Enchanted

Chapter Nine

Trinity sighed with content, smiling at the dark skinned man smiling widely to show perfectly white teeth once the doors at the back of the jet opened all the way. He was also in NEST uniform, armed and ready to go with a team standing behind him. No doubt that half the guys behind were also from Will's team, ready to head out as soon as Will got off the Quinjet. The woman did notice that everyone had stopped to stare at the group, no doubt word of the Avengers spread quickly after Trinity, Will, and Sam spoke with Morshower.

MSG Robert Epps uncrossed his arms and opened them wide. "Mini Rini!"

Laughing, Trinity rushed down the ramp and wrapped her arms around Epps, who wrapped his around her and brought her feet off the ground. This only made Trinity laugh harder, pushing at his shoulder as soon as Epps put her down and let her go. Due mostly to her size–but Trinity didn't doubt that it was because of her age too–Epps started calling her Mini Rini after their first encounter with the Autobots and Decepticons, and the name stuck as they started working together with the Autobots.

"How're the missions going?" Trinity asked, grinning.

Epps groaned, rolling his eyes. "A pain in the ass and boring!" he suddenly eyed her, the joyful, joking man becoming serious. "What's this I hear about what happened to you?"

Trinity sighs, looking over to Will walking up to them. "Let's go over where you guys are set up and I'll tell you what I know and how we need to go about it."

Will and Epps looked at each other, Trinity turning to look at the large group, not knowing what they needed to do now. Trinity didn't even know what to do with the group but she knew that they also needed to hear her theory, in case one of them did see something during the attack, and for the fact that they would not leave her alone until they find out what it is that she was hiding from them. Epps touched her arm and nodded towards the large building behind them. As the group entered the building they saw most of the Autobots walking towards them as many agents stopped what they were doing to stare at the Avengers in both awe and wonder.

As soon as they came to a board that showed a large map with multiple marks in red, black, and blue, Trinity stopped to study it as she waited for the group to settle down, while also trying to figure out the words she was going to say. She knew the majority of them were going to be pissed off at her from keeping this from them from the beginning, but it's been a long time since she's been out in the field, so she could be wrong…or she hoped that she was wrong. Then she felt a light, cold, metal touch to her chin, making her look up to see Optimus looking down at her, giving her some courage.

Exhaling, she nods to the leader of the Autobots and turned to the waiting group, somewhat surprised to see that General Morshower had sneaked in behind her. He gave her a nod, letting her know that it was time to tell the group what her theory was, and Trinity couldn't help but feel a bit of pressure to do so. Then her eyes fell upon the one person Trinity figured would have been the most, and the first, to be observant of the battle they were in not too long ago. Had she not read the files on the person, and how well he was at looking at things outside the box–from a higher perspective, which is probably how he gotten his nickname.

"First I need to know, Hawkeye, did you see any type of pattern with the Decepticons during the fight at all?" Trinity asked, "Anything that did not set well with you?"

Clint moves forward from the back–everyone looking towards him with confusion and suspicious–and looked down at the short woman. "I did, and I have a feeling that so did you." Trinity held his stare, her heart hammering wildly against her chest for his answer. "The Decepticons were targeting you, trying to trap you into a corner. I don't think they were expecting to see us, though. I don't think they knew what to do."

Morshower swore as Trinity held up a hand to her family and friends who started to raise their voices and ask questions. The woman wanted to keep things at a professional, for now. "Agreed, but I wasn't so sure if what I saw was what really was happening as I haven't been out on the field in over a year, so I could be wrong."

"If Hawkeye says he's seen the same thing," Steve tells her, frowning like the rest of her family and friends. "Then you're not wrong."

Trinity exhales, frowning. "That's what I was afraid of." she muttered before looking at Will and Epps, "So, Lt. Colonel Lennox, MSG Epps, you'll be taking your teams to the Middle East to find out what the hell the Decepticons are planning. You'll be taking Leadfoot and Topspin, and as soon as you touch down at basecamp the Twins and Wheelie will meet you there."

Right away both Will and Epps begun to complain–some of their team members grumbling in the background. Trinity sighs, holding up a hand to quiet them down. She knew that no one would be able to really control the Twins, but they were good at their job and they were able to spare them from whatever mission they were having to help them out. Not to mention Optimus ordered it as soon as he found out that it concerned her safety and wanted to make sure that everything was being done to keep her safe.

Like he always did.

