Chapter 11
Disclaimer: I do not own anything. Everything belongs to their rightful owners and I am not making any profit from this.
AN: Thank you to all who have added to alerts, read, reviewed or any combination of the three. It means a lot to me.
TO THE PEOPLE WHO DECIDED TO STOP READING THIS STORY OR ARE THINKING ABOUT IT: Thank you for sticking by me and supporting me as long as you have, it means a lot. I get that the storyline and what I am choosing to do may not be for everyone. I won't deny that getting a message saying that someone has stopped reading hurts but I get that it is not for everyone. Those who are choosing to continue, and sticking with me thank you, you are what gives me the inspiration to keep writing.
THIS SERIES IS NOW ALSO POSTED ON AO3.
THANK YOU SO MUCH TO STARFIRE25 WHO EDITED THIS CHAPTER FOR ME
Over the next week things are pretty normal around the tower, or as normal as it can be for a group of heroes, former agents, and scientists who are trying to protect the world. While it is clear that Bucky still isn't comfortable around everyone, most likely due to the fact that he has hurt them all either directly or indirectly it is also clear that he is making and effort and that everyone else is as well.
As usual everyone is scattered throughout the tower. Skye who is unhappy that she hasn't been given the all clear to start Archery again is in the lab bugging Bruce because she wants him to say yes.
"Come on Uncle Bruce, I'm doing a lot better now." Skye tells him.
"Skye you were shot, you heart stopped beating and you had memory loss. You need to take it easy." Bruce tells her.
"I know, and I have, but I'm good now, I know myself and I know I can start Archery again." Skye tells him.
"Then why don't you?" Bruce asks,
"Because Uncle Clint has my bow and he won't give it back until you give me the all clear." Skye tells her uncle with a pout.
"Let's make a deal." Bruce tells his niece turning to face her.
"I'm listening." Skye tells him.
"Your Dad has a lot of document's to go through if you go help him for an hour, and do not get up during that hour then I will check your wound and if you are healed enough and your Dad says you didn't move then I will tell Clint you can practice Archery again." Bruce tells his niece.
"You know in this moment it's clear how much time you spend with Uncle Tony, but we've got a deal." Skye tells him.
"Good." Bruce responds, "But I learnt that from Pepper not Tony." He reveals.
"You know I haven't said thank you and I am you know, thankful. I know I didn't put you in an easy position and it can't have been easy for you when my heart stopped beating, so thank you. I owe you everything." Skye tells her Uncle.
Before Skye can react Bruce has put his arms around her and is giving her a hug, "Don't do that again." He tells her.
"I'll do my best." Skye tells him as she returns the hug.
"I'll see you in an hour." Skye says when the hug ends.
"I'll see you in an hour." Bruce says and Skye leaves the room.
After leaving the lab Skye makes her way up to 'the war room' where her Dad is sitting going through a large stack of paperwork.
"Why are you the only one doing that?" Skye asks curious.
"Pepper, Maria, Your Mom, Natasha, Pepper and Garrett went for a meeting. Tripp, Clint, and Sam offered but they are now in the gym and after about five minutes of Tony helping I thought I was going to kill him." Coulson explains, "It's better if I do it alone."
"I'll help." Skye offers.
"Really?" Coulson asks.
"Yeah, and only partly because Uncle Bruce told me to." Skye tells her father.
"Gee, thanks." Coulson responds.
"I don't mean it like that." Skye tells her father, "I may have come up here because Uncle Bruce told me to but I would help you no matter what." Skye says sitting down at the table, "Where do I start?" Skye asks.
"Here, you want to find any document that mentions S.H.I.E.L.D or unusual activity that S.H.I.E.L.D would handle." Coulson tells his daughter as he hands over a pile of papers.
"I can do that." Skye responds and the father and daughter get to work.
It is two hours later when Coulson and Skye finally finish all the paperwork.
"So why did Bruce want you to come and help me anyway, apart from just being Bruce I mean?" Coulson asks his daughter.
"If I sat down for an hour then he would check my wound and if it was okay he would tell Uncle Clint that I could start practicing again." Skye explains.
