New York State of Mind
Bruce growled and paled at the sight of the blackened rubble that greeted them as Tony sped up the driveway. Bruce didn’t even wait for Tony to come to a complete stop as he jumped out, ignoring the yellow caution tape and raced toward the ambulances. The first one had Clint sitting on the bumper, with his arm wrapped in gauze and an ice pack on his head.
“God Bruce” Clint began when he saw him. “She’s in the other one. Nat’s with her” he added sounding like he did when he had to calm Hulk down.
Bruce had no idea what he looked like-probably a mad man. He was CERTAIN his eyes were green-which was probably the only reason no one stopped him in his mad dash up the driveway. He had to calm down-he was just going to continue to get riled up to the breaking point if he didn’t. He slowed his breathing and shut his eyes-trying to calm down.
“What happened?” Bruce asked with his eyes still closed.
“When we pulled up the driveway-we saw her curtain flutter. We both saw it and assumed someone was inside. I went around back-she went in the front-blocking both entrances to trap them. I unfortunately didn’t see the one in the bushes- he clocked me with something. I was out cold for a few-but it was enough time for the detonation to go off.” Clint said.
“How’d she get out if you didn’t get her?” Tony asked, neither had noticed him join the conversation.
Clint thought about it “Steve came to check on me. But” he said casting his eyes around to make sure no one else was listening. “I think I remember Barnes showing up before Steve. He went in to get her” Clint replied.
“Barnes?” Bruce and Tony hissed.
“He escaped?” Tony asked.
“Are they still here?” Bruce asked.
“No they left before the ambulance got here” Clint replied.
Bruce shook his head turning and heading to the ambulance where Jen was-he had other things to worry about. He opened the door, watching as the paramedics started an IV.
“Sir you can’t be here” one of the paramedics replied when they noticed him.
Bruce just stared at Jen’s prone body.
“Sir are you family?” one of the paramedics asked.
“Yes” Bruce said without thinking.
The paramedic nodded “Well Ms. Gibbs is okay. She has some cuts, bruises and burns but she is very lucky to be alive” she replied.
“You-You need to be careful she’s-she’s pregnant” Bruce said quietly.
The paramedic that was connecting her IV stopped and looked at Bruce. “That’s great to know. Do you know is Miss. Gibbs allergic to any medicines?” he asked.
Bruce thought for a minute then shook his head “No-I don’t believe she does” he remarked.
“Good. Now we need to get her to the hospital for observation Mr.?” The paramedic prompted.
“Dr. Banner” Bruce supplied.
“Dr. Banner, we need to leave. We will meet you at the hospital. Just go to the receptionist and tell they will have you fill out paperwork and sign her in” the paramedic said.
Bruce was about to argue that he was going to come with them but then he glanced around the back of the ambulance. It was cramped and cluttered-there was no way he would stay calm in there. The city and the hospital definitely didn’t need a visit from Hulk today.
“O-okay just please be careful” he stuttered out as the doors slammed in his face and the ambulance drove away.
Bruce glanced around suddenly remembering something-didn’t Clint say Nat was with Jen? She wasn’t there by the time Bruce opened the door-so where was she? He looked toward the trees when Tony walked up next to him.
“What are you looking at?” Tony asked.
“Clint said Nat was with Jen-but she wasn’t there when I opened the back door-so where is she?” Bruce asked.
“Think she’s tracking Barnes” Tony asked.
“Or Steve” Bruce said.
“Wait do you think Steve’s helping him?” Tony wondered.
Bruce sighed “I think you shouldn’t jump to conclusions until you hear their explanations” he said.
Tony nodded “Let me get you to the hospital” he said throwing his arms around Bruce’s neck and headed back to the car.
At the hospital
Bruce was pacing the corridor in worry and frustration. Everyone had been very accommodating to them as they waited for a doctor-either with help from Tony’s presence or the fact that a wild haired man with odd changing eyes. Whatever the reason they got right through and were now waiting in the waiting room as the doctors looked over Jen. Bruce checked his watch for the 200th time and sighed again running his fingers through his hair. ‘This can’t be happening again-They were just here-She shouldn’t be back so soon’ he thought desperately.
His phone rang diverting his attention-he didn’t recognize the number but for whatever the reason he decided to answer it.
