Ties (sequel to The Stark Family)

14

Project 559 had a bit of freedom on this mission. She was supposed to be watching Barnes. But that didnt mean only from the coffee shop. She decided to follow Barnes home, climbing in the back of the truck, hoping no one would notice.

It was a long ride, but Project 559 kept watch. When the truck finally stopped, she waited until the family was unloaded before she herself got out.

She worked her way around the building to a place that she didn't think she'd be found fpr a while, The garage.

It looked like it hadnt been touched in a while, something probably happened and the family was preoccupied. Good for 559.

She looked around for something she could eat. Luckily, there was a small fridge with a can of soda in it. Perfect. She downed it and tossed the can in the recycling.

Alone in the garage, it was boring. She understood that Hydra wouldn't give her an interesting mission until she showed her capability on something simpler. So she waited for the night to come.

What felt like eons later, she heard the door from the house to the garage open. Oof. She scuttled to a corner, but not quick enough.

"Freeze!" The man yelled "come out here where I can see you!"

559 walked out to the light.

"You're just a kid," the man said, surprised. 559 nodded. "What are you doing in here?"

No reply.

The man gently shut the door behind him, setring the trash he was taking out down next to the doorway.

"My name is Happy, how old are you?"

"14," 559 said.

"What's your name?"

"559,"

"559? That's a number,"

"It's my only name,"

"Oh. Do you need something? Why are you here?"

"I'm looking for my family,"

"Oh. Are they here as well?"

"I don't know,"

"Do you want to stay with me for the night?"

"Umm, I guess. What time is it?"

"10 am,"

Must not have been as long as 559 thought. Only a little over an hour.

"Oh. Where can I stay?"

"I can take you up to see my friend, its his house,"

"Okay. Please don't let him be mad,"

"Don't worry, I want to help,"

-----

"Tony?" Happy said, gently knocking on the door to Steve's room in the med bay.

"Come in," Tony said. Happy entered quietly.

"I, uh, I found a kid in your garage. She's looking for her family. I don't know who she is, can she stay here for the night? She says her name is 559,"

Tony sighed. "Okay. Sorry, I'm really tired. Can you bring her in at least?"

"Okay. I think she's scared. I'm gonna grab her,"

Happy stepped out and brought 559 in.

Tony spit out his water.

"NATASHA?!?" Tony screamed. 559 looked at him.

"Dad?" She asked "D- Are you my dad? Wait. You're... I'm... we're Starks?"

"Nat! Happy, go get everyone!" Tony said. He wrapped the girl in a hug.

She was super tense.

She didn't relax into the hug like she used to.

"I love you, милая."

милая? Of course!

Nat relaxed into Tony's hug.

"I knew I'd remember you when I saw you," she said.

"I'm so glad I have you back," Tony whispered.

Pepper burst into the room, followed closely by the other kids.

They all ran in, hugging Nat as tight as possible. Clint pushed in closer so he was hugging her directly.

"Tasha," he whispered as he cried into her shoulder "I missed you so much!"

"Clint," she replied. She hugged everyone for a few minutes.

"Wait, where's Stevie?" She asked.

Tony's face fell as he motioned to Steve's bed.

"He's out cold," Natasha said. She slowly inspected him, eyeing the oxygen mask and the multiple I've. It wasn't until she skimmed over the list of symptoms written on a journal on Stephen's table that she reacted."Bucky, did you do this?"

"Of course not!" Tony shot at her "Bucky was kidnapped-"

"I think you know more about it than I do," Bucky said, eyeing Nat "You seem to have put together your own assumptions,"

"You were with Hydra, don't you know about A48B?"

"No, I forgot all of the Hydra stuff- wait, how do you know? How did you know,about them"

"Where do you think I've been the last year? I was taken by Hydra. The stone got put back, so I came back. And they took me. I saw things, James Barnes. A48B. You put it in him. You were assigned him as a mission,"

"I-"

"You snuck in, didn't you?"

"And what?"

"You injected him. Under Hydra. You were manipulated,"

"I would never touch him!"

"How long has he been sick?"

"9 days," Pepper said.

"Then we dont have time," Nat said, ripping an antidote from her belt. She took it and stabbed it into Steve's exposed, skinny arm.

"Give it ten minutes," she said. Tony stood, confused.

"I'm sorry," Nat said "That went really fast. I don't have time to explain, and I can't explain. He was a threat to Hydra. They targeted him. That's an antidote. It was in case I needed it. I'm sorry for hiding in the garage, I'm sorry for being-

"Its okay, Nat." Tony interrupted "Everything will be okay in 10 minutes."

"We're so glad you're back," Pepper said.

"I'm sorry. About Stevie," Bucky said.

"Bucky, we've talked about this. All of your actions under brainwashing are forgiven," Tony said.

"But those didnt affect you! This one was Stevie!"

"The same is going to hold true for Nat. Against your will means...?"

"Not against me."

"Exactly,"

A few minutes passed of the family talking to Nat, and Bucky spoke up.

"Should we get some of his stuff for when he wakes up?" Bucky said "like his favorite food?"

"Great plan!" Pepper said "Can someone stay with Nat?"

"I'll do it," Scott volunteered.

"Cool, we'll all be right back," Tony said.

----

Steve opened his eyes slightly, blinking to adjust his eyes to the dim lights.

"Nat? Oh no. I'm dead, aren't I? SCOTT'S DEAD TOO?!?"

"Steve, you're not dead,"

"Nat! Oh I missed you! We'll be together for eternity! Oh wow! Scott, how did you die?"

"I didn't die! Steve, Nat's alive! We're alive! You're alive!"