~I own nothing besides my OC and the idea! Any other story that is like this is purely coincidental! Please review! :)~
I wasn't sure when, but I must have fallen asleep on Coulson because I woke up in bed. I could feel my cheeks reddening with embarrassment. I got out of my bunk and took a quick shower, just throwing on a pair of jeans and a black t-shirt that may or may not have had all the Avengers on it, including me, via Tony Stark. I grabbed a granola bar and headed down to the lad, surprised to see Phil on a treadmill.
"Working up a good sweat there, sir?" Simmons asked him.
"I don't sweat, I glisten." I snorted and they both turned towards me. Coulson had a small smile on his face and Jemma beamed at me.
"Blood pressure, heart rate, bio chem, all normal. All that's left is the blood sample."
"You should know, I'm not a fan of getting poked." I snorted once again and my cheeks grew hotter.
"I wonder why that is." Coulson shot me an amused look.
"Nice shirt." I shot him a goofy smile and a nod.
"Tell me sir, have you been feeling under the weather lately?" Jemma asked, looking at her tablet.
"Why?" He asked as he started striping off whatever equipment he was attached to.
"I just noticed from my chart that you're not due for a general physical for another three months."
"I made a mistake, took a call from my physical therapist, asked how I was feeling and I said a little rusty. Next thing you know, I'm wired to this hamster wheel."
"Well, you can official tell your physical therapist that you're fit as the proverbial fiddle. Especially for a man of your age."
"Man of my age?" Phil looked at her. "That's something you say to an old person."
"Is it?" Jemma asked, all smiles and I laughed. "That's get you some electrolyte, shall we?" I walked into the lab and saw Grant holding the 'night, night' gun and Skye sitting at the desk. Grant turned towards Fitz.
"Sorry Fitz. It's close but that's just not right."
"Really? Cause Agent Coulson had no problems." I smiled and waved at Fitz, getting a smile in return.
"It's an ounce too heavy."
"An ounce," Skye replied. "Seriously." Ward stared at her.
"It's the difference between success and failure. When you're on a rooftop with fifteen mile an hour wind and your target is five hundred yards away-" Fitz cut him off.
"But we do have a rifle." I had to bite my lip from laughing at Wards face.
"Lose the ounce."
"Yeah, okay." Fitz replied and they started mocking Ward while I got lost in thought. My mind constantly wondering back to the bracelet in Tony's lab. How did he even get it here? Why would he really give it to me? Just to figure out ow special I am? Hidden agenda, what's on your mind, God of Mischief?
"Hey," I was jolted by my thoughts when Ward entered again. "Hustle up and grab your gear, we're on a mission." Fitz was laughing quietly to himself and Skye had a smile on her face that matched Jemma's. "Something funny?" He asked, walking closer to the group. I stood up and put my hand on his shoulder, imitating his voice.
"Nothing's funny. It's always serious business on this Bus." Fitz snorted and we grabbed our things, making our way to Pennsylvania. We were told about the troop leader and how he heard something in the woods, went to check it out, and the others found his body floating in the air, surrounded by electrical currents. I approached the body and he indeed was floating, about my height off the ground. Skye had mentioned it could be someone with the index and was quickly shot down by May, stating there was no one with this kind of power on the index.
Jemma moved forward to look at the wound on his head while I watched a streak of, what looked like lightning, exit from his body and onto her nose. His boy fell and she jumped backwards. I moved closer to her, checking her over for injuries.
"I'm fine." Jemma said with a small smile but I wasn't convinced. We made our way back to the bus and Skye found out more information on the troop leader while Fitz-Simmons looked at the body. I decided to follow Coulson into the lab and watched as Fitz-Simmons talked about a dead cat and explain that the troop leaders head had over two thousand volts of power going through it. Fitz told us it was happening again and I went with Coulson, May, and Ward to the farm.
"It's gone." Fitz's voice came over the radio.
"What's gone?" Phil replied.
"The electrostatic signal. It seemed to pulse then disappear." Phil shot a look to May.
