A Note from Order: Writing a story with an OC, when done correctly of course, is difficult. The OC has to fit in the story and be a part of the world. They need to seem like they were always part of the story before you saw them. The OC has to be what the story called for, the missing puzzle piece. An author cannot simply shove any OC into the story or it will be like sticking a jigsaw puzzle piece in the wrong place. Doing such a thing is tacky, childish, and extremely poor writing. I take the challenge of writing an OC with the responsibility in mind. My OC is not here to tell her story, although pieces of her history may come up as necessary, she is here to tell the story of the Avengers as she saw it. She is simply here to tell the story we otherwise wouldn't have gotten to see. No more, no less. That being said, enjoy!

Another Note from Order: This story is co-written by myself, Order, and by a fellow author, Chaos. We each have an OC that we have placed into the story. This chapter was written by myself, Chapter 2 will be written by Chaos, but unless something comes up all the chapters after that will be half and half. The first two chapters are mainly to introduce you to the OCs and get an idea of who they are. Do not be discouraged by any lack of Avenger appearance.

Disclaimer: Neither I nor Chaos have any claim to the Avengers despite our desperate pleas.

A few observations and much reasoning lead to error; many observations and a little reasoning lead to truth. –Alexis Carrel

Callie bowed to the sound of clapping and then gracefully took her leave of the stage. Out of sight of the audience, she pulled her hair out of the complex up-do she wore for shows and let the loose strands fall around her face. She pushed a few wild strands of her strawberry blonde hair out of her face and then ran a hand through it to make it fall straight again.

"Good show," Callie jumped at the voice. As observant as she was Callie hadn't noticed the man in the wings of the stage; he looked quite average and he wore a suit with a black tie.

Callie gave him one of her audience-winning stage smiles and replied. "Thank you. It's always nice to hear from a fan."

"My name's Phil," he said. They shook hands and Callie could feel a callus on his hand that she often found on gun enthusiasts.

She asked, "Do you use a gun often, Phil?"

He showed no signs of surprise but simply returned her smile with one of his own. "I do indeed."

They released hands and he crossed his arms over his chest. The movement pulled his suit jacket up slightly, just enough for her to spy the bump where his gun was only one type of person allowed backstage with a weapon. "Law enforcement?"

"Yes, ma'am," Phil replied.

Callie gave a soft chuckle. "I think I'm a little young to be called ma'am."

"Eighteen," Phil said with a serious nod. "As of yesterday if I'm not mistaken."

"Why, yes," she said taking a slight step backwards. "Have we met?"

"Ms. Greene, you have a photographic memory. Don't you think you would have remembered if we'd met?" Phil asked. Callie had to agree but her birthday was not something she broadcasted and certainly not to strangers.

Without turning her back to him she walked backwards towards the panic button. In recent years the buttons had become customary in the backstage area of every theater. Some people just didn't know when enough was enough. "Sir, actually, I can't really stay and talk very long. Conversing with the world beyond is very exhausting. If you don't mind-"

"I'd like to offer you a job, Ms. Greene," Phil said.

Callie hesitated. "Excuse me?"

"No excuses necessary," Phil replied. "I know all about your gifts. The real ones, not your fake psychic abilities. I'm talking about your observation skills and that photographic memory of yours. Those are abilities that I don't stumble on every day."

Callie had grown accustomed to people assuming her observations were messages from the great beyond. Hearing someone blurt out the truth was a little disorienting. "Sir, I'm not sure what you think you know but-"

"I work for SHIELD," Phil said. "It's a government agency and we'd like to offer you a job as an agent."

"Me?" Callie asked.

Phil gave her another smile. "Stranger things have happened."

The gravestone read simply, Phil Coulson. Born April 2, 1972 – Died June 13, and Died a Hero. It was simple, like the man Phil had always been. Callie laid a single white rose on his grave just in front of the gravestone. "Sorry I couldn't be there for you."

Callie straightened and wiped the tears off her cheeks. Phil would have mocked her for wallowing in a fellow agent's death. Like he'd told her during training, "We all know what we signed up for."

