Steve couldn't believe that he was back at the place that broke him. Well, the term "broke him" may have been a bit dramatic, he was still standing, wasn't he? It was just the place that…changed him. Made him into something he wasn't proud of. Made everything about him dangerous.

He took a deep breath, making sure that his new yet familiar weapon was tucked safely in his jacket, out of view from everything around him, including the two cameras above the door that was no doubt watching him. He raised his hand, revealing the em019/em on his wrist, hoping that this worked.

This was Tom's plan. Of course it would work.

The door opened, two men in security uniforms walking out to meet him, holding tasers. Steve tried not to react to them. He knew that it would hurt if he was hit by one of those again, but not for long.

They couldn't take him down anymore. Steve was stronger than them and their weapons. He had no reason to be afraid.

But why was he?

"You've come back for forgiveness, Nineteen?" One of them asked, and Steve frowned, making himself look as small as possible without revealing his weapon.

"I…" He swallowed back the bile that rose in his throat. "I want Papa. Please. He…he's home. I miss home."

One of the guards seemed to instantly know how to talk to him as Steve said the words, stepping forward as if he was approaching a scared animal.

"Papa missed you, too, he'll be happy to see that you've returned. But, where's Twenty? Is she with you?"

He forced his lip to wobble, tears falling into his eyes. He had practiced how to cry on the way here, and, thanks to Robin's advice, had managed to find a way to make it happen.

It was incredible what biting a jalapeno pepper a couple of seconds before could do. Luckily his body hadn't adapted to the sensation yet. It would soon, though, so he would have to use these fake tears as much as he could.

"She…she died. And I…I…I couldn't save her."

The guard, the one that didn't seem as gentle, roughly took Steve's arm and dragged him inside.

"I'll go put you back into your room, and then I'll find Papa. You better not try anything stupid like the last time."

Steve wasn't really paying attention to his words, and instead chose to observe the area around him. He was in one of the hallways again, and there wasn't anyone else around. It was tempting to fight. But he had to wait, or else it would all be for nothing.

em Remember./em Tom had said on the way here. em This plan should work, if everything happens when it should happen. And don't resort to violence unless you absolutely have to./em

So he let them lead him, until he reached the small door labeled with his number. Taking a deep breath, Steve stepped into it as soon as it opened, the door slamming shut as soon as he was fully inside of it.

He was left alone, but he hoped that it wouldn't be for long. He needed to buy them time.

He knew that this was risky, but it was the only way to shut down Brenner's entire operation. As much as he hated to be away from Robin and Tom, this was the best way to take everything down.

It felt like hours later, though it could only have been minutes, that the door opened, Brenner walking in in all of his glory and strength.

"Papa!" Steve ran to him, clutching the older man in his arms, hugging him, and Brenner hugged him back.

"Nineteen, I never thought I would see you again. Why did you run?" He asked, like a father, but Steve wouldn't be tricked by it. Brenner wasn't in control here. Steve was.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry! I'll never do it again!" He begged, and Brenner shushed him, pulling him out of the hug and looking Steve into his eyes. Steve refused to look away, no matter how uncomfortable it made him.

"Nineteen. I'm glad you're home. We have much to work on. All is forgiven if you listen to Papa from here on out."

He nodded. "I will. I promise."

"Good."

Three soldiers walked in at that moment, making Steve flinch, but Brenner grabbed his arm.

"It's okay, Nineteen, now that you've returned we have to run a couple tests."

Tests. If Steve didn't hate that word before he sure did now.

"Tests, Papa?"

"Yes. We need to make sure that you want to stay." Brenner said carefully, his eyes cold and calculating. "We can't have you run away again."

"I promise that I won't!" Steve exclaimed, wrapping his arms around himself, trying to appear weak. But Brenner didn't listen to him, shaking his head.

"Promises aren't worth anything, Nineteen. Only Papa's promises are true. That's why you have to listen to me and obey me."

"We're going to do a memory swipe, sir?" One of the soldiers asked, and Steve frowned. Of course they were going to swipe his memory. Of course.

"Yes. Make sure it covers most of his life, if not all of it." Brenner said, turning away from Steve as if that would make him not hear it. "We can't have him run again, he's too good of a weapon to lose. I don't want another repeat of Eighteen or Twenty."

The soldier nodded, and Steve kept his composure, all though every part of him wanted to fight.

