AN: Hello everyone and happy Friday! Or at least it's Friday when I've updated. So this is the start to the next part (obviously), and it spans into the first Avenger's movie and the first Star Trek movie. I should warn readers that there will be a few changes in the Avenger's movie since this is an AU, but hopefully not enough to make it cringe-worthy. Anywho, thanks in advance for reading this, and reviews are always welcome! (PS: Totally thought it was Friday when I updated this; I had a major brain-fart XD)

One (Twenty Four Years Old)

Two years had gone by like a blur. Between her job, keeping up with life in general and everything else, Emily barely noticed. Clint and Laura had settled in well with family life, even going as far as introducing a second child into their family. Despite the risks involved in working for SHIELD, Clint hadn't stepped down from the challenge. If anything, he was proud of his job and everything he accomplished over the years. Lila was proud of her father, more so when she had a little brother to look after.

She began spending more time with McCoy after the divorce from hell. After noticing how he'd spiraled since then, she didn't want him to be alone for too long. She knew what it was like to be in that position, and she sure as hell had no intentions of letting him fall under the cracks. It was bad enough that he hadn't been able to work since the divorce; Pamela stripped him of what little dignity he had left, and the medical field had taken that seriously. It didn't help that Pamela was mostly the reason that McCoy had landed the job he gained while working, along with the numerous promotions that came with it.

She'd known then and there that something wasn't right. Job promotions didn't come that easily, not unless the person in question knew the right people. After digging into the resources Pamela used thanks to Tony's quick thinking, Emily realized that the redhead had been paying the higher-ups off with cash-funds, along with other methods that people would frown upon. In spite of that, McCoy hadn't known what his ex-wife was up to, and a small part of Emily was reluctant to share that information with him. She knew it wouldn't do him any good; since he was still getting over what happened, she didn't want to give him another excuse to spiral.

The worst part of it though was the fact that McCoy hadn't been keeping in touch with his mother. Emily was well aware of the fact that they fought with each other before he filed for the divorce. Hannah talked to her every now and then, and since they stopped talking, things hadn't been the same at the McCoy family farm. She couldn't help but feel sorry for Hannah, who suffered the most from this loss. Not only had she lost her husband, but she lost her son in the process.

When she wasn't busy spending life with friends and family, she was busy with her job at the agency. She relished her role as a SHIELD agent, not just because it gave her the chance to explore the world, but it also gave her the chance to follow in Coulson's footsteps. She worked her way through the ranks, earning an infamous reputation along the way. She closed herself off to those who didn't know her, often terrifying newcomers in the process. Those who did know her well knew just how loyal she was as a friend. She went out of her way to be there for them, ignoring the fact that she was putting her own life at risk.

Once word slipped out on her success as a SHIELD agent, she began going on more dangerous missions, and solo missions as well. She rarely talked to McCoy about those missions, mostly because she knew he would freak if he knew what dangers were involved. She was even more careful about the fact that she used said missions as a way of taking out her stress; there had been a few occasions when she spent a night or two sleeping with random men. Those nights were usually a sinful pleasure for Emily. She was gone before they woke the following morning, and they were usually too drunk to recognize who she was.

Another benefit to knowing Tony Stark was the fact that he'd designed the suit she normally wore for her. It was a skin-tight suit that hid the scars that marred her body. Thankfully McCoy was oblivious to the suit and any new scars that might have appeared over the last two years. The last thing she wanted was to explain where some of the scars came from. Even though he knew she was prone to self-harm and other bodily injuries, she still felt self-conscious over the fact.

McCoy hadn't admitted it out loud, but he cared enough to know when something was wrong. During the many times when they got together, she'd been careful to skirt around the subject of her missions. She wasn't in any hurry to share some of the riskier details, knowing full-well he wouldn't take the news well. While they agreed to keep things at a 'friendship' level, she knew they were anything but that. As difficult as it was to admit, she knew full-well there was more to their relationship than that of friends.

Emily let out a sigh at the thought of how she would deal with her complicated relationship. She wanted things between them to work out, but she wasn't sure if they could get past the boundary of friendship. After everything that happened between them, she couldn't help but think they weren't meant to be anything more than friends. McCoy sure as hell deserved better than what Pamela had done to him, but she wasn't sure if she was right for him either.

