Disclaimer: Not mine.

AN: Here we go ladies and gentlemen. I apologize for the delay in updates. Life is getting a little more busy with my new position at work. The workload has more than doubled so I leave work late, party all night (;-)), and sleep on my days off. I promise to keep updating though. So keep reading. Also, thank you so much for the continued follows and faves. I will get to all of your reviews as soon as I can!

Sorry for any and all mistakes...which are ALL mine.

"It's great to see you again, Ms. Hansen." Maya stood as Fury walked towards her to shake her hand.

She smiled politely back at him. "Likewise, Mr. Fury." She responded before she took her seat.

Fury let out a small chuckle, taken back by her manners. He walked around the conference table to take his seat across from her. "I'm sorry. I'm not used to people calling me Mr. Fury. I'm accustomed to Director or Director Fury." He looked out into space as he recalled the other nicknames. "There's also Deacon, Cyclops, Eye Patch, Patchy, Pirate..." He continued before Maya jumped in to interrupt him.

"I assume those last few are terms of endearment given to you by Tony?" She smiled wide.

"You could say that." He nodded. Maya laughed.

"Let's get down to business." Maya cleared her throat before she sat and stared attentively.

The lights in the space dimmed. "Alright…" He pulled up an aerial view map before he began. "This is the facility where you will be working at for the foreseeable future. Tony attempted to infiltrate it, but he was attacked by The Mandarin and his guards before he could get any real information from the inside." Maya nodded as she listened. "He was however, able to tell us the locations of all cameras on the premises." Highlighted camera symbols appeared on the screen at their location. "Obviously we would like to know any other security measures they have. Where do they conduct experiments? Are there cameras in there? How many of them have clearance to the real gritty stuff?" Maya nodded to signal that she followed him. "Now I know we've gone over what Kahn looks like, but I cannot stress enough how dangerous this man is. If you ever see these…" He pulled up a screen shot of his ten rings. "You do what he says."

"Rings?" She asked in a cynical tone. "Is he serious?" She smiled.

"Very." Fury responded coldly before he continued. "Listen Ms. Hansen, those rings are pretty much the least expensive and most valuable tools he has. You do not want to end up on the wrong side of those rings. Trust me."

Maya threw her hands up in mock surrender. "Got it." She nodded. "I will look out for the rings."

"If you happen to observe him while he uses them, please note what each ring does. I don't expect he will use them in your presence, though. He has to get comfortable first."

"I understand. So how chummy am I supposed to get with him?" She looked down at her folded hands.

"Extremely. Become his confidant. His best friend. His partner."

Maya hesitated to agree with that task, but she knew that it was for the best. So she nodded in understanding. "I can do that."

Fury looked thoughtfully at her before he stood to pace. "I know you are up for this Ms. Hansen, but please do not under estimate this man. Be careful. Be alert. As soon as you feel threatened, you let us know and we will try our best to send back up."

The words spilled freely from his mouth, but it took a while for everything to register in her head. As soon as it had, her heart sped up a bit while her adrenaline level spiked. "You mean…you mean I have no backup waiting. I'm on my own in there?"

"Yes. You must understand that we could not get him to trust two new people. We're taking a huge risk with one as it is. He could be on to us immediately and run. Or worse…" He didn't finish his thought, but instead walked over to switch the lights back on. "I believe you will be fine. You can get close to him and do this. Like I said, we will try…the help will come in the even that you need it."

Maya huffed low enough for Fury not to hear her. She had had the impression that he was not as bad as Tony had painted him, but she now had a feeling that he was every bit the Director he thought he was. No room for error. No room for unnecessary loss. Risk the lives of the few for the greater good of many.

She was afraid that she was expendable. And she feared it was too late to say no to the whole damn thing.

Trying her best to feign a smile, she stood. "I will do this, Director, but let's make sure we are on the same page. I am here mostly for the sake of Tony…and Pepper. You see this as a global threat. I see what Tony sees. Someone dangerous who is capable of turning his world upside down. I am here to make sure that doesn't happen."

The director stood. Looked sternly at her with both hands at his hips. "What exactly are you trying to tell me, Ms. Hansen?"

She smiled. "I'm simply saying that if you decided to stop cooperating with me and my safety, I will stop reporting to you. I will free-lance this with Tony."

"Is that a threat?" He grinned.

"Not at all. It's a guarantee." She smiled back with a twinkle of mischief in her eyes.