"Nineteen." Brenner said, turning back to him, "Could you join the men and obey their instructions? For Papa?"

Steve shook his head. "I…I don't want to leave you again. Please."

"I'll come with you, if you want."

"Please."

Brenner then led him outside into the hallways, leading him by his shoulder, and Steve was so thankful that he didn't touch his back. Then they would be exposed.

Without warning, a loud boom shook the building, making the floor quake under their feet, and Brenner barked orders to the soldiers around him, all who ran to the sound, guns taking out of their holsters.

That was it. That was the signal.

Steve backed away from Brenner, reaching into his jacket and securing his hand around the bat hidden in the bulky fabric, pulling it out with as much speed as he could manage. Brenner watched him as Steve unwound the banage that covered the nails, watched him with fear or determination Steve didn't know.

"Nineteen, why did you trick me? Why did you trick Papa?"

Steve didn't respond, but made quick work of his task.

"Nineteen…" He warned, but Steve shook his head, getting closer to Brenner and placing the end of the bat to Brenner's neck, the nails nearly piercing his skin.

"My name's not Nineteen. It's Steve Harrington. And you're not going to have me back, ever. We're shutting this whole operation down."

Brenner smiled a cruel, knowing smile. "You can't shut this down. This project is bigger than you know."

"But even giants fall because of a singular stone, Brenner."

His eyes widened, and Steve laughed. "You really thought I didn't know your real name? I thought you knew everything about me."

Steve heard footsteps race up behind him, no doubt more soldiers, and Steve stepped away from Brenner, flinching as he felt a baton slam against his shoulder. He stumbled, swinging low with the bat, making someone yell out in pain. He felt like puking at the sound, he never wanted to hurt anyone, but the dude would be fine if he went to the hospital.

He watched as three more men backed away from him, raising their guns and firing. He braced himself, knowing that he would be okay, but knowing that it would still not be so fun. Gunfire rang through the air, hitting him, piercing his clothes but not his skin. He turned back to Brenner, who studied him in awe. Steve swung his bat back around and kept it trained on the older man, making sure that he didn't escape. He needed him here and away from all of the commotion.

As if on cue, another boom rocked the building, making cracks form in the ceiling, a quake shaking the building.

"What have you done?" Brenner asked loudly, sounding more desperate than Steve had ever heard him. "What have you emdone/em?"

"Like I said, taking you down."

The gunfire ceased, and Steve turned to the soldiers, all who looked at him in fear. They probably expected him to be dead, or at least injured. He guessed that they hadn't read the file.

They pulled out their tasers and batons, and Steve knew that this was where he had to change his plans. Steve could be hurt by the tasers, and one second of vulnerability could be fatal to the plan. He didn't let them touch him, jumping out of the way and running down the hall. He could hear them run after him, and Steve hoped that Robin and Tom had pulled through.

He ducked into an open room, shutting the door behind him and barring it with a chair. This room was one with tables and chairs sprinkled around it, as well as a medium sized metal box in the corner. Good. Just like they planned.

Steve saw a fire alarm attached to the wall, and pulled it, wishing that the smart people in this building would run before real damage was done.

They were taking down the building, and Steve didn't want anyone to die because of it.

As soon as the shrill alarm was going, Steve rushed to the box, following Tom's instructions in his head. Pull this wire, attach this to that, make sure you don't release this until you're ready. It seemed complicated, but Steve had practiced with Robin over and over again. He could do this. He could do this.

Steve followed all of the instructions, ignoring the banging on the door, the men trying to get in, and finally reached the final step. The timer.

Tom had suggested one minute. Robin had suggested two. But, with the men by the door, ready to kill him and come inside, immediately seeing what was going on, Steve knew that he needed to adjust. He needed enough time to get out but not enough time for them to stop this bomb from going off.

He had an idea. A crazy, stupid idea that could get him killed, but he didn't see another option.

He set the timer, bolting to the door as soon as it began counting down, not pulling it open. Instead he faced the men that were trying to get in, hoping that they could hear him from the other , he could hear them loud and clear, so he wasn't too worried.

"There's a bomb!" He yelled, making explosion gestures with his hand. "There's a bomb, you have to run!"

Only one of the men seemed to believe him, stepping away from the door and running away.

Steve counted down the seconds in his head. They didn't have much time.