"You've done a better job at keeping him in check than anyone else could," Hannah had reassured her one day. They often got together whenever she had the chance, albeit it was usually after she stopped by to check in on McCoy. She did feel guilty for going behind his back to see his mother, but it wasn't as if he didn't know whether or not they were good friends as well. "I'm worried about him though; with his reputation ruined by Pamela, there aren't many places he can go."

"I tried convincing him to take on a role at the agency," she admitted. It wasn't as if the agency was a secret between Hannah and her husband. David McCoy was the one who saved treated her injuries when she was brought in by the agency. The only reason she knew about SHIELD was because there had been no secrets between them. "Leonard isn't particularly fond over the idea of being treated like an asset, and I can't say that I blame him."

Sooner or later, something would have to give. He had been out of practice since the divorce. She suspected there was more to it than that; McCoy had never really been the same since his father passed away, and she had a feeling that had something to do with his lack of confidence. She tried pushing those uneasy thoughts aside. McCoy was another worry she would have to think about later; she had work to do at the Treskellion.

It had been early in the morning when she received a message from Director Fury requesting that she pay him a visit. For one thing, Fury rarely paid her a personal visit unless the situation demanded it. For another, he usually only called her in whenever she was due for an assignment. She had an uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach as to what said assignment was about. There had been rumors floating around recently about Starfleet, and she couldn't shake off the feeling this was what he wanted to talk about.

It isn't as if I don't want anything to do with Starfleet, she thought bitterly.

She wanted to believe that she made progress with Starfleet. It had been years since she went anywhere near a Starship, let alone thought of being on one. She had the occasional nightmare from time to time, but even they weren't as frequent as they used to be. Talking about it had helped; McCoy was vaguely aware of what happened to her while she was on the USS Kelvin. In all reality, she was terrified of going back. The thought of it left her stomach churning with renewed anxiety, but she had to keep that in check as she reached the main hub of the Treskellion.

Agents walking past greeted her with curt nods. The few that recognized her were quick to know their place. By now, she had gotten used to the way they treated her. The rumors revolving around her, Natasha and Clint had spread like wildfire throughout the agency. Most folks at the agency knew how close the trio was; it was a well-known fact that they worked well together. She would never admit out loud that she was slightly smug over the fact that she instilled such fear in them. The less questions that were asked of her past, the better off everyone was.

Emily quickly wiped whatever emotions were displayed the moment she reached the elevator. She took her job seriously, despite what some people claimed. Fury rarely took advantage of that notion, though he wasn't the only one in charge. There had been times when Alexander Pierce took full advantage of her, though he quickly learned the hard way that it was better not to piss Coulson off.

Luckily it didn't take long for her to reach Fury's office. She wasn't surprised to find him waiting for her already. Though she hadn't missed the fact that he was also going through numerous reports scattered along his desk. Emily rose an eyebrow at the sight; it wasn't unusual to see how sparsely decorated the room was as well, with a few plants and such lining the corners or walls. Considering he was rarely at the office in person, she wasn't surprised he never found the need to decorate it.

"You wanted to see me, sir," she finally cut through the awkward silence that surrounded them.

"On any normal circumstance, I'd rather this be a conference call," he retorted after gesturing for her to take a seat. She did just that, conveying little to no emotion as she felt his eye boring through her. "So don't get your ass on a high horse just because you're here in person."

Emily snorted in amusement at the less-than-stellar threat. She knew he wasn't happy with the way she handled some of her missions. There were a few times when she'd broken the rules just to help someone escape. Usually those rare instances were because said victim had been forced to fight against them.

Despite having broken more than a few rules over the years while working for the agency, Fury had begun to accept and even anticipate her less-than-stellar behavior. Albeit it was usually with a grudging respect that she broke the rules for all the right reasons, he accepted it nonetheless.

She knew the situation would have been different had it been anyone else in charge. He took a rare exception with her… she knew it was likely because he'd worked closely with Coulson. Try as he might to hide it, Fury had a soft spot for the people he cared about.

"Well, considering you only ever call me for long-term missions or just to reprimand me over something that may or may not have been for the right reasons, I can see why," she replied with a nonchalant shrug.

