Issie huffed and mumbled under her breath as she glanced out the taxi window at the New York traffic. She was going to be late. Cath had specifically told her not to be late. She glanced down at the address her roommate had scratched down on an old take-out receipt. She dug around in her purse and grabbed some cash, thrusting it toward the driver.
"I'll get out here." She threw open the door, narrowly missing the car next to her, and jumped out, jogging the five blocks to her destination. When she stopped, she double, then triple checked the address. Issie grumbled something about killing her roommate when she pushed open the door to Stark Tower.
Due to the fact that it was after business hours, there was no receptionist to direct her to the apartment number on her receipt. But she hoped for the best when she pushed the call button for the elevator. As the door closed a British voice called down from the ceiling causing her to jump and let out a childish squeal.
"Please identify your name and purpose."
She placed a hand on her chest and took a deep breath.
"Um, Isabelle Trenton. I'm here to babysit?" She looked up and once again question what she was doing there. "My roommate Cathlynn Walsh was suppose to come but she has the flu and sent me instead. I was told that she called and clear it with the parents." Issie waited for an answer, one that came in the form the small metal box shooting upward. The doors dinged and opened to show a man holding a screaming infant.
"You the sitter?" He turned gray eyes to the woman gaping in the elevator.
"Yes, I'm Issie." She took a step forward, a tall blond rush past and shouted out some military command.
"ok, so Birdie is in a mood and will scream until she falls asleep. There's nothing you can do, sorry." He handed the baby to Issie and dashed off to another room. The twenty something year old woman shook her dark purple tinted hair behind her shoulders and looked down at the infant wearing a onesie that read 'Ironman is my favorite Avenger'. The babe's face was red and wet from crying.
"Ok Baby, lets see if we can cheer you up." Issie bounced lightly and cooed. She twisted back and forth. The screeches became slightly softer. She twisted slightly faster, holding the back of the baby's neck in support. The screams became whimpers and the tears stopped.
"Ah, so your an adrenaline junkie." She moved the baby so it sat on her stomach and wrapped her arms securely around the small body and dipped forward. The crying stopped and the babe looked up at the new face. "Like that?" She dipped again and a smile formed. Once more had the baby giggling along with her sitter. "Crying all night my butt. They underestimate my power." She smiled down at her charge and dipped again bringing forth the infant's giggles.
"Um, who are you?"
Issie turned to find the voice. A man with dark hair stood in the middle of the room. Her jaw slacked at the sight of the Tower's owner.
"I'm Isabelle Trenton. The babysitter." She moved the baby to her hip, proud that her voice hadn't trembled.
"No, Caitlyn is the babysitter." He took a few steps toward her with a frown on his face. Issie forced her self not to move backward.
"Cathlynn is my roommate. She has the flu and sent me. She told me she called?"
Tony looked the woman up and down.
"Jarvis!"
Issie jumped at the Tony's shout.
"Yes, Sir?" The British voice from the elevator responded from the ceiling.
"Why is this woman in my tower?"
Issie had missed the reentrance of the man with the gray eyes and jumped at the his voice behind her.
"What do you mean, why is she here?"
She spun around and saw the man's hand twitch, she couldn't help but take a step back at the look in his hard eyes.
"You said you did a complete security check." He was now dressed all in black and glared at Tony.
"I did, but this isn't the girl that was suppose to come." The men were standing toe to toe and the baby's face had started to scrunch, a tell tale sign of an impending breakdown.
"Then how did she get up here?" The man's voice was soft, but filled with anger even the loudest shout couldn't contain. the baby started to cry again.
"I don't know." Tony's shout and threw up his arms, which added to the cries in the room. "Jarvis! How did she get here?" Both men glared at each other.
"Isabelle Trenton passed all initial security and her story was confirmed by the 9 messages that Cathlynn Walsh has left for you Sir." The Artificial Intelligence called down. "Miss Walsh also said the Miss Trenton is a 'wonder' with children."
Both men still glared. Issie bounced and dipped a few times causing the cries to turn to laughter. The moment the men heard the infant's laughs the turned to look at the woman.
"How?" The man in black gaped at her.
"Clint, we need to leave." A tall redhead walked into the room holding a tablet. When she reached the man with the gray eyes she looked up from what she was reading. She glanced over at Issie and the baby and raised an eyebrow.
"I thought you said she was in a mood?" She handed the tablet to Clint before she took the baby in her arms.
"She was." Clint continued to stared at the child.
The elevator dinged from the back of the room and Issie turned to see the new comer, only to stare in shock at who stood before her. Captain America strode into the room.