“Hello?” Bruce said.
“Bruce its Hetty-you are on speaker” Hetty replied.
Bruce sighed “Hetty- god I am sorry I should have called you” he stuttered out.
“Bruce-it’s fine” Hetty replied curtly. “What happened?” she asked.
“The house blew up” Bruce replied dryly.
“Again?” G replied.
“Yes” Bruce replied.
“Houses don’t just blow up” Deeks replied.
“It would seem someone is out to get her” Granger replied.
“Rule 40” G replied.
“What?” Granger asked.
“I’ll explain later” G replied.
Bruce sighed “I can’t get into details I am in the hospital-don’t want….to make a scene” he said. “But apparently someone was here-they chased him and the house blew up” he added.
“But someone was there?” Sam asked.
“That is what Clint said” Bruce said again with deliberate calm. “You will need to talk with him-or Jen when she wakes up” he adds.
“I assume you two will go to Stark Tower then?” Hetty asked-switching topics gracefully.
“Yes” Bruce replied without a second thought.
“Good. I am sorry I can’t come down there-but please keep me informed” Hetty replied.
“Of course Hetty. I’ll call you later. Good bye” Bruce replied as Hetty said her goodbyes and hung up.
“Who was that?” Tony asked as he came around the corner.
“Hetty” Bruce said.
“Did you call her?” Tony asked.
“No” Bruce answered.
“Then how did she know Jen was here?” Tony asked.
Bruce chuckled “Because she’s Hetty” he said smiling.
“Excuse me-Dr. Banner?” A young doctor called as she appeared at the end of the hallway.
“Yes?” Bruce replied as he shot Tony a worried look.
“I wanted to tell you that Ms. Gibbs is rehydrated and has no permanent damage” she replied with a smile.
“The baby?” Bruce asked hesitantly.
“As far as we can tell there is no damage to the fetus either. Do you have an OBGYN?” She asked.
“We have one in New York” Bruce said.
She nodded “Good-umm I would make an appointment with them as soon as you get back to New York to make sure though” she replied.
Bruce sagged in relief “Of course-th-thank you” he said.
She smiled over at him “It’s my pleasure. Ms. Gibbs will be staying here for observation overnight and we think she will be able to be discharged in the morning” she replied with a gentle smile.
“Is she in a room yet?” Bruce asked.
“No she’s still in recovery. If you will follow me I can take you to her” She said then glanced over at Tony. “You can go take a seat in the waiting room and I can have a nurse come and get you when Ms. Gibbs is put in a room” she added.
Tony smiled “That’s ok-I need to get back. I am just here for support. But um Thanks” he said with a customary Stark smile.
Bruce stared at the doctor “Can you give me a minute?” he asked.
He hurried over to Tony and hugged him “Thanks” he whispered.
Tony smiled and hugged him back “Call me when you get in the room and I will go talk with Clint” he said.
Bruce nodded, turned and followed the nurse down the corridor. Tony frowned glancing around wondering why he was smelling cigarette smoke all of a sudden. Wait now he didn’t smell it- it was like someone passed by him and was following Bruce? Tony sighed and shook his head “Ok never thought I’d say this but think I’ve had too much caffeine” he mumbled to himself as he turned to leave.
Bruce was sitting in the chair head back when there was a knock on the doorframe. Bruce's eyes shot open and was relieved to see Ducky standing there. "Ducky what are you doing here?" Bruce asked.
"Director Vance told me you two were here" Ducky replied as he slowly walked into the room.
"How did he know?" Bruce asked in confusion.
"Apparently Henrietta Lange called him" Ducky answered.
"Has Gibbs arrived?" Bruce asked.
Ducky nodded "yes he's down in recovery while the doctors conference with Taft and come up with a suitable plan for him" he replied.
"Is he conscious?" Bruce asked.
"Tony said he was all the way to the ship. Taft must have given him something for the trip home. I just checked in with him and he was sleeping" Ducky said.
Bruce nodded "I can't believe he survived" he replied honestly.
Ducky nodded "Jethro has always been very fortunate in that regard” he replied with a smile.
