*Hi, Ellie here. Just a head's-up; the first part of this chapter is based on the audio-visual surveillance footage from the helicarrier during the time period following my departure*

Tony Stark walked into the conference room, rubbing his face tiredly and looked around. Frowning, he looked at Fury. "Hey, where's our coffee? There's always morning coffee," he grouched.
"Whoever brings the coffee was probably hurt in the battle, or is on clean-up duty or something. We have more important things to worry about."
"Like; who ordered the attack on us?" Natasha Romanoff pointed out, pulling everyone's attention back to the central concerns.
"Could it be Loki again?" Clint Barton asked.
"We don't have any intel on that; there were no prisoners and we haven't heard from…" a loud peal of thunder echoed throughout the helicarrier. "Thor," Fury finished.

A few moments later, Thor Odinson stalked through the doors and looked around at the others. "Loki has escaped from Asgard," he announced.
"Well, that answers that question," Steve Rogers sighed, leaning back in his chair.
"Now, let's not jump to conclusions," Fury disagreed. "What can you tell us?" he demanded, turning to Thor. Thor shook his head.
"Not much. We believe that the Chitauri had something to do with his disappearance, but we cannot be sure since the guards assigned to watch over Loki were all slain."

"So Loki's out there somewhere, probably in league with the Chitauri, and he's probably looking for revenge," Natasha summarised.
"Has anyone checked on the sceptre?" Steve asked nervously.
"Of course we have," Fury retorted.
"It has the same sort of gamma signature as the Tesseract, doesn't it?" Clint wondered. "Maybe we should get Bruce to take a look at it," he suggested. "Just to be on the safe side." The door slid open and Bruce Banner walked in.
"Speak of the devil," Tony smiled. Bruce looked around at the others.
"Does anybody know what's happened to the coffee?"

…
Bruce walked up to the pedestal on which sat Loki's sceptre in the secure room in the heart of the Helicarrier. Reaching out the grab the sceptre, Bruce's hand went straight through it, causing it to flicker and disappear. "Oh, boy," Steve groaned.
"They got the sceptre! Banner, Stark; track the signature. We need everyone on high-alert," Fury barked sharply.
"I'd be more alert if we had coffee," Tony muttered, stalking to the lab with Bruce.

…
Two weeks passed with no sign of Loki or the Chitauri. Two weeks passed without any morning coffee, either. "Okay, the helicarrier's been cleaned up and everyone's got back to work, so where's the coffee man?" Tony demanded angrily.
"We don't know!" Clint growled.
"I'm going to check with the personnel department; maybe they know what's happened," Steve announced, standing.
"I'll come with you," Clint said, following him.

"Captain America! Hawkeye!" the man sitting at the desk yelped, standing fast enough to topple his chair. The two Avengers watched blank-faced as he hurriedly picked it up and straightened his uniform, clearing his throat. "What brings you here?"
"We're looking for someone. Who is the person who brings us coffee every morning?" Clint demanded.
"They also give food to Dr Banner every day," Steve added.
"Ahh…" the man sat down and typed something into the computer on his desk. "We have no record of a job like that," he told them apologetically.

"Well, then, has anyone recently been transferred or changed jobs?" Captain America prodded. More typing.
"No, sir. Nothing like that either."
"Well, Ellie left," another man piped up.
"Agent Wills?" the man at the desk questioned and the blonde agent approached the desk.
"Miss Ellie Carter. She left two weeks ago; the same day as that attack," Eric said, taking over control of the computer and showing the screen to the Avengers. "Is she who you're looking for?"

"She might be. Do you know what she did here?" Clint asked while the Captain stared at the screen.
"Ellie used to clean the storage rooms, help out in the kitchen…"
"In the kitchen?" Clint echoed. Eric nodded.
"Yeah. She used to take it upon herself to feed Dr Banner because she said he forgot to feed himself a lot of the time."
"That's the girl," Clint stated, nodding. "Can we contact her?"

"It'll take us a while to track her down…"
"I have her email and her workplace address," Eric interrupted. "We're friends."
"Do you know why she left?" Captain America asked, speaking for the first time since he saw the photo. Eric shrugged.
"She failed agent training and she got tired of 'being invisible,' to quote her. She said she was going to have an adventure."
"Thank you, agent. Could you give us her workplace? We'll stop by and see her," Steve decided. Eric nodded, writing a note and handing it to him. Nodding their thanks, the Avengers left.