"Everyone ready?" He glanced around the room, doing a quick double take at Issie before his eyes caught another man entering the room. "Great, lets go."
"If you have any questions, ask Jarvis." The red head handed the infant back to Issie before she followed the men into the elevator.
Issie stood and stared at the elevator for a few moments before looking down a her little charge.
"Alright, well first things first. Jarvis?" She looked up at the ceiling.
"Yes Miss Trenton?" The British voice called down.
"Is the baby's name really 'Birdie'?" The young woman bounced the child as she walked over to the couch.
"It is not, the child's full name is Emma Philippa Barton."
Issie sat down on the couch with Emma facing her. "Should we call Cath and complain about the lack of informant she gave me?" Emma babbled in response. "I agree." She pulled out her cell and dialed her roommate. When a groggy voice answered, Issie turned on the speaker.
"Hey, how you feeling?" She tickled Emma and made a face at the growl from Cath. "So next time you have me cover a sitting job for you, it would be nice to know that I will be working in Stark Tower." a humored noise rumbled through the phone. "Not cool Cath, not cool." Issie waved her finger that Emma held. "Get better Roomie." She ended the call and tossed the device next to her on the couch.
"It's just you and me Emma P."
Issie tucked Emma into her light pink blanket before she turned out the light in the nursery. She glanced around the room before calling up to Jarvis.
"Jarvis, where is the baby monitor?" She whispered as she shut the door.
"I can display a video feed on the main Television screen if you wish Miss Trenton." From the hallway Issie saw the glow of the TV suddenly fill the living room.
"Thank you Jarvis."
"You are most welcome Miss Trenton."
Issie flopped onto the love seat and pulled out her laptop.
"Would you like me to connect your laptop to the internet, Miss Trenton?" Jarvis called down after the computer had finished waking up.
"That would be great, thank you." It took only a moment for the AI to connect the laptop to the guest wifi. Issie scrolled through Facebook, checked her email, researched for her Master's thesis, and even managed to catch up on the TV show had been a few weeks behind in before heating up the dinner leftovers. As she watched the pasta turn in the microwave she checked her phone for the time, 12:56pm. She lasted another hour and a half before she fell asleep on the love seat.
"Miss Trenton, Miss Barton has woken up."
Issie bolted upright at the unfamiliar voice. It took her a minute to figure out where she was, but as soon as Jarvis repeated his message, she stumbled into the nursery to ease the fussy baby. Light danced in Emma's room through the curtains which caused the groggy woman to frown at the bright light.
"Jarvis, what time is it?" She asked as she lifted the baby out of her crib. Emma cooed and happily snuggled into Issie's shoulder, banishing any foul thoughts about mornings.
"It is currently 7:09am and 66 degrees outside with a forecast of sunshine."
Issie laid Emma on the changing table and proceeded to dress her. After rummaging through her cloths she settled on a onesie that said "Daddy is my hero" and purple pock a dot pants.
"Well, at least one of us can get dressed." Issie smiled down at there handy work. "Jarvis, what time are Mr and Mrs Barton expected back?"
"There is no estimated time of arrival for the team, Miss Trenton." Issie's hands paused from their work of slipping a headband on Emma when she heard. Emma giggled when she was picked up and babbled while they walked down the hallway to the kitchen. Issie's thoughts wandered as she fed Emma her bottle and mashed pears. If there was no ETA for the team, then she might be in the tower for a while. She hadn't planned for being at an over night gig, let alone a multi-day gig.
"Jarvis, would it be possible to take Emma out so I can get more clothes? I didn't plan for an overnight stay." Issie waited before having to turn her attention back to Emma to avoid being covered in mashed pears. As she fed Emma the last bite, Jarvis responded.
"Mr Stark has approved Happy to drive you and Miss Barton to an establishment of your choosing to purchase new clothing."
"Hello, you must be Miss Trenton. I'm Happy, I will be your bodyguard for the day." The man on the other side of the elevator door began to speak as soon as Issie had made eye contact.
"Yes, thank you." Happy took the diaper bag that she had taken 20 minutes to pack and the helped her out of the baby pouch that had taken her 30 minutes to find before helping her into a black SUV. Once both Issie and Emma were buckled in, Happy started the shopping trip that took far too long. Once back, Issie was convinced that moms who shopped with their babies were superheroes and she had no need to do that in the near future. But cloths and coffee had been bought and it was thankfully time for afternoon naps. The rest of the day past similarly to the one before and Issie was more then a little worried about how long she would be needed
"Hi Mr Handel I'm calling because I won't be in today. I am so sorry about this, but something had come up and I can't make it to work. I have already contacted Jill and she will be covering my shift. Thanks and sorry again." Issie tossed her phone onto the couch and stared at the ceiling. "Jarvis it's been three days, is there any information that you can give me regarding the Team?" She was going stir crazy. Issie had just had to get her second shift covered at work, but there was still no news of when Emma's parents were coming home.