Mike stood in the doorway listening to Ducky talk and shook his head in annoyance. "What did I tell you about watching out for yourself? You are such a pain in the ass-both of you" Mike grumbled at Jen as he leaned against the wall. "It isn't just you anymore- you have others to worry about. You're about to be a god damn mother-you keep walking into traps and you won’t survive to see your child" he replied gruffly.
"Shut up Mike" Jen mumbled.
Bruce and Ducky looked at one another with a mixture of relief and confusion.
"Mike? Hon are you awake?" Bruce asked quietly reaching for her hand.
Jen sighed 'good Bruce was here. He'll make Mike go away' she thought.
"Bruce make Mike shut up-he’s being mean" Jen mumbled weakly.
Ducky chuckled at Bruce's worried look. "If I didn't know any better I would have thought they gave Genevieve the good stuff" he replied.
"That's what I am afraid of-I told the EMT people of--her condition. They better not have given her any of the good stuff" Bruce warned trying to be as vague as he could in case there were others listening.
"Look at her chart and see" Ducky replied. Bruce shot him a look then at the chart fixed to the end of the bed and without another word went and glanced through the chart looking for evidence.
"No I don't see evidence that they used any anesthesia" Bruce said.
"Perhaps Franks is just reprimanding her for getting hurt?" Ducky replied.
Bruce nodded smiling "more than likely that's what it is" he agreed.
"Wonder if he has been to Jethro's yet?" Ducky replied with a chuckle.
Mike snorted "always liked him" he replied as the nurse came in on her hourly rounds and Mike decided he has done all he could for the moment-leaving to go check on Probie again.
Jen opened her eyes slowly. She blinked in confusion at the white unfamiliar ceiling. She layered there trying to figure out where she was. She could hear the hum of machinery and Bruce's soft snores somewhere beside her.
"Welcome back Genevieve" Ducky said softly as his face came into her line of sight.
"Ducky?" She replied confused.
"Do you know where you're at?" He asked.
"Must be a hospital" was her reply.
"Yes my dear now do you remember why?" He asked.
It all came back to her-Clint and her splitting up trying to apprehend whoever was in her home-the fire-the explosion. She slowly nodded her head. "My house blew up" she replied trying to sit up-groaning at the unexpected pain.
Bruce subconsciously must have heard her groan because he catapulted out of the chair rushing toward the bed. Ducky looked like he was going to intercept him but stopped when he noticed the green in Bruce's irises. "Hon are you ok?" Bruce asked in a rush.
"She's fine Robert--just has some pain" Ducky said gently.
Jen nodded grabbing Bruce's hand "I am usually not in pain when I wake up" she replied.
“You usually are given some form of anesthesia-I would imagine” Ducky replied.
Jen’s eyes flew open-her hands flying to her abdomen “Oh god is it ok?!?” she asked worried.
Bruce gripped her hand tighter “The doctor assured me nothing happened to the baby-but we need to call Hank when we get back to New York to make sure” he assured her.
Jen nodded while Ducky asked “Hank? Is that your OBGYN?”
“Hank McCoy-he’s not an OBGYN but he’s the best doctor for our…. extraordinary DNA” Jen replied delicately earning a snort from Bruce.
“Extraordinary?” he asked amused.
Jen smiled “It was either that or incredible” she joked with a shrug.
Bruce sighed as he kissed her knuckles "You've got to stop scaring me" he gently reprimanded. His other hand unconsciously rand down her side until it landed on her abdomen. Neither realized it until they realized Ducky was smiling at them. Bruce blushed as he was about to move his hand but Jen grabbed his hand to keep it where it was. Bruce just smiled nodded and kept his hand there. A knock on the door caught everyone’s attention-Abbey sticking her head inside.
“Hi I am sorry I hope I am not interrupting?” She replied.
Bruce smiled “Of course not Abbey-please come on in” he replied.
Ducky smiled “Abigail is supposed to be my ride back to NCIS” he replied. “Has Jethro regained consciousness yet?” he asked.
Abby nodded “Yes-he talked with me for a few minutes-but I wasn’t allowed to stay long” she replied with a pout.
Ducky chuckled and patted her hand “I am sure Jethro won’t remember tomorrow” he said.
“I want to go see him later” Jen replied quietly.
Bruce nodded “Of course-we’ll ask the doctor when he comes in” he agreed.
