Disclaimer: I don't own anything Marvel. I just own Anna.

Chapter 11

Heavy is the Head

"I hear you're a busy man lately," Anna said, relaxing in the chair across from the wooden desk Coulson sat behind. "How's recruitment going?"

Phil had always been an overworked man. It was just who he was. If there was something he could be doing, he was doing it. SHIELD had been his life for so long, just like Anna, so it was no surprise how much he was working now that he was Director of the fractured organization.

"Could be going a lot better," he answered. "Why don't you give me the rundown of your alien notes?" he asked, though he had very detailed information from the file Anna had handed him upon entering their meeting in his office.

"Well, there are a whole lot of blue alien species out there, let me tell you," Anna said. "Asgard's library was helpful in getting some of the species, but not so much so in Terran- I mean Earth history of visitors. Earth was under Asgard protection for a long time, remember. Odin got rid of the Frost Giants for us.

"I narrowed the information in there down to humanoid species, seeing as you gave me a description of the one you guys found from the experimentation. Pheragots are really big and strong, but are generally gentle giants. Frost Giants were taken out. It could be Interdictions, or Sarks. They both look pretty similar. Sarks just don't have yellow eyes and have pointed ears."

"No, it wasn't those," Phil said. "This thing was tall, and muscular, but not overly so.

"So it really just leaves three," Anna said. "Levians looks look human except for their skin. Now, from what I take it, their home planet was rich with resources, but didn't exactly protect them, so their world turned into a disaster zone. In order for the survival of their species, they moved everyone onto a ship called the Levianon. They're still a disaster from what I hear though. They might've been the ones here, but with everything going on with them, and living on the ship, chances are there would've been a whole lot more of them here now.

"I didn't find too much on Centaurians - which have nothing to do with the mythical Centaurs by the way. All I could find was that they were blue, and that they'd been experimented on at some point in history.

"Lastly, and this is the best one," Anna said. "Is the Kree. Now these guys are jackasses. While I was up there, this one guy, Ronan, tried to destroy a whole planet because of a grudge between his people and the Nova Corps. But that's another story for after the report."

Anna sat forward in her chair as she got into her story. "The Kree are a very scientifically technologically militaristic race. They part of the Kree Empire, so interstellar imperialism is kinda their forte. And from what I read, Asgardians detest the Kree. Like if they could wipe them out like Loki did with the Frost Giants, I wouldn't be surprised if they would."

"So the Kree?" Phil said. "Did you happen to get anything else on them?"

"Not really," Anna said. "I really only had one day of research when I got kidnapped."

"Kidnapped?" Phil asked. "Is that why you were gone so long?"

"Absolutely," Anna said. "Got kidnapped by traffickers that temporarily took away my ability to speak, so when the truck we were in got raided, they thought we were illegally trying to cross into another planet. I got sent to prison by the Nova Corps for resisting arrest and assault and stuff," Anna explained. "Then, made friends with the daughter of a genocidal maniac, Gamora, who is really concerning, by the way. I'll need to keep getting updates on Thanos's activities from them. But yeah, we made a deal, and then that deal brought in Rocket Raccoon, Peter Quill - half human by the way - Drax the destroyer -who tried to kill Gamora for revenge, but we talked him out of that, and Groot, rest his soul. Sort of, I think he's regenerating nicely.

"But yeah, we broke out of prison, went to sell this orb, which is one of the same things that the Aether - that stuff the Dark Elves wanted, Loki's Sceptre, and the Tesseract are made from. They're called Infinity Stones. And we had to stop Ronan from destroying a world after he stole it from us.

"Don't forget me."

"Oh, and I kinda have a alien friend that tagged along with me," Anna said. Anna reached behind her and opened the palm of her hand so Rey could step into it. "This is a Devox. They're an endangered species. Saved him from the Collector back on Knowhere. He's sticking with me. And if you see me talking to him, it's because he can share his thoughts with me."

Rey jumped off of her hand and walked across the top of Phil's desk. Once he got to Phil's front, he turned, lightly slapping Phil in the face with the long fluff of the three tails. It wasn't like a normal slap, just like one a dog or cat may do on accident. Rey's, however, was anything but.

