Hey ya'll, here's the next chapter. Things are going to be a little tense. Stay tuned after the story for an exciting teaser for the next chapter! =D

Disclaimer: Marvel characters, yep, still don't own them. Minnie is mine though, MINE I SAY! Sorry. It's four am and I've been drinking a LOT of coffee.

When I woke up I was in the hospital bed I lay there for a few moments, trying to see if I felt different, or if I felt anything. I sighed before I sat up, and smiled seeing the hand drawn card sitting on the bedside table next to me. I sat there, looking down at my hands before someone slipped into the chair next to my bed. "How do you feel?" Pepper asked and I shook my head.

"I feel normal." I said softly. "What if it didn't work?"

"Well there's only one way to find out." she said as she stuck out her hand.

"Pepper I don't want to hurt you."

"So let go before it does." she said. "What should I feel?"

"Lightheaded. If you feel lightheaded, let go." I said before I slowly put my hand into hers. She drew in a breath a moment later and pulled her hand away, looking down at it in awe, and then to me. "It worked." I muttered and she nodded. "How long have I been asleep?"

"Two days." she said and my face fell slightly.

"No wonder my back is so stiff." I muttered and she frowned lightly.

"I have to say Minnie, you're taking this pretty well." she said and I looked at her.

"I trust Bruce and Tony will find a cure." I said simply as I sat up and twisted to the side slightly, cracking my back with a satisfying pop. "How are my girls?"

"Worried. Same as your husband." she said and I nodded. "What happened that night?"

"I don't know," I said softly. "I was hoping someone could tell me. All I know is I was trying to get to the house when I was attacked by Leona Hiss." I thought back. "We fought, she won and I got turned into SHIELD's human energy sponge." I said with a small laugh. "Will you help me to the bathroom please? I need to take a shower." She helped me walk to the bathroom and left me alone while I showered, I noticed that someone had brought my toiletries in there and I let out a sigh as the hot water ran over my body, loosening up my muscles.

I looked at my hands before I slowly pressed my left hand against my right arm.

Nothing happened.

I clasped my hands together.

Nothing.

I put my hands to my head, and still nothing happened.

I got out of the shower a few minutes later and wrapped a towel around myself, before thinking; I didn't have any clothes in there. As I pondered what to do there was a knock on the door.

"Mommy?" Kayla's voice called through the door and I smiled as I opened it, making sure my towel was tight around myself.

"Hey baby." I smiled brightly and she smiled.

"Mommy!" she gasped before she moved forward to throw her arms around my legs.

"No, Kayla," Amanda picked her up quickly. "Remember what Daddy said." she reminded her and looked at me with a small smile. "I'm happy you're okay Mo- Minnie." she corrected herself and I smiled at her.

"You can call me whatever you want sweetheart." I said and she smiled gratefully.

"Kayla and I brought you some clothes." she said as she held up a paper bag.

"Thanks girls." I said as I took the bag.

"We um, got long sleeves, we figured since it's cold and everything it wouldn't be any different than what you would normally wear, uh, and there was this girl at school, she called herself Rogue, who has the same mutation as you. We're pretty sure that she was the one they used as a reference, or even her DNA to create what they did to you, but she wears gloves and she's okay to touch people, you know, with gloves on." she shrugged. "So Tony took me to town and I bought you a pair of gloves." she smiled and I returned the smile.

"I want to hear more about this girl when I finish getting dressed." I said before I went back into the bathroom. Amanda had brought me a pair of underwear, a bra, a pair of black pants, a black long sleeved shirt and a pair of black leather gloves with buttons up the sides.

I smiled at them and pulled on the shoes she had brought me before I brushed my hair and teeth and put all of my toiletries into the bag. She had also remembered my eye creme and a few cosmetics so no one who worked at SHIELD would have to see me without at least the basic amount of makeup. I pulled my hair into a high ponytail and then as a final touch I added the gloves.

I stepped out of the bathroom and was able to hug Kayla, making sure not to touch her skin, which I'm sure she was having a hard time understanding. She let go of me and I hugged Amanda before I looked at Pepper who was smiling at me.

"Come eat, you need to get your strength up." she said and I sat down and listened to Kayla tell me about everything that had happened in the past two days with Amanda interrupting only to explain something, Pepper was smiling though I could tell she was worried, and Amanda told me that Piotr had locked himself in his room for the past two days and no one knew why.

"He was escorting me to the house," I explained to her as I munched on a slice of bacon. "We heard one of our agents in trouble and I told him to go help."

