A/N: Hey, I'm back with another chapter for you. Thanks for the love and in return I present a new chapter.
READ IT. ENJOY IT. REVIEW IT.
Scrambled eggs. Why does the desert smell like scrambled eggs? Katie's eyes opened and she realized she wasn't outside anymore, but inside a building, lying down. She thought she was over the waking up in strange places in her life.
"Oh, awesome balls!" a voice yelled. Katie wasn't sure if she'd been kidnapped or what and so she remained in her spot until she found a way out. She closed her eyes and continued pretending she was asleep.
Jane, Thor, and Erik both turned to Darcy, Jane's student intern, who was now wearing a satisfied smile from her spot at the table.
"I knew I recognized her" Darcy says turns her laptop to them before playing the video. "She's the badass from Monaco" they all watched the video of Katie running onto the racecar track, guns blazing. "I think I read somewhere she's Stark's new Creative Director"
"What is Tony Stark's creative director doing with Shield?" Jane asked looking over to the sleeping woman on the old couch.
"Did you say Katherine Banks?" Selvig asked standing to his feet and stepping over to Katie. He tilted his head looking over the woman's face. "I think I've met her before"
"I have a question, why the hell was she asleep outside of Jane's crap trailer?" Darcy asked looking over to the woman as well.
"Hey!" Jane replied before looking over to Katie. "But that is a good question."
"I believe she is here to help me" Thor said. The moment Katie heard his voice she open her eyes and let out a relieved sigh.
"I think she's awake" Jane whispered.
"Yeah I am" Katie replied sitting up from her spot on the couch to see the four set of eyes on her. "Have been for a while"
"Why didn't you say anything?" Erik asked and Katie looked over to him.
"Was making sure I wasn't kidnapped by cannibals or hippies" Katie replied looking down to her now bandaged hand. "Who did this?"
"Oh, I did" Katie turned her head to the young girl who sat at the table. "I'm Darcy"
"Well thanks Darcy" Katie replied standing to her feet. Her eyes went to Thor who gave her a small smile. "Dr. Blake, astrophysicist"
"Please believe, I did not lie to you" Thor said. "My name is Thor"
"Are you also going to tell me that you're Norse god of thunder, son of Odin, Prince of Asgard?" Katie said and since he didn't bat an eye or even look like what she was saying was a lie she knew that's what he was going to say. "Please don't tell me I'm right"
"I can't do that lady Katherine" Thor said and Katie sighed before walking over to peek through the blinds.
"Are you expecting someone?" Erik asked and Katie turned to see their eyes still on her. She didn't blame them for their suspicions. She'd probably feel the same in their situation.
"No, well kind of" Katie replied turning to look out the window. "I'm supposed to be a plane back to Malibu right now"
"Why aren't you?" Jane asked and Katie turned to her and smiled.
"I made a promise" Katie replied looking over to Thor. "I keep my promises" Katie walked over to stand in front of the woman. "My name is Katherine Banks, but everyone calls me Katie" she looked over to Thor. "I met our large friend here yesterday when he tried to remove a hammer—" she smiled with a shake of her head. "Which I'm guessing is Mjölnir" he nods and Katie brings a hand up to rub her eyes. "How is this possible?" she looks back over to Thor. "How are you—" she was interrupted by music.
"I always feel like somebody's watching me"
Katie pats her pockets, but its not there. She looks up to the faces of her new friends.
"Where's my phone?" Katie asks, when Jane slips if from her back pocket.
"We didn't know who you were and thought—" Jane held out the phone and Katie quickly grabbed it. "We didn't—Well we couldn't-"
"I know" Katie replied already knowing they were unable to gain access to the phone. She'd assure that no one could. She pressed the phone to her ear. "Uh, hey Bart"
"Don't hey Bart me" Clint replied. "Where the hell are you?"
"What—" Katie turned looking over to the attentive eyes on her. "I'm on a plane back to Malibu, where else would I be?"
"Not held up in an old repair shop in the middle of the desert?" Bart asked. Katie walked back over to the window and peeked out. She looked up to the roof of the building across the street there standing giving her a wave was Clint. "Hi"
"Uh, Bart I'm—" Katie grabs a piece of paper and begins scratching it against her phone. "I'm going through…tunnel… call…back…later" she ended the call and turned back to the others.
