Congrats to Katie who caught my Castle reference! I love to pay homage to my favorite TV shows and movies, so be on the lookout for more. I hope everyone enjoyed Mikayla taking down Fury. You know everyone's wanted to do that at one time or another. He does love her like a daughter, so who else could light into him like that but a loved one? Thanks to everyone who's reading along. Just a warning, I'm horrible at writing action scenes, so they won't appear until later - I'm working on that! There are a couple of missions mentioned later in this monstrosity of a story. Now, onto the story:

Clint stood just outside the doorway. He had started to enter as she began her rampage, then decided it was safer to stay back and let her loose. Thanks to Tony, Friday had recorded the entire incident so that everyone heard the tirade. A round of cheers and applause rang through the complex. Clint knocked, then slowly crept into the room. "I'm impressed. I've never seen anyone render Fury speechless. Mikayla? Babe?" He searched for her and found her standing in the walk-in closet taking deep breaths trying to regain her composure. She turned around as he repeated her name. "Mikayla? You okay?" He approached her and drew her close. "Talk to me."

Through gritted teeth, she growled, "I have never been so mad at anyone in my life, Clint. Never have I had anyone question my judgment!"

"That's what Fury does. It's the way he challenges people. It helps him see what they're made of." He pulled her into his chest.

"What does this mean I'm made of?"

"Passion, loyalty, honesty, dedication, and, most important to me, love." He leaned down and drew her into a long, passionate kiss. "Thank you."

"You're welcome. For what?"

"For being you. You give me stability, something I never thought I could have."

"Always, Clint. Best job I've ever had. Of course, haven't had my other job that long, so can't compare the two." Mikayla said slyly.

"But that one doesn't have the fringe benefits this one does," Clint kissed her again.

"This syrupy sweet lovey-dovey stuff has to stop, or I'm going to put out a search party for my partner," Natasha announced as she came into the room. Clint held Mikayla's hand as he led her out of the walk-in closet. "Mikayla Fitzgerald, you are the talk of the compound. Barton, your girlfriend's a firecracker."

"Don't I know it, Nat."

Mikayla tried to hide behind Clint. She couldn't believe she unleashed on Nick that way. Now she was second-guessing herself. What caused her to yell at him? The only reason she could think of was her insecurity rearing its head. She still felt like she didn't belong with this group of super people. "How did everyone hear about it?"

"Didn't have a chance to explain about Friday, Tony's A.I., took over after Vision gained a body," Clint replied, turning to look at her. "Kind of like a live monitoring system. Tony has every room equipped with cameras and microphones and he had the one in here turned on so Bruce could monitor you. You get used to it after a while."

"Tony made sure to send the feed up to the training complex. You're a big hit with the probies, Fitzgerald. We may have to enlist you to be an agent, get you enrolled in the training."

Mikayla vehemently shook her head. "Thanks, Natasha, I'll pass. I like my jobs. I'm good with being behind the scenes."

"Suit yourself. You could be an outstanding agent. You have mad technical skills, you've got the physical skills, but if you don't have the desire, it won't work. That's something you can't teach. Remember, though, the offer's there."

"Thanks again, Natasha. I'll keep it in mind." She shook her head. "I still can't believe I went off on Nick like that."

"He needs it. It's good for him to be reminded he's not all-powerful sometimes," Clint said. "Plus, you're one of the few who can get away with it without repercussions."

Bruce made his way into the room. "Guess this means you're feeling better, Mikayla." He had her sit down and examined her.

"Throat's a little scratchy. I'll just have to do less shouting for the rest of the day."

Bruce chuckled. "You know Tony will have that playing on a loop." She nodded. "Remember, we're a team," he looked over at Clint, "we've got your back. You've already shown you can stand up to Tony and Fury. You should be able to face anything that comes your way. We're all proud of you." He paused a beat before continuing. "Healthwise, you're doing well, so I'll agree to let you go to the common area but stay in the tower. I trust you two will keep an eye on her."

"Not a problem," Clint smirked, causing Natasha to roll her eyes and shake her head. Mikayla playfully slapped him on the back of the head.

"Didn't think so. Friday, you can turn off the monitors and sensors in Mikayla's room, please. She'll be spending time in the living area."

"Consider it done, Dr. Banner."

"How do you get used to that? I mean, I know I'm a geek, but AI is a whole different arena for me."

"It's either that," Clint said, "or Stark sitting all day staring at a computer screen with the different video feeds and having his comments echoing in our heads 24-7."

"Good point, RH. Now, everyone out so I can change clothes and make myself presentable; you, too, Barton." She motioned everyone out and shoved Clint who reluctantly left. She found a t-shirt and sweats in the clothing Maria brought, and as she was changing clothes, she heard a door open. She looked but didn't see anyone. She heard faint footsteps, spun around with a hanger in her hand, and almost took out her boyfriend.

"Mikayla, what the hell?" Clint shouted as he grabbed her wrist and wrestled the hanger out of her hand.

"Damn it, Clint! Someone just tried to kill me with a bomb. I'm a little on edge with people sneaking up on me. How did you get in here?"

He pointed to the wall. "Connecting door between our rooms." He noticed she was shaking and appeared to be struggling to breathe. "Mikayla?" Clint grabbed her by the shoulders and looked her directly in the eyes. "It's okay, it's me. Clint, RH?" He pulled her close and drew her head to his chest. Mikayla felt his heart beating and his chest steadily moving up and down with each breath, so she matched her breathing to his. He held her for several minutes until her breathing was regular. "You good now?"

