Secrets

by SalinePond

For Claudia Stark, life is anything but normal. Even more so when her father's overprotectiveness causes her to get tangled with the Avengers Initiative. When she is forced to reveal her deepest secret, can she embrace it or will she be kicked to the curb?

21. Hostage, Hydra, and Fury, oh my!

~I own nothing besides my OC and the idea! Any other story that is like this is purely coincidental! Please review! :)~

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I had one of the remaining S.H.I.E.L.D agents bring me to the Bus. They landed on top of the Bus long enough for me to get back in, and left again. I went down the stairs with my luggage behind me and saw no one in the common room. I slipped my bags into my room and made my way to the conference room where Coulson, Garrett, Skye and Fitz were. A message on the screen being decrypted and I stood by the door, leaning on my good shoulder.

"Victoria Hand." I heard Coulson say.

"Hand? Can't be." Fitz said and I was already confused only being back for five minutes.

"Can't be what know?" Garrett asked.

"The Clairvoyant." Ah, so you got to the same conclusion.

"I thought Ward capped that guy." Garret stated.

"I don't believe the man Ward killed was the Clairvoyant. I think he was an unwitting decoy, meant to end our investigation." Coulson explained.

"That's a lot of trouble to go through for a red haring, don't you think?" Garret questioned.

"Because the Clairvoyant is a S.H.I.E.L.D agent," Coulson explained once more. "Using high level clearance to stay ahead of us, make it seem like she's got psychic abilities."

"She? You think Victoria Hands the Clairvoyant?" Garrett asked him and I saw Coulson nod. "I don;t mean to pee in the punch, but well doesn't make a lot of sense. On the station with Vic in Lisbon she's a hard ass and a buzz kill at parties I grant you, but, you really think she's capable of that?" Garrett asked once more.

"Excuse me, didn't she just try to blow you out of the sky?" Coulson whipped back at him.

"Don't get me wrong, she's definitely gone nuts but her actions prove she's not the Clairvoyant, right? I mean if she's been hiding in plain sight all this time, why reveal herself now?" Garret asked.

"Guys." Skye said and we all looked at the monitor.

"Out of the shadows, into the light." Coulson read and I watched as Hydra came up next.

"Well I'll be." Garrett stated and I nodded. I was shocked at first too.

"Good. Now I just have to catch you up on a few things." I said and they all turned to me. We moved to the couches and Fitz began.

"I thought Hydra was defeated after World War two?"

"No. S.H.I.E.L.D began collecting German scientist and among them Doctor Arnim Zola who started Hydra, right in S.H.I.E.L.D. Hiding in plain sight for seventy years." I explained to them.

"But it was sent from a S.H.I.E.L.D source." Skye said and I nodded.

"In Washington, they took over. Project Insight was shut down by Sam Wilson, Steve, Natasha Romanoff, Hill, and myself to stop Hydra from killing millions of people that stood in their way."

"Hand must be a Hydra member." Coulson stated and I sat up, wincing as the bone crunched in my shoulder.

"Okay, stop, stop." Fitz said. "What does that mean? In S.H.I.E.L.D."

"They've been waiting, gaining high ranks, causing their own chaos, destruction. Zola told us thought."

"How could he? He's been dead for however many years." Garrett questioned and I sighed.

"Back in the first S.H.I.E.L.D facility, by Steve's army camp, they had him, his brain, on a bunch of data in the basement. So we literally got to talk to him." I explained.

"The signal is everywhere." Skye stated. "Deep."

"You know what this means?" Coulson began.

"Yeah, we're screwed." Garrett said and I was inclined to believe him.

"We can't change course and we have no idea what's waiting for us at the Hub." Phil said.

"The Hub." Fitz exclaimed.

"I say we blow a hole in the side of this puppy and parachute out. Live to fight another day." Garrett suggested and I stood up.

"Don't you get it? Hydra is in every part of S.H.I.E.L.D. Anywhere we go, they can find us." I explained as my shoulder pinched once more.

"Are you alright?" Skye asked, noticing my wince and she rested her hand on my shoulder. I let out a hiss and she immediately pulled her hand away. I pulled down my shirt and let them see the deep purple, almost black, mark.

"What happened?" Coulson asked.

"Turns out, Winter Soldier? Not so nice. The rest of the story later." As I told them about my shoulder, gunshot wound, and throat.

"Damn girl. It takes a lot to take you down." I smiled slightly at Garret and pulled the water from the cup Skye had given me, resting it on my shoulder, and healing it, my face covered in the soft blue glow. I winced once the bones melded back together but was relieved when it stopped hurting. I removed the water and put it back in the cup, moved my arm around, and was satisfied wit only a slight burn.

"That's a pretty cool trick." Garrett said and the way he looked at me, was like he knew I could do it. But I quickly brushed it away and healed my bullet wound.

"What about your neck?" Skye asked and I shook my head.

"I healed my voice box so now it's just a bruise. It's nothing serious I need to waste my energy on." She nodded like she understood but I knew she really didn't.

"Go shower. When we arrive I'll get you." Coulson said and I nodded. I peeled the ruined catsuit off me and let the warm water run down my dirty body. Once I was done, I changed into jeans, a gray tank top, and my black half coat, fixing my hair like normal, drying it. I walked out as soon as the plane landed in the Hub. I saw Garrett talking to Ward and I walked over t Skye before we all had to duck from gunfire. We moved quickly once it stopped down the storage where we had guns saved.

"Is it true? About Fury?" I heard Ward ask.

"Yes." I said, knowing he wasn't asking me. "He was shot at Steve's apartment by the Winter Soldier, aka, Bucky Barnes. He was the lovely fella who gave my my new mark." I said ad I put two handguns in the back of my jeans, putting my tank top over it.

"Is there anything on this plane you don't want them to get their hands on?" Garrett asked and Ward looked at Skye. I went to find Coulson and May in another room.

"That was his direct line, Phil." May said.

"So it's real." Coulson replied back. "That means it's just you and me. Unless there were other parties you reported to."

"Phil, don;t turn on the team, not now." I stated before I walked away, not wanting to hear any of their fighting. I stood, facing the cars, and grabbed each element into a larger sphere then I had ever made, waiting for it to open. I felt more refreshed, stronger. Since my shower and what little sleep I had and I knew I would be okay on energy for a while. The ramp thumped against the floor and I watched the soldiers move closer.

"I wouldn't take another step." I said as the finally noticed me.

"Stand down!" One of the yelled but I didn't listen.

"You stand down. You don't know what you're up against.."

"I repeat, stand down!" The same man yelled and they took another step forward.

"I warned you." I shot each element at them, sending them flying backwards. I ran towards into the plane and tried to find anyone. I could feel more footsteps entering the plane and Is wore under my breath. I then realized, I was the only one left on the plane from my team. Maybe they were Hydra, and I was the target.

"Fucking Hydra." I swore and hid, feeling their vibrations. Once the coast was clear, I ran from the plane and into the base. I walked around, knocking out any agents I passed with earth discs, unsure if they were Hydra or just under orders. I walked around aimlessly until I heard Victoria Hand's voice.

"The rest of your possibly very short lives hinges on this moment." I heard her voice mumbled by the door. I held a fireball in my hand, waiting for the right moment. "Hydra has successfully infiltrated S.H.I.E.L.D, at the highest level. It only took seven decades and today's out coming out party. We have the support of the Level nine and Level Ten agents, and those who have resisted Hydra have been crossed off. Director Fury included. I'm here to offer you a choice, and a simple one at that. Either swear unwavering loyalty to Hydra right now, for all time, or share Fury's fate." I heard guns being pulled and waited no time kicking the door in. Guns pointed my way and I was ready if they tried anything. Victoria Hand's eyes landed on me with no emotion what so ever.

"I don't like that plan." I stated to her. "What if, I'm sure we're doing it anyway, we stay with S.H.I.E.L.D and just kill you." I glanced over at Simmons and Triplet and I could see the surprise on Jemma's face. It was no longer time for me to be afraid of killing. It was either be killed or kill in this plan.

"I won't wait long." Hand stated, glancing at Jemma and Antoine. Jemma nodded slightly and Triplet took the guys gun that was closest to him, and Jemma threw a pocket blade which he held to the guys throat.

"Cross us off, and one of ours goes too." Triplet said and I waited, searching their vibrations for indication of movements.

"Right answer." Hand said as she stood up. I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion but didn't lose my stance of the fireball. "The number of people I trust is now eight. Where are we on the round up?"

"We're moving agents below level five to east holding. I have men monitoring microphones placed in their rooms." One of the agents stated.

"And the strike team?" Hand asked him.

"Has stormed the plane, yes." The man replied.

"Oh, I had to take out some of them so they didn't kill me." I stated dryly and finally let the fire go.

"That was a, a, test?" Jemma asked.

"Which very few have passed." Victoria stated with a hint of annoyance.

"I though we were dead." Jemma replied while she let out a deep breathe. "You're not Hydra, thank god."

"Well don't celebrate just yet. We may not be Hydra, but your friend Coulson, he is." I gaped at Hand.

"No, he isn't." She turned to look at me and opened her mouth to speak but I cut her off. "Look, I just got back from Washington, helping Steve stop Hydra's takeover on Project Insight, and we know that the Clairvoyant is a high level agent but not high enough to see what really happened to Coulson or about the full extent of my powers." I tried explaining. "Coulson thinks you're Hydra." Victoria said nothing as we made our way back to the main command room and I paid no attention as she talked to her agents.

"Are you alright?" Jemma asked, eying my throat, and I nodded.

"The winter Soldier's got a mean grip." She eyed me and Triplet spoke.

"You met the Winter Soldier? And you lived?" There was a hint of awe and surprise in his voice.

"Not without a broken shoulder, bullet wound, and a crushed voice box. I have no doubt he could have killed me if I was his mission." I stated and brought my attention back tot he room.

"You were right. We should have blown that plane out of the sky." Hand stated and that set Jemma off.

"Are you mad? How can you be saying this?"

"Hydra won't show mercy, neither can we." Hand replied calmly.

"There is no way Coulson is Hydra. He is a good man, a friend.

