As soon as dawn broke, Cindy called the Avengers tower.

Tony, who was still drowsy when he heard Steve's request, was already preparing to assemble the team and warn the American government about the military intervention in Hassam.

JARVIS: Sir...

T: JARVIS, dammit! I have to reprogram you, you just call me out of nowhere.

JARVIS: I'm sorry, sir, it's just because Miss Cindy Johnson wishes to speak to you.

T: Cindy? Who the hell is that? Is she hot?

JARVIS: She's the Rogers' nanny.

T: Oh, again? You can transfer the call, she must have changed her mind about my proposal.

JARVIS: Yes, sir.

Cindy: Mr. Stark?

T: The only one.

Cindy: You have contact with Steve, right?

T: Did you call to talk about Steve?

Cindy: Yeah, actually, about his kids. Why else would I call?

T: Er... You're right.

C: I wanted to know if everything is okay.

T: Yes, sure. Why?

C: He always calls to know about the kinds and he said he would be back home yesterday, but he didn't come back and didn't even contact his kids any of those days, Sarah doesn't stop crying wanting her parents.

T: CINDY!

C: What???

T: You're absolutely right! You're right. The mission was suppose to end yesterday. Didn't Rogers call to hear about his children?

C: No, that's what I'm saying...

T: Um... Thank you, Cindy. Don't worry, tell my son that his father is fine and Steve is too.

C: Your son?

Tony hung up the phone.

T: JARVIS!

...

Well, finally a light went on in Tony Stark's head after the nanny's call. Steve would never not call to know about his kids, so there's something wrong.

Tony tried to communicate with Steve's shelter and no one answered, then he called Clint's.

C: Hey, boss?

T: Barton, have you heard from Steve's team?

C: Ham... they invaded the base and asked me to wait at least 5 days.

T: It was an ambush.

C: So I'm going to rescue them right now.

T: No. If it were simple like that, Steve, Natasha and the STRIKE team would have solved it by themselves. Don't go there. I'll send reinforcements.

C: Will I sit while they are in danger?

T: I'm sorry, but if you go there alone, it will not help at all. I'm sending reinforcement as soon as possible.

C: I hope a certain man with glasses who turns into a green monster, will come.

T: He will.

...

Meanwhile, Steve refused to leave the cell, despite Natasha's protests.

The guards got angry and threatened to shoot Steve if he did not leave and they just didn't shoot because the leader gave strict orders to not hurt Steve. The guards got out of the cell and went to report what happened to the leader.

Natasha and Steve stayed in the cell all morning, no meal this time.

N: Steve ...

S: I know what I'm doing, Natasha. Just trust in me.

N: Do you think this will stop him? I told you I can handle it.

S: You don't have to handle anything.

In the early afternoon the leader opened the door and looked at them both. Natasha was feeling better already.

S: We had an agreement. You hurt her!

- I did not hurt anyone. I did not even give orders for it.

S: Lie!

- I'll prove it to you. Come with me.

Steve did not move. The leader rolled his eyes.

- You can bring your wifey along!

Steve and Natasha followed the leader into the room where Natasha was tortured. Steve looked at all the instruments of torture and felt like throwing up when he imagined Natasha going through that kind of stuff.

Steve saw the manager being pulled out of the tub, passed out.

- I'm a man of my word, I only knew what happened this morning, and he's going to pay for what he did.

S: That's not what I had in mind.

After all, Steve is a good man and thinks no one deserves to be tortured.

S: If you're going to kill him. Do it at once.

Natasha frowned and looked at Steve.

He said kill him? Natasha saw hatred in Steve's eyes, he's not in favor of executions, why is he talking about it? Is he capable of something like that?

- Do you want to finish this, yourself? You have the right.

The leader handed Steve a gun.

Steve took the gun, which shocked Natasha even more.

Steve pointed the gun at the manager's head.

N: Steve...

Steve could only remember the marks on Natasha's body.

N: That's not you...

Natasha whispered.

N: This is your anger commanding. Don't be like that.

Steve touched his finger on the trigger, but he did not shoot. He sighed and lowered the gun.

Natasha felt relief for Steve to back away. He is a good man, he can't become vengeful.

Natasha approached Steve and slid a hand down his arm to reach his hand.

Natasha took Steve's gun and she herself pointed to the manager's head and shot him and then she shot more five times through his body.

Steve froze.

N: ... Don't be like me.

Natasha turned her face stained with bloodstains, looking into Steve's eyes, who was still perplexed.

- Well, I've always admired that kind of woman. Now... Let's go to business.

S: I already did what you asked for.

- Ha! Steve Rogers. Do you think I'm a fool? Do you think I do not know about your friends waiting here on the side?

Natasha and Steve looked at each other.

- I trusted you, Captain. But you're trying to save time. Then I have to take more drastic measures.

