Upstate New York, USA

Summer 2015

Strange as it was to think it, coming back to the Compound felt rather like...coming home. Especially after the trip she'd just come back from. It had been draining, to say the least, but it had been successful to some extent. And only partially as...final for some of the former HYDRA agents she'd gone to meet as Nadine had anticipated. She'd only had to cross off two of the nine she'd gone to meet with, and that was only out of an overabundance of precaution, really. The others had been satisfyingly oblivious. Besides, the names from this part of the list were one and all in prison and abandoned by the remnants of HYDRA anyway, so there was little harm in leaving those she left alive to rot for their crimes.

So overall, while time-consuming and mentally draining, it really had been a dull mission. She'd barely needed to dip into her repertoire of interrogation skills—subtle, manipulative or otherwise—to find out everything she'd needed to know to make her judgement calls. They'd one and all bought the line that she was one of them searching for The Ghost hook, line and sinker.

Hardly exciting.

Setting up a pair of hits inside two different prisons from the outside had been only marginally more interesting. As had the side trips to take care of the intelligence stashes she'd learned two of the former HYDRA heads had left behind. Not to mention the copies she'd taken had potential. For both her missions.

On another note, it was encouraging to confirm that at least a few of her work covers were still intact. She definitely would've been in a tight spot if the identity she'd used and its corresponding identification had been flagged. Not that she'd been truly concerned that it had been; she'd been thorough in checking to be sure 'Michelle Jacobs' was uncompromised before she'd even walked out the door of the Compound.

It was surprisingly good to be back at the Compound, though. Good to embrace her daughter again and hear her talk about the training and testing she'd gone through so far just as she'd used to tell Nadine all about her days at school. Good to see her sister. It was even good to see the Twins, even if her protective instincts were on a hair trigger thanks to the inescapable knowledge that the boy had feelings for her daughter that Nina more than reciprocated. It was good to see Rogers again too, even if part of her thought she was being silly for including him on that list. Either way, she wasn't about to admit that bit to anyone. Especially not Natasha...

They had all certainly been busy since she'd left, though. In the near week and a half since she'd been off on her own mission, Steve had apparently convinced his friend Sam to stick around for a bit as a genuine new Avenger recruit. Further, it seemed Stark's friend, Colonel Rhodes, had also been officially pulled in as a new member. Though, it seemed Rhodes was only going to be around on an as-needed basis rather than a full-time Avenger as Steve and Natasha were. Sam, she'd discovered, was undecided on that front. Though, in talking to him, Nadine suspected his mind was more made up than he realized; for one thing, even though he still had his place in DC, he had all but moved into the Compound. Rhodes, on the other hand, while given his own rooms as well, was obviously not going to be using them regularly, already treating his quarters as a place to stay over, rather than somewhere to live.

Natasha, meanwhile, had been hard at work getting Nina and the Twins—even Vision to a smaller extent—up to speed so they could begin training with the others. When Natasha had apprised Nadine of their progress, the redhead had been unashamedly proud of how they'd all been doing with the preliminary training she'd been putting them through. Even despite her own growing reservations when it came to Nina.

Despite not having quite the same practical experience the Twins had, Nina had been holding her own, the inadvertent spy training regimen Nadine had been putting her through since childhood proving its efficacy. But it seemed Natasha had begun to notice the same hesitation in Nina that Nadine had, suspecting for herself that Nina felt she should be wanting, even needing to train rather than out of any real desire to do so. But she was determined, and Nina was doing her best to rise to the challenges Natasha was putting to her despite her apparent uncertainties. And for that, Nadine was just as proud of her as Natasha.