Abby turned and noticed Bruce’s fingers brushing over Jen’s stomach –she gasped and threw her arms around Jen. Jen flinched at the impact and looked over at Bruce and Ducky in confusion.
“UMM Abby?” Jen asked.
“I AM so happy for you” she whispered in Jen’s ear. “I was wondering that day you were screaming in autopsy-Tony and Gibbs wouldn’t tell me-but now I know and I am so happy. Wait-it’s a good thing right?” Abby asked.
“We believe so” Bruce said with a smile.
“Does Gibbs know-Or Tony?” Abby asked.
“No—everything has happened so fast. I did send Jethro and Hetty grandmother and Grandfather Cards—I don’t know if they’ve gotten them yet. UMM I am afraid I haven’t thought about telling Tony-although they were both in autopsy when I freaked at Ducky-so I guess they know” Jen replied.
Abby’s smile got bigger “cards-that’s so cute!” she gushed.
Ducky chuckled “Abigail” he chastised.
“What it is” she defended with a smile. “Besides I can’t believe Gibbs as a grandfather! I am so excited” she gushed.
There was a knock on the door and the doctor walked in smiling at everyone “Good to see you awake Ms. Gibbs” he said as he glanced through her chart. “Everything looks in order-you’ve just sustained a few bruises and a few burns. You need to make an appointment with your regular doctor and OBGYN when you get back to...New York. We will need you to stay for observation overnight but you are free to go in the morning. Any questions” he asked finally focusing on her.
Jen blinked and then looked at Bruce before she spoke “I don’t believe so. Umm but is there any way I can go visit another patient?” she asked.
The doctor paused “Well that would depend” he replied.
“His name is Jethro Gibbs—he was airlifted in earlier today” she replied.
The doctor paused glancing at the others “Give me a few minutes and let me talk with his doctor” he said as he walked to the nurses station for a few minutes. He came back and told them the doctors would allow Genevieve in to see Gibbs but then both patients needed to rest.
Gibbs smiled when the door opened and Bruce wheeled Jen inside.
“Bruce you didn’t have to push me” She grumbled softly.
“The doctors weren’t going to let you walk down so stop” he said gently.
“Why are you in here?” Gibbs slurred.
“Explosion” Jen replied gently as she rolled closer to the bed.
“Your house blew up?” Gibbs asked confused.
“Yes” Jen said with a frown as Gibbs suddenly smiled at her.
“You’re who she meant” he said.
Jen and Bruce exchanged worried glances, “she” she asked finally.
“Kelly” Gibbs said.
Jen smiled sadly “You spoke with Kelly?” she asked.
Gibbs nodded groggily “She told me I couldn’t give up. That people still needed me” he said quietly. He looked like he was about to drift to sleep when he jerked awake again. “Are you going back to” he paused trying to remember the word “New-York with Stark” he finally said after some difficulty.
Jen and Bruce shared a look “Yes-we have a doctor appointment we need to make-but I’ll be back by the time you get out of here” she promised.
“Good-maybe I’ll come visit you there” he said as he drifted off to sleep.
Jen looked over at Bruce “I don’t know whether to be happy or worried” she replied.
“Do you mean about Kelly?” Bruce asked.
“Yes” Jen replied.
“He had an out of body experience-is it so bad that he spoke with Kelly” Bruce asked as he pushed her out toward the elevator.
“No of course not. I am glad he got to see her” Jen began as they got into the elevator and headed up to her floor. “I just hate that it happened-I guess” she said. “So are we moving to New York? Since I no longer have a house here?” she asked.
Bruce looked over at her “I’ll go wherever you want to go-you know that. But for the time being-let’s go to New York-stay at the tower-rest and try to enjoy this” he said as he gently reached down and rubbed Jen’s stomach.
“We need to call Hank still” Jen reminded him.
“I called Hank before Ducky came up-he’ll be expecting us tomorrow” Bruce said.
Jen nodded smirking “good” she said. “The sooner Hank can look at me the calmer we’ll both be” she added.
“Definitely” Bruce agreed glancing at her. “I’ve got to ask-do you remember who got you out of the fire?” Bruce asked quietly as he rolled her into her room and back into bed.
Jen cocked her head in thought “No-I don’t” she paused thinking. “Nope-the last thing I remember was cursing rule 40” she said.
