AN: Hey everyone! I know it's been a while but I am back with a new chapter. Hope you like it and OMG to the new Avengers 2 trailer! (I have the charging scene as my desktop fyi) Anyway! Have fun with this chapter.

Chapter 4: Snake in the Field

I approached the building trying to get into my role. I needed to act like a professional computer intern. Coulson told me through the ear piece that Hammer is expecting corporate to send a girl to fix their firewalls after a recently hired employ had broke it down.

This was S.H.I.E.L.D's chance to get the drop on Hammer and hopefully shut them down before Justin can build an Iron Man suit. As soon as I was in the building, no one seemed to notice me. Some of the guards were huddled around a TV monitor watching a football game. Wow...no wonder their firewalls got knocked down with security like this.

I walked by them and used the fake badge on the scanner. So far, no problem. I opened the door then headed down a hallway, "Turn right in 3, 2, 1," I did as Coulson said. I could see a desk with a woman sitting there, "Do I check in with her?" I whispered, "Yes, but keep your talking short. You don't want to bring any attention to yourself."

I approached the secretary with her brown hair pulled back on top of her head. She wore thick black glasses that helped block out her eyes. The woman was wearing a brown business blazer with a light green button up under. She was also wearing a matching brown skirt that went to her knees. I went to look at her name plate that read Leona Hiss.

She took a glance up at me and stared for a moment before quickly looking down, "Oh hello there. Can I help you?"

What a mouse. I rolled my eyes, "Yes, my name is Madeleine Franklin. I'm here to fix the fire walls?"

Leona nodded still looking away from me. Not very social are you Miss Hiss? Heh.

"You'll find what your looking for through the doors. Here, you'll need these files," she scooted her chair back and pulled out a manila folder from a drawer, "Mr. Hammer has been expecting you and he is talking to some men about business so please do not disturb him."

Justin is here still? "Mr. Hammer is back there?" I said as a question but was really saying this to Coulson.

"He shouldn't be there. We expected him to be out around this time," he said in my ear. Yeah, way to go on that one guys.

Leona nodded, "Yes, he want to go over a few things before leaving for the day. He won't bother you if you just do your job."

"Right, thanks Leona," I walked off to go through the doors. I felt her still staring at me which made me feel uneasy.

"Way to play it cool, Ms. Drew."

"Did you just say cool?" I tilted my head in amusement even though he wouldn't see it. The room that was here was filled with all kinds of robotic mannequins and crappy attempts to make an Iron Man suit. Oh boy, "Well, you guys have a right to worry. Knock off suits as far as I can see," I said in a low voice.

"That's why you need to shut them down."

I could hear a rather loud voice filling the space in the large room, "Well, what I have will knock whatever Stark has out of the water so bad that he'll need a life preserver," there was long laugh after. That had to be him. I recognized his lack of humor from the stories Nat told me over her e-mails. Yes, she e-mailed me while she was out here on her mission.

I tried to avoid him seeing me, but of course, he saw me walking over to the computer, "Hey! You there!" Great.

"Stay calm, Ms. Drew," I took a deep breath. Maybe if I act boring he'll go away. Justin Hammer approached me while some of the other men he was talking to staggered behind, "You're here to fix the fire walls right?"

I nodded, "Yes," I kept my answers short. He smiled at me, "Oh thank you! Thank you-," he stopped to look at my tag, " Madeleine Franklin? Can I call you Mattie?"

"N-."

"Hey, guys, I want you to meet Mattie Franklin," Oh no. Let me go, please!

"This is the girl that's going to put our security back on track."

Or I won't at all. This patch I was given might make things seemingly run okay, but really it won't. I just gave a small smile then tried to walk off, "Hey, wait. Mattie I was hoping you could do a little more than fix the firewalls. Think you could hook up some upgrades?" he asked.

"Say what I say," Coulson whispered in my ear, "I would like to, but I'm one of the newer interns so I don't-"

"Know the policy on upgrading. I'll have to get it approved by my boss first before I do anything that might risk your main frame," Wow Coulson, thanks for the bullshit. Seems like Hammer ate it up. He nodded, "Yeah, I hear you. Good thinking though. That's smart that you're double checking. I like that"

Great, can I go?