"Run! Just run! Who cares about getting me when you'll lose your life? Run!"

It was another voice in the hallway, one that was so familiar to him, that made the guards turn away from him.

"Hey, losers!" Robin's voice was clear, even though the glass, and Steve couldn't help but smile. "Look what I have? Don't you want it?"

The guards ran towards her and away from him like mindless soldiers, and in perfect timing, too. Steve could see the timer go from one second to zero, and he braced himself as the bomb went off.

He heard the loud explosion before he felt heat, so much heat, burning around him, debris slamming into his stomach and pushing him to the ground, a part of the ceiling falling right on top of his back. He gasped, covering his mouth to prevent dust from getting into his lungs, and closed his eyes, waiting for the danger to pass.

His ears were ringing, but he could tell the second that it was over, smoke covering the entire room. Well, if it could even be considered a room anymore. Steve coughed as he brought his hands out from under him, pushing himself up from under the rubble. He was bleeding somewhere, he could tell, but it didn't feel as painful as it should. As soon as he was on his feet, the chuck of the ceiling discarded beside him, he took a quick check over his body. Two legs, two arms…all of him was still there. Good.

He coughed, ridding his lungs of the air around him, and walked out to the hallway, which was now empty. Brenner must have gotten away, Steve had hoped that the bomb would've trapped him, but it apparently hadn't.

Steve tried to tell himself that it didn't matter, but he couldn't help but be afraid. It was Brenner, who knew what he was capable of?

He turned, hearing a loud yell in the distance, and saw Tom running towards him, followed by Robin, who had blood falling down from her nose. Steve had no wonder why. She probably had to fight off all of those guys with her mind, and keep in steady communication with Tom the entire time. They had been placing bombs all over the building, they had to be checking up on each other every second.

Steve wasn't blessed with the mindreading advantage, but he had assured them that it would be okay. He was basically indestructible, he could handle being alone.

"Steve!" Robin exclaimed, running up to him and giving him a quick hug. "Are you hurt?"

"Not badly, I'll be fine. Did you get it?"

She triumphantly held up a bunch of file folders. "Yup."

"We have to get out of here." Tom said, looking behind them, no doubt looking out for enemies, "The last of them will go off in a minute. Maybe less."

Steve nodded, grabbing Robin's hand and leading her through the maze of rubble, Tom close behind them. He pushed open the door to the outside as soon as they reached it, memories of what happened the last time flashing in his eyes. He waited as Robin ran outside first, then Tom, who seemed hesitant to leave Steve to be last but went nonetheless.

He knew that he could explain it later. He didn't want anyone to be shot in the back this time.

Finally he could run out the door, joining Robin and Tom, who stood right outside of the building.

"What are you waiting for? Come on!" Steve exclaimed, but shuddered to a stop as soon as he saw Brenner, standing in front of them with a gun aimed at Robin's chest. He had blood falling from the side of his head, dust covering his entire body, and he looked even more insane than he was. His suit, usually perfectly tailored on his frame and without a speck of dirt on it, was a mess, his buttons undone and his tie untied. He stared at the three of them, his eyes focusing on Steve, filled with anger and revenge.

"You really thought that you could get away? I made you."

Steve clenched his fists. "You didn't make me. You just changed me into what will take you down."

"None of you will beat me. Others have tried and failed, including the very monsters that you've fought yourself. You can't do this, Nineteen."

"My name is emSteve/em."

"But I guess it doesn't matter now." Brenner continued, "A failed experiment is one we have to terminate."

The gun loaded, and Robin watched it, frozen in fear, no doubt too afraid and weak to do anything. Tom stepped forward, as if he was going to talk Brenner out of killing her, killing Steve's best friend, but Brenner paid no attention to him.

Steve watched it happen in slow motion. His finger over the trigger, his arm tensing as he prepared to shoot.

No. Never again. Never, ever again.

Steve dove in front of Robin, pushing her to the ground as the gun went off. He waited to feel the impact of his back, not painful but definitely easy to feel, but it never came. He looked down to Robin, who watched him with wide eyes, but there was no blood on her. She was fine.

His eyes widened as he turned to Tom, the older man holding his stomach, a blossom of blood bursting forth out of his body. Tom had tears in his eyes as his gaze shifted from Brenner to Steve and then to Robin. His lips seemed to try and form something, but he never got a chance, falling to the ground, motionless.