"We'll it's been two, let's head down to the lab." Coulson tells his daughter and that's what they do.
"I was wondering when you would come back." Bruce says to Skye when she and Coulson walk into the lab.
"I was helping Dad, I didn't want to stop." Skye explains and she walks over and sits on the table.
"Tell the truth, have you had any pulling of the suture line or been in a lot of pain?" Bruce asks.
"No." Skye answers and for several minutes Bruce inspects Skye's wound and runs a couple of other tests.
"Okay everything looks good." Bruce tells her, "I am going to tell Clint that you can start practice again but you've got to take it easy, no more than an hour a day. Got it?" Bruce asks her.
"Got it." Skye responds, "Thanks again." She tells her Uncle and he nods.
"Let's go to the gym." Coulson says and they three of them leave the lab due to the fact that Skye is very excited she is walking fast, Bruce and Coulson are trailing behind her.
When Coulson, Skye and Bruce enter the lab they find Tony, Steve, Sam and Tripp in one corner, Tripp sparing with Steve while the others watch and Clint across the gym shooting.
"Uncle Clint, give me back my bow, I have the all clear." Skye says to her Uncle.
"Does she?" Clint asks Bruce.
"She does, but no more than an hour a day." Bruce instructs and Clint nods and goes and collects Skye's bow from where he put it, "Here." He says handing it over to her, "You still know how to use it right? It has been a while." Clint tells his niece and Skye rolls her eyes.
"When I couldn't sleep I would take the motorbike I obtained and ride to the middle of nowhere and practice." Skye explains.
"Obtained, legally or illegally?" Clint asks Skye.
"Legally." Skye answers as she puts her quiver on her back. Clint is impressed at that because usually someone who was in Skye's shoes would have obtained the bike illegally.
"Hey Phil!" Tony calls out.
"What is it Tony?" Coulson asks his friend walking over to where Tripp is trying to recover from his sparing with Steve.
"I'm not overly fond of the thought of getting my ass kicked by one of these guys so how about you and I have a go." Tony suggests.
"What makes you think I won't kick your ass?" Coulson asks.
"Nothing, but I'm willing to chance it." Tony responds.
"Sure, why not." Coulson responds and he removes his tie and jacket.
"Aren't you going to get changed?" Steve asks.
"Nope, I don't have to." Coulson answers and Coulson and Tony move to where there is more room.
"Tony does realise that Coulson is a S.H.I.E.L.D trained field agent and is more than capable of holding his own in a fight, right?" Tripp asks Steve.
"I honestly don't know." Steve responds.
"So challenge?" Skye asks her uncle.
"I'll go first and you copy." Clint tells his niece and Skye nods.
Across the room Tony is realising that challenging Coulson to a fight wasn't his smartest idea, as while he is quite good Coulson is very good.
"Nick Fury trained me, do you really think I didn't know how to fight?" Coulson asks Tony as he helps him up.
"Fury trained you?" Tony asks surprised.
"How do you not know that?" Coulson asks, "Skye take it easy." Coulson yells across at his daughter who is currently jumping down from where the mats are piled up and firing an arrow as she does and then doing a roll where she fires another arrow just as she comes out of it.
"Nice." Sam says impressed as the others walk over to where Clint is standing watching with a proud smile on his face.
"She's good." Bucky comments impressed.
"What happened to talking it easy?" Coulson asks his daughter as she walks back over.
"That was me taking it easy." Skye comments, "And I'm only as good as I am because I had the best teacher." Skye says looking at Clint, having heard what Bucky said.
"I just showed you what to do, you took it upon yourself to practice." Clint tells his niece.
"I did that because I didn't want to let you down." Skye tells her Uncle.
"You could never do that." Clint tells his niece and Skye smiles.
"Aw, so sweet." Tony comments with a grin.
"Where are Jem and Fitzy?" Skye asks realising that they are the only ones who are currently in the tower who aren't in the gym.
"Doing experiments in the lab." Bruce says.
"Ah right." Skye responds, "So what now?" Skye asks Clint.
