The Bridge Between Two Worlds (Alternate Title: Here Be… Dragons?)

**A note from Shado. Yeah, so this is a product of my bored imagination. Scary thing that, isn't it? I don't know if anyone will like it and if not, well that's ok. I'm having fun with my two latest obsessions, Bruce and Skyrim. My apologies for delving into the land of cliché, I usually try to avoid that if possible… but couldn't this time. I don't own any thing here except my OC.**

Chapter One: The Land of Cliché or What the Hell is with the purple lightning?

Violet ran the pre-flight checks efficiently, if a little automatically. She was looking forward to the coming flight immensely. Unlike the other pilots here at SHIELD, she actually liked flying Dr. Banner. They, of course, all thought she was crazy. After all, who in their right mind wanted to fly the ticking time bomb that was Hulk? Their assumption of her insanity suited her just fine- it meant she got to see the quiet, rather quaintly shy scientist frequently. Sometimes, when he wasn't too tired from whatever he'd been involved in, they would spend the flight just talking. Discussing everything under the sun, from his latest research, to Tony Stark's latest row with Fury, or they would talk about nothing at all. Just sit and enjoy the peace of the open sky. Other times, he would fall asleep, trusting her to get him home safely.

Those were the times that she cherished most; the unfailing trust that he showed to her, and her alone. For he never slept with another pilot at the controls; or so she'd been told by the few pilots that flew him. Upon hearing that, she'd made certain, that she was always available to fly him. She'd wheedled and wangled; whined and cajoled everyone she could until she was assigned as his permanent pilot. That accomplished, she then set about getting him a private jet. Quinjets were great and all, don't get her wrong on that. But the Doc needed someplace he could relax, lie down and sleep. A quin was not equipped for that. She cornered Stark one day, when the Doc was exceptionally exhausted and merely pointed it out to him… there was nothing more that needed doing. The next time she flew the Doc home, it was in a small, elite jet with the Doc comfortably ensconced in a recliner, sound asleep.

"Control, this is Echo Victor One-Niner," she radioed. "Requesting a weather brief."

"Echo Victor One-Niner, be advised that NOAA is tracking storm fronts across the Midwest."

"Roger that. Tower this is Echo Victor One-Niner, clearance to switch to flight plan Charlie Bravo?"

"Flight plan Charlie Bravo confirmed Echo Victor One-Niner."

Checks done, flight plan filed, she settled in to wait for the Doc. She watched the flight crews scurrying along the Helicarrier's deck carrying out their tasks with brutal efficiency. As she waited she hummed a tune that was running through her mind, idly pouring a cup of coffee for herself and making certain that she'd remembered to stock the Doc's favorite tea. The ping of her private comm broke her song.

"V?" Maria's voice whispered in her ear.

"Maria, what's up?" She sat up straight. "Is the Doc ok?"

"V, it was a bad one." Maria said slowly. "Just…take care of him."

"Got it. Thanks for the heads up, Maria." She said softly, closing her eyes in sympathy.

"Anytime, V." Hill signed off. Violet left the cockpit and jogged down the flight line. If Maria was this concerned, she thought, then Doc must be in a bad way. She reached the safety gate and stood waiting. She'd ventured into the Helicarrier but didn't want to risk missing him. It wasn't too much longer before she could see him, slowly walking down the corridor, his carry bag slug over his shoulder. Just from the way he walked, she knew that Maria was right to be concerned.

"Here, Doc, let me get that for ya," she said softly as he got closer. She took the carry bag in hand and fell into step next to him. It was a testament to his exhaustion that he didn't even register the transfer. It took him a few steps before he even acknowledged her presence.

"Hey, Violet," he mumbled. "Thanks." She could see the remnants of bruises on his face; his skin was pale and waxy.

"Hey, Doc." She replied. "Rough one?" He nodded slightly, swaying on his feet. "Thought so, come on. I've got tea for you if you're up to it." She kept her voice low and gentle. "Hope you don't mind, but we're going to have a longer flight than usual. Major storm fronts between us and the Tower."

"Sokay." His reply was muted. She frowned slightly as he almost stumbled. She laid a hand on his arm.

"Come on, Doc, just follow me." She took her time guiding him across the busy flight deck, ignoring the looks from the crews.

At the jet, she tossed his carry bag into a rack and helped him settle in. "I'll do my best to keep it nice and smooth for ya, Doc. You just get some rest." She watched as he fumbled the clasp of the seatbelt and then with a heartfelt sigh of commiseration, fastened it for him. She grabbed the pillow and blanket from the overhead storage. He took the pillow from her with a weary grateful smile.