"Mr Stark has reported that the Team is on their way back to the Tower and shall land in 50 minutes."
"Really?" Issie sat up, she wasn't sure she had ever been this excited to see anyone in her life. A smile danced on her lips as she shoved her things into her backpack and did last minute cleaning.
"Miss Trenton, it seems that there is a security breach." Issie felt the hair on her arm stand.
"Where and to what extent?"
"There are 12 armed men in the stairwell at the 24th floor. They have somehow over ridden my lock down systems. I have alerted the Team."
Issie grabbed her bag and threw it on her shoulder.
"ETA on the Team?"
"18 minutes."
"ETA on our guests?"
"9 minutes."
Issie froze. Dropping her bag she ran to the door and threw every lock before pushing the love seat in front of the door.
"Jarvis what is the most secure room on the floor?"
"Miss Barton's Nursery doubles as a safe room."
Issie ran to the nursery, Emma was still sleeping.
"Jarvis are there any weapons in the apartment?" She shut the door, quietly before running off to gather the gun stash Jarvis told her about. She threw open the hidden wall panel in the master bedroom and grabbed the rifle and pistol, as well as their magazines. Thankful for the long hallway to the nursery, Issie shoved the couch across the hallway entrance. A forceful thud, made her pause, they were at the door.
"Jarvis, ETA on the Team!" Issie scrambled over the couch as a second thud came from the door.
"The Team is still 9 minutes away."
The door cracked. "Not good enough!"
The door gave way and Issie fired at the men who started to climb over the barricade. They were dressed in black tactical gear and wearing helmets making kill shot difficult. She aimed for legs and knees, or a head shot of she could clear one. Machine guns met her rifle shots, but she was at an advantage with a clear shot at the door, without having to climb over anything. Issie fires off three shots when she heard Emma's cries. The door was shut and away from the cross fire, but Issie was on her own. Four more shots. Two men were down. Ten to go.
Time was standing still but at the same time speeding by. Shots flew back and forth, Issie had four men down, but the rest were almost all through the door. She stood to get a better shot, but suddenly felt fire explode across her waist. She fell back against the wall, gasping. Emma let out another loud cry and Issie turned and fired off three more shots. Two more down. they were coming closer, she crossed the way to the other side of the hall to stand in front of Emma's door. Pain in her thigh, but she returned every shot. Another one down. She took a step back, but her cried out as her leg collapsed under her. A shooter came around the corner, but fell over the couch as Issie released a shot. A new sound came from the other room and Issie prayed it wasn't more men. A few thuds and groans sounded before another man i leaped over the ruined couch. Issie fire at him, but the shots bounced off his shield.
"Stand down." A male voice called from behind the red, white and blue shield and Issie realized that the Team was finally back. She collapsed against the corner of the hallway and dropped the rifle. A man in black bolted down the hallway and rushed into the room. Issie tensed, but soon realized it was Clint, who was followed by Natasha. Issie rested a hand on her side and pushed at the damp spot on her black shirt.
"Where did you learn to shoot like that?" Captain America looked back into the now trashed living room before turning to look down at the young woman who had defended his niece.
"My dad was a cop and I have two brothers in the military." Issie took a deep breath and closed her eyes. When she opened, Steve Rogers was offering her his hand.
"Let me help you up."
A soft blush and small smile covered both their faces when she slipped her hand into his and he pulled her up. Steve frowned, however and how slippery her hand felt against his glove.
"Are you ok?" He asked as he released her hand. When her looked down, the blue of his glove was covered in dark red. He looked up at her sharply. Issie swayed before her knees buckled under her. Steve reached out and grabbed her before she fell over.
"Banner, we have a civilian that needs medical attention."
Issie slowly forced her heavy eye lids open only to shut them quickly any groan at the harsh light.
"Miss Trenton?" A shadow moved over her eyes and she once again tried to open them. Bright blue eyes were directly above hers when she finally force her lids to open.
"I have a complaint for Mr Stark about his security system." She croaked out before falling back asleep
Hey I hoped you all liked it! Please comment and review. If you really like it I might even be convinced to do a part two ;)