Bruce thought for a minute “okay refresh my memory-which one is that?” he asked.
“If it looks like someone is out to get you-they are” she replied.
“That’s what G meant” Bruce commented.
“Huh?” Jen asked confused.
“Hetty somehow knew you were in here and called me” Bruce began. “We were discussing what happened as well as we could and G made the comment of rule 40” he added.
Jen nodded “Makes sense” she said.
Bruce leaned over to kiss her gently “okay let’s forget today and try and rest” he decided.
Jen wanted to argue but she felt Bruce start to rub her stomach again and relented. She needed to learn to step back now and try not to get overwhelmed or over worked.
“Okay” she said.
Bruce smirked and raised an eyebrow and Jen stuck out her tongue.
“I can follow orders on occasion” she commented.
“Yes dear” he said.
Las Angles
Hetty sighed as she sipped her tea watching Granger and Callen walk toward her.
“Gentlemen please sit” she said as they got to her desk.
“Is the mission changed?” Granger asked.
“It would appear so-since he must be getting wind of it” Hetty replied.
“We have no proof of that” Granger answered.
Callen nodded “The only proof is that someone is out to kill both Bruce and Jen” he commented.
Hetty nodded “True” she replied.
“If we continue at this rate though-he will find out Henrietta” Granger warned.
Hetty nodded but kept quiet thinking. “I have sent out feelers to my contacts. We need to strike soon” she replied vaguely.
“Sam and I can maybe make an appearance in New York in a few weeks? Maybe ask for a tour-make ourselves seen” Callen replied.
Hetty nodded “That sounds great” she replied.
Granger checked his watch “I have a call with Director Vance in a few minutes-I’ll see if he has anything new to add” he replied as he left for his office.
Callen stayed in his seat and kept staring at Hetty “Anything YOU would like to add?” he asked.
Hetty glanced at him with a smirk reaching into her purse-pulling out a card and handing it to him. G raised his eyebrow but took the envelope-taking note of the return address and then pulled the card out and read it. He knew his face showed his shock and elation when he realized what the card meant.
“She’s-they’re pregnant” he whispered.
Hetty smiled “It would appear so” she said. “I can only assume this will be a hard pregnancy on both of them and I want to get her out of harm’s way as soon as we can” she replied.
“Of course” Callen agreed getting up to leave.
“Mr. Callen-we need to keep this between us for the moment” Hetty said.
“Keep what between us?” He said with a smile.
Xavier’s school the following day
Jen and Bruce smiled nervously as they waited in Hank’s examining room. Hank scrubbed his hands and gave them a running commentary in the next room.
“I have looked at the reports the doctors have sent-but I am glad you two came” he said.
“We know you aren’t this kind of doctor Hank-but you are the only one I trust with this” Jen replied.
Hank chuckled “Well I have talked with Helen Cho-since it will get to a point where it is out of my realm of experience-so it will be a joint venture” he called back.
Bruce smiled “We figured that” he said.
Hank laughed as he walked into the room “Okay Genevieve lay down and try to relax” he said as he started to put the jelly on the ultra sound wand.
“Easy for you to say” she teased.
Hank laughed “I am afraid that part will be Helen’s area” he said. “We are very close my dear-but I am afraid we might be crossing a line there” he added.
“What a wonderful cue to walk into” Helen said as she made her presence known making Jen laugh.
“Glad you could join us” Jen said.
Helen laughed as she walked over to Jen-already have washed and gloved before she walked in. “My pleasure” she said. “Now I am going to do my thing” she said twirling her finger. “As Hank-umm Dr. McCoy will be listening and examining on the screen” she said.
Both Jen and Bruce nodded as they tried to relax and the doctors went to work. After a couple of minutes Helen stood up and started rubbing and lightly touching Jen’s abdomen. Hank followed her movements with the wand, eyes on the screen. Hank smiled and paused at something he saw on the screen-Helen went and looked over his shoulder smiling herself.
“Okay what’s going on” Jen demanded.
Hank chuckled “I am sorry I don’t mean to worry you” he said. “Would you like to hear something?” he asked.
