Thank you for continuing to read my story. Enjoy! - Sevy14

It had been a week since the day SHEILD fell. I had gone on with my normal work routine. We all had. Although whispers still happened, the nurses station was full of rumors, fear, mistrust, confusion and anger. I did what I could to avoid my coworkers, choosing to focus on my work and not rumors. I had lived so much in fear that I found a calmness in the anxiety produced by my work environment. Where others struggled to keep it together, I was able to make it through each shift, no tears, no shaking, no shifty glances when someone new came in. I had lost five patients this week due to errors made by unnerved doctors and nurses. I was not the only one who had lost patients, but I felt as though I was the only who cared. Maybe I was the only one who was not yet jaded. I had been sure to report my suspicions as well as the errors that led to the deaths of my patients to my superior, there was no room for error, not when caring for others, and especially not in Director Pierce's mind. That had been pounded into our heads during training when each one of us started here. Compromise and excuses were not allowed, errors that could have been avoided should be, if not, you may find that you are no longer working at the lab. Rumors floated about when someone disappeared, but no one ever knew where they went and they never returned. The hush, hush that surrounded employees no longer working here always seemed odd to me, but I am not one to verbalize my thoughts on this matter. My life experiences taught me to not stick my head in a situation like that.

Our head security guard, Mr. Willie Peetars was always around ever since SHEILD fell. He made my skin crawl and I did what I could to ignore him or steer clear of him. But I felt his eyes on me, watching. I couldn't recall if he had been around as much before SHEILD fell or not. Other nurses were attracted to him, fawning over him. In the locker room they gushed about his physique and what he must look like beneath his uniform. I never entertained thoughts such as those, they did me no good, nor my patients. But it was amusing to hear them go on and on about him. I was sure he knew about their attraction to him, and to some of the other security guards here, my peers were not secretive and certainly they weren't subtle. I'd smile, more to myself than anyone else, when they'd pretend to fall into him or brush past him. It was all rather amusing, their behavior. It was as though they were teenage girls falling head over heels at the feet of the star quarter back. That was something I did find odd about the Lab. The doctors were made up of varying ages, but the nurses, security guards and other support staff were predominately 35 and under, why that was, I did not know. But I had always found that strange, typically in hospitals or recovery centers the nurses spanned the ages, old, young, and somewhere in between, but no here.

It had been a week since SHEILD fell when Director Pierce and his top STRIKE team landed and made themselves at home. I had just started my shift when the news filtered through that the Director was here. Katie came rushing into the back office where I was located, breathless, apparently she had taken it upon herself to alert everyone that the Director was here. Leaving my office behind her quickly disappearing form I checked on two of my patients, the rest were at physical therapy, and so I decided to head to the main nurses station, just to check in and see if anyone required assistance. Due to the passing of five of my patients, I had way more free time than I was accustomed too on my shifts. I was always good about staying on top of my paperwork and so this left me with such excess that I was able to care for many more patients, assisting with check-ins, allowing some of my coworkers to get caught up. It would not bode well for anyone if Director Pierce discovered some were behind on updating their charts and the files online.

"Katie." I said, nodding toward her as I leaned over the counter at the nurses station. I noticed she was still out of breath but her breathing had evened out a little bit since I'd seen her a few moments ago.

"Hey Annie." She said, offering a slight nod back. The other nurses were less friendly, Katie had always been kind, nice even, but I did not feel as though I would be able to count her as a friend, none of them really. She was just a courteous person, Katie was nice to everyone. I lived quite the isolated life.

"So, how are things, good?" Her eyes darted past me and around before she leaned closer. I too leaned in, matching her movement.

"The Director is here, and I heard," she looked about again, her pause making it more dramatic than it needs to be in my opinion, "That he is having his people check our database, our files, and the staff." While kind, Katie was also dramatic. Her ability to turn anything into a dramatic situation was something to be applauded, but it was also incredibly annoying at times, amusing too.

I raised my eyebrows, not sure why that was news worthy of whispering. "Oh… Well I guess it is a good thing I am not behind in updating anything." Shrugging as I answered.