"Normal shooting, your aim was a bit off." Clint tells his niece, "Not by a lot but a bit." He adds
"Okay." Skye responds.
"Hey Sam, you interested?" Tripp asks.
"Sure." Sam responds and the pair head over to the sparing mats.
"Are you alright?" Steve asks Bucky concerned.
"Yeah, I'm fine." Bucky responds, "I'm going to go upstairs, start catching up on that list that you all made for me."
"Do you want some company?" Steve asks.
"Nah I'm good." Bucky says to his friend before leaving the room.
"Stop worrying." A voice says from right next to him and Steve turns slightly to see Tony standing next to him.
"I can't." Steve admits.
"You shut yourself away for weeks when you first woke up, you know how hard it is to get used to things, he's trying Steve but he's also got a lot of other things to deal with too." Coulson tells his friend.
"I know, I just want to help him." Steve responds.
"You're going to have to wait until he is ready, you won't be able to do anything before then." Tony comments.
"Maybe if Bucky gets more used to the rest of us and gets comfortable around more of us than just you and Nat it would help." Clint comments
"I have the perfect idea." Tony says getting a grin on his face which causes, Coulson, Clint and Steve to worry.
"What are you thinking?" Steve asks concerned.
"You'll see." Tony says before leaving the room the grin still clear on his face.
"Anyone else worried about that?" Coulson asks and Steve nods.
"Of course, that's as bad as Mels and Nat's grins." Clint comments.
For the rest of the day and all through dinner Tony doesn't give a single hint as to what he is planning away. Because of this it is decided that if he doesn't say anything after dinner than Natasha is going to get it out of him.
As usual the group have dinner together and what has also become usual behaviour since he joined Bucky excuses himself first.
"It was delicious, excuse me." Bucky says standing up.
"Not so fast Bucko." Tony says to him, "We've all got a lot to celebrate and we've got several new members so we're all going to drink and play truth or dare so that we can all get to know each other a bit more" Tony tells everyone.
"NO." Everyone who played truth or dare at Tony's birthday say.
"Do you really think that's a good idea Uncle Tony, don't you remember what happened last time?" Skye asks.
"No." Tony answers.
"That's my point." Skye tells her Uncle, "The only good thing that happened last time was Uncle Steve and I getting a tone of blackmail material on the rest of you, actually that was fun. I'm in." Skye comments.
"Do I sit down?" Bucky asks Steve confused and Steve nods.
"You'll be joining in too Kiddo, so who knows we could be getting blackmail material on you." Tony tells his niece.
"I'm still healing, I can't drink." Skye says with a grin.
"Let me get this straight, you're not healed enough to drink but you are healed enough to do archery and tai-chi?" Tripp asks and Skye nods, "That makes no sense, but for what it's worth, I'm in, sounds fun." Tripp comments.
"Only someone who has never played truth or dare with this group of people can say that." Maria tells Tripp.
"You've never played with us." Tony comments and several laughs are heard around the table at what he said.
"I've played with Phil, Melinda, Natasha and John, that's bad enough." Maria comments and several more laughs are head throughout the table.
"Come on it will be fun." Tony says.
"He's right, it could be." Skye tells everyone.
"You just really want more blackmail material." Clint tells his niece.
"No, I just want to see all of you act like idiots again." Skye tells everyone, "But Uncle Steve and I really don't want to have to convince you not to abseil down the side of the building again, so please don't make us do that."
"I never agreed to play." Steve comments.
"You will." Tony says with a grin, which causes Bucky to look between the pair wondering what he is missing, especially considering both Pepper and Bruce roll their eyes and Pepper has a fond smile on her face.
"Fitzy, Jem you guys are in right?" Skye asks her siblings.
"I don't know Skye." Jemma tells her.
"I'm not sure if that's the best idea." Fitz tells her.
"Please." Skye says to them, "Please, please, please." Skye requests.
"Fine, we're in." Jemma says after exchanging a look with Fitz.
"Yes, that makes five." Skye says.
"Make it six." Garrett says.
"Yay, Uncle John." Skye says happily, "Come on, please." Skye request.