"Is everything alright?" Jane asked and Katie sighed.
"Not really" she walked over to stand in front of Thor. "I'm here because I believe that there was more to you than some maniac who beat the crap out of a bunch of agents, so right now are you telling me that you're from a place called Asgard?"
"Yes" Thor answered. "I was sent to earth because my father didn't think me worthy of the crown, but now he—"Thor turned his head and Katie noticed the man's pained expression. "Now he's dead I will never have a chance to prove myself to him"
Katie closed her eyes running a hand across her face. She was trying to wrap her head around this. She was a numbers person, if there was scientific fact to back it up, she could jump on board. But this—this was people from other planets.
"Wait" Katie looked back up to the man. "Did you just say your father was dead?" Thor nodded. "It's just if your father is indeed Odin, father of all gods and men, was dead, there would be some kind of signs right" she shook her head and they all watched as she began pacing. "An earthquake, tsunami, hell an asteroid descending to earth" she looked over to Thor and the others. "I have no idea what I'm theorizing here, so stop me if anything starts making sense"
"I always feel like somebody's watching me" Katie groaned in annoyance as she brought the phone up to her ear, walking over to look out of the window.
"Bart, five minutes, that's all I need and then I will go where ever you want" Katie barked into the phone.
"I think you're going to need more than five minutes" Clint replied. "I think you have company" Katie slid open the glass door to Jane's lab just as four people walked over. "And they don't look like they're from around here"
"There he is!" one of them yelled before they all moved around her inside of the lab. Katie shook away the immediate shock before lifting her head to Clint.
"I'm still going to need that five minutes" Katie says.
"Four minutes, fifty nine seconds" Clint replied. Katie nodded ending the call before stepping back inside to see the four new strangers greeting Thor.
"What are they?" Darcy asks glancing over the oddly dressed strangers.
"Oh, excuse me" One of them said. One of the men, with a very zz top looking beard. If she had to guess from his appearance and what she'd learned he was Volstag. "Lady Sif and the Warriors Three"
"You're joking" Katie muttered to herself. Seeing Thor, and finding out where he was from was a bit of a stretch, but meeting more of them was borderline unbelievable.
"My friends" Thor greets them. "I am glad to see you, but you should not have come" his friends looked back to him with confusion.
"But Thor" one of the other warriors said. He seemed more polished, than the others, very good looking. Katie assumed he was Fandral. "We're here to take you home"
"I always feel like somebody watching me"
Katie looked over to the group before turning and walking outside. She looked over to Clint who had his phone pressed to his ear awaiting for her to do the same. She sighed before bringing the phone to her ear.
"My five minutes are not up" she said.
"Yeah they are, something's happening and I'm getting you out of here" Clint said.
"Oh I would like to see you—" Katie got distracted by the strange cloud in the distance. Clint turned following her eyes. "I think you're right, something is happening" she glanced back over to Clint. "But I'm not going anywhere" she ended the call, not taking her eyes from the moving clouds.
"Guys, you may want to see this!" They all ran out behind her, to witness the cloud funneling to the ground.
"Is somebody else coming?" Darcy asked. Katie took a couple of steps forward trying to see as best she could what was happening. It wasn't until she saw fire in the distance that she knew something was very wrong. Her eyes widened and she looked up to the roof, but Clint wasn't there. The whole town seemed to congregate on the streets trying to figure out what was going on.
"You all have to get to safety" Katie heard Thor say.
"Thor will fight with us" Volstag said and Katie turned to him to see the slight look of disappointment in his face.
"I wish I could" Thor replied. "But I am only human here, I would only get in the way of your fight." Katie took a step toward them when she felt someone grab her arm. She turned to see Clint. Thor along with the warriors, took a step toward them, but Katie quickly held up a hand.
"It's alright, I know him" Katie says glancing over to Clint. "What are you doing?"
"Getting you the hell out of here" Clint said pulling her, but she quickly shot out a foot under his feet tripping him and causing him to fall on his butt.