She wasn't intimidated by the glare that followed. She quickly learned that while Fury was every bit the threat everyone perceived him as, he also had a soft spot. He would never agree out loud that she did make the right call in letting the innocent victims go.

Or that she was doing the right thing in giving them a second chance like Coulson would. That was part of the reason she'd joined the agency in the first place. Despite Coulson's protests – and McCoy's when they had been dating – she was determined to prove herself as an agent. She wanted to follow in Coulson's footsteps. After everything he had done for her, she felt as though he deserved that much. That was part of the reason why she pushed herself so hard.

"At any rate, I have called you here because something has come to our attention within the last few months," he remarked dryly. "We've always worked in the shadows, helping those who don't have a way of helping themselves. And the same could be said for planets that aren't a part of the Federation."

She stiffened as she guessed where this was headed.

"Sir, I can already tell you that what you are about to say won't get us anywhere," she said in an uncharacteristically quiet voice. "I can think of numerous agents who are more qualified with the task."

"None of those agents have lived on a Starship for four years," Fury deadpanned with a knowing look. Emily grimaced when she felt his eye reach her once more. She'd tried burying that part of her past behind her. But it seemed as if Starfleet always had a way of pushing back into her life. "Which is precisely why we've chosen you for this mission."

She resisted the urge to glare back as realization dawned on her. The last thing she wanted was to go anywhere near Starfleet. All that would do was bring back horrible memories of a burning ship and a certain Captain dying. All because she had been a mere distraction. She swallowed hard and tried pushing back the unease threatening to overwhelm her when she guessed there was no use in arguing. Once his mind was made up there was no changing it. Though that didn't stop a shiver of unease crawling through her as bitter memories came rushing back.

"How soon do I start?" she asked after pushing the vile from rising in her throat.

"Two weeks from now," Fury replied without missing a beat. "It'll give you time to get yourself together and prepare for the mission."

Emily pursed her lips together when she noticed another folder sticking out. This one was thicker than the others. And all at once, a familiar name stuck out at the edge of the folder. She knew that SHIELD had been keeping tabs on McCoy. Though his father had passed away nearly five years ago, McCoy himself had signed an agreement to keep SHIELD a secret.

At first it had been a reluctant agreement, as SHIELD saw him as nothing more than an asset. Eventually he finally consented to the idea of working with the agency. Of course it helped when she was able to convince him that it was a good outlet for training. Ever since the bitter divorce between himself and Pamela, he'd been out of commission since the hospital had hired him through her.

Like his father before him, McCoy took on patients that normally couldn't be submitted to hospitals. She doubted McCoy would have been so keen had she not been there to suggest otherwise. The only reason he took on the job was because he had nowhere else to go. He hadn't been in any hurry to leave his home, despite having more than enough reasons to do so.

It was only until after she talked to his mother about the situation that McCoy finally accepted the idea of working with the agency. Though it wasn't exactly what he had been hoping for, it was better than nothing. Work at the hospital kept his mind sharp and it kept his mind off of the divorce, which seemed to bother him more often than he cared to admit out loud.

"I'm guessing this isn't just about my latest assignment," she muttered crossly.

Fury was hardly surprised with her sudden change in subject, "You are Coulson's daughter."

He rolled his eye at that, though Emily just crossed her arms over her chest. She wasn't there to carry on a conversation. If what she suspected was true, then she needed to leave sooner rather than later. He knew how much she cared about McCoy. Despite everything that between them, McCoy would always be her best friend.

"I believe the correct term for your accusation is 'adopted' daughter," she retorted.

She could've sworn she saw him smirk the moment she pointed that out. Fury was rarely taken aback by anything. She was more than a thorn in the side for him, which only fueled her resolve. As it was, he let out a snort of amusement and leaned back against his chair, pushing the folder she was eyeing towards her.

Emily reluctantly took the folder in question and opened it. What she found inside was enough for her heart to sink. An image of McCoy's mugshot was loud and clear. He looked like a mess with a black eye and everything. She glanced back in Fury's direction, not missing the fact that he hadn't said a word about McCoy's condition.

