Amelia was on the verge of losing her sanity. After countless hours stuck in her lab, trying to the complete the latest project she had set for herself, she finally decided to give up. This particular project was just not going to happen while she was in her current restless state of mind.

The whole reason for her unnaturally short attention span was due to the fact that her dad was late for his annual visit. Her dad visited on the same day and time every year and stayed for a week, had been for as long as she could remember in her 24 years of existence.

He was late, and that had Amy agitated and anxious. Had something happened? Amy's dad worked for the government. Kind of. If she was actually allowed to discuss his job with anyone, she would tell them that her father was a secret agent. But seeing as that was sensitive information, and would get her arrested, she withheld such notions from casual conversation, and instead told people simply that her dad worked for the government. Maybe he just forgot today was visit day….

But he couldn't have, he scheduled vacation for the same time every year, just to spend time with Amy.

Of course, knowing the truth, Amy knew better than to think he had simply forgotten. Her dad was always punctual, and his tardiness could only be the product of some terrible and unforeseeable event. As Amy's imaginings began to get wilder and wilder, she began to pace back and forth in her lab more and more furiously. She was at an almost manic pace, when her HUD flashed at her, letting her know that someone was at the door.

The HUD, or heads up display, was actually a tiny computer screen that was built into a contact lens. An invention of her own design. Amy hadn't always been a scientist, after she had gotten her GED at the age of thirteen, she dabbled a bit, but joined the military as soon as she turned eighteen.

Needless to say, circumstances had forced her to leave the army, she settled down in her moms old ranch in Nevada, and Amy's career as a glorified mechanic began. Her expertise was micro technology. She also had a degree in entomology-an inherited interest from her mother-which she had received going to school while in the army. An odd combination, but her mothers study of bugs had been the source of inspiration for many of her inventions. Amy was of the opinion that the study of insects would provide invaluable in her pursuit of furthering her research.

Amy dashed for the elevator, not even bothering to remove and hang up her lab coat. Her HUD flashed once as the lift made its way from her subterranean laboratory, and once more as she made her way through the house . As she reached the main hall, she heard the doorbell ring, and her HUD flashed at the same time.

"Coming!" Amy yelled, and jogged the last few yards to the door. "You're never late," She said as she swung open the door. "so where the fuck have you-"

Amy couldn't finish her sentence, she was too busy gaping in horror at the monstrosity in her front yard. She didn't notice the petite redheaded woman with the severe expression, or the dirty blonde hunk with nice biceps and piercing eyes, and she barely registered her godfather, Nick Fury standing where her dad should have been.

"Nicholas Fury, why the FUCK is your helicarrier parked on my front lawn?!"

The broad, eyepatch-clad figure of Nick Fury shouldered his way past her, and into the house. "What did I say about language, Amelia?" He said, as he casually but briskly made his way down the hall, and in the direction of Amy's kitchen. "Got any food? I missed lunch… National security and all that, thought you might be interested." His voice faded, and Amy glanced back to see the flapping end of his long black coat as he rounded a corner.

Amy turned back to look at the two still standing on her doorstep. She regarded them cooly. "Don't suppose either one of you can tell me what this is all about?" Amy questioned. "He's probably trying to rope me into something that I don't want to do. I'd like to be fully informed, and he never tells me the whole truth." She paused. "I bet you guys know what thats like. Nick Fury and his endless secrets."

The woman glanced at the man with a wry smile, and he smirked. Amy sighed. "At least you guys wait to be invited in. Sometimes I just don't know what to do with Nick's assholery."

She turned, leaving the door open as an indication for the two agents to enter, and turned in the direction that Nick had gone. She made a few hand gestures and brought up a holographic computer system that only she could see. A few more gestures, and Amy was looking at the security feed from the kitchen.

"Damn." She muttered. "He's eating all my cookies, I made those this morning!" Amy hurried along faster, hoping that the delicious confections wouldn't all be demolished by the time she got to the kitchen.

