Starting Over

Ch. 39

Ten
Bombing
Twin
Mind
Hydra
Witch
Snow fall
Stark
Cold
Revenge

With each word comes a repulsing shock around Wanda's neck. Her screams had stopped after the second wave of words flooded into her ears. Silent tears stream down her cheeks, she no longer hears the words be she knows they're being repeated again. Red ghosts the edge of her vision but she cannot conjure enough strength to think of anything besides the pain. She had awoken strapped to a metal table in some type of lab, guards on all sides preventing any chance for escaping. She had finally learned their names, Madame, Dimitri, Dreykov.

Natasha, Steve, and Yelena arrived at the safe house within an hour. The small house set on the edge of the city surrounded by grassy fields. Yelena helped Lia out of her car seat as the others grabbed their bags. Clint's greets them at the door then leads them into the house. Maria and Nick sit at the table, files and computers spread around them.
"You two better be glad I'm not too pissed off that you didn't call me and let me know all this shit was happening."A voice says. Sam greets them each with a hug.
"I'm sorry, we didn't even think about..." Natasha starts
"I know, it's okay." Sam replies "Laura and Clint filled me in. I want to help in any way I can."
Natasha sets down their bags and Steve immediately heads towards the smiling baby on Laura's lap. She smiles as Luna makes grabby hands towards him and he scoops her up into his arms.
"Dadadadada" the baby babbles.
"Hi, princess. Were you good for Auntie Laura?" Steve smiles
"She was perfect as usual." Laura smiles.
Natasha smiles before turning her attention back to Sam.
"Will you just make sure he's okay?" Natasha asks "This whole thing has been a lot for us and he's trying to keep it all together."
"Sounds like someone else I know." Sam replies, he holds open the door leading outside and they step into the cold air. "How are you doing?"
"I feel scared... lost... empty almost... I just... I don't know..." Natasha says
"You let me know if it gets to be too much okay?" Sam asks, he knows Natasha's not one for rash decisions.
"I'll be fine when we find her." Natasha nods. There conversation is interrupted when Clint opens the door.

"We might have something" He says. Natasha's immediately filled with a feeling of relief. She's at a loss for words.
"What is it?" Sam asks
"Come see for yourself." Clint replies.

Natasha watches as Maria and Laura work in tandem to pull up relevant files and explain the information. Sometimes Natasha wonders why Laura ever left the business. She had heard of her past. A young girl, hacking into government files and releasing information about the worlds most powerful individuals and governments. She had a reputation, not necessarily a good one. Nick had found her of course, brought her to SHIELD, where she met Clint and the two fell in love.
"You see here." Laura says pointing at a small blinking red dot on a map. "This is where Wanda's bracelets are located. There's a signal blocker that's surround this area. I had to break through the firewall to get in."
"While Laura tracked the bracelets, I was able to find some files." Maria adds " you ever heard of project red-winter?"
Natasha shakes her head. Maria hands her the file and she releases Steve's hand to take it, his hand finds her way to her lower back. She reads through the file quickly.
"This is what Dimitri was talking about." Natasha realizes. Yelena's interest peaks, and she moves to take a look. Her eyes lock with Natasha's.
"No, absolutely not." Yelena says realizing the thoughts in her sisters head.
"What is it?" Steve asks
"Dreykov's alive." Yelena replies. "Natasha is thinking of handing herself over to them."
Natasha shoots a glare at Yelena. She directs her attention to Steve.
"They're trying to create an even more powerful Red Room. They don't want Wanda, not really. They just know I would come for her. This file has all the information from our lives for months. How long had they been watching before they even started recording it?" Natasha says "Let me do this... please."
Steve looks down at her, noticing the glossy look in her eyes.
"I can't." He replies, an equally glossy look in his own. He brings his hand up to her cheek thumb smoothing over it. He presses a kiss to her forehead before letting her go and heading outside. The door slams behind him.