"No, we're both staying here a getting the people in this town to safety" Katie says. Clint looks up to her for a moment before nodding. He stands to his feet and she turns back to the group."Ok, so do you know what that thing is?"
"It is the destroyer" Thor answers.
"Well that's a suck ass name" Darcy says."What do we do now?"
"We get these people off the streets" Katie says turning just in time to see another burst of flames. "Like now" Katie watched as they all dispersed before turning back to Clint. "This is what we do, right?"
"Yeah" Clint replied reaching into his pocket before holding something out to Katie. She looked into his hand to see a COM and she rolled her eyes. "Put it on" she knew there was no time to argue, so she grabbed it and placed it in her ear.
"Any word from our fearless leader?" Katie asked and Clint simply shook his head. "I'm sure he's fine" they both turned to see what looked like a giant metal monster headed in their direction. "You bring your arrows Hawkeye?"
"Yeah" he replied unable to take his eyes away from the flame breathing monster. "I should probably—"
"Go!" Katie yelled snapping him out of his shock. She gave him a nudge and he turned to her. "Stay alive"
"You too" he replied before turning and running back to his perch on the roof. Katie turned to see people still standing around.
"We have to move!" she yelled trying to help pack them into any available vehicles. For some reason this moment seemed so surreal to her. She stood there watching as people ran in fear from a being apparently from a different planet. She looked down to the ground when she began feeling it move underneath her. Katie lifted her eyes just in time to see the Destroyer step into town, before shooting fire into a nearby building. That only created more chaos as people screamed and ran in fear trying to get to safety. For some reason Katie found her feet unable to move. She'd recognized the emotion instantly. This was fear.
Katie felt a drop of water ever so often on the top of her head. She was tied to a hard wooden chair, in the middle of a cold dark room. Glausman had left her there alone, and at the point she wasn't sure of the next move. She wanted to believe that Clint would be coming for her, but she also knew what coming for her would mean. It wasn't part of the mission, and Shield was adamant about completing the mission. She would just be necessary sacrifice.
She jumped when lights began coming on around making the room brighter than her eyes would've liked. Closing them for a moment hoping that would help, Katie dropped her head.
"I have made contact" the general's voice echoed around her. "Now we just wait for their answer"
"How about I give it to you" Katie replied lifting her head the man now standing in front of her. "I am a lab tech, dispensable, Shield will not sacrifice something as big as a possible living Hydra member for me" she noticed the slight quirk of the man's brow.
"What do you know of Hydra?" the general asked, his voice lacking its previous amusing tone. "I doubt a lab tech as you call yourself would be authorized for such information" he took a step toward her, placing a hand around her neck and lifting her eyes to meet his. "I have a feeling you're more valuable than you would like me to believe"
"And I have a feeling you're going to die very soon" Katie said with a smirk. The general smiled before releasing her neck. He turned his back to her and she thought he was going to leave, but in one swing he'd slapped her hard against the face with the back of his hand. He then grabbed her shoulder with one had, before jerking the other hard in her stomach. Katie let out a pained screamed as the blows continued one after the other, until they just stopped. The general, out of breath took a step back as he looked at her, lightly chuckling.
"I have a feeling you will die before me my dear" Glausman said before turning and walking away, leaving the battered woman.
Katie's heart was racing, pain coursing through her body. Even breathing was painful. She could feel the warm blood dripping from her nose, to her lips. She had no idea what she would do—what she could do. She dropped her head in defeat. She was all alone. And that's what scared her the most.
Katie felt strong arms wrap around her, nearly picking her up off her feet and carrying her behind a turned over car. She turned her head to see Thor sitting beside her.
"It would seem I am the one who must help you" Thor said glancing over the car to see his friends in battle with the destroyer. Katie turns to see the battle turning in favor of the destroyer as it tosses the warriors and Lady Sif about like rag dolls.
"Thor" Katie says and he turns to her. "How do we beat this thing?"