"He's a liar!" Hand shouted, finally losing her cool. "Agent Blake came to me with his suspicions, that Coulson and the other Level Eights were involved in some kind of conspiracy. Then Coulson sent him on an op that put him in the ICU."

"Coulson is not capable of what you're insinuating." Jemma explained as she tried to reason with Hand. Level Eights. Level Eights.

"Agent Jacobson, Coulson's crimes." Hand stated and Agent Jacobson listed them.

"Recruiting known enemies of S.H.I.E.L.D, disobeying a direct order multiple counts, violation of international law-"

"To rescue our beloved Professor Hall who ended up dead, by his hand." Victoria interrupted.

"Failure to report the crimes of his protege Akela Amador."

"Whose same technology ended up in the head of Mike Peterson, and you know his crimes." Hand stated.

"You helped us save Coulson from the Clairvoyant." Jemma stated.

"Yet when we found this brain dead Clairvoyant, Coulson's man Ward shot him before we could learn a single thing about him. The lies add up, Agent Simmons. You're telling me he's never kept a secret from you?" She stated and I knew he had, Sky and I had as well. "The worst thing you can do right now is underestimate Hydra. They hide in plain sight. They earn our trust, earn our sympathy, they make us like them. And when you hesitate, they strike. If we're to survive, we're to strike first." Level Eight, Level Eight. Make them trust you, make us like them. I stopped breathing. Coulson.

"What Level is John Garrett?" I asked Hand and she looked at me questioningly.

"Why?"

"Just answer the fucking question!" She seemed taken back by my tone but if I was right, I needed to hurry.

"Level Nine." Hand stated and I booked it from the room. '-the Level Eight jackass I'm staring at.' Run legs and find Coulson! I ran until I felt the familiar vibrations of Coulson and sprinted the rest of the way. I burst through the door, taking deep breathes in the middle of Garret speaking.

"They tortured you, using the same machine they used to brainwash that bitch in the flower dress, and right now, she's probably doing the same to Agent Simmons."

"Why don't you step back." I said as I moved towards Coulson, glaring at John. He looked at me too but I had a black face that rivaled the Black Widows.

"No." Fitz said. "Simmons will be fine."

"Just being realistic kid." John said and I looked at Coulson, knowing he finally came to the same conclusion that I had.

"I never mentioned that." Phil stated.

"I'm telling you killing her quick would be a mercy." Was Garrets reply.

"I never said, Raina had been inside the machine. I never told that to anybody." Coulson confessed.

"I must have read it in a report then." John tried to cover up.

"You weren't with us." I stated.

"Point is, how many more have to suffer before Vic gets hers."

"You showed up right after." Coulson said.

"What are you driving at?" John yelled at him.

"After Skye was shot, Quinn said it was so I would lead the Clairvoyant to the cure. That's exactly what I did. I walked you right int here with me." Coulson summarized and I nodded.

"Phil, look, it's been a ruff day, I get it. But you need to take a second and-" John just cut off.

"Good to know we came to the same conclusion." I told Coulson and Garrett smiled slightly with a sigh.

"Dammit." He said and the doors opened, bringing in agents and we raised our hands above our heads.

"Freeze!"

"Don't move!"

"Hands where I can see them!" The agents shouted.

"It's Garrett! He's the Clairvoyant!" I shouted to them.

"Easy fellas." Garrett stated.

"Take Agent Garrett into custody! He's the murdered they call the Clairvoyant!" Phil stated.

"Gentleman, I know agent Sitwell was in charge of filling your ranks so I know a few of you know what to do in this situation." no one did anything. "Any time boys."

"No!" I shouted but it was too late. The agents shot each other and pointed their guns back at us.

"Hail Hydra." Garrett said and the remaining men repeated it. Fitz, Coulson, May, and I were put in a line, each with our own agent aiming at us as Garrett moved about the room.

"Those three men in your unit, guess they asked the wrong questions." Phil assumed and I nodded.

"Until today it was all about keeping the secret." john explained.

"Are you gonna kill us?" Fitz asked him, voice calm.

"That wasn't my plan really. If it was I could have done that any time I wanted. That is, without miss sunshine over there." He pointed at me but continued. "No, Coulson and I go way back. Back tot he day's when Fury was teaching us tactics. Clearing corners, slicing the pie, remember Phil?" John said with a smile.

"Fury would bury you for this." Coulson stated and Garrett nodded.

"Probably. Instead, he'll just have to roll over in his grave." Garrett replied and it clicked.

"That's why Mike was in Washington." John looked at me with a smile. "You needed me out of the way so I couldn't help when the Winter Soldier shot Fury in Steve's apartment. I couldn't heal him if I was down."

"Bingo." Garrett replied. " Fury must have found out first though, top brass did what they had to do. Explains why we suddenly had to come out of the shadows, not a minor inconvenience I might add."

"Top brass?" May asked and I sighed while John nodded, stupid smile on his face.

"Jasper Sitwell and Alexander Pierce." I informed them.

"We had a good thing going too, waving the S.H.I.E.L.D flag as hard as we could. I guess we'll be changing colors now." John said as he walked back and forth between us.

"For Hydra?" Coulson asked him. "You really believe all the crap, spreading death and destruction." Cause so much chaos and they trade their freedom for protection.

"I wouldn't say I'm a true believer. Let's just say I felt the wind changing direction and swung my sail. You really should too." He told Coulson.

"I would rather die before surviving Hydra you sick son of a bitch." I smirked at Coulson's response.

"I hate to tell ya, but you've been serving Hydra all along. I guess death really is the only alternative. That's a sad thing, I consider you a friend. I was happy when I'd heard you made it through."

"So happy you had me tortured for three days to find out how they did it." Coulson replied dryly.

"I didn't enjoy that. Phil this is me, being honest."

"No John, this is you being a psychopath." John smiled and moved onto May.

"I know you'd follow him into the grave, so." He gave her a frown.

"As for you Agent Fitz, you'll hold a very high rank on our technical division if you volunteer." John told him and I saw a tear roll down Fitz's cheek. "If not, you'll have no rank and a lot of pain. Of course either way, your services will be required." He stated as he mock bowed to Leo.

"You're going to suffer for what you've done." Leo responded and I felt pride well in my chest for him. "And I plan on being a very big part of it."

"I like you kid." John said as he hit Fitz on his arm with a smile. "And you," he turned to em and I left my face blank. "We could use someone with your skills, hell, you're even smart to have figured it out before Coulson. We could use you higher up. And maybe, you could tell me what really happened to change your hair and eye color." I smirked at him and looked him directly in the eye.

"Want to know something funny?" He smiled back.

"Humor me."

"Agent Sitwell screamed like a little girl when we threw him off the roof." A resounding crack was heard as his fist connected with my face and back dots swam in my vision. I looked back at him and he was smiling.

"Play nice kitten." He grabbed my arms and slapped a pair of cuffs on them, moving me behind him. "Let them have it, but shoot that one in the knee caps." He said and pointed to Fitz. He picked me up and threw me over his shoulder, leaving me disconnected from the earth and unable to do anything with my hands cuffed. I trashed my legs around and felt a piercing pain as I let out a scream. I vaguely realized he had stuck a knife in the back of my thigh, I could feel the blood soaking my jeans. The lights flicked and eventually went off. I was thrown the the ground when Coulson attacked John, landing on my stomach. I blew air from my mouth and it helped me stand but I could only do so much with only being able to use my right leg. May began fighting others and Fitz hid under a desk. I saw one of the guards aim at May and was surprised when Fitz shot him. I saw Garrett almost get Coulson but he slammed something into the ground that flew Garrett off him. The door opened, bringing in Hand and more Agents while Coulson made his way over to me.

"Don't move!" When of the shouted as I put my joined hands around his shoulders and Jemma hugged Leo.

"I'm not Hydra!" Coulson stated.

"We heard, everything." Hand said and one of the agents took out the hidden mic.

"Who is? How deep does it go?" Coulson asked Hand and she just sighed. Eventually, I got my hand cuffs off, pulled the knife out, and healed the wound with minimal blood loss. Coulson, May, Fitz-Simmons, and I stood in a hallway, watching the Hydra agents be dragged away. Skye and Ward joined us and Ward saw Garrett. Him and Coulson began talking about it away from us. Triplet was yelling at Garrett while we waited in silence. Later Hand left with ward to bring Garrett to the fridge while we stayed behind at the Hub.

"Was this like it was in Washington?" Fitz asked me as him, Jemma, and I sat around the table on our broken Bus.

"Worse." I stated, staring into space.

"It's all gone." Skye stated.

"In pieces at least." Jemma replied.

"Skye, try to restore some of the firmware in the planes systems. Fitz-Simmons get a crew together, help May patch the holes." Coulson's aid before walking away and talking to May. I saw in the chair and thought over everything we could do and briefly wondered if Bucky Barnes was making a come back. Where ever we go, Hydra will find us.

Later that night, after I took a shower, I saw Coulson in the conference room at the Hub and I joined him, watching footage of the helicarriers crashing into Triskelion. Other agents surrounded us on the computers.

"It seemed a lot more dangerous up close." I dryly commented and I saw Phil smile slightly.

"Sir." One of the agents came up.

"Find Agent Martin. We need a back channel to the UN. Someone we trust." She nodded and walked away and I felt Skye coming up behind us.

" I made a list of S.H.I.E.L.D bases we believe are secure" Skye said, clicking on her tablet.

"How many so far?" Coulson asked her, still watching footage of Washington. "Seven?"

"Three." She stated and he looked at her.

"Plus the Hub." He added.

"Including the Hub." She fixed and I sighed. " It's a pulmonary list. I'm sure more will turn up." My phone started vibrating and I turned towards the back of the room to answer it.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Claud. How are things?" Steve asked and I sighed.

"Well, the Hub's under control and two other places but not much else. We got the Clairvoyant, aka Agent John Garrett, under arrest so that's one problem down. How's your search going?"

"Unfortunately not well." Steve sighed and I could hear Sam talking in the background. "Bucky's really good about not being on the radar."

"I wish I could offer more help, Steve." And it was true, I felt like I was stuck in a pool of endless helplessness. "I'm not even sure how he broke out of my hold by the bridge."