"Be nice," Anna told him as she held out her hand for him to jump back into. She let him crawl up her arm and rest back into the hood of her jacket.

Phil seemed completely shocked. Whether or not it was from the whole story of what happened while Anna was in space, or because she had an alien pet sitting right there on his desk, she didn't know. It was most likely all of it, though.

"...You wrote all this down," Phil said, looking into the second file.

"Yes, because it's just that unbelievable," Anna said. "I knew it'd be a lot to take in, so I made sure to write a detailed report for you to look it over later when things calm down."

"That's appreciated," Phil said. "The person that trained you trained you right."

"You trained me," Anna said with a deadpan expression.

"You don't say," he said.

"How are you feeling?" She asked. "I can see you're fidgeting and drawing with your fingers on your desk. Nothing's helped with the symbols?"

"No, ,and it's getting worse," Phil answered, his voice filled with shame and fear. It was definitely something he didn't like to let other people see. "Skye hasn't found anything yet, and the urge to carve is just getting stronger every day."

"And it's still just the three of us that know?" Anna went on. "You, me, and May?"

"And it's going to stay that way," Coulson said.

"Anything you need," Anna said, nodding in concern. "I'll be sticking out to help out. Steve and Sam got the Bucky hunt covered, and I can use the resources here when I get downtime, but you could use the help."

"You have no idea how relieved I am to here that," Phil said, letting a rare grateful smile grace his lips. "You're one of the only people I trust to help run things around here. And this so many people gone…"

"I've got your back, Phil," Anna said.

"Thank you," he said. "And after the mission we just had, I think the others will appreciate having a familiar face around."

"Why, what happened?" Anna asked, sitting on the edge of her seat.

"An op we just had. It was a make it or break it moment," Phil said. "We sent in agents to retrieve the 0-8-4, the original - not even Fury knew what it could do, and to get a quinjet. One of our agents picked it up and, let's just say it didn't end well. I've got two agents down, we lost the 0-8-4, and we still have General Talbot up our asses."

"The one that Peggy got? The one that kills people that touch it?" Anna asked.

"You know what it does," Phil said, surprised.

"I was there when we obtained it. We got it from the last Hydra compound. It was the only artifact we found that we wouldn't let anybody near, not even Howard Stark. Especially not Howard. But that guy I told you about, Werner Reinhardt, he's the blue angel guy. He's the same one that was running that facility. I'm telling you, worst Nazi-Hydra scientist you could ever encounter."

"I'll have to check the files from when you were in the 40's," Coulson said.

"Do you need any help?" Anna asked.

"No, go get settled in, Agent Barnes. Say hi to Skye. She'll introduce yourself to everyone."

"Will do, Director," Anna said.

On the way down the stairs from Coulson's office, Anna met Agent Melinda May. She smiled and gave a nod in acknowledgement. "Hello, May," Anna greeted.

"Anna," May said in surprise. "I wasn't aware you were back."

"Just briefed Coulson," Anna said. "I'd take it easy on him. He seems a bit…" the two met each other finally on the stairs, "stressed, if you know what I mean. I think he's pushing his timeline a little too far."

May nodded. "Thank you," she said. "It's good to know he has someone else looking out for him."

"He always will," Anna said, playing her hand on May's shoulder. "I'll see you later. I expect a spar."

"You mean getting your ass handed to you."

"We'll see about that."

Anna never thought she'd have two homes, though that was using the word 'Home' rather loosely. If she had to pick one place where she felt more at home she'd have said Avengers tower. But at least here, at the new SHIELD HQ, Anna had Phil back. And with things looking up with their relationship, it gave her some hope for the future.

The style of her room here, with it's warm brick walls and a large window looking out over trees - she managed to snag one of the surface level rooms, on the same floor as Coulson's office, but requiring a separate staircase to enter. There wasn't too much inside. She had the bed, a standard gray comforter and white pillows she'd purchased cheaply. A wooden dresser was against the wall with the door where she unpacked some clothes and her old uniforms. Lastly, there were a few pictures she'd copied to place about the room. Some were with the Avengers, casually lounging about Avengers Tower during her recovery after SHIELD fell. Others were much older. She'd scanned her photos from back in the 40's and had some in her room at the Tower, and now had some here on display for her own remembrance.

