Between Time- MCU

The usual hum of the command center fills the air. Everyone is present, well, almost everyone. Natasha's been quiet lately, and Tony keeps throwing sarcastic comments around to cover for it. Clint's perched on the edge of a table, fiddling with his bow, while Bruce scans the data from a recent mission.

Then, all at once, a soft beep rings through the room.

The sound isn't loud, but it's enough to make everyone freeze. Natasha's eyes flick to the screen, her gaze sharp. She doesn't speak, not at first. She just watches as a signal blinks into life.

A small icon appears: Incoming Signal from Alex Miller.

It's almost surreal.

Clint looks up from his phone, brow furrowing. "Is that...?"

Before anyone can respond, Natasha stands up, moving swiftly to the console. Her hands fly over the controls as she brings up the signal, tapping a few keys. The screen flashes, and then, a communication window opens.

Alex's voice crackles through the speaker.

"I... I pressed it. I'm here."

The room is still. Even Tony, always the first to make a joke, holds his breath for a moment.

Natasha's expression is unreadable, but there's a flicker of something softer in her eyes.

"Alex," Natasha says, her voice low but steady. "You made the right choice."

The tension in the room is thick. Clint exchanges a look with Tony, his mouth tightening. He's been waiting for this moment, but hearing her voice, hearing her actually reach out, is something else.

Tony clears his throat, stepping forward. "Alright, so... the runaway's finally done with her little solo act. What now, Fury?"

Nick Fury, who'd been silently observing from the other end of the room, takes a deep breath and turns to the team. "Now, we follow through. Alex Miller has officially made contact. But the road ahead won't be easy. We need to get her here, safe. You all know what that means."

Bruce taps a few buttons, pulling up a map of Alex's last known location. "She's still underground. The signal's weak, but it's definitely her."

Clint looks at the map, then back to Natasha, his expression thoughtful. "We going in, then?"

Natasha's eyes soften. "I'm going. She needs someone who understands how to handle a run. She's not ready for everyone yet."

Tony crosses his arms, grinning despite the seriousness of the situation. "You're really taking the 'lone wolf' approach to a whole new level, aren't you, Nat? Need me to go with you? I mean, I can be the charming guy and bring some snacks."

Natasha shoots him a look, calm but unamused. "No, Tony. I've got this."

Clint, ever the realist, leans back in his seat, his hands laced behind his head. "What if she runs again? She's been doing it for years, right? What's different now?"

Natasha doesn't answer right away. She stares at the screen, where Alex's signal still pulses faintly. A part of her knows the answer, but she doesn't want to say it aloud. Not yet.

Finally, she speaks. "She's already started to stop. That's why she pressed the button."

The team quiets at that.

Fury steps forward, his posture rigid. "I don't need to remind any of you how dangerous this could be. If she's ready, we move. But if she's still unsure, we have to respect that. We give her the space she needs, but we stay close."

Clint nods, a rare seriousness in his eyes. "Got it. I'll keep an eye on things from here."

Tony scratches his chin. "Yeah, I suppose the whole 'let her make her own decisions' thing is kind of our jam. We'll make sure to let you do the hard part, Natasha."

Natasha doesn't laugh. She just focuses on the signal again, a mix of determination and resolve in her gaze.

"I'm not going to rush her," she says quietly, her eyes scanning the screen as the signal becomes clearer. "But when she's ready, she'll know she doesn't have to do this alone anymore."

Fury stands at the back, his expression inscrutable. He knows how hard this is for Alex, and how much harder it will be for her to truly accept help. But she's already taken the first step.

The next move is up to Natasha...and Alex.