A/N Hello my fellow readers! How are we this day and I hope you're not planning my murder as I write this... I promise to update better! I really am trying but you know, life's a bitch and likes to get in my way.
I... own nothing.
I pushed away the doctor, narrowing twin grey eyes when he shone a torch into them. He had been trying, for the better part of an hour, to get his patient—guess who?—to agree with him and cooperate.
Said patient wasn't really in the mood to play Doctor.
I grimaced and pushed him away again, this time wincing at the needle he held tightly.
"All I need is a blood sample!" He huffed, thick greying eyebrows furrowing.
I smiled mutely, shaking my head and pushing to my feet. He started bustling about, preaching to the choir about how disrespectful young people were now a days and absently cleaning up. I watched him move before I shrugged and turned towards the door.
I had been denied the chance to see my friends and squad mates when they got here; instead I was bustled off to one of the many medical rooms on the Helicarrier for a check up.
I had injuries, of course, but they were all superficial. Small cuts and plenty of bruises littered my body, causing me no concern. The worst, in my opinion, was the inch deep cut above my eyebrow, which, just to spite me bleed into my favourite eye.
"Agent Riley!" The Doctor snapped, sounding aghast, "Where do you think you're going?"
I turned at the parental sounding question, taking a deep breath to calm myself, "Well since no one here is going to tell me what the fuck is going on, I'm going to go see for myself," I bit out, yanking hard on the door and letting it bounce off the wall.
I ignored the undignified squawks from behind me as I stalked down the unfamiliar corridors, frowning when I realised I was completely and utterly lost. Blinking rapidly, I turned to read the closest sign, cocking my head at the words; Medical Bay 23
How many freaking medical bays did they have? No, scratch that, why do they have so many freaking medical bays?
"Agent Riley?" I turned at the slightly familiar voice, a small smile tugging at my lips when I saw Agent Cobb staring back. "Walk out on the Doctor did we?" He tuttered, giving me the look.
I scoffed, everyone was playing parent today. "I didn't walk out on anybody..." I defended myself, shrugging off the matter, "I told him where I was going." I added under my breath.
Darren moved forward, "You wanna see your friends I take it?" He asked, already waving at me to follow him.
I nodded as I hurried to catch up with him, easily falling into stride beside him, "Yeah," I admitted, "No one will tell me what's going on. I hate being in the dark," I muttered, glaring at the endless doors and halls.
Cobb just nodded, frowning as he looked left and right, "To be honest, I'm a bit lost as well right now but I've heard snippets of conversation. I know that Thor is fine, apart from a few minor cuts and some bruising, but he assures us that he'll be fine within the hour." He informed me.
I looked over at him in confusion as he spoke, noticing he was leading me away from the medical part of the carrier. "Where are we going?" I asked, swallowing thickly.
"I'm taking you to the bridge, Director Fury said too when your exam was finished. And Thor is there. I think he could use a friendly face." He explained, smiling over at me before looking back at the metal floor in front of us.
"God knows Fury's face is anything but friendly," I mumbled under my breath, feeling a smirk take its place on my lips.
Darren chuckled, shaking his head, "I would watch what you say Agent. The man may only have one eye but he's got fucking cameras everywhere." He said, his voice sounding almost whiny.
I tilted my head, "Sounds like someone's been caught before..." I trailed off, allowing him to finish for me.
"Yeah yeah, laugh it out. Let's just say I've learnt not to go on about his eye-patch anymore. Apparently he doesn't appreciate me saying he has no sense of fashion and how black was so last year."
I laughed loudly and unashamedly, looking around instantly for a camera. "Ah yes," I began pursing my lips, "Pink is the new black." I said pointedly, looking straight into the camera lens.
"Hopefully he heard that." Darren added once we past the corner, turning to almost glare at the camera.
"Knowing your luck—and knowing mine—yes he did." I informed the poor man, watching him puff out his cheeks.
We walked in silence for a few more minutes, turning countless corners and walking down endless corridors. We didn't feel the need to full the silence, content with the companionable feeling lingering in the air.
I suppose he's not too bad, I thought to myself, for a SHIELD agent that is. I spared the man in question a look out of the corner of my eye, admiring bright green eyes and dark brown locks.
"Here we are," He suddenly spoke, hand reaching out behind me to push me forward, a door opening automatically in front of us, revealing the bridge I had found myself in a few days earlier.
"Director." Darren saluted before winking at me and turning on his heel, heading back the way we came.
I watched him go before turning and meeting the tired eye of Fury. He made no comment, just turned back to the screens in front of him, fingers moving across them quickly. I breathed a sigh and smiled weakly to the side, my eyes landing on an equally tired looking God.
"Hey Thor," I said gently, taking a seat next to him and leaning back, thankful for the support of the cool metal.
"Good evening Lady Phoebe," He said forlornly, his usually loud voice strangely quiet.
"Please tell me you know something," I managed to force out, turning to look at my hands, "Anything."
He shook his blonder head, "I am sorry but I know of nothing." He apologized, sending me a feeble smile.
I shrugged it off, "Does he know?" I wondered aloud, narrowing grey eyes at the Director accusingly.
Thor blinked, long lashes fluttering as he thought, "I..." he turned to face me, "I would think that the Son of Fury would..."