…
I was on stage when the Avengers, minus Dr Banner and the Black Widow, walked in. I had been working as a jazz singer in the little club since I'd left Shield. I wasn't going to wonder how they'd found me, Shield can track down pretty much anyone if they want to. I was surprised that they'd bothered with me, though. And the situation was far too unusual to be mere coincidence. I finished my number and retreated backstage. "Hey, Eleonora, we're out of water. Can you go grab a jug?" I nodded and headed through the passageway to emerge behind the bar.
"I can't believe it; Tony Stark is in my club," my boss was gushing.

"And Captain Steve Rogers, better known as Captain America, Clint Barton; Hawkeye, and Thor Odinson; Prince of Asgard. But no Black Widow or Dr Banner." The Avengers and Benny looked at me.
"How did you know that, Eleonora?" Benny asked me. I smirked.
"Telling you would be illegal," I shrugged, filling a glass jug with tap water.
"Eleonora? Your file just said Ellie," Steve frowned quizzically.
"Stage name, Captain. Ellie wasn't alluring enough," I explained.
"So, the coffee guy is actually a coffee girl," Tony stated, looking me over. "How did I overlook someone like you?" he wondered flirtatiously, leaning towards me over the counter. I lifted an eyebrow.

"Back off, playboy. I am not one of your multiple, buxom bimbos. I've got much higher standards than that." The opening for All That Jazz from Chicago started playing and I hissed. "Bother, that's me. Benny, could you take the water back to the girls for me?" I asked, sliding over the counter without waiting for an answer.
"Come on, Babe; why don't we paint the town?" I sang, stepping gracefully into the crowd. "And all that jazz. I'm gonna rouge my knees and roll my stockings down and all that jazz…"

…
"So, you learned my name," I commented, returning to the bar. "When?"
"Yesterday," Steve said.
"We were wondering where you went," Tony added.
"Why? Isn't my replacement efficient enough?"
"There isn't a replacement," Clint remarked. I sighed.
"And that shows just how menial my work really was. Excuse me." I turned to walk away but Tony grabbed my arm. I tensed, turning my head to stare at him incredulously. "Are you really manhandling me right now?" I growled, irritated.

"Yes. You can't just walk away." I smiled sweetly.
"Mr Stark; I already did."
"Yes, but we didn't know about you then." I frowned slightly.
"Your pep talks could use a little work, Mr Stark. Let go of my arm before I start screaming 'assault,'" I threatened. Tony huffed, relinquishing his grip on me.
"Is this really what you want to do?" Clint challenged. "You used to help people."
"I do help people," I replied. "By night, I remind people that not all the world is horrible, and by day I work as a massage therapist in an injury rehabilitation center."

"Really? 'Cause I've got this pain in my neck…"
"No, Sweetie, that's just me," I cut Tony off, leaning my elbows on the counter with a smirk. "Can I go now?" I inquired hopefully.
"Why did you leave, Miss Carter?" Steve asked me.
"Because I got bored. I wanted to do something a little more interactive than I was on the helicarrier, so I left. Any more questions?"
"Do you not have anything you miss about Shield?" Thor asked. I nodded.

"Yes, your highness. I miss Agent Wills; my friend. And sometimes I miss the view from my window over the clouds. But I can live without it. Oh, and watching Dr Banner laugh like a little boy on the surveillance footage when one of his experiments comes to fruition; that was always pretty cute," I added casually.
"Don't you miss helping us?" Steve wondered and I frowned quizzically.
"I made you coffee, Captain. I hardly think that's worth missing."

"You dug that bullet out of my side." I sighed, looking the Captain over slowly.
"You said you needed help," I reminded him. "I just happened to be there."
"How can you be so indifferent?" Tony demanded. "Didn't your work with us mean anything to you at all?" I quirked an eyebrow.
"I made your coffee, Mr Stark. Contrary to your opinion, the world does not revolve around yourself, and the work I am doing now is far more rewarding than making drinks for people who didn't even notice me until I was gone," I stated firmly. "Now, unless you have something really worthwhile for me to go back to, I must beg you to excuse me."

When no more objections were voiced, I turned to leave when an explosion blew part of the front wall away completely. I would have been injured if Thor hadn't been standing in between myself and the blast. As it was, he grabbed me from the other side of the counter and sheltered me until debris stopped falling. "Hello, Brother."
"Loki," Thor growled. "What are you doing?" Loki smiled.
"I am come to claim what should have been mine; Earth. I see you've found yourself a new Midgardian female to toy with." Loki's startling, green eyes roamed over me and I curtsied respectfully.

"With respect, my Lord Loki; I am not your brother's toy. Just a humble bystander." I met Loki's gaze again and he looked me over with an approving smirk.
"I see this one knows her place," he purred. I smiled.
"I always believed one who could command such powers as yours should be ruler of this world. I believe you could accomplish much, if I am not too bold in saying so."
"Ellie, what is wrong with you?" Steve demanded, gripping my arm. I glared at him.
"I know a king when I see one," I snapped. "What is wrong with you?" I challenged in return.

