The Ghost [Marvel | Steve Rogers]

Chapter 34

Somewhere over the Atlantic

Spring 2015

Had Thor not started coming around when he had, recovering quicker than Natasha and Rogers, Nadine wasn't sure how they would've managed to get the rest of the team safely ensconced back on the Quinjet. Natasha was one thing. The Captain? Well, his well-developed musculature might be handy in a fight and nice to look at, but as deadweight? She was strong, but not that strong. And Thor was bigger still. As it was, The Asgardian had still been in bad shape. But at least he was lucid again and had been capable of helping Nadine get Rogers out of the rusting ship.

Whatever it was the Maximoff girl had done to his head, it had shaken the Asgardian badly.

Thankfully, by the time Stark had returned with Banner safely in tow, the others were starting to rouse too. Though they were just as badly off as Thor, if not worse.

Even once she seemed to have her mind back, Natasha was virtually comatose, staring intently at nothing, as though trying desperately to will herself back under control. Steve, on the other hand, was just quiet, his usually open features guarded as he sunk deep into his own thoughts. But neither was able to hide the heartache and pain clearly written in their eyes as they revisited wherever their minds had been sent to.

While Nadine had no idea where Steve had been sent, with Natasha? It was safe to say she had a pretty good idea.

Before they'd reached Klaue's base of operations, Rogers had briefed them on Ultron and the Twin's movements thus far: hitting weapons labs, robotics labs, anything of the sort. There was no great stretch there to figure out why, Nadine had mused, not considering how he'd started making more friends once he'd made a new body for himself.

But it was the Captain's comments about the state of the people they'd left in their wake that gave her some idea what had happened to the rest of the team—fugue states.

Lost in their old memories...

...and worst fears.

Well, Nadine and Natasha both had a place in their pasts that fit the bill no matter which way you looked at it; bad memories, worst fears...and more.

It was not hard to figure out that Natasha's mind had been sent back to the Red Room.

It's where Nadine's would undoubtedly have gone.

Only, Nina would've been mixed in there too...

Nadine shuddered, feeling ill at the very idea of her sweet little girl even knowing about that place.

It was a conclusion that, judging by the considering looks Barton had sent her when they'd settled Natasha on the Quinjet, the archer shared. If anyone on the team had so much as a suspicion about the sorts of things that had gone on in that facility, it'd be Barton; he was easily Natasha's best friend, even a big brother figure to the redhead. While Nadine very much doubted he'd been told even a fraction of what Natasha had experienced in that place, she'd likely told him at least something.

And he'd likely inferred more.

Clint Barton was no idiot.

Sparing first Steve then Doctor Banner a final glance in concern, she settled herself next to Natasha. Finally turning to her little sister, she reached out to touch the redhead's shoulder, about to ask how she was holding up.

Only for Natasha to flinch away, refusing to so much look at the blonde. Withholding a sad sigh, Nadine merely leaned back into her seat, watching her little sister out of the corner of her eye. Dealing with Nina through her early teens and even Natasha in those last couple years in the Red Room had long ago taught her that such defensive reactions were best combated with patience—teen and adult alike.