Hi ya'll! Thanks to everyone who keep reviewing, my 100th reviewer was the lovely Xx-Waking-Dreamer-xX but thank you to everyone who reviews! I love it! I hope you like this chapter. I think you will, but I hope you do.


When I went back to the bathroom he was pulling his shirt over his head. I went to the bath and checked the water, before I turned the taps off. "I have to go in."

"Not until you're feeling better." I said and he smiled lightly as he looked at me.

"Why do you take such good care of me?" he asked as I walked over and untied the string on his waistband.

"Because someone has to." I said softly. "Now, in." I said. He smiled lightly and stepped into the bathtub. I opened the bag that Dallas had sent up with Steve and pulled the clothes out, a pair of jeans, a white top with a black lace bow on the left shoulder to my collarbone, a pair of black flats, and a cropped black leather jacket with a few cosmetics at the bottom of the bag, along with my shampoo, conditioner, and tooth brush. All of the clothes had price tags on them.

"I don't know how I feel about Dallas knowing what size underwear you wear." Bruce said as I pulled the tags off of the new white underwear set Dallas had bought me. "Why is he buying you all these clothes anyway?"

"It's Dallas' philosophy that the day after the shit hits the fan, you'd best look fabulous while you clean up the mess." I said and he laughed. I walked over to the shower and turned it on, the glass was all frosted so no one could see in, not that I cared either way at this point.

After taking a quick shower I got out and wrapped my hair in a towel and wrapped my body in one. Bruce had his eyes closed, and his head resting on the back of the tub. I got dressed and brushed my teeth before I put on the makeup that Dallas had sent over. I heard Bruce get out of the tub and he wrapped the towel I had set down for him around himself. He went to the bedroom and got dressed while I finished my makeup quickly.

"How did you get all that on so fast?" Bruce asked when I walked out of the bathroom, my hair in a loose braid hanging over my left shoulder.

"What?" I asked as I helped him button his shirt up.

"That makeup, two seconds ago you were barely starting."

"Years of practice." I said with a smile. I had covered the cup in my lip with a red lipstick, and dusted my eyes with a smoky look.

"Are you ready to go see your family?" he asked and I sighed.

"No." I huffed. "It's none of their business. It's between me and you." I said and he wrapped his arm around my waist. I wrapped my arms around him and rested my forehead on his shoulder.

"You don't need to protect Me." he said softly. "I've been dealing with the consequences of my actions for years."

"I want to protect you." I pouted and he chuckled. He looked down at me and I lifted my head off of his shoulder.

"We can't pretend like this never happened."

"Why not?" I asked.

"What are we going to do, just stay in this room forever, have room service meals for the rest of our lives, and order things online when we need it?"

"Good idea." I said as I started to unbutton his shirt. He laughed and caught my hands.

"I can either face them with you, or without you." he said and I sighed. "I'd prefer it was with you."

"Okay." I said, and fixed the buttons. He wrapped his arm around me and we walked out the door to the elevator. We went downstairs to my room, where I needed to pick up my cell phone charger for the car. My phone had died sometime in the night, and I was sure I had about fifty billion messages.

"Sammy!" I blinked in surprised as Shay jumped up from my couch. Steve and Dallas were there too. Dallas jumped up and ran to us, he threw his arms around me tightly, and I held him for a good minute before he turned and looked at Bruce for a moment, then threw his arms around him too.

"Okay Dallas." he said as he patted his back. Shay walked over and hugged me quickly.

"Are you okay?" she asked as she looked at the bruises around my neck. "You know Dallas can cover that-"

"No." I said and she stared at me. "No, if I'm going to face all of them, I want them to see what happened."

"Well, uh, your parents and siblings are uh, with MeeMaw having lunch in her suite, I think they're planning on going to the hospital later."

"He doesn't deserve visitors!" Dallas said as he looked at my neck. "Oh, I wish you'd let me cover that up."

"They need to see what caused it." I said and he sighed.

"Dr. Banner," Steve said and Bruce looked at him. "You know you need to come in."

"I need to do this first." Bruce said to his fellow Avenger. Steve sighed and I took Bruce's hand. We went to MeeMaw's suite and I knocked on the door.

"Oh my god, honey!" my mom said when she opened the door. She hesitated when she saw Bruce, but threw her arms around me.

"Mom, I'm fine." I said as she fussed over me. "It's just where Simon grabbed me, it's sore." I said and she sighed and looked at Bruce again who looked down. "Mom." I said sternly.

"Come on in." she said and opened the door. MeeMaw and my mom and dad had shared a two bedroom suite, with a huge living room in the middle; it had two couches, a love seat, and a few armchairs.

"Hi honey!" MeeMaw called when she saw us. My dad instantly stood up and walked over to me. He looked at my neck, and then pulled me into a bone crushing hug.

"Tap out, tap out!" I gasped as I tapped his shoulder. He let go of me and looked at Bruce, I grabbed Bruce's hand and looked at him with a small smile. "Dad, if it wasn't for Bruce, I'd be hurt a lot more then I am." I said quickly. "And I mean, I know it's a lot to take in, but-"

"Sam, shut up." Dad said to me and I stopped talking.

"Nathan." MeeMaw said suddenly. Dad turned around.

"Mom?" he asked as MeeMaw gestured him over. He knelt down in front of her and she hit his shoulder.

"Be nice, he's either your future son in law, or I'll adopt him and make him your brother." she threatened. I couldn't help but laugh. I looked at Bruce who was turning red.

"Bruce, I don't know what to say." my dad said finally as he walked over.

"I understand."

