She hit her knees in front of her commanding officer and he came to herapproached to help her up with his lieutenant. Her father was gone—, he was dead. She felt like as if a huge slab of cement was laying on her chest. She couldn't breathe. She didn't know if she ever would again. Her eyes squinted at the bright desert landscape around her. The noise of the encampment was being drowned out by the rushing sound in her ears from her blood pumping so fast.
"You need to pack, Major. You're going home. Your ride is already here." She looked up at the General, your her visions still hazy, and he gestured to the opening of the tent behind her. She knew and got up running to the man who recruited, trained and loved you her like a father. Her gaze met Fury's after a few minutes of silent tears.
"Let's go, Brooke. I got you." His hand gently smoothing over her back.
Everything was a blur…she couldn't even go to the funeral. The Avengers were there and she saw red because of that. It wasn't their fault, but, she was so angry. Plus, he would be there. The bane of her existence, even if they hadn't met yet. Brooke couldn't face that, not yet. Her activities were simple for nearly two months. Drink, barely eat, barely sleep, drink more. So, of course, the reinforcements came.
Fury never knocked and she heard his booming voice first. "Brooke! Where are you?" It made her hangover worse.
"Jesus Christ, Nick, really!" She she snapped, pouring more vodka in a glass,. it It was breakfast;, why the hell not. Nat showed up, grabbed the bottle and poured it out. Brooke groaned and rolled her eyes, and Nick took the glass from her.
That one eye of his judging her like it always did. "You look like shit," He he said gently, yet matter-of-factly.
"Well I feel like shit, Fury.," She saluted him with a sarcastic grin, and then leaned on the kitchen counter, holding her head.
Nat put her hand on Brooke's arm. "This won't bring him back. You know he would be pissed." Nat's grip getting a little tighter slightly to get her attention
Brooke turned to her friend and glared gently. "I was never enough. He would always be pissed, no matter what I did." Her retort was dry and sorrowful;, she knew how true that was. She had been trained almost since birth almost. You name is it, she did it, including Army Special Forces and ShieldS.H.I.E.L.D. Nope, still not good enough.
Nick looked at Natasha and then back to Brooke. "I need a handler/ slash partner/agent for Steve Rogers." It was to the point.
Brooke sobered like cold water had been thrown on her. She snapped her eyes up to meet his and Natasha's. "Are you kidding?!" She she practically screeched.
"No, and you are the one who knows the most about him. You know stuff we probably don't know." He gestured between him and Nat.
Brooke pushed off the counter, running her hands into her hair, her blood boiling. "You want me to babysit that little shit!" Her stance turned angrily towards Fury.
"Actually, he is like 6'2six foot two, so, he only beats you by like two inches. Unless you wear your heels," Tthe redhead replied.
Brooke snarled. "I know how tall the bastard is.," "Brooke took deep breaths, the scenarios running through her head. She owed this to her dad. Steve Rogers was his idol. She closed her eyes., "Fine, but that jerk will not know my personal past. Work related, fine." Her hands were on her hips, sternly looking at Nick and Natasha.
Fury nodded, folding his arms. "What do you want your cover name to be then?"
She smirked and scoffed a little. "How about Barnes?"
Natasha sucked in a breath through her teeth. "That's just cold, Brooke.", Fury shook his head.
"Fine, Collins, same thing we have used before." She rolled her eyes as she waved her hand dismissively, turning to go shower and sober up.
"Your first get together is tonight at ShieldS.H.I.E.L.D." Nat informeds her.
"Yippee," was the only bored reply they got as she closed her bedroom door on them.
The Director director and agent took their leave. Natasha was nervous, though. This It could be a nuclear disaster in the making. "Are you sure we should do this?. Put them together like this? Steve can be just as stubborn as hershe is."
"If anyone can handle him, it's her. Plus, she needs this. Her grudge will have to subside., he's He's a damn boy scout, for Christ sake.," Fury replied, opening the door of the SUV.
"And she has a personal vendetta," Natasha said getting into the passenger seat.
Fury sighed, falling back into the driver's seat. "You have known her for years, trained with her. You know she will do everything to her father's memory and credit. So, I know she may hate it, but she would die for Captain America. She is a soldier, she is loyal and one of the best damn assets we have."
Natasha nodded with a knowing smirk. "You're right.," She sighed with a gentle chuckle. "She's gonna hate it."
Steve blew out a breath as he stood before Fury, Nat, Clint and Tony. He still didn't know why he needed agent backup, or a handler, as they were also known as. Nick just looked at him sitting there and gave a slight smirk to Clint and Nat.
"So- when does his babysitter get here,." Tony asked. Clint and Nat shook their heads while Steve just sighed heavily.
"It's not a babysitter, . you You Avengers all have loyal backup and agent help. Captain Rogers is no different,." Nick corrected him, glaring him down with that gaze of his.
Tony shrugged. "Alright, well does this guy have the ability and skill to back up the Capsicle?" Steve exhaled heavily through his nose, narrowing his eyes at Tony. "Just looking out for you Cap,." The billionaire folded his arms with another small shrug.
Steve hated to admit it, but looked at Fury and wondered the same thing. "He has a point."
Clint and Natasha glanced at one another, smiling as Nick picked up a file. "Well, Army Special Forces, Green Beret. A Major in the Army. Three tours in Afghanistan." Nick glanced up and Cap nodded as Tony looked unimpressed and gestured him to go on. "Three black belts, mixed martial arts fighting and winner, mind you. Weapons training, including blades, knifes, Asian weapons, swords and HYDRA weapons, as well as archery. A licensed pilot, a trained spy with undercover ops in Russia, Iran, England and Germany. Fluent in 15 fifteen languages, do I need to keep going on?" He threw the file down on the table.
