Author's note:

Its a short story, loops (sort of) into my other story, The Choices We Make. Its taken out of the period in between Winter Soldier and AOU, without any romantic relationship between Natasha and Bruce. Steve and Natasha are together. Maria Hill is working for Tony and Pepper both, while staying an active agent with S.H.I.E.L.D

Hope you all enjoy.

Cheers

Chapter 1

Many people may think they have an idea what it is like everyday being a Soldier or even an Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. Most days are ordinary idle work, then some days exceed all expectations.

"GRENADE…. TAKE COVER" Hey own yells startling her awake. Sitting up in bed, sweat running down her face. "Its just a dream" She reassured herself.

Looking over at the clock, it shined in bright red color 0244. She rolled her eyes, she had just went to bed at Midnight. Though she was exhausted with the haunting sleep she did had, she decided to get up and start her day. She didn't want any of her demons to impact her day.

With a quick change she was in dark gym clothes, tossing a few items into a bag, before grabbing her Garment bag. She got the keys off the counter before departing the apartment and locking the door behind her.

Driving through the dark streets to an underground garage. She parked her 'black on black' Lexus in the Level 8 Agent parking spot. She waved at the parking attendant before pressing her hand against the identification pad. The hallways were dead quite and brightly lite as she entered the indoor gym.

She stretch before jumping on the treadmill for a steep inclined run. The Black Eagle crest of Strategic Homeland Intervention Enforcement Logistics Division, covered the back wall completely.

After 6 miles on the treadmill, and running a full body circuit twice, before any other person walked into the gym. She finished her cool down departing, and heading upstairs to a row of cubicles where she plotted down in a desk. She login in checking emails, looking at status updates of individuals in the field and on leave. Her phone chimed, telling her it was time to head to her actual job.

She drove to the Tower that took part of the New York sky line. Walking into her office she, hung her garment bag behind the door in the bathroom turning on the shower, while the water warmed up she, started up her computer.

Within 20 minutes she was showered and dressed drinking her second cup of coffee while checking her Stark emails. The morning sun breaking the darkness up.

"Ms. Hill, Ms. Potts is awake and requesting you have breakfast with her." The housekeeper told her.

"Thank You" Maria got up from the desk, phone on hand looking at the stock market updates and anything trending on the news. But nothing she was interested in, or anyone.

"Morning Pepper, did you get some rest?"

"Not really, Tony decided to come back late last night from the compound.." Pepper explained to her.

"I see, I wasn't given any notification that the team had returned."

"the team hasn't returned, Just Tony. He is trying to make up for the date he missed last week." Pepper giving her a smile

"I see, where shall we start for today's business?" The two women beginning their days work, running Stark Industries.

Maria returned to dark apartment, just like she left it that morning. It was 930 pm and all she craved was a hot bath and a large glass of wine. She slipped off the her tall high heels, unzipping the back of her dress, while the bath tub filled. Standing in her kitchen, barefooted and unzipped she poured herself a glass of wine. Then deciding to bring the bottle with her.

Placing both glass and bottle on the tile floor, while she finishing undressing and submerged herself in the bath. Drinking her wine she while scrolled through the New alters, while she listened to instrumental jazz.

Her hand vibrated in her hand, she had a new email.

Agent Hill,

Clear your schedule. I need you at the Compound first thing in the morning.

Tony

Really? She was pissed that Tony is messing with her schedule. Also excitement rushed through her. Maybe I will get to see him. She thought to herself. Only writing a single word reply. Roger.

What will tomorrow hold? She just had to make it through the night. Night time was always the hardest for her, she watches helplessly to the horrors that play out. Every time nothing changes, each one still dies, their lifeless bodies imprinted in her mind forever.

She was siting up in bed, powering through any and all work she would have for the next day. Jumping on the emails for both S.H.I.E.L.D and Stark Industries, contingency plans depending g how long she was going to be away.

It was a little before 0100 when she finished her work, finally laying down and turning out the lights. She closed her eyes, letting sleep take her. Only darkness is where her monsters of past come out to show themselves.

"No… Don't" She yelled as a different monster woke her from sleep. Picking her head up from the pillow to see its only 0210. WHY! She yelled into the pillow.

She pulled into the gravel drive way as the sun was raising. She had brought with her 6 dozen donuts and muffins for her team. She sat down boxes of breakfast items, in time for Natasha to appear from the hallway where her living quarters were.

"Maria, I didn't know you were coming out." She greeted her with a hug. Natasha wearing oversized clothes that, clearly didn't belong to her.

"Didn't have much of a choice when your boss tells you to be here first thing." She to the red head.

Everyone started making waking up and coming to indulge in breakfast. Mostly because Maria started the coffee pot, letting the aroma wake the sleeping men.

Clint stumbling to the couch where he curled back up into the fetal position resting his head in Natasha lap. She carelessly running her fingers through his golden hair while she sipped her coffee.

Tony, Steve, Thor sat around the table reliving the events from the prior night. Clearly Thor returned last night causes an immediate celebration. That's why Clint does look good, trying to keep up with Super Soldier and a God.

Steve leaned over the back of the couch to giving Natasha a sweet whisper in her ear causing her to smile and kissing her lips.

"Rogers we talked about this, no kissing or cute stuff in public, old people should not do that." Tony teased.

"When you are 100 and look that good, you can do whatever you want Tony." Natasha told them, while she smiled at her boyfriend.

Maria looked around at her teammates, noticing that one is missing from the group. She grabbed a coffee cup, filling with hot water and grabbed a tea bag, departing in search of the missing teammate.

She walked towards R and D labs, peering through the glass walls, looking for the workaholic Doctor. She spotted him, hunch over a table, writing in a tattered leather journal.

"Knock, Knock. I brought donuts for breakfast." She told him, trying not to startle him. He looked up at her, giving her an ear to ear smile. " Thought maybe you would like a cup of tea." As she set down the cup.

"I didn't know you were here." He walked towards her. Ignoring the cup, he wrapped his arms around her, staring her deep in her eyes, before placing his lips on hers. Her hands on either side of his face. "I missed you." He told her when their contact broke.

"Me too." She holding him close. "Tony insisted on me clearings my schedule to come here. I am not sure if it's for work or what." Maria resting chin on his shoulder.

" Thor arrived last night, Tony thought that we have some team bounding time. Your part of the team." Bruce releasing his hold on her, but keeping one arm wrapped around her waist. While Maria opened the tea bag and dipped it into the warm water.

"What are you working on? Everyone else is just barely waking up." She asked him.

"Well they had a heated battle of beer pong last night. But I got a call from Agents Fritz and Simmons about a project they are working. Technically I didn't go to bed." He gave her a cheesy grin.

"You need your sleep Doc. I Am sure Barton loss last night." She informed him.

"I would sleep better if I had someone next to me."

"Me too. Let's go and join the rest of the team, before Thor eats all the donuts." She joked.