Part One can be found here: s/8120509/1/The-Slow-Burn-Part-One

I recommend reading that work first (if you haven't followed before).

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The Slow Burn: Part Two

A/N:

This is set some time (maybe a year) after The Slow Burn: P1. I've tried to study the timeline of everything…and then toss my story in the mist of all that…I don't know. Whatevs… I'm making my own damn timeline.

So…right now- we are picking up in the middle/end of CATWS. You all know me…I march to the beat of my own drum, so yes, the story is AU…very AU probably. But still. Enjoy.

WARNING: LANGUAGE

SPOILERS: CATWS/Ironman 3/Thor: Dark

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I glanced at my watch once more and sighed heavily. I was already packed and ready to go. Stark's jet wasn't due to arrive until late tomorrow morning. Only fourteen hours to go. I looked down at the book that I was trying to read. I had been trying to read this biography for over a week. I just couldn't do it. It wasn't my thing. Steve had sent it to me with a note saying, 'It's worth every minute.'

I had to disagree. The history of Eisenhower wasn't really on my book club list, but I was reading it anyways or at least trying to. After he read books he would mail it to me if he thought it was amazing. I started to send him books as well. The last one I sent to him was a Jack Reacher novel. The last I heard (three days ago) was he couldn't put it down.

I snapped the book shut and reached over for my phone. No new texts from Clint. I hadn't heard from him in six days. He was on a mission in Germany and commutation was limited. I scrolled through my lists of texts, 'How are you?', 'Where are you? Yea-yea I know you can't tell.', 'I mowed the lawn. I hated every minute.', 'Going to BACK to Manhattan to help Tony with some stuff for a while.', 'I miss you.', 'I wish you'd answer back.'

The last text I sent was two days ago. I hadn't felt the need to send another in a while. We argued more…which was actually not surprising to us. Tensions had ran wild for a bit before he decided to take this mission. He said he needed a break from…all of this. I couldn't help but think that this wasn't what he imagined it would be with me. He didn't seem happy. He was always on his phone talking to someone in hushed tones. He would spend nights in a haze just staring off into nothing. I had asked Natasha and she just said, 'He's dealing with something. Just give him time.'

My computer beeped and I looked over at it. I felt the huge grin cover my face as I tossed the book and phone to the couch bounding over to the desk in the kitchen. I pressed the answer button and Steve's face came into view. He looked surprised momentarily, "Hey. I didn't know if you'd be home or not."

"Yea…until tomorrow. I'm going to be included in Stark's detail for a bit while he's doing some 'top secret' stuff."

He shook his head and snorted, "Top secret…"

"Sooo…how's things with you Captain Wonderful?"

I gave him the name after every time I asked how he was- he would just say, 'wonderful'. He laughed broadly and gave a shrug, "Mm…okay. Been busy with SHIELD's projects. A lot of days- I feel like a lap dog."

I sighed heavily, "Yea…I'm being sent to bodyguard Stark. I mean, really? The man wears a freaking metal suit."

"I would say babysit." He smiled before bringing a coffee mug to his lips.

I snorted, "Yea…he's like that annoying fly that won't go away. I think he's been sticking his nose into areas that it should not be in. Fury seemed stressed when he called me. More stressed than usually I suppose."

"Sounds like Tony. Sounds like Fury." He fell silent. He seemed to be slightly distracted. Just as I was about to say something he beat me to the punch, "Your hair looks nice."

I smiled warmly and ran my hand over the low ponytail that draped over my shoulder, "Banner came up with a way for me to keep my natural brown. He couldn't help my eyes though…blue shall be forever in my favor."

"I like blue...it's a good color on you." He smirked. "So...I made a new friend."

I smiled broadly, "Look at you…Mr. Social Butterfly. That's one friend in like…what...six months."

He laughed, "You tease me…but I take my friendships seriously."

I stuck out my tongue, "Well, continue…"

"His name is Sam…met him while jogging. Works at the VA Clinic down town. Real nice guy. I think you would like him. Has some pretty good insight since he was…is…a serviceman. Works with PTSD soldiers."

"I know a few guys that did that when they got out. Takes a very strong and grounded person."

"That he is." He reached for something and then placed it in the view of the camera. It was the book that I had sent him. "Send more of these."

He sat the book down and smiled as I gave a giggle, "See? Told you that you'd like something other than history."

"Speaking of that- you enjoying Eisenhower?" His gaze narrowed as if he were already anticipating the lie. I leaned back in the computer chair and crossed my arms.

"It's riveting. Can't put it down."

He nodded expectantly, "Send it back. I think I have one on Hoover somewhere."

He looked behind him at this bookshelf. I fought the urge to moan in annoyance, "I'm on page…42 or whatever. I'll finish it. You can even quiz me hotshot."

"You can count on it," he tossed back, a mischievous gleam in his eye.