She pulled her hair up into a regulation ponytail in place of the typical sloppy ponytail she usually wore that let strands of strawberry blonde hair bounce around her face. It was not, however, a hair-do appropriate to being an agent of SHIELD. She straightened her suit jacket and then got in her car to drive to work.

Ten minutes later and she was sitting down at her desk. Paperwork from her last mission, the reason she hadn't been in New York for the big battle, was piled on her desk up to her eyeballs. It had been neglected in favor of the agents' funerals and clean-up from the destruction of the battle. She didn't regret putting those things first but looking at this paperwork, it was hard to think about exactly how long it was going to take to finish it. Callie sighed and dropped her head, pinching the bridge of her nose in frustration and maybe to push away the coming migraine.

"Coulson used to do that when he was stressed," Callie looked up at, of all people, Director Fury standing before her desk.

Callie nearly jumped out of her seat. "Director Fury."

Director Fury crossed his arms over his chest. "My office, now."

And despite having done nothing to earn the wrath of SHIELD's Director's wrath Callie felt guilty. The Director was good at that. Callie adjusted her suit jacket and after a moment's hesitation followed the Director who was yards ahead of her and had yet to look back. She hurried after him with surprising grace for someone in four inch heels down the hallway and into the elevator. The doors closed in front of them. Director Fury kept his eyes on the doors and didn't speak. Finally, curious as to what she may have done to earn Director Fury's attention, she asked, "Is everything alright, Director?"

"This conversation is best done in my office," he replied.

"Well, sir, I was just curious if I've done-" Callie started.

The Director interrupted. "This conversation is best done in my office," he repeated.

"Right," Callie replied.

A personal visit from the Director was unusual and despite Callie being a good agent – she was not so modest she would deny that fact – her reputation as being such did not earn her a visit from Fury. She examined his face, searching for a clue but found nothing. This was not unusual. The Director was a hard man to read even for her and he seemed particularly good at keeping his thoughts to himself today. He was just too good at being a mystery and Callie didn't spend enough time with the man to know every little twinge of his face and their symbolism.

The elevator doors opened and the Director stepped out and headed to his office. Once again he did not bother to look back apparently assuming Callie would be trailing behind him. It was a fair assumption as one did not tell Fury no and live to tell the tale. He held the door open for her and she took a seat in the plush chair across from his desk. He, in turn, took a seat behind his desk, clasped his hands together on top, and looked her in the face. "Agent Greene."

"Yes, sir?" she asked.

"In setting up the Avengers Initiative we had to place them under a department heading, the Avengers Department to be precise. Typical bureaucracy bullshit and such but we needed a place for them on the paperwork. Apparently, necessary team of superheroes is not a box we can check." Director Fury said.

Callie gave a slight chuckle at something she thought was a joke. The Director didn't laugh. She cleared her throat and replied, "Continue."

"Departments require multiple personnel besides the Avengers. One such position was Department Head and because of Agent Coulson's prior involvement with the Avengers we placed him in the position," he said. "Unfortunately, due to Agent Coulson's recent passing the Avengers Department requires a Department Head. We'd like you to take the position."

"Me?" Callie asked. "I'm honored but I'm hardly the most qualified for the position."

"Do you think I would promote someone to a position I didn't think they deserved, Agent Greene?" the Director asked.

Callie immediately backtracked. Here she was being promoted and instead of being grateful she'd insulted her boss. "No, sir, I just don't quite understand."

"You trained under Agent Coulson," he replied.

"Agent Coulson recruited and trained a lot of people," she said.

The Director leaned back in his chair and nodded. "That he did. He was perfect for the job because Agent Coulson knew the Avengers better than anyone. He recruited and trained Agent Barton; he was there to help with Agent Romanoff. He made friends with Stark and Ms. Potts, studied Captain Rogers, and met with Dr. Banner on numerous occasions. He was an obvious choice."

Fury continued. "Lacking someone with that kind of experience we need someone in the position who can analyze the situation and react and we need someone who can do that quickly. Your problem-solving, memory, and observation scores were off the charts. Baring Agent Coulson himself coming back, you are the best person for the job."