"I'm in." Sam says.
"You really have no idea what you are in for." Steve tells his friend.
"It can't be horrible." Sam says.
"It is, which is why I'm insane for saying this, but I'm in." Clint says.
It is ten minutes later when everyone finally agrees to play, Bruce being the last to do so.
"To the couches, I'll get the booze." Tony says.
"I'll help." Skye says and she walks over to her Uncle.
"So what is your plan for tonight, and how can I help?" Skye asks curious.
"What makes you think I have a plan?" Tony asks.
"I know you." Skye responds.
"Fine, it's to get everyone to relax a bit and get to know each other." Tony explains.
"Plus get James to be more comfortable with everyone." Skye adds.
"That too." Tony adds.
"Well I'll help however I can." Skye says grabbing a couple of bottles as Tony grabs a few more and they carry them over to the couches.
"What chance do we have of getting you two not to get drink vodka?" Coulson asks looking at Melinda and Natasha who both roll their eyes.
"I don't get it." Bucky says to Steve quietly, "Natasha can handle her Vodka better than anyone I know." He says to his friend.
"So can Melinda, that's the problem." Steve explains, "They can both drink more of it than I thought possible and they get very competitive when they do." He explains.
"Right." Bucky responds.
"Who's going first?" Tony asks as he opens all the bottles.
"Wait James are you like Uncle Steve and not able to get drunk?" Skye asks curious.
"I'm not actually sure." Bucky admits, "Guess we'll see." He comments.
And see it they did as four hours later and everyone with the exception of Bucky, Steve and Skye are in varying states of being drunk.
"You know what would be good right now?" Tripp, his words barely making sense.
"What's that?" Skye asks more than slightly amused because she didn't think Tripp would relax enough to get drunk though she is glad he did.
"We should find Ward, like right now." Tripp comments.
"Yeah, let's not." Skye tells him.
"The CIA are on video call in the War Room, they say it's an emergency." Jarvis voice says.
"Be right there." Maria says as all the former agents, Pepper and Tony stand up, and almost fall down or in Coulson and Garrett's case actually fall down.
"NO." Skye and Steve says and they run and block the door, Bucky follows them because it seems like what he should do.
"You guys stay here, we'll see what they want." Skye says.
"Why?" Coulson asks, "We're gooood." He tells his daughter.
"No you're not." Steve tells them all, "None of you are in any state to deal with the CIA."
"We dealt with Fury like this all the time." Melinda says, her and Natasha being the most sober but still tipsier that they can hide.
"The CIA isn't Nicky." Skye tells her mother, "Just let Uncle Steve, James and I deal with them, please." Skye requests and she gets several nods because even drunk everyone can tell how serious she is, "Just stay here." She request and her, Steve and James leave the room.
"I knew this wasn't a good idea." Steve tells Skye.
"Yeah, I know I know, I know. You can yell at me later, everyone can. I should have used my ability but I didn't and I'm sorry." Skye says feeling bad about the mess she got everyone in.
"You and Tony were just trying to get us all to relax and make me feel more welcome, you shouldn't feel bad about that." Bucky says to Skye.
"You knew that's what we were doing?" Skye asks surprised.
"It was obvious." Bucky answer, "You didn't know and you shouldn't have to, it's not your fault." Bucky tells her.
"He's right, I'm sorry." Steve says being able to feel the look his best friend is giving him even though he isn't looking at him, "But seriously, should the CIA see you considering everything?" he ask.
"No, which is why I will be standing out of frame." Skye comments.
"I think I'll join you there." Bucky comments as the trio enter the room, and Steve walks to where the video screen is and Skye and Bucky stand back.
"So you're throwing me to the wolves." Steve comments.
"Yep." Skye and Bucky responds.
"Jarvis connect us." Steve requests.
"Captain Rogers." The person on the other end of the video call a man in his mid-forties greats.
"Sir." Steve responds.
"There is a situation that I need to discuss with Coulson, Hill, Stark and Potts." The man informs Steve.
"They are currently unavailable, how can I help?" Steve asks.