"You seem to have won over the most important people in my life," he continued. "And I'm grateful that you saved my baby girl, but if I ever find out about you turning on her as that... Thing. I'll do everything in my power to make sure you end up in Area 51 for the rest of your life, so help me god."

"Dad, he's not an alien!" I said as I hit his arm.

"I understand." Bruce said as he and my dad ignored me.

"Look, uh, Bruce," Sonny said as he walked over. "I'm sorry about whatever happened to you man, uh, you know, just make sure you keep an eye on this one huh?" he nodded to me and Bruce smiled. "I guess it'll be a job for both of you huh?" he asked awkwardly.

"Something like that, yeah." Bruce said.

"Tell them you're coming to Christmas." MeeMaw said and Bruce laughed. "Tell them!"

"We'll see MeeMaw." I said.

"My kids and my husband think you're amazing." Abby said as she walked over. "I think what you did was wrong, you could have killed Simon." she said with her arms crossed over her chest. I felt his grip tighten on my hand lightly. "But I understand why you did it." she looked at me. "And I'm sure if any one of us had that in us, we'd have done the same thing." she looked back at Bruce, and smiled at him. "Thank you." she said and he smiled.

"I'm sorry that I changed like that." he said to them. "I can usually control it, but the moment I saw Minnie in danger, I couldn't talk myself down from that." he shook his head. "Which is why I ran."

"Why?" Sonny asked.

"I didn't want to scare anyone. I guess The Other Guy knew that." he said and I smiled lightly. "We should go." he said to me.

"Where?" Abby asked.

"I want to check in on Simon before I have to go."

"Where are you going?" Sonny asked.

"To discuss it would be a matter of national security." I said, repeating the thing Agent Coulson had once said to me when I asked where they were taking Tony. I had thought they were kidnapping him, and I had jumped on an agent, resulting in me getting thrown over said agent's shoulder and onto the floor. It really was a wonder I hadn't been seriously injured on the job.

When we got to the hospital, Gwen was in the room with Simon. "You did this to him!" she said when we walked into the room.

"He tried to kill me Gwen." I said to her.

"He would never do that, you're just confused."

"Is this me being confused?" I asked as I showed her my neck.

"How do I know that thing didn't do this to you?" she scowled.

"Gwen, at this point in the game, I don't give a flying fuck what you think." I said as I stepped in closer to her. Her double chin wobbled in anger as she looked between me and Bruce furiously. "But I'll do tell you what I do care about. I care about the fact that he's got outstanding warrants, and you've been harboring a fugitive, not to mention the fact that you're supporting his drug habit." I said and she glared at me.

"Prove it." she scowled.

"I already have." I said and smiled. "That's the cool thing about working for Tony Stark, I find out all kinds of things about people." I said. "Leave."

"Why, so you can finish the job?" she asked as she glared at Bruce.

"Gwen, just, for once in your life, don't argue, and leave the goddamn room!" I said and she huffed before she walked over to the room. I walked over to the bed and looked down at Simon who opened his eyes and looked at me. He smiled lightly.

"Hey Sam." he said, his voice was kind of hoarse.

"Nice to see you again Simon." I said and he sighed. "What's the verdict?"

"Broken collarbone, couple of cracked ribs, sprained hip, dislocated elbow, and my back hurts like a bitch." he said. "Nothing I don't deserve." he said and looked over at Bruce. "I don't blame you man, I want you to know that." he said to Bruce who walked over. "If I'd have been in my right mind, and seen what I was doing, I'd have done the same thing as you. I mean, maybe not the whole turning big and green and stuff, but, uh, I'd have kicked my own ass." he said.

"Is that why you aren't accepting pain killers?" I asked and he nodded. "Simon, I don't hate you." I said and he looked at me curiously. "I pity you."

"You know," he groaned. "I almost wish you hated me." he smiled lightly, and groaned in pain. "Bruce, right?" he asked and Bruce nodded. "I'd shake your hand, but, uh..." he held out a fist. "Take care of her. It's obvious you do way better a job then I ever could." Bruce nodded and bumped his fist against Simon's. "Sam, I'm sorry." he said.

"Move out of Gwen's house." I said. "And get your shit together Simon. You're a smart guy. You could do so much better then all this." He just smiled and hit the bed adjustment button so he could lay back again.

"Are you okay?" Bruce asked as we walked out of the hospital.

"That was the real Simon." I said to him. "The Simon without drugs, the Simon that I was engaged to." I nodded. "I think, it's time we just end the chapter on this part of our lives, because I am so tired of the drama." I said. He smiled and kissed me lightly. "I want to go home Bruce. I hate this heat, and I know it's going to be hot in New York, but I don't want to be here anymore, my hair is a mess, my life is a mess, and I just want to go home."

"You know there's one more thing I have to do before we close that chapter." he said and I raised an eyebrow curiously. He nodded at a SUV that had pulled up. Out hopped Natasha Romanoff and Clint Barton, along with Steve and Tony.

"Doc, I'm afraid we've got to bring you in." Agent Barton said, his eyes landing on me. BrBRBR "Don't." I said as I took his hand.

"It's alright." Bruce said as he pried his hand out of my grasp. "We're just going to have a little chat."

"Bruce, don't." I said and he smiled before he cupped my face and kissed me gently.

"I'll be fine." he said gently. "I promise." I bit my lip and nodded as he walked away.

"Tony." I looked at Tony who walked over to me.

"I won't let them get to him." he said as he ruffled my hair lightly, and then looked at my neck in displeasure. "You should cover that up."

"Get out of here." I said and he grinned.