I'm so sorry it's been so long but I'm having terrible writers block and I'm also back at school and its an important year for me so there might be even more late chapters. Just to prepare you. Anyway, enjoy!

Chapter 26

It had been a month. One whole month since Thor had come back with the information from Asgard. The team had been working non-stop to get to every single location on their list as quickly as possible. The helicarrier had come in exceptionally handy but so far they had found no trace of Loki or Tony. Though none of them voiced this aloud, they were all beginning to feel doubtful. Even Steve and Thor's enthusiasm was waning as they searched another cave and found nothing.

"This is so fucking pointless," Clint grunted, kicking a rock and watching it fly away into the trees surrounding them.

"Searching for our friends is not pointless," Thor replied angrily.

"It is if we can't even find them."

"We are doing our best, there is nothing more we can do. If you do not want to help then leave."

Clint raised his eyebrows. "I might just do that."

"Oh shut up the pair of you," Steve cut in, stepping between them. "Clint, you're not going anywhere, you are part of this team and Tony needs you even if you don't care as much for Loki."

"Hey wait-," Clint interrupted but was cut off by Steve.

"And Thor, he doesn't mean it, he's just frustrated. We all are, we've been searching for weeks and we have come up with nothing. But we can't let this get to us, we've got to keep going. Can you both just hold off this bickering until our friends are safe?"

"Yes," Clint and Thor muttered, both shuffling awkwardly and staring at the floor.

"Good. Now everyone back on the plane, we need to get back to base and see where to go next."

"Yes Cap," The team echoed.

They followed his instructions, walking back to the plane that they had landed in a clearing close to the cave entrance. Natasha and Clint took seats in the cockpit and began to set everything up for a safe takeoff while everyone else buckled themselves in. It was a quick trip back to the helicarrier which they were all pleased about because they needed a break from each other's company. They had spent back to back days together and it was starting to get to them. Everyone was tired and needed a break from each other's company as well as from the job but their duty to their friends came first. None of them would give up until there was reason to, no matter how much they argued or how much they threatened to leave. They were in this until the very end.

When they arrived Fury was waiting as usual but he already knew that there was no sign, if there had been he would have been notified. Still, Fury always held hope that they would bring back Stark one day (and preferably not in a body bag). He wouldn't say it but they all knew that he was just as worried as them. Though Tony annoyed the hell out of him it was always nicer to have his quick remarks and clever retorts than have the thought that they may never be heard again. And as for Loki, the director had become accustomed to his presence and so he supposed it would be nicer to have them both back and not have to worry about him becoming a threat again.

They all slumped into seats and let out equally frustrated sighs.

"So where are we going next?" Bruce asked, taking off his glasses and rubbing his bloodshot eyes before replacing them on his face.

"I have no idea," Natasha replied. "But could we just sleep for an hour or two before we head out again?"

"Yes, go now and I'll get someone to wake you later. We need you all at your best," Fury answered, surveying his team with expressionless intensity.

He could see this mission was running them into the ground and their skills and senses were not on form but nothing could be done. The longer they rested, the higher the chance was that they would find Tony in a state far closer to dead than alive.

The alarms were beeping and the ceiling was flashing but he couldn't pull himself back to consciousness. What finally pulled him back to the real world was Natasha throwing his door open and shouting at him to get up. A brief wave of anger rushed through him but he pushed it down and locked it away in the place that allowed him to function without the worry of hulking out at any moment.

"What's going on?"

"We've found them," The black widow said before exiting the room. She didn't need to check if he was following, it was obvious he was.

Scrambling out of bed, Bruce pulled his shirt back on and ran after her back into the main room on the helicarrier where everyone else was waiting. They were all standing around the table, all of them far too restless to sit and all of them suited up. Bruce knew he would be the last to suit up. He always was.

Fury explained quickly to them all that they had moved in towards the next location on the list and instructed JARVIS to run the usual scans. At first they had all come up blank but then unusual energy signatures were detected. After they had taken a closer look, by the help of the extremely high-tech camera system that Tony had gifted to S.H.I.E.L.D, they were able to identify certain features on the ground that suggested that they had the right place.

"So you don't know for sure yet?" Steve asked.

"The only way we will know is by getting in close, as in you all going in on ground level. I would suggest you all use stealth to your advantage and take your time to plan and let us know before going in but I don't think that will work in our favour. The Chitauri might already know we're here, we don't know how advanced their senses are or if they have any tech of their own."