"Maybe it was because of his arm." I nodded even though he couldn't see me

"It could be but that just makes me nervous. Other Asgardians couldn't break from it and it just hits me the wrong way. Anyway, anything from Tasha?"

"Not a thing. Not since the visit to Fury's grave."

"And nothing on that either?"

"Nope. It's all quite." He told me and I nodded again.

"I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing." I told him in honesty.

"It could go either way." He replied and it was true.

"Right, But what do I owe for this random call?" I asked him as I watched Skye talk to a few of the other Agents.

"I might have some information on Bucky." He told me but he sounded far from happy.

"You just said you didn't have a lead." I told him and he sighed.

"I know but I have a hunch. When and if he starts regainging his memories, he's going to want answers." He told me and I furrowed my eyebrows.

"Right, where ya going with this Capsicle?"

"He might come to you." Ah, there it was. Five words that made my breath hitch in my throat and my heart speed into overdrive. Sure, without his arm I could stand a chance, and without all the brainwashing. But if he isn't normal when he finds me, I could eb in trouble.

"Why? Wouldn't he look for you?" I heard the phone shuffle then Sam's voice.

"We think he would try and contact you if he wasn;t ready to face Steve just yet. He saw you with Steve twice, one on the bridge and on the helicarriers. He could have also seen you in his apartment. If he want's information on Steve, he will look everywhere for it."

"Okay, but this is just a hunch Correct?"

"Just a hunch." I heard Steve say and I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding.

"Alright guys, as nice as it is to here your voices, I need to get back to work.

"Take care, Claud." Steve said.

"We'll call soon." Sam stated and I smiled.

"Oh, hey Sam?"

"Yeah?" he sounded confused but interested and I had to hid my laughter.

"On your left." I stated and I heard Steve laughing along with Sam's grumbling before I hung up. I was chuckling and got shot some weird looks from the agents. Whatever, the just don't understand humor, trying to lighten the mood.

"Good news, the Cube has been retaken." Skye told Coulson as I walked up to them. "All Hydra agents of been flushed out and they're on the run."

"So that makes four." Phil stated and I could tell he was trying not to let it make him too happy.

"See, I told you more would turn up." Skye told him with a smile.

"The halls almost completely repaired. Flight systems are back online." May told us.

"And the cargo ramp? Coulson asked, not looking at her.

"Fitz assures me that it will be operational." May replied back.

"Sir." One of the agents said. "Incoming transmission."

"This is Colonel Glenn Talbot, US Air Force. I need to speak with whoever's in charge over there." Coulson, Skye, May and I all moved forward, standing just behind Coulson.

"Colonel Talbot, I'm Agent Phil Coulson. I'm happy we could-"

"Mr. Coulson. It's a real mess your boys have gotten us into." Glenn interrupted Phil and I sneered at him.

"Hydra caught us by surprise."

"Well that's an understatement. It's troubling how deeply imbedded how Hydra was within your ranks."

"Especially troubling for us, sir. But I assure you, we're going on the offensive. The Hub is secure, all remaining agents stand ready to assist you in whatever-"

"I think we've had about all the assistance we need from S.H.I.E.L.D."

'Hey! Sure we didn't notice right away, but at least we stopped millions of people being murdered!" I defended S.H.I.E.L.D but he paid little mind to me.

"I'm sending in a peace keeping force. They're gonna take control."

"Understood." Phil commented. "What should I tell my men to expect?"

"We just want to ask a few questions. Get the lay of the land."

"I'm sorry, does that involve pointing guns at us?" I finally got his attention.

"And you are?"

"Claudia Stark, Level Seven agent, newly Asgardian." He seemed to be surprised at this but continued talking to Phil.

"Everything checks out, you and your boys can be on your merry."

"Sounds good." Coulson told him and the transmission ended and he turned to us.

"This doesn't sound good."

"No, no it doesn't." I said as we followed him out of the room.

"he's lying, definitely, for sure." Skye said and I nodded.

"If Talbot's leading them, there's nothing defensive about it." Phil replied.

"If defenses are operation we could hold out." May informed us.

"The last thing we need is to start a war with the US government."

"What happens when Talbot get's here?" Skye asked him.

"Best case scenarios we all get subpenas, next six months tied up in court hearings." He told her.

"Worst case scenario?" She asked.

"Is they skip the subpenas and move straight to Bunker Busters." He responded.

"Bombs, big bombs." Skye said.

"All the while Hydra's still out there." May commented.

"Get on the coms. We're enacting Odyssey protocol." Coulson told Skye.

"Odyssey protocol? What does that mean?" Skye asked.

"It means Fitz needs to finish his repairs. We're getting the hell out of here." Coulson informed us and we made our way to the Bus. May informed us some agents were staying behind to surrender and Triplett ended up joining us, even though Coulson didn't like it at first. It wasn't long after that we entered air space. We only had food to last a few days, our gas was leaking, and Skye deleted any information about our team, making us ghosts. The plane had bullet holes everywhere inside, the glass was broken, and if anyone noticed I was antsy, no one commented on it. I walked up to Coulson's office and set my badge on Phil's desk before heading back to the bar and pouring whatever I could that wasn't on the floor. Vienna by Billy Joel began playing and I pull my phone out, answering it noticing it was Tony.

"Hey Claudia. Want tot ell me what is going on?" Yeah, Tony was mad. "Oh, and why can I not find anything about my wn daughter online!"

"Da, we needed to disapear. Hydra was deep in S.H.I.E.L.D and when I was visiting Steve, they decided to say hello. We had to make our team disappear, the army's coming after us. I don;t know if they or Hydra will be after you too, but be more careful. Pepper, Bruce, and Clint too, if you see him." Thor. "Oh, I have to go. I'm sorry it's a short conversation but I need to warn Thor." I hung up before I heard a response. "Come on, come on." I said intot he phone as the ringing echoed in my head.

"Hello?"

"Thank the gods, Darcy! Look I don't have much time but S.H.I.E.L.D's been compromised. If Thor is still with you tell him that he should go to Tony with you guys and he should help. If he doesn't, tell him I sent you."

"Slow down. What about eye patch?" She asked me and I sighed.

"He was killed in Washington, Hydra got him, in Steve's apartment." She didn't say anything into the phone but I could hear her talking to someone else.

"What about you?" Jane's voice filtered through the phone.

"Right now, I'm with my team. We're out running the military and hopefully, we'll be going after the Hydra bastards." I could practically see her head nod and smile.

"Take care, Claudia. Tell Tony we'll be there soon." She hung up and I texted him, letting him know about Thor, Jane, Darcy and possibly Eric. I told him that I loved him and Pepper before I smashed my phone into tiny pieces. No one can trace us that way. I thought as I sat down, using air to move the glass shards for the couch. After my drink, I saw Fitz-Simmons, May, and Triplett in the conference room so I went in about the same time Coulson did on the other side.

"So Director Fury's alive?" Jemma asked, hope evident in her face and I felt guilt settle on me.

"What did he say? Does he have a plan?" Fitz asked him, almost as eager as Jemma.

"He only sent coordinates." Coulson informed us.

"The coordinates should put us somewhere in the Canadian wilderness." Skye told us as the map was brought up on the screen.

"What exactly are we looking here for, sir?" Fitz asked him.

"It's unclear. Maybe a rally point of some kind."

"Sir, have you and Agent Fury used this form of communication before?" Jemma asked him.

"Never." Phil replied.

"Then how can you be sure-" Jemma began but was cut off.

"Because this is how he operates."

"Could be a trap. So far everything has been a trap, am I wrong?" Antoine asked.

"I think we should follow it." I stated and they looked at me. "If Coulson thinks we should go, we should go."

"Hydra could have sent those coordinates." Triplet told me.

"Nick Fury," Coulson said as he puled out his badge. "Gave me this badge. When he did, I swore an oath, we all did. To serve when everything else fails. To be humanity's last line of defense, to be the S.H.I.E.L.D. These coordinates mean something, I'm certain of it. Fury also gave me this plane, anyone wants off, shoots are in the bay. Help yourself." Coulson said before walking away. Once he left, I took a shower and decided to sleep before we landed.

The flames surrounding me as I watched Steve get hit by Bucky until he fell through the glass.

"Steve!" I screamed as I held my side and stood up, moving towards the hole. I dodged around falling metal and made to jump when a hand grabbed my wrist, throwing me away from it. My head thudded against the floor and I opened my eyes,crawling away as fast as my injury's would let me, and I watched Bucky's troll closer to em at a leisurely pace. I forced my damaged body off the floor and he grabbed my throat again with his real arm, lifting me off the floor, devious look in his brown eyes as he brought my about an inch from his face. My heart was frantic as I heard it pounding in my ears and a slow smirk took over his features.

"I'll take pleasure in killing you." Hi grip tightened on my throat as black dots clouded my vision and I felt my body being propelled through the air. I forced my eyes open and I was helples as I headed into an explosion, and it claimed my body.

I sat straight in bed, breathing heavily, and trying to force my heart to slow down from it's frantic song thrumming my ears. I got out of bed and my cat suit, followed by snow gear once Skye told us we were landing, and I met the team in the bay.

"Coordinates are abut a seven mile hike from here. Terrains pretty rough, even if it wasn't covered in snow." Coulson stated as he came down the stairs and joined us.

"I'll make sure the snow is mostly out of our way along with the worse parts in the terrain." I informed them as I put my gloves on.

"Agent May and I could lead a scouting party first." Triplett said. "Make sure this isn't a trap."

"There's no time. In less than eight hours a NATO satellite will pass directly over us. If the Bus is still here, they'll know. I've been doing this long enough to know that something up there. But this mission, has to be your choice. A lots changed in the past few days. I know you all have your doubts, about what we've been doing, about me. But I don;t. Which is why I'm going to find whatever Fury has waiting for us. With you, or without you." He finished as he lowered the ramp. I moved to his side and he checked his compass and badge. He looked at me and I gave him a smile and nod. We headed out of the Bus and I kept my word, using fire to melt most of the snow in mine and Coulson's path, leaving it gone for the team behind us. My eyes constantly scanned the forest, wondering where Bucky was.

"What are you looking for?" Skye asked me and it seemed everyone was curious except Coulson.

"If this is a trap, then others should be around. I can try and feel their vibrations but I can't promise anything with all the snow on the ground." She nodded at my lie and the guilt layered on once again. This is going to be a long hike.