Without warning, Loki shot a blast into the stage, causing it to explode and showering the terrified patrons with wooden shrapnel. The Avengers present sprang into action, Hawkeye and Tony heading off to try and get the bystanders to safety, while Thor and Captain America moved to attack the trickster. "Stay down, Carter," Steve ordered, picking up a broken table top to use as a makeshift shield. Loki smirked as the two approached before vanishing. Tony and Clint took that opportunity to usher as many people as possible out the back door. I spotted a band on Tony's wrist with a little, blinking red light and realised that he probably had a suit on its way. Clint slipped out the back with the others just as a third explosion sounded and a flaming car rolled past the front of the building.

I jumped the counter and picked my way through the debris to the street. Thor was attempting to hold Loki off by himself. Steve was probably with Clint getting their hero stuff. Iron Man dove down and slammed into Loki, sending him hurtling back into the skyscraper across the road. Loki responded by firing the sceptre, throwing Tony past me back into the club. I giggled, catching Loki's eye briefly before he caught an arrow from the air and threw it back. Hawkeye leapt from behind a building, taking cover behind a car as the arrow exploded. I heard movement behind me and looked over my shoulder as Iron Man came flying past me again, yelling "Get back, Ellie!"

Loki got a hold of Steve and held him in the way of Iron Man who simply couldn't avoid slamming into his comrade, driving the two of them into the wall of the next shop where the Captain fell, unconscious and bloody. Tony hauled himself up shakily before dropping again. His suit seemed to be losing power or something like that. Loki's next shot made sure Tony stayed out of the way. Hawkeye hadn't made an appearance again, so I assumed that he was too injured to move from his cover, or just knocked out. That left Thor to work by himself. It didn't take a genius to predict the outcome. Thor still loved his brother; Loki was full of bitter resentfulness. Thor was reluctant to hurt Loki, and Loki took full advantage of that.

"I have waited a long time for this," Loki announced, raising his sceptre over the wounded, kneeling Thor.
"My Lord Loki?!" I called out. Loki paused, staring at me coolly.
"Mortal, recognising my true place does not give you the right to special treatment." I lowered my eyes demurely and nodded.
"I understand, My Lord. It's just… you've wanted this for a while now, correct?" Loki's lips thinned as he eyed me off impatiently. I hurried on. "I just thought that, in your position, I'd feel more satisfied finishing my quarry with my own hands."

Loki's expression lightened and he laughed softly. "A girl after my own heart." He crooked his fingers at me and I approached, picking my way carefully through the rubble to stand beside him. "Hold this," he commanded, looking down on his brother predatorily and holding out the sceptre to me. I took it reverently and took a few steps back to stand at a respectful distance. At the edge of my vision I noticed the Captain and Iron Man stirring faintly, but I kept my attention on Loki. He punched Thor across the jaw and slammed his fist into a wound on his side.

Thor coughed, slumping over onto all fours and Loki kicked him. He seemed adequately diverted so I made my move. Hefting the sceptre, I dove forward, feeling a grinding through the haft of the sceptre as I plunged the pointy end into Loki's back. Loki pulled away from me, grabbing the sceptre and yanking it out of himself. He looked at me with murderous, red eyes, staggering slightly. I stared back at him coldly, head high. Curling his lip, Loki took one step forward and sank the point of the sceptre into my abdomen. The pain was blinding and it took my breath away. Loki ripped the sceptre from me and I sank to my knees, staring blankly into the space in front of me. The sounds around me took on a tinny quality and my vision blurred. I felt myself slipping sideways before I was caught.

I was lifted awkwardly and I was vaguely aware of making a squeaking sound in the back of my throat as the pain was aggravated. Something was pressed against the injured side of my body and I gasped. "Ellie, please answer me," a voice rumbled against my left ear. I blinked rapidly, making out a blue silhouette against a moving background and my lips twitched into a small smile.
"Hello, Captain," I greeted huskily.
"Oh, thank goodness. Stay with me, Ellie," Steve requested. My breathing hitched as he stumbled slightly.

"Can't go anywhere else when you're crushing my body against your stone-hard pectorals," I pointed out with a slightly hysterical, breathless laugh. "I can't feel my fingers," I mumbled, struggling to keep my eyes open.
"No. Ellie, stay awake. Ellie. Ellie!" I could hear the Captain, but I couldn't respond anymore. Everything went dark and then I couldn't feel anything.