"Also the longer we take now in preparation, the longer they will be in danger for," Thor cut in.

"Yes but we can't just charge in. We need a plan even if it's just some basic guidelines," Steve said. He gestured towards the ground. "We don't know what it will be like down there, on the inside. It could be bad." Everyone watched him as he paced up and down a few times, obviously deep in thought. After a few minutes he stopped and turned back to them. "I'd suggest that two of us head in, Agent's Romanoff and Barton I suggest you both because you have the training and know how to be stealthy. Get in as close as you can and then report back at what you see, only then will we move in unless there is something serious that is stopping us. Do we agree?"

"Yeah, seems reasonable," Clint said and Natasha nodded in agreement.

"Okay then, if you're ready then let's head out."

Natasha and Clint fastened into one of the smallest planes they had on the helicarrier and prepared to make their descent. They picked out a location close enough to the cave entrance that it would be easy to escape or access if needed but far enough away that they shouldn't be detected. The plane allowed space only for them both with room in the back for storage or, in this circumstance, a casualty. Steve, Bruce and Thor took another plane that was slightly larger but made no more noise than the first. They agreed that when they landed they would land further away but still be in good distance of the cave. With their plan in mind and earpieces ready, Clint and Natasha took off from the helicarrier.

They landed not that many minutes later. Natasha exited first, doing a quick scan of the general vicinity but there was nothing of immediate danger. As she headed off in the direction of the cave, Clint followed her but remained a few metres to her left so they could track more ground and it would be easier to defend themselves if they were attacked.

Both of them stopped when the cave came into view. They couldn't see much from where they were though so they came together and edged through the trees until they had a clearer view. The scene before them was deserted. Nothing was moving apart from the leaves on the tress that surrounded the entrance of the cave.

"Area's clear, move in," Clint muttered, knowing Steve and the others would hear through their own earpieces.

"Moving in," Steve responded.

Natasha and Clint backtracked to pick up the others and discuss their next moves.

"There is only the one entrance," Natasha said when the rest of the team were on the ground and out of their plane. "So I think we just have to go for it."

"I suppose so," Steve replied, unhappy that they would lose the element of surprise.

They walked back to the cave and hovered in the trees for some minutes. Waiting. Waiting. Nothing happened, nothing exited the cave or appeared from the surrounding area so Steve gave the sign and they moved in.

Clint gripped his bow tightly and did a quick glance at the arrows on his back. Thor gave Mjolnir a swing before reaffirming his grip on the handle. He was ready for this. He was ready to make the Chitauri pay for taking his brother again.

The cave was dark and the air was unnatural. Clint and Natasha led the way then it was Bruce, still in human form, and Steve and Thor were bringing up the rear. Bruce had instructions to change into the hulk if things got really bad, he had a gun for general protection but was told to get to Tony and Loki if the others were engaged. He was the doctor after all.

The almost tunnel they were walking through went very thin at parts and they had to form into a single file line but at other times it was so wide they could easily walk next to eachother with room to spare. They kept in formation though at these times.

It was almost fifteen minutes of walking before they finally heard a sound that wasn't their own footsteps on the hard ground. Pressing their backs firmly against the wall, Clint, who was leading the group down a particularly thin part, glanced quickly round the bend in their path. He did a hand gesture to the others and they all took a more firm grip on their weapons.

A second later Clint threw himself from the wall and jammed an arrow through the unfortunately unsuspecting Chitauri's chest. It let out a squeal but was silenced when Natasha withdrew a dagger from her belt and slit its throat. The limp body fell to the floor and lay in a pool of its own blood that was now streaming freely out of the deep cut.

"What should we do with it?" Clint whispered. They didn't dare speak louder when they were in such close proximity to the enemy.

"Just drag it around the corner where we've just come from," Steve replied, speaking in the same hushed tone. "This is the only path in and out so someone will only find it if they come down the way we're going and if that happens then we'll stop them."

So they moved the body and carried on along the winding path deeper into the cave. The next time they came across any Chitauri was when they rounded another corner and fell straight into a large hollowed out room that was full of the unnatural creatures. They turned at once when they laid eyes on the intrusion and grabbed their own guns, ready for the fight.

