Question...was this mission BEFORE SHIELD? or was it during SHIELD? I just assumed it was during. But I didn't catch that it was in Russia.

Doesn't seem like she wears it with the uniform...I LOOOOOOVE the idea its something she chooses to wear. it reminds me of Scully's cross in the X-Files. Is he her savior?

I don't actually know. The fact that she was protecting someone rather than hunting someone makes me think it was during her SHIELD days. I also can't gaurantee that it was Russia, I just seem to remember that it was, and then latched onto the idea that the Winter Solider wasn't just the boogey man ghost that once beat the Black Widow but also beat her on her home turf. Which, ouch. And also could tie into realising that hey, she's really SHIELD now, Russia is not longer hers? (Can anyone confirm this was in Russia???)

I never watched the X Files, think maybe I watched a film once, but I have heard of those two characters :) Hmm, what does wearing this necklace symbolise. That she's his, that he's hers, that she's carrying him with her, a joke, a subtle nod to something, was a it a gift, was it a gift from someone other than Clint... This necklace caused no end of thinky trouble before the film and the thinky trouble continues lol.

I am going to watch it again today so I will try to pay attention...I remember her saying a very odd, very American place...like Kansas or North Dakota or something? But that may have just been my American-brain interpretting it.

So on the X-Files (AWESOME show, you should watch sometime), Dana Scully was the logical one, the medical doctor (vs. Fox Mulder, the paranormal expert), yet she was Catholic and always wore a small cross. Its funny b/c I was even reminded of her when watching the Avengers for the first time, b/c she is a petite gun-wielding redhead with a short bob.

It was Odessa.

Hahahaha, I just looked it up, I had no idea there was an Odessa in the Ukraine...I must have just assumed it was Odessa, TX. And I was like "huh. Winter Soldier in Texas. Must have had a sweaty face."