Alternately, what the Twins didn't have when it came to a more rounded knowledge of the skills Natasha had tested them on, they more than made up for it with practical experience and an eagerness to learn of their own. As Natasha had predicted to some of Nadine's earlier skepticism, their activist activity in Sokovia and their subsequent and admittedly illicit past combined the measure of training provided during their time with Strucker had left them well furnished with useful skills Natasha was certain she could work with and hone further. Both were observant, cleverly insightful and quick thinking—Wanda perhaps a bit more so, abilities aside, in the face of Pietro's inclination for impulsiveness. They also each had a fair grasp of tactical thinking and planning, were competent when it came to skills needed for more covert operations and were quick to grasp the basic weapons training Natasha had insisted on. Not to mention both were more than capable in a fight. Not that they'd really needed testing on that aspect. Overall, the foundations were there according to Natasha, and in looking over her sister's notes, Nadine could admit she was certainly right.

They would be able to hold their own with the rest of the fledgling team, Natasha assured her. Nina included. The redheaded master spy was certain they were ready for a real dose of training. And, despite not entirely wanting to admit it, Nadine was intrigued by the challenge, curious to see how they all measured up for herself. It had taken a concerted effort to keep her sudden influx of ideas for exercises and training scenarios trapped securely behind her teeth as Natasha had shared a few of her own plans, taking the opportunity to run them past Nadine's own sharp mind.

No matter how much she wanted to deny it anymore, she couldn't.

Nadine wanted to be a part of it.

Not as an Avenger—no, she still maintained she wasn't Avenger material—but perhaps as support. She could help, especially on the training side. She had experience instructing, after all; her years as a ballet mistress had been more than just a cover, after all. She could back them up. Maybe. Perhaps.

It was a ridiculous idea, part of her insisted. But Nadine couldn't help but think about it. Consider it.

It had been offered, after all. Sort of.

Since when had she been so indecisive?

Dare she think it, she could actually be of use here. She had more than enough experience to share. Some of it was bound to be relevant to the new Avengers-in-training. She might not be experienced at playing well with others, but there was still a great deal she could offer.

Especially now that she'd closed up shop.

Her mission had thrown several very pointed and undeniable realizations her way. First was that what she had been doing before that fateful day in Prague wasn't going to be enough anymore. Oh sure, she had still taken a great deal of satisfaction and pride from successfully tracking down her targets and fulfilling her objectives with as minimal risk to herself and her cover as possible, getting in and out without leaving any real trace of her presence—along with dispatching her targets as necessary, of course. Not to mention the thrill that came along with it.

But it just hadn't been the same this time. It had been, somehow...lacking. She supposed it could have been due in part to the relatively low-risk targets she'd been after. As compared to the marks that had made her infamous, at least. But that conclusion didn't quite sit right either.

It simply wasn't as satisfying as it had been before. For all that she'd been as inarguably effective as she was known for—they hadn't even realized she was there when she'd picked off Engel in the prison yard from five hundred yards; child's play, really—her success had, nevertheless, felt hollow.

And lonely. She'd already been on her way back to the Compound when that realization had hit, and it had hit far harder than she'd expected. She'd always worked alone. It was all she'd known for all of her professional life. It was her M.O.. Her process. Her routine. She was a solitary hunter by trade. It was part and parcel of her reputation.

But now that she'd been part of a team? However temporarily? Working alone again had nearly hurt it was so...so unfulfilling. She had missed her sister's sharp tongue and sharper mind; Barton's wry comments and steady judgment; Wanda's determination and sly insights; Rogers' rational approach and steadfast conviction; Thor's easy camaraderie and clear-sighted perceptions; Banner's quiet manner and friendly openness; even Stark's misleadingly irreverent behaviour and snappy quips. She missed the feeling of family, even if she had only been a mere outsider tagging along. At least, at first she had been. Somehow, even despite that horrible Quinjet ride, she'd managed to find a place among the team, and she still didn't quite know how it had happened. She still, somehow, felt welcome. Like she was actually part of the team. An honorary member, even.

Like she belonged with them.

She'd never had that before and she found she wanted it. Badly.

Would it be so bad to stick around?

She sighed, leaning heavily on her elbows, her hands clasped loosely before her, thumb lightly tracing the creases worn into her uniform's pale grey fingerless gloves, as she looked over from the walkway she stood on to the view before her.

