AN: Here we go, the prologue for Assembled!

As usual I do not own Marvel

Read, Review and enjoy!

Heroes Assembled

Prologue

Exactly 47 days after Diagnoses

"Is it possible that I could take some samples?" The doctor asked looking between me and my dad.

I shrugged my shoulders and glanced over at my dad, who had his hands resting on his knees. I didn't blame him this was our tenth oncologist since Jemma had delivered the news, and all of them seemed to come up with the same answer.

I had an advanced case of Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia and there wasn't a foreseeable cure for it.

"No." My dad finally said standing up. "You can't."

The oncologist opened his mouth to protest while my dad turned to face me. "Let's go," he said.I nodded my head and began gathering my stuff. I couldn't blame either party in this. My dad had gotten his hopes up that maybe, just maybe, this might be the doctor to answer my situation. And the doctor wanted to play with the cancer in my blood. No one had ever seen a case like mine before.

"Sorry," I said to the doctor as I passed him. "Thank you for your time."

The doctor nodded his head and allowed us to pass.

"So there is another oncologist about thirty miles from here," my dad said as we approached the car.

I sighed. "Dad," I began.

My dad froze and then turned around.

I felt the words get caught in my throat, I wanted to tell him to forget it, that we weren't going to find some magical cure or some missing element, but seeing his face, I couldn't bring myself to dash that hope, not today.

"Can we go home?" I asked. "I'm tired."

He nodded his head. "Of course we can," he said as he opened the passenger door for me. I smiled as he closed the door, I hadn't technically lied, I was tired. I was more tired than usual these days but that was to be expected.

My dad got in and we started heading back towards the brand new Stark tower.

I smiled seeing it up ahead. It was the latest and greatest, from the brains of both of us Starks. Clean energy, hopefully if our calculations were correct, the tower would run itself for a year alone on the was something that I was particularly proud of, I had spent so many years working on the arc reactor and for this to be my swan song, I couldn't be happier.

Now I know what you are thinking, I sounded pretty accepting of the fact that I was dying. I wasn't, not even a little, I was scared of what was going to happen to my body, to me. But I couldn't tell my dad just how terrified I was, not when I knew there wasn't anything else to save me.

"You've given up," my dad stated.

I lifted my head from the window and looked over at him. "Dad," I sighed again, not knowing the answer to that question.

"It's ok," he said. "I gave up when I thought I was going to die. But you didn't, and Scarlett, I'm not giving up on you."

A small smile formed as I laid my head back against the window as we approached the underground parking of the tower.

We got out and I started to walk over to my new car. It wasn't my 67 Impala but I had a soft spot for the blue mini cooper that replaced it. I wasn't fully in love yet, but I was well on my way.

"Where you going?" My dad asked as he saw me get into the car.

"I need to tell Clint," I confessed. "And Peter. It's time to let them know."

We were silent for a minute before my dad nodded. "Be home before dinner," he said.

I grinned and nodded before getting into my tiny cooper and driving to the apartment.I used my key to get into the apartment; I glanced around it and felt a little guilty. While Clint seemed okay with my moving out and was happy that my dad and I were getting along, I couldn't help but feel a little guilty at leaving him alone again.

"Big Bird?" I called out looking around the front room and the kitchen for him.

"I'll talk to you later," I heard him rush the end of a phone call.

There were footsteps and I finally saw him walking out of his bedroom.

"What's up?" He asked as he slipped his phone into his back pocket.

I sighed and headed towards the bar stool and took a seat. Clint followed my lead and took the seat beside me. Taking a deep breath, my eyes started to water. I had told my dad that I had cancer, I hadn't told anyone else about it. It sucked and it wasn't something that I was looking forward to telling anyone ever again.

"What is it?" Clint asked putting his hand on my shoulder.

"Uh," I said wiping my hands on my jeans. "I need to tell you something."

Clint remained quiet, allowing me the strength to tell him what I needed to.

"I, uh, I have acute promyelocytic leukemia." I said.

"Leukemia?" Clint asked, the light in his tone gone.

I nodded my head. "It's bad," I squeaked out not meeting his eye.

Clint grabbed my hand. "How long?"

"I can't get an answer," I confessed. "It's so mutated because of the S.H.I.E.L.D. gunk. They're afraid to even try a form of chemo with it."

"Shit," he swore. "Is there any-?" he trailed off.