"You're pretty too. Smart and gorgeous, what dangerous combo," he chuckled. Please shut up, I shut my eyes, "My secretary is the same way. She seems cute and mousy, but I know there's a lot more going on in there than getting my coffee. Keep doing what you're doing though."

I nodded before turning to go to work on destroying his plans. Dangerous, he says? You have no fucking idea. I sat at the desk, "Alright, Coulson, help me out."

He told me to stick the patch anywhere on the computer then I had to do a series of installing the damn thing up to the main frame. By the time I was done, anyone with S.H.I.E.L.D access can enter in.

"That it?" I said into the ear piece.

"That's it, Ms. Drew. Now get out of there and head back for a debrief."

Thank God. When I stood up I saw Leona approach me holding a Hammer Industries mug filled with what I guess was coffee.

"Are you done already?" she asked. I glanced around to see it was just us here then nodded, "Yeah, I'm all done. Firewalls are fixed. I was getting ready to take off actually."

"Oh, Mr. Hammer wanted me to bring you something," she tapped her green fingernail on the mug. I could tell she was older than me, like maybe older than Nat, but looked younger than my mom.

I shook my head to her offer, which was the first time I've said no to coffee, but something felt off, "Thanks, but I'm okay. And I'm in a hurry to get back."

"You mean back to Coulson and S.H.I.E.L.D," she tilted her head at me as if things were casual. What the fuck!

My eyes went wide, "Excuse me?" her entire secretary role dropped as soon as she tossed the mug at me. I quickly dodged out of the way in time to see the ceramic crack and a liquid sizzle on the desk. That had acid in it!

I looked back over to Leona and she landed a punch on my face then did a kick I've only seen spies do. It was swift and right into my stomach having me let out a grunt. Leona got me by my shoulders and tossed me to the ground, "I've known what you've been up to as soon as you got here," she had an accent now, sounded German. I felt her kick my side, "Lucky for you we've found Justin Hammer to be a lost cause to us, so I won't ruin your plans to stop him."

I quickly grabbed her leg and pulled her off balance to give me time to stand up. I started to swing at her, but she blocked me. I went to drop down and sweep under her making her jump up. Damn. I got back to my feet and chopped at the back of her neck. Leona's head jerked forward, but I knocked off not only her glasses, but her hair.

The brown wig fell to the floor to reveal her hair underneath was in a messy green bun. She turned to look at me with her green eyes, "Now why did you do that?" Leona took a pin out of her hair to have it drop down passed her shoulders.

When she went to attack me, I managed to block one of her hands only to see that it was a diversion and she could jab me in the collar bone. I felt a crack.

"I have to say it is good to see you again, Jessica," she knows who I am? I held on to the spot she hit me, "How do you know who I am?"

"It's me, the one who helped you get over your father's death. I was your therapist, Dr. Sarkissian."

"Ms. Drew what's happening?" Coulson was on the line still. I tried to remember this lady, but all I remembered was seeing her name in my file, nothing else.

"Who are you?" I asked with a dark tone in my voice.

She smiled, "I do not expect you to completely remember me. It was my job to make sure you forgot the assassination," her leg lifted up in the air and hit me across the face making me land on the floor. She put her heel to my neck and I stared up at her, "I've been waiting to see you for so long. Waiting to see you grown up, but you have disappointed me a little by working with such an organization that protects rich capitalists who corrupt everything the world holds dear."

I choked out, "Sorry, didn't think your opinion mattered so much."

"Still have the quick wit? Not surprised. However, I will bring down S.H.I.E.L.D. and destroy what they stand for."

"Then why don't you just kill me already?"

The green haired woman shook her head, "No, Jessica, I can't do that. I need you to say hello to your mother for me."

She knew my mother? Ophelia looked away from me as if she heard something. Her crazed eyes landed back on me, "This isn't good-bye, my dear. I'll save you from the real bad guys soon enough. Then we can be a together like we use to."

What was she talking about? This was starting to scare me, "Get out of here before anyone sees you."

She applied pressure to my throat so I could choke as she ran off. My hands went around my neck and I swear I think I felt a bruise start to form.

"Jessica! Jessica, what happened?" When I managed to get my breathing under control I started to talk to Coulson, "Green hair—woman—German-spy."

He was silent for a moment, "Get back here as soon as possible." I stood up and hurried out of there.

When I was back in the car again, Coulson saw how I got my ass kicked, "What the fuck?!" I practically yelled, "What was that?"