"Since when can Steve lie?" Bucky asks Skye, his voice barely above a whisper.
"He's not lying, technically." Skye responds.
"What about Romanoff, Barton, Garrett and May?" The man asks.
"Also unavailable, I'm who you want to speak to. What is the problem?" Steve asks.
"We need access to the list that you have compiled of who in your former organization is Hydra." The man informs Steve.
"Not good." Skye mutters.
"Why?" Bucky asks
"I'll explains later." Skye tells him and she shakes her head at Steve, saying not to give that to him.
Steve who was briefed about the list when he returned to the tower doesn't need Skye shaking her head to tell him not release that list because he knows the protocol, "That is not what was agreed on, and you know it Sir." Steve tells the man, "If you have captured former SHIELD agents then we would be more than happy to check the names against our information but the list remains where it is, just like what was agreed on." Steve informs the man.
"You'll receive an email within an hour." The man says and the call ends.
"Do one of you want to explain about that?" Bucky asks.
"Using information that I gave before I left and what was collected from The Hub and The Triskeilion a list of agents who are Hydra or suspected to be was created." Skye explains, "But because that list getting out in the open will get people killed, and because I left no one knew if they would be release the information to a Hydra agent it would be decided that the information would be kept with us because we could make it safer for everyone by doing that and Aunt Maria, Dad, Uncle Tony and Aunt Pepper negotiated with the other agencies." Skye explains.
"I wasn't here when the decision was made but I read the protocols that were created and as long as everyone sticks to them I agree with it." Steve adds.
"Jarvis, let us know when the email arrives." Skye requests.
"So what do we do with the thirteen drunk people out there?" Bucky asks.
"For now we make sure that they don't do anything too stupid or dangerous." Steve explains.
"Which is a harder task than you would think." Skye adds and the three of them exit the room to go deal with their drunk family.
With difficulty Skye, Steve and Bucky manage to stop everyone from doing something stupid, or they did until Melinda and Natasha had several more shots of vodka and decided that sparing while wearing rollerblades is something that they just have to try.
"The email from the CIA has arrived." Jarvis says.
"I go deal with that, have fun." Skye says and she leaves Steve and Bucky to try and convince Melinda and Natasha that sparing in skates really isn't a good idea.
When she is walking back to the war room Skye walks past Tripp and Maria who are making out in the corridor.
"Just a tip if you guys are still trying to keep your relationship hidden from Uncle John so that he doesn't go all best friend over protective I would move out of the hall." Skye tells the pair as she walks past with an amused smile on her face because John is literally the only person in the tower who hasn't realised that Tripp and Maria are together.
When she gets to the war room Skye checks the email and responds before heading back to the lounge room, as she does she finds that it seems Maria and Tripp have taken her advice because they are no longer in the hall.
"Where is everyone?" Skye asks surprised as when she walks back into the lounge room fifteen minutes later and she finds everyone except for Steve and Bucky gone.
"We convinced them that it was bed time." Steve answers
"How did you do that?" Skye asks surprised and impressed.
"We can be very convincing when we want to be." Bucky answers.
"We just told them that there was more alcohol in their rooms." Steve explains rolling his eyes at his friends though he is glad to see him act like his old self, "We're betting they will pass out when they see their beds."
"It is likely." Skye responds, "The email to the CIA is sent, all but one aren't Hydra." Skye explains knowing that Steve needs to know in case he is questioned about it, "Seeing as how everyone else is, I'm heading to bed too, night Guys." Skye tells the pair.
"Night Skye." Steve and Bucky responds and Skye leaves the room.
"What about you? Are you going to head to bed?" Steve asks his friend.
"Yeah I think I am." Bucky responds knowing he will last an hour before nightmares but he doesn't want to tell Steve that as he hates that now Steve worries about him when it had always been the other way around, "Night Steve." He says giving his friend a hug.
"Night Buck." Steve responds and Bucky leaves the room while Steve starts to clean up.
"Captain the cleaning can wait until tomorrow." Jarvis tells Steve
"I know, but I don't mind." Steve responds and he starts to clean up the large mess that the group made in the last few hours.
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