Callie was silent. The decision to make Phil the Department Head for the Avengers was indeed an obvious choice. The decision to make her the Department Head for the Avengers, well… "What exactly would the job entail?"

"Agent Coulson often located the Avengers to bring them together. He was in charge of briefing and he acted as a liaison for the Avengers and SHIELD," Director Fury explained. "Of course, now that they are officially a team there will be events to plan, rules to be made, and plans to create. You need to make decisions on training, diet, and housing."

"Sir, do the Avengers have the guidelines SHIELD agents do?" she asked. It was true that SHIELD agents had to maintain a training regimen and keep a healthy diet supplied by the housing community SHIELD assigned them to but agents were one thing and superheroes were another.

Fury shrugged. "Two of the Avengers are SHIELD agents themselves but I believe they should be held to a standard. We do trust these people to protect us from the things we can't protect ourselves from. If they want SHIELD backing they have to follow rules."

Callie chewed on her lip. It was a poor habit she'd picked up and one she hated to see on other people. "I'm sorry, Director, but controlling the Avengers was never high on my list of career plans."

The Director just looked at her. His eye focused on her face. The Director sighed and then said, "I was afraid you'd say that. Unfortunately, you see, I'm currently in a position where I need someone at the head of this department and people who aren't willing to take one for the team, well, I don't want people like that in my agency."

Callie wasn't stupid, in fact she was quite intelligent, but it wouldn't take a monkey to see where the Director was going. No Department Head equals no job at SHIELD. Callie sighed. "I'd like to see their files if I could."

He grabbed a stack of manila folders and handed them to her. "Got them right here for you."

"Gee, thanks," Callie replied. She grabbed the folders and stood up. "I'll look them over."

"Have them returned when you're done," he replied, and just like that he was through with her.

The mess hall was on the first floor and Callie took a seat at a corner table where there weren't too many people around. She opened the Avengers Initiative file and did a quick scan. It was mostly paperwork to start the department and a quick summary of each of the members. Each summary ended with a file number. Conveniently, those numbers matched with those of the other files she had. "Fury sure thought of everything didn't he?"

Callie flipped through these files as well. On top of most of them being civilians they weren't the soundest bunch of people. Narcissism, depression, anti-social personality disorder, the list of possible mental disorders in these people was longer than her arm. Callie shut the last file after having spent - she checked her watch - four hours in the cafeteria. It was only four in the afternoon. A thirty minute drive and she could still meet five of the six Avengers. According to his file, Thor was currently still on Asgard. Callie pulled her keys out of her purse and set out for the parking lot.

"Agent Greene," Callie said as she flashed her badge at the receptionist. Her nametag read Susan. "I need to see the Avengers."

Susan frowned. "Why did you come here?"

"I was told they were currently in Stark Tower," Callie said.

"Avengers Tower," Susan corrected.

Callie frowned. "Excuse me?"

Susan took a moment to look up at Callie to explain. "Now that the Avengers team has all moved in Mr. Stark has converted the Stark Tower to an Avengers headquarters. It has therefore been re-named Avengers Tower. It was all in the memo."

"The memo," Callie repeated. "I need to talk to the Avengers."

"I apologize, Agent…" Susan trailed off, having already forgotten Callie's name.

Callie replied, "Greene. Agent Greene."

"Right, well, Mr. Stark has forbidden government personnel from visiting Avengers Tower," Susan replied. Her fingers were tapping along the desk, typical sign of nervousness.

Callie took the nervousness as an opening and, for lack of a better term, stretched the truth. "I have the full force of the government behind me and every right to speak to them."

The blonde squirmed uncomfortably in her seat. "I'm sorry ma'am. I could lose my job."

Callie sighed. She looked down the hallway past the receptionist's desk to where the elevators sat just out of reach. Callie glanced in the mirror behind the receptionist. In the reflection of the lobby Callie could make out a fire alarm. She nodded to the receptionist, "I apologize. I'll contact Mr. Stark some other way."

