Chapter 15

AN - So here is the next installment of the story and I am amazed to say that this is actually on time! I hope you enjoy this, I couldn't not put in this new plot line, honestly I tried the story without it but I just couldn't get it right. Thank you everyone who has reviewed this story so far and has given me their feedback I really do appreciate it. I sadly don't own any of the material as it all belongs to JK Rowling and Marvel :( Enjoy everyone :)

It wasn't until the next day, after the alarm clock had ejected him from bed at the ungodly hour of 0500, that Harry realized just how much talking to Lauren had helped him. For once he slept more than 4 hours that night and he felt amazingly relaxed. He turned to check his phone, '1 New Text Message'

Entering the required code he selected the necessary options to open the message, smiling he realized it was from Sophia, 'Meet me in the Gym on your way to the briefing' Harry smiled slightly before sending a quick text back stating he would be there, he then had a quick shower before leaving the accommodations to make his way toward the gym.

Entering the gym his eyes immediately fell on the curved figure of Sophia standing in the corner. Approaching her she turned to look at him, she smiled "Hey, glad you could make it."

Harry smiled and shrugged of his black leather jacket and placed it over the back of bench, "Yeah, got to say I'm gonna miss you while I'm undercover." Seeing that she had quickly slipped a small item in her pocket he quirked his eye brow slightly before taking a step toward her, "and what might that be Soph?" He said pushing his hands in his pockets just to irritate her, he learned a long time ago that it was one of her pet peeves.

Scowling slightly she sashayed toward him with a small smile, "It's our first dinner you took me on at the small pub down the road."

Smiling at the memory that suddenly came to mind, it was indeed a very good memory. A night filled with jokes, laughter and karaoke. A situation he had refused to acknowledge or repeat. A fantastic night if he was honest. When they agreed to sleep with each other they had immediately made it very clear that it was 'casual'. Now though Harry was not so sure as to whether he would still classify it as such. As much as he had denied it for the past year, he had been developing feelings for her. She was one of the only people who would put up with his bullshit, an impressive accomplishment if Harry had anything to say about it.

Not that he would ever to admit it to her.

"A fantastic night I will gladly admit." Harry agreed smiling to her.

"Yes it was," she nodded toward the bench and they both sat, leaning in slightly she continued "and desert was… spectacular."

Harry let out a deep chuckle, "I'm glad that you are appreciative of my abilities." He let out another laugh. He was not as confident on the outside as he was on the inside. Sophia was not normally like this during work hours even if they were alone, which begged the question as to why the sudden change, "So as much as I love to reminisce with you, I don't believe you called me down here just to smile at old memories did you Soph?"

Shrugging her shoulders slightly she nodded and turned to him, she began to speak but hesitated, Harry was unnerved by this. She was normally a very confident woman who spoke her mind when she wanted to. Smiling slightly Harry encouraged her to continue, "Harry there is something I have to tell you, it isn't easy to say this and I don't want to destroy what we have but neither can I let you go on a mission this dangerous without being honest with you."

Harry cupped the side of her face, the sudden change in her demeanor was unsettling to say the least, relaxing and leaning back he let out a breath before speaking, "Sophia leaving aside the high possibility that I won't be coming back at all, are you sure you don't want to leave with until my return."

Sophia shook her head, "I can't risk it Harry, if anything should happen to you…" she dropped her eyes for a moment, gathering her thoughts, "Harry you must know that I have feelings for you. Far more so than I've led you to believe. I know that you may not feel the same way and would prefer us to stay friends, but I can't let you go without telling you."

Harry takes her face into his hands and looking straight at her, he let out a shuddering breath before saying "Sophia I…"

They were interrupted by the harsh ringing of Harry's phone, cursing he brought the phone from his pocket and took the call, "What?" He said in a harsh tone, so pissed he could not put it into words.

"M wants you up in her office now." The voice from the other end stated, ignoring the unnecessarily harsh answer.

"Fine, I'll be there soon." Snapping the phone shut before they could respond, raising an eye brow at Harry, Sophia looked disappointed.

"Guess we have to continue this conversation later anyway," she sighed, at least Harry knew the truth now, "Who was that?"

Harry reached over to grab his jacket and shrugged it on as they made their way toward the door, "Rowan."

Entering the office Harry took in the fact that the Q was the only one there, nodding toward the other man Harry said, "Hello there Q, how are you my bespectacled genius friend?" Harry said thrusting his hand out to the other man.

Taking it Q smiled at the common greeting between the two, "Very well my brutishly suicidal friend. We are just waiting on the Avengers to join us then we can commence."

Harry looked at M, "Morning M, how are you?"

"Very well Harry." She smiled at the younger man and gestured to the other chair in front of the desk. Only a few moments later the rest of the team arrived at the office, after exchanging pleasantries they all sat and waited for Q to continue.

"Alright then, we have made your ID's. Passport, driver's license, credit cards, gym membership card and oyster card. All under the name of Mr James Conway, resident scumbag." Harry picked up the leather wallet, gently running his eyes over the three credit cards and the large wodge of money inside his cheeky smile dropped. In turn it was replaced by a blank face with cold and empty eyes, gone was the jovial young man that everybody was familiar with.

The sudden change in Harry was alarming to Clint, in only a matter of moments Harry had completely changed his persona. Gone was the boy turned man that he knew who loved pranks and laughter generally, in front of him now was a cold and calculated killer and while he was not naïve enough to think that Harry had yet to kill neither was the father in him comfortable with the obvious change in Harry.

Harry double checked the wallet and took his phone before nodding slightly to M and exiting the room in silence, leaving all those behind in stunned silence.

Sophia hung her head slightly, accepting that the conversation she wanted to continue was not going to happen until after Harry had returned, turning to the Avengers she said, "Don't worry, Harry always does this before an undercover op. Says it helps him get into the right mind frame," making her way to the door she turned back to the team for a moment, "I doubt he will say much more before he leaves." And with that she left, heading back toward her accommodation.