We continued to trek through the snow and make our way to the coordinates. You could tell the team was losing steam but we kept going. I could hear them talking abut Coulson, possibly losing it, but I ignored it. We finally reached a small clearing when we stopped.

"This is it!" Coulson yelled so they all heard. "There's gotta be something here. Stay alert, eyes open. It's gotta be her somewhere."

"How long should we look, before thinking about heading back?" Skye asked Coulson.

"We're not going back. Not until we find whatever Fury has waiting for us."

"What about the satellite?" Triplett asked.

"Doesn't matter. The bus used all the remaining fuel to get us here." Phil said as he was looking around.

"Did you know this before flying us out into the middle of nowhere?" Jemma accused.

"It was the right play." Coulson said and looked at her. "Fury sent us these coordinates for a reason."

"And what reason is that?" May asked him.

"Guys, don't fight it's-" Coulson cut me off.

"I don't know May, I don't know! There's got to be something here! This means something! This has to mean something. The world needs us! HYDRA is out there. We cannot let them win! We cannot let them define us! Do you understand that? We are not agents of nothing, we are agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and that still carries weight! It has to carry weight. After everything we've been through, that carries weight!" We all stood around at Coulson's outburst, unsure of what to do.

"I'm sorry." Phil stated and I finally felt the building underneath all the snow.

"Hey, there's-" But Coulson was already throwing his badge. "No!" A gun came out of the ground and shot at the badge. Triplett pulled Fitz-Simmons away while May and Coulson ducked, I just stood there.

"Get down!" May yelled to em and I continued to stand.

"Looks like we found it." Fitz commented dryly.

"No body move." May told us.

"I really don't think that's a problem." Jemma commented from behind a rock. I started walking forward, ignoring their conversations when Phil joined me. We stopped moving when it landed on us.

"Identify yourself." It told us in a mechanical voice.

"I'm Phil Coulson, agent of S.H.I.E.L.D and this is Claudia Stark, also an agent." It didn't take long for the gun to go back into the ground.

"I started to tell you I felt a building but no one wanted to listen to the Asgardian." I half whispered.

"Welcome agent Coulson, Agent Stark, we've been expecting you." The mechanical voice stated again and the rock opened, revealing the door. We all entered the compound and the door closed behind us.

"What is this place?" Skye asked.

"One of Fury's secret bases." A new voice said and I stood on guard along with May and Triplett. A slightly bigger man rounded the corner and cleared his throat. "Uh, I call it providence. Although technically it doesn't have a name because technically it doesn't exist, being a secret base and all." We all stood there a moment, a smile forming on my face. "If every one would follow me." We followed him down a few hallways and made it to a cafeteria.

"Pretty cool, huh?" The man asked, smile on his face.

"I'm sorry," Coulson began as eh took off his gloves. "Who are you exactly?"

"Eric Koenig, agent of S.H.I.E.L.D., Level Six.

"Phil Coulson." He replied and Eric smiled, walking up to him.

"I know, I know." he held out his hand and Coulson shook it. "It is an honor to meet you, Agent Coulson. And I apologize for the kerfuffle outside. Percision remote system, was designed to destroy any rapidly moving metallic object." Coulson nodded with a smile.

"It was my badge.

"It was, uh, oh. That's going to be tough to be replaced but very soon, you'll receive your very own lanyard. Lanyards for others will be distributed on a case by case basis." Eric said and I couldn't help but laugh. Eric gave me a smile and put his hand out once more. "You are?"

"Agent Claudia Stark, Level Seven." I shook his hand and dropped it.

"Ah the Asgardian, Black Widow's protege, Tony Stark's daughter."

"Claudia's fine." I told him with a smile and he nodded.

"What happened to Director Fury? Is he alive?" Coulson asked Eric.

"Fury, didn't make it out of D.C. It's been rough. We're all a little shaken up especially now that, the Fridge has fallen." Eric informed us and Coulson turned to Skye, who in turn called Grant.

"Who is she calling?" Eric exclaimed as he pointed at her.

"We had a man at the fridge." I told Eric and he seemed to understand.

"Can I speak to you, in private?" Eric asked Coulson and I started to take off my snow stuff. Eventually we relaxed while Skye met Ward at the door. Coulson sat down next to me at one for the tables and I gave him a smile, his eyes staring into mine.

"You knew about Fury." Four words that made the guilt seem like a lead weight.

"I did. Probably only because I was there." He nodded and didn't say anything for moment.

"Eric doesn't want the rest of the team to know." I nodded at him. "He threatened me." Coulson told me in a completely serious face but I laughed.

"Please, he's too much of a softy. He'd have to get through me first." I held a fire ball in my hand before I made into a smiley face and he laughed too.

"How much energy does that take?" He asked me and I shrugged, dissipating it.

"Not much. I've been able to that for years. It's things like healing or an octopus of water of fire that take my constant attention that take the most energy. I would have to train with them a few times a day, like I did to wield all the elements, to get a better grip on the energy I'm releasing. Come to think of it, if I used all the elements, it would probably drain me fast too." I rambled until I looked at Phil, an amused look on his face, and I clammed my mouth closed, my cheeks burning and he laughed again. After we were done talking, we headed onto the Bus, in the lab where Ward was currently being treated.

"On the plus side, you'll look bad ass, dangerous." I heard Skye say as we made our way in the room.

"He's gonna be fine though right?" Fitz asked, almost in Wards face.

"He will if you back up and give me some room." Jemma said and I smiled at her. I noticed Ward's arm across his torso so I pulled water from the air and walked towards him, waiting for him to move his arm. Once he did, I began healing his ribs at a slow pace.

"So what then?" Coulson began and I assumed Ward had started telling him before.

"By the time we got to the fridge, it was to late. It was overrun, Hydra everywhere. We couldn't stop em." Grant stated and he hissed, probably from the bone moving back into place.

"Sorry." I whispered and he nodded stiffly.

"What were they after?" May asked him.

"Everything. They took weapons, alien artifacts, anything they could grab." Grant explained.

"I assume that means the prisoners are no longer prisoners?" Phil asked him and Ward nodded.

"So, Ian Quinn?" Skye asked, fear on her face.

"Sorry, he's out. They all are." He responded.

"And Garrett?" Fitz began. "Did he get away?" Everyone looked at Ward expectantly.

"Couldn't stop him from taking the Fridge but I wasn't going to let Garrett walk, not after what he did." he said as he looked at Skye.

"Is he the one who did this to you?" She asked him and he nodded.

"He was a tough son of a bitch."

"Was? Past tense?" may asked him but something didn't sit right with me. Ward had said he couldn't stop him from taking the Fridge, but wasn't Garrett with them, in cuffs? I removed my hands from his body and put the water down the sink.

"You'll still be sore so I advise not running in a marathon." I told him with a smile. Better to keep my suspicions a secret. He gave me a small smile and began talking again.

"Soon as I had the upper hand I put two in the back of his head."

"Good." Fitz commented.

"One from me," Grant said and looked at Triplett. "One from you."

"I would have emptied the mag." Antoine said and Grant didn't look entirely happy but nodded. Jemma told him he was fine but to take it easy.

"Ah, but one small victory." Grant said and he held up Skye's hard drive with all the Bus information on it.

"A hard drive?" Triplett asked, unimpressed.

"It's all the research our teams ever done. Downloaded off the plane and encrypted for safe keeping." Skye informed him.

"We should probably back it up, now that we're in a secure facility." Grant suggested.

"First Skye, I need you on threat assessment. Pull up all the inmates at the Fridge. I want to know just how bad this is." We all went our own way after Coulson asked Skye for the information and I ended up going back to my bunk and changing into a pair of skinny jeans, light blue peasant blouse, and boots that went to my knees. When I made my way back, we were brought into a room with a lie detector.

"Alright. Just gonna need you guys to answer a few questions. A few psychoanalytic, questions.

"A lie detector." Phil stated.

"Not just any lie detector, the lie detector." Koenig said. He explained to us what it measured and told us Fury wanted one Natasha Romanoff couldn't beat.

"Did she?" Ward asked.

"Like Fury would tell." Eric said with a slight laugh.

"Okay, the sooner we get this done, sooner we can get to work." Coulson stated. "So who wants to go first?" May went first while we all waited. Eventually, it was my turn right before Ward. I sat down in the chair and I was strapped in. Eric was in full on agent mode.

"Your full name."

"Claudia Rose Stark."

"Eye color."

"Light blue."

"Have you ever been married?"

"No."

"Please list your immediate family."

"Tony Stark, Pepper Potts, Natasha Romanoff, Clint Barton, Bruce Banner, and Thor Odinson." He looked at me and then the table.

"You count the Avengers in your immediate family, why?"

"Because they are my family. The first ones to never turn me away because of my gifts."

"How many families turned you away before?" I sighed.

"Eight."

"Why?"

"They thought I was a monster because of my ability to bend the elements."

"What's the difference between an egg and a rock?" I blinked at him a few times before answering, wondering if it was a joke question.

"You can eat an egg and sit on rocks."

"Have you ever heard of project Insight?"

"Yes." He stared at me before continuing.

"When and how?"

"When I was in D.C with Steve Rodgers, Captain America. I helped him take down the helicarriers."

"Ever had any contact with Alexander Pierce."

"Not that I remember before seeing him on the Bus."

"Your stranded on an island and you see a box, what's in it?"

"Food. I can create shelter so that would be the most reasonable."

"S.H.I.E.L.D no longer exists so, why are you here?"

"To help people who need it, protect those who can't protect themselves." Koenig smiled at me.

"Congratulations Agent Claudia. Come and get your lanyard." I walked out with the lanyard around my neck and Saw Skye talking to Ward. I walked the opposite direction and headed to the cafeteria while Fitz-Simmons, Coulson, and Triplett got ready for a mission. I grabbed a granola bar and watched the team leave. I was going to try and practice the octopus tentacles move but, I saw Skye walk by.

"Skye!" She turned and gave em smile.

"What's up?" Skye asked as I moved towards her.

"What are you up to? I wouldn't mind us actually getting some girl time." She smiled and we made our way to the main computers room. She told me she was hacking the NSA satellites and is picked up a metal ball, bending it into a few different shapes while Skye hacked and we made idle chit chat.