One of the other nurses said, muttering under her breath, "Of course you are." The nurses about her smiled, not bothering to hide their attitude towards me.

But I did not respond, or bother to acknowledge their immaturity because my attention drawn down the hall. I was confused at first, why were patients, doctors, support staff and nurses pulling quickly to the side. My confusion quickly dissipated when I saw Director Pierce striding quickly down the hall, his top STRIKE team agents behind him. I will be honest, it was quite a sight, drafted by such intimidating men, dressed all in black, lend to the airs about Director Pierce. His head held high, shoulders back, confident, strong and in charge. It was clear he was here for a reason and no one was going to stop him from getting what he came for. The nurses had yet to notice what I had and I stood back, taking my arms off the counter as they entered the space, the nurses still whispering about Director Pierce and his STRIKE team agents. They were still talking to themselves, their backs to the Director and his men. I stood watching, unsure as to what would occur. Director Pierce surveyed the nurses before him, his eyes landing on me briefly, I stared back, I knew my eyes were wide, and gulped. I did what I could to keep my breath steady. His eyes were like Fathers, a cool coldness that made shivers run down my spine. I could not look away, they held me captive in the frigid depths.

Clearing his throat, "Ladies."

I watch as Katie turns, her mouth drops and she rises, quickly. The others turn, scattering to the left and right, leaving Katie front and center, alone to answer to Director Pierce. Fear and shock instantly hung in the air behind their dispersing forms. "Director Pierce, Sir." She stammers. Katie's fingers were behind her back fidgeting.

Director Pierce looks her over and then does the same to the nurses to his left and right, his eyes never look at me, for that, I was grateful. "Surely you all have something to do instead of stand her and gossip about… Me." It was not a question, nor a statement really, an observation? I was not sure, but the message was loud and it was clear. 'Back to work, cease gossiping, it is not tolerated.'

Nodding, "Y-Yes, Sir." Katie said. Grabbing her files she turned and offered me a worried look, beads of sweat had formed on her forehead due to nervousness, before walking out of the nurses station and away from the hall. Following her suite, the other nurses departed, quickly, their shoes squeaking, clothes swishing as they hurried away. Leaving me there, alone.

Director Pierce looks at me and I at him. His calculating eyes ate me alive. "Do you not have something to do as well, Miss…? His eyebrows raised slightly as if to dare me to disobey his unspoken command to get back to work.

I shake my head attempting to breathe steady, "No, Sir. I uh, I have done my rounds for this hour and am all caught up with my paperwork and database updating."

He raises his head slightly, "I see…" Director Pierce does not say anything else and the silence sits between us.

I clear my throat, nervous. "I uh, also lost five patients this week so my load is light as of right now."

At this revelation he nods, "You must be Annabell McCoy." He knows my name… How does he know my name? That can't be a good thing, right? With his recognition of my name based off of what I had told him, he clearly knew the staff at this hospital, that cannot be a good thing.

I try not to balk at him, the question of how does he know my name goes through my mind again and again. Why and how does he know my name? "Y-Yes Sir, yes I am."

Quiet reigns, aside from the beeping of machines, the coughing and groans of patients about us. "Perhaps you could direct me to your head of security Miss McCoy."

Nodding, as if I even had a choice, "Yes, right this way Sir." I turn and lead them down the hallway. I walked quickly, aware of the men behind me, not just Director Pierce. It had not escaped my attention that they were wearing weapons, guns and other weapons I could not identify. Their presence was hard to ignore, it was as though their personas took up the room, pulling the air out. Stopping just before Willie Peetars door, "I am not sure if he is in or making a round."

Director Pierce smiled, but it did not meet his eyes. "I'm sure we will manage, thank you."

I nodded, sensing that was my cue to leave. I turned and walked down the hall, my patients and office in a different direction completely, but I didn't care. As I departed I heard the Director knock. When he did not receive an answer I heard him say, "Rumlow get me in there." I did not turn around or slow my pace.

Hope you enjoyed the chapter! Happy reading! - Sevy14