LOCATION: S.H.I.E.L.D. AIRWAY, OUTSIDE OF NEW YORK, NEW YORK

DATE: 7 JUNE, 2012

TIME: 2322

CLEARANCE LEVEL: LEVEL 7

"We're home," the pilot of the quinjet joked to his passengers, most of whom were half-asleep. One passenger appeared to be fully awake and ready to spring into action at a moment's notice.

"Indeed," the passenger said with a tone that contrasted the pilot's joking tone, "Thank you for the ride." The passenger stood up from her seat and walked out of the landed quinjet. Her worn-out companions followed behind and carried a large, black box.

"Is she always that serious?" the pilot asked one of the passengers who was putting his jacket on.

"Agent Catalina? Oh, yeah, she's kind of the buzzkill around here," he answered. "Always focusing on the mission, blah, blah, blah," he mocked.

"Agent Carson," Agent Catalina called from the runway, "Are you going to keep us waiting all day? We still have to report to Director Fury, and I think everyone here wants to go home."

Agent Carson sighed in annoyance and rolled his eyes. "See what I mean?" he said to the pilot before exiting the quinjet.

LOCATION: S.H.I.E.L.D. HQ, NEW YORK, NEW YORK

DATE: 8 JUNE, 2012

TIME: 0024

Field Agent Anita Catalina marched through the halls of HQ with her teammates following behind. The hallways were mostly empty, even though there were still some S.H.I.E.L.D. agents, desk workers, and scientists walking through with caffeinated drinks in hand to help them get through the late shift. Anita occasionally heard the whispers of conversation from gossipy and judgmental desk workers that happened to pass by her.

"Does she always walk like she's the President or something?"

"Oh yeah, you'll always hear someone say how she's a model agent or something."

"What's that blonde girl's problem? She looks like a freaking robot."

"Don't know, Tim. I wouldn't be surprised if she was one"

"Yup, with all of the alien crap that happened last month, nothing surprises me anymore."

Of course, Anita isn't bothered by the judgmental comments; after all, they're just desk workers- or at the least, agents with a low clearance level- who haven't tried to earn a better place in S.H.I.E.L.D. Anita, on the other hand, has put blood, sweat, and tears into her work and will continue to do so, even if it means getting accused of being a robot or buzzkill in the process. Anita finally approached the door of Director Fury's office and knocked on the door.

"Come in," Director Fury called from behind the door.

"Director Fury," Anita greeted as she and her team entered the office.

"Agent Catalina and co," Fury greeted back nonchalantly. "How'd it go in Chile?"

"It went as planned, sir. The smugglers were apprehended, and the Chitauri weapons are currently being stored away."

"That's what I like to hear, Agent. Any idea what the smugglers were planning to do with the weapons?"

"The weapons were inactive, but the smugglers thought they could make a quick buck off of it in the black market."

Fury nodded. "Alright, I expect this to be filed within the next two days, Agent Catalina."

"Understood, sir."

"Good." Fury looked away from Anita to Anita's teammates. "The rest of you may go; I need to have a word with Agent Catalina." Anita's teammates filed out of the room, some giving her looks of mock concern and jokingly wishing her good luck. Fury gestured to the seat in front of his desk, and Anita sat herself down with her back straight and hands folded in her lap. "Agent Catalina," Fury began, "You have done some exceptional work over the past few weeks since New York."

"Thank you, sir," Anita said, trying to hide the pride rising in her.

"However," Fury interjected, "I have heard about incidents involving you that have happened since New York."

Anita tensed in her seat as she knew exactly what incidents Fury was talking about. "I don't know what you are referring to, sir," she lied.

"I think you do, Agent," Fury said, seeing through Anita's facade like glass. He tapped on a file that was resting on his desk and opened it. "May eighteenth, you sprained the wrist of Agent Carson during sparring. Agent Carson claims that when you sprained his wrist, you were, and I quote, 'Like I was not her fellow agent and instead someone who tried to takeover S.H.I.E.L.D.' end quote."

Anita tightened her jaw. That was an accident, and Agent Carson knows it.

"And a few days ago, you were caught working here even though you were not authorized to be doing such a thing, and you were doing the work of another agent."

"With all due respect, sir," Anita spoke quickly, "That agent had personal matters that came up and prevented him from being able to finish his work."

"That doesn't mean you take over his assignment, Agent Catalina," Fury argued. "There's also more incidents in this file, but I'll get to the point." Anita straightened herself up past the capabilities of being straightened up and dug her fingernails into her hands. Director Fury leaned back in his plush, leather office chair and scratched the facial hair surrounding his mouth. "Agent Catalina, I'm ordering you to undergo another psych evaluation."

"But sir-"

"That's an order, Agent," Fury interrupted. "I need to be sure that I'm not sending a basket case out on the field. You may say that you're fine regardless of what happened to you in New York, but I won't believe it until a professional tells me so. Understood?"

Anita held back the exasperated sigh that swelled up in her and nodded, "Understood," she grunted.

Fury smirked at her, "Good. You're dismissed." Anita nodded and stood up from her seat. "Your evaluation is tomorrow at twelve hundred hours," he spoke as Anita walked to the door.

"Yes, sir," she said clearly, trying to act as if Fury's order has no effect on her. It won't, because Anita Catalina will not let a mere psych evaluation stop her from doing her part in protecting the world from terrorists, aliens, or anything that dares threaten it.

A/N: I bring a new fanfic! Hello, new readers! I am SirFangirl, and you just read the first chapter of my new fanfic. If you happened to be a reader of my other fanfic, "Partners in Crime (Sort of)", then hello again. I hoped you enjoyed this chapter, and feel free to drop a fav/follow/review if you want to express your enjoyment.

-SirFangirl