"And then you got hurt Mommy?" Kayla asked and I nodded.

"Yeah baby, then I got hurt."

"But he didn't hurt you?"

"No baby, I don't think he's capable of hurting someone." I said soothingly. She nodded and stole a slice of bacon from my plate making me smile and roll my eyes. "Kayla, you want to peel the orange?" I asked and she perked right up.

"You're never going to believe who SHIELD was able to get for Kayla's... B-I-R-T-H-D-A-Y." Pepper said and I smiled.

"Who?" I asked.

"D-A-L-L-A-S." she spelled and I raised an eyebrow.

"My friend or the other one?" I asked and she smiled.

"The other one."

"Oh god, where has he been?"

"Your neighbors have him. Turns out they think the same thing your parents thought, they were actually pretty understanding of the whole thing. They still think there's a Sasquatch in the woods though."

"Let me guess, a green one?" I asked sarcastically and she nodded. "God some people will never let that go." I sighed.

"Green like how Daddy gets sometimes?" Kayla asked and I froze before looking at her.

"When does Daddy get green baby?" I asked and she shrugged.

"When he's not happy he turns green, but there's a spell to make him normal."

"A... Spell?" I asked and she nodded.

"Yeah and then he's not green anymore."

"What's the spell sweetie?" Pepper asked and Kayla shrugged.

"Mommy knows the spell. When we were at that place where I got the book with the spirals and Uncle Tony on it Daddy started to turn green, but mommy said a spell and Daddy turned back. Was he turning into a frog mommy?" she asked and I covered my face with my hand.

"Oh god honey." I sighed. "Tell you what honey; ask me when Daddy is around so we can both explain it, okay?" I asked and she nodded.

"Is this giving you a my-brain?" she asked and I smiled at my inquisitive daughter.

"No baby." I said as I shook my head.

"What's the book with Spirals and Uncle Tony?" Pepper asked and I chuckled.

"It's a science magazine she got once that had a DNA helix on the cover, that's how she remembers it, the one with the spirals. The issue she bought at the gas station where I told Bruce about Brian had Tony on the cover."

"A stock photo?"

"Yeah from the Jericho demo." I nodded and she made a face.

"Why do they still use that picture?" she muttered to herself. "I hate that picture."

"It's kind of a good picture." Amanda shrugged.

"With a lot of bad memories attached to it." I muttered and Pepper nodded. I finished the black coffee as Phil Coulson walked into the room and I smiled at him. He looked me over, his gaze resting on my glove covered hands.

"I see you've figured that out." he said and I nodded.

"My brilliant daughter helped me out." I said as I put a hand on Amanda's shoulder.

"We need you for an interrogation." he said simply and I stared at him for a moment before I nodded.

"I just woke up." I said and he nodded.

"You just need to oversee it. No need to interact." he said and I sighed.

"Can I at least say hello to my husband?" I asked and Amanda made a face as did Phil and Pepper. "What?"

"He, Tony and Erik have locked themselves in the lab and won't come out or see anyone." Phil finally explained. "Every now and then they send for Mr. Liu, but aside from that, they don't see anyone."

"Has anyone told them I'm awake?" I asked and Amanda cleared her throat.

"I'll go." she said and looked at Pepper who nodded.

"I'll go with you honey, Minnie and I are the only ones who've been able to tear Tony away from his work." she sighed and I watched as they took Kayla and left, and I looked back at Phil before I sighed and nodded.

"I guess I'm all yours." I said and he nodded as he led me out of the room. "Can you have someone take care of my things? Bring them back to the house?"

"Of course." he replied before he handed something over to me. It was my SHIELD ID and my cell phone. "I figured I should hold onto these until you woke up." he explained and I smiled lightly as I slipped them both into my pockets.

"Who is this we're interrogating?" I asked and he handed me a file.

"His name is Chad Chambers, he works for HYDRA." he said. "You'll have to excuse us if Agent Romanoff and Agent Barton get a little rough with this guy; all he's been saying for the past three days is "Hail Hydra". With Captain Rogers' help we were able to determine that most HYDRA members would rather die than get caught and we were able to extract a cyanide capsule from his person before he could off himself." he explained as we walked down the halls. We got into an elevator and were brought up two floors where we walked down a few hallways. It was good Phil knew his way around here because I felt like a blind mouse in a maze.

"I want to set up a meeting with John Liu." I said and Phil nodded.