Out beyond the wall of glass on the far side of the hanger, Steve and Stark were passing on their final farewells to Thor. The Asgardian was unable to justify lingering on Earth any longer and had decided the time had finally come to take his leave. He'd even surprised Nadine with a tight hug farewell reminiscent of the one he'd given Natasha before disappearing into the Compound to locate Stark and the Captain.

With a blinding flash of kaleidoscopic rainbow light, the Viking-like Avenger vanished from sight, leaving the soldier and the billionaire alone to meander away toward the garage entrance were Tony's ride undoubtedly waited to take him away too. Supposedly Stark was stepping back from Avenging himself just as Barton had. But Nadine couldn't help but think he'd be back. There was a lingering shadow behind the billionaire's eyes that she recognized; the need to step up, to defend...to atone. It was a trait she had concluded every Avenger seemed to possess in some measure. And if she was being completely honest, one she had too. It was their motivation, their reason for doing what they did.

It was an urge Nadine was coming to recognize within herself. Her work as the Ghost? To go after those who killed purely for profit, who couldn't care less who they were set loose upon so long as it paid well? It had tapped into that urge, she realized now, placating it just enough to keep it quiet in the back of her mind. But now that she'd fought alongside the Avengers? Hunting assassins wasn't going to be enough anymore. As much as she wanted to deny it, she knew it was true. She'd realized it back at the Barton farm after Johannesburg whether she'd consciously known it or not.

Not far away, through a set of door and just down a short flight of stairs from the walkway she was standing on, Natasha was talking to Nick Fury. Nadine had passed them when she'd been in search of her current bit of solitude. She had to admit, Nadine had been surprised that Fury hadn't disappeared along with his Helicarrier once he'd let them off at Stark's unfinished Compound. She had honestly expected that he would've gone his own way once the job was done, and that she wouldn't have been surprised to never cross paths with the Spymaster again. Well? In that she had been wrong. Fury, it seemed, was sticking around for at least the time being, lending his own brand of expertise to getting the new Avengers' facility up and running. Sure, he slipped away every now and then for some mysterious purpose known only to him—as was expected, she couldn't help but muse wryly—but he always came back.

And even though he hadn't been the director of anything in well over a year, now, it was obvious that Fury was still effectively the boss in every way that mattered. Especially to Natasha.

It was clear to Nadine in catching a glimpse of the conversation between them, even if she'd been too far away to hear what was being said, that Fury had been more than her little sister's boss. He'd been her mentor. He still was. Possibly even her confidant in some capacity. Definitely her friend; at least, in as much a way as Fury had friends, she suspected. And considering what she had seen of her sister's almost vulnerable demeanor and the nearly gentle way Fury seemed to be speaking, it wasn't much of a leap to make.

Whatever was being said, though, it was something Natasha—while not necessarily pleased to hear it—had needed him to say. And, happy about it or not, her sister's posture had been shifting, relaxing minutely. If Nadine hadn't known her sister so well, even after all these years, she might not even have noticed the change.

She didn't want to lose that. Not again.

Natasha served as an automatic tick in the 'Reasons to Stay' column. A column that was filling up far more quickly than the 'Reasons to Move On' one of her mental list.

"You're still here." It was only thanks to her extensive training that she didn't start at the unexpected sound of Fury's voice behind her, merely tensing instinctively instead. But as she turned to catch sight of his amused smirk, she knew he'd picked up on it anyway.

"So are you," she responded simply. She knew that, now that he'd appeared, she wasn't about to get out of a conversation, so she left it at that. He would get to his purpose eventually. As he came up to stand next to her, she wasn't entirely sure if she was in the mood for a chat with the former director. Even if she was growing somewhat tired of being left alone with her thoughts.

"So I hear Borychenko is missing. Your and Romanoff's handiwork, I presume." Nadine quirked a questioning brow at the former director. That wasn't exactly what she'd expected him to bring up.

"I don't know who you're talking about."

