Chapter Three: Establishing a Connection

"What are you drawing, honey?" Sarah Parks, Tommy's mother, said.

"I'm drawing Captain America and Hawkeye fighting these BIG bee monsters!" He said excitedly. He turned around his notebook; nearly spilling his box of colored pencils. "See!"

His mother laughed. "Yes, dear." She looked at the paper curiously for a moment. "But where are all the other Avengers? Surely they would have helped them right?"

Tommy shook his head; the mask sliding down over his eyes. "Nuh-uh, the bee monsters came up on them by surprise. None of the others knew about them." He put down the paper and picked up another one. "The bee monsters were sent by Loki." He pointed to the figure on the paper; it was a man draped in green, black and gold robes. On his head he had a helmet with golden rods that looked like horns coming off the top.

"Ohhh he looks mean," said Sarah. Just then, there was a knock at the door. "Come in, he's awake." In stepped two doctors and a nurse. "Oh hello, Doctor Fury. He's doing well. He's been drawing in his notebook again." She gave her son a smile. "He is such a good drawer."

One of the two nurses standing beside Doctor Fury cleared his throat. "If I may ask….does he have any new drawings of Captain America?" Fury shot the nurse, Coulson, a look. "What?" He shrugged. "He's my favorite."

The boy nodded enthusiastically. "Uh huh! Come and see, Mr. Coulson!" He waved the paper, gesturing for the man to step closer.

"That's very, good, Tommy!" He squinted closer at the paper. "Are they fighting….giant bees?"

The boy nodded again. "Yep! They were sent by Thor's brother Loki."

"Ooo that sounds serious."

"No, not really. Cap and Hawkeye took care of 'em. They're all gone now."

"Nurse Coulson," said Doctor Fury. "I think you have a job to get back to?"

"Oh yes." He winked at Tommy. "Make sure you tell me when you have more drawings of Cap, okay?" He ruffled his hair. "Oh! I just remembered, I have a present for you." He reached into the pocket of his bright blue scrubs. "Here," he said as he placed the stack of cards in the little boy's hands. "I had these made for you." He laughed when Tommy's jaw dropped. "Do you like them? They took awhile to get here."

Tommy was nearly bouncing off the bed from excitement. "These are cool!" He went through the cards, stopping to stare at each one of the pictures. "There's one of just Cap, and another of him leading battle, and one of him throwing his shield!" He threw his arms around Coulson's waist. "Thank you! These are SO COOL!"

Phil Coulson chuckled. "I'm glad you like them, Tommy." He ruffled his hair. "You have to be really careful with them, okay?"

The boy nodded seriously. "Yes, sir." He saluted the nurse. "I will." He giggled. "Hey, I just acted like Cap!"

The two nurses and his mother laughed. Even Doctor Fury cracked a smile.