AN: A new chapter! Well, more of an interlude, but we're getting there soon.

Disclaimer: I can neither confirm nor deny the rumors about who owns Marvel. Seriously, these are not the droids you are looking for…

The Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division, better known by its acronym S.H.I.E.L.D., was hanging in a precarious state of resolve and trepidation; Agents speed-walked down the corridors in their neat grey or black suits, all doing their best to avoid the Director's office. There was a universal flinch as Director Nicholas Fury shouted for Agent Coulson. Phil Coulson placidly ignored the pitying and sympathetic looks as the relieved minions hurried to look busy. Nobody wanted to be called before the Director when he was this angry.

Nicholas Fury was furious. He rapidly looked over the reports and surveillance analysis provided by his Agents. Yesterday, at 1745, a group of mercenaries had stormed a Stark Industries budget meeting, released a sleeping gas, and kidnapped Tony Stark. Worse, according to JARVIS, Barton had left Avengers Tower 1700 to get dinner, and had not returned. His tracker had been disabled at a street corner. Agent Romanov, codename Black Widow, who had gone on a mission, had disappeared. Her tracking device had been disabled at 1756, at the intersection of two alleys- the Agents he had sent reported no way of knowing what had happened, the alleys had been practically drenched in chemicals to get rid of the evidence. If that wasn't bad enough, Rogers had also vanished, this time they caught another group of mercenaries on the surveillance outside Rogers' apartment. They were dressed and armed identically to the Stark Industries group, and had left in a grey van at 1740. Finally, Bruce Banner had disappeared from the old park he normally went to in the afternoons to meditate, and a grey van had been seen passing the park at 1738. All put together, this group had made off with his entire team of Avengers within the span of some 30 minutes.

Fury shouted to get Coulson now, and returned to pacing across his office. He had already put every available Agent on the case, trying to find traces of the mercenaries or the van, but there had been no news for the past eighteen hours and twenty minutes. Contrary to rumors around headquarters – he was a spy, of course he knew what they said – he was not, in fact, a modern day Davy Jones, the Helicarrier was not the Flying Dutchman, and he had not actually cut out his own heart. He was worried. He was angry that his team had been kidnapped, he was tired, and worried, and, most of all, he was furious. When he found whoever had kidnapped his team, they were going to regret the day they were born.

"Sir, we are doing everything we can-" Coulson started.

Agent Hill rushed into the room. Her normal pristine, severe appearance was disheveled, stands of her hair were falling out of the neat bun and her normally neatly pressed grey suit was rumpled. The past half a day of searching had clearly taken its toll on her, but she looked far too relieved.

"Director Fury! They're back! Sir, JARVIS sent a message- the Avengers are all safe in Stark's Malibu mansion" she exclaimed.