They looked at each other than nodded-looking back at Hank. Hank nodded and turned on his speakers. He moved the wand and then after a few minutes of static they heard a heartbeat. Bruce gasped as tears filled Jen’s eyes. Then Hank moved the wand and another heartbeat was heard. It took them a few minutes to realize they weren’t listening to the same heart beat-but ANOTHER heartbeat.
“Wait-tw-twins” Bruce stuttered out tears streaming down his face.
Hank smiled “Yes my friend-you two are having a multiple birth” he said. It was a good thing Genevieve was already laying down-because she would have fainted at the news.
“We are having twins?” she said for clarification.
Hank and Helen exchanged glances “I can’t be certain at this point” he began. “At this moment we only hear two heart beats-but cases have shown that at this stage sometimes fetuses are hiding and aren’t visible for a few more months” he added.
Jen eyes widened “So I-we-might have more than two babies in here?” she said motioning to her stomach.
Hank chuckled and patted her hand “Don’t worry they aren’t reproducing in there-you aren’t going to have a litter” he said in a mild joke.
Jen laughed “Sounds that way to me! Any idea when will you know?” she asked.
“What about abnormalities in the DNA?” Bruce asked.
“My friend I won’t know any of that for a few weeks now-maybe a month. How about you come back in two months and we will look again” Hank said. “And if I find anything serious in the samples we took I will have you come in before then” he adds.
“Sounds good” Bruce said shakenly.
Hank looked over at Bruce “Why don’t Helen and I leave you two alone for a few minutes. Genevieve get dressed and if you have any more questions I will be in my office” he said as they made their exit.
Jen looked over and could see Bruce starting to panic she sat up and grabbed his face “Shh” she said quietly.
“Twins! Twins! More than one” Bruce exclaimed.
“Yes that generally is what twin’s means” she teased.
“I-I can’t believe this” he choked out. “I thought I was excited and now that it’s real I am freaking out” he added.
“Hello! I am freaking out too” Jen said showing him her shaking hands. “But there’s no going back now” she said. “It’s just hit home now” she said.
Bruce sighed as he leaned against her nodding. “We need to start thinking about names and a nursery-all of the little things that comes with babies” Bruce said into her shoulder.
Jen nodded “you’re right. Where do you want to live? It’s up to you and Tony-of course-but it’ll probably be safer to live at the tower-until we stop Ross” she said.
“Jen you don’t like living in a skyscraper” Bruce said.
Jen shook her head “I am not saying forever. I can live anywhere. But I would love to live somewhere you feel safe. Somewhere where our children will be safe. Think about it-our kids can run around the halls-learning to draw with Steve-learning archery from Clint-how to build robots from Tony” she said.
Bruce chuckled “and how to kill and dispose of someone from Nat” he teased.
Jen smirked “or Russian ballet” she reminded him.
Bruce chuckled as he felt himself calm down. “Let’s talk about it-maybe broach the subject with Tony first before we make a decision” he said.
Jen nodded “Want to go back and tell them?” she asked.
Bruce smiled “Let’s go tell the team” he agreed.
Stark Tower
The tower seemed quiet as the elevator ascended and it wasn’t until they reached their floor when Jen sensed something was off. She held her arm our halting Bruce from leaving the elevator.
“Jarvis is anything going on?” Bruce asked.
“My apologizes Dr. Banner-but it might be in your and Miss. Gibbs best interest to stay in the elevator” Jarvis replied.
“Why” Jen asked.
“The team is having a tense discussion with Captain Rogers and his new guest” the A.I answered.
“Does this guest have a metal arm?” Jen asked.
“Yes ma’am he does” the A.I replied.
She glanced at Bruce seeing what he wanted to do.
“You can let us out Jarvis” Bruce said.
“If you insist Doctor” The A.I said as the doors opened.
Jen and Bruce walked out and froze when they realized they walked into the middle of the standoff-literally. The entire team was in one side of the common area-then it was the two of them then Steve and Bucky were on the other side of them.
“Jarvis you could have warned us we would be in the middle” Bruce snapped.
The others looked surprised and confused at the couple.
“Hi Guys” Jen replied with a small wave.
“What’s going on?” Bruce asked stepping more in front of Jen.
“I don’t want any trouble. I just came to grab a few things- Natasha forced James inside” Steve said tensely.
