Chapter 2

Next part of the one shot! :)

AvengerFrost: Thank you for reviewing! :D Your review gave me an idea… *evilly chuckles* Hope you like this chapter! Thank you for reviewing my story too! :) I love hearing from everyone

Phoenix Brooke: Thank you for the compliment even though the story has just started! XD I'm so sorry about the bullying. I was bullied too, when I was younger though. (Unfortunately it was physical bullying as well) Thankfully I've gotten past it but I did incorporate some of my own experiences into this oneshot :) I wish you the best of luck with the bullying and I hope that it stops soon. And remember; never give up, stay strong! :) It'll get better :D Of course, I will do my best to make this a longer one-shot :) It was originally going to be about 3 chapters but now that I think about it, there is much more to add :D

Juliet and Molly: Just wanna shout out how grateful I am to have readers like you who follow and read all of my stories :) It means so much I feel like I know you guys! XD I wait to see your reviews on everything that I post because I know I can always look forward to hearing from you :) Hope you like this chapter! And I think you might be on to something with what you said in your review….. Hint hint XD

I quickly dodged a kick before blocking several punches. I used my forearm to block several before dropping to the ground to kick her feet out from under her. She jumped over before hooking her leg around my arm; flipping me onto my back.

She let me up seconds later and I let out a breath.

"You did good today" She smiled. I just nod. If you have to tell me a did good it's as if you're trying to assuring me so I don't think I sucked...

I then walked towards the elevator. Once I got back to my room I closed and locked the door behind me before sitting on my bed. Besides from the fight today, they usually gave me a hard time at SHIELD. Several agents were always on my case and usually managed to come at exactly the wrong time.

Like what happened last week...

~0~

Last week...

I quickly put my hoodie on; closing my SHIELD locker before walking for the door. I walked out into the hall before seeing Carly and Adeline walking towards me. I kept walking before they stopped in front of me.

"Long time no see freak" Carly sweetly. I kept a straight face before my eyes went to the ground. "So how exactly did you even get into this organization?" I didn't say anything.

Suddenly Adeline took a threatening step forward.

"She asked you a question" She growled. I just kept looking at the ground. Stay calm. This has happened before. Just don't egg them on.

Suddenly Carly pushed me against the wall behind me and I hit my head and clenched my jaw slightly. Don't give in.

"So you have a hard time talking?" She snapped before punching me straight in the gut. I grunted in pain and fell onto my knees. "How bout now?" She growled. I looked up; breathing a bit heavy while holding my forearm across my stomach. I felt a smirk come onto my face.

"I think that helped" I reply sarcastically.

"Good" She smiled before knocking me across the face. I fell to the side before rolling into her; wrapping my legs around one of hers before turning; making her flip over and fall against the wall.

"Hey!" I turned and saw Agent Wilson standing in the hall. "You know the rules Agent Rogers!" He shouted.

"But it wasn't my-"

"I will write you up!" He cut me off. I closed my mouth before nodding.

"Yes sir" I reply quietly before Carly got to her feet. They both glared at me before walking away. I pushed myself up 'til I was sitting against the wall.

Once Agent Wilson walked away I started to push myself up. Once I got to my feet and adjusted my hoodie before walking down the hall with a roll of my eyes.

Those people really get on my nerves. It's not just those two either. These two guys; David and Jason hate me as well. And there are a few other people but they aren't as extreme when it comes to picking on me.

~0~

I shoved my hands deeper into my pockets as I walked down the sidewalk. My hood was over my head to hide my black eye. Dad is on a mission and will be back soon. Hopefully I can borrow some of Pepper's make up to try and hide it.

My phone started ringing and I pulled it out; seeing it was Sam.

"Hey Sam" I spoke up as I answered the phone.

"Hey, what are you doing right now?" She asked. I looked around as I walked across the street.

"Walking around, what about you?"

"Sitting at home on my laptop watching a movie" She replies. I chuckle.

"Sounds fun" I say.

"Mind if I come over later?" She asked. "My parents are having some friends over and I don't want to be here"

"Sounds good, come whenever" I reply.

"Good" She says happily. "Alright, see you then"

"Bye" I laugh before hanging up; looking up as I approached Stark tower.

A couple minutes later I walked out of the elevator and onto the communal floor.

"Hey Kate" I briefly glanced at Clint who was eating a sandwich at the table.

"Hi" I reply; walking into the kitchen. I grabbed a water bottle from the fridge before leaning against the corner.

"Hey I need a sparring partner" He called over as he got up. "Gym in 10?" He asked. I nod before sipping my water.

"Sure" I say; keeping my head down. He nods before walking towards the stairs. I let out a breath before drinking more of my water.

