Loki imploded a SHIELD base, used freaky mind control to enslave Clint and Dr. Selvig, and moved on to try to take over the world. This day sucks. I was called to the imploded base to treat the injured while everyone else tries to catch the crazy demi-god. Not that I don't love being SHIELD's best Doctor, but I'd rather help kick Loki's ass and free Clint.
"Coulson," an agent called and I turned, "it's for you." He held up a satellite phone. I hurried over and took it.
"Coulson." I answered.
"It's Steve." The sound of his voice made me perk up. I wondered farther away from the others.
"Hey." I said, my voice taking a softer tone.
"So, I met your dad." Oh God.
"I am so sorry. He's such a nerd. Please tell me he didn't do anything too out there." I covered my face with my hand.
"It wasn't too bad. Well other than the whole 'I watched you well you were sleeping' part."
"Oh my god. He really said that?"
"Yeah, it was actually pretty funny. And Agent Romanov warned be about some sort of cards he'll want me to sign." I pulled my hand from my face.
"Natasha's there? Keep an eye on her for me, she and Clint are really close. She might be acting like she's fine but she's not."
"Will do. Your friend Dr. Banner is here too." I smiled at the news.
"Good, if anyone can find the Tesseract, it's Bruce…. I haven't seen him since the accident, how does he look?"
"He's not too happy about being on the Helicarrier, but other than that he seems fine. You need to stop worrying about so many things."
"I'm paid to worry. Anyway, I have the feeling that Bruce will be better when Tony shows up."
"Stark? Are you sure, Grace? His file is kind of…"
"Yes, Steve, I'm sure those two will be good for each other."
"Okay, I trust your instincts. I should go but I'll check in again as soon as I can."
"Alright, just be careful and don't do anything too dangerous."
"Stop worrying."
"Can't help it. Oh, are my dad or Natasha around?"
"Uhhh, Romanov is. Do you need to talk to her?"
"Yeah, pass her the phone. But before you do….." I had a gnawing feeling in the pit of my stomach and there were so many things I wanted to say.
"What is it?"
"Just come back, okay?" I left it at that for the time being.
"Always." He said softly. "Here's Romanov."
"Hey, sestpehka." Natasha answered.
"Nat, cognitive recalibration."
"What the yebat' does that mean?" She cursed in Russian.
"Hit Clint in the head hard, that should wake him up."
"So, literally knock the sense back into him?" I could hear the slight amusement in her voice.
"Yes." I said firmly.
"Okay, spasibo." Nat said, I could practically hear her nod.
"Your welcome. Be careful, sestpa." I said still worrying.
"I will. Later."
"Later." I said and the line went dead. Swallowing hard, I pulled the phone from my ear and walked back over to the make shift triage center. I tossed the sat phone at the agent who gave it to me on my way past.
"What's the matter?" Agent Blake asked when I got to his cot to check the splint on his leg.
"Nothing." I answered reaching to tap lightly on his ankle. "Still feel that?"
"Yes and don't give me that, Coulson." He said. I poked the bottom of his foot.
"And that?" I asked, evading him.
"Yes. You're avoiding my question." Blake said.
"I already answered it." I said and went straight back to business. "Still doesn't appear to be any nerve damage."
"Good. But there is something bugging you. Talk to me, Coulson." Blake said in that I'm-Mr. Scary-Agent-Blake voice that made even Level 6 Ops agents cry.
"I'm fine and you know that voice doesn't work on me, Blake." I said crossing my arms and glaring at him.
"And you know that look doesn't work on me." He snapped then sighed and started again in a softer, lower voice. "Grace, I've known you since you were born and I know when something's wrong. Please talk to me." My arms dropped and I sighed.
"I don't know, Felix, I just have a bad feeling about this." I said softly. "I should be out there with them looking for Loki, not in Level 1 triage where I'm so over qualified it's not even funny. I feel like I'm wearing that damn Nanny-bracelet again. Like Fury isn't taking me seriously."
"Grace," Blake started.
"Honestly, Felix, did anyone have any life threatening injuries? You're the most injured person here, everyone else just needed a fucking Band-Aid or maybe an ice pack. Why am I here when I'm not needed? Why am I being treated like a rookie with no combat training than like the Specialist I am?" I ranted. "And if it were about being too close to Clint, my dad and Natasha would be grounded too."
"Grace, I think I can speak for everyone when I say we don't want you anywhere near Loki. You're Gifted, were born Gifted, and we don't even know the full extent of your powers or what that means. You're also a weak point for Fury, your father, and Captain Rogers. If Loki got his hands on you it would be dangerous." Blake reasoned but I wasn't having any of it.
"First of all, I can handle myself. Second, what the hell would Loki an alien know about Gifteds. Third, if my father and Fury can't keep their shit in check that's on them. And I don't even know where you got the bullshit about Rogers." I snapped. I felt like I needed to be out there, like something bad would happen if I wasn't.
"Oh please, he looks at you like the sun shines out your ass." Blake stated bluntly. I blushed at his words.
"Okay, we've clearly given you too many pain meds." I deflected. There's no way in hell he looks at me like that.
"I haven't taken any." Blake said. "And just because you have no idea how Rogers feels about you doesn't me that everyone else doesn't." I blushed farther.
"Rogers and I are just friends and I'm kind of his handler, that's all." I said trying to sound firm.
"So is that why you almost killed that guy with the sat phone when you came back? I know that it was Rogers you were talking to. You're throwing things at people and being scarier than me because you're his friend and quasi-handler? Yeah, right." Blake finished and rolled his eyes.
"You must have hit your head." I said moving to check his head for injury.
"No I did not hit my head. What the hell would make you think that?" Blake asked sounding annoyed.
"You actually admitted someone is scarier than you." I supplied with a smirk. He chuckled quietly.
"Yes I'm a bit of a hard-ass but I can't clear an area the way you have." Blake said. "Look around Grace, no one's come within ten feet of you today. Not even my assistant is over here, and you know how she is." His assistant hovered all the time, but with a look around I confirmed that no Agent Cora wasn't close to us and she was at the next bed with another agent. "See what I mean?"
"Shut up before I sedate you, Blake."
Author's Note: The next chapter will contain major character death and graphic violence.