till the end of the line

26 Safe House

I tripped over the railing as I felt another sensation fall through me.

Only something was off, and something was wrong.

Soon enough over comms rang Tony's voice, "News or footage, keyword: Hulk. Natasha, I could really use a lullaby."

Landing on my back, I hit the corner of wooden crates before I crawled over onto my stomach as I looked up, groaning.

Clint met my eye through the slits of the floor before sighing as he looked back at Natasha, "Well, that's not gonna happen. Not for a while. The whole team is down, you got no backup here."

"Even Katerina?"

I let out a few coughs as I tried to steady myself, "Just give me a moment, I only need a moment."

"No time, I'm calling in VERONICA."

Coughing again, I fell to my knees as I tried to hold onto the boxes for a firm grip. All I could hear over comms was the heavy breathing of each member and the insanity of Tony Stark.

"Alright everybody, stand down! Are you listening? That little witch is messing with your mind. You're stronger than her, you're smarter than her, you're Bruce Banner."

There was a loud growl in the distance before I squinted my eyes from the side pain, "Tony, he hates Bruce."

"Right, right, right! Don't mention puny Banner. Okay."

Once I was up again, I made my way over to Steve as he was beginning to pull out of his illusion.

"Kat?"

"Hey, Steve. I know, I saw."

He sighed as we wrapped our arms around each other finding balance before we headed out of the ship. I waved my hand slightly as I carried an immobile Thor along with Natasha as Clint followed behind.

We made our way back to the Quinjet as we waited for Tony and Bruce. And once we were all back again, Clint took the controls of the ship as Bruce sat in the corner along with Natasha.

I walked towards the back, where I saw Steve sitting alone as I made my way over and sat across from him, "You okay?"

"I'm fine."

He looked at me as I looked up at him before he sighed and grabbed my hand, squeezing gently, "I know. You worry sometimes, but I'm fine, I promise."

I chuckled and nodded as I met his eyes, "Yeah, I noticed."

He then readjusted his seating as he motioned for me to sit beside him. I nodded, moving as I sat against the wall while he sat beside me, our hands close and interlocked.

It had become a habit but I knew he needed it more than me.

"The news is loving you guys. Nobody else is. There's been no official call for Banner's arrest, but it's in the air."

I turned my head towards the front as I shook my head, "Really, Hill?"

Tony looked back at me before he just sighed, "Stark Relief Foundation?"

"Already on the scene. How's the team?"

"Everyone's- we took a hit. We'll shake it off."

I nodded as he looked at me before I leaned my head on Steve's shoulder as his arm laid around me.

"Well for now I'd stay in stealth mode, and stay away from here."

"So, run and hide?"

"Until we can find Ultron, I don't have a lot else to offer."

Exhaling, Tony shook his head, "Neither do we."

The call was ended and I looked up before placing two fingers on Steve's temple, relieving slight memories. He gave me a soft smile before he then laid his head on mine as we both fell asleep, waiting for the journey to end.

Just as the Quinjet was coming to a stop, I was gently nudged by Steve as I opened my eyes slowly. Once the doors were opened, we walked out and soon up to a smaller house.

"What is this place?"

Thor looked at me and Steve as we shrugged before following Tony, "A safe house?"

"Let's hope," we all walked into the house after Clint as he then called out, "Honey, I'm home."

And just like that, a heavily pregnant woman walked in from the kitchen.

"Hi. Company. Sorry I didn't call ahead."

The woman smiled before giving us all a wave, "Hey."

Tony was simply as shocked as the rest of us were as Clint kissed the woman before he muttered, "This is... an agent... of some kind..."

"Gentlemen, Katerina, this is Laura."

She nodded and then motioned to the guys, "I know all your names. Except you, I've never heard of you."

She met my eye before I glanced at Steve as I leaned towards Laura, "I'm Katerina Eriksen. Pleasure, I'm sure."

Shaking her hand, I then moved out of the way, dodging children before I tripped only for Steve to catch me.

"Ooh, incoming."

"Dad!" Clint picked up the little girl as he then kissed the top of the small boy's head.

"Hi, sweetheart! Hey, buddy! How you are guys doing?"

Tony turned to us again and muttered, still shocked, "These are- are smaller... agents..."

I tuned out of the greetings until Steve stepped forward as he held a soft smile, "Sorry for barging in on you."

I nodded as I agreed, "Yeah, we would have called ahead, but we were busy having no idea that you existed."

Clint chuckled before he turned to us, "Well, Fury helped me set this up when I joined. He kept it off SHIELD's files, I'd like to keep it that way. I figured it's a good place to lay low."

Feeling another sensation, I turned to Thor because the feeling was coming from him. I met his eyes before he shook his head and walked back outside.

I followed him without a word as Steve followed behind, "Kat. Thor."

I stopped on the porch as I grabbed his shoulder only pulling back almost instantly, "You saw something."

"I saw something in that dream. I need answers, and I won't find them here." Before another word could be put out, Thor used his hammer to fly away.

Steve then turned to enter the house but then I stopped when a similar feeling passed over me again. I watched as he stood still before he turned and walked back out towards the field. I knew he needed space, so I waited as I sat on the porch.

Soon falling asleep from the exhaustion of the trip.