After about forty minutes or so of banter and catching up on our 'dailies', he regrettably said he had to go. He mentioned something about a mission, but couldn't say anymore. I stared at the black screen for a few seconds after he disappeared and then shut the computer off. I looked down at my phone- Clint still hadn't responded or called. You think after a year and half together I would have gotten more than this…covert or not covert. He was a damn spy...I mean, really? Could he not send smoke signals or strange packages with scavenger hunts for clues? Guess that showed my desperate need for human contact.

I stood and stretched as I looked at the clock and yawned. Steve and I had talked for a little over an hour before he had to go. I enjoyed catching up with him. After the whole Crystal incident, we were all spread around SHIELD and Avengers pretty thin. No one had heard from Thor in a while. Steve didn't seem concerned. He had 9 Realms to protect and watch over. Plus he had commented on wanting to spend more time with Jane. Things had been tough from what he told me. After saving London or the world rather (again), he told his father that he wasn't going to take the thrown and came back to Earth. Immediately that made Jane feel responsible and bad for the whole thing. I was in the loop in everything despite being out here in Georgia. Nothing ever exciting happened here and I think that it why my place seems like a refuge to my team mates. I, more or less, considered my house a B&B for wayward and weary superheroes.

But yea, my friendship with Thor was a surprising one since we didn't really converse hardly at all at the beginning. When Thor did drop by though, he would stay for days. He'd preferred this place to the tower as did I honestly. Surprisingly enough, Thor was great at fishing. Now Tony, well, he was harder to read, but he had been that way since the whole Mandarin incident. Pepper mentioned through a few emails that he was having some PTSD from all of the missions and battles we had been through. I'd be worried about him if he didn't in truth.

I only spoke to Natasha when I absolutely needed to. She and I were on odd ground considering where we stood with Clint. She was the confidant and I was the…girlfriend? I think I could claim that status. Then only adding insult to injury, she was Steve's partner.

Shutting off the lights, I headed up stairs. Morning would come soon enough and I needed my beauty rest if I was to be living at Stark or Avenger tower as he had recently renamed it. He was hell bent on keeping the dream of the Avengers alive. I wasn't completely sure if SHIELD would let it continue. We had run of glory for a short time, but I had the feeling that we were liked better separately than together. My phone buzzed and I felt a rush of excitement move through me as I glanced down at my phone expecting Clint.

Steve: It was great talking to you again. We should video chat more often. Tell Clint hello when he calls.

I felt a small, but brief disappointment. I smirked as I replied back.

Marcy: Couldn't agree more. Tell Betsy I miss her. Night Captain Wonderful.

Betsy was what I had been calling his shield for months now. It was only appropriate since Betsy Ross sewed the first flag and well, the shield was the first. Well, it made sense at the time, but that was under the influence of the Asguardian mead that Thor had brought for Tony's birthday celebration. I wish I still had the flask that Thor had given me before he left. It was my own personal stash until Steve helped me finish it off about a month ago.

Steve: I think Betsy misses you too. Night Sparky.

I stared at my phone for a second longer wishing I was there to help with his mission. A real mission, not going on some babysitting adventure. I wanted to get my mind off of things. I was trying to 'court war' as Thor called it, but I wanted to feel more useful than what I was right now. I trudged up the stairs and to my room. I opened my phone again and sent a quick message to my mom to take care of the house while I was gone. Then one to my sister about Tyler's amazing soccer play that she sent me a video of.

Just a normal life. That is what I had dreamt of…right? Well, now I have it for sure.

:::

The flight was very uneventful if you didn't include the pilot trying to make small talk. I shifted the duffel bag on my shoulder as he continued to babble on about his flying career with Stark. I glanced at him wishing he would just…hush. Just two minutes of silence. This guy did not breathe. I smiled slightly at him and then Pepper spoke up loudly catching our attention, "Marcy!"

Thank god.

"Pepper! How wonderful to see you."

She smiled knowingly, "Stan is one of the best pilots we have. Hopefully he treated you well?"

I faltered for a second as Stan took my duffel from me, "The best!"

"Splendid. Tony is looking forward to seeing you," she took my arm and ushered me to her car. She was obviously my shofar today. I waved at Stan and said thanks before I slid into the exotic sports car. She grinned as she shut her door, "Stan means well."

"He seemed nice."

"How's Clint?"

I shrugged as she turned down a private road, "I'm guessing he's still alive."

She frowned at that, "You two aren't talking?"

"He's...indisposed at the moment. I guess that comes with the territory of the job." I was still hoping that Clint would show some sign…some proof that he just wasn't a figment of my imagination. Another week and I would be calling Fury himself in order to get a status on Clint. My phone beeped and I pulled it from the pocket of my jeans.

Steve: Mission was…not what I thought. Fury is a liar. If that isn't a surprise. I'm starting to wonder if Nat is of the same blood.