"As I understand, you and Doctor McCoy are close friends," he started. "He was arrested late last night with charges of assault and public indecency."

A lump formed in the back of her throat as she stared at the picture guiltily. She knew McCoy hadn't been the same since the divorce. He'd become more bitter towards those who didn't know him. He was withdrawn and defensive around those who cared about him. She was the only one he didn't seem to lash out at whenever he was feeling insecure, though she knew that was because she'd kick his ass if he tried doing so. She let out a quiet sigh and set the file back onto his desk, knowing full-well he hadn't told her this news just to ignore it.

Even if that's what Papa would have wanted, she added silently.

Coulson hadn't been quite so forgiving of McCoy for what happened between them. Despite everything and the fact that McCoy had been trying to redeem himself, Coulson wasn't willing to let go of the past. And part of her understood why. She'd spiraled out of control during the few years they hadn't been talking. Coulson had seen her when she reached rock bottom, and he didn't want her going through that experience again.

"I'd like some time with him, if that's possible," she requested. She swallowed hard and fiddled with a strand of hair strung over her face. Guilt stabbed her in the chest as she thought of the numerous nights they'd spent together in the past. Whether it was to help him with his studies or just hang out for a few hours, those had been some of the best nights she could ask for. "He's my best friend."

"He's also a valuable asset to the agency," Fury put in. Emily nearly rolled her eyes when he added that part. She doubted McCoy would want anything to do with the agency if he was given the chance, though she didn't bother saying it out loud. "I'll give you the next week to sort out this mess, along with travel accommodations."

Relief swept through her the moment he said that. She gave a resolute nod before slipping out of his office wordlessly. Coulson was going to have a fit when he found out where she was headed. He hadn't been quite so forgiving towards McCoy. She understood why Coulson was pissed off with the doctor, though she wished he would move on. She'd learned over time that holding a grudge was pointless. Over the last few years of working within the agency, anger was the last emotion she wanted to cling on to.

She tried pushing the uneasy thoughts running through her as she returned to the apartment dwelling Coulson was currently stationed at. Since she'd been going on more frequent missions, there wasn't a need for him to stay in the house they'd moved to years ago. So Coulson usually stayed where they needed him the most. He worked better with the new recruits at SHIELD's bases, often drilling them with rules and regulations.

So she wasn't surprised to see him back later that afternoon. Most of his work nowadays had occurred in the morning at the base. At night he was usually sent away with other teams to offer whatever assistance he could in the field. Her shoulders sank with relief when she caught the look he was giving her when she arrived.

He'd known about the meeting she had with Fury earlier that afternoon. Unease crawled through her at the thought of how she would explain what happened to McCoy. She was well aware of how unhappy he was with McCoy, though she suspected even he knew better than to think this was acceptable.

Ever since the divorce, McCoy had become bitter and resentful to those who didn't know him. Even those who were close to him would often be pushed away. The only reason he didn't lash out at her was because he knew better; he'd learned the hard way that she wouldn't take any of his bullshit.

"I take it the meeting went better than expected?" he quipped after passing a cup of coffee.

Emily accepted the cup gratefully, taking a long sip as she joined him in the kitchen. The stress of that morning was beginning to eat away at her. From Fury's newest assignment to finding out McCoy had been arrested, she wasn't sure what was worse. She swallowed hard and looked at nothing in particular when she felt Coulson's gaze bore through her.

"The boss assigned me to enlist in Starfleet," she explained warily.

Coulson hardly looked surprised with her response. He'd known that Fury was planning this for some time. It had taken weeks of convincing on Fury's part to even hold the meeting in question. Coulson wasn't the least bit happy that she was being used in such a way, but he knew she was the most qualified agent for the task.

Her knowledge of Starships and Starfleet was the reason she had been chosen in the first place. That didn't make him happier knowing that she would be thrown in that position. She still suffered from nightmares to this day and panic attacks whenever Starfleet was involved. While she did her best to control it better, there were times when fear got the better of her.

"Given your history with Starfleet, I'm not too surprised that he chose you," he remarked thoughtfully. "He knows what you're capable of."