Rey was curled up in a fall on her bed, his head propped up on his tail as he watched her move things around the way she liked it.

"What's the point of all this?"

Anna glanced back at him as she heard him in her head. It took a great deal of getting used to, but she supposed it wasn't so surprising to hear his voice anymore. "The point of what?" she asked.

"All this stuff. You don't need it."

"You mean the pictures?" She asked, holding up the frame of her and Bucky as they kissed after their "I Do's". She smiled down at it, remembering how torn she'd been when he'd asked her that big question, and how simple it was to go along with it. Because she loved him. So much more than she had ever realized. "They're reminders."

"But you remember them anyway without them."

"Sometimes you need physical things to remind you. Memories sometimes go away," she answered. "Plus, they're pretty to look at."

"Speak for yourself."

"I am speaking for myself." Anna rolled her eyes and set the frame on the dresser.

"I'm hungry."

"Then go hunt rats or something. You can take care of yourself."

"Why, I'd nev-" Rey's nose twitched, and he sat up. "Fine." He got up and trotted away, pushing the door that had been left a crack open far wider than he necessarily needed.

Drama queen, Anna thought, rolling her eyes again.

"Knock, knock."

The familiar voice got Anna to smile. She turned to the open door, and there stood someone she hadn't seen in months. "Tucker," Anna greeted. "It's good to see you."

"You too," he greeted. Tucker entered the room and opened his arms to welcome the girl into a hug. "You wanna grab something to eat?"

"Absolutely," Anna said, taking his arm as they left the room. Anna made sure to close and lock the door behind her. It may be a SHIELD base, but she didn't trust everyone in it. Only select few personnel, like the man beside her.

He lead her downstairs back to the common area where several boxes of pizza sat. They'd ordered in several since it'd been a hard couple of days, Anna took it. Losing two good agents was never easy, and pushing through to keep working was always even harder. Cooking was never a priority for Agents.

Skye was sitting on the couch with one of her legs tucked under her with a slice of pizza in her hand. She smiled and she spoke to one of the largest men Anna had ever seen in person. He was tall, muscular, and devastatingly handsome. Another familiar face, Trip, sat across from them with his feet up on the coffee table. There was one other man sitting there. A white man with sandy hair and a scruffed face.

The white male, who apparently was British, spoke up first when he saw Tuck walk in with her. "What's the deal, mate? I thought you swung for the other team." This caught the attention of the other three, so now all eyes were on them.

So Tuck came out of the closet publically, Anna figured. Good for him.

"I do," he answered. "Doesn't mean I can't be a gentleman for a lady."

"We all know Anna's no lady," Skye said. She sat up and moved over a bit to make some room for Anna on the couch.

"I should be offended," Anna said, taking a slice of pepperoni pizza before sitting down in the new spot for her. "But I'm not."

"Come on, girl," Trip said. "I've seen you clean up nice. You can be a lady when you want."

"Tricks of the trade," she said before taking a bite into her pizza.

"Anybody care to introduce us?" The Brit asked.

"Right," Skye said. "That's Hunter," she introduced the Brit, "and this is Mack."

"Nice to meet you both," Anna said.

"And this is Little Miss SHIELD herself, Agent Anna Carr," Trip said. "I trained with her brother. He was a good man."

"It's Barnes now, actually," Anna corrected.

"Well I'll be," Trip said. "Never thought I'd see the day."

"Congratulations, marriage is hell," Hunter said.

"Ignore him," Mack said. "How long have you been married?"
"Oh uh," Anna hesitated. She seriously had to do the math for that one. "In December it'll be our seventieth anniversary."

That made everyone stop. It was hilarious to see their cogs turning as they tried to figure out how a woman that didn't look like she was even in her mid twenties yet could be married for so long.

"Bullshit. I call bullshit," Hunter said.

"She forgot to mention she got married in 1944," Tuck said. "I was there."

"Wait, so the stories of you guys going back in time are true?" Mack asked. "I just thought you guys were pulling a prank on me."

