I bet it will. Do you know what is going to happen once you do that, because I do? The press will take off with it, and then I will be killed, sadly I can't die from a bullet, so the government is going to have to take a hit, and I know what follows. Chaos, but it's what needs to happen"

"You need to move on"

"How could I move on, tell me how I could squander my men's memories, what honor would that bring them?"

"You know your best friend Jacob Bronson, he as a son"

Sean was silent and he frowned "What?"

Natasha nodded "Yeah, and that boy only knows what the news said about your friend, if you think I wouldn't try and help then you are wrong, I want to help, but you can't do it your way. It needs to be done quietly, and to the family directly"

Sean scoffed "I don't see how that is the same thing, the public deserves to know what the government does to its soldiers"

"You were working with ONI, if caught you are disavowed"

"Yeah, then why did they have to ruin my men's reputation? Why did they have to have weeks of news about what happened, the government let them know"

"Really, you really think the government would have done that? You didn't even have sign that you were Americans. Do you forget I was there in that village, I waved at your best friend, you could have been anyone, mercs, hired, but no. Somehow they found out you were Americans, and they leaked it to the press, so the government probably made a quick story"

"So that's all we were? A quick thought up story, just so the government couldn't catch any heat"

"Do you not understand what would have happened if Pakistan found out that Americans were operating secretly in their country, it would have started a war"

"There already is a war, and when I get out of here from the help of my new friends then you'll know" he said, his face red with anger.

Natasha raised her eyebrows and nodded "What friends?"

Sean's face went serious "None that concern you"

Natasha smiled "Thank you for your cooperation" she said and turned around and made her way to the door. Sean watched her walk away, he smacked the glass and he turned around and sighed in frustration.

Natasha walked through the doors and Bucky and Clint were standing there "We heard, so we have someone in here" Clint spoke

"Yeah, who I don't know"

"Doesn't matter, good job" Bucky said

Natasha gave him a nod "Well if you don't need my assistance"

Bucky nodded "I'll let you know"

Natasha nodded and she walked away, she let a long breath leave her. She held back her emotions, she closed her eyes and dealt with the feelings as they came to the surface. The worse part was that he was right, but wrong at the same time.

Steve

Steve kept his eyes closed, he didn't want to see anything. He wanted to only see darkness, the thought of what was about to happen made him want to stay asleep. He wanted to wake up to see Natasha, but if he opened his eyes, he knew what he would see. Steve moved slightly, he wasn't in a bed this time, he was standing up. He moved his feet over the empty space, he took a breath and pictured Natasha he saw her standing in front of him. Her face was looking away from him. He looked at her red hair, her smooth ivory skin. She had her arms crossed, she was in her suit, she slowly looked at him and her eyes made his heart flutter. He looked into her emerald eyes and he felt a sudden pain, and he felt tears come to his eyes. He took a forced breath and his eyes opened.

He was standing at a window, he was in a large building and Grant was next to him. He had his eyes buried into binoculars. He scanned the area below "The target will be across the water"

Steve looked out of the window and saw a large mansion across the small waterway. He glanced at the rooftops, he saw position where snipers could be "We'll have to take out the snipers before we move over the water"

Grant nodded "It'll be full of civilians"

"She may open fire when she sees us" Jones said behind him.

Steve looked back and the howling Commandos were sitting in random points of the large room. Bucky was on the couch, he cocked his rifle and looked at Steve and nodded. Steve returned the nod. "Well we just have to make sure she doesn't" Hogan said with a shotgun slung under his arm.

"We need those snipers taken out" Steve said

"If they're there" Bucky said

Steve nodded "You have that duty Buck, take them out and watch from there, keep your eye on our target"

"Not every night you get to take out an assassin"

"Our orders are to capture, not kill" Grant said

"Well, if she tries to kill one of us, I'm putting one through her"

"If that does happen, you'll hit her in the leg" Steve said

Bucky nodded "So we have a few hours to kill, dinner anyone?"

Everyone looked at him, Steve turned and he stared out the window again. He wanted to scream, a part of him was ok with what he was doing, and another wanted to tear everything apart. This was not his life, his mind was conjuring one up for him. He wanted to get back to the one he had. He stepped back from the window, he closed his eyes and he saw Natasha. He was laying on his back and she was hovering over him, her red curls dangled over his face, he stared up at her and he took a breath and she was gone.

Steve opened his eyes and his thoughts of Natasha faded and he was back in the dream. He looked at his son "I'm going to do some recon"

Grant nodded "Need help?"

Steve shook his head "No, I'll be fine"

Steve left the building and walked toward a bridge that crossed over the waterway. He sidesteps a couple with their arms interlocked together. He smiled slightly as he crossed the bridge, the early evening air smelled rather interesting, and that would be the water. He made his way to a square that had a road that led to the large mansion, metal bared gates kept normal civilians out. He looked up and saw two building that were the same height on either side of the large gate that would open for guests. He frowned, they could have some teams in there. He made a mental note not to go this way when they had to get in. They could run into trouble before they even get inside. Steve noticed a café and he decided he would get a table, it would help him do recon, keep an eye on what comes through here. He got a small table that sat two, if possible it could sit three. He took a seat and got a glass of coffee. He sat there and he kept his wits about him, but relaxed. He thanked the waitress that brought him the coffee and he took a sip of it. The sun was starting to set and he watched a few trucks enter through the gate. Steve had to make a guess of what their purpose was, most likely security. Steve took a small sip of his coffee again, it was good.

