Author's Note: Trying to bring in some more of the Marvel universe to give more depth and I pick one I don't really even know! I'm not planning on using a lot outside the Avenger crew or MCU bunch, but I want them to be part of the universe. I am going to be going out of town in a few days, so I'm hoping to come back with a lot of jumping plot bunnies. Plus I really need to get Countdown and Finding Family done. I've got an idea for another story following them and I'm forbidding myself from posting any part of it until I get these two finished. Why and how did these two take over my brain and create a whole verse?!

Help on the Horizon

Darcy stood at the window, her forehead against the glass as she stared into the distance. Sometimes she loved being in one of the taller buildings in the city. Nothing blocked her view. She heard the door behind her open, but she didn't bother to turn around. A pair of hands began to rub her shoulders before trailing down to her hips. They slipped around her waist and strong arms pulled her back to rest against a solid form.

"I heard it was a difficult day," Phil spoke in a low voice as he pressed a kiss to her temple.

She gave a huff of breath that mingled amusement and exhaustion. Her body slumped against his. "Jane needed a part-time caretaker," she replied. "Adding Tony and Bruce to the mix pulled it up to a full-time job. Betty isn't too bad, unless they get into some kind of debate and all her good sense goes out the window to make way for her crazy competitive vibe."

"And the heroes?" he added.

"They're not all that bad," she acknowledged. "Since you take on more than half of that handling, it's just a matter of helping catch the fallout on a bad or crazy day." Then she shook her head. "But, oh my God! I had no idea how much more over the top it could get by adding in the FitzSimmons duet!"

"I didn't think either of them scored that high on your mad scientist scale?" Phil chuckled. It had been a source of amusement the night she spelled out her way of rating the scientists they worked with as well as those they met in the course of work or simply living with such a collection of scientists.

"They didn't!" she exclaimed. "At least not before! Is insanity catching? Leo is usually the least of my worries, but once the others convince Jemma she needs to try to do something, he follows her lead! Even with JARVIS on my side, I don't have enough eyes or hands or…or…" Her voice trailed off as she began to wave her hands in an agitated manner.

He pulled back and turned her to face him. She almost vibrated in a jittery sort of way as anxiety and amusement mingled in her eyes as she looked up at him. He caught her hands and wrapped his arms around her without releasing them. A pout began to form on her mouth, but his curved into a smile before he bent his head to kiss her. She relaxed into it, wanting nothing more than to let him take away all of the stress of the day.

"Better?" he asked as he lifted his head once more.

"Mmm," she hummed, her eyes blinking open. "Much."

"Then let's go sit down and discuss this," he said even as he began to steer her towards the couch. "We should be able to come up with something between us." Phil sat down at the end and pulled Darcy into his lap. He let her curl into him, her legs stretching the length of the couch. "Now, talk to me."

"The majority of them are fine most of the time," she told him as she rested her head against his shoulder. "They've got their mad scientist moments when they forget about food or sleep. I can generally just have JARVIS keep an eye on their labs." A laugh escaped her. "For the record, Betty knows way more heavy metal than any woman that serene should and Jemma has a potentially unhealthy interest in dissecting things. Leo is by far the least troublesome of the lot. Still, Jane and Tony notwithstanding, dealing with them as individuals doesn't usually worry me."

"It's the collective then?" he prompted.

"Or some of the combinations!" Darcy went to stand up, but he held her against him until she slumped back. "Tony by himself can have ridiculous days, but he seems driven to try and get a reaction out of Bruce. He and Jane are like long separated twins or something – either they get along like a house on fire or I'm trying to negotiate peace accords before they draw blood." A sigh boiled out of her. "Betty is so happy to see Bruce interacting with people that she is reluctant to rein him in while Leo doesn't even try with Jemma. Jemma leads him around like a puppy when she really wants something."

"There's an image," he muttered under his breath.