Steve got hit on the back of his neck, just like Natasha was and they both passed out and then, they woke up tied.

Steve was tied up in a chair and Natasha on a sort of pole in the living room, arms outstretched and tied.

Steve looked at Natasha, who was not showing any fear. She kept repeating to Steve in her mind that she was okay, that she could handle whatever it would come, Steve understood

- Well, this time we'll stream live a statement from you that your country will be intervening in Hassam.

S: I can't do that.

- Oh yes, you can.

The leader approached Natasha.

- This business of electric shock, icy baths are only for questioning. I'm more practical.

The leader grabbed Natasha's wrist and threatened to twist her arm.

S: No!!

Steve tried to pull himself out of the chair.

- So let's shoot!

N: Steve, it's okay! Don't do it. If this is transmitted, it will be enough for Russia to attack the United States, it would be an endless war. Don't do it! I can take it!

- Shut up!!!

The leader punched Natasha's face hard, causing a cut in her mouth and her nose to bleed. Steve squeezed the arm of the chair and he was still trying to break free.

- Shall we make the video or not?

Steve looked at Natasha before answering. Natasha shook her head.

S: I won't do it.

The leader raised his eyebrows in surprise.

- Well, I thought you loved her... Well, that's the way it is, so...

The leader punched Natasha's belly with full force, making her bend her body as she could, she only moaned at the time of the punch and then she spat blood on the face of the leader.

- You are very bold, Black Widow. I know you don't fear death.

N: You can't kill me.

- What makes you think that?

N: You're not man enough for that.

The leader smiled and struck Natasha's rib directly, causing a fracture on it. He pulled Natasha's hair and forced her face up.

The leader looked at Steve, who was not looking at the assaults to stand firm.

- Look at her! Let's go! Look at the woman you love! Do something!!!

Natasha started to laugh and hit her head on the leader's head who was very close to her. Soon the men pointed their guns at Natasha.

- No! No! Don't point at her. If he will not give me what I want, we don't need him any more.

N: You know that if you kill him, your head will have a price and all your relatives. I'll make sure of that, you can bet your big white ass.

The leader laughed again and suddenly a group of guards rushed in, shouting and the leader did not understand what was happening, but Natasha and Steve understood.

They understood after hearing the roar that they know well.

It was the Hulk. They could hear the screams and shots being fired at him.

The Leader flushed with anger and began to curse in his language.

An arrow with a blinking red light was fired and hit the wall and caused a mini blast.

The explosion hit the leader's legs and also hit the pole where Natasha was tied, causing her to fall over her foot, making it twist during the fall.

Bobbi and Clint entered the room and looked at Steve and Natasha.

C: Dude, you don't even call me to party!

The rest of the guards fired at Carol Danvers, Jessica Drew, Sam Wilson, Bucky Barnes, and a US Army elite.

Bobbi helped untie Natasha.

N: You made me break my foot, Barton.

C: It's not broken, it's twisted.

N: Which is worse!

Bobbi: I have to put it back in place, okay?

N: That will be like tingling. Go ahead.

Well, it was not ticklish, it was an excruciating pain.

Clint and Sam helped to free Steve.

Bucky: Steve!

Steve stood and looked at Bucky.

Bucky threw the shield for Steve to catch.

S: Thank God Tony understood my message!

C: Well, we took this base but we don't have time to chat, we need to go because the Hulk is going to put this place down.

Bobbi helped Natasha to her feet, but she could barely support herself because of the punches she took and the newly twisted foot. Steve came to her and took her in his lap.

N: I can walk!

S: I know!

The avengers and the troops moved to the exit.

Steve left the shield in front of Natasha's body, but they both fell to the ground as they approached the corridor to leave the room.

Clint turned and looked at Steve and Natasha lying on the floor.

Natasha looked at Steve, confused and noticed that his eyes were responding.

N: Steve???

Natasha felt her arm get wet from something and when she looked at it she saw that it was blood. Natasha's lips parted, staring at the hole on Steve's chest from the shot he received from the leader, who, even dying on the floor, pointed the gun and shot Steve when no one else was paying attention.

Natasha looked at the leader behind Steve, then back at him.

N: Steve???

Natasha was shaking.

Steve closed his eyes and fell forward. Natasha did not know how to react, her breathing was altered and her first reaction was to shake Steve.

N: STEVE! We have to go. Steve! You bastard, do not you dare die! CLINT! PLEASE!

Natasha screamed for help and Clint approached and studied the wound.

C: Danvers! Get Steve out.

N: Clint! It's very close to his heart! If got on his heart...

Natasha was screaming.

C: Calm down, Natasha. Let's get out of here.

Bucky approached Natasha and took her in his lap. Natasha just watched Steve's body being carried by Carol Danvers out of the base.

The group left in time, before the Hulk destroyed everything it had on that base.

