Chapter One

The girl stood small under the looming skyscraper that was the Avengers headquarters. Her tiny heart thumped and her stomach tingled, nerves scraping to grab hold of her new resolve and crumble it to pieces. Her resolve to finish her studies successfully and make herself a name. To help those in need and pay back the debt she owed.

And one final obstacle stood in the way of that goal and it currently loomed above her, casting her into the shadows. If she was to pass her placement here, she would officially become a qualified psychologist and nothing would get in the way of Tabitha's dream.

A shake of her ash blonde head and a shy smile hidden by a hand was the first impression the woman watching from up above gathered of the girl.

A shy, weak and clingy girl.

The Black Widow rolled her eyes before stalking away from the window of the common lounge her strong steps taking her to the one place she found solace; the gym.

The pounding of fists upon a punching bag was heard from down the hall and with a smirk she entered to find Steve punching away. He too found the release of physical exertion enticing and wholly necessary for their everyday survival. Without this haven, neither of them would be here, lost to the deep abyss of their dark minds.

"Hey Tash, wanna join me?" he asked stopping and glancing up with those adorable eyes of his. She shook her head, preferring to sit and watch placidly. She had already bashed her frustrations out on Barton earlier and she was so going to regret having given him that black eye.

"Suit yourself… Hey, did you hear about the new member joining the medical team today?" he asked beginning his throws again. From her place on the bench Natasha idly admired the strength in his punches and wondered how such a gentle, kind soul could contain such power and the ability to keep it under control. With a shake of her head she dismissed the thoughts and lay down along the cool metal bench, her arms cushioning her head.

"Yeah. I saw her just minutes ago. She was ogling the Avengers Tower."

"I see. What did you think of her?"

"I don't know. I only saw her barely. I don't have hawk eyes like Barton…" she commented, not letting him privy to her judgmental thoughts. He was too kind for that.

"Hmm."

They fell quiet and Steve continued to bash his punching bag, and slowly under the enticing sound Natasha's eyes slowly began to close. Before long time passed by in silence, both soldier and assassin alone to their thoughts.

"Natasha and Steve, Fury has requested your presence in the common lounge," Jarvis informed his cool robot voice pleasant. Natasha awoke and slowly uncurled from her position as Steve unwrapped his hands.

She chucked him a towel and together they strode off.

Tabitha could barely breathe as she stood next to a stern looking woman within the small confines of an elevator. A badge upon her collarbone named her as Maria Hill and the woman noticed her stare giving her a bland look in return. Tabitha blushed, embarrassed at having been caught staring, and twisting her hands she fought to wrestle away the butterflies.

She was capable. She could this. She hadn't studied for six years to fail now… She hadn't grown into the person she was to look over her shoulder and see the old her… The girl who could barely fight and needed others strength to continue on.

With a furrow of her brow and determined set of her lips Tabitha nodded to herself.

Yes, now it was her time to help those around her. She was strong and capable. Capable.

The word rang through her head as the doors of the elevator opened. Her heart stopped and light flooded through, temporarily blinding her.

As her eyes adjusted the view of a large, spacious and brightly illuminated lounge room greeted her. White tiled floors and a modern décor was the theme. The words clean, sterile and business jumped to her mind.

But then her heart stuttered as she caught sight of the room's inhabitants. All people she had seen on the news, people she had never thought to have been real. People who needed her help, according to the files given to her just hours ago.

To her tawny eyes they seemed like normal people, apart from the large muscled figures of Thor and Captain America standing aloof by a pot plant… Steve… She reprimanded herself. It was important she remembered their names.

Then there was the billionaire playboy, Tony Stark. His face was set into a cheeky smirk and beside him a man wearing glasses slouched over a cup of coffee. Bruce… Bruce Banner. Anger issues, her mind commented.

Siting on the couch sat another man. He was watching the television, but glanced Tabitha's way with a kind smile an ugly dark bruise developing around his left eye. Beside him lay a bow. Ah, Clint Barton.

Then with a wide sweep of her eyes she caught the final member of the Avengers. The only woman.

She stood by the window, her back turned to Tabitha and her crimson hair aglow under the sun's rays. Her posture was straight and shoulders set and confidence screamed from the frame of the curvy yet toned woman. This was the infamous Black Widow… Natasha Romanov.

Deadly, beautiful and confident. Capable. But lonely and slowly falling apart at the seams.

A sad looked passed over Tabitha's face. Natasha's file had been the largest and most complex and words did not begin to describe the work she would have to go through with the silent assassin.

But before her thoughts could run off a cough brought her back to reality.

A dark man with an eye patch, a trench coat to match. Her body instinctively wanted to recoil away from the intimidating figure.

"Ms Wood, it's…" he seemed to search for a word before continuing, "nice to finally meet you. I expect you had a pleasant travel?"

Tabitha was surprised at the civility behind his words, though she doubted he seriously wondered if she had had a pleasant trip. But keeping to formalities she replied.

"Ah, thank you. And yes… I did have a pleasant trip."

She was appeased by the normalness of her voice. No stutter and nor did she speak with a low voice.

He smiled before motioning with his hand for the Avengers to gather. They gathered quickly and stared Tabitha down with a mixture of cocky, hesitant, gentle, curious and cool eyes. She felt extremely self-conscious under their gazes but managed to offer them a small smile.

"Avengers, I would like to introduce our newest medical staff here at Avengers Tower. This is Tabitha Wood, a psychologist in training. She is going to complete her final placement here… I trust you will all treat her well." The man's voice was a like a lazy drawl.

Steve was to first to jump in, offering his hand.

"Nice to meet you ma'am. The names Steve Rogers," he greeted and she took his hand with a firm shake. She couldn't help blushing at his utter politeness and use of 'ma'am'… It was so old fashioned but her mind reminded her that he had been asleep for a long time. He would also be needing a lot of work.

All of them would actually. Each and every member had mental issues of deep complexity, and each would require her dedication and strive to help.

Before long she had greeted each Avenger, receiving a large hug from Thor and a timid nod from Banner. Natasha was last and she had just assessed Tabitha with a cool sweep of her forest green eyes before extending a hand and offering, "Romanov."

Tabitha had been shocked by the suppleness of the woman's hand. She had expected that like much the men, her hands would have been calloused and worn by the use of weapons. But it was not so and she had to remind herself to retract her hand, before anything got too weird. Natasha had seemed to notice though and Tabitha's cheeks flamed.

And as she was led away from the group of superheros by Maria Hill to see her new room, Tabitha could have sworn Romanov eyes followed her all the way until she disappeared around the corner. Either that, or her back was being burned by hell itself.