She poked him. "Don't tell me you haven't seen it. Leo not only won't stop her, he aids and abets! Betty's not usually a problem, but if somebody needles her enough, her competitiveness kicks in and God forbid she and Jane link up. Once they do that, Bruce comes in and Tony follows him. When all four of them are working on something the other two's curiosity boils over and the Brain Trust goes into full swing with no brakes whatsoever until I get there and it's usually too late to prevent the first three explosions."

Phil rested his chin on top of her head, waiting for a few breaths to make sure she was finished. "What do you want to do?" he asked. "Tell me what you need."

"I hate to admit it," she sighed, "I really, really, really hate to admit it, but I need some help. I wouldn't trade my job for the world, but things are going to start slipping." Darcy slumped down. "I hate it."

"You can't do everything, sweetheart," he replied, pressing another kiss to her temple. "We're taking on more than we ever expected, particularly with whatever game Fury is playing."

"He hasn't told you anything?"

"No," he shook his head. "Hill either. Neither of us is happy with it, but…" His voice trailed off.

"I get it," she said, voice going soft. She turned her face up and planted a kiss on the underside of his jaw. "He's still your boss…near independence or not."

"And I can't believe he means any ill," Phil agreed.

Her fingers tapped alone one of his forearms. "I never thought he meant badly," she told him in a thoughtful tone. "I just don't like his high-handed way of doing things. He's too much the chess player. Sometimes he forgets his people aren't unfeeling pawns." Silence stretched between them for several minutes before she spoke once more. "I want to bring in someone I can trust to roll with the weird and not be overawed by everyone."

"Not someone from SHIELD then?"

She pulled back to look at him only to give a soft snort at his teasing gaze. "Funny guy," she deadpanned before putting her head back down on his chest. "No, definitely not SHIELD."

When she remained silent he reached for her chin and turned her eyes up to meet his. "Who did you have in mind?"

"I might know someone who will work," she bit her lip, "and I know they'll have to be vetted or whatever, but I don't really want them to land on SHIELD's radar any more than they have to."

"Who, Darcy?"

"She's got a lot of experience at dealing with odd situations, and she-."

"Darcy," Phil interrupted, "you need to tell me who. I can't begin to agree or decide if it's something I can help with unless I know who. Give me the name before you try to sell it."

"A cousin of mine," she answered in a low, hesitant voice. "Her mother is my dad's sister. She married into another close knit group down in Florida – the Kales. Jennifer, Jenny as we call her, has got a lot of practice at the strange and bizarre. She won't blink at the Brain Trust, and she certainly won't be awed by much of anyone." Darcy paused. "Well except possibly Pepper."

"Most of the world tends to be awed by Pepper," he shook his head. "That's hardly a strike against her." He frowned, glancing out the window before looking back down at her. "I know you don't want SHIELD to pick her up, and your word is good enough for me, but just in case – is there anyone else we know who could…give her a reference?"

A wry, almost embarrassed smile crossed Darcy's face. "Ummm…would Stephen Strange do for a reference?"

Phil blinked and then sighed. "Is she in his line of work?"

"Sometimes."

"Darcy-." He started.

"I know," she interrupted, "but she really would be a big help, plus it can't possibly hurt to have some mystical mojo on our side for once."

A chuckle rumbled beneath her ear as he tightened his arms around her and drew her in tight against him. "No," he agreed, "it wouldn't hurt. When would she be able to start?"

"Probably not until after the wedding," she replied, one hand coming up to rest above his heart. "It's not ideal, but at least it's something. She'll have to square things down in Florida first."

"Alright," he told her. "You can call her and see if she'll be interested. Just make sure you give her the whole story. No one deserves the entire Brain Trust all at once without fair warning."

"You know," Darcy teased, "technically I-."

"Picked them up one by one with your eyes wide open," Phil finished.

She stuck her tongue out, but he just bent his head and captured her lips for another kiss, this one deep and electrifying…and more than sufficient to bring all serious conversation to a close for a good long while.