"I see that Tony has passed on his traits to most of his friends." Fury stated with a firm shake of his head. "You do what you think needs to be done." He finished. "If we're done here, let's get you situated with your transportation." He handed her a set of keys. "Not as fast as Tony's Audi, but it's a good get-a-way car. Fully equipped with bullet proof windows and a tracking chip. We'll be able to see every move you make." He shook his head when Maya looked at him disbelievingly. "That feature is for safety purposes. Not to keep tabs on you, Ms. Hansen."

"I'm sure it is." She smiled as she walked out with him towards the underground car garage.

Maya Hansen was a woman of poise and confidence. She had her experiences and her upbringing to thank for that. But it seemed to her that as of late, that said confidence and poise was constantly being challenged.

The moment she drove the Jaguar up the long drive way was no different.

She came to a full stop at a guarded gate when a man walked up to her window. "Ma'am." He nodded. "Credentials, please."

Instantly she panicked, but quickly recovered when she forced herself to relax. "I'm here to meeting with Gene Kahn. He has yet to give me any…badges of honor." She smiled sweetly at the man.

The man stared at her for a long while without changing his facial expression. "Name?"

Maya had to remember not to say the wrong name, and though it did take some effort to bring it up automatically, she managed to answer assuredly. "Dr. Sheryl Burke."

"Please wait while I confirm authorization." The man spoke before he walked back to the guard shack. Maya gripped the wheel tightly as she stared ahead.

It took no more than a few seconds for the man to open the main gate and signaling ahead. "Proceed forward, take the second left. You have a spot waiting for you, doctor."

"Thank you."

Much to her surprise, Gene Kahn himself was situated right where the hood of the vehicle was to stop as she set it to park. She was not sure if she was ready to confront him, but she steadied her breathing and decided to exit the Jaguar anyway.

He was a very intimidating man, of that she was sure. She could see it in the way he stood with his hands squarely behind him. As if nothing was more important to him than making everyone aware of his presence.

Mission accomplished, Maya whispered in her head as she locked up and walked towards him. Her hand extended out to greet him. "Gene Kahn, I presume." She did not fail to smile flirtatiously up at him.

Kahn grinned ever so slightly before he accepted her hand and shook it, as any professional employer would. "You are correct, Dr. Burke."

Not once did Maya look anywhere else but straight into his eyes. "Please, call me Sheryl."

With a subtle nod Kahn motioned with his hand towards a white building. "This way Dr. Burke."

They walked through the double doors, and Maya took notice of the badges they both had to swipe to enter with. Walking in stride with him, she sneaked glances at the corners of the space inside. So far, she had counted three cameras in the few feet they had treaded. "It's quite cold in here." Maya announced to make conversation, but the temperature did make her shiver a bit.

Kahn continued to walk towards their destination, but glanced at her from the corner of his eye. "This building along with a few others is a controlled environment. We do most of our work in this building, and we need every variable to be stable in order to achieve accurate results. Surely you are aware of that."

Sensing that her first test had commenced, Maya made sure to answer quickly. "Indeed I am. You have to forgive me; my latest work was conducted in a tight space with four others. It rarely dropped below sweltering in there."

A sly smile appeared on his face. "Of course."

They walked in silence a short distance more before he stopped to face a long wall of windows. The interior was dark, but Maya sensed that was where the 'magic' happened. There was a single door to enter through, and on it was a key sensor, much like the first one they had used to gain access to the building. "Did your team have the day off today?" She gambled with a joke.

"There is not rest for those who wish to excel." He looked at her after a small chuckle. "Your team is in the systems room. They get no days off."

His stern look followed by his words made her cringe inside, but she continued to play her part. "As well they shouldn't. We have a lot to accomplish."

With an impressed look, Kahn nodded and grinned. "That we do, Dr. Burke." He clasped his hands behind his back as he looked back at the darkened room. "Please, let me show you inside." He waited for her to move towards the door. "You may use your badge when you are ready."

Maya smiled before she did. Immediately an air lock clicked and lights illuminated the space. She looked around in amazement. If she had not gotten the story behind what possible horrors went on inside, she would be convinced it was the best lab one could work in. "This is a change from China." She looked to Kahn who had walked in to stand beside her.

"Mark mentioned you were a fan of laboratories like no other scientist he has ever met."

Maya nodded eagerly. Because that small detail was not only true of her cover, but of herself. She loved her workspace. Being in a lab could be compared to nothing else. For her, a lab was almost sacred, and a great lab was heaven. Everything good she had ever gained had been in a lab. Nowhere else. "Mark is right. I am at peace whenever I am in a lab."

