Natasha collected her personal things from Natalie Rushman's apartment and called a S.H.I.E.L.D. cleaning team to scrub the place of any evidence of her existence. She took a cab to the L.A. base, hopped a chopper north and was on the Helicarrier by noon.

Director Nick Fury was waiting for her in his office. She sat down and he turned off his computer screen and faced her. "So, tell me about Tony Stark."

"His technology is the most amazing thing I've ever seen, sir."

"Why do I think there should have a 'but' at the end of the statement, agent?" he sighed.

"He's unstable, sir," She felt a bit guilty about that statement. She wasn't exactly the poster child for stability. "He put the people closest to him in danger. He relies too much on his hardware." She looked at her hands resting in her lap. "Tony Stark could be an incredible asset to S.H.I.E.L.D. In fact, I'd much rather have him as an ally than an enemy."

Fury nodded. "I understand. Thank you Agent Romanoff."

"Sir?"

"Yes?"

"My next assignment?

Fury stood up and walked to the tiny window in his office. "You're with me, here, Romanoff."

She swallowed hard, stood up, and bowed slightly. "Understood, sir."

~End~