"Thanks, Violet." She smiled at him, tucking the blanket in place. "Glad to see you."

"Me too Doc. I'll leave the pit door open, if you need anything just sing out ok?" she said as his eyes closed. He nodded slightly already drifting off.

#

Once she got the jet to cruising altitude, she set Gilbert the auto pilot. She checked on the Doc to find him sound asleep. Didn't even make it to take off, she thought with a frown. Doesn't anyone notice how tired he is? She loosened his seatbelt and tucked the blanket back in. Poor Doc. Satisfied that he was as comfortable as he could be, she slid back into her jumpseat

Completing her check in, she settled back for the long flight. Gilbert had things well in hand and now all she needed to do was input any course corrections. With a contented sigh, she poured herself some coffee from her thermos and added sugar and cream. The Doc's thermos of tea she kept in her ditty bag slung over the back of her seat. Words to a song floated through her mind, and keeping an eye on her passenger she began to sing softly.

"What's the miracle, if life itself is not? Who am I to praise his worth with a hymn? I may stumble over words that I forgot, just as life itself surely begins…"

Her song floated on the air of the jet, Bruce shifted in his sleep, turning toward the melody. Deep in the darkness that was his world, Hulk stirred to life. Slowly, cautiously, not wanting to be shoved back, he crept forward past the slumbering consciousness of Banner. The music was soothing and he liked it. He crept ever closer drawn to the melody. Eyes snapped open and his head turned to the cockpit where the singer was.

Violet knew the instant he woke. She kept singing until the last note was ended before turning around completely. "You liked that one?" She asked. Two eerie green eyes glowed at her from Banner's face. Slowly Hulk nodded. "Want another?" Again Hulk nodded. "Only if you promise to let Dr. Banner rest." She said firmly, waiting for the answer. Hulk thought for a moment and then nodded once more. "Ok."

She made a slight course correction, took a sip of coffee, all the while keeping one eye on Hulk. "Ready?" She asked knowing the answer. His nod was emphatic and she had to hide a grin. "Wandering shepherd, wander no more. Wandering shepherd, wander no more…"

Hulk let his eyes drift closed, the music soothing the rage that was his soul, slowly sinking back into the dark once more. "Pretty bird," he growled softly as he receded into his own slumber.

Violet heard the softly growled words and grinned to herself. She didn't stop singing, letting the music soothe both her passengers. She'd been startled the first time this happened; but now she was comfortable with Hulk's presence. He only appeared when the Doc was totally exhausted; drawn out by her songs. She probably should have stopped after the first time, but he hadn't done anything but listen, so she hadn't said anything to anyone. After the third time, she'd actually managed to 'talk' with Hulk, finding that while he didn't speak well, he could speak. It was rather intriguing to talk to him and she enjoyed their "conversations" such as they were. It was even more intriguing to discover that the Doc had no memory of them at all.

"Echo Victor One-Niner," the radio crackled, startling her for a moment. "Be advised that the National Weather Service has upgraded the storms to severe."

"Echo Victor One-Niner, roger." She answered. "How are we looking?"

"Echo Victor One- Niner, tower suggests course correction to heading +7 East."

"Roger that, Tower, correcting +7 East." She fed the new heading into the compnav, double checking the course and her fuel. "Tower, be advised that the new course will mean a refuel at StarkTower."

"Roger, that Echo Victor One-Niner. Refuel at StarkTower."

"Problem?" The voice at her shoulder was surprising.

"Oh? Hey Doc. Thought you were sleeping." She said turning her head. Banner slid into the co-pilot's seat next to her, looking at the star filled night around them. She was pleased to note that he looked much improved from before.

"Anything to worry about?" he asked.

"Nah, got it covered." She cocked her head toward him. "Just those storms I told you about."

He frowned searching his memory, then smiled slightly. "I remember."

"You should go back and try to sleep some more. We're going to be a little later than planned."

"I'm awake now," he said simply. He scanned the sky around them. "I don't see any storms."

"Over that way," she said pointing to her left. "About 200 klicks to the west." She twisted in her seat, reaching into her ditty bag. "Well, if you won't go back to sleep, would you like some tea?" She fished around for a moment and then with a soft grin, pulled the thermos out, waving it at him. "It's your favorite."