"How old is this guy? I mean, that's a lot. Can't have a lot of life experience. I mean no serum making him young like gramps over here." Tony jerked his thumb at Steve. Steve shrugged—, sounds sounded qualified.
"Agent Collins is 31thirty-one," Clint raised his hand. "Why are you here again, Tony?"
"Oh, I was updating tech for ShieldS.H.I.E.L.D.," He he replied. "Wanted to look out for Cap here." He smirked walking slowly over towards where Steve was seated.
"When's he supposed to be here?" Steve asked ignoring Tony.
Agent Collins is here, Director.
They heard over the com on the desk.
"Show her into the conference room. We will be right there."
"SheHer?!" Steve and Tony both exclaimed while Nat and Clint snickered at that.
"Yes. SheHer. Unlike you, Stark, I can trust Captain Rogers with a female,." Fury stated as Tony put his hand on Steve's shoulder.
"Sorry, you will be stuck with a real dog." Tony patted his shoulder as they set to leave the room to meet this agent Collins. Steve really wasn't happy now. Fury picked up the folder and they all followed him to the conference room.
"Fury, really, a woman, why?" Steve huffed slightly.
"Cause Because she's the best, next to you guys,." The the director replied
"She's a real old, deadly hag- he means," Tony chirped in.
"Enough, Tony," Steve snapped at him.
Fury opened the door and they walked in. hHer back was to them, sitting in the chair. Her blonde, or was it strawberry blonde, hair—, Steve couldn't tell in the lighting— was pulled up in a ponytail. She turned in her chair, not getting up, and looked at them.
"Are you kidding me?," Tony looked at Fury, flabbergasted.
Fury nodded as Steve looked at her face. She didn't look like she was in her thirties. She didn't look too young, either. He walked over to her. "You're Agent Collins?" He he asked, not too sure he could believe this. Thisthis woman, was the one Fury just described.
She looked him up and down,. Not and not in the usual way women did,. Steve tensed under her gaze like as if he would have to fight. Her eyes held contempt or was it arrogance? Anger—, yeah, he was sure he saw that. She turned her chair and stood slowly, and Clint and Nat shook their heads as she met Steve eye to eye. Yeah, she wore the heels, just to let him know she would match him toe to toe. Steve's eyes slightly widened slightly as she smirked, and he glanced down over her and back up.
"Yeah, Mr. Rogers. I am Agent Collins." She folded her arms in front of her smirking defiantly.
Tony's eyes bugged a little and looked at Fury again. "Really? Are you kidding me?. How tall is she? Did you find her at a Victoria's Secret show?"
"6'0 Six foot, to be exact, Mr. Stark. I am no model. Just a soldier and agent." She looked at him blandly, turning to look at him.
"Play nice, Brooke. You know it's Captain Rogers." Fury eyed her. Steve kind of stared,; this is what the army was churning out now? She couldn't be that lethal, could she?
Brooke exhaled heavily, looking at him then back to Rogers and held out her hand. "Captain, I am Agent Brooke Collins. Yes, I am 31thirty-one, and yes, I am highly trained in a lot of things. Not all of us are lucky enough to get super solider serum." "She grinned sarcastically at him.
Steve raised a brow at her. This The woman had some bite to her,. and Sshe wasn't overly fond of him. Yet, he trusted Fury. He took her hand and shook it. they They were soft, yes, but well worn. She worked with her hands and her grip was firm. "Major Collins," He he said, tilting his head slightly. "from From what I hear, you don't need serum. Now do you?" He felt her arm tense and her hand tighten in his, her eyes narrowed as well.
"Oh, this is going to be fun." Tony smirked watching the two amused.
"No, it's going to be work." Brooke let Steve go and grabbed her file, and tossing it at the table. "Clint." She smiled brightly and hugged him, and he hugged herwhich he returned.
"Hey lady, you doin' ok?" He he asked without giving away anything. He knew she didn't want anyone knowing who didn't already didn't about her dad.
She smiled and nodded.
Steve took her in as she hugged Natasha as well. She had on a simple black jacket, black modest and tank top underneath and jeans that hugged her, but were modest and showed the long legs adorned with black heeled boots. The look was unassuming simple, comfortable and gave her mobility in case of a fight. She wasn't wearing makeup but then he thought she was pretty without it. She wasn't superficial or materialistic, it seemed. Her posture was straight, hands placed behind her back. Yeah, she was a soldier. He could almost guarantee she had a weapon hidden somewhere as well.
Fury took in their stance and smirked. "So, can you work together? I need you to be Roger's partner and back up."
Steve folded his arms, watching her. "I think we will be fine."
Fury looked to Brooke. She nodded. "From what I am told, he has no libido. So, I am fine, no worries for me." She saluted Fury with a wink.
Fury let his head fall and shook it. "Um, question.," Tony raised his hand as Fury left for them all to talk and Tony followed. "Why does he get the snarky Christy Christie Brinkley and I get a computer?" The doors cut off the rest of the conversation.
Steve walked up to her as she spoke to Clint and Natasha. "Have we met before? You seem to not really care for me. That's odd if we haven't met." Clint and Nat glanced at one another before saying goodbye so Brooke and Steve could talk.
Brooke looked him over and took a deep breath. "You're right, I don't care for you. Be that as it may, you are a huge Asset asset to Shield S.H.I.E.L.D. and America. So, I will do all I can to cover have your back." She folded her arms across her chest once again.
Steve narrowed his eyes at her but nodded. "Alright, I trust Fury. Let's give it a shot." He nodded as he spoke, agreeing with himself.