"Alright, let's go tell Eric." She said and we headed back to his office. "Eric. Eric?" Skye called and we didn't see him anywhere.

"You did it." Skye jumped and we turned to look at Ward. "Koenig said you managed to hack the NSA."

"Yeah, it looks that way." Skye said as she looked at the screen. "Where'd he go?"

"He's sending everything over to NATO. CIA, Interpol, guess he thinks they'll take this as a sign of good faith from S.H.I.E.L.D." He explained.

"Smart." Skye stated. "Though looks like all I got was lots of vies of an empty rooftop."

"May's gone." We both turned to him, confusion written plainly on Skye's face.

"What do you mean gone? Gone where?" I asked him.

"She left. Sure if I asked where she wouldn't have told me." Grant said.

"Wow, so no bye, no, nothing?" Skye asked him, a look of blasphemy on her face and Ward shook his head.

"She never felt anything for us did she? She played us, so she could keep an eye on Coulson."

"That was her mission."

"But what's her mission now?" I asked and neither of them seemed to have an answer. "I'm going to look for any hints." I saw Ward nod and I made my way to the Bus. I found nothing in the cockpit, nothing in her bunk, nothing period. I sighed as I made my way back to the office and I saw Skye walking, looking down at a tablet.

"What are you doing?" I asked her and she showed me a tablet that had us marked on it.

"The lanyards." She said as an explanation and I nodded. "I'm looking for Koenig."

"Okay, I'll come with you." So we continued our trek through the hallways until we got closer.

"Anything on May?" She asked me as we turned the last corner.

"Nope, not a thing." She sighed and we made our way to a door when Skye knocked.

"Eric?" No answer. So she opened the door and it brought us into a storage room. A penny fell from the door and Skye picked it up, putting it in her pocket. "That's weird." Indeed it is. We moved around the small room and she called for him again, getting nothing in return once more. We made our way back to the door and she stopped, blood dripping onto the screen. She looked up first and took in a deep breathe. I looked up and saw Koenig, dead in the air vent above us. I put my hand over her mouth encase she was going to scream. She put her hand over mine and we moved back into the room. We look down at the tablet and saw Ward's marker moving. She looked at me, heartbroken.

"Ward." We ran to the bathroom after putting the penny back over the door. She started repeating no over and over again, and I pulled her into me, hugging her tightly. She wa shaking and crying, only not letting tears fall.

"Skye? Claudia?" She inhaled loudly and jumped.

"Shh." I whispered to her and I let her go. I leaned against the door, watching his footsteps through the vibrations.

"He's Hydra." I heard Skye whisper and I wished I had something earlier about my hunch. She managed to pull her self together and right a message on the moving pictures window about Ward.

"I can stop him." I told her and she grabbed my wrist.

"No. He wants something, we need to know what." We both got lost in thought and then I realized, something he kept bringing up.

"The hard drive. He's mentioned it twice by now, maybe more. He wants what's on it." I told her and she nodded. "If you don't want me to fight him, we're going to have to act calm and not show anything about Koenig." She nodded again and we made our way towards Ward.

"Hey." Skye said once we made our way back to where Koenigs body was. "Think We'd be hiding in a closet?" She asked him, smiles on our faces.

"I was wondering where you went." He said as he closed the door and made his way towards us. "Went back to the room, you weren't there." he told Skye and I chastised myself fr leaving him alone with her. "Why'd you leave?"

"Truth?" She said and I had a feeling she was going to sow her cheeky side.

"I'd appreciate it." Ward said.

"You scared me." Or not. She told him. "Opening up, and that kiss which, was a very nice kiss, admit." She continued as she moved closer to him.

"I didn't mean to scare you."

"I don't exactly over analyze I just, act impulsively and freak out after the fact." He looked at her a long moment.

"Are you still?" She shook her head and moved closer to him, kissing him.

"No." She said. "I'm okay. I want this. And you? What do you want?" She asked him.

"What I want, is to stay here with you, and imagine the world outside just doesn't exist." It wouldn't f Hydra didn't hide in S.H.I.E.L.D and you were on the right side! "But the world outside does exist. I just got word from Fitz, they need our help. Bus is fueled up, ready t go." He started to walk away and she turned towards him.

"We should tell Koenig." Skye.

"I just did. He's headed outside to open the hanger doors, we're in a hurry." He lied to us and my anger boiled.

"I just got to grab a couple things." She started to walk away when Ward grabbed her arm. I was going to grab him when she shot me a pleading look and I backed down.

"Hey. We need to go right now." He told her and then looked at me with a nod. "All of us."

"Of course we do." Skye said with a slight smile. "Lead the way." Skye walked on his side, holding his hand, and I walked behind them. It didn't take long for us to be up In the air. Sky and ward stayed in the cockpit and I paced the somewhat clean living area, wishing I didn't smash my phone. Eventually Skye came out and told me we were going to the diner where she met Mike and more of her plan.

"Are you sure you're ready for this?" I asked her, not sure how she would feel about this.

"Yes. He's Hydra, they're like Nazis." I gave her a small smile and nod. Eventually Skye ended up in the lab with me to keep her company while Ward covered up the S.H.I.E.L.D logo on the car. Ward lied once again and said he used the SAT phone to talk to Coulson. Ward took her gun from her and I had to fight my urges to get it back. He blamed it on concealed weapons charges. Fucking Hydra.

"I promise until his is over, I'm not letting either of you out of my sight." He stated smiling at Skye then looking at me. I gave him a smirk.

"Please, I'm a goddess in my own right. If anything, I'll be there to protect her." I told him and he gave me a cold, calculating, look. I gave him my sweetest smile as he hugged her. Once we landed, we made our way to the diner.

"I can't remember the last time I sat in a restaurant. Skye said as we rounded the last corner to the diner.

"I know. It's been all tubes tunnels and plane food." ward commented back.

"Maybe, I'll get pie for dessert." Skye said, a little hop in her step.

"Pie sounds good." I told her and she smiled at me.

"Dessert? I was hoping you'd be done by the time I finished coffee." Ward told her.

"You have any idea how long it'll take to decrypt this drive?"

"For you, I figured ten minutes."

"Not even close. GPS yes will take a hot second to calibrate but I'm working on my laptop so even at three cycles per byte, there are still terabytes of data-"

"Spare me the details." Ward stated, cutting her off. "Give me the time frame."

"An hour would be a miracle."

"Coulson needs this yesterday."

"And he'll get it when we can get it done." I told him and didn't miss the glare he gave me.

"My laptops not a time machine, Ward. That's the science." He looked at her, around us, sighed, then looked back at her before answering.

"Guess we're having dessert." He opened the door and we entered, picking a booth. Skye slid in on one side and I sat next to him. He gave me a weird look and I just smiled. He got annoyed a few times and had to show him the computer and she told him to duck outside, he refused.

"The sooner you decrypt this hard drive-"

"The sooner we get to them. I heard you the first two times." Skye cut him off and gave a smile. Two cops entered the bar and Ward looked at the menu. I moved over to Skye's side without a glance at Ward. After a half hour of silence, Ward began again.

"How long?"

"Half hour." Was Skye's response, without looking up.

"You said that a half an hour ago." He quipped back.

"Weren't you the one who told me to relax?" She asked him as she took a sip of her tea.

"Those cops over there keep looking at us." He told us and I glanced at the from the corner of my eyes and Skye looked at them.

"They're just checking out the waitress." She told him, smile in place. "They don't know you're pretending to be someone you're not."

"Yeah, alright. Who am I pretending to be?" He asked as he took a sip of his coffee. S.H.I.E.L.D Agent Grant Ward.

"My impatient boyfriend who's having a nice lunch with his girlfriend and cousin." Skye told him.

"Yeah I like that cover." He told her as he looked out the window, watching a police car go by.

"What's the longest you've been undercover?" Skye asked him. "Like, deep undercover."

"Uh, sixteen months." He said as he glanced at the cops once more.

"When was that? I asked him.

"Hm. About five years, outside of the academy. Posted as Russian at the embassy of Russia."

"That's gotta be so hard. Living a double life like that? Getting close to people, only to turn on them? I don't know how Garrett did it." Skye said.

"Garrett?" Ward asked her.

"Think about all that time he spent as your S.O. Getting to know you , be your mentor. Only to lie to your face, betray you like that." Skye explained.

"It was, uh, difficult to accept. Thankfully that's over." He stated and we nodded.

"Because you took care of him." Skye summarized and he began to look nerves, looking around the diner.

"Can we not discuss this right now?" He asked.

"If you had one more moment, before you shot him in the back of the head so heroically. If he was sitting right here and you could say anything you want, what would you say?"

"Skye."

"Would you, say he's disgusting? Would you tell him he's a disgusting backstabbing traitor? Or to rot in hell?" They stared at each other for a moment before he spoke.

"What are you doing?" He asked her.

"I'm just trying to have an honest conversation for once." Skye said and we could hear the cops asking the people in the diner to step out for a second.

"They're starting to clear people out, we should go." He stated as he stood but we didn't move a muscle.

"No I think we're goo here." I told him as Skye began typing again.

"Skye, we've been made. Come on." He said as he sat back down.

"No." She said and flipped her laptop to face him. "I tipped them off. " he stared at the screen.

"Hail Hydra." I said to him and he snapped his head towards us.

"You three, show us your hands! Now! Get em up!" The cops said, aiming their guns at us. "Out of the booth, nice and slow." Skye and I were the ones to get up and move behind them while Ward sat there. "Alright turn around, hands on your heads."

"Alright but be careful, he's armed." Skye warned them and did as we were told. The started searching Ward when they began fighting. I saw Skye duck and I grabbed her arm, bringing her out of the diner once she had her laptop.

"Officer arrest us!" We yelled but they just told us to calm down and she told them about us being S.H.I.E.L.D agents and started to fight them when they started to cuff her.

"Skye!" Ward yelled and shot the officers. She ran to the drivers side and I moved to the passenger one. She started the cop car and ward moved to her window, trying to open the door. She looked at Ward but I saw Mike in the road.