Shaking my head I hiccupped. "I've been to 10 different oncologists, all the same answer."

Silence answered us as I finally looked at Clint. "So I guess what I'm really wondering is that will you watch Max after I'm gone?" I asked, a tear leaked out of the corner of my eye. "I don't think that my dad will be able to."

Clint was quiet for a moment before he nodded hesitantly. "I'm gone a lot," he reminded me.

I nodded my head. "I know, but he likes you and I can't think of anyone else who will take him."

"What are you doing this weekend?" He asked suddenly.

I blinked and thought about it for a moment. "Nothing?" I eventually answered even though it sounded more like a nodded. "Don't make plans I have something to show you, and bring Max."

"Ok," I said a little confused to what Big Bird had planned.

The end of our conversation was concluded with Clint getting a call from Phil that he was being summoned back to base.

"This weekend." Clint said point his finger at me.

"This weekend." I promise.

We walked together down to the garage and separated with a quick hug to our own cars.

I started my Cooper, two more stops today. Backing out I decided to swing by Steve's first, it wouldn't be as sad and emotional. I had only known the man for a couple of weeks now but I somehow felt guilty for getting cancer. I knew I was one of the only people he interacted with and to know that I was going to leave him, it ate at me.

I made quick work of finding an actual parking spot, which was considerably easier to do in my Cooper than my baby. And half walked, half ran to Steve's door, knocking before I could lose the courage I had found to tell everyone on my list. I waited and kept my fingers crossed that he wasn't home.

He was. That home body.

"Shouldn't you be out exploring?" I asked as he opened the door for me to step in.

"Then I wouldn't be here to answer the door for you," Steve countered.

I smiled as I looked around Steve's apartment. It was covered in sticky notes, sticky notes that I had placed there and I couldn't help but bring a smile as I glanced around.

"Still have the sticky notes?" I asked as I sat on the couch.

A few days after Steve was given this apartment by S.H.I.E.L.D. I'd made a stop by to see how he was doing, which was pretty terrible. During one of the actual times that he was out I snuck over and put sticky notes up all over his apartment, telling him how to work certain aspects of today's technology. Plus a binder full of more detailed versions if he needed something explained. And another binder that started telling Steve about the history he missed.

Now I know what you are thinking, wow, that's a lot of work to put in. And it was, but it didn't take me a long time to do it. For the most part, ever since I found out about my leukemia, I'd had a hard time sleeping. So it only took me a couple of days and some sleepless nights. And boom, one handy dandy independent guide to informing yourself about the future appreciated it and I even got a hug out of him after I explained what I had done.

"They are really helpful," Steve commented as he sat in the chair across from the couch.

I gave him a small smile before I remembered what I was here for. "I, uh, actually need to talk to you," I whispered out.

Steve leaned forward in concern. "What's wrong?" He asked.

"The day I met you, the day you woke up, I was actually at the base to get some tests done."

"Tests?"

"Medical testing, I hadn't been feeling well for a while and I needed to know what was wrong."

"And its bad?"

I found myself nodding my head. "Pretty bad," I confessed. "It's leukemia," I finished as I closed my eyes.

I felt Steve grab my hand and I opened my eyes.

"There isn't a cure," I whispered, "and nobody is sure of how long I have."

I felt pressure on my hand and I glanced down at them before meeting Steve's eyes.

He didn't offer any comfort and I was glad, I didn't want any. I had had enough of it to last me a while; the rest of my life really.

Steve stood up and walked to the kitchen. I sniffed before turning my shoulders to see what he was doing.

He was pulling some mugs out of his cabinet, I saw him glance over at my binder and follow some instructions that were written on it.

I couldn't help but feel a tug of, of something washing through me at seeing him.

He returned back with two cups of what looked like hot chocolate, a grin broke out as I took my cup from him.

"Thank you," I said as I took a small sip.

Steve beamed as he took his own sip of his drank our hot chocolate in silence, it wasn't perfect, a little watery but I'd drink it again.

When we finished I grabbed the mug from Steve and headed towards the kitchen, I rinsed out the mugs and placed them in the dishwasher. I glanced up at Steve and noticed he had walked into the kitchen to lean against the wall next to the kitchen.

"Get out some more," I said with a small smile, my visit clearly coming to an end. "Make some friends."

Steve didn't say he would, but he also didn't say he wouldn't which I took as a win for today.