"I—" Thor shook his head. "I don't know. My brother controls it, but I'm not sure how to stop him" Katie turned to him and punched him in the shoulder. "Why do you strike me"
"Because I read about you, Thor. God of thunder, war and strength" Katie said before hitting him again. "If there is anyone who can beat this thing, it's you right?" they turned as the destroyer shot more fire sending the asgardian's flying.
"I am just human" Thor said and Katie turned to him. "I was not worthy of the power I was given—"
"Ok, maybe you weren't" Katie says and he looks over to her confused. "You were sent here not worthy, show your father that you are now, that you learned something from all of this." She grabbed his shirt and pulled him to her. "You want to know why I'm here. Because I looked into your eyes and I saw you Thor" she opened her palm above his heart. "The goodness that's inside of you, I saw it and that's how I knew you weren't dangerous, that how I knew you deserved to be helped"
"You couldn't possible know—"
"You're right, I don't know, but I have a feeling about these things" Katie replied. There was another explosion that seemed so close they could feel the heat from the flames. They looked over the car to see Sif hiding behind a car, injured. "I'll go help her" she turned back to Thor. "You work on having an epiphany" he watched as the strange woman stood to her feet and ran over to his friend, leaving only her words behind.
Katie ran over, ducking beside Sif as the destroyer causes more mayhem around them.
"You were good, but it doesn't seem to be enough" Katie says and the warrior turns to her. "You did the best that you could, but now it's time to go"
"No! I will die a warrior's death." Sif declares. "Stories will be told of this day—"
"So live and tell those stories yourself" Katie says reaching a hand under the woman's arm and helping her to her feet. "C'mon, I got you" Katie helped the woman walk over to the rest of warriors three. "Can you walk?" Sif nodded before detaching herself from Katie's grasp.
"Thank you" Sif replied and Katie nodded before turning back to see what was happening with the destroyer.
"You must get back to Asgard to stop Loki" Thor ordered to his friends. Katie turned just as the Warriors Three and Sif nodded before running off to help get the others to safety. Thor turned back to Katie.
"You should get to safety as well Lady Katherine" Thor said. Katie opened her mouth to say something, when she noticed Thor's eyes lift to something that's caught his attention. She turns to see arrow after arrow being shot at the destroyer. The destroyer unaffected by the hits turns in their direction and Katie feels a chill go down her body.
"Bart!" Katie says running toward the destroyer. She hears Thor's plea for her to come back, from behind her, but all she sees is the flames beginning to form on the Destroyer's helmet, before shooting off unto the roof, destroying the entire top half of the building. Katie stopped. Actually everything in that moment stopped. Sound, time, every—He wasn't supposed to be here. That was a sudden thought that hit her. He was here because of her, and now he was—
Thor appeared in front of her yelling at her, but his words weren't quite making it to her ears. She looked over to the destroyed building, the roof she'd last seen Clint on now gone. Thor grabbed her shoulders and she turned to face him.
"You must get to safety" Thor urged.
"What—" she glanced over to the destroyer that was headed in their direction. "What are you going to do?"
"I think I'm going to take your advice" Thor said and she turned to him to see a small smile. "Now go, I would never forgive myself if anything happened to you" Katie stood there for a moment before turning and running as fast as her feet would allow. She stopped next to the others and turned to see Thor walking toward the destroyer.
"What is he doing?" Jane asked.
"He's living up to his name" Katie muttered as she watched the man marched toward the metal beast that could crush him. She just hoped that his father was watching, that someone up there was watching this, seeing this courage, this bravery and would give him back his strength. Thor was talking, his deep voice was carrying, but what he was actually saying didn't make it to their ears. They did notice the fire in the Destroyer's helmet die down and for a moment they all have hope that this is all over. The destroyer turns to walk away, but before anyone knows what's happening he turns swinging an arm to Thor, sending the man flying.
"No!" Jane screams before running to the fallen man.
"What have I done" Katie mutters as she looks down to Thor's motionless body. Her eyes lift to the destroyed building Clint was once on. Katie stumbled back, before turning, feelings inside of her that she thought had long died. She had no idea what she was going to do, but she knew she needed to get as far away from the others as she could. She was poison, one that hurt those who were close to her.