With those words of parting she turned around, tripped over her own two feet, and while reaching out to catch herself just managed to snag the fire alarm. Instantly, the sirens blared and the lights flashed. A mechanical voice leapt from the speakers. "Ground floor, please evacuate. A fire alarm has been pulled. Ground floor, please evacuate."

Callie gave a horrified look to the receptionist. "I'm so sorry. I'm not usually this clumsy."

The receptionist frowned at her but waved it off. "The security people are just down the hall. I'll tell them it was a mistake."

The receptionist got up from the desk and walked into the hall on the other side of the mirror. As soon as Susan was out of sight Callie booked it down the hall to the elevators. For a few worrying moments she thought the woman might come back out before the elevators even got to her but she was in and moving upward by the time Susan left the security office. Callie keyed in the nine digit security code Phil had made note of in Stark's file to be allowed access to Stark's floor. She tugged on her skirt while waiting for the right floor, adjusting it once again. The doors opened and she stepped out as Tony Stark, the man himself, yelled to no one in particular. "I define modern technology, have designed weapons terrorists kidnapped m for, created the Iron Man, joined a league of superheroes, defeated space aliens, and yet I can't design a security system that denies access to SHIELD's goons? Is that what you're telling me, JARVIS?"

JARVIS, as Callie now realized Stark was talking to, replied from seemingly everywhere, "I'll begin working on the problem."

Callie gave a smile to Stark that she hoped portrayed the frustration she felt. "You should begin by making it clear to your receptionists that a fire alarm is not a good excuse to leave their post. That should do it."

"You started a fire?" This came from Captain Rogers who came in from the living room wearing jeans and a blue tee.

"No, I just pulled the fire alarm," Callie replied. "No need to actually start a fire."

"That's…actually a fairly daring move. I approve," Stark replied. "Now, what are you doing in my humble abode?"

"I came to introduce myself," Callie supplied as she looked around a room that was anything but humble.

It was that moment that Agent Barton strolled in followed closely by Agent Romanoff. Agent Barton had his hands at his sides but she could make out the gun in a hip holster. Agent Romanoff had two hip holsters. They, like the Captain, were dressed casually in jeans. Agent Barton had on a sweatshirt from Michigan State University. She recognized the Spartans' logo. "Introduce yourself? This isn't a repeat of that blonde agent is it? What was her name?"

"Agent Permar," Agent Romanoff supplied.

Agent Barton snapped his fingers. "Right, Permar. You aren't another one of those are you?"

"I don't understand," Callie said, confused by a conversation she was obviously out of the loop on.

Captain Rogers crossed his arms over his chest. "Last week one of SHIELD's agents snuck their way up here to introduce herself. She claimed to be a fan."

Callie immediately felt embarrassed. "No, I'm not here to play fan girl for you."

Stark sighed, "Too bad."

"What are you here for?" Agent Romanoff asked.

"One moment," Stark said. "JARVIS, alert Bruce that he is currently missing out on all the fun. Use those words."

"Don't bother," Dr. Banner said walking in. "I heard all the talking."

"I'm here to introduce myself," Callie repeated, now with everyone in the room. "Director Fury has assigned me to be your new Avengers Initiative handler."

"We're getting a handler?" Agent Barton asked.

"New handler," Callie corrected. "I'm taking Agent Coulson's job."

Stark's brows furrowed as he adopted a look of confusion. "You're going to show up every month or so and ask us to join SHIELD?"

"Tony," Steve warned.

Stark shrugged. "What? I was honestly under the impression that was his job."

Steve shook his head but did not reply. Clearly, these kinds of conversations were regular in Avengers Tower. Instead, Dr. Banner spoke up. "Not to agree with Tony but what exactly is your job?"

"I'm the connection between the Avengers and SHIELD," Callie said. "If you have a problem, you go to me, I take it to SHIELD, and the problem gets fixed."

Stark adopted a sly grin. "Well, Agent Greene, if you'd like a list of problems I have with SHIELD-"

"Tony," Steve warned again. The genius rolled his eyes but didn't continue. Instead Steve asked, "So what's your background? Where did SHIELD recruit you from? Army? Special Forces? C.I.A.?"