"We didn't know anything about her being here. She slipped under our noses other wise we wouldn't have sent you," for the first time since I've met him, I think Coulson was somewhat frightened, "You know her, don't you?"

"Her name is Ophelia Sarkissian as you may have known from reading OsCorp's file on you," I nodded as he continued, "She's a terrorist that has many covers. She came from HYDRA-."

"HYDRA?" I remember reading about them in government when we got to talking about types of organizations and these guys were bad news around World War II. Captain America and his Howling Commandos ripped them down.

"Yes, HYDRA still had people trying to rebuild it through the years. They took her as a child and she grew to be what they call Viper, which is their top assassin to lead the Serpent Society. All terrorists, all unreasonable, all beyond crazy. I've seen what they can do when she leads them."

I sat there taking it in, "She knew my mother."

Coulson let out a huff, "There's a lot that she knows about your mother and father. They all knew each other."

I could feel my stomach explode into rage. My own mother kept this from me. She lied to me, again, "Can I please be excused from my mission? I have to talk to my mother."

He let out a sign, "You successfully applied the patch?"

"Yes."

"Then mission accomplished. I'll have Danvers take you home right away and I want you to prepare for your next mission."

"Another mission? What will happen?"

"Fury hasn't said yet. He's putting something together, so just stay put until I get back. Got it?"

I stared at him, "Yeah, got it."

I slammed the door shut when I got to my room making Miles jump off my bed to hide under it, "You were in HYDRA? That was the organization you were talking about, wasn't it? You and Dad."

My mother stood up from her desk to look at me wide eyed, "Where did you hear that from?"

"Ophelia Sarkissian. She says hi by the way after almost choking me!"

She placed her hand over her heart, "Ofie...oh no...she's back."

"Ofie? Mom, what the fuck? Who was she to you?! How did you and dad know her?"

My mom was really starting to panic as she placed her hands over her nose and mouth, "Jessica what I'm about to tell you something me and your father wanted to bury behind us."

"Well, secrets are like shit, mom. You can't hide them," my mom took a seat on her bed, "When I was a little girl, my parents died and I became an orphan. HYDRA found me and took me in because they saw that I had potential. HYDRA's way of handling children is not a way that you should deal with young minds. They took the girls and put twelve of them into one of eight great houses to live with one another. To train, to learn, to become the most determined, the most ambitious, and the most aggressive. She would become Viper at the price of everything."

Viper, that girl was Sarkissian, "Ofie...Ophelia took me in under her wing when I first got there. She was like the sister that I needed at the time, but I messes it up."

"You two were close? How?"

"Ophelia helped me get my certain gifts under control," she shut her eyes in shame. Her gift of being good at science; was that what she meant? "What gift, Mom?"

Her voice trembled, "My pheromone manipulation. Just like you," my mouth slowly dropped as she continued, "It's a type of gland we were born with, Jessica. It's by the adrenalin gland. That's were it comes from. I know, I spent most of my young life trying to figure it out."

All those years of being confused and angry at how I was able to mess with people's emotions like that and she knew all about it! I could have know and had a heads up, "And you never told me you had this?!"

"Had. I don't anymore," her voice was saddened, "Ophelia ripped that away from me," my mother lifted up the side of her blue blouse to show me a scar. I stared at it until she hid it again, "Ophelia was more of a soldier than a lady. Vicious. While I on the other hand went down the path of science. I made weapons for her to use on whatever assignment HYDRA sent her on. She was the best. She did whatever it took to accomplish her objectives, it didn't matter to her," my mother explained. The aura she gave off seemed rather disturbing like she was remembering some pretty nasty memories of being Sarkissian's quartermaster.

"What did you do to her that made you two drift."

"We may have disagreed on a lot of things, but the one thing we could agree on was that Jonathan Drew was truly one of kind," she sighed.

"She was in love with him, wasn't she?"

"We both were. He was a very important name back then. Came from a founding family for HYDRA. He was brilliant in his own right and the only one who could keep up with me, understand. But he was like that for Ophelia too. He got to see her softer side, back when she was vulnerable. A side she never showed anyone. I only got glimpses of it," her fists clenched up, "He loved the idea of her going out there, being the face of the organization. They were almost perfect for one another, but she was just always at risk. He felt that she would die for HYDRA then have a life with him. And she would. She was brainwashed to think like that, we all were. I snapped out of it when I saw video footage of her killing people at what we were told was an enemy military hospital with our weapons, Jonathan's and mine," she threw her head in her hands, "It was just a normal hospital, and that was a terrorist attack. Ophelia knew it too, yet lied to us about it. I had to show Jonathan."