N: Where did Carol lead Steve?

C: To the jet. Don't worry.

B: He's very strong, Natasha.

N: Not for a bullet in the heart!!!

C: You don't know if it hit his heart.

N: You saw the wound! I need to see him!

Natasha tried to get down from Bucky's lap, but as she set foot on the floor, she staggered and fell. She couldn't walk without being immobilized. And her fractured rib is not helping at all.

They took Natasha to Clint's shelter, which made her angry.

C: Natasha, you need to be taken care of by the doctors.

N: CLINT! I have to go with him.

C: You can't help him now, Natasha.

N: Clint, he needs to survive. Please. Help him.

C: Natasha, I guarantee they're doing what they can, you don't remember but we have a great team of doctors, Steve is being operated on the jet on the way to the hospital. He will be all right.

The shelter's doctor injected directly on Natasha's leg, a tranquilizer. She was very agitated.

When Natasha woke up, she was already back in the United States, on the infirmary of the Avengers Base. She sat on the stretcher and pulled all the strings and tubing attached to her body.

B: He's fine!

Natasha looked at the only person inside the room with her.

B: He is very lucky, the bullet passed too close to his heart.

N: Where is he?

B: In the hospital. But he is out of risk.

N: I need to see him.

B: Wow, it looks like your memory is back.

Natasha looked at Bucky, not understanding this quote.

N: I don't know what you're talking about.

B: All your concern about him...

N: Really, Barnes? Don't come with jealousy now, I'm worried about him how I would be worried about any friend who was shot.

B: You would worry, but not like that.

Natasha shook her head and sighed as she stood up.

N: Maybe you're right.

Natasha started looking for clothes to wear. Her foot was immobilized and her rib as well. She removed what immobilized her rib.

N: Maybe I'm more worried because the fact that he's the father of my children.

B: You don't have to be aggressive. I was just making an observation.

N: One that does not suit you.

Natasha left the room, leaving Bucky behind, she crossed with Dr. Cho on the way, who tried to talk to her, but Natasha ignored her completely. She went to the locker room and got a change of clothes, got dressed, got the address of Steve's hospital and headed there.

Natasha found Sam in Steve's room.

Sam: You should be resting.

N: How is he?

Natasha approached Steve's stretcher.

Sam: He will survive.

N: Has he woken up yet?

Sam: Yes. He asked about you and the children.

Natasha looked at Sam.

N: My God, the children!

Sam: They're okay, I called to hear from them, they just miss you.

N: I have to go pick them. What day is Today?

Sam: 15.

N: 15? I was off for 2 whole days?

Natasha snorted.

N: Stay here with him, I'll get the kids.

Sam: All right.

Natasha looked at Steve asleep on the stretcher and left the room. She called Cindy and Cindy told her that the children were at school. Natasha warned that she was going to get them and she apologized for the delay in returning.

Natasha took a cab and asked the driver to wait, while she would pick the kids.

Natasha went to the entrance of Sarah's nursery and the other mothers stared at the bruises on her body and face.

The bell rang and the children came out in a row.

Natasha approached Sarah and smiled at her, who smiled back, excited to see Natasha. Sarah ran and jumped into Natasha's arms that groaned in pain over the fractured rib.

Sarah's teacher approached Natasha.

- Natasha. I've been trying to contact you and Steve.

N: We were busy.

- Yeah, I know. I saw the news.

N: Any problem?

The teacher looked at Sarah and then at Natasha.

- Sarah has always been a great kid, but in recent days she has refused to do classroom activities and she has not done her homework. I am worried.

Natasha looked at Sarah, who looked away.

N: I understand. I'm going to talk to her and her father. I'm sorry, I need to get her brother.

- Of course. See you tomorrow, Sarah.

Natasha put Sarah on the floor and took her hand. The two of them walked to James' school.

N: Why didn't you do the homework, Sarah?

Sarah shrugged her shoulders and said nothing.

N: I missed you, you know that?

Sarah looked at Natasha and smiled.

Sarah: Where's Daddy?

N: Ham... Daddy's a little sick.

Sarah: I want my daddy.

N: I know, I'll take you guys to him, do not worry.

When Natasha arrived at the entrance of James' school, the students had already left. James was waiting with the inspector.

James was also excited to see Natasha, he hugged her and also asked about his father.

N: We'll see him now. Let's go.

Natasha got into the taxi with the kids and inside the car, James looked at Natasha's face.

J: You hurt, Mom?

N: Yes. Just a little.

J: My dad didn't protect you?

N: He protected me yes. But it turns out that sometimes it's difficult to protect everyone.

J: And do you have any news?

N: News?

J: Yeah...

Natasha frowned in confusion and shook her head.

N: I don't think so.

James lowered his head, disappointed, he thought this mission would make his parents together again.