"I'll have it arranged." he said as we approached a door. "This is it."

"Thanks, are you going to watch?" I asked and he shook his head.

"Uh no, this one's on you. I'll have Heather bring you a decent cup of coffee though." he said and I smiled.

"Don't forget, John Liu, I want a meeting with him." I said and he nodded.

"Good luck." he said and I walked into the room. I sat at a desk where I was able to see into the interrogation room, an operative was running the sound system that was recording the session, but the prisoner was the only one in there at the moment.

"Minnie," I turned around and smiled at Natasha as she walked in and I carefully hugged her, and then did the same with Clint.

"How are you feeling?" Nat asked and I sighed.

"I'm good." I answered with a smile. "I think I'm happy to be needed for something." I said as I held up the file.

"You're overseeing the interrogation?" Natasha asked and I nodded.

"Have you... Ever watched an interrogation before?" Clint asked and I shook my head.

"No, but Phil gave me some warning about you guys getting a little rough. Don't worry; I'm just here to watch. Not to interfere."

"Okay." Natasha said and looked at the room. "We ready?" the girl over at the recording system flashed a thumbs up as she hit record and the two assassins walked into the room. One thing I can say about the two of them is they could be... Very persuasive.

As I watched them work there was a knock on the door. I got up and went to the door, opening it just a crack I smiled seeing Heather holding up a coffee cup. "How are you feeling, Phil said you were in the hospital for a few days."

"I'm doing better, thanks for asking." I said as I took the drink from her.

"You know as director I'm sure you can turn up the heat in there." she teased with a smile as she saw my gloves.

"You're right but there's no thermostat in here. I'll talk to someone about it." I said with a smile. "Heather do you have a family?"

"Uh, yeah, my mom lives in the Village with her boyfriend and my dad lives on the upper west side with his new family." she said and I nodded.

"So you and Phil huh?" I asked and she smiled brightly. "He's pretty great isn't he?"

"He's amazing." she sighed and I smiled. "Oh my gosh, look at me, I should let you get back to work, I'm so sorry."

"Don't worry about it." I said as I shook my head. "It was a nice break."

"We should talk more, Phil's told me so much about you, I'd really like to get to know you better." she said and I smiled gently.

"I'd like that." I nodded.

"Great, well, I'll see you later!" she said before she walked down the hallway. That girl was way too cute to have anything to do with SHIELD.

I shook my head as I walked back into the room, Natasha and Clint were getting nowhere with the guy and they knew it. They walked out of the room and walked over to me. "I want to talk to John Liu." I said slowly. "Maybe we can get him to talk to them."

"And maybe that's what he wants." Clint said quickly.

"You didn't get that vibe from him a few days ago."

"Well I started to get that vibe when we were attacked by the enemy, a few hours after he came to us asking to talk to you." Clint countered back, he was frustrated from the lack of information he had gotten from their prisoner. "How many more people need to be attacked, isn't it bad enough you were changed, are you going to let that happen to anyone else?!" he shouted at me and I looked at him in surprise.

"Of course I'm not, I just think that if we have someone who might be able to get the information out of this guy, why don't we use him?" I asked.

"Look, you don't know anything about these things, you think just because your grandma used to do this back in the day and because you have a shiny badge you get to call the shots? Well guess what, you're just as much an employee as the rest of us, the only difference is; we know what we're doing!" he shouted at me. "Apparently they knew enough to know that you've never done anything like this before, and they obviously took that into consideration when they attacked! They came for you Minnie, because they knew the best way to disable us would be to take down our leader, you're lucky Leona didn't kill you when she had the chance, and the fact that she didn't is a little suspicious!"

"You need to stand down, Agent Barton." I said when I saw his hand resting on the hilt of the knife he kept strapped to his thigh. His gaze followed mine and he let go of the knife quickly before looking back to me. "I may not have been doing this as long as you have but don't you dare insinuate that I'm working for them. Do you have any idea what she did to me? Why I've been in a medically induced coma for the past two days, or is what I am suspicious now too?" I asked as I pulled the gloves off. I threw them on the desk before I held out my hands. "Feeling brave Barton?" I asked sharply and he looked at me for a moment before I grabbed both his hands in mine. I let go a moment later and he lifted a hand to his head, obviously looking a little dazed. "She didn't have to kill me because the fact that I'm alive and I'm like this is much worse." I said sharply. "You have a lot to say about them knowing to attack me because it's the best way to bring everyone down, well how do you think that works?" my tone and gaze softened as he caught my eye again.