"I know the Twins are a handful, I'll speak to them once they get to base." both men glared at the woman before sighing themselves. Trinity gives them a curt nod. "Good. Wheelie should be able to shed some light to what's going on as he's been out on classified mission's gathering information on Decepticons." she then turned to the side and looked from Morshower and up at Optimus, "Anything either of you wish to add?"

Optimus hummed, nodding, as he looked down at Will, Epps, and their team members. "Be cautious," he tells them seriously. "Something bigger is happening and that only makes this mission all too dangerous. General?"

Morshower nods his agreement and his thanks, "You men watch your six. The reports I've been getting from Wheelie and the Twins is that the Decepticons are more aggressive than ever. This means that they're attack pattern will no doubt be even more unpredictable."

Will exhales, sharing a look with Epps before both men turned to face their men. The two friends crossed their arms and placing their feet wide apart. "All right, let's grab whatever we need and get on the plane! We leave in ten!"

"One more thing," Optimus tells the group before they departed. "Since Megatron has been killed, there's no telling who's in charge. Be careful in who you trust."

Will nods, looking back to his men. "You heard him. Let's go."

As the men rushed off, Will and Epps turned towards Trinity, who walked towards them. She hugged each man tightly, closing her eyes to hold back her emotions and sending out a prayer to keep them and their men safe. Not only were they her teammate, but her brother's and her family–even if they weren't related by blood. Of course, family isn't always categorized by blood but by loyalty and trust in the other person. Before she can say anything further to them, another voice spoke up, making Trinity's skin crawl and her back to stiffen with distaste for the person who had just joined them.

Morshower sighed with irritation, dropping his head and rubbing a hand on his forehead. To have these two women in the same area was never good, and he hoped that he didn't have to talk to the higher ups once again to let them know why Trinity cannot leave the team, as she was very viable and was good at her job as any other trained agent. Not to mention it would be best to avoid any more pressure between the Autobots and the higher ups as the relationships was strained between the two of them.

"When in the hell were you going to tell me that you had involved the Avengers on this little project, Miss Hart?"

Taking a deep breath, Trinity steeled herself, both Morshower and Will giving her a look to be nice while Epps grinned as he watched intently to the show. She turned around and stared at the woman who had three other people standing behind her, glaring at her. Trinity glared back, her jaw ticking angrily as she tried not to grind her teeth together. Neither of the two women got along with each other since the Dark Side of the Moon mission when Sentinel Prime had betrayed them. More or so the older woman didn't like how Trinity had spoken to her or the aggressiveness that she had towards her.

"I don't answer to you, nor do I need to tell you anything that concerns the Autobots." Trinity answered through her teeth.

The woman glared, taking a few steps closer. "If you don't remember, I am the Director of National Intelligence! I am the chain of command!"

Trinity moved forward, her hands fisted into tight balls, but Will quickly wrapped an arm around her waist, holding her back. "If you remember, I don't give a damn! The only person I answer to is Optimus Prime, so I suggest you go back to whoever you were annoying in the first place!"

"Why you little–" the woman started angrily, moving forward.

Morshower went to stop the fight that was about to come up when Optimus spoke up first, as they had pressing matters. "Charlotte Mearing, I suggest you leave before I order Will to let Rini go and have her hit you like last time." he leaned forward, the woman holding her ground, "Trinity takes orders from me and vice versa. You and the other human's best remembered that."

"If it makes any difference, ma'am," Steve spoke up, gaining everyone's attention, "due to Trinity being Phil's niece, and Phil being a part of our family, we had decided to come along to help in whatever we can."

"I am not a ma'am, do I look like a ma'am?" Charlotte stated angrily.

"It's called respect," Trinity growled. "Something you don't seem to get a concept of."

Charlotte glared at the woman before glaring at Steve–who certainly held his ground–then over at Morshower, who merely shook his head. She then glared up at the leader of the Autobots, hating the fact that she didn't really have any sort of authority over him. Knowing she was outnumbered, the director turned on her heels and walked away, growling at her assistant to give her the phone. Trinity shakes her head, glaring up at Will, pushing at his chest. Will merely glared back at the woman, knowing that it was best for everyone around that she didn't attack the Director again.

"We would like to go," Natasha suddenly spoke up, everyone turning to look at Clint and Natasha moving towards them. "We can help if you guys need to track one of these Decepticons." she further tells them.

Trinity looks to the men, both of them shrugging as Will spoke up, "We can certainly use the help, especially in the tracking. Captain?"