"That's why he chose you?"

"She thought I used my pheromones on him, but I never did tell her that we saw the footage. And then-," she pointed to the area she had her scar, "Thus ends that tale. I was then transferred to a lab on Wundagore after I got out of medical care and months later your father joined me so we could excel in his work, to better the company. We left HYDRA after Norman offered us a chance to go to America."

I crossed my arms and slowly paced a bit, "So how do I beat her?" my mother's eyes got somewhat big, "Beat her? You can't."

"Bullshit," my brows furrowed.

"Ophelia can't be defeated. Did you not hear me earlier? And it seems like you are not ready to fight her yourself," she pointed at my bruised neck.

"I have to try though. She's a threat and I'm pretty sure she is the reason why Fury had eyes on us. That is the bad history he mentioned isn't it? Making weapons for her, you have to tell me, mom. You are the only one that can tell me her flaws, her preferences, any weakness she has. I know you know it, Mom."

She stood up, "You're not going after her! She will kill you or worse-," her voice broke, "She'll take you away from me...she'll manipulate you...turn you into something you're not just to hurt me," Mom let out a sob, "Don't go after her, Jessica. Don't do it!"

I felt her squeeze my hands, "Promise me."

She had total fear of Sarkissian in her eyes. This lady sounded ruthless and at the top of her game. I really wanted to stop this woman for being the monster my mother knew her as, but I had to nod, "Okay. I'm sure other, more qualified agents can take care of it."

My mother let out a relieved breath, "Thank you. I just don't want to lose my baby girl too," she cupped my face. I backed away from her and started to walk over to get my bag. She glanced over at me, "Where are you going now?"

"I still want to go see Gwen," I felt Miles rub against my leg. I know Coulson said for me to stay put, but I have a feeling he might be a while so this may be my chance to sneak out for a visit, "I think after my surprise encounter with Viper I deserve to take off for a bit."

My mother smiled at me, "Okay, go see your old friend. Be safe though and tell Gwen I said hello."

"I will," I walked out the door and hurried out of the S.H.I.E.L.D base before anyone could see me.

I was so nervous to see Gwen again. I wondered how she was doing in school? Graduation was coming up soon so she must be busy writing speeches since she is the number one student there. I wondered how she was doing after George passed. I wondered how Peter was too. Was he still swinging around as Spider-Man? I hoped he was okay and not getting into too much trouble. It feels like I've been away from the regular world and now I'm being thrown back into it.

I was outside Gwen's apartment building, just like old times. Well, maybe not. There was a new doorman, already a change.

My knock on the door was just like how it was when I want to announce I was here for a special surprise; two knocks, short pause, three more. I could here shuffling around like someone was hurrying to the door. A smile formed on my lips when I saw the door open up to show an overly happy blonde friend.

"Hey, Gwendy."

She flung herself at me and gave me the biggest hug I could get, "Oh my God! I cannot believe you are here right now!"

"Was this a good surprise?," I asked as she let me go, "Come in! Get in here," she dragged me into the house. Her place changed a bit, it was little things. The curtains were yellow, no longer blue. There was a different designed rug on the floor, different table cloth, different place pats, different shaped pillows on the couch, just small changes I know that's happened in this place since I was last here.

No one seemed to be home when I looked around, odd, I thought I'd hear her little brothers running around. She lead me to the kitchen where she had her homework all over the breakfast table.

"Where's everyone at?" I asked leaning against the counter, "They're at Howard's basketball game. I stayed back so I could catch up on homework and college applications," her voice was proud for her brother. I smiled in surprise, "He's in basketball now? Figured he'd put his tallness to use."

"Yeah," her voice half whispered as she rubbed her arm. Gwen seemed nervous, "Jessica, where have you been all this time if you don't mind me asking."

This question. Straight out the gate she asked this of me. I sighed not really wanting to answer it, "Gwen...I don't think it would be a good idea for me to tell you everything."

"Why?" her eyes peeked at me through her lashes, "You leave all of a sudden and comeback months later with no notice. People at school think you died or joined a gang or just terrible things."