She let out a sigh of frustration and wrapped her fingers around the warm mug. There were times when she wondered if Coulson even understood why she wanted nothing to do with Starfleet. He'd taken her to various places that had encouraged those to enlist, and memorials for those who suffered from the Kelvin incident. She'd always freeze up whenever she went anywhere near those memorials, mostly because they only brought back painful memories.

Not once had he questioned why she would freeze up whenever they went anywhere near those memorials or recruitment offices. She hadn't told anyone just how badly those memories affected her. As it was, McCoy was the only one who knew that she still suffered from nightmares to this day.

"Lord knows I'm the least qualified agent for the task," she rolled her eyes knowingly. "I hate going anywhere near Starfleet."

He didn't answer, though she could tell he was concerned over what the next few months would be like. She rarely conveyed emotions unless the situation demanded it. This was one of the few cases where she'd allowed bitterness to come through. She swallowed hard when she felt Coulson shift uncomfortably.

He knew how difficult this was for her. It had been years since she went anywhere near Starfleet. The last time she'd seen a ship in person was at a museum Coulson took her to, and she'd suffered from a mild panic attack as a result. Ever since then he'd known not to mention Starfleet or the Kelvin incident.

"I know this isn't going to be easy for you, but something tells me you'll pull through," he reassured her with a gentle squeeze. Emily grimaced when she felt his eyes boring through her once again. "I'm guessing this isn't just about Starfleet, though."

For a moment, she wasn't sure if she wanted to answer him. She knew he wouldn't be happy finding out about McCoy's predicament. It had been a few hours since he was arrested, and she knew the sooner she got there, the better off he was. Though she doubted Coulson would ever approve of the fact that she was returning to the scene of the crime.

"No, it isn't." She let out another sigh as she thought of what had led to McCoy's arrest in the first place. "Leonard was arrested the other night."

Coulson's brows furrowed together in surprise. On any normal occasion, he would have considered that Karma as a way of getting back at McCoy. But in this case, he'd been arrested for the wrong reasons. Emily glanced at Coulson self-consciously when she saw that he actually looked concerned.

Despite how annoyed he normally was with McCoy, he knew this wasn't something the doctor would have normally done. Emily suspected it was mostly out of self-defense through the assault charges, but whoever charged said results had turned them against him.

"That doesn't sound like something he'd do," he remarked after she explained what really happened.

"No, it doesn't," she nodded in agreement. She took another sip of her coffee, trying to hide how uncomfortable she was with Coulson's expression. "I know you're not happy with the idea of me going back there, but he doesn't necessarily have any fans at the moment."

"Considering everything he's done, I'm not surprised," Coulson scoffed in response. Emily nearly rolled her eyes in exasperation at the disapproving tone of his voice. "And I'm not happy with the idea of you doing this."

Emily just rolled her eyes in response. She understood why he was so annoyed with the idea of her going back. But he also needed to understand that she and McCoy had reached an agreement. Sure, they still had a few rough patches to clean up, but at least now they were still good friends. That was all she could ask for.

"Look, I get it," she muttered crossly. "You're not happy, Clint wasn't happy when we started talking again… but at the end of the day, it's my opinion that matters."

She couldn't bring herself to mention that Tony had also threatened to throttle McCoy if he ever tried pulling off any stunts. She knew full-well he was capable of pulling off said threat. He was practically her adopted brother, despite the protests that came from Coulson.

She didn't miss the fact that Coulson's face morphed into a serious frown. Emily swallowed hard when she guessed what was really on his mind. He was worried that McCoy would try to hurt her again. The problem was, she couldn't stop herself from seeing him again. She realized with a start that McCoy meant too much for her to stay away forever.

"I know you'll go no matter what I say," he let out a sigh of annoyance. Emily merely smirked in amusement when she realized why he was so annoyed. She wasn't normally one to follow orders if she saw another way out. "But I will remind you that if he hurts you again, it won't end well for anyone involved."

She grimaced at the threat that followed. She knew full-well that Coulson meant it. If McCoy chose to cross the line and find another way to hurt her, he would live with that guilt and regret. And something told her that no one would enjoy the outcome of those results. Emily tried stealing her resolve before pushing the uneasy feelings that followed. Regardless of what Coulson thought, she planned on going through with this… no matter the circumstances.