"No, it happened because of an 0-8-4," Anna said. "Went back in time, had to stay there for a few years. Got married to a man I thought was gonna die. You know, make what little time he had left count, and whatnot."

"What she didn't account for was that Hydra would get him and turn him into one of the deadliest assassins the world's ever known," Tucker muttered. Anna gave him a glare and he shrugged. "Sorry, was I not supposed to say anything?"

"You telling me you're married to that Barnes?" Skye said. "Thee Winter Soldier? Bucky Barnes, Captain America's best friend?"

"Sure," Anna said, taking another bite. "We can change the subject now since nobody's gonna know what to say."

"Well, uh..." Skye fumbled.

"Did I ever tell you about the time Clark and I went undercover in Osaka?" Trip asked.

"No, that's gotta be good," Anna said, excited for the topic change, and for a story of her brother. It was a nice change of pace.

When Anna retired back to her room for the evening, she found Rey curled up on the bed with a rounded tummy, indicated that he'd feasted while he was gone. Careful not to disturb him as she got into bed, Anna was hopeful of the work she could do here. Even if it was just for a little while.

Hope you guys get caught up on the second season of SHIELD for the next several chapters. Also, this week has been really hectic with my move. I moved everything but my clothes to the apartment, and I stayed there one night with my BF, but now i have to come back home for the rest of this week and next week to dog sit for my neighbors. So there's so much going on around here. But also exciting.

Thanks go to the following for their reviews on the previous chapter:

Patishlebish - Yes, there will most definitely be a dedicated chapter to Bucky reading the letters. Not like rehashing every little thing written in them, but there will be his thoughts, especially his time after leaving Hydra, etc.

Jedi Jesla777 - Clint is just such a good guy, and being a dad, he's kinda of a friend AND father figure for Anna without going to the extent of Phil, or I guess arguably Tony. No prob on the description. It's honestly not too important on what it looks like, as much as the importance of what it does.

shizzlethis1 - I promise he will most definitely get a chance to read the letters.

Murphy -YOU'RE the gem! Your review was so nice, and long story-telling like reviews are what I live for. It's pretty much exactly how I review stories that I like, and that is also very few. (But I love replying to these. It's like having a good conversation about soemthing everyone is passionate about, and it helps me understand how people are taking things, sometimes helping shape the story. So if you want to let me know what some of the plot points you don't agree with I'd love to hear them. It's all constructive). I haven't gone and even found anything new to read in a very long time because of how draining it is to try and weed through the masses for gems. But thank you so much for taking the time to read and jump into this little world. And thank you for being so understanding with the typos and spelling errors. I do want to go back and fix up the chapters at some point, but right now isn't the time. But trust me, I go back and read my stuff every so often just to help refresh my own mind (and so there aren't as many things that will get forgotten, tie up lose ends, if you follow), so I catch the things that I'd done wrong and cringe when I see them.
This story has been my baby for so long. I started it later on in the MCU so I could help develop things to the point of trying to forshadow events to come, and to try and keep them as cannon as I could. Like, take the Solace Chronicles for example, I hate having to change some of the Sharon/Steve scenes, but I tried to only have some of the later things, like in Civil War, change with their relationship and my relationship-timeline. Cannon is cannon. If something isn't cannon that I know is, it generally really bothers me to change it. That's not always th case if I'm reading something else that is listed more towards AU, but that's besides the point. It's far easier to do cannon for this story though, as Bucky doesn't really have a shown love interest. Even with the Phil/Anna Helicarrier thing, even though Anna shot him and she thinks it's more her fault Phil died, it's still technically cannon that the stab is what really killed him. I want things as cannon, and as "real" as I can in such an unrealistic world.
You are absolutely right on the letter topic, and you gave me some ideas for more letters! The letters, as she said in the first one, are just to help her get her thoughts out even if she doesn't end up giving it to him. She will give it to him, but that'll be it's one Bucky perspective chapter. Then there will be a talk between them about it, but that's getting ahead of myself. It's a good way for her to try and open herself more to him, to be completely exposed to him with all her feelings and thoughts out there for him to read. And there will also be a part with how he's dealing with everything, so no worries! Anyway, hope you're still enjoying the ride!