I frowned at the message. Steve wasn't always so negative. Something horrible must have happened on the mission he had with Natasha. I wouldn't necessarily say that Natasha was a team player, but I wouldn't say she wasn't one either. She usually played for her own team. I shook my head in a small disagreement with myself. I shouldn't be so rude about her. She's saved my life before or helped me out in a few ways. Pepper was glancing at me.

"Clint?"

I gave a tiny shake of my head, "Steve."

Pepper raised a perfectly plucked eyebrow at that, "You both text quite often?"

Marcy: I just landed in New York. Skype tonight?

"Yea," I answered distractedly. It didn't take long for his reply.

Steve: Yes, may be late. Have to go. Meeting.

Pepper gave a thoughtful 'hmm' and I looked at her then, "What?"

She was trying not to smile, "And how is the dear Captain?"

I looked back out the window, trying not to worry about Steve's cryptic text, "He's great."

:::

Steve never showed up to our 'Skype Date'. I even had Jarvis check the internet to make sure everything was working. I checked my phone, checked email…then what really worried me…I called him.

No answer.

Spending half the night tossing and turning, waking up constantly to check my phone and computer- I had about enough. At 10 or so, I burst through the doors of Tony's lab. He was watching something intently. "Have you spoken with Steve? I can't get a hold of him. I'm starting to get worried." He didn't answer. I sighed and rolled my eyes as I rounded the wall. "Hey…Tony. What are-?"

"Nick Fury's dead."

He handed me the tablet that had a 'formal email' citing the death notice of Director Nick Fury. I looked up and squinted at the footage from cameras in the downtown area of DC. A man dressed in black from head to toe, a metal arm to boot. "I...I…he's…he's dead. This is the footage?"

"No, no…it's the footage of this guy attacking him. The only footage that was extremely hard to find. You have no idea how many nooks and crannies I had to comb through to find that." He shook his head as he walked back to his desk and started shoving papers around. "Fury was shot in Steve's apartment. He died in surgery."

I swung around at that, "What?"

He was already on the phone with someone. I couldn't understand the words he was speaking. I think shock may have been setting in. I grabbed my phone and tossed the tablet onto the table. Steve's number was on speed dial. Pick up. Pick up. Pick up.

"Marcy, are you alright?" He sounded winded and for Steve to sound winded…I felt myself swallow tightly at that.

Relief flooded through me nonetheless, "Am I alright? What the hell are you talking about? Am I ok? Fury was shot…he's dead. He was shot in your apartment. What's going on Steve?"

"I know…I know. I can't talk right now." I could hear Natasha in the background. "Stay with Tony. Stay safe. Don't come here. I'll be in touch soon."

"Steve…" I all but pleaded.

"I swear- I swear I will contact you soon." He hung up. I tried to swallow but couldn't. What was going on? Tony was watching his phone intently. This was bad, wasn't it?

"Jarvis- shut down all communication in and out with SHIELD Headquarters. Lock down- no one in or out. Tell Pepper once she gets to LA to stay there until further notice."

"Tony…"

"Also, tell Bruce to be on alert."

"Yes Sir," Jarvis replied calmly.

"Tony," he was moving around the lab at an alarming speed. He was grabbing papers and throwing them in an empty box labeled, 'SHIELD INFINITY'. I hadn't seen him this worked up in a while. "Tony, you need to stop. Okay, breathe. Take a moment right here- right now. You need to explain to me what it is that you've found out."

He turned and looked at me…really looked at me. It was like he was just noticing I was here. His appearance looked disheveled. He shook his head and clicked his tongue, "I've been noticing…some things. Natasha asked me…Fury asked me to do some inside research."

"Fury asked you?" That part was hard to fathom.

He sat down heavily in his chair and I leaned on the desk behind me, "I was hired to help build these ships…they wanted my input and from then on things got…weird. Fury…he thought there was a mole and he knew that I was pretty much the one who could find it undetected. I can't believe I missed it this whole time."

"Missed what?" I asked just milliseconds before he stood up and threw his phone against the wall. A whole slew of profanities came out. He shook his head, "Damnit! Fucking hell…I should have known. Fuck. Fuck! It's all been one damn thing after another. It was right there. Right there!"

I approached him slowly. My fingers tingled at the thought of a fight. I clenched my fist tightly. He was leaning on the counter in front of him, his hair sticking up on one side. I knew the issues he was having with his PTSD- he was already on the edge pretty much all the time.

"What did you miss Tony?"

"Hydra." He swallowed hard as his wild brown eyes looked up at mine. He looked scared for a split second, "Hydra is SHIELD."

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DISCLAIMER: I OWN NOTHING OF MARVEL AND ITS AMAZING LITTLE UNIVERSE.

ORIGINAL CHARACTERS BELONG TO ME.