"You know what to do," Steve shouted. And it was the last thing they all heard before the first shot was fired and they were once again fighting for their lives.

He heard the sounds of shots ringing out and the screams of the Chitauri but he couldn't concentrate. His mind was burning and his body ached and yet he dragged himself to the bars of the cell and tried to prise the iron away from its imbedded place in the rock.

They had taken Tony. They had taken Tony.

It was the only thought repeating in his mind. It wasn't the first time that Tony had been taken away. He had heard the screams. Loki knew what they were doing. But this time felt wrong. It had been too long. He had been gone too long. And with all the commotion elsewhere, he could no longer identify Tony's screams that used to be the only sign to tell him that the genius was in fact alive.

He couldn't be dead. He couldn't be dead. He wouldn't believe it.

Loki shouted and screamed himself hoarse as he tried to escape the cell. He could feel his magic trying to break free from the Chitauri's hold. It was trying to help him but it could not break through the bonds. He knew he should have cared for who the Chitauri was fighting. He knew it was probably important but it just didn't capture his mind. Tony had captured his soul and he believed that was far more important. And the thought that they were hurting him or that they had murdered him was something he could not bear. He had to get out.

He soon grew weak from the yelling and his body soon gave out from the fatigue. His nails were broken and bleeding from scratching at the bars and the hard ground. He fought to stay conscious. He couldn't pass out now, he wouldn't allow it. Fighting against his bodies will, he forced himself to stay awake. Using the iron bars for leverage, he pulled himself from the floor and made an attempt to stand. As soon as he got nearly half way up, his legs buckled from under him and he let out a frustrated growl.

His body sagged forward until he was slumped against the cell door. He tried screaming again but his voice failed him and the unconsciousness that he had been fighting overwhelmed him. His vision faded to black and his body slipped to the floor where he lay unmoving. The only energy he had left was used just to keep breathing.

"Thor, THOR!"

"I HAVE TO FIND MY BROTHER," Thor roared, shoving through the room until he reached the other exit that would allow him further into the cave.

"NO THOR, STICK TO THE PLAN!" Steve cried. He dodged out the way of a Chitauri that was charging at him. As he moved, he swung his shield round and knocked it to the ground which was when he shot it in the head. "WE NEED YOU HERE."

Thor was torn. He knew there was a plan and he knew he should stay. But the pull of his brother was just too strong. He didn't want to abandon him again. He was here and he knew Loki was here and he could help and we would help. There was no way he could leave Loki suffering. But the team. But family. Who could choose between their friends or their family? No matter if it was a blood relation or not.

He got to the exit and made to leave but just as he was about to leave he heard a shout. Turning quickly he watched Natasha fall to the ground. Her gun flew out of her hand as she made contact with the ground. Her dagger was in her other hand and as she twisted off the ground to pursue an attack, a Chitauri stamped down hard on her wrist until it felt the bones click and she had released the dagger. Then it loomed over her and drew its own gun ready to fire. It pulled the trigger just as Mjolnir smashed into its head and shattered its skull. It dropped to the floor to join the other bodies littering the floor.

Natasha let out a cry, cradling her leg. The thunder god dropped down beside her and took her hands away to assess the damage.

"Look it'll be fine, go and find Loki and Tony," Natasha said through gritted teeth.

"No, you need help," Thor replied stoutly and refused to listen to anymore of her protests.

He had made up his mind. He needed to stay here with the team because they needed him more. The numbers of Chitauri had started to dwindle and then the last body fell to the ground and they all breathed a sigh of relief.

"I thought your dad said that they weren't big on numbers," Clint muttered, picking up an arrow off the floor and cleaning it on his top.

Thor just shook his head and continued to bend over Natasha. "She needs medical attention."

Clint had so far been preoccupied to realise that the black widow was on the floor and clearly in a lot of pain. Now, due to the lack of action, he turned and let out a shout. In a second he was next to on the floor. He wripped off part of his top and tied it above the wound, helping to stem the flow of blood.

"You okay 'Tasha?"

"I'll be fine Clint. Remember the mission, go and find the others. I'll stay here."

"You're not being left alone, Clint stay with her," Steve instructed. "We'll head on, just make sure your earpieces are one in case you need help."

The archer nodded and the others left, moving forward further into the cave. They didn't know what to expect but it certainly wasn't what they found.

Yes I know, I'm sorry. Please review?!