Steve nods in appreciation that Will had thought to ask him as the assassins were his team members and were under his orders. His respect for the other man had gone up a point, as well as his trust and loyalty for him. "We're here to help, Lt. Colonel. Any way we can help, just ask."

Will nods, sighing quietly with relief. "Thanks."

"Well, plane's ready, so if you guys are ready and don't need anything we can go." Epps tells them, walking towards the open entrance.

Trinity then looked towards Stone, frowning. "Aren't you on Epps or Will's team?"

"He's staying, as are Ghost, Mongo, and Pyro!" Will yells at her from down the building, having turned to look back at her. "I want them close to you incase Decepticons figure out that you're here." Trinity glowered at this, about to response, when Will spoke up. "You have no say in this, Rini! They're under my orders, they stay!"

With that said, Will turn back around and walked into the sun, walking towards the only cargo plane getting ready to take off. Trinity glares after him, turning to Morshower to argue, but he merely shook his head at her, just as serious to keep the three men at her side. She then turned her glare to the three men, who held up their hands, letting her know that they had no say in it–of course, knowing Stone, he wouldn't have agreed without really a fight. Sighing, the woman looked first to John 'Pyro' Turk whose hazel eyes held nothing but apology. His black hair had been cut buzzed short as he had returned from retirement after the battle in Chicago, his muscular form visible even through the NEST uniform. Standing at six foot, one inches Pyro was a force to reckon with, especially when it came to his fighting skills and his love for fire. Being a pyromaniac helped him and his Army brothers in getting out of any sticky situations.

Her eyes then traveled to Erik 'Ghost' Kowalski, his black hair cut short but not buzzed, his brown eyes also showing apology. Standing at just six feet, Ghost has a slightly small and lean body, which actually helped him to become like his nickname sake. That, and being a Navy Seal Sniper was another reason how he got his nickname. Then there was Aaron 'Mongo' Garrido, the shortest man standing at five feet, nine inches, but his strong build helped in his case as he had larger muscles then the other men, which gave him his nickname–not to mention his tattoos that went up and down his arms also made him look scary to enemies. His dark blonde hair was buzzed cut on the sides while the top was cut short, his blue eyes also showing apology to the woman. Being a Marine, Mongo had his own set of rules that he followed, but only when it came to it or when either Will or Epps orders him.

Morshower placed a hand on her shoulder, nodding at her before walking off. No doubt to speak with the other higher ups if the need for an attack was to happen in populated areas; they didn't want an incident to happen like that of Chicago to happen again. Or on the highway like New York not too long ago. So long as they were kept in the loop, Trinity did not doubt the higher ups cared much where the fight issued, just so long as it was over quickly and there was no take over again.

Nodding to herself, Trinity takes a couple of deep breaths, facing the rest of their group, whom were wondering what they needed or what was needed to do now. "You guys did great in helping defeat the Decepticon's, but you guys still need a bit of training." she told the rest of the Avengers, "So, why don't you guys go with Bee and Sideswipe over to the training areas so the others can give you guys some pointers?"

With that said Trinity walked away, the group looking after her. It was Phil who muttered to the group to go to the training area, knowing exactly where his niece was going and that she needed the time alone to gather her thoughts. He actually had to stop Stone from going after her, frowning in disapproval at him. Despite that the NEST agent knew Trinity the best when it came to combat, Phil knew her the best emotionally. At least Steve had some sense in letting her be for a while before he went off looking for her too.

Phil sighed. Despite that Trinity has lived her life the way she's wanted, he still couldn't help but worry for her and the attraction she was getting from the two men. He wasn't sure if he was ready to see his baby niece all grown up and starting a family…if she wanted a family, that is. Phil had to stop in his tracks and frown at that thought. He never really did talk to Trinity about what exactly she wanted in life. If she wanted to settle down and have a family or even just continued to fight alongside the Autobots as she's had this whole time.

Did Phil actually know his niece as well as he thought he did? Or was he only just kidding himself because he was there when she needed her father the most? Not that there was anything wrong with that, as he, himself, had been a SHIELD agent and Fury's right hand man for so long that the prospect of even having a family was absurd. Sure, he dated that cellist that lived in Portland, but that ended not too long after he had recovered from the wound he received from Loki. If Phil was honest with himself, all his relationships were short term because of all the secrets he was holding, he couldn't help but feel guilty.

A/N: Sorry to have taken so long, but here's the next chapter. Please review and let me know what you think!