She nodded and looked up at him. "Thanks, and sorry about that."

"It's okay." He caressed her face with his hand. "I should have thought about that. Great job defending yourself with the hanger. Natasha taught you well."

"She did but I didn't think I'd have to use it this soon. Plus, I would've thought with Natasha being your best friend you'd be used to having a woman attack you with everyday items." She snickered. "OK, flyboy, let me finish getting dressed now. Out," she pointed to the door, "and this time stay out."

"Yes, ma'am," he said, backing toward the door. She turned him around to face the door and shoved him out into the hallway, then shut the door behind him.

"Natasha wasn't kidding when she said he was a handful." Mikayla finished getting dressed, brushed her hair, grabbed a pair of glasses, and opened her door.

"See, this is me being patient," Clint said as he leaned against the wall. He took her hand and the couple made their way to the common area. It reminded Mikayla a lot of her apartment living area, but on a grander scale since it was meant for more people. "I know, looks a lot different than it did at the party." She nodded. "Go ahead and have a seat. You want tea or water?"

"Tea, thanks," Mikayla said absentmindedly as she walked around and surveyed the area. She chose to sit in a loveseat with a view of the city and stretched out her legs. This had become her favorite thing to look at lately, the city. She realized every change in her life revolved around it. After her parents died, her uncle brought her here and raised her, gave her the best life he knew how. She attended and graduated college here, with two degrees no less. She was forced to stand on her own two feet and create her career after being unceremoniously fired, followed that by going to work for Stark Industries and receiving a promotion to an executive level. She'd made it through an alien attack which led to the most important event that happened to her in this city, meeting one Clinton Francis "Hawkeye" Barton. She sighed a happy sigh as she continued staring out the window.

Clint came back from the kitchen with a glass of iced tea for Mikayla and a piping hot cup of coffee for himself. He stopped in his tracks when he saw Mikayla reclining in the love seat, looking more relaxed than he'd ever seen her, and more radiant if that was possible. He stood back so as not to interfere with her contentment. He knew these moments were few and far between, so he wanted her to savor it. "God, she's amazing. What the hell did I ever do to deserve her?"

"I ask myself the same question, Legolas," Tony leaned in and whispered to him. "Pepper is the best thing that ever happened to me. I would give up everything if she asked me to. Thankfully, she's never asked so I haven't had to test that statement. Our women are freaking amazing. Don't ever forget that, Barton."

"Don't plan to, Stark," Clint whispered back. "You know we're not good enough for them and don't deserve them, right?

"Oh, yeah. Pepper proves it every day. No matter what I do during the day, how many times I screw things up, how many times I make ridiculously stupid, idiotic decisions, she's at home waiting for me, and I never want to lose that."

Clint nodded in agreement and drank his coffee. Who knew he'd ever see eye to eye with Stark on anything? This, however, was the easiest thing in the world to agree on. In his eyes, Mikayla was nothing short of perfect. He never thought, with his personal and professional history, he would find love with anyone, let alone with anyone who provided the stability Mikayla O'Hara Coulson Fitzgerald did. He knew, like Tony, he would do everything in his power to make sure she was happy. He was aware he didn't come close to having the funds Stark did, but Mikayla wasn't motivated by money or possessions. She seemed to be happy just being in his presence. Yes, he'd bought her flowers and had taken her out to dinner, but she seemed just as happy when she was wearing an old t-shirt or sweatshirt of his as they sat around talking. Tony left to go be with Pepper, so Clint made his way over to the loveseat. He leaned over Mikayla's shoulder and handed her the glass of tea. As he did, he kissed her cheek. "Here you go."

Mikayla turned her head to look up at him. "Thanks, Clint." She took the glass from him and drew her knees up to her chin to make room for him on the loveseat. He hopped over the back of the loveseat and plopped down. Once he was situated, she stretched her legs out and planted her feet in his lap and he began massaging them.

Mikayla never imagined that fingers so calloused from handling bows and arrows could be so gentle and feel so smooth. "That feels amazing, Clint, thanks. You always seem to know what I need, even when I don't know I need it."

"I pay attention to detail, it's what I do," he said softly. "And right now, I'm paying attention to you."

"Aww, that's so sweet."

"Barton? Really?" Nat leaned over the back of the loveseat. "Can you be any more sickening?" Mikayla giggled. She loved watching the two of them exchanging barbs.

"Why, yes. Yes, I can. I can resort to the puppy dog eyes and the pout."

Natasha vehemently shook her head. "Please, not the pout. I don't understand why that's such a chick magnet." She looked at Mikayla. "Has he used it yet on you?"

"Nope."

"Good, consider this your warning. It was his favorite ploy to use on missions. When we needed to get information from a female, he'd turn on the charm, and if that didn't work, he'd get all Broody McBrooderson and start pouting. The information would fly from their lips. I never understood it."

Mikayla couldn't stop laughing from the images flying through her head. "I would love to see that in action sometime." She turned her attention to her boyfriend who was still massaging her feet. "Clint?"

"Not listening to this conversation, I'm focused on your feet, making sure all the kinks are worked out."

Mikayla quickly withdrew her feet from his lap and sat up. "Come on, RH."

"You're giving away my secrets, Romanoff."

Steve walked over to the trio. "Sorry to interrupt, but we've got a lead on the arrow guy." The group turned their attention to Cap. "Your instinct was right, Clint. Got a call from Detective Walsh from the 2nd Precinct. They found a fingerprint on the roof, matched it to your brother."