We Are Defined By What We Do

Ten

They run through the halls, flipping men onto their backs and breaking bones, zapping them with electricity or gunning them down so they stay down. They rip through the estate, clearing every door and every room until the entire first level is secure.

They move down to the basement level, opening room after room of empty interrogation chambers, cement walls with solitary chairs and chains.

"Where is she?" Yelena roars, kicking open door after door until she suddenly bursts through one and there is Kate, hanging upside down, turning in a circle.

"She's right here, malen'kiy pauk," Kate smiles, although to the girls it is a frown.

"Ona znayet russikiy?" Nat asks, entering the room.

"Malen'kiy," Kate responds.

Yelena can't help but smile at her, and Kate smiles back. The widow runs up to her, cutting her hands free as Vic and Nat circle her, trying to figure out how to get her down.

"I can't believe Black Widow and Sharp Shooter came to rescue me. You guys are like, the coolest people I've ever seen. Vic! Do you remember me? I took a class from you once when I was a kid, taught me everything I need to know."

Vic comes to her front, leaning over so she can look at her right side up. She smiles. "I do, Kate Bishop. Purple sweater, green sneakers. Quite the combo. I remember all my students."

Vic straightens and heads to her back, looking up at the mechanism holding her.

"That is so cool," Kate breathes. "And Natasha, you were like, my hero growing up. Well, if I'm honest Clint was, but you were like, my feminist hero. You being a part of the Avengers convinced me I could be a hero, too."

"Aw, I'm touched, kid," Natasha remarks, a little preoccupied fumbling with the chains on Kate's ankles to answer with more conviction.

Yelena looks at Kate sideways, inspecting her cuts and bruises, her busted nose. "How are you feeling?"

"Uhh... Sore. And a little nauseous. This must be how Spiderman feels all the time. I don't know how he doesn't get sick."

"What have they been doing to you?"

"Oh, I've pretty much just been hanging out. Personal pinata, pincushion, punching bag. Anything with a 'P' really."

"How is anyone in such high spirits after being tortured?" Natasha mutters.

"I knew you guys were going to rescue me," Kate tells, hearing her. "Well, not you guys, but I figured Yelena. She likes me."

Kate smiles goofily and Yelena smiles back, slightly embarrassed.

"Okay, we've got to unhook her and then let her down gently. Yel, you got her?" Vic asks.

Yelena nods, holding Kate close to her chest as Nat and Vic unhook and lower her further into her arms. She places Kate's feet on the ground so she's standing and Nat removes the shackles. Kate sways from the blood leaving her head and stumbles, Yelena balancing her.

It's now Kate feels the full extent of her injuries. Her torso is on fire, and she places a gentle hand on her side and then rips it away when her muscles scream.

"I think my ribs are broken," she says, flinching.

"I've had broken ribs plenty of times before. Don't worry, they should heal up fine," Vic tells.

"Did you get them from someone torturing you?" Kate tries, wanting some sympathy.

"Yes."

Everyone pauses, looking at Vic.

"Oh," Kate whispers.

"And from a few other things. You'll be fine."

"What other things?"

"Fucking a Russian assassin."

Nat immediately punches Vic in the side for revealing the fact and Vic smiles, grunting.

"See? You only proved my point, moya lyubov'."

"You guys are so cute," Kate drawls lazily, smiling.

"Okay, let's get you out of here, malen'kaya ptichka," Yelena says, holding her lightly as they try to walk.

But Kate yelps when she puts pressure on her leg and it gives out, Yelena holding her up.

"My leg. They had shot me. Only stitched it. Hurts like a bitch," Kate grinds.

Nat squats, tearing the fabric on Kate's pants away from her wound, inspecting it. "They didn't remove the bullet. It's the only thing keeping you from bleeding out right now."

"What! They told me they did! Those bastards!"

"Okay, birdie, let's go," Yelena urges, picking her up swiftly and laying her across her shoulder.

After hearing which direction the gunfire is coming from, the women move to the left-wing, finding a door and escaping into the night.

They only stop when they reach the chopper, Yelena setting Kate inside gently. Vic had called Clint on the way to the chopper to tell him they had made it out, and now he was on his way on foot to them.

Kate moans now, her injuries showing through her adrenaline. Her smile has turned into a grimace, her bright skin now clammy and gray. Sweat pours out of her face and the heroes know they have to act fast.

"Darling, the kit," Nat tells Vic calmly, turning Kate over on the floor so she's on her stomach.

Vic snags the first-aid pack under the bench and brings it over, squatting next to Natasha as they rip the pant leg open more. Yelena only watches with wide eyes seeing the ghastly wound and flinching.

"Don't make that face," Kate whimpers at her.

Yelena shakes her head, ripping her eyes away from the blood to look into Kate's. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry," she says, her apologies covering a multitude of wrongs.

"I know. I know," Kate mumbles, eyes closing.

"No. Kate, Kate! Stay with me, don't go to sleep," Yelena bites, slapping her cheek lightly to get her to open her eyes. "You have to stay awake."

"But I'm so tired," Kate whispers, eyes fluttering closed.

Yelena grabs her hand, squeezing tightly. "I know. I know you are. But you have to stay awake for me. That's an order."

And Kate smiles in the slightest bit.

"So bossy," she says. "Yes, ma'am."

Vic and Nat work together efficiently, cleaning the blood from the wound so they can see what they're working with. Vic sterilizes each instrument Nat uses, dumping iodine onto each tool she hands her.

"Kate, you ready?" Nat asks, forceps poised.

"No, but do I have a-"

Kate shouts, screaming out in pain as Nat digs inside her leg, fishing out the bullet. She squeezes Yelena's hand even harder than the Russian thought possible. Nat removes the metal and Vic is quick to press gauze and wrap firmly to it, keeping as much blood inside her as possible.

"Okay, malen'kiya ptichka. It's over. It's okay. You're going to be okay," Yelena croons.

"Yay," Kate tries, exhausted.

When Clint arrives, everyone is nestled into the walls of the chopper. Nat is curled in Vic's lap and Kate's head is in Yelena's. He breathes out, relieved everyone is safe, that everyone is mostly unharmed. He closes the door to the chopper as quietly as he can muster, sliding down the wall and panting, out of breath from his run.

Vic looks over at him, stroking a sleeping Nat, and smiles lazily. He sighs, thankful, looking at Yelena with Kate. She strokes her bird's hair, smoothing it down as she sleeps, eyes closed.

In the morning they would all go back to their respective families. Clint to Laura and the kids, Vic and Nat to their girls and little slice of heaven, and Yelena and Kate to a new beginning for them.

Yes. They are going to be alright. They'll all be alright.