"A gang really?" People thought I died? Did anyone look for me? Or the school board? I never knew how S.H.I.E.L.D handled that. I should ask Coulson or Danvers later. Gwen nodded, "What happened? Please tell me something so I can know you are still you."

I tilted my head, "What do you me still me? It's me, Gwen. Jessica Drew."

"Are you in trouble with the law? I mean why else would you skip town? Is your mom okay?"

"Gwen," I raised a hand up to stop her, "You're asking so many questions and I don't think I can answer them all with the time I have."

Her eyes became saddened, "You mean you aren't here for good? You're leaving again when you just got here," that wasn't a question, she understood that clearly.

"I don't know how long I'm here for. A day...a few hours."

I heard Gwen swallow a lump in her throat, like she was trying not to break out, "Then why did you come by?"

I stared into her big glue eyes, hating how I had to keep my life from her. But if there was one thing I wasn't going to lie about it was, "I missed you and had to check on you. It's bugged me that I haven't seen you in so long."

"Where did you go?"

No where, actually, "To be honest, I've been in the city just inside of a building."

Her face wrinkle in confusion, "What? You've been here? This entire time?" Gwen's eyes dropped down to the ground processing this. I decided to speak, "I was in trouble, you're right, but I'm getting help from a certain-"

Gwen's head shot back up, "You've been here and you didn't bother making a phone call? Do you know how worried sick I was? I have been hoping everyday that where ever you were, far away, that you were fine. And you've been in the city! You said you were leaving this place!"

She snapped at me. I guess I had that coming. I tried to go by her to see if she would calm down, "Hey, listen! Relax-"

"Relax?! You want me to relax? My best friend left me in the shadiest fucking way and you want me to relax about this? No, Jessica I'm not going to relax!"

"Well, you need to because I'm here now and isn't that important?" we stayed silent for a moment, "I came back to see how you were doing because I cared and thought of you everyday since I've been away. I've been hiding and trying to learn how to protect myself."

"From who?" her voice was annoyed. She was getting impatient at all this secrecy. Maybe I can tell her a few things...not everything, just some details that won't put her life in danger. I mean she can keep a secret. She knows about Peter and that's a big one.

"From Norman Osborn. He's trying to get me," her mouth slightly gaped, "Norman Osborn is after you?"

"I can't tell you why. That's all I can say so you can be safe."

Gwen slowly sat down in a chair, "That's some heavy stuff there, Jessica. He's a very powerful man."

"I know."

"How have you been able to hide all this time with your mom?"

"Think of it as a kind of witness protection program where instead of getting a new identity, I just stay with them until things get settled," that was a good enough disguise I could think of for S.H.I.E.L.D. Gwen shook her head, "And what's this about protecting yourself? Are they helping you do that?"

I nodded, "It's like a payment I guess. I work for them, they keep me safe."

"They is starting to sound scary. So you did join a gang," her tone dropped.

"What? No! It's just an organization and its very secretive hence why I'm not telling you everything."

She let out a sigh, "Jessica what have you gotten yourself into?"

"I ask myself that everyday," I wish I could take it back. We were quiet for a moment until there was a knock at the door. We both looked up at one another quickly. Did S.H.I.E.L.D want me back so quickly? Oh no this was a mistake! Gwen went to go get it, but I grabbed her wrist, "Wait! Don't answer it!" I whispered.

"Is it they?" she asked.

"I don't know!" the bell rung again and Gwen tugged her arm away, "Let me at least check!"

I went to follow after her as she approached the door. I slid my back against the wall space next to the door in case it was danger. Gwen looked through the peep hole and then sucked her teeth, glancing at me. I mouthed, "Stranger?"

She opened the door, "Hey, Peter."

AN: I knew that was a bad place to cut off! But I'm saving the Jessica/Peter/Gwen talk for the next chapter since that will be the majority of it. Leona Hiss aka Ophelia Sarkissian, aka Viper AKA MADAME HYDRA! So excited to be writing her finally. So much is going to be happening so fast for Jessica. Hope you guys liked the chapter as much as I did writing it! Also if you want to see more Jessica/Peter go check out dokebibeats' Spider-Man: Secrets of Oscorp! It's pretty great and there's Carnage and rude ass Goblins and it's like going on a feelz trip. Let me know your guys thoughts! Later!