"Great." Kahn nodded as he walked to a screen on a wall. "I am grateful that you possess such a dedication to your work, Dr. Burke. It is a great advantage…and change of pace from what I have had to deal with." Maya knitted her brows. "Your team can be a bit-volatile. They seem to forget they are professionals. Panic is their first response to failure."

Maya did her best to grin at him. "I will change that."

"I am eager to see that you do." He nodded before he touched the screen. Suddenly a man in a white coat appeared. "Michael, bring the team with you to the main lab."

"Right away, Kahn." The man spoke before the screen went black. It did not go unnoticed by Maya the way he almost bowed his head at Kahn. Either they really respected this man, or he was just someone you did not want to upset.

Maya smiled as she made herself at home and walked around to study what would be her tools for the foreseeable future. She found herself nodding in approval at her surroundings. But as soon as she remembered her task, she cautiously removed her fingers from the equipment and sighed.

Footsteps tore her from her thoughts and she smoothly and confidently turned on her heel.

"Dr. Burke, this is your team. " Kahn nodded in their direction. "Michael was our lead scientist. He has since elected to step down in order to enhance the potential of this experimental case study." Michael looked solemnly at Maya, but nodded anyway. She had a feeling Kahn's story was not the entire truth. "John here is Michael's second brain. They work better together than separately. He is also your walking encyclopedia with regards to vaccines and all things antivirals." John nodded and smiled at Maya. She smiled back politely at him. "Leonard is our head cardiologist." Leonard neither smiled nor nodded at her as he simply looked threateningly at her. His eyes sending a shiver down her spine. "Rick and Daniel here are our data processing team. Rick enjoys his numbers. Daniel is an avid fan of technology. Especially as it pertains to this field." They both nodded at her. "Gentlemen this is Dr. Sheryl Burke."

Kahn observed her every reaction. She could feel his eyes on her.

"It's a pleasure to meet you all. I look forward to working with you." She smiled at them, but no one smiled back. Normally she would have something sarcastic to say. Perhaps break the tension with a small joke about the energy of her crowd, but she elected to hide that side of her. Sensing that Kahn was not impressed with her words so far, she inhaled and let them have it. "I realize that this is a change from what you are used to. You might have doubts about my ability to run this lab, but I assure you that there is no one better qualified than me for this job. And with your cooperation I'm sure we can achieve the desired results. If there is any reason why you feel you cannot continue to be a part of this group, please feel free to leave the data and research you have accumulated so far on your desk before you go."

The men stood bewildered by her bold statement. Some of them looked down, almost feeling chastised. Others stood indifferent. One smiled, impressed, and maybe even attracted to her level of confidence. Leonard however, continued to threaten her with his stare.

Maya felt uneasy.

"What are your qualifications…if I may ask? I want to make sure I know who I am working with." Leonard shot out as he crossed his arms over his chest.

She thanked her past experiences with Tony, now more than ever, because she was quick to formulate an arrogant answer in her mind.

Luckily she had no need for it as Kahn stepped in and moved to stand right beside her. No different than any other time he meant business, his arms crossed behind his back naturally. "There is no need for your interrogation, Leonard. I have studied her credentials myself. Extensively. Her recommendation came from a very trusted source. One that has helped me time and time again. He previously worked with her in China."

"I just want to make sure we're not going to fail at this." Leonard cleared his throat.

"No need. Consider yourself informed. You are fortunate that I even bothered to explain the situation to you."

"I apologize, Kahn." Leonard looked away at his comrades. His glare sending clear signs of his displeasure.

Through the ordeal, Maya stood resolute beside her employer. She made a mental note about Leonard. It was evident he did not approve of her, but she also feared he could be dangerous.

"Well Dr. Burke, the day is yours to do as you please. Get acquainted with the facility. If you need any assistance please ask me or one of your men."

"I appreciate it." Maya turned to face him completely. "I will do just that."

It was not long before the team exited the lab with Kahn leading the way. She stared curiously at the man that stayed behind. Her head tilted to the side a bit in question.

"I was wondering if you would like a guided tour of our facility, Dr. Burke." Michael smiled almost sheepishly at her.

"Definitely." An honest smile left her lips. Truly taken back by his hospitality. "Thank you."

To be continued…

I hope you guys are still tuning in. I'm sure that it can be frustrating when updates are not right after the other, but I am really emotionally invested in this story so I promise I will NOT leave it without completing it. Stick around.