Banner took the thermos with a slight chuckle and head shake. "Violet, you surprise me constantly."

"Why?" she asked honestly. "Can't a girl remember a guy's favorite tea?"

He cracked the lid and inhaled deeply. "Guess you can." He carefully poured a cup and sipped it with a sigh of contentment. "Shouldn't you be flying the plane instead of drinking coffee?"

She chuckled. "That's why we have Gilbert." She pointed her cup at the panel of lights. "Autopilot extraordinaire." She sipped her coffee. "Don't tell me, Romanov never told you about Gilbert?"

"No, never mentioned a Gilbert."

"Sheesh." Violet rolled her eyes. "Probably makes you guys think she's doing all the flying herself, right?" She settled back, eyes on Banner. "Let you in on a little secret, Doc? I can guarantee she's snoozing and Gilbert's doing the flying." Bruce chuckled softly.

"You're probably right." He agreed.

"I know I'm right." She crowed with a giggle.

"How long until we reach Manhattan?" he asked after a bit.

She considered for a moment. "Another couple hours, thanks to those storms." Something flashed off to her left, pulling her attention that way. "Did you…?" There was another flash; a strange sickly purple glow that lit the sky for a moment. "What the hell?"

"What is it, Violet?" Bruce asked leaning forward trying to see around her.

"Dunno, Doc." She said as yet more flashes could be seen. They were moving closer with each second, lighting up the sky. "Hang on a sec Doc." She reached for the radio. "Echo Victor One-Niner to Tower…." Static crackled. "Echo Victor One-Niner, to Tower, do you copy?" Nothing.

As the odd flashes danced closer, clouds began to overtake the stars and the wind picked up. Violet's fingers danced over the control panel adjusting the radio and disabling Gilbert. A violent gust of wind caught the jet making it shake.

"Doc, now might be a good time to buckle up," she said correcting the jet's pitch. "I think those storms found us." Bruce did as she suggested quickly. Before he'd even gotten the belt in place, the storm was upon them.

Towering thunderheads blocked everything around them and the bizarre purple lightning rent the air. The jet bucked and tossed like paper in the winds that came from every direction. She fought to keep the jet from being slammed to the ground. Remember people, Director Fury's voice echoed in her mind; Dr. Banner does not handle stress well. She risked taking her attention off her instruments for a moment, sneaking a glance at her silent passenger. His face was white, eyes firmly closed, his hands clenching the armrests and leaving dents.

"Now would be a good time to practice your breathing, Doc," she ground out, fighting the storm and the plane. He nodded, inhaling and exhaling slowly.

Her instruments were useless; the compnav was flashing off and on, the backup radar nothing but snow… she was flying blind. The lightning blinded her with each flash and she was just thankful they weren't flying through mountains right now. Some part of her registered the fact that there was no sound. She'd flown through plenty of storms in her career but never through a silent one.

It felt like an eternity, her arms burned with strain, sweat chilled her skin. The purple lightning made her eyes burn and her stomach twist. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see the Doc; his face still pale and set, but he seemed to be in control for the moment, though he did look as nauseous as she felt.

Just as suddenly as it had begun, it was over. The jet burst through the cloud wall into the clear. "Yes!" she breathed heavily, a wild grin on her face. "Doc? Doc, you ok? We made it!"

He nodded exhaling slowly. "Yes." There was a slight quaver in his voice but he sounded all right. "Let's just… not do that again."

"I agree." She said reaching for the radio. For an instant, it didn't register… but then it did. "Holy!" she cried, yanking back on the stick. She slammed open Banner's seatbelt with one hand, the other pulling the jet into a steep climb. "Out, Doc! Get out now!" she screamed. His reaction was instantaneous- he bolted for the back of the plane and the escape hatch. She managed to hit the red release button that would open it for him as the cockpit filled with white hot flame. She screamed again, her arms over her face.

Her scream hit him and he reacted. He was half way to the hatch when Hulk came roaring to the fore. The transformation was quick. But instead of bounding through the open hatch, Hulk hesitated. He turned back toward the cockpit.

"Pretty bird," he growled and scooped her, seat and all into his arms. As the jet began to disintegrate around him, Hulk jumped.

** The songs Violet sings to Hulk in this chapter are Anthem by Kamelot and Wandering Shepherd by Dan Fogelberg. Both songs can be found in their entirety on youtube. I didn't write them, I'm not stealing them... she's merely singing along with the "radio" in her head... like everyone does when driving.**