"Don't you? Madame B? You do have a history, I hear," he pointed out with poorly disguised interest. Rather unnecessarily too. Nadine restrained the urge to roll her eyes. It wasn't like there was any doubt that he didn't know.

"Is there anything you don't hear," she countered dryly. Fury chuckled.

"Can't say I was surprised," he continued, ignoring her comment. "Nasty piece of work, that woman. Only met her twice. It was two times too many, really. But for all her faults, she was one of the best in her field." Nadine hummed, neither agreeing nor disagreeing despite privately sharing that opinion. It wasn't like she could deny it. From an objective standpoint? Madame B had been effective. She had gotten results, no matter what she'd been doing, be it as a top tier KGB/HYDRA agent or in training Red Room recruits. Besides, one had to play along with Fury when he was running the show. And one thing Nadine had figured out almost the instant she'd met him was that, when Fury was involved, he was always running the show.

"And now you're going after Barnes?" Once again, it wasn't actually a question, and Nadine let him know that she saw as much with a pointed look. He merely smirked. "That one'll be a lot harder task altogether."

"Of that I am well aware," she replied coolly.

"Gonna lend a hand around here while you're on it?" She narrowed her eyes at him in lieu of answering. His smirk widened into an outright grin.

"Thought so." Nadine only barely restrained a scowl. It was awfully presumptive of him to assume that she had to stay at the Compound in order to find Barnes. She could manage perfectly well elsewhere. It wasn't like staying was a prerequisite for tapping into the Avengers' resources; she could pop in whenever she needed to. Some of them she was fairly certain she could access remotely. Hell, Stark might even set her up with a mobile workstation if she asked nicely enough.

It was completely beside the point that part of her wanted to stay; he couldn't know that anyway.

Well, she imagined her sister knew, so he might.

Instead she allowed herself to ignore the comment in favour of needling the spymaster instead. Not that she believed it would actually get to him. But it made her feel a little better.

"You know, in all this? I still find it hard to believe the Winter Soldier missed you in the first place."

"Oh, he didn't miss. I just wasn't ready to kick it just yet. Plus, I had a world-class set of doctors on call to patch me up." She couldn't help herself. A scoffing huff of a laugh escaped her at the comment.

"That's all you're going to offer? He is a legend, and for good reason: The Winter Soldier has never failed a mission...until you."

"Well...the argument could be made that he didn't fail. I did die." The look she gave him in response made it clear how utterly unconvinced she was.

"Faking your death doesn't count, Fury." He actually had the audacity to chuckle before he countered.

"Doesn't it? And I was referring to the fact that I did technically die on the table—twice—so you could say, his reputation is still, in fact, intact."

"Tricky bastard," she muttered. He laughed and, despite herself, Nadine couldn't help but smile in response.

"Thank you. It's why I'm the best, Ryker." She scoffed in disdain, but it was clear that her heart wasn't in it. Fury just smiled, his eye glinting knowingly. With a nod, he stepped back from the railing, evidently finished with the conversation. A conversation Nadine still wasn't entirely sure of the purpose. Until he paused for one final comment.

"They could use a consultant like you, Ryker. And you could use the support of a team, I think. Even if you aren't strictly an Avenger." She straightened in surprise, staring at his retreating back in astonishment. Huh. Sometimes he could speak plainly, it seemed.

With another soft, huffing chuckle, she retreated from her spot next to the railing, retracing her steps through the Compound to where she had seen her sister speaking with Fury earlier. As she reached the stairs leading down to the corridor to the hanger, ideas were already beginning to flit through her thoughts—plans, exercises, scenarios—everything she had forced herself to keep from blurting out when she'd been talking to Natasha about—

She froze, right there in the middle of the corridor despite the other people bustling past, the realization only then hitting her.

She really had made up her mind, hadn't she.

Before she could help herself, she was grinning to herself, a warm feeling growing in her chest that she could only describe as excitement. Even, dare she think it, happiness.

She was going to stay.

As her feet started moving again, a pair of familiar voices directly ahead of her caught her attention. As she made her way along the corridor toward them, Rogers and her sister had walked into view, both of them looking to the tablet in Natasha's hand as the Captain spoke.

