Light faded in slowly, slightly blinkered as Hayley opened her eyes. Rubbing at her eyes, she sat up with difficulty. A nurse person ran over.

"How long was I out?" Hayley asked. The nurse hestitated. "How long?"

"Around 4 and a half hours." Hayley jumped out of bed and started for the door. The nurse grabbed her arm, jerking her to a stop. "You just woke up. You can't leave!"

Hayley shook her off. "I heal fast." she said, running out the door.

That was an hour ago. Now she was lurking around the jets, trying to steal- no, borrow- one. See, Fury told her that she was absolutely forbidden to go to the rest of the Avengers. But if there was one thing she'd learned from Felicity, it was that you never abandon your team. So she was going. Simple as that.

Except it wasn't. There was exactly two jets ready to fly, and they were on the other end of the Helicarrier. That wasn't the problem. The problem was that the maintenance people wouldn't go away.

Right when she was about to say screw it and run over there, they left. Quickly going over, she climbed into the cockpit and spent a minute trying to figure out how to fly the damn thing. As guards started towards her, she saluted and took off. She was headed for New York.

Avengers POV

They just wouldn't quit. The alien army Loki had amassed was giving them a run for their money. Well, that and we're down one member, Steve reasoned. Whirling, he slammed his shield into the neck of yet another Chituari.

Natasha came up behind him, resting a hand on his shoulder.

"Tony just got word from Fury," she said. "Apparently, Hayley woke up and stole a jet. She's on her way." Steve smiled.

"About time." he responded. Hayley would be a nice reprieve.

As Natasha opened her mouth to answer, Thor landed behind them.

"Captain, what should we do? These foes will not stop." he boomed. Not for the first time that day, Steve thanked God that the serum protected his ears from overly loud sounds like Thor's voice.

"Cap, we got incoming. Looks like a SHIELD jet." Clint's voice said. Nat grinned before shooting a Chituari.

"It's okay, Barton." Tony said. He sighted the jet and started toward it, earning himself a reprimand from JARVIS. "The Midnight Soldier has come out to play."

Hayley landed the jet far better than Clint did, in her opinion. Hopping out and grabbing her bow and quiver, she waved at Rogers. He waved back slowly, eyes focused on something behind her.

Spinning around, Hayley stabbed with her bow. She'd never seen anything like it. And that was saying something.

"Okay, we're all very happy you're here, but how?" Nat asked from her place up by the Tesseract, taking advantage of the momentary lull in Chituari.

"Last we knew, you were almost dead." added Clint from behind Hayley. She shrugged.

"I heal fast. Tesseract." she stated.

"Uhh, guys?" Tony asked. "I don't know if you've noticed, but I've got a missile and the only place I can put it is that portal."

Hayley nodded at Rogers, letting him know she'd cover him while he spoke.

It was bloody. Or, at least, there was a lot of death. It was as if the stupid aliens could sense that she was freshest. They mobbed her.

And she couldn't use her speed, not with the rest of the Avengers around. Suspicion. She didn't need it.

When it was all over, she was almost glad she'd missed most of the fight.

A tap caught her attention.

"We're going after Loki. Come on." Thor said, already walking away. She scrambled to catch up.

Loki, as it turns out, did not fare well against the Hulk. As he lay before them, Hayley and Clint raised their drawn bows simultaneously, pointing straight at Loki.

〰️〰️〰️

New York is a mess, Journal. Some(Anthony and Bruce) are staying here, and Bruce at least wants to help rebuild. Don't know if he will.

I just want to go back to Central City. I can't imagine what Barry's gotten himself into. I'm going to go ask Fury if he's done with my services. I'd like to see Oliver too.

-Hayley