"We need a shortcut." I saw her nod and I grabbed onto the 'oh shit' handle. We drove through tall grass and came to a hard stop in front of the barn. Ward and Coulson went out, guns ready, and I checked for vibrations.
"Guys, I don't feel anyone but ourselves here." Coulson shot me a look but quickly turned away, entering the barn once May kicked the door. In the middle of the barn, was the mans body, just floating like the other except higher. The guy who owned the barn was Frank Waylan, a volunteer fireman, were the first victim volunteered as well.
"They were both responders when the aliens crashed New York." Skye explained and Coulson and I looked at each other. Skye thought we were looking for a killer but we must have missed something. Eventually Fitz-Simmons and Skye were brought in and I went with Phil, Coulson, and May once again.
"Evening gentleman," Coulson said as we entered the firehouse. "Agent Phil Coulson with S.H.I.E.L.D, we were on the ground with you in New York."
"S.H.I.E.L.D, right. What's this all about?" One of the older men asked.
"We'd like to ask you a few questions, take a look around." Ward and May went to look around the fire station while Coulson and I stayed put.
"Hey guys what's, uh, what's going on?" A man asked as he walked in.
"One of your volunteers, Frank Waylan, passed today." I informed them and the man who spoke first, spoke again.
"What do you mean? Frankie's dead?"
"We're very sorry."
"Do you know ow it happened?" The newcomer asked.
"The same way your other friend, Mr. Cross, died the day before." Coulson replied.
"Which is how exactly?" The newcomer asked once more. I narrowed my eyes at him and took notice of the sweat glistening his skin. Possibly from a workout, but he looks sick.
"I'm sorry, your name is?" Coulson asked and I re-focused.
"Tony, Tony Diaz." The newcomer, Tony, replied.
"You okay, Mr. Diaz?" Can't get anything passed my Phil. I mean, Mr. Phil. I mean Coulson! Someone help me.
"Actually uh, I'm not feeling so hot." He said and walked away.
"Cover the back door. Nobody comes in or out." Coulson told May and Ward, following Tony. I stayed with the others and let them continue with their chatter and card game. I heard Phil getting louder and I ran towards him. I went in behind Coulson and saw the pan floating.
"Coulson, I found it. It's a Chittari helmet." Mays voice filtered over the ear pieces.
"What are you doing with the helmet?"
"What, the alien thing? It's a souvenir." Tony replied and the pan fell behind him. "Not again."
"Answer the question, Mr. Diaz. What are you doing with the helmet?" Coulson asked once more and Tony grew more panicked.
"The first time anyone's touched it was a couple nights ago."
"Why?"
"It had rust all over it, we were cleaning it!" Tony explained while Coulson's eyes never left him.
"Sir, he's not using a weapon, he's infected. I think the helmet was a source of the alien virus." Jemma told us as her voice came through.
"All we did was clean it, I swear." Tony pleaded. "Me, Frankie, and Adam we were bored with third shift so we decided to clean it." I felt May, a fireman, and Ward stand by the door behind us and Tony spoke again.
"What happened to Frankie?" He asked again.
"Mr. Diaz, I'm putting my gun away now, okay?" Coulson said as he put his gun back in the holster. Jemma said something only to him and he turned to May and Ward.
"Clear everybody out. Get everyone out, now." He shot me a look and I shook my head. There was a flash of something in his eyes but he turned away, closing the door, and looking at Diaz.
"I'm going to end up like them, aren't I?" Tony asked as Coulson moved closer.
"Why don;t you have a seat." Coulson told him. He plopped in the seat closest to him and Phil moved closer.
"Do you have any family? Wife? Kids? Tony shook his head. "Is there anyone that you want to talk to? Anything I can do?" Coulson asked him and Fitz's voice came over the radio.
"Guys, you have to get out of there right now. He's goin-" Fitz was cut off as we both removed our earpieces. Coulson sat closest to him and Is at next to Phil, watching intently.