"Vegas," Callie answered truthfully. If the rumors she'd heard about Stark's abilities with computers were true it wouldn't do her any good to lie. "I had a show on the Vegas strip."

"Doing what?" Stark asked, clearly surprised.

"I had a psychic show," Callie elaborated.

"So you're psychic?" Stark asked.

"Hardly," Callie replied. "I'm just very observant."

"Great," Agent Barton said with a roll of his eyes. "The Avengers get a handler and she worked in Sin City."

Callie had grown up in Vegas and didn't appreciate the dig. "And you worked in a circus before SHIELD. If you don't judge I'll try to keep my opinions to myself as well."

Agent Barton opened his mouth and then snapped it shut. Agent Romanoff put a comforting hand on his shoulder. Stark grinned at the archer. "Look, Katniss, I think it likes you."

Callie sighed. "Look, I came here to introduce myself. Clearly, I've done that for too long. I think I'll be leaving now. I will be back, however."

"Wait!" Captain Rogers exclaimed. She turned and he continued. "I'd like to have a moment to speak to you if you don't mind."

Callie nodded. The remaining Avengers slowly drifted off to their own things, all of them except Stark. "Is he supposed to stay?"

Captain Rogers frowned at him. "No. Tony, get out."

Stark saluted him sarcastically and replied, "Aye, aye, Captain."

Once the two of them were alone Captain Rogers held out his hand for her to shake. "It's a pleasure to meet you."

Callie shook his hand. She could see why woman swooned for him. Past the looks and the uniform there was a type of man that had been lost somehow over the past sixty years. "It's a pleasure to meet you as well."

"They're an interesting group for sure," he said. He stole a glance over his shoulder where they had all stood moments ago. "But they're good people."

"I have no doubt of that," Callie replied. Phil had trusted them and although it may take her awhile to trust them herself, for now Phil's trust was enough.

He sighed. "I guess I wanted to tell you that it won't be easy working with people who come from so many different places. I'm a great example of that."

"I enjoy a challenge, Captain," Callie replied.

"Hey Spangles! Are you done talking to the rookie?" Stark's voice floated from her left. When she looked she could barely make out the faint glow of the arc reactor in his chest. Someone less observant might not have seen it at all.

She looked directly at him in the shadows. "I've been an agent for three years now."

Stark stepped out of the shadows, his eyebrows up. "Hey Katniss! She's a freak like you!"

Callie caught the Captain's eye roll. She held up a hand. "You can save your pep talk. I won't be leaving anytime soon. Director Fury made it very clear that it was this assignment or no assignment at all."

"You turned it down?" Captain Rogers asked. Maybe it wasn't a question.

Callie nodded. "Fury claims I'm the only person for the job but to be honest? I'm out of my league here."

"Only if you let yourself be," he replied.

"I'll be seeing you Captain," Callie replied.

"Call me Steve," he said. At Callie's look of disapproval he added, "Or Rogers, if that's more comfortable."

"Rogers it is," Callie said.

If Callie had decided to go to the SHIELD base at that moment on time instead of skipping out on some paperwork and going home, she would have pulled into the base parking lot thirty minutes later. She would have exited her car, walked into the building, flashed her credentials at the guard, gone through four metal detectors, and finally made it to the hallway where Director Fury's office was located. She also would have passed his office just as he was wrapping up the conversation with someone on the phone.

He pinched the bridge of his nose. "You're telling me it's happened again, four times? And that each of these times has been more severe?"

Whomever he was talking to on the other line had a voice that gave him a headache. After a moment he responded, "Of course I'm going to fix it. I just have to find someone who has experience with that. I'll be in touch."

He set down the phone and then pushed a button on his desk connecting him to Maria Hill. Her voice came through the speaker. "Yes sir?"

"Get ahold of Dr. Strange." Fury said. "And find me an aspirin."

Of course, instead, Callie chose to go home and the conversation remained private between Fury and the voice on the other end.

AN: And that's all for now. Await Chaos' chapter next. She's a great writer with a fantastic OC. Chapter 3 will be half hers and half mine as will the chapters after it. Thanks for reading and don't forget to review!