Chapter Six

Phil looked across the meeting room at the imposing blond man standing opposite Fury. General Ross cut an impressive figure, even in SHIELD. He was also outnumbered, and Phil didn't think that highly of Ross' self-restraint as to not count that as an advantage. Hill entered his line of sight and they took up their places either side of Fury.

"I'm afraid I just can't do that, General," Fury said, his voice deceptively calm. "The ability to create the Hulk, the research and equipment are legal property of the US government, Doctor Banner is not." Ross was glowering at them, the angry soldier trying to stare them down. Phil knew how to keep his expression blank.

"The council-" Ross began, his moustache twitchy angrily.

"The council has changed its mind. The Hulk is now under SHIELD control, as much as that is possible. You and your division have been taken off the case, sir." Fury was nothing if not polite, which only angered Ross more. Phil had been pleased with the council's change of heart, putting Banner's fate directly in SHIELD hands. It wasn't the freedom Bruce wanted, but it was a lesser evil. At least Fury didn't want to kill Banner, or lock him up.

"You don't have the right." Phil wondered who would strike back first if Ross lashed out, Maria was closest but it would be aimed at Fury. He wasn't on form enough yet to be much use, physiotherapy was slow and his physical abilities weren't quick to come back to him.

"I do now. I suggest you leave, General. Doctor Banner is no longer your concern."

"He is a threat," Ross growled. "Not a hero. Maybe you can control whoever you have playing Captain America, and Stark's cooperating but you cannot count on Banner. He is a threat to national security." Phil swallowed the sharp reply that came up at Ross' comment about Captain Rogers. They couldn't risk telling the world that their hero was back from the dead, no one would believe them and Captain Rogers would be denounced as a fraud.

"That may be, but he is no longer your problem. Agent Hill, please show General Ross out." Phil wondered if it was the Captain America jibe or because he wasn't up to his usual standard that made Fury send Hill instead.

"I can't give Captain Rogers Champion status," the director said quietly once the door has closed. "We can't risk him bringing Hornet into the team if Stark finds her."

"We've wiped the files, sir, there's nothing for him to find." Tony was too good at hacking for his own good; even SHIELD couldn't keep him out. They were trying, but Stark tech was too powerful.

"As soon as Romanoff and Mede return, you're to send them in to terminate her. She's too much of a threat now that the Avengers know about her."

"Yes sir." They had delayed terminating Hornet, thinking that she could be useful. Phil began to formulate ideas on how to go about terminating her without putting his agents at risk. Hornet was dangerous after all.

"Is there any news on Hemlock?"

"None, but we're looking, sir." Fury nodded, effectively dismissing Phil. He retreated to the corridor, meeting Hill halfway to his command room.

"Ross has left," she told him, walking along to the empty monitor room he had to work from. "Any news from Orlando?" Phil shook his head, Juliette and Tasha had taken his order to go to ground very seriously. There wasn't a single sign of life from either of them, despite it being protocol. They had people following the men Ross had sent, who were also stumped as to where the girls had hidden Banner.

"They're being thorough," he said, letting a little bit of pride slip into his voice. "I don't want to call them again in case Ross is as good as we are."

"There's a report due in any minute on those following Ross' team. Would it not be safer for Doctor Banner to be back in New York?" Phil had thought about that, but Stark was being watched, Ross knew how close he was to SHIELD and that was where Banner was expected to go.

"Maybe once he's inside the tower, but getting him there would be too much of a risk. He's safe with Tasha and Juliette." Phil gave Maria a long look, trying to read his fellow agent. She was too good for that, a completely blank wall. "There's more room for them to manoeuvre in Florida, more open space to play with than in the city." Maria nodded, and Phil thought he saw something he couldn't name slip onto her face before she covered it up.

"We have people looking for Greyhound as well," she changed the subject. "So far we have been unable to locate him."

"He's not as good as Banner, he'll make a mistake and we'll find him. At least we don't have Yates to worry about." General Yates, Ross' counterpart on the Greyhound project knew when to back off, almost letting his subject run free. At the time he had been reprimanded and Ross honoured, now he was one of Phil's favourite soldiers.

"Agent Hill," an overly loud voice called on her earpiece. Phil stepped away to give her some privacy.

"Go ahead Hughes. Understood." Maria looked at him, frowning. "Ross has given the order to bring Banner down. He's going to Orlando himself." Hughes, one of their special officers had been placed in Ross' division a few months before as Fury's eyes and ears.

"There's a jet getting ready to take you both to Orlando," Fury's voice told them from the console's speakers. "Division delta two, Hill you have command of them. Coulson, find Romanoff and Mede before Ross does." They didn't hesitate; the pair of them were out of the room and heading down the corridor towards the hanger in seconds.

"It's clear," Maria said, and Phil hurried across to the jet's compartment. No low level agents would be around, not until they gave the all clear at least. His presence was still a well-kept secret. "We're ready." Phil shut the door to the cabin, listening to the agents fill up the main part of the jet.

"He really has gone too far, if legalities won't stop him," Phil muttered. Fury had tried to make Ross leave Banner alone through words and orders, but apparently the General wasn't listening.

"He went too far a long time ago," answered Maria.

"Maria-" She shot him a look so deadly Phil didn't think he wanted to finish that thought. "Nothing."

… …

Thanks to all those who reviewed and favourited. Always means a lot.