N: What? Did you want a gift? I forgot. I'm sorry.

J: No... It's okay.

When Natasha arrived at the hospital, Sarah was asleep. Natasha tried to carry Sarah in her lap, but the pain was too much. She called Sam and he came to help carry Sarah to Steve's room.

When they arrived in the room, Steve was awake.

James ran and hugged his father.

J: DAD!

S: Champion! I missed you!

Steve was very weak. He just ran his hand over James's head.

N: James, please don't jump at your dad like that. He's sick... Remember what I said?

S: It's alright... Leave him, I was missing you.

J: Yeah, me too. Sarah cried every day. Like a baby! I did not, dad. I only cried one day and very little.

S: You're a very brave boy. And Sarah is very young, that's why she cries.

J: Can we go home? I can't sleep on the couch anymore.

S: I guess I can't leave yet, James.

J: But I thought...

N: You will go home, James. I'll stay there with you until your father comes back.

J: Just until he comes back?

Natasha looked at James and then at Steve. She didn't know what to say. She looked away and Steve tried to dispel the tension in the room.

S: James? And your baseball game? Did Cindy take you?

J: Yes! But my team lost.

S: We don't always win.

J: Can I buy a soda? There's a machine in the hall.

S: I don't have any money.

N: Here, James. Go and come back, okay?

Natasha handed the money to James and he dashed out the door.

Steve looked at Natasha and she looked back at him.

N: You scared the shit out of me.

S: I'm so sorry for that.

N: I do not apologize you. I would not have anything to say to them, if you...

Natasha couldn't say the words.

S: Nothing much happened.

N: I cursed you a lot.

S: I'm already used to it.

Natasha smiled and Steve smiled back.

Sam: Guys, I need to go home. I need a shower...

S: Put Sarah here by my side.

N: No, you're hurt. Put her on the couch.

Sam set her on the couch, but Sarah woke up. She didn't open her eyes, but she began to cry.

Sam: I'm sorry, I didn't want to wake her up.

N: Alright.

S: You can go, Sam. Thank you.

Sam: Not for that.

Sam left the room.

Natasha approached Sarah.

N: Sarah, Daddy's here. Didn't you want to see him?

Sarah stopped crying and kept mumbling, she opened her eyes and looked at Steve on the stretcher. Steve smiled at her, and Sarah screamed again.

S: It's okay, Sarah. Come here on dad.

Sarah stood and walked over to Steve. She tried to climb onto the stretcher and Steve tried to pull her up.

N: Steve you can't pick her!

S: She will not calm down if I do not get her.

Natasha helped Sarah up on the bed, she lay on top of Steve and laid her head on his shoulder. Steve kissed Sarah's forehead and she stopped the screaming. She still wept silently a little more.

S: She gets very scared when we're not around.

N: I don't know what I'm going to do with her later without you.

S: Take the pacifier in her backpack, please.

Natasha took Sarah's pacifier and handed it to Steve, who put it in her mouth.

S: You just have to do this. Leave her on your lap and with the pacifier, she calms down. Or give her a bottle.

N: Oh God. It's exhausting to be a mother.

Natasha sat down on the couch and sighed, James returned in the room, taking the soda. Sarah lifted her head and held out her hand to James, wanting to take some.

J: Oh no! It's mine.

S: Just a little bit, James.

Sarah started to breathe heavily and opened her mouth again, letting the pacifier fall, crying again.

Natasha stood up.

N: Oh my God, I'll buy one for you, Sarah! Wait, OK?

Natasha left the room and came back a few minutes later with a soda can. Sarah put her hand directly over the wound on Steve's chest, making him bend with pain.

Natasha almost let the soda fall and approached quickly, holding Sarah's arm that looked at her frightened, trying to understand what she did wrong.

N: It's bleeding!!!

Sarah stared at the blood and began to cry, thinking that she had hurt Steve to that point.

N: It's okay, Sarah!

Natasha took Sarah in her lap and went into the hall to call a nurse. They came running.

S: Take the kids out of here, Natasha.

Steve said feeling even weaker, after bleeding again.

J: But I want to stay!

Steve was no longer able to speak because of the pain. The nurses began removing his hospital gown to check the stitches of the wound.

N: Come on, James.

Sarah: Daddy. Daddy.

N: He's fine, Sarah. Here's the soda. Come

Sarah grabbed the can and threw it to the floor, crying non-stop. Natasha was angry at her attitude but she controlled herself.

N: Where's the damn pacifier?

Natasha almost died to put Sarah on the floor, she returned in the room and saw the open wound of the shot that Steve took.

Natasha took Sarah's pacifier and looked at Steve who was fainting again. Natasha wanted to stay with him, but there's no way the kids could stay in the hospital.

Natasha went back to the kids, she put the pacifier in Sarah's mouth and took them home.