Author's note: Welcome to the New Year everyone! Hopefully everyone had fun and didn't start it off with anything that they'll regret, that you're all in good health and whatnot. Well, it is currently 12:47 AM (0047 if you're more familiar with the 24-hour clock system) and I'm still wired and awake, so I figured, why not? Just to get back into the flow of updating semi-frequently again, I'll put up another chapter for you all.

Also, the frequent updates will be ending soon, because college is going to be starting back up again. Not sure on what day exactly - I don't feel like looking it up right now. I'll do that at a more reasonable hour - but soon enough that I feel the need to warn you guys now.

Also, at the end of this chapter is a bit of foreshadowing to what's gonna happen later. The person that guesses it, correctly, can request a snippet or a BC moment either as a one shot, an interlude, or, if I can stretch it out, as a filler arc.

Disclaimer: If you can google it and find at least 20 pages of it, or recognize it, then quite obviously, I do not own it.

Bitter Coffee Chapter Twenty-five

Getting back to SHIELD was almost a blessing.

Almost.

Serena still had mixed feelings about the whole agency. On one hand, it gave her something to keep herself busy and constantly occupied. On the other hand, everywhere she looked was a reminder of better times that existed only in her memories.

Closing her eyes, Serena leaned against a wall and tried to force back the tears that she felt starting to prick at her eyes. The steady, familiar thrum of Stormwing's mind brushed against her own, and Serena welcomed the intimate comfort.

There were days when Stormwing had to physically drag her out of bed because the memories had that tight of a grip on her. Then there were days like today where she wished she still roamed wild, where she always had Stormwing's unwavering presence and strength and physical support to rely on.

"This isn't the best place for a nap." The gruff voice was able to bring her back to the present situation and Serena turned her head just enough to be able to see him.

"Director Fury." How was she supposed to feel towards the man? He had brought her here, to a place that kept her constantly occupied, but also a place that constantly reminded her of what she had lost. "I already turned in my report." Handwritten, because she still couldn't figure out how to use the computer he had given her.

The glower he gave her was enough to make her smile slightly.

Serena had the tendency to write in Greek, Ancient Greek, to be more specific. As the only one to be able to read it accurate, it was often a source of headaches for the Director. Serves him right.

"B." As agreed, he didn't call her by her last name. Too many people here that would more than happily leak the information. Even Fury knew that, despite his faith in the agency. "There's something I want you to do."

Well, now he had her attention. Serena tilted her head to the side. "Classified?" The look he gave her made her grin. So she had sounded a little too hopeful about that, but could he really blame her? Everything about her was classified, and most of her missions followed that pattern as well.

"Come with me." I'll explain as we walk. Fury both said and implied as he started down the hall passed her. Giving an intrigued hum, Serena pushed away from the wall and followed after him. "We've recently recovered someone. Unfortunately, he'll be in for a shock when he wakes up."

As a child of Apollo, all his children could heal, shoot better than anyone else, and see very small glimpses of the future. Frowning, Serena felt that part of her abilities kick up. Red and blue, a shield with a white star, blond hair blue eyes -

Serena made a soft sound and shook her head a bit. "I see." More than you could possibly know, she thought as he glanced at her over his shoulder.

"You're uniquely specialized for this if the first method doesn't work." Made sense. At least to her it did. "I'm trusting you not to have one of your episodes if you have to step in."

Grief did many things to a person, and Serena knew she was a loose cannon on the best of days. It was the main reason why she was always on sole-lo missions. The secondary reason was the problem that followed her around simply because of what she was.

"You and I both know it doesn't work like that."

"No, but I can use it to stress the importance of this."

Serena would concede that much to him. "When do you want me to sit in on it?" She only got disjointed images from that one glance, and as such, Serena had no idea when the man would be back on the field. It were times like these she wished she had her siblings' certainty with that particular talent.

Then again, she was the fighter among them. Seemed like a fair enough trade off in the end.

"Starting today." Serena blinked at the man's back.

"I thought I was supposed to be the surprising one." Her prank war with Clint had been proof enough of that, hadn't it? THen again, they both remembered how their first meeting went.

Nothing said 'hello, pleased to meet you. Do you have a career for me?' better than trying to skewer the other person with a sword.

Fury gave her a baleful look before stepping into the elevator. A simple hand motion had Serena stepping into the death machine beside him. "You're more abrasive than surprising. Considering the person you'll be monitoring, your skills might be needed if he… doesn't adjust well."

"Ah. I see." Serena wouldn't be there just to talk him down, but to put him down if he tried to bolt. "Hope you know that I know nothing about him."

"That's the point." What? Her confusion must have shown because he sighed and turned to look at her. "You don't know him thanks to your upbringing, but because of that you can help him adjust back into society. You might even be able to impress him with your historic knowledge."

Serena chuckled at that. "So I like history. Have to like doing something that doesn't involve what I do best." And that was killing people. The look Fury gave her seemed like it was between understanding and pity.

Part of her understood why he was pitying her. The other part of her wanted to lash out at him, to remind him that he had personally sought her out and recruited her because of that upbringing and skills. She had half a mind to -

A wave of urgent calm passed over her and Serena sighed, basking in the familiarity of Stormwing's presence. These moments, her little 'episodes', were becoming more and more frequent. The longer she stayed away from her beloved friend, the more intense they became.

In short, Serena was becoming very familiar with self-fear and self-disgust. It was all fine and good in a fight, but something like this? A casual setting? If this kept up she just might -

Serena was drawn back to the real world when she felt someone shake her and heard her name being called. Opening her eyes, Serena blinked in confusion up at Fury. She could feel the cold floor at her back and immediately knew what had happened.

"I'm fine." Serena spoke as she tried to shove the Director away so that she could get back to her feet. "Don't." She pointed at him when she managed to get into a sitting position. He had that look on his face that she had long since gotten used to. "It was not an episode, Fury. It was just Storm."

If the first meeting between Serena and Fury had been considered a death match, then the first meeting between Fury and Stormwing had been the equivalent of a war zone. Serena didn't know the whole story, but she got the impression - from both of them - that Fury might have lost his eye to a griffon.

Hard to say for sure when neither were talking, but it did beg the question of how Fury had survived such an encounter, especially if he had tangled with a griffon. How had he survived the poison?

Fury's eye darkened at the mention of her long time friend and he got to his feet. "That bird better not find it's way into my building." Again. Serena could only grin before she got to her feet, just as they reached the ground floor. "We're not sure when he'll wake up, but we have operatives on standby for when he does." He might have been saying 'when', but Serena could hear the very clear 'if' in his voice. Then again, it would be a very big if for anyone. Being frozen for about seventy years would make even the biggest supporters have their doubts.

"Let's hope he does." Serena left the elevator and didn't look at Fury as he stepped out and continued to lead the way. Serena knew he had given her a look at her comment.

And she also knew why.

Her foresight might be one of the weakest of all of Apollo's children, but she still had foresight. The glimpse she had gotten had shown a battle with something even she wasn't familiar with.

For a demigod, that was far more nerve wrecking than pissing off - accidentally of course - a god.