In this moment, a fifteen year only Katie wished she was anywhere else, but on her knees on a hardwood floor of her kitchen scrubbing the nonexistent dirt that only her father seemed to see.
"Katherine" His voice said from behind her and she jumped to her feet, turning to him. He was a rugged man, who wasn't too tall, but he made up for height with muscle. He was a very intimidating man, who was very aware of the fact. She kept her spine straight, her arms to her side. She even closed her mouth, so not to make any unnecessary noises. It was a sign of respect. At least that's what her father told her.
"Ye—Yes sir" she answered. He didn't say anything as he walked over to her. He stared down to her, as if looking down to her soul. It always gave her goose bumps, and not the good kind. He glanced down to the floor before looking back over to her.
"You know why I ask you to do this?" Martin asked and Katie hesitantly looked down to the floor.
"Because it was dirty, sir?" Katie asked and he glanced over to her with a quirked eyebrow.
"You don't sound too sure about that" he said turning to face her. She always felt so small when he towered over her. She dropped her eyes, but she felt his hand move up her chin and lift her eyes back up to meet his. "Never give in to intimidation, it is a sign of weakness, and you are not weak" he looked down to the floor. "I want an answer to my question before you go to bed, but right now get this cleaned up, we're going out for dinner today" Martin stated and Katie's eyes widen in surprise. It was no surprised that her father was a private person. It was a miracle that she was able to attend public school, but other than that they usually stay in their farmhouse, that was seemed strategically place away from the rest of the town. "Did you hear me?" Katie nodded. "Go get ready!"
"Right, sir" she said before reaching down and dumping her scrub brush in her bucket and storing it under the sink.
"I'll be out back" Martin said moving past her out the back door. Katie washed her hands before turning and heading for the stairs. There was a knock at the front door, and she stopped mid step before turning around. She furrowed her brow before walking down the stairs and opening the door. There standing was a tall man, who was wearing an all white tailor suit. He smiled, the brightest smile she'd ever seen.
"Now aren't you adorable" The man said his British accent undeniable. "You must be Katherine" Katie looked over her shoulder hoping her father would be coming in, but he was still out back. "Don't be scared" she turned back to the man. "I'm a friend" he held out a hand toward her. "My name is Adam" Katie looked down to his hand for a moment before reaching out and taking it. The moment she did he squeezed her hand tightly before pulling her toward him.
"What are you—" Katie threw a punch with her free hand, but Adam caught it easily.
"I see daddy's been training you well" Adam said smirking down to her. They both heard the sound of the backdoor slam close.
"Katherine are you—" Martin stopped the moment he saw the man standing behind her. Adam twisted Katie around in his arms, holding her arms behind her with one hand while his other dug out a gun and pointed it at Martin. "Let her go"
"I will" Adam said lying his chin on Katie's shoulder. "She's real pretty Marty, just like her mother, no wonder you had her hidden away out here" the man sniffed Katie's hair. "You know you couldn't keep her hidden forever"
"Let her go!" Martin yelled taking a step toward them, and with that step came a gunshot right to the head.
This wasn't fear. Katie opened her eyes and turned to see the Destroyer turning and walking away from the man he'd just killed. This wasn't fear she was feeling. Just like it wasn't fear she felt the moment she witnessed her father murdered before her eyes. Katie was angry. And she really didn't handle her anger well.
"Hey!" Katie yelled and before anyone could stop her, she began running after the destroyer. She could hear their pleas for her to come back, for her to stop before she got herself killed. But Katie was angry, and this anger that was inside of her, usually took over. "Hey, you bastard!" She looked around, she needed something to get his attention. That's when she spotted in a nearby building, peaking his head out, one of Coulson's agents. He turned to her. "Give me your gun" he shook his head. "Give me your gun or I'm going to come over there and get myself" The agent muttered something under his breath before reaching into his holster and pulling out his gun. He tossed it to her and she caught it effortlessly before opening fire on the back of one of the destroyer's legs. She kept shooting, until it finally stopped walking and turned to her.