I headed towards the door and felt myself getting dizzy, I put my left hand to my head and I stopped walking.

"Scarlett?" I heard someone call out to me.

I stretched my hand out to grab a hold of something, but I didn't manage to before I fell.

I woke up and began to feel panic at seeing that I wasn't in Steve's apartment.

"Clara?" I heard a voice call out.

I stood up and turned around to face the voice. "Lo-Loki?" I asked hesitantly. Loki walked over to me.

"You're here?" he said

"What's going on?" I asked as I looked around the room, it was completely bare, just four walls and us. "Where am I?"

Loki didn't answer me as he cupped my face. He leaned down to kiss me and I felt my eyes flutter close as I kissed him back.

We pull back for breath and I felt reality set in. "No," I said as I pushed him away from me."No?" he scoffed.

I straightened my back and turned back around to face him. "No." I stated, my voice stronger than before.

"And why not?" He asked as he took a step closer to me.

"Because you sent an Asgardian destroyer to kill your brother, and it destroyed a town!" I snapped.

"He didn't harm you," Loki said as he picked up my hand.

Flashes of that day passed through my mind, hiding that child behind me, those cold blank eyes. Thor calling out to his brother, distracting the destroyer from us. "You didn't make that choice, Thor made it for you," I said.

Loki growled as he tugged my hand closer, me following behind it. "Thor didn't make that decision for me." He said.

I pulled and pulled, but he didn't release my hand. "I told the destroyer to not touch you," he whispered in my ear. "That was my order."

"Stop," I whispered back. "I don't know what this is, but stop it."

Loki used his other hand to cup the back of my head and smashed his lips against mine, our teeth hitting against each other as he deepened the kiss. He pulled back for air but not releasing his grip.

"See you soon," he promised, his breath washing over me.

"What?" I asked. "This is a dream, I passed out at-"

But I didn't get the chance to finish my sentence, as I felt myself get dizzy again and I slumped into Loki's arms.

"Scarlett?" I heard someone calling out. "Scarlett!?"

My eyelids fluttered and I blinked them open, before squeezing them again against the bright light. I groaned as I turned into whatever was holding me to hide them from the light. I groaned as I turned into whatever was holding me to hide them from the light."Scarlett," I heard the voice call out to me again.

I opened my eyes and blinked. "Steve?" I asked as he helped me sit up.

I looked over and saw Steve's baby blues staring back at me in concern. "Are you ok?" he asked.

I licked my lips before looking around his apartment. "What happened?" I asked him back.

Steve picked me up. I yelped and threw my hands around his neck. He sat me back down on the couch and then kneeled in front of it. "You passed out on your way out," he said.

I thought about what I remember before. "We had hot chocolate," I began. "And then I washed the cups."

"On your way out, you started to falter, and then you passed out. I managed to grab you before you hit the floor," Steve said.

I nodded my head and squeezed his hand. "Thank you," I said.

Steve shook my apology away and I went to stand up.

Steve stood up and held his hands up, ready to catch me if I fell again.

"I'm good," I said waving away his hands. "I'm fine."

Steve nodded his head but he kept close to me, just in case.

I opened the door and noticed Steve grab his jacket. "What are you doing?" I asked.

"I'm not going to let you leave here alone," Steve said. "You just passed out."

I felt a slight blush reach my cheeks as I faced the open door. "Well, when you put it that way," I said as we headed out.I looked at my tiny Mini Cooper and then looked back at Steve. "Um I don't think that you can fit in my car," I said.

Steve laughed and the two of us got into the car. Steve could barely fit in it, but he managed it. It was hilarious and every time I glanced over at him I started laughing. Thank god Steve had a sense of humor because he started to laugh as well.

By the time we made it back to Stark Tower we both were in considerably better moods than before.

"Thank you," I said as I locked Cooper.

Steve shrugged his shoulders in response.

"How are you going to get back to your apartment?" I asked.

"I'll walk," Steve said.

I paused for a moment raising an eyebrow at Steve, I glanced outside and then back at our garage.

"Here," I said as I walked over to one of the motorcycles and tossed Steve the keys. "Don't crash it," I said.

Steve looked down at the keys and then back up to me. "I promise," he replied.

I gave him a small smile and turned around to head back inside as I heard the low rumble of the bike.

AN: There you guys go, your first little taste of what's yet to come!

Tell me your thoughts in the little box below!