My ears perked up slightly when the elevator door opened.

"Hey honey" I turned to see Dad walk out in his stealth suit.

"Hi Dad" I mumble as I swallowed some more water. "How was the mission?" I asked. He shrugged.

"It was ok" He sighs. "Natasha got banged up a bit; has a concussion" He says. I looked up a bit.

"She ok?" I asked; leaning my back against the counter. He didn't say anything for a few seconds. My back was to him so I couldn't see his expression.

"Yeah she's fine" He says. I nod to myself before placing my water bottle on the counter.

"I'm gonna go spar with Clint" I say before I walked around the corner towards the elevator. I was about 10 ft. from the door.

"Kate" He spoke up. I stopped and felt my gaze get lost on the door. I closed my eyes briefly before opening them. I could hear him take a few steps towards me before he started to turn me. I still had my hood on. Once he turned me so that I was facing him I kept my eyes down. Don't look up. Don't look up.

Before I could react he pulled my hood off and I closed my eyes; knowing I was busted.

"What happened to your eye?" He asked; looking concerned. I huffed before looking to the left.

"Ok, I kinda slipped and well- I fell after I got beat-t- I Uh, after I got back from the mission" I stutter. Oh god, at this pace I'll never steer him off. He just raised an eyebrow before nodding slightly.

"So you slipped" He states. "On what?" He asked.

"Wet floor" I shrug. "I know, it's stupid but that's the truth"

He nods after a few seconds again and he still looked a bit concerned.

"Don't make it any worse when you spar with Clint" He says. I nod before he walked into the kitchen. I immediately felt myself relax and I took in a quiet breath.

Thank god. That was close.

I quickly walked to the elevator before going in. I caught the concerned look dad sent me before the door closed.

… I think he's catching on.

~0~

Yeah. Last week was a close one. Something tells me Dad knew I was lying. But he knows if I lie then it's usually for a reason that they'll never get me to tell. So most of the time he backs off for a bit before asking again.

~0~

A couple days later…

I wrapped my hand up before walking towards the punching bag. I had to use extra wrapping on my wrist that I sprained... Well, I actually shouldn't be using the punching bag in the first place because of my hand so whatever. Might as well go with the saying: 'no pain no gain'.

Minutes went by as I threw several punches when I saw someone out of the corner of my eye. I turned only briefly to see Dad walk in.

"Hey" I speak up as he walked in. I punched the bag a couple more times before I realized he had stopped and was just watching me from a few feet away. I punched it once more before turning to him.

"Kate can I talk to you" He asked. I furrowed my eyebrows slightly. His expression was a bit dark; which kinda confused me.

"Uh sure?" I replied slowly before walking over to the bench against the wall.

He came over too before sitting down next to me. "Did I forget to close a window or something?" I asked. He gave me a confused look. Sometimes I open the window to my room and leave it open.

"Wha- no, well- at least I don't think so" He replied; bringing back to casual tone.

"Huh" I breathe with a shrug; looking into my lap.

"You're late for your mission" He says. I stopped what I was doing; my eyes still looking at the floor. How did he know?! I hacked into SHIELD and might have sent a message to Fury saying that I wasn't allowed to go on the mission; making it look like Dad sent the message.

"No I didn't have a mission" I say; looking up at him. He looked at me for a moment and I knew that he could see right through my lie.

"Then why did Coulson ask me earlier today about why I wouldn't let you go on the mission?" He asked. I bit my bottom lip and looked at the ground.

"Kate you need to tell me what's going on; you've been avoiding SHIELD for a while now" He says. I took a deep breath and held it in for a while.

Don't tell him. God damn it why is this always so hard. I was bullied as a kid too. The last place I thought I would be picked on was with SHIELD.

"I dunno" I mumble. He lets out a breath before looking out across the gym. I could tell he wanted an answer.

"Kate-"

"Why is it that you all have to know?! It's not that big of a deal" I cut him off.

"It's because we all care about you. That's why." He says back a tad bit louder. I kept looking at the ground.

"My wrist still hurts" I tell him. "That's why I skipped" I add before looking up at him. He looked at me for a few seconds before looking over at the punching bag.

"And you think this will help?" He replied. I clenched my jaw slightly before looking away at the ground. He looked at me for a few more seconds before getting up and walking for the door.

I let my shoulders slump as I relaxed once he left. They don't need to know. It's nothing really. I'm sure if I don't make a big deal out of it they'll eventually lose interest.

Next one will be up very soon! :) Please review if you liked it

I will keep posting this note, but if you have ideas or suggestions on more one-shots for A Place to Call Home then review them or feel free to PM me XD