"You're Loki huh?" she began walking toward him. "Well Loki, I think you should know that you have made an enemy today, and I know me the lowly human woman may not look like much, but I promise you that I'm am more dangerous than I look" she took another step, her voice of reason yelling for her to turn and run in the opposite direction. "You are a coward, one who sends a big metal beast to hurt those who have no chance of beating you" She could see the fire forming behind his helmet and she knew this was it. This was her big mouth finally signing a check cash she couldn't cash. She held up the 9mm prepared to go out with a bang, when something flying through the air caught her eyes. She followed the flying object as it flew over her head. It was the hammer. She turned just in time to see Thor's hand fly up and take his hammer.
Once upon a time, when Katie was younger, lightning and thunder frightened her. But she soon grew out of such childish fears. But right now as lightening seemed to surround the man who she was realizing really wasn't a man at all, she smiled. He was Thor. Katie turned back to the destroyer, dropping the gun before running to let Thor finally do what he was meant to do. She ran and stood next to Jane who looked just as shocked as she did as an armor began forming around the man's body.
"This is happening?" Jane asked not able to turn her eyes away as Thor's hammer goes flying into the Destroyer.
"This is happening" Katie says watching in awe as well. If she wasn't standing right their witnessing this battle first hand, she would never believe it. She watched as Thor wielded his hammer effortlessly, spinning and throwing it as if it were second nature to him. So when he begins spinning his hammer and creating a funnel cloud, both he and the destroyer flying up in the air, Katie sees just how good he is. The cloud hides them from view, but soon the Destroyer falls down to the ground defeated and Thor walks from behind the cloud and smoke victorious. Thor walks over to them, his eyes going to Jane.
"So this is how you normally look?" Jane asks.
"More or less" Thor answers.
"It's a good look" Jane replies with a smile.
Katie looks up to see the approaching vehicles and already knows who they are. It's Coulson and his Shield agents. She lifts her eyes to the destroyed building and doesn't even know how she begins to explain that Clint was— Katie lifted her head at the sudden voice in her ear that made her smile widely.
"Kat, you ok" Clint's pained voice spoke.
"Where the hell are you, you bastard?" Katie asked gaining confused looks from the others. She looked over to Thor and gave him a punch to the shoulder. "I knew you had it in you" with that she went running. The suvs came to a stop and Coulson jumped out.
"Hey!" he yelled but she didn't stop. "Where are you going?!"
"To find your agent!" Katie called over her shoulder. She turned a corner around the fallen building, and there lying on the ground was Clint, and he did look pretty beat up. Katie ran over to him, dropping to her knees. "You stupid son of a bitch" she did something that confused and surprised the hell out of the man. She wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tightly. "I thought—" she felt his arms wrap around her. "You scared the hell out of me"
"Well call it payback" Clint replied and Katie pulled from the hug and punched him in the shoulder. "Ow!" he grabbed his shoulder and Katie realized that probably hurt more than it usually did. "Why?"
"Sorry" Katie says standing up and helping him to his feet. "C'mon" They both look up to see Thor and Jane flying through the sky.
"He's flying" Clint says looking up to the sky.
"Yep" Katie says looking over to him. "He creates lightning too, really cool and freaky at the same time" they begin walking back around the building to find the others.
Bright and early the next morning, Katie stood and watched as agent's carried Jane's computers and filed back into her lab. The New Mexico town was destroyed, but Shield was already in reconstruction mode. They'd already planting a story of a gas leak, which caused all the towns people to hallucinate the giant metal flame throwing beast. Katie thought it was horrible lie, but who was she but a lowly lab tech.
"So" a voice said from beside her and she turned to see Darcy Lewis standing beside her. "Not that I'm not glad Jane's getting back her research, but they also took something that belongs to me and—" Katie reached into her pocket and pulled out an IPod. "Oh, I so love you right now" Darcy took the music player and began scrolling down her playlist.
"Well I figured it's the least I could do since you did save my hand" Katie said lifting her bandaged hand. "so thank you for that"
"Well you want to really thank me, you could give me a job" Darcy joked as she continued to scroll through her playlist.
"Ok" Katie replied. Darcy lifted her eyes to the woman.
"What?" Darcy asked not sure she'd just heard what she thinks she heard.