"Skye, stop!" But it was no use. Mike jumped up and landed on the hood of the car, smashed the window, and reached his hand around Skye's throat. She began screaming and before I could do anything, I was shot with icers, falling to darkness.

"You should be thanking me, I saved your ass." That voice, so familiar. My groggy mind told me as I started to wake up from the icers effect.

"You didn't save my ass, you turned it into a public spectacle," Traitor. My mind immediately sorted Ward's voice.

"You let them get one over on you. That's exactly what Garrett was afraid of." Mike. I opened my eyes slowly and saw Mike and ward, talking in the cargo hold. I quickly realized Sky and I were both hand cuffed to the railing on the sides and they didn't seem to notice I was awake.

"And Garrett told you, to stay out of sight." Ward poked Mike's chest.

"He ordered me, to shadow you." They seemed to have a star down when Skye moved. She looked at me and I put a finger to my lips, shushing her. "He knew you had a soft spot for Skye, and she might take advantage of you."

"Well he was wrong. We have her. And once she gives us the location we'll be off."

"Yeah, that's not gonna happen" Skye told them and I inwardly sighed and noticed she wasn't cuffed, just me. Skye stood and I ignored them until he man handled her and told he she couldn't win and hand cuffed her to the stair railing. I let her rant at him and he say he actually cared about her. Once Garrett left us, she tried getting her writs free. I tried searching for earth in mine, but surprisingly, found none.

"Skye, I could burn them." I looked at her and she looked back at me, fearful.

"You'll burn yourself.

"It could get us out of here." But there was no time to continue arguing when the Grant and Mike came back.

"Times up." Ward told her. "You can tell me or you can tell him."

"You fucking touch her, and I'll kill you!" I yelled as I somehow swung my body enough to stand, even though it was at an awkward angle and Ward shot another icers at me. I blew out o puff of air and was surprised to see an air funnel, coming from my mouth. I stopped and the bullet fell to the ground. "That's new." I half-whispered to myself.

"Mike, please." Skye tried reasoning with him. "I know you don't want to do this."

"It's not up to me." Mike told her.

"Yes, it is. I don't care what they did to you, you're still Mike Peterson." I kind of tuned them out as I thought about my new ability. Maybe, if I think about it, I could try it. I looked at a belt buckle near me and concentrated on it to force it off the bench and into a small needle. I grinned inwardly at my small discovery sand began slowly picking at the lock. But just like with the water tendrils, this was taking a lot of energy. I watched Mike shoot something at Ward that's topped his heart. But Skye wouldn't let him die. They told them at thirty-five thousand feet. He released Skye and she began hacking into the hard drive. I finally managed to free myself but I had no clue where they had taken Skye after the lab. Before I could do anything Skye came running down, Coulson following.

"I've never used a parachute before!" She yelled to him.'

"Forget that, get in the car!" He yelled back and he grabbed my arm, trying to get me to go but I planted my feet." He looked back at me and I gave him a small smile.

"I'll give you more time!"

"Claudia-" He began but I cut him off with a short kiss.

"Go. The rest of the team need you!" He gave me a pleading look before he got into the driver side of Lola. I turned towards the stairs and wiped away some tears. Mike jumped down and stared at me. I pushed the car off the ramp with air once Coulson started it, and ran with all my might into Mike, using wind as extra leverage. We went crashing into one of the labs tables and I pulled water, covering his arms and legs in it, freezing him. I stood up and felt a bullet enter my left leg. I screamed and knelt down behind the other table.

"Claudia, there's no where to go." I heard the ice breaking and felt the vibrations when Mike stood.

"Garrett wants her." He told Grant and I felt his hesitation before they left, locking the door behind them. I hobbled to the door and hit it as hard as I could while I watched the ramp close. I leaned my back against and slid to the floor. I looked at my leg and watched as the blood seeped through my jeans. I didn't have enough energy so cauterizing and re opening the wound later was the best option. I let myself scream from the pain as my skin sealed shot with the heat and wiped away the remnants of my tears when I was done. I let myself slip into a nightmarish sleep and thought of how the team was doing. When I woke up, my shoulders were killing me and my body was cold. I opened my eyes and realized I was hanging from the ceiling in the lab. I saw Raina over at one of the tables and realized I was in one of the corners. My toes almost skimmed the ground and my body was cold, due to the fact I was only wearing a tank top and shorts, what I wore for training.

"See, that's what I'm talking about. Happy campers." Garrett said as he and Ward made their way in. I mouth my tongue to inside of my lips and realized they must have been either glued or duct taped shut.

"Then you'll happy too. We're close to replicating the drug that healed Skye and brought Coulson back to life. And the data from Skye's hard drive, all that research, it's been a big help. Raina said and I huffed, gaining the attention of a passing guard. He looked around and I tried to give him a smile. He moved forward and he was just in my reach.

"Wait, she trained with-" Ward began but was cut off when I brought my legs around his chest and squeezed as hard as I could then kicked him into the table. Guns were immediately drawn on me and my legs swayed slightly.

"Well, aren't you full of surprises." Garrett said as him, Ward, and Raina moved towards me, just beyond my reach.

"Her blood work is amazing." Raina began as she looked at me like a science experiment.

"She was half-Asgardian, half-human. Now we think she's full Asgardian." Ward explained to them and I glared at him. "She trained with Black Widow and her powers are extensive. Control of the elements, feel vibrations, heal, and she's stronger than most humans."

"Interesting." John said as he looked me over once more. I huffed once more and felt the elements stir around me, as if waiting for my command, but I could do nothing. He moved towards me and I narrowed my eyes at him. He held up his hands in a surrendering gesture, smile on his face. "I just thought you might want the talk. Now, I'm going to remove the tape and if you try anything, you'll get a lovely new bullet wound to match the other one. Understood?" Ward pulled out his gun and already had it aimed on my other thigh and I nodded. Garrett moved forward and ripped the tape off. I took in a lungful of air and savored the feeling. I moved my jaw around and heard a pop, making me wonder how long I was hanging here.

"Thanks. But do you have something more accommodating? I know I won't be leaving a good review." I stated dryly and John chuckled, Ward putting his gun away.

"Funny, Stark. Now, want to tell us what brought Coulson back to life?" Grant, John, and Raina stared at me.

"Have you thought of turning more lights on in here? It's depressing."

"Claudia." Ward spoke but I ignored him.

"Or maybe you like dark things. Maybe that's why you're such an asshole." My body fell to the floor in one quick movement. My shoulders seemed to sigh in relief until I was pulled back up by the rope around my writs and was pulled almost flush against Grant.

"Tell us what we want to know." His voice was deeper, his face trying to be intimidating but I just smiled and slapped his cheek.

"Or you'll kill me? Should have done that when I wasn't touching the floor." He seemed to realized his mistake as I used the metal flooring to send him out of the lab. Guns were pointed at me and I ran back to my bunk. I closed the door behind me and knew they would be there soon. This plane was crawling with Hydra. I searched through my room, trying to find a gun, anything.

"Claudia! Open the damn door!" Ward yelled as he began pounding on it. I could hear John's muffled voice along with Raina's but I tuned them out. I had two options, not finding a gun. One, I could surrender. Two, I could open a hole in the side of the plane and jump out, which could result in death. Or new option, give them hell.

"Keep your panties on, Ward! Are you menstruating?" He hit the door hard once more and I stifled my laugh. "There's only one door out of here so you can wait." I used water and fire to give myself a makeshift shower, once I re-opened the gun wound, removing the bullet, and healing myself, and I dried myself off. I slid into a pair of my backup jeans and white tank top. I put the top part of my hair back with bobby pins, a curl on either side of my face, and put a pair of black flats on. I took a deep breathe and opened my door. There were six men, not including John, Grant, and Raina, around my door, pointing guns at em and I raised my hands in surrender. None of them made a move and it was perfect for me to take control of their bodies.

"Now, why don't we all, sit!" I threw my hands down and with horrified faces, they alll sat.

"Shit." I heard Ward grumble and I smirked at him.

"Why Ward, did you forget about this one?" He glared at me and I could feel the energy in me dwindling at a somewhat rapid pace and realized it was this second time I had held this many at one time. "I have a proposition to make." I knew I couldn't get off this plane and find Coulson, so I'd have to bide my time.

"I'm listening intently." Garrett said and I knew he was angry.

"I want free roam of the plane. You give me that, I won't try anything as long as your lackeys do the same. There's always the option I could dispose of you know and solve the problem once and for all, but I have a feeling Coulson would love to do that. Do we have a deal?" I could practically see the gears turning in Garrett's head. Hurry up, hurry up.

"Deal." He stated and I nodded, releasing my hold and they all stood, a sudden respective distance away from me. "welcome to Hydra." John said with a smirk and I glared.

"Just because I didn't kill you doesn't mean I'm Hydra." I growled out and glanced at Raina who had taken an extra step away from me.

"Now, I'm going to lie down in my bunk and if one of you tries anything." I opened my palm and held fire in it, receiving nods of understanding and I extinguished it was s sickly sweet smile. I turned and went back to my room, closing the door. I leaned against it and let my breathing become the frantic breathes it was trying to be, my heart hammering loudly. "One problem down." I murmured and did what I said. I lay down on my bed and fell asleep. I was woken up by some guy at my door, letting me know we landed. I said nothing as I got into the SUV with Ward and Garrett. I wasn't sure where we were but it was hot. We got out of the car and Ward automatically put his arm around my waist. I turned to smack him when he grabbed my hand, and leaned into my ear.

"Just so you don't get any ideas." He whispered and stood back up. I huffed and we entered a barber shop.

"There it is." Garrett said as Grant and I came in behind him. "The face of our future." Right in front of him, was a smug looking Ian Quinn. I made to move forward when Ward caught me around the waist and held me back. "Mr. Quinn's the new poster boy for our new enterprise." Garrett told us with a smile.

"Not sure how that's supposed to work. He's also an international fugitive, accused of a laundry list of crimes.

"Accused by S.H.I.E.L.D., of whom I've been a vocal critic for years. Now S.H.I.E.L.D's gone down in flames while I rise from the ashes, all charges dismissed and my sterling reputation restored." He told Ward and looked down at me. His eyes widened slightly and then smirked while I glared at him.