An hour or so of small talk later, and Amy sensed they were about to hit the heavy stuff. Nick paused, and leaned back in his chair, he steepled his fingers, and regarded her deeply. She ignored him, and took the chance to observe his two lackeys more closely. The redhead had earlier been introduced as Natasha Romanov. The name and what she could glean from her were all Amy had to go on. Her hacking skills were good, but she couldn't remotely access the helicarrier records.

She was Russian, that much was obvious from her name. Yet the only reading Amy could get from her was impassivity and disinterest. Amy pulled up the video footage from the kitchen with a flick of her finger. Another flick rewound the video a little bit. Amy watched the feed. She had stationed herself behind and to the side of Amy, so that she could clearly see Amy, But Amy would have to turn her body in order to observe the Russian spy. In the video, she seemed to be intently observing Amy, and making hand signs, that were obviously for Fury. Giving him information about Amy.

What it was the Russian could tell him that he didn't know was already, was beyond her. Then it clicked, Romanov was some sort of espionage specialist, and was probably telling Fury exactly how to get Amy to do what he wanted. Figures, her godfather was always up to shit like this.

Amy quickly turned her attention to the man she had internally nicknamed Biceps, though her uncle had introduced him as agent Clint Barton. He was stationed across from her, at Nick's right side. Amy didn't need to rely on video footage to make her assessment on this one. He was a soldier through and through, although if she wanted to get specific, Amy might say sniper. She had the feeling that those eyes didn't miss much.

Nick finally leaned forward. Nearly a full minute had passed. "Are you done spying on my spies, Amy?"

Amy mirrored him, steepling her fingers even as he had. "That depends on whether you're going to tell me why you brought a couple of assassins to a simple family visit." She smirked humorlessly. "Was it to intimidate me, or interrogate me?" She paused and studied his expression. "Oh, it was both, interesting. Whatever you want, Nick I won't do it. You can however, tell me where my dad is. He's never late for his visit."

He ignored her, and pushed a dark blue folder embossed with the S.H.I.E.L.D logo across the kitchen counter. "You heard about the incident in New York?" He asked.

She gave him a deadpan look that said 'duh', then turned her gaze to the folder that was taunting her, sitting a few inches away from her left arm. Curiosity won out, and she flipped the folder open. A few moments of silence. "The Avengers Nick?" She asked in outrage. "No. Nope. Sorry. There is absolutely nothing you can say to make me join your little dream team." Amy stood up. "Jesus, if I'd known your visit was going to be this unpleasant, I would have just told you not to visit this year."

"There's another equally unpleasant reason for my coming here Amy." Fury intoned lowly.

Amy turned sharply to face him. Why did she suddenly dread what he was about to say next?

"It's... about your dad." He said, carefully. Amy slowly sat down, but said nothing. "Amy, he was killed just before the attack on New York. He was one of the first casualties of the attack on New York."

Biceps spoke for the first time; "Shit Fury, if you really want to recruit her, ya don't tell her we got her dad killed."

Amy's mind raced. So that was his angle. That was how he was going to get to her. Cruel, yes, but also desperate. Something major was happening.

Romanov spoke up too. "Your dad died because there are people out there who are just too strong for regular humans to fight alone. If Fury things you'd make a good addition to the team, then you might want to consider it. I agree with his judgment, and we need all the help we can get. There's something big coming."

Amy nodded. Nothing was said for nearly a minute. Then; "I know what it it you're doing." She said. "I'll join your little club. But only for my dad. Not for any other reason." Amy stood up angrily. "I'm absolutely not supplying S.H.I.E.L.D with tech, and I expect my own quarters, and a lab that I can work out of, and I'm not one of your agents. If you wanna send me on a mission that may conflict with my morals and shit, I have the right to refuse."

Amy glared around at all of them. Then fixed her gaze at her uncle. "Get your fucking helicarrier off my property, and get out of my house." She growled. "I'll be ready to go in three days. Send someone for me then." Fury held her gaze for a moment, and then nodded. He swept out of the room, and the two agents followed.

Amy sat in the same place, unmoving, until her HUD flashed at her to tell her that her uncle and his secret military organization had left her property. Then she broke down, and cried.