"I've only known you what, maybe a little over twenty-four hours, but I know you're smart and since you haven't gone in to shock after seeing all the people from different planets, I also know you don't scare easy" Katie looked over to see Jane stepping from the lab. "So yeah, if you ever need a real job, give me a call"
"Seriously?" Darcy asked eyes wide.
"what are you guys talking about?" Jane asked walking over to the pair.
"I think I'm being poached" Darcy said with a smile. "And I kind of like it" Jane looked over to her intern before turning back to Katie.
"I was offering your intern job, if she ever gets tired of the whole alien hunting thing you guys got going on here" Katie said with a chuckle. "Oh before I forget, I have something for you" Katie reached into her pocket and pulled out a flash drive. "Here you go" she handed the drive to Jane. "It's to help you find your Einstein-Rosen Bridge" Jane quirked an eyebrow. "I may have taken a peak at your research and your calculations are good, like better than good, but I bleed numbers" she pointed to the flash. "And I'm a high believer in success being linked to accuracy, and that little drive will get you as close to accurate as possible to finding him" Jane looked down to the drive and smiled before looking over to Katie.
"I can't—" she shook her head. "Thank you, really, thank you"
"you're welcome, Dr. Foster" Katie said before hearing a horn honk. She turns to see a lone SUV waiting for her and she shakes her head. "They're so annoying" Katie turns to Jane and Darcy. "Where's Erik?"
"Oh, he left early this morning" Jane replied. "Said something important came up, but he didn't say what"
"Yeah, I think he just wanted to get as far away from this place as possible" Darcy said and Katie shook her head. The intern held out a hand to the woman. "It has been a pleasure, and I think you should know that you've officially made my list of chicks I would crossover for"
"Darcy!" Jane says, her cheeks going slightly red at her intern's words. "I'm sorry for her, she's still learning about boundaries"
"It's fine" Katie says laughing. "And I am very, uh honored I guess to have made your list" Katie shook her head looking down to Darcy's hand. "And don't be offended or anything, but I don't really shake hands"
"Oh" Darcy replied dropping her hand back down to her side. "Germaphobe?"
"Not really, more of a quirk than a phobia" Katie said when she heard another honk of the horn. "One minute!" she turned back to Jane and Darcy. "I should go before I break that car" she gave them a wave. "You have my number, and I guess after yesterday, we're like buds now so call me if you ever need anything" Katie turned toward the SUV.
"Oh, wait!" Jane called after her and Katie turned back to her. "I can't believe I almost forgot, he wanted me to tell you something" Jane smiled. "Thor, he wanted me to tell you thank you and that since you kept your promise, he would keep his" Katie smiled glancing up to the sky before turning and giving the woman a nod before turning and walking over to the SUV. She hopped into the back seat and her eyes went wide to see Clint in the backseat.
"Where did you come from?" Katie asked before glancing to the front seat to see Coulson behind the wheel. "I thought you said he'd already shipped out?"
"Well he was supposed to be shipped out" Coulson replied. Katie turned her confused glare to Clint who smirked. "But the director thought he could use a break"
"That sounds so unlike Lucifer" Katie said with a shake of her head and Clint snickered.
"You know he knows you call him that?" Coulson asked glancing back to her. "And he doesn't find it as funny as others" Katie chuckled before looking back over to Clint.
"No, but seriously, what's going on?" Katie asked.
"I am, I guess after jumping from a building after trying to fight a being from another planet, that sort of warrants a vacation" Clint said with a shrug. "Who knew?"
"So how long do you have?" Katie asked turning her body toward him.
"One week, why?" Clint asked noticing the mischievous smile coming to the woman's face and he had to say he wasn't as nervous as should be. Katie just quirked an eyebrow before nudging her head toward Coulson.
"Do I even want to know?" Coulson asked and Katie looked over to him.
"I think the less you know the better" Katie replied before taking out her cell phone and typing away. "We're going to keep you with the deniability, Agent Coulson"
They arrived back to the site, the cleanup crew working to make sure it looked as if they were never there.
"How many ID's am I going to need?" Clint muttered over to her as the car came to a stop.
