Rumlow had been right. Once back at the Triskelion, the wound was cleaned and simply glued back together, I was checked for a concussion and sent back on my way. Opening the door, I found Rollins leaning against the wall waiting for me. Although I hadn't outright blamed him for what had happened, it had been his fault. He should have stayed with me and made sure the area was clear instead of following after Rumlow like his shadow. So to say I wasn't in the mood to be dealing with him would be an understatement.

"Hey Williams." I chose to ignore him and carried on walking down the hall. "Kiara-" He tried again, placing a hand on my shoulder to stop and turn me. I froze, fighting every instinct I had to wrench his hand away from me. Turning slowly to look up at him, I tried to keep my face neutral.

"What Rollins?"

"Look, I may not like you, but I shouldn't have left you out there like that, we were paired together and I messed up. I guess, well I'm sorry okay?" It looked like it had pained him to say it, which pleased me more than it should, but it didn't mean I forgave him, he had been making things difficult since I joined the team. But Rumlow had said not to push his buttons, so I could at least make peace with him.

"Yeah, well it shouldn't have happened at all, but it has and you've come and apologised, so we're good. So long as it doesn't happen again." I didn't wait for a reply, catching the look on his face that said it had been far easier than it should have been, I hurried on down the hall and as far away from him as I could get. I just had to hope that after this Rollins laid off, that he accepted I was on this team and I wasn't leaving any time soon. At least I didn't have to worry about him having my back, Mikel would be my new partner and so far I haven't had any problems with him.

Because I had been attacked during the mission, even though it had been successful, they decided not to go out drinking especially when I declined to go, promising next time I would. So I found myself with a free evening with nothing to do. As often happened with my free time, I decided the gym would help me burn off any excess energy so I could sleep that night.

Walking into SHIELD's gym for the first time, I was surprised to find it almost empty. I smiled, I wouldn't gave to deal with any chauvinists telling me how to throw a punch or that I wasn't using the equipment quite right or worse have them staring as I worked out. Maybe my yoga pants and racer back vest were a little distracting, but I didn't wear it for anyone but me and my own comfort.

Dropping my gym bag, I decided to begin with a punch bag to relieve some of the pent up frustration I had. After wrapping my hair up into a loose bun and taping up my hands, I pushed gently at the bag letting it sway before taking a stance and letting my first jab loose. Left, right, left, right, alternating jabs to uppercuts, the more I put into it, the more relaxed I began to feel, it was something similar to a trance.

I wasn't sure how long I had been there, but sweat beaded my skin, tendrils of hair were damp and stuck to my skin, but even as I became aware of someone behind me, I didn't falter in my rhythm until I was turning, ready to land a punch on whoever was watching me. Seeing it was Rumlow had me faltering, trying to make sure I didn't hit him, but tripping over myself in the process I was ready to hit the floor when he hooked his arm around my waist, pulling me straight up to my feet.

"Easy."

"Jesus Christ Rumlow! What are you doing? I could have knocked you out." I was breathless and now I had stopped, I realised how tired I was.

"Nice throw, definitely would have been a good shot, but if I was going to do something, I would have done it when I walked in five minutes ago." There was a sort of playfulness to his hazel eyes that I hadn't seen before and it threw me, taking the fight out of me.

"Yeah right I guess so - what were you doing?" I asked perhaps a little suspiciously -he had been watching me; why?

"I came in to use the gym, but saw you and wondered how long it would take for you to realise I was here." His teasing edge turned serious. "If I was someone else, someone dangerous, you could be dead right now. You have to be aware of your surroundings at all times. What happened today wasn't on you, you had your eye to a scope, but right now, you should have been alert."

"I'm in a SHIELD building, armed guards at every entrance, unless an agent wants me dead I can say with confidence I am pretty safe here." I couldn't understand him, his attitude. I was right, here I was safe, out there was different, even at home I was alert, the slightest sound and I had a gun to hand; just in case.

"That doesn't mean its safe. With our job you have to be on your toes, twenty-four/seven, three hundred and sixty-five days a year. We've all learned the hard way, how badly things can go wrong. I just want you to understand the threat levels involved with our work." Again his tone softened. I didn't understand we were STRIKE team, SHIELD's equivalent of a S.E.A.L team, why would we be in any more danger than them.

"Are you expecting something to happen? Do you know something that I don't? If there is something coming don't you think I have the right to know about it?" Or was this something more? "Has Rollins said something? One of the others? Have they threatened me?" My voice hitched slightly. I needed to trust my team to have my back, like me or not I had to be able to trust them.

"No-no, they wouldn't dare. You've more than proved yourself a capable member of the team, I would not stand for anything like that. Rollins is a pig headed asshole, but he wouldn't do anything." He took a step closer to me. "I just want you aware of the dangers our job possess, its never been done, there's always something." At his proximity I felt myself calm, relax. I looked up, seeing how close he was and something wanted me to close that gap. I backed off, picking up my bag.

"Thanks Rumlow. Guess I'll have to start sleeping with one eye open." I smiled as I headed for the door to leave.