He took a long breath and suddenly he felt that someone was standing next to him. He looked to his right and it was the target, she was standing there in a grey dress, she had a pearl necklace on and a small handbag. Her red hair was down and hugged to her neck, it lightly laid on her shoulders. Steve didn't act surprised that he was there to capture her, but that she was standing there. "Ma'am?" He asked

She looked down at him and she smiled at him "Do you mind?" She asked in a light Russian accent. Steve looked at the chair across from him, he shook his head "No" he said simply. Steve realized that he was in a suit, it was for incase they found a way into the mansion. Steve watched as she took a seat and placed her small handbag on the table, she ordered a coffee and she looked at him "Dressed up like that, I would guess that you are going to a party"

Steve looked down at himself "Well I'm just waiting for the proper time to arrive"

"Are you going to the one through the gate?" she asked

"I am, just decided to see a little bit of Venice before I go and get surrounded by bureaucrats"

She smiled at him "Well so am I, maybe I'll see you in there"

Steve shrugged slightly "It would be a pleasure"

She smiled lightly at him and she took a sip of her coffee. Her dark lipstick lightly touched the cup. Steve frowned "I'm sorry, where are my manners, I'm Steve"

She nodded "Natalia"

Steve nodded "Beautiful name" he said without thinking

"Thank you" she said and she looked away from him and scanned the rooftops.

Steve wondered if she knew who he was, if she was just playing him. He had to take the possibility that, that was the case. Then again he also had to consider that she had no idea why he was there. He cleared his throat "So what do you do?" he asked

She looked back at him and he slightly lost himself in her emerald eyes. "I am here on request from my boss"

Steve nodded "Well, I am too"

Natalia smirked "Well I guess we both got dragged into this party"

"I guess we did"

Natalia didn't know why, but she liked staring at him. His eyes and smile made her feel, safe for some reason. She hoped that he really was going to that party, aside from her mission, she would like to be able to laugh a little. Steve looked at her "Would you like something else besides coffee?" he asked, not really sure what he was doing.

"Coffee is fine, but thanks you"

Steve nodded "I can make a pretty good cup of coffee myself"

"Really?" She asked, like he was the most important thing she was doing today.

"Yeah, so how long are you in Venice?"

"Just for the night"

Steve nodded "Me too, I have to be a plane tonight"

She sighed "Work?"

"Yeah, so where are you going next?"

"Are you planning on following me?" she asked with a smile.

Steve chuckled nervously "Just curious"

She shrugged "Not sure, I get jobs randomly, the problem with being on call"

Steve nodded "So the party tonight is the job, so you have the day to relax"

"You could say that"

"Make the best of Venice while you're here right?"

She laughed and she was caught off guard that she didn't have to fake it. Steve laughed softly, she nodded "Yeah"

Steve smiled "Are you sure you don't want anything?" he asked

Natalia slightly squinted as she thought about it "Sure why not"

Steve ordered two pastries. He looked at her "How old are you? He asked

Natalia sighed, Steve shook his head "Sorry, I know that you should never ask a lady that question"

She smiled at him, again she wasn't faking it "I am almost eighteen"

Steve nodded "Started work young huh?"

"You could say that"

"Or you're just really good at your job"

Natalia nodded, if he only knew. "What about you handsome?" she asked

Steve slightly blushed "I'm in my fifties, I think. I stopped counting after a while"

Natalia nodded "I guess by the small amount of grey you have in your hair, but you look thirty. What's your secret?"

Steve shrugged "I guess I just age well"

She sighed "I bet your wife is a lucky girl"

Steve frowned and he realized he was wearing his wedding ring. He nodded "yeah"

Natalia nodded "So I'm not some conquest?" she asked

Steve widened his eyes a little "No, just trying to be a gentlemen"

Natalia smiled at him "Well because you are too old for me" she said teasingly

Steve chuckled "Thanks"

Natalia moved her hand across the table and touched his hand "I could make an exception"

Steve stared at her and eh didn't know what to say to her. She realized what she just said "Sorry" she said quickly

Steve nodded "It's ok, nice to know I'm still attractive"

Natalia laughed lightly, Steve smiled and he saw a limousine drive up to the gate.

Natalia noticed it to "I think the party is starting"

Steve nodded "Well, to work we go" he said

Natalia watched him pay and they both stood. Steve turned to leave and Natalia lightly tapped her hand against her hip "Steve?" she asked

Steve stopped and turned around, he looked at her and how her dress hugged her body and made her curves stick out, rather beautifully. She took a moment to speak "Would you care to join me?"

Steve knew that it was a risk, but what better way to keep an eye on her, than to be next to her "If it's not a problem"

"No" she said quickly "I want you to" her voice was soft.

Steve nodded "I would be delighted, just let me make a call"

Natalia nodded and Steve walked away and spoke into the newest tech that S.H.I.E.L.D. had, the communicator "Grant?" he asked

"Yeah?" Grant's voice came into his ear.

"I have a way into the party"

"How?"

"I am going in with the target"

"How did you manage that?"

"Just acted like me"

Grant chuckled "Ok, we'll get started then"

Steve looked back and stared at Natalia as she waited for him "See you in a bit"

"Hey dad?"

"Yeah"

"Be careful"

Steve looked at Natalia as she smiled at him, he smiled "I can take care of myself"

Steve disconnected and he walked back toward Natalia "Shall we?" he asked

Natalia smiled and she didn't know why she was taking him with her, he could be a problem for her mission, but she wanted to enjoy herself a little. "Yes, we shall"