"Listen to me," Phil started. "I've been were you are right now. So please believe me when I tell you, you don't have to be afraid." I stood back up and walked towards the sink. I turned it on cold and let the water flow before grabbing some and walking over to Tony.
"I can't heal you. The virus is too unstable and I could activate it. But this should cool you off." I covered his body in water and removed it from his skin, clothes, and hair before putting it down the sink. He gave me a small smile and a nod in thanks. I took my seat next to Coulson as Tony continued.
"what are you talking about?"
"Your job." Coulson responded. "Gets pretty dangerous, doesn't it? Ours too. I got hurt once, pretty bad." Welcome the guilt once more. "And I, I died. Some say it was for only eight seconds but I know it was more than that. I know I wasn't here anymore. I was there." I had to blink away tears as my heart grew heavy.
"What's it like?" Tony asked.
"It's beautiful." Coulson replied and I felt terrible. Electricity started to come out of Tony's hands and things started floating.
"You better get going buddies." They stared at each other for a long time. "Go." Tony whispered and nodded. Coulson stood up and walked out the door. I cast one more glance at Tony before nodding and following Phil. We were silent as we joined the others and watched as a bright blue light filled the station before it pulsed and faded. We were all checked over by Fitz, in the fire station, as the day's light shown through the doors. We were given the all clear and I was lost in thought once more.
How can I be a S.H.I.E.L.D agent when I get teary eyed all the time? I'm not tough like Tasha or May but I would fight for them until my last breath, my teams, all of them. Jemma was tasked to find a cure but something seemed off about her. We made our way back to the bus and I sat in the living room, watching the clouds as we flew by. Coulson walked out of the cockpit and looked at me.
"I'm going down to the lab, want to come?" I shook my head in response and continued to watch the clouds. I felt him stand there for a few moments before walking away, down to the lab. Coulson came up and told me Jemma was infected. I didn't know what to feel. There was never a time when I couldn't heal someone, something I couldn't help fix. And now someone who I considered family, was going to die. I let Fitz sit outside the doors with her by themselves so they could just have a moment, the two of them. After a half hour, I walked down with Coulson, Skye, and Ward.
"Simmons believes she contracted the virus approximately thirty-six hours ago when she received an electrostatic shock from the first victim." Coulson supplied to us.
"How much time does she have?" Skye asked, worry etched onto her face.
"Based on when the fireman were infected and how quickly their symptoms manifested, two hours at most."
"That's enough time, right? I mean S.H.I.E.L.D has dozens of labs and scientist working on these things, don't they?" Skye asked.
"They do. How soon can you get us on the ground?" Coulson asked May.
"Three hours. Our path to the sandbox has us right in the middle of the Atlantic." May said, a hint of regret in her tone.
"Sir, correct me if I'm wrong but if we can't land in time-" Ward began.
"Simmons will release a pulse that will blow this plane right out of the sky." Coulson finished for him.
"We can't just sit here and watch her die. We have to do something." Her head snapped at me. "Can't you heal her? I've seen you heal yourself and Ward." I frowned.
"The virus is something I have never dealt with before. Because it's unstable, I could kill her faster than the time she has left and there's no doubt it would actually help her.
"There's only one person on this plane capable of finding a solution and I'm willing to bet my life that she will." He turned towards the lab.
"She's just a kid." May said and I nodded my head. I went back up stairs and took my seat on the couch while Skye and ward went into the debriefing room. I watched the clouds as my vision filled with tears once again. The couch dipped and I looked at Coulson, quickly looking away to wipe away the tears.
"Claudia." He said and I turned to see him from the corner of my eye.
"Is this how it is for you? Every time someone gets hurt and you can do nothing about it?" Before he could reply, Fitz ran by holding the box with the Chittari helmet.
"Fitz!" Coulson yelled after him. We followed him down to the lab and saw he had put himself in there with Jemma. We watched them as they worked, pacing back and forth, and waited. You were right Coulson, watch and wait. We watched with baited breathe as Fitz injected the third rat and then physically dropped when it pulsed and died.