"I knew there was a reason I didn't rip out that silver tongue of yours." Garrett told him and Ian continued to look at me.

"So, she's Hydra too?" He asked them.

"Nope, she just got caught." John said with a stupid smile on his face and sat in the chair.

"Not so tough are you?" Ian asked me and I gave him an innocent smile.

"Why don't you find out."

"Uh, no. You don't want to do that." Grant told Ian before he could do anything. "She has free roam, won't try to escape, as long as one of ours don't mess with her. You hit hurt her, that's your own problem." I winked at Ian then he continued to talk to Garrett about business. Once he left, Ward put me in the chair next to John and he went to see what Raina needed.

"Okay Ernesto, let's show em what handsome really looks like." Garrett told the barber and I rolled my eyes.

"He'd need someone else for that." I said under my breathe but he heard me and glared slightly. I offered him a wide smile and crossed one leg over the other. I was bored, utterly bored sitting here while he got his cut. So I did what I normally do, sing. I thought Mad World from Donnie Darko was a good choice so I began singing. I spun my chair around and John was an inch from my face. I sat back in my chair, as far from him as I could get.

"What?"

"Who knew, Mini Stark has a set of pipes on her." I rolled my eyes at him and pushed him away from him, surprised to feel something else in his body, but I wisely said nothing and he led me underground to their makeshift base. Him and Grant started talking and I watched Raina work. I could hear something being said about moving to the states. Grant and Garrett came over to me and cuffed my hands again.

"Why?"

"You're staying here."

"Wait, I have a question." Ward raised an eyebrow and John waited. "What were you going to use me for?" Garrett's smile was absolute predator.

"Why, you were going to be the next Winter Soldier." Ward took out his gun and shot me with the icers once again. Once I finally started cosign to, I felt cold. I opened my eyes and was greeted to darkness. I sat myself up, because I was lying on the floor, and the lights flicked on. I could feel several peoples footsteps

"Skye?" May. "Where are the computers?"

"I'm working on it." I heard Skye say.

"Trip, got anything in your grandads kit that might help us out? Coulson. My heart beat slightly faster hearing his voice and I smiled. I forced myself up and made my way to their voices.

"Always, let me take a look." I heard Trip respond and I moved around the corner, coming face to face with them.

"Long time no see." I stated and they all looked at me. I smiled brightly and ran to Coulson, throwing my arms his head and hugging him tightly. I felt him hug me back and he picked me up off the floor, just slightly enough I could feel it. He set me down and I removed my arms.

"So, how was Hotel Hydra?" Trip asked and I shivered.

"Well when I first woke up from the icers, I was hanging from the ceiling in the lab and managed to escape once Ward cut me done, dumb on his part, but I managed to make a deal. Free roam for no cuffs and no attacking me or I attacked back. Before they left, Garrett told me they were going to make me the next Winter Soldier, so I'm not sure why they left me here."

"They knew we were coming." May stated and I shrugged.

"That would be my guess." Trip used a mission to search for the computers while Coulson took the cuffs off.

"Over here." Trip said and we all moved towards him. "There's something behind this wall."

"Secret door?" Coulson asked him and Trip nodded. "I got this. They're like my thing." He moved forward and searched the door, and opened it. "Here we go."

"Finally." Skye said as she moved into the computer room but I just had a bad feeling about this. The lights went out and we looked around the room. I stomped my foot into the floor and felt seven super soldiers around the room.

"I think I know why I was left here now." I mumbled, looking in their direction.

"Distraction." Coulson stated and I nodded. "Could sure use a little light in here."

"Got it." Trip said and threw something on the floor, that looked like a light able canteen, that illuminated some of the soldiers.

"So who do we talk to about getting a haircut?" Coulson asked them and Antoine started firing. I held fire in my hands and immediately went after the closest one to me. His fist flew at me but I docked, kicking out his legs. He stood, faster than I thought he would, and I jumped on his back, throwing my fiery hands on his face. I saw Trip get thrown into the wall while the soldier I was on was screaming. I noticed May had gotten the Berserker's staff and hit a guy through one of the pillars.

"Bring the house down." Coulson told her and I was thrown off my soldier, landing next to Coulson while the soldier continued to scream. May continued hitting the pillars when he spoke again.

"Time to go!" I stood and we made our way to the stairs. Coulson grabbed Trip and Skye followed behind us. I vaguely saw May throw the staff at another pillar and her following behind us. We finally made our way back to where the plane was being held. It wasn't the Bus but it worked. Trip sat down and May began bandaging him while I sat across from them and winced slightly at my knowingly bruised back. Damn super soldiers have a mean throw.

"The Trojan horse worked." Skye said and she sat down next to me with her phone. "Gave us access to the system we wanted. Our secret weapon. We now have eyes on their operation right in the palm on my hand.

"We're gonna need more than eyes to defeat Garrett. Trip stated and I nodded. Coulson came into the room and stood in the doorway.

"What is it?" May asked him.

"Fitz-Simmons tracker crossed the ocean. It's in New Mexico."

"They managed to tag the plane?" Sky asked Coulson and I knew that wasn't it.

"It appears so. But they're not answering." He informed us.

"No." Skye said, almost as a whisper.

"We can't think about that right now. They may have been captured. Either way they risked everything to put a tracker on that plane for us, now we know exactly where Garrett is, and Skye can see what he's doing." Skye just looked at him, heartbroken. "If Fitz-Simmons are still alive, then catching Garrett is our only shot at finding them." Coulson told her and I saw her nod slightly. A little while after that, we were on our way towards Garrett.

"We only get one shot at this so let's go over the plan one more time to make sure we're clear on exactly what we're doing, okay? Trip and I will crest the ridge, use a noisemaker to grab a three-wheel, maybe something with more fireworks, and open a window for you three. You crawl in, grab the dealer, force his hand. He'll get us our ace in the hole, and then Bob's your uncle." Coulson said as he was putting on a bullet proof vest.

"Roger that." Skye replied

"Makes it sound easy." Trip stated as he loaded his backpack.

"Coulson, it's a solid plan you mapped out, but it hinges on a gamble, a big one." May warned him and I sighed, knowing she was right.

"And back up isn't coming. It'll be just the five of us. We'll be out manned and outgunned. But Fury always said, a man can accomplish anything when he realizes he's a part of something bigger. A team of people who share that conviction can change the world. So, what do you say? You ready to change the world?" I smiled at Coulson while Skye finished putting on her vest.

"No." Melinda said and loaded her gun. "I'm ready to kick some ass." We all smiled, even if slightly.

"That works, too." Phil responded and I laughed slightly. Coulson walked by me and jutted his head slightly for me to follow. I did as he motioned and followed him into the cockpit.

"Don't you ever do that again." He told me, low enough for the team not to hear but the chill traveled up my spine at his tone anyway and I blinked at him owlishly.

"Do what?" I asked him and his lips were on mine. His hands gripped lightly into my hips and my arms wrapped around his neck. His lips were soft and I responded without even a thought. The kiss was over too soon and I frowned mockingly at him. He chuckled lightly and rested our foreheads together before looking serious again.

"Don't you ever, ever, give yourself up again like that. You had no idea how worried we were." I blinked at him with a slow smirk.

"Just them?" I asked him and I got a smirk and a brief kiss in response.

"Come on, we need to go." So we made our way to a Cybertech base and Trip and Coulson went ahead while we waited.

"So, you and AC, huh?" Skye asked me, slight smirk on her face and I felt my face heat up. I coughed slightly and got May's smirk too.

"Maybe. I don't know." I shrugged and she snorted.

"Sure, Claudia. What ever you say."

"we're on a mission." May said and I was thankful.

"Thank you." I told her and she nodded stiffly before the smirk returned. "But we want the details after." I huffed in frustration and Skye laughed. We watched Coulson and Trip plow through the main doors and take out some guards. They sent another one through the wall and we made our way in.

"Nice work guys. The windows open." May informed them and we made our way into the building, taking out a few guards on our way. May took out the security guards while Skye and I made our way into the computer room.

"Coulson we found the dealer." Skye told them and we went inside. A few of the people ran and Skye held up the bag. "This is a bomb. You know what those do. And you've seen Agent May and agent Claudia here taking on your super soldiers, you don't want to mess with us, is my point." Skye said and I had felt May behind us, aiming her gun. I smirked internally and held a fireball, passing it back and forth and looking at the scared faces of the people in the room.

"You're not going to be able to hijack our soldiers. We've thought through ever emergency scenario, including this one.

"Don't tell em you just switched the soldiers to default directive?" May asked him. And he smiled.

"Yeah, I did." We all looked at him and I couldn't help the smile on my face as he frowned. "and how did you know about that."

"Skye here, is an amazing hacker." I told him. "But, while this would be fun to watch, I need to go find Coulson." I looked around the room before leaving. I stomped on the floor a few times until I finally felt his familiar steps and I made my way towards him.

"Looks like the back entrance to the factory floor is on the south side." I heard Skye's voice and knew I was close.

"Rodger that." I rounded a corner and almost bumped into Phil. He raised and eyebrow at me and I smiled.

"I wasn't letting you go in alone." He smiled slightly and we ran towards the entrance. We snuck our way into the room and saw John by Mike. Phil threw a noise maker and John ordered Mike to check the perimeter as we made our way closer.

"Hi John." Coulson said and punched him as soon as he turned. I watched from behind the mission as John righted himself and smiled.

"Hi Phil." He hit Coulson and he flew across the room towards a small set of stairs. I ran out, did a hand spring and wrapped my legs around Johns throat, twirling his body with mine. Once we were both in the air, I used the advantage and threw him backwards, bringing me by Phil. I saw Phil reach for the gun and saw Fury standing there. I smiled and stood up, brushing myself off.

"Sir?" Coulson asked him, still on the ground.

"You don't have to call me sir, Coulson. Look at me. I'm dressed like I live under a bridge." Nick told him and my smile stretched, only to stop when I saw Garrett getting up.

"What are you doing here?" Coulson asked him.

"Well, Simmons turned me onto that old-timey tracker Fitz left on your Bus." Shots started firing at us but they kept talking. "I went to great pains you didn't die the first time."

"Well, now's probably not the best time, but, I'd like to have a lengthy conservation with you about that. It might get loud." He told him as he stood up.

