Chapter 5

The chilly night air was quiet with half the population of creatures also removed from the universe. Danielle had just finished putting Jamie to bed before she went back to her room to settle in under her sheets. She sat up with a book in her hand, pretending to read, but the words didn't make the connection to her brain.

"The plan's gonna work."

"How do you know that?"

"Because I trust Steve…and Tony."

Danielle dropped the book to her lap and looked toward the opposite side of the bed. There she saw James sitting on the edge of the bed looking back at her.

"How can you trust Stark after he nearly killed you in Siberia?"

James shook his head. "He had thirty years of pent up rage toward his father that he released at me when he found out I killed both of his parents."

"Still that doesn't mean I have to trust him." Danielle frowned.

James smiled at her persistent hatred of Stark.

"What was it you used to tell me? Something about forgiveness?"

Danielle rolled her eyes. "You can't use my advice on me."

He smiled that easy going, boyish smile that melted her heart.

"When the plan works," he started, "I'll come home to you. We can leave this life."

"I'd like that." Danielle reached for his hand sitting between them on the bed, but as soon as her fingers reached him, the vision of James dissipated.

Danielle looked around the empty room feeling the loneliness creep back in like the slow moving water of a stream to a river. Her chest grew tight as the numbness hollowed out her heart and she collapsed into the pillows. She wished more than anything to reach out her hand and feel James, even if it was his metal arm, at least it would be something of him.

She reached out and turned off the lamp beside her bed, sealing the room in darkness. When her eyes closed, she was greeted by images of James and the small comfort of him allowed her to sleep.

—-

"What are you and uncle Steve doing today?" Jamie asked from the dining table.

Danielle stood at the sink washing the dishes from breakfast with her back to him. She glanced over her shoulder at the inquisitive boy.

"Working on a project with Mr. Stark." She said, casually.

"What kind of project?"

"A science project."

He persisted. "What kind of science project?"

Danielle sighed and turned off the water before drying her hands and facing her son.

"Mr. Stark thinks he can travel through time." The truth was easier than a lie.

Jamie's face lit up and Danielle's heart clenched at how much he reminded her of James. She pulled out the chair next to him and sat down.

"Are you and uncle Steve going to travel through time too?"

She reached out and smoothed his dark brown hair. "Uncle Steve might, but I have to stay here."

"Why?" He questioned, obviously confused by someone turning down time travel.

She smiled. "I need to stay here with you. What if I got lost in time?"

"Then I would come get you, and we could both travel through time."

Danielle shook her head, giggling at his excitement. "I don't think so, Jamie."

His bottom lip poked out into pout and with his eyebrows furrowed he had never looked more like his father than in that moment.

Danielle stood from the table and started packing his bag with supplies for his playdate with Morgan.

"What are you and Morgan going to do today?" She asked, trying to end his silent game.

"I don't know," he shrugged. "Morgan always wants to play in the woods, but Mrs. Stark doesn't like it when we go too far."

"I agree with Mrs. Stark. You should stay near the house in case something happens."

"I try to tell Morgan that, but she doesn't listen."

Danielle zipped up the bag and looked at him. "That's okay, Jamie. You keep doing the right thing. Help Morgan make good decisions."

"Okay, mama." Jamie got down from his chair and reached for the bag.

Danielle held it just out of reach. "Can I have a hug before you go?"

Jamie groaned, but held out his arms for a hug. Danielle bent down to his level and embraced him, giving him an extra squeeze. When she pulled away, she handed him the bag and he threw it over his shoulder. He was out the door, before Danielle even turned around.

She grabbed her phone, keys, and backpack and met Jamie at the car. Once they were both loaded up, she took him to Pepper and Tony's house, then made her way to the Avengers compound.

—-

When she arrived at the facility, there was already a buzz in the air. She walked through the hallways looking for any of the Avengers, only to find all of them gathered in the testing room. She found Steve standing near Bruce by the computer bay and she moved to join him.

"What's going on?" She asked.

Steve glanced at her then returned his pensive eyes to the platform. "Clint volunteered to do a test run of Stark's plan."

"Clint is back?"

"Natasha left yesterday to bring him here. He's been working as a vigilante in foreign countries and causing problems."

"What do we hope to learn from this test?"

Steve crossed his arms over his chest. "That we might have a shot at saving the world."

Scott, Rhodey, and Bruce began arguing over the exact physics of time travel until Bruce had enough and started hitting buttons.

"Alright, Clint. We're going in 3…2…1." Bruce hit a button to activate the platform and in a brief flash of light, Clint was gone.

Bruce watched the timer he had set on the computer count up the seconds until a minute had passed. Danielle thought something had gone wrong until the light flashed again and Clint appeared on the platform on his hands and knees.

Natasha was the first to run to the platform. The rest of the Avengers followed suit, afraid of what they might see, but curious to know if the plan was successful.

As Natasha reached his side, the mask on Clint's suit retracted from his face and he groaned as he sucked in large gulps of air. She put hand to his cheek forcing him to look at her while she tried to soothe him. He got to his feet and held up something in his hand.

"It worked," said Clint, holding up the baseball glove.

He tossed it to Tony who nearly cheered.

The rest of the team shared looks of relief, now knowing they had a chance to set the world straight.