"They're not the '27 Yankees."

"But we've got some hitters," Natasha absently countered. Agreeing, Steve nodded. Nadine adjusted her stride to catch them even as Rogers replied.

"They're good. They're not a Team," he pointed out. A trace of an eager smirk appeared on Natasha's face as she lowered the tablet.

"Let's beat 'em into shape." She glanced up then as Nadine fell into step beside her, a smirk of her own rising to her lips.

"Mind if I help?" Natasha's smirk widened impishly, her eyes shining.

"You're gonna stay?" As was to be expected, it was said as though it was a foregone conclusion, but Nadine could easily hear the genuinely hopeful question beneath it. She nodded once, smiling happily at the way her little sister's face lit up.

"I heard you could use a training consultant," Nadine said. Behind Natasha, Steve looked pleased, the expression sending a strangely pleasant little flutter loose in Nadine's belly. Natasha glanced to her teammate. Reaching across in front of the redhead, Steve extended his hand to Nadine. Without hesitation, she took it, warmth joining the flutter as his hand closed securely around hers.

"Welcome to the Team," he said before pausing to exchange a nearly sly glance with her sister. "Even if it is unofficially." Unable to help herself, Nadine laughed.

Dropping her hand, the Captain lengthened his stride, pulling just ahead of the two sister spies. Still grinning widely, Natasha reached over to squeeze Nadine's hand.

"I knew you'd stick around," she quipped confidently. Nadine snickered.

"Of course you did," the blonde assassin threw dryly back. The younger spy simply quirked a brow in challenge and lengthened her own stride to catch up with Rogers as he approached the set of doors directly ahead that lead to the hanger. Following suit, Nadine fell into step on Steve's right just as he pushed them open.

Stepping out onto the landing, she saw the new Avengers were already gathering on the open floor of the hanger. Sam—Falcon, Nadine reminded herself—stood directly ahead of her, already outfitted in his new, Stark-upgraded EXO-7 pack. As she looked around to the others, she noted they were all outfitted in their new—for most of them—Avenger-worthy uniforms. Rhodes, of course, was already outfitted in his War Machine suit while Vision naturally had his suit and cape already taken care of. It was the other three who really caught her attention.

In the middle of the pack stood the Maximoffs; Wanda outfitted in a lightly, but subtly armoured jacket-like bodice in rich scarlet tones and Pietro in a similarly lightly armoured charcoal-coloured uniform reminiscent of his typical runner's garb, complete with dusky blue and silvery accents that mimicked the bluish aura that followed him at speed.

But it wasn't the Twins that truly caught her attention.

Standing next to Pietro in a uniform of her own was Nina. A fierce pride was suddenly mingled with a healthy dose of uncertainty in the centre of Nadine's chest. But for all that she was visibly nervous, Nina still stood tall in a boldly blocked off-white and pale blue catsuit and subtly armoured matching jacket not wholly unlike a mix of Nadine's own and the one Wanda wore. In that moment, nerves aside, her daughter looked every inch a confident, capable young woman. For a split-second Nadine nearly couldn't breathe.

And it struck her just how right it felt to be where she was. This really was where she needed to be.

Just ahead of her, Steve came to a stop, Nadine and Natasha each falling in on either side of him, the redhead's hands clasping loosely behind her back while Nadine's crossed over her chest. Her neutral, impassive mask once again firmly in place, she surveyed the six recruits before her, sparing her daughter a quick wink. Nina beamed back, her eyes shining with determined anticipation.

As Steve's voice rang out to address their recruits, Nadine exchanged a fleeting glance with Natasha, an answering smirk rising to her lips at the wicked grin that appeared on her sister's face.

It was time to start.

A/N: And there you have it. The actual, 100% official end to events from AoU and the close of Part I of The Ghost. Meaning we are now officially on to Part II next time and with it into the interim between AoU and Civil War! Yay! I'm excited! Are you?

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