Carter stayed put at the table watching the three men clean, her eyes fixed on Phil's back which he kept resolutely turned to her. The other team members broke into quiet conversations though Tony stayed surprisingly quiet, he was too concentrated on Carter to listen to Nat try to explain the value of variety in one's music preferences to Steve. It seemed he found his daughter's taste a touch odd, which Toy found adorable.

Once the last plate was put away Phil finally turned back to look at Carter, with one eyebrow arched he stood waiting for her to speak. She seemed just as content to wait for Phil to talk and made a slight show of getting more comfortable on her chair, looking at her watch and then lifting her right eyebrow in a perfect mirror of Phil's signature 'look.' "I'm assuming I didn't teach you that?" asked Phil a small smile on his face.

"On the contrary Uncle Phil, it's one of the first things you ever taught me, deliberately that is, I think I was five,"

"Please spare me the thought of a five year old walking around giving everyone 'The Coulson' look," stated Clint without any real heat behind his words.

"If it eases your mind I got my first bow at four," replied Carter causally to Clint before speaking to Phil again, "So how do you want to do this? Here? Interog room? Medical?"

"How about S.H.I.E.L.D?" came a new voice that made Carter stand, her position became that of a soldier at ease as she turned to face the newcomer along with the rest of the kitchen.

"Security breach much Nick?" remarked Carter though her position did not change, she chose to not even acknowledge Hill and Sitwell beside the Director.

Nick Fury also chose to ignore her in favouring of fixing Coulson with a 'look' of his own, " I see you neglected protocol here Coulson. What happened to phoning in threats upon their arrival?"

Steve and Bucky bristled at Fury's words both moving to stand in front of Carter but the young woman ducked out from behind them meeting the Director's eyes squarely. "She's not a threat Nick," started Phil but Nick cut him off, "I consider anyone trained by me, from the past, present or future a threat Phil."

Nat and Clint exchanged a confused look between them while Phil along with the rest of the team looked at Carter, "Took you long enough Nick," muttered the young woman who dropped out her military stance to lean casually on the table behind her.

"How long?" asked Fury.

"Six years, we started on my thirteenth birthday. And I still don't like you, imagine that," answered Carter in a bored voice.

"Your stats?"

"Sir, agent stats are supposed to be confidential," spoke up Hill who was quickly shut down by Carter, "But I'm not training to be an agent so I guess it's all fair game right? Let's see: what numbers would you actually care about? My endurance still needs work it's at an 8, my languages are an 9, my self-preservation is a 1 but you already figured that out didn't you and my resilience under extreme or dire circumstances is at 8.5 up half from last year."

Following Carter's pronouncement Fury took a long appraising look at the young woman, "Five minutes soldier," he said before going to turn away.

"Ready now sir," she replied in a flat tone and that was when Sitwell who had been staring at her for the entire duration of the conversation made to draw his weapon. Before his hand could even touch his belt a throwing knife whistled through the air and landed directly on top of his heart. "Is that all for today Nick? Because if so, you were soft in your youth," commented Carter conversationally, "So, about your initial suggestion - no S.H.I.E.L.D, you can get Phil's report by the end of next week and next time no goon," she nodded at Sitwell, "I'm not overly fond of you either Hill but at least you do your job." The female agent looked nonplussed at the woman in front of her but Nick actually had a smile, well a smirk on his face.

"I hope you're this good in the future kid, but remember good isn't usually good enough," he nodded at Phil, "I expect your report on my desk next week Phil," he turned to the Avengers at large, "I apologize for the intrusion but I had to check this out. Threat my a**, that's the last time I ever listen to you Sitwell," Fury muttered. As he pushed Sitwell towards the elevator Hill fell in step behind him and just before the doors closed Fury locked eyes with Carter again, "You should have been faster kid," without another word he yanked the knife from Sitwell's vest and tossed it outside of the elevator. The doors then locked and sent the three agents down to the front door through which they exited several seconds later according to Jarvis.

Carter was the first to move, she went to go pick up the knife muttering about egotistical directors as she walked over and when she turned back to the room at large sighed. "We're in for another heavy conversation aren't we?" her body language seemed to convey surprisingly Pepper stepped in before anything could be said, "I think Nat and I should take Carter shopping. She'll need some clothes if she's going to be here awhile."

Nat jumped on the bandwagon easily, "That's a great idea Pepper. Why don't you go wait in the car bay for us? I just have to grab some stuff from my room."

Carter's forehead crinkled as if she was trying to understand the sudden change in conversation but then realized it would be best to just take everything as it happened, "Sure Tasha," she responded slowly as if still trying to process what had just happened. She set her knife down on the closest table and stepped into the elevator. After grabbing some shoes she headed down to the garage to wait for her companions.

As his daughter disappeared behind the elevator doors Steve allowed himself to come back to the situation except Bucky beat him to it, "What the hell was that?" queried the Winter Soldier.

"She's been training with Nick," said Phil incredulously as if not believing his own words, "But he hasn't actively trained anyone since my class…"

"She's been tortured," said Tony and everyone turned to look at him, "That's what resilience under extreme or dire circumstances means isn't it?" he asked the agents in the room his voice pleading them to tell him he was wrong.

"In theory yes," Phil replied in his quietest tone as Steve turned a furious gaze on him. "What does that mean, in theory?" asked the super soldier through gritted teeth.

"Shield brother calm thyself," Thor spoke in a booming, "Tis not the Son of Coul who has allowed this to happen – young Stark seems to have asked for this training. Tis admirable that she wishes to be a good warrior, no?" Before Steve could bite Thor's head off Bucky bundled his best friend out of the kitchen while Bruce whose face was tinged green slightly prodded Tony from his awestruck horror to make the genius follow him out.

"You tried buddy," said Clint, thumping Thor on the arm, "But that's not exactly what they wanted to hear right now. Go see if you can beat Sam at Mario Kart and we'll figure this out."

"Quite a challenge Man with Wings! Come forth we shall do battle. You," he pointed at War Machine, "You shall oversee our battle." With that the three men left the kitchen with Sam rolling his eyes at Clint and Rhodey trying not to laugh at both of them leaving Pepper, Clint, Phil, and Nat alone.

"I'm serious you know," said Pepper, "She needs to get out of here for a little while, away from all of these serious discussions and our own revelations. I'm taking Nat, we'll be safe but this kid needs sometime to just be."

Phil nodded, "You're right Pepper, but I insist you take Clint," as the PA opened her mouth to argue he interjected, "Not just for protection but because Nat can't pick out clothes at all."

Nat huffed but smiled, "I concur, Coulson speaks the truth."

Pepper smiled too, "Alright then let's go shall we?"