"And I owe you that. But right now, we owe Garrett a punch in the teeth, wouldn't you say? This," Nick said and gave Coulson the Destroyer. "Packs a pretty good punch."

"You had to give him that, didn't you?" I smiled fondly at Nick and receive a rare smile in return.

"Claudia."

"Nick." Coulson started up the gun and looked at Nick.

"I know what it does." And he left, shooting at the soldiers while Garrett stood there. Nick and I came out and started shooting at John until the guns where empty. John was on his knees when he slowly looked up at us. We all spared each other a glance before looking back at him.

"Fury, Well, hell... When was the last time anyone saw a tag-team wrestling match with four dead guys and an Asgardian?" Garrett said as he stood and Mike joined him, my eyes burning on him.

"I see only one dead guy in here." Coulson said as he glared at John

Oh, the power's all on this side of the room, fellas. Phil, I'm surprised you try and stop me. Of course, I don't blame you, Nick. You haven't seen the big picture, the big bang, the timeless frozen oceans, but Phil here has. We share a bond. We're blood brothers." I did all I could to laugh at him.

"You didn't tell me he'd gone this crazy." I nodded at Nick and chuckled softly, catching Garrett's gaze.

"He's really stepped it up a notch." Coulson informed him.

"Yeah, he wasn't this crazy the other day either." I told them and John smiled at me.

"Maybe you have some power in the room but we can change that." I didn't like the smirk that crossed his face as he looked at Mike. "Get her." He nodded at him and looked at me. I dropped my gun and stepped down the stairs, cracking my hands.

"Let's dance. Do you know anything other than the robot?" I asked him and we lunged at each other. His boot making loud noises as it hit the ground with each step. He swung and I grabbed onto his shoulders, jumping over him but not letting go. I rooted my feet into the floor and sued earth and air to lift him off the ground, throwing him over my shoulder. He crashed into a banister and I was already breathing heavy from the extra power to lift him up. He stood and shot at me, successfully shooting me in my left arm and I held in my scream. I bent the other bullets away as he made his way closer once more and he picked me up over his head. I doused him in water, freezing him. And wiggled out of his hands. The ice began to shatter and once I fell, his foot came out and kicked me back over to Phil and Nick, cracking a rib or three in the process.

"You remember that speech you used to give us, Nick, about how one man can accomplish anything once he realizes he can be something bigger? Well, now I am." I could tell Phil wanted to help me up but I slowly stood, taking in labored breaths.

"A part, a part of something bigger." Fury informed him and I watched Mike move back to John, gaze locked on mine.

"Is that how it went?" John asked, slight confused look on his face.

"Not a great listener." Coulson looked at me, silently asking if I was okay and I nodded.

"If you tell me this whole Hydra path thing you took is because you misheard my damn "one man" speech," John cut him off.

"I am the key to the future of the universe. I'm the origin of all things."

"You got it right" Nick asked Coulson and I smiled slightly.

"Totally. Loud and clear." John motioned for Mike to aim at us and I moved in front of them.

"You fire, and I will burn the rest of you." I scowled at Mike, standing to my full height, ignoring the jabs of pain, and keeping a blank face. Mike stared at me a moment and I held fire in my hands, letting it travel up my arms, cauterizing my bullet wound but otherwise just licking my flesh.

"Fury was teaching us something you didn't want to hear, John. Cause you only think about yourself. That's the difference between your side and our side. And why we're always gonna win." Coulson told him but I just looked between the two.

"What lesson, Phil? Please, enlighten me." Mike suddenly turned towards John and I let the fire fade, only to my hands. He fired at him and John skidded to the side of the room.

"You can't do this Mike." John said, his whole body bloodied. "I order you to stand down! You must obey me! You need me, to translate the words of creation. You don't want to do this Mike!" Garrett said as he picked up a gun he had crawled to. "Tell him, Phil!" He screamed and I couldn't hell but be happy he was dying.

"Mr. Peterson's free to do whatever he wants." Coulson stated calmly and I heard John grunt. Mike screamed before crushing his head with his boot. I let the fire go and took in a deep breathe before remembering my ribs a little too late and hissing.

"Think he learned his lesson?" Fury asked and I nodded, moving to Phil's side once more.

"He learned something." Phil stated and he put his arm around my waist and I gladly leaned against him. Eventually the super soldiers were rounded up John's body was put in a container, and Mike disappeared. Triplet stood behind us as we watched them be taken away. Phil informed them about the eye and that without regular injections, they were normal men. Ward stood in front of us now, his face red with cuts and throat red, May by his side.

"You got a chance to express all your feelings?" Coulson asked May.

"Is he still breathing?" she asked him and I smirked at him.

"Guess she kept some of it to herself." Coulson told him and she moved to his other side.

"He's having trouble speaking. I think I fractured his larynx." Coulson looked at her before looking at him, walking closer.

"Oh, good." Coulson began, almost in Ward's face. "Your attempt to cross off Fitz and Simmons failed, but Fitz may never be the same again. So I'm going to invent new ways to ruin the rest of your life. I will do whatever it takes to get Hydra Intel from you, but your torture, it's going to be internal."

"And a little bit external." May chimed in.

"Sure. Some of that. But you devoted your entire life to a deranged narcissist who never gave a damn about anyone, and now he's dead. You've got the rest of your life to wrestle with the question, who are you without him?" They started to take him away but I stopped them.

"Wait!" I walked up to Ward and punched him as hard as I could in the face. My ribs poked and I grunted in pain but I was satisfied to see blood coming from his mouth. "That, was for shooting me and taking me captive." We rounded everyone up in buses, changed into clean suits and clothes respectively, and I leaned against Phil again, looking at the stars.

"We need to find the 084 from Peru." Phil said and I sighed, rolling my eyes fondly.

"Alright, lets go." I followed him back into the room we saw Garrett and Phil picked up the gun We heard someone talking and moved to see Garrett in a metal like suit, much like Mike's.

"You've got to be kidding me." I mumbled and Phil started up the gun.

"There's a reason why they say cut off the head. Now, I'll be unstop-" He was cut off by the Destroyer, finally killing him.

"Hey guys, I found it. Told you it would be in here." I laughed as we made our way back out of the building and finally, back onto the S.H.I.E.L.D owned once more, Bus. I managed to heal my ribs and my bullet wound, only being slightly sore. Phil wanted me to come to his office with Fury and May so I sat on the edge of the desk and Fury sat in a chair.

"Stupid stupid stupid, and cruel, and very stupid." Coulson told him.

"I think you've made your point." Fury said.

"Why bring me back in the first place? Clearly I didn't think it was the best idea. I warned you about people losing their minds." Phil retorted.

"Agent May was on top of the situation, and she says you're fine. Aren't you? It was a break glass in case of emergency situation."

"Yes, but that emergency was supposed to be the fall of an Avenger."

"Exactly. And I'm damned glad I did it too. When you wanna build something you need a strong foundation. You know how few people I trust, Coulson."

"You can count them on one hand."

"And I'm not afraid to cut off fingers. The principle SHIELD was founded on was pure."

"Protection." May added.

"Protection. One word. Sometimes to protect one man from himself, other times to protect the planet against an alien invasion from another universe. It's a broad job description." Fury continued.

"No need to tell me." Phil stated.

"But the belief that drives us all is the same. Whether it's one man, or all mankind."

"That their worth saving." Fury stood and moved to Coulson.

"That truth lives inside you, Coulson. Before it was torn apart, SHIELD was a lot of moving parts. Guys like you were the heart. Now you'll be the head." Nick stated and handed Coulson a small box.

"What is it?" Phil asked him.

"Toolbox. To help you build it back up."

"You want me to start over, rebuild SHIELD." Coulson stated.

"From scratch. Take your time, and do it right. You'll still have his back?" Fury said as he made his way out.

"Of course." May commented without missing a beat.

"There's no one else I trust with this." He told Phil.

"Thank you. Sir. How do you, how should I Proceed?" Phil asked him and I smiled

"That's up to you, Director." Fury told him and they shook hands..

"And you sir? Where are you heading now?" May asked him as he headed towards the doorway.

"I'm trading in my birds eye view for two solid feet on the ground. " I smiled and giggled slightly.

"Helicarriers, not that much fun anymore are they?" I asked him and his lips twitched in response.

"This is the last time you'll be seeing me for a stretch."

"Your gonna disappear. No where to be found." Coulson said and I squeezed his hand and got off the desk.

"No where?" Fury chuckled, that's right chuckled. "You know me better than that Phil." He stood in the doorway and looked back at us, sliding down his sunglasses. "I'll be everywhere." He stated and slid up his glasses. "Come on stark, let's get going." Fury stated and walked away. I turned towards Phil and saw a flash of hurt in his eyes and I cupped his cheek.

"I need to be with the Avengers. We need to make sure the world won't enter into too much chaos and I'll try to get them to take out a few Hydra stations, with their leader gone." I felt May leave and the door closed behind her. I wasted no time in putting my lips against his. He returned the kiss and sat me on his desk. I giggled slightly against his lips and he moved back for air.

"Are you sure you have to go?" I nodded sadly at him.

"You have your own work, Director. I need to go to some on my own. But my boyfriend had better call me or this relationship is already off to a rocky start." He chuckled deeply and I smiled.

"Once she gets a new phone." He responded and I smiled brightly.

"Just have Skye hack into Jarvis. I'll give him a notice to let her in for a video chat at least to give her my number." He nodded and I got off the desk. He pulled me into a hug and I breathed in his scent of woodsy musk and and some spice. I gave him one farewell kiss before I went up to the quinjet, bag in hand.

"So, you and Coulson?" Nick asked with a small smirk and I laughed, buckling in.

"Yeah. I think you kind of knew that though, didn't you?" He said nothing as we made our way to the tower.

"Now, why don't you sleep? You try to hide it but being in the spy business long enough, you know when someones tired." I laughed slightly and closed my eyes.

"Wake me up when we get there boss." I closed my eyes, no nightmares, no dreams, just blissful darkness. Finally, some down time. And how wrong I was.

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Guys, that is it! The rest of the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D episodes! woop! Now to Avengers Tower! Thank you all so much for reading! Favorite, follow, review please!