"They're trying to pit us against each other." Natasha said and Clint looked at her. "It's just like Loki all over again."

"I know you're upset that I'm the one Fury put in charge, I know I don't have as much experience and that this is all new to me, but-"

"That's not it." he said quickly. I looked at him curiously and Natasha cleared her throat.

"We spend the elevator ride up to the top telling you everything would be okay that we wouldn't let them get you, only to open the doors to something that was very not okay. It's our job to keep you safe, and we failed."

"Just like Budapest." Clint muttered and I smiled lightly.

"One day you guys are going to have to tell me about Budapest." I said and they both smiled lightly. "This sucks, okay?" I said as I put my gloves back on. "It really royally sucks, but I don't blame you. I don't blame anyone except HAMMER and HYDRA. Which is why I want to know their plan, I want to know what they're doing at all times, I want to know their weaknesses, I want to get into their heads, and I want to destroy them." I said sharply making both of them smile a little more. "I can't do it without you guys." I said and they looked at each other.

"Remember what I said about you not knowing what you're doing?" Clint asked and I nodded. "I take it back." he said and I smiled.

"Don't feel guilty." I said as I put a glove clad hand on his shoulder. "You did what you could, which is all any of us could do." He nodded and I sighed.

"So what do you say we go interrogate the hell out of Agent Liu?" I asked.

"We'll have him brought right in." Natasha said.

"Well well well," Tony said as I walked into the lab. "If it isn't the miniature Nick Fury." he smirked as he looked over my black outfit. "Good thing your name already is Minnie, I don't need to spend all that time getting you to answer to a new one."

"I didn't pick out my own clothes." I said to him and he raised his eyebrows.

"Mmhmm, suuuure." he said and I rolled my eyes before I looked at Liu.

"I need Mr. Liu." I said and he looked at me. "We need to have a little talk about what happened the other night."

"You can't honestly think I had something to do with that." he said and I shrugged my shoulder.

"Maybe you did, maybe you didn't. Don't you find it a little strange that the exact thing you came to warn me would happen happened only a few hours after you got here?" I asked and I could see him growing a little nervous.

"I can see that it would look odd-"

"More like suspicious." I cut in. "Which is why we need to have that little chat."

"Mrs. Banner, I'm so-"

"Director Banner, please." I said sharply and I felt someone touch my shoulder.

"Minnie, wanna tone down the Terminator act?" Tony muttered to me. "You're scaring the nerds." he nodded to Erik and Bruce who were both staring at me. "You might want to write down increased aggression... Unless it's already the fifteenth." Tony said. "Is it the fifteenth?"

"No."

"Well, there goes my theory, increased aggression it is." he said simply and I rolled my eyes.

"Minnie, can we get a blood sample from you as well?" Dr. Selvig asked and I sighed before I nodded, rolling my sleeves up. I walked over to a chair and sat down while Bruce moved over to me and wrapped a tourniquet around my arm.

"Don't look at the needle." he muttered and I looked away quickly. He wiped alcohol over the area before he injected me with a needle and started to collect blood.

"This brings back memories." I muttered to him and he looked at me. I offered a small smile and he pulled the tourniquet off. "At least I have a better nurse than you did."

"Just relax." he said softly as he ran his hand over my glove covered one before lacing our fingers together lightly. "Don't forget to breathe." I smiled lightly and he changed the vial so he could collect another one of my blood. When he decided he had enough he told me to look away while he pulled the needle out and he got rid of it quickly before taping a cotton ball to my arm.

He looked down at me before he lightly cupped my face. "Bruce- I don't want to hurt you."

"You're my wife, I'll take my chances." he said before leaning down to press his lips against mine. I kissed him back, hesitantly at first, until he pulled me closer, then I wrapped my arms around his neck, kissing him deeply until-

"I'm sorry." I said as he pulled away quickly. He let out a few deep breaths before he checked his pulse. He shut his eyes and breathed deeply for another moment and I took that opportunity to grab Liu and leave.

See, that sucks. Just when we thought they were over the whole 'Other guy coming out when they touch or kiss or have sex or anything' problem, it gets brought back. As for the next chapter you can look forward to seeing an old frenemy from previous chapters working alongside Norman and our very large problem Norman has been able to apprehend. There's also talk about a big party, a discussion about returning to the states, Nick Fury, and perhaps a new teammate? So Stay tuned! PS- Don't forget to review! Reviews make me want to write more.