"Three tops" Katie replied. He nodded before slipping out of the car. "Oh, and as much cash as you can get your hands on in the next half hour"
"I'm warning you two, if I get a call in the middle of the night…" Coulson looked between the agent and the lab tech. "It will not end well for you"
"Don't worry so much" Katie said before looking over to Clint. "Don't forget your bow, and make sure you have enough arrows" She heard Coulson groan causing her to erupt in laughter. "I'm joking" she muttered and a 'Not Really' to Clint. "Seriously go get your crap, there will be a car here in a half an hour" Clint turned about to get his things when he stopped and turned back to her. "If you over think it, you will miss out" He smiled before turning and running off. Katie turned back to Coulson who once again was giving her his judgy eyes. "Oh, Agent Coulson—"
"You can stop doing that now" He interrupted her. She furrowed her brow in confusion as he walked over to stand in front of her. "The Agent Coulson, it doesn't sound natural coming from you" He cleared his throat, this conversation clearly uncomfortable for him. "I lied before, when I said I didn't see what the director saw when you were recruited"
"Phil—"
"No, I have to say this" Coulson replied and Katie held up her hands to stop him.
"No you don't, because despite everything that has happened you were right on some things" Katie said with a shrug. "Sometimes I get a thought, or this feeling and I have to see it through despite what command may say"
"Yeah, and that's what makes you special" Coulson replied. "Throughout this entire ordeal, you remained steadfast, you saw what we couldn't and you held onto it no matter what me or Barton said" He gave her a gentle nudge to the shoulder. "You did good kid" Katie looked down to her shoulder before looking over to Coulson. "Does that not work?"
"No, it seemed forced and then the shoulder bump was just awkward" Katie said with a shrug. "Just stick with the cold, glaring teddy bear that we love" she was about to turned when he stopped her.
"Oh, there is one more thing" Coulson said and Katie turned back to him in confusion. "I think you should know that your boss has been digging"
"And here I was thinking Pepper was warming up to me" Katie sighed running a hand through her hair.
"It's not Ms. Potts" Coulson added and Katie looked surprised for a moment. "It needs to be handled"
"Consider it done" Katie replied. She looked up as a car pulled into the site and out stood a familiar face. "Thanks Jackson!"
"Well I better not hear another damn word about a pen ever again Banks!" Jackson called. "Keys are in the ignition" She nodded before watching the agent turn to head back to his post.
"Seriously though" Coulson said and Katie looked over to him. "Should I be worried?"
"This is me and Clint, we're talking about" Katie replied.
"I'm assigning a detail" Coulson said taking out his cell phone. Katie looked over her shoulder to see Clint walking back over to them.
"We have to hurry before we have a watchdog!" Katie said before turning and almost running to the car.
"Sir—" Clint says walking over to Coulson. "Don't worry"
"I won't as long as you remember what you've been taught" Coulson said. Clint gave the man a slight nod at his covert way of telling him what he already knew. He glanced over to Katie who stood next to the open door of the car watching them impatiently. "She's—"
"I know sir" Clint said turning back to his boss. "I know because it would seem ever since she's came back it's what everyone seems to be telling me" he glances over to her as she points to her watch. "She's a friend, and in this job those don't come around too often" he turns back to Coulson. "I know what you and the director think you know, but I assure you I am not compromised"
"Alright" Coulson replied giving the man a nod. Clint did the same before turning and heading over to Katie and the car.
"Should I be worried?" Katie asked as she watched Clint moving over to the passenger side of the car.
"I was just about to ask the same thing" Clint replied leaning over the top of the car. "Where are we going?"
"It's a surprise" Katie replied with a smile before slipping into the car. Clint shook his head with a small smile before slipping in as well. He watched as she started the car, but it was the humming of 'Viva Las Vegas' that really caught his attention.
A/N: There you have it. We're digging deeper into the mind of Katie and why she is the way she is. Now she has to deal with Tony's snooping and her new position at SI. Oh, and before I get any hopes up, next chapter will skip over the Vegas trip just because I feel it would get so crazy and so far off from the core of the story. Don't worry there will be stories and photos and newspaper covers...Everything you could want on your first day on the job.