Natasha rolled her eyes “Please Steve-he was in plain sight. You are supposed to be on the run” she chided.
“Besides man-you shouldn’t come to the ONE place SHIELD would immediately be looking” Clint replied casually from his spot.
Jen rolled her eyes “I guess I was wrong” she said looking at Clint-who snorted and smirked. “Hi James-welcome to Stark Tower” she added as she glanced over at Bucky.
Bucky looked down-a little embarrassed “Hi-glad you’re okay” he said.
Jen looked confused then glanced at Bruce “Barnes had to be the one who got you out” Bruce said.
“Yo-You did?” she asked glancing back at James.
Bucky nodded over at Clint “He told me you were in there-based on the intensity of the fire I knew if I waited for Steve-you’d be dead” he replied.
The others looked at Bucky in surprise. Then glanced at Bruce as he walked over extending his hand.
“I for one want to thank you” Bruce said quietly.
Bucky stared at his hand then slowly took it and shook it “welcome” he mumbled.
“Ok so I am not saying this is over-or even resolved. But you are looking at a pregnant women who needs to eat” Jen said as she walked to the kitchen. “So do whatever you need to do-I’ll be in the kitchen” she called.
Bruce shrugged and followed her into the kitchen, leaving the others to gape at them.
“Do you think that’s wise?” Bruce whispered as he started slicing vegetables.
Jen shrugged “Probably not-but they –we-do need to eat” she replied.
“They?” Natasha asked suddenly causing the couple to jump.
“Natasha I am holding a knife-seriously” Jen yelled.
Bruce chuckled as he sidestepped them and went to pull out bread condiments out of the fridge.
“You didn’t answered my question” Natasha replied.
“Question?” Jen asked dumbly.
“You said they” Tony replied from the doorway.
Jen feigned innocent “Did I say they?” she asked turning to Bruce.
Bruce nodded “I think you did” he replied.
“Okay what is going on” Tony asked.
“We went to Xavier’s today to have a meeting with Hank and Helen” Bruce began.
“Is everything ok?” Steve asked.
“They did a sonogram” Bruce said.
“Did you get to see pictures?” Sam asked.
“We got to hear the heartbeat” Jen said.
“AND” Tony whined.
“We heard both of their heart beats” Jen replied.
There was silence as each person processed Jen’s statement.
“You’re pregnant with twins?” Bucky was the first to ask from his spot against the doorframe.
Jen nodded glancing at him almost shyly.
Natasha stood next to Jen staring at her stomach. She glanced up at Jen’s face and graced her with a small smile. “Are you scared?” she asked.
Jen chuckled at the tears that suddenly were threatening to fall. “A little” she admitted.
Bruce came over and rubbed her back “I fear the fear will switch between her and I the majority of this pregnancy” He said with a chuckle.
Nat smiled and hugged Jen briefly, then turned and hugged Bruce-surprising everyone. Tony was the next to come over and hug them-even briefly touching Jen’s stomach. Jen smiled as she watched each member come and hug her and Bruce congratulated them. She was trying to hide the rising emotion she was feeling at everything. Unfortunately Clint saw her and rubbed her back-discreetly handing her a tissue.
Jen laughed as she wiped her eyes “It starts” she said.
Clint snorted “Yeah-might want to stack up on tissues” he joked to Tony-making everyone laugh.
“So you guys are going to stay here right?” Tony asked.
Bruce and Jen exchanged looks “We’d like to Tony-it’s up to you of course” he said.
“Of course-I wouldn’t have asked if I didn’t want you here” Tony replied.
“I think it would be the safest place-for Bruce and for them” Jen replied.
Natasha nodded “It makes the most sense” she agreed.
“Besides we can help out with the pregnancy” Clint replied.
Sam laughed “Ok do any of us know anything about pregnancy?” he asked.
Steve smiled “Buck-um James’s sister has a couple of kids before he deployed” he said as he turned toward an empty doorway.
“James?” Steve asked walking out to investigate.
“How long as he been gone JARVIS?” Jen asked worriedly.
“Sargent Barnes slipped out when the team was busy congratulating you Miss. Gibbs” the A.I answered.
Steve came back and stood silently in the doorway.
“Did you find him?” Sam asked.
Steve shook his head “No-he’s gone” he said.