Over the last two weeks, you've had Nat, Steve, and Bucky help you build a training room similar to what you had at Hydra. You know your first mission will be coming up very soon, so you want to ensure you are at optimal performance. Nat offered to train with you today. She was intrigued by your training room. There are walls, rock climbing walls, balance beams, shooting and throwing targets, punching bags, and a Wing Chun Dummy.

Tony, Clint, and Sam have been in the mission room discussing floor plans for the bases you will be hitting soon.

"Hey, what about the guard station and alarm system?" Sam asks as he looks over the plans.

"Nat was researching that." Clint says without looking up from the satellite pictures he's looking at.

"Where is she anyway? Shouldn't she be here too?" Sam questions.

"Friday." Tony says, looking at infrared photos of the base.

"Yes, Tony." The smooth but synthetic voice asks.

"Where is Romanoff?" He asks

Friday takes a second to respond as she scans the compound cameras. " She is training with Ms. Barnes on the fourth floor. Do you wish me to contact her?"

All three men look up at each other with excitement. "No Friday. Thanks." Tony replies quickly.

Clint and Sam speak at the same time. "I've got to see this."

"Damn straight. Nat and the Lieutenant fighting? Best chick fight ever! Let's get down there before we miss it." Tony says as he is already heading for the door.

All three men exit the elevator onto the fourth floor. They can hear Nine Inch Nails blasting through the room's doors. They grin as they walk towards the doors.

"Two hot chicks fighting and some sexy music on top of it. Is it my birthday today?" Sam says, nudging Clint in the arm.

As they enter from the side of the room. They see Nat being thrown to the ground. You pounce on her, rolling her over onto her stomach and putting her in a chokehold. She quickly taps out on the mat. You let her go, standing up. You hold your hand out to her to help her up. She takes it and shakes her head as she says something to you. You quickly turn away and run towards the wall, easily jumping the six-foot wall.

Nat walks towards the guys standing next to a bench with Nat's gear on it. "Sorry, boys, I'm tapping out. I need an ice bath and a massage if I want to be able to move tomorrow." She picks up her towel, wipes her face, and downs some water.

Clint eyes Nat. "She that good?" He asks her.

"Better." Is all Nat says as she walks away. She grabs her bag and heads for the showers.

They all slowly follow the wall to the center of the room. They can see the entire floor now. They watch you across the room, throwing several knives at a target with such speed and accuracy. You are quite aware of them all standing there watching you. You pause for a moment as the song changes. Mmm, Head Like A Hole is one of your favorites. You decide that if they are going to watch, you might as well give them a show they won't forget anytime soon.

You throw a couple of daggers into the mat about halfway across the room. You then forcefully kick one of your Glocks across the floor, landing about two feet in front of Tony. You still don't acknowledge their presence in the room. You stand and stretch a little, rolling your neck to loosen it.

You run to the climbing wall and scale the thirty-foot wall with such ease. As you reach the top, you arch your back and tilt your head. You kick off the wall and put yourself into a perfect diving form. You hit the floor and roll, gracefully springing into several cartwheels. It takes five before you stop on a dime right in front of your daggers. You grab them, spin behind you, and throw them both, hitting the bullseye below the climbing wall.

With your back facing the boys, you launch into multiple back handsprings. This takes you across the rest of the floor, heading straight for Tony. Clint and Sam take a couple of steps back, worried that you won't stop in time, and run into them. Tony doesn't flinch and stands his ground.

The entire time, you're lost in the music but still aware of your surroundings.

*Head like a hole
Black as your soul*

You come to a stop in a perfect handstand right in front of Tony. While still holding the handstand, you do the splits, lift one hand, and grab your Glock from in front of Tony.

*I'd rather die than give you control*

You bring your legs forward, bringing you into a standing position facing Tony. You look him straight in the eyes and mouth the line perfectly in time with the song.

*Bow down before the one you serve*

You spin on your heels, raise your arm, and fire, expertly hitting the target across the room in the head four times and twice in the heart.

All three men are standing there in awe. Clint shakes his head and says. " God, I love my job."

"I'd bow down for her in a heartbeat." Sam says with his usual grin

Tony continues to stare emotionless as he says. "I'm going to marry that woman."

Someone clears their throat behind all three men. "You do remember that's my sister, right." says a very gravelly voice. Bucky and Steve had entered the room unnoticed by everyone as they were distracted by your show. All three men turn and see Bucky giving them his death glare.

Steve speaks loudly for everyone, including yourself, to hear. "We need everyone in the mission room in ten minutes. Fury just gave us the green light. We hit the first base tomorrow."

Steve walks up to you as he finishes. He gives you that perfect smile as he looks down at you. "Nice moves. Way more graceful than Bucky."

You look at him and hand him your Glock. " There is nothing graceful about my brother. Take care of her for me while I take a quick shower. I'll meet you in the mission room in ten."

As you walk away, Steve watches you; he smiles and shakes his head.

Fifteen minutes later, everyone is gathered in the mission room. You stare at the hologram of the base in front of you.

"They're not going to just let me walk up and welcome me with open arms. You know that, right?" You say without looking away from the image. "Look, I've been known to go dark for a couple of weeks at a time when on a mission, but this has been way too long for them not to be suspicious. I need to come up with a peace offering of some sort. Something to explain my long absence ?"

"What about Bucky? You could take him back. That should sidetrack them." Sam says, looking at Bucky.

Bucky gives him an incredulous look. Steve shakes his head. "No. Bucky has been used as bait one too many times already. We can't risk having both of them if something goes wrong."

Nat notices that you've been silent during this exchange. "Jo, what's running through that brain of yours?"

You look over at Steve. "The shield. I need the shield." You say bluntly.

Steve looks shocked. "What? No, I can't give you my shield." he says.

"Steve, do you trust me?" You look at him gaging his reaction.

"Of course I do, Jo, but I'm never without my shield." He says rather sternly.

"That's exactly why. If I walk up to the gates with that in my hand and tell them, I've eliminated you. They will believe that they would know I would have to lay low before I came back." You say rather coldly.

Tony looks from you to Steve. "Cap, I think she's right about this."

You look over to Tony. "Of course I am. Hydra has wanted that shield for decades. It symbolizes everything they hate." You turn and look at Steve. "As long as they still think I'm Alpha and come baring the shield, I'm in, no problem."

"All right, I trust you, Jo." Steve says before he looks over at Bucky. He can see something is bothering him. "Alright, everyone get a good night's sleep and wheels up at 0300."

Everyone is starving and heads to the kitchen for dinner. Steve hangs back when he doesn't see Bucky moving.

He walks closer to his friend. "Something's on your mind, Buck, what is it?"

Bucky shakes his head, still looking at the hologram. "I'm worried about Jo putting herself back into Alpha's mindset again. I think it's too soon."

Steve rests a hand on Bucky's shoulder. "I know it concerns me too, but we have to trust her control over Alpha. Wanda just had a meeting with Jo yesterday and she feels she's good to go."

"I know, but it still worries me. I can't lose her to Alpha again." Bucky says, looking at Steve with concern deep in his eyes.

"We'll stick with her as soon as she blows the doors. She needs to lead us to the main server room. We can watch her every step of the way. Wanda will be there if we really need her. Come on, let's go eat." Steve says, ushering Bucky out of the mission room and trying to divert his thoughts.