Title: Rescue Me
Rating: T
Summary: Rescue me, show me who I am, 'cause I can't believe this is how the story ends. Fight for me.
Theme Song: Rescue Me-Kerrie Roberts
Disclaimer: I do not own Avengers, S.H.I.E.L.D, Hydra or A.I.M. I do own Grace Carter, the plot, Hugo Carter and Maria Richards.
"Be careful will you? I'm not gonna have a report from Miss Bickwell next week am I?" I hid my smirk as I glanced at my brother in the rear-view mirror. "And remember to head home with Nathan this afternoon. I should be back around Thursday, maybe Wednesday if Captain cuts me some slack." Hugo nodded and sighed as I pulled into the carpark of Manhattan State Elementary. Hugo leaned forward and kissed my cheek before jumping out of the car and running off towards Nathan with a backwards wave.
"Miss you too." I murmured, blowing a kiss as he turned around. He waved once more and I pulled back out into the early morning traffic. My earpiece beeped as I headed towards the airport.
"Carter here. I'm about an hour and a half away, forty-five minutes if I speed but you wouldn't want that now would you?" I asked, smiling slightly. Hill chuckled quietly and I could just picture her leaning against a wall in Customs, yawning occasionally.
"I'd say take your time." She replied. "It's a rare occasion when I get five minutes of free time, but this is not the case. I know you have a short cut so I suggest you use it Grace. Thirty minutes." Hill ended the call and I cursed before yanking a hard right and veering across two lanes of traffic, ignoring the shouts and car horns.
"Cutting it a bit tight there Grace." Hill pushed off the wall and moved towards me. I scowled and punched her shoulder gently.
"Piss off Hill. There'd better be a damn good reason why I was rushed." I snapped, shifting my bag over my shoulder. Hill nodded sharply and started towards a side door, holding it open for me.
"We managed to contain a suspect with connections to both the military, mafia and more importantly, Hydra. However, we don't know what, exactly, these connections are." Hill handed me a file before pushing another door open.
"So you want me to check her out, try and find a weakness? Something to grab hold of?" I asked, studying the picture. The woman was about twenty-five, with short straight black hair and tawny eyes. Rather non-descript with average features, save for the rather prominent scar slicing her mouth in half.
"Name's Maria Richards. We have reason to believe she's using those connections of hers to fund an illegal operation." She said and I broke over her as we stepped out onto the runway.
"And by figuring out the mafia bit, we can suss out a connection to Hydra…if all goes smoothly and figure out exactly what she's doing." I snorted. "Knowing my luck, or lack thereof, it won't work out too good." Hill rolled her eyes and stood to the side as I climbed the metal stairs before making my way to a comfortable chair.
"Christ above, they don't half do things here do they?" I muttered, sinking down into the seat and closing my eyes. I heard Hill chuckle and the door closed as we prepared for take-off.
"Grace, open your eyes and sit up." Hill commanded. "There are a few things that have changed since last time you were here. Namely, you'll be sharing your workspace with Doctor Banner and occasionally Tony Stark." I dropped my feet from their footrest and they landed on the carpet with a muted thud.
"Banner I can deal with, Stark? Hell to the fu-"
"You don't have a say in this Grace. Banner is currently living here, Stark is not." Hill reclined and I huffed before stuffing earbuds in my ears and pressing shuffle.
"Doctor Banner, this is Special Agent Carter. She'll be sharing this lab with you for the majority of her stay." Fury nodded once at both of us before disappearing, leaving me to acquaint myself with the good doctor.
"Carter?" Banner asked, wiping his hands with a cloth. I nodded and held out a hand.
"Grace Carter. Pyscho-susser." I replied, smirking as he frowned a bit at my terminology. "Means I read the bad guys body language and suss out their history." He nodded and stepped back, clasping his hands together.
"Of course. You hear to 'suss' me out?" He asked, glancing around. I raised an eyebrow and shook my head.
"Nope, I'm here to figure out some triple connected girl." I explained. "I don't need to suss you out, I'd already done that within the first three minutes of meeting you." Banner blanched and I rolled my eyes before cracking my neck. "Sorry, it's a habit."
"Y-yes, of course." He muttered, looking down. I grimaced, feeling slightly guilty, but brushed it off as the door slid open to reveal Hill with what I assumed to be the rest of the Avengers.
"Good, you're settled. Carter, this is the rest of the team you'll be collaborating with." She said before stepping to the side. "You remember Agents Romanov and Barton." I nodded. "Steve Rogers, Thor and Tony Stark. I'll leave you get acquainted." I scowled and crossed my arms over my chest as they door hissed shut. After about five seconds of awkward, heavy silence, I broke it.
"So is it usual to get the creepy staring from three random dudes and a chick?" I asked casually, examining my nail. "It's not like I'm new or something." Natasha barely withheld a sigh while Clint rolled his eyes.
"Absolute pleasure to have you back." He muttered dryly, leaning against the counter. Tony glanced between us.
"Am I missing something here?" He asked, pointing from Natasha to me to Clint. "We've got Big and Angry, the Terrible Two, a demi-god with a hammer, Wonder Soldier himself and me." He scratched his chin. "Now where, exactly do you fit in?"
"I don't fit in with your group." I replied. "I'm here to profile a creepy chick then head back home. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm on a mission…Literally." I moved past him and out the door, heading down to the detention level.
"Jack ass in iron."