Chapter 2: It Can Happen

You can fool yourself
You can cheat until you're blind
You can cut your heart
It can happen…

You reach
It can happen to you
It can happen to me
It can happen to everyone eventually

(Yes; It Can Happen)

"All right, so what about the infrared view?" Tony Stark asked the surveillance technician, leaned against the desk and pinned his eyes to a large LCD screen on the wall in front of them. The room was dark except one dimmed light near the entrance.

"Not much either, I'm afraid." The guy operating the LCD sighed and switched the recorded spectra.

"Well, as you can see here," using the cursor, he pointed at a reddish area forming for a split of second at the left side of Jane's infrared image, "There was something… But nothing we can build on, actually. I… would be careful naming it as a mere warm breath coming from Miss Foster…" the technician gave Jane a quick sideways glance, "However, I wouldn't call it an intruder, too. Unless he or she or whatever it is possess much more sophisticated technology than we have… Which I really doubt."

"However, I believe we haven't gathered here to rely on assumptions." A man standing in the dark intervened. His voice was quiet, but firm and steady.

"You speak my mind, Nick, thank you." Tony turned at Nick nervously. "But what do you want from me right now? I can see the same recording as everyone else does! And as everyone else does, I have to rely on Miss Foster's statements. I really don't have any other recorded material hidden." Another sideways glance, this time from Tony, went in Jane's direction.

"It wouldn't surprise me, though." Jane bit back acidly.

"Oh, sweetheart…" a cocky smile widened the Iron Man's features, "Although I would really appreciate a 'Sexy Nerd in the Shower' footage, I do not possess any." Tony replied calmly, voicing something like regret.

Jane's lips parted but before an answer could be formed, Fury's fierce voice filled the room.

"Enjoying yourself, Stark?"

If someone had ever asked Jane about what she finds scary on human faces, one possible answer would be Nick Fury's white of the eye.

"Am I the only one who's thinking over the consequences if the Cube shall fall in, let's say, North Korea's hands?" Nick hissed, looking around the office. He stepped closer to Tnoy and leaned menacingly over the table in the center of the room.

"I'd like to remind you guys that we're not having fun here." Fury's steady tone was back. "We're here to investigate, but most of all to protect the Cube. Do you understand? Someone is clearly trying hard to break through our security. And Kim or Wizard of Oz or whatever it can be, I want you to cooperate in order to discover them and stop them. Any questions?" He viewed everyone intently as he finished his speech.

"No?" He asked once more. "Then what are we waiting for? Back to work."

Jane felt glad that she managed to get a free afternoon after all the distress. Oh, how she missed something she could call a regular life!

Some shopping downtown, coffee and random chat with Darcy later, she felt somehow relieved and relaxed as she walked back to her trailer. To her own, personal little kingdom.

But I'm afraid they won't allow me to keep it for too long now. Her forehead wrinkled at the thought.

At first, she refused accommodation SHIELD had prepared for her in the compound, but at given circumstances, Jane was certain she would be forced to accept their offer soon.

However, as she approached the familiar trailer, she noticed there was something wrong. Or, at least, something more; something that certainly did not belong there.

"Hey!" she called and ran towards her dwelling.

Apparently, someone's horse was feeding happily on her precious succulent collection.

"Get out! Now!" she exclaimed as she arrived, breathing heavily, at the place of disaster. "Evil creature!"she cried out, trying to chase the horse off with her bag. The animal ducked its head and moved back, observing Jane's rage with something quite resembling confusion and surprise.

"Oh come on!" Jane flailed her arms helplessly and whined at the sight when she managed to calm down a bit. "And what about the cactuses?" She asked the horse angrily, tilting her head. The creature looked at her. Its dark eyes were almost… curious.

"Afraid to eat them, huh?" Jane put her arms on her hips, and sighing desperately, she turned around to look for some responsible person. But there was no one to blame right now, so she turned back to the poor being.

She inhaled to shout again, however, it came out as a mere breath. "Just look what you have done... I spent money on them, you know."

Well, she was too aware that horses had always been her favorite animals. She loved them there was no doubt. Or maybe… Okay, there were whales, especially belugas that were severely pushing the horses out of the first position in her virtual animal rankings, but…

"All right, you got me." She murmured in resignation and stepped closer. "I can't be mad at such a pretty lady." Jane smiled at the coal-black mare and fell to her knees to collect the shattered mess, trying to find and save some unharmed plants. Something soft tickled her cheek.