I rolled my eyes, "Scratch the 'Son of', Thor. His dad wasn't named Fury." I told the God, knowing my explanation—rough as it was—would go over his blonde locks.
"Then why... It does not matter at this time." He brushed me off, standing to his feet. "Fury." He called.
The Director turned at the sound of his title, frowning at the thunderer as he moved closer. "Thor."
"Do you know of anything yet?" He asked. I expected a hard tone, the same one the God often used when wanting something from the man most on the carrier called Boss, but instead what I heard was a soft, pleading tone.
Director Fury almost looked like he deflated, "No Thor. Barton was raced into intensive surgery, with severe damage to his frontal lobe. I don't know about Romanov or Rogers but I know that Stark has shattered his femur and has other injuries." He managed.
"Is that all?" I asked, standing as well, hesitantly moving over to the pair of men.
Fury sighed, "I am as uninformed as you." He admitted.
I took a deep breath, no longer caring if my emotions showed on my face. I was allowed a few minutes of weakness, screw what the others thought. The other Agents spared me a quick look before looking back to their work, not daring to become distracted.
"Damn," I cursed, slamming my fist down on the table.
I blinked back the anger, swallowing it and forcing calm over myself as I sat down once again. Fury cocked an eyebrow at me before facing the screens—again.
"When..." I took a few seconds to think, "When do you think we'll get any news?" I grounded out through my teeth.
Fury looked almost amused at my reined in anger, "I don't know... Is that a problem?"
I chewed on my tongue, "No." I bit out.
"Good. Be patient." He scolded.
I spun on him, "Those are our friends in there, how dare you tell me to be patient!" I snapped, glaring darkly at the man.
Fury smiled. Actually fucking smiled at my outburst. "You know, we have a councillor that could help with that little issue."
I grinded my teeth, "Do you now," I wondered, "And what issue am I needing help with?" I asked.
Thor looked between Fury and myself, "I would not answer that Director of Fury."
Pacing didn't help, surprisingly, and neither did throwing things across the room. Clint was still in a coma and wasn't awake to the happenings around his bedside.
Wasn't awake to see my mental and emotional breakdown.
"Phoebe," Thor soothed, a hand on my arm, "I am not sure that acting out as you are will solve the issue we are faced with."
"This is not an issue," I snapped, feeling tears prick at my eyes, "This is Clint's life!"
"And it is not lost." He continued to comfort, "Only stalled."
"Not lost yet," I whispered, looking down at the man wrapped firmly in cotton blankets. The fabric looked positively uncomfortable and I almost pulled him out to save him from the torture.
"Thor, Riley." Fury nodded, "Team meeting." He called, walking out of the medical bay.
I frowned, "Team? You mean a duo meeting right?" I yelled after him.
He stopped and shook his head, "Rogers and Stark are up and about." He informed us, waving us on.
I looked behind me at Clint's calm face, the cuts on it standing out like Thor would in a crowd. Every fiber of my being screamed at me to stay vigil by his bedside until he woke up but I pushed it back. I couldn't help him here.
I followed after the retreating men, "Should Tony be walking around?" I asked, biting my lip nervously, "I mean, he shattered his leg." I added.
"He insists he's fine." Fury stated, "I doubt he'll be involved in our next course of action though."
I nodded, "Right, how's Steve?"
Fury looked over his shoulder at me, "He's a super solider Riley. He's fine."
I rolled my eyes, "He was injured and unconscious." I pointed out, trailing after a flailing black coat.
"A hit on the head won't affect Captain America." He snorted, walking straight as the door to the bridge opened again.
I walked in patiently, Thor's large form blocking my view until he moved to the side, clapping Steve on the shoulder before dropping the seat he vacated hours ago. I smiled over at my two standing team-mates, wincing when Tony's leg came into view.
Wrapped in tight bandages, blood no longer seeping through the white, his leg was stuck out on the chair in front of him, looking stiff and sore. Tony caught me looking and his face split in a grin.
"Oh don't look so pathetic. I can't feel a thing," He announced, lifting his hands happily. "The Doctor gave me painkillers!"
I smiled back weakly, "What do we do now?" I asked the room, still staring down at the bandaged leg as I gingerly sat down by his side.
Fury let out a breath, "We find who did this and we kick his ass." He stated firmly, folding his arms against his chest.
I chewed on my bottom lip, "We know who did it," I reminded him, "We just need to find his home base."
"Okay, I'll get Agents on it and then when we find it, we'll organize a team and go over there and—"
I interrupted the Director, "Kick his ass," I finished confidently, knowing that if we really wanted too, we would. Easily too if I might add.
Tony looked between us, stopping our conversation with two raised hands and an extremely confused expression, "Okay wait. Whose ass are we kicking and why are we kicking it?" He demanded.
I smiled grimly, leaning back in my seat, "His name is Miles Southwick and we're kicking his smug ass because he dared to lay a hand on my damn Archer."
Tony grinned, "To touching people's Archers." He decided, raising an imaginary glass.
I rolled my eyes, "And you ruined the moment."
I had to have something funny, this chapter isn't very nice. Yeah, I just bluntly told you Clint is in a coma. Screw a big build up, that would torture the both of us. And I couldn't be bother with any bedside fluff because bitch I want action!
Please, please review. It takes like five seconds and even if it's a simple praise, it's better than a damn empty inbox.
-Taila