"Sir. I know the protocol in these circumstances but could you please, tell my dad first?" A few tears made their way down my face as I watched Jemma talk to Phil. "I just think my mom would take it better if it comes from him."
"We're not there yet. There's still time." Phil told her and she smiled.
"Sir please." They stared at each other a long time before he nodded stiffly. She turned towards us as wiped away more tears.
"Would you mind if I had a view brief moment alone with Fitz?" Coulson put his arm around my shoulder, gently rubbing it.
"let's go." I let my head fall against his shoulder as we followed the rest up stairs. Some Avenger. There's not even anything left to avenge. The alarm started blaring and we went to the debriefing room.
"Someones lowering the cargo hold ramp." May warned us and Ward ran off. When we got there, Ward and Jemma were gone while Fitz stood there.
"The anti-serum worked! It just knocked the rat unconscious but she jumped before I could tell her!" I hugged him and he hugged me back. We pulled Jemma and Ward out of the water. While she was rushed to Coulson's office with Ward after they dried off, I went to my bunk and sat down, knees to my chest. That would have been a second death to those around you, Claudia. I felt Jemma, ward and Skye out in the living room and walked out, straight to Jemma, and hugged her with Skye. I heard her laugh as she pulled us both closer.
"If you ever do that again, I will bend all the elements to keep your ass planted to this plane." They laughed and I squeezed her before going to Coulson's office. I heard May talking to him and decided to listen.
"Whether it was eight seconds or forty, you died. There's no way you can go threw a drama like that and come out of it changed. You know how long it's taken me to-"
"I know." Coulson cut her off.
"The point of these things, is to remind us that, there is no going back. There's only moving forward. You feel different, because you are different." I walked away from the door and headed back towards my bunk. Skye has Ward, Jemma had Fitz, an Coulson has May, even if they fail to see it. I sighed and took a nap until we landed at the sandbox. Once we had, I slipped into a cat suit and waited with Phil by the cargo hold for the box to be taken.
"Blake." Coulson greeted.
"Coulson." We stood and watched as the box was removed and Blake turned towards us. "That's the best you could come up with? We've got a bad connection?" I smiled slightly.
"I was pressed for time." Coulson answered smoothly.
"Bold move. You know our chat wasn't exactly private." Blake stated and I furrowed my brows.
"They never are." Coulson answered.
"I don't know what happened to you in New York, if you really flat lined or if that's just what they tell us when we reach Level Seven but, whatever did happen, doesn't give you license to disobey a direct order from HQ. You keep pulling stunts like that, someone might decide tot ake this litle dream team away from you."
"I'd like to see them try." I looked over and saw Coulson smiling and brought my attention back to Blake.
"So would I." I commented and Blake glanced at me.
"That doesn't sound the Phil Coulson I used to know."
"No. I suppose it doesn't. Get used to it." My smile grew as I continued to listen. Blake nodded and began to walk away.
"Blake." He turned and spared me a glance. "If you ever threaten to take the team away, you won't like the consequences." he raised an eyebrow at me and stood straighter.
"is that a threat? Miss-"
"Claudia Stark and no, It's a promise.
"And how would you be able to fulfill your promise?" His tone was full of mockery and the wind picked up around me. My smile was absolute predator.
"I'm sorry, that's classified." He seemed to look between Phil and I before walking away. Phil turned to me, still with a smile.
"That's classified?" I smiled and laughed.
"I've heard it works a time or two."
"Well we have one more stop, for you." I raised my eyebrow at him.
"Is that so?" He nodded.
"I called in a few favors. Later you have your S.H.I.E.L.D agent test. I have no doubt's you'll score in Natasha and Clint's levels." I smiled and hugged him. I was about to pull away when he hugged me back. My cheeks burned slightly and I pulled away, clearing my throat.
"Right, well, thank you. I uh, have to go shower." I jumped and used air to hoist myself up over the railing and ran to my room to get ready. Oh man, this is a much more exciting life and I wouldn't trade a thing.