"Hey, stop that!" she exclaimed playfully through a smile and shoved the horse's head away.

But she turned to have a look as she heard a noise close to a squeak escape the mare's mouth. "Ah, sorry! So you tried some cactuses, after all." Jane assumed as she noticed a prickle on the horse's nostril. "Come on…" she grabbed it and pulled out swiftly.

"It didn't hurt, right?" Jane smiled softly and stroked the silky forehead marked with a white blaze.

"Wait, I'll get you some water. And maybe something tasty, too." Jane promised, got up to her feet and unlocked and entered the door of the trailer.

However, as soon as she got out, she was forced to shout again. Her bag was lying open on the ground and the documents were... Oh no. "That's… What do you think you're doing?" she exclaimed and set off towards the black mare.

I should have hidden my bag first. She thought as she grabbed the other end of the papers that were sticking out of the animals' mouth and attempted to jerk the documents out. "C'mon, let go..!" Jane uttered, and almost fell as the papers finally got torn apart.

"All right, are you happy now? I'll have to print it again!" Jane scowled and viewed the ripped documents. But then she paused and chuckled as a cheeky thought crossed her mind.

The dark eyes fixed on her, with an almost questioning stare.

"Or… I can give them to Fury like that. I'm sure his expression will be unforgettable."

She shrugged and smiled to herself. "Respecting authorities has always been your weak spot, Jane…" Jane voiced her musings, lifted her bag from the ground and tossed it in the trailer doorway, where she took a pack of biscuits.

She took a bite herself and handed the rest of a biscuit to the mare. At first, the animal ducked its head a bit, giving her something very close to a suspicious stare. "Well… See, I'm eating it, too. It's not poisoned, I promise." Jane reassured, her mouth full.

"Here we go…" Jane bubbled happily as the animal stepped closer. She flattened her palm to make it easier for the horse to take the piece of food. "So… better than papers, huh?"

A low whinny sounded as the mare poked Jane's hand gently. "Want more?" Jane laughed and took another biscuit from the pack she was holding in the other hand. "Tasty, isn't it? It's with honey. Eric brought this from the holiday in Spain..." Wait, why am I explaining this to a horse?

Jane sighed and looked around again. She frowned. "I guess someone will be looking for you soon." And you're looking at me like you understood what I'm saying. She thought as she looked back at the creature in front of her.

"You know, no one would like to lose such a pretty girl." Jane spoke quietly, laid the pack on the ground and patted the slender, long neck. The mare brushed its nostrils over Jane's cheek in reply and took in the scent of her hair.

Jane giggled lightly and stroked the beautifully carved jaw and forehead, and trailed her palms up and over the ears. In the end, she just wrapped her arms around the neck and ran her fingers through the soft, thick mane.

The mare stirred a bit.

"Trust me, I'd love to keep you, but we will have to find your owner." Jane spoke sadly as she nuzzled against the soft hair.

The mare puffed lightly in response, but then suddenly jerked away from Jane's arms.

Jane took a step back, startled with the unexpected movement. "What is it?" she asked.

The horse lowered its head menacingly and snorted. Jane took a hesitant step forward and extended her hand. "Is there something wrong? I won't harm you. I never would."

Jane looked into those intriguing dark eyes as they blinked a few times. But then the horse straightened and prickled its ears.

Jane turned around to see a car coming. She turned back immediately as she felt a movement, but before she could react, the horse ran away. She sighed at the feeling of disappointment, and waited for the car to come and stop behind her.

Jane recognized Eric's voice as the engine stopped. "Hey, Jane. What are you doing here?" He asked when he got out and rubbed his head as he viewed the place.

"Um, I live here, I suppose." Jane shrugged.

Eric laughed. "Really? Well… And what about this mess?"

"A horse came to visit me." Jane chuckled.

"A horse?" Eric's eyebrows shot up.

"Yes. It ran away when you appeared."

"Ah, I see… sorry." Eric stated and looked up at the darkening sky. "Well, Darcy is asking us on a dinner. Seems like she's getting tired of all the work."

"Yeah, she told me. Me too, to be honest." Jane sighed deeply. "And when?"

"Right now…" Eric smiled.

"All right. Gimme a minute." Jane replied merrily and returned to her trailer.