CHAPTER TWELVE, all hands on deck

☾ ⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ

THE JET LOWERED to the ground slowly, and Ivanna helped Vision to his feet. Sam came to Vision's side to help Vision walk toward the headquarters. They stepped off the jet and Ivanna stared at the Avengers Tower in front of her, relief and anger coming to her from the memories in the compound.

"Let's get you inside," Ivanna turned her attention to Vision beside her with a small smile, he nodded in response and they started moving inside.

When they stepped in, Ivanna took in how much hadn't changed. The compound was still just the same as it had been the day she left after the Accords argument. It brought Ivanna comfort to set foot inside the compound once again.

As Steve led the group toward the main room, Ivanna could hear the sound of Rhodey's voice, as well as another. For a moment she expected it to be Tony until she got closer and could hear the voice clearer: Secretary Ross.

"I remember your signature on those papers, Colonel," Ross was saying as the group moved down the corridor that led them to where Rhodey's voice was coming from.

"That's right," Rhodey nodded but paid no mind to the group entering the room, "and I'm pretty sure I've paid for that."

"Do you have second thoughts?" Ross countered.

"Not anymore," Rhodey concluded and finally turned his attention to the small team gathered in the doorway. He had a kind smile on his face while Ross turned in their direction.

"Mr. Secretary," Steve greeted Ross cooly, looking at him in annoyance as the holographic secretary walked in Steve's direction.

"You've got some nerve, I'll give you that," Ross nodded and surveyed the group.

Sam remained silent as Ivanna left Vision's side and stepped forward.

"You could use some of that now," Natasha spoke, causing Ivanna to side-glance in her direction.

"The worlds on fire," Ross glared at Natasha and Ivanna, then back to Steve, "and you think that all is forgiven?"

"We don't need your forgiveness," Ivanna informed the man, "but, I guess that means we could always leave you to deal with whatever is out of your power on your own."

"My forgiveness is something you'll never get, Agent Niloleavna," Ross' gaze grew cold as Steve spoke up.

"I'm not looking for forgiveness. And I'm way past asking for permission. Earth just lost her best defender. So we're here to fight. And if you wanna stand in our way..." Steve trailed off slightly, but remained confident, "We'll fight you, too."

Ross spun around to Rhodey, "Arrest them."

"All over it," Rhodey waved his hand, then shut off the holograph, "That's a court martial. Great to see you, Cap."

Rhodey and Steve shook hands, while Ivanna smiled and stepped off of the stairs, her and Rhodey sharing an embrace.

"You too, Rhodey," Steve responded.

Rhodey pulled away from Ivanna and hugged Natasha, then scanned over the group, "Well. You guys, really look like crap. Must've been a rough couple of years."

Sam chuckled, "Yeah, well, the hotels weren't exactly five stars."

Ivanna grinned only for their conversation to be interrupted by Bruce's voice.

"Uh, I think you look great," he smiled at the group nervously. While Natasha smiled in return, Ivanna stood in place, stammering the doctor's name. She hadn't seen him for so long, and almost didn't believe Steve when he mentioned the call. But now she could see it was in fact true, "Yeah. I'm back."

"Hi Bruce," Natasha said softly.

Bruce smiled softly as his eyes landed on Natasha once more, "Nat."

Sam spoke up from his spot behind the interaction, "Well this is awkward."

Ivanna glanced back at Sam, silencing him minus the small grin hidden on his face as he looked back to the ground.

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Ivanna stood with her hands resting on the back of a chair, Steve standing at the end of the table she was at. Bruce had been pacing around the room while Natasha, Sam, Wanda stood around the center of the room, and Vision supported himself against a wall. Bruce had been going on about what he had experienced while he was away, and Ivanna listened intently.

Bruce was rambling, making a plan without fully thinking, "So we gotta assume they're coming back, right? And they can clearly find us. We need all hands on deck. Where's Clint?"

Ivanna let out a sigh and Natasha caught on, turning her attention from her sister to the doctor, "After the whole Accords situation, he and Scott made a deal. It was too tough on their families."

Bruce looked amongst the group in confusion, "Who's Scott."

Ivanna waved her hand around in the air, "Ant-Man. Long story."

Bruce's confusion completely took over, "There's an Ant-Man and a Spider-Man? Okay, look...Thanos has the biggest army in the Universe. And he is not gonna stop until he...He gets...Vision's stone."

Ivanna furrowed her brows and her eyes darted toward Vision, concerned at the sounds of what Bruce had said.

"Well then," Natasha said with certainty, "we protect it."

The group fell silent as Vision began shaking his head, "No, we have to destroy it. I've been giving a food deal of thought to this entity in my head, about its nature. But also, it's composition. I think if I were exposed to a sufficiently powerful energy source, something very similar to its own signature perhaps..." Ivanna watched as he started nearing Wanda, realization dawning on the blonde without having to read thoughts, "It's molecular integrity would fail."

Wanda instantly shook her head, "And you, with it. We're not having this conversation."

Ivanna glanced at Steve who was focused on the ground and avoiding the conversation the duo was having.

"Eliminating the stone is the only way to be certain Thanos can't get it," Vision countered.

"That's too high a price," Wanda said softly, barely even a whisper but heard by the group in the room.

"Only you have the power to pay it," Vision told her, "Thanos threatens half the Universe. One life cannot stand in the way of defeating him."

Steve finally spoke up, "But it should. We don't trade lives, Vision."

"Captain," Ivanna watched Vision as he held his side and approached Steve, "70 years ago, you laid down your life to save millions of people. Tell me, why is this any different?"

Steve took a breath and Ivanna opened her mouth but closed it when she was interrupted by Bruce.

"Because you might have a choice," Bruce began to explain to the synthezoid, "Your mind is made up of a complex construct of overlays. Jarvis, Ultron, Tony, me, the Stone. All of them mixed together. All of them are learning from one another."

Wanda's attention was grabbed then, and she turned to Bruce with hope in her eyes, "You're saying Vision isn't just the stone?"

Bruce nodded his head slightly, "I'm saying that...if we take the stone, there's still a whole lot of Vision left. Perhaps the best parts."

"Is that possible?" Ivanna asked while looking between the scientist and Wanda watching him with an expectant look. Ivanna was fully aware of how much Vision meant to Wanda and wanted to make sure Wanda could get whatever kind of life she wanted with Vision.

"Not me. Not here," Bruce shook his head.

"You better find someone, and somewhere fast," Rhodey informed the small team, "Ross isn't exactly just gonna let you guys have your old rooms back."

The room fell silent and everyone glanced at one another, then it was Steve's turn to provide an idea:

"I know somewhere."