Chapter 40-Meanwhile

Third Person:

The only sound that could be heard through the halls of the secret base were the slight click click clack from Maria Hill's boots as she made her way to Fury's temporary office. Other than some slight soreness he was running full throttle. He didn't bother wearing the sunglasses around Hill. Not when they were in the base. For Christmas she had gotten him a new eye patch, but he had yet to put it on. He was probably waiting for the right time.

Stark knew that she was busy outside of Stark Industries, so she had s mostly clear week half the time. She only cleared her schedule when Fury needed her. This was one of those times, and since she worked at Stark Industries, she had practically every resource, if not than more that S.H.I.E.L.D. could have ever provided. She was almost thankful that he had stolen all of the secrets when he had been allowed on the Helicarrier before the Battle of New York.

And when Stark hired a ten year Marine who doubled as a Herpatologist how could she not get all the information she could on her? She gave everything she found out to Fury. Stark's copy of her file, security camera videos, bank records, cell phone number, address, her damn SAT scores, which were off the charts. There was a lot of information at his disposal now.

But Hill noticed how Director Fury seemed more engaged with her research and security footage from random places before and after she got her new leg. She was almost always with the same guy, but Fury would never tell Hill who. But he seemed more intrigued, amused, or pissed each time he saw some new footage.

She knocked quietly before entering Fury's office, papers and discs in her arms. She raised an eyebrow at Fury's expression. He was actually...Smiling. He seemed almost on the verge of giving the slightest chuckle.

"Is everything okay, sir?" She asked. "You're smiling."

"It seems colonel Arlet has a sense of humor," Fury replied vaguely.

"Sir?"

"She locked Steve behind glass in a shirt that says 'FOSSIL' at is exhibit in the Smithsonian. And Natasha tells me that she got Steve Life Alert for a Christmas gift."

Hill smiled in amusement, but most of the time she showed about as much emotion as Fury. It's what she was trained to do. It's part of the reason that she was Fury's right hand man. The other half is because she actually did show emotion, and because she was just a kick ass agent in general.

There was a ding from the desk and Fury cleared some stray papers he had and answered the call. It was Widow.

"Report," he said with a bored expression. His smile had completely faded.

"Rogers and Wilson are on board, along with two extras that decided to tag along."

"Are those two extras who I think the are?"

"Arlet and Barnes. Sir, were you aware that Arlet had powers?"

"No I wasn't. If you get a chance I want a blood sample. How is Barnes...Behaving?"

"Completely normal, actually. No signs of him wanting to kill any of us, and according to Arlet he hasn't tried to kill anyone for the past eight months. Apparently he was hit with her friend's car while on her way to her knew house her first day back."

"And Rogers?"

"Same as ever, sir. Did you know that he had a police record before he signed up for war?"

"Another thing I can hang over his head. Where are you now?"

"Two minutes out. Gotta go, sir."

Without another word there was a click and the desk stopped glowing. Hill cleared her throat slightly.

"Barnes, sir?" She said. He nodded.

"Steve's old friend from his time. Winter Soldier. He's been living with Arlet for eight months...Makes you wonder what else you don't know."

"I know, sir. Here is the most recent research she's e-mailed to her work computer and security camera footage," Hill dropped the stuff on his desk. "Anything else, sir?"

"Yeah, just one thing."

"Sir?"

"Look over the mission. Tell me everything after. You're going to be the one giving me their official report. Understood?"

"Yes, Sir."

And with that, Hill was gone, and Fury was left to paperwork and his thoughts.