Steve watched as Skye hit the punching bag again and again, she was strong and well trained. She turned and kicked the bag making it swing slightly. Steve was impressed from his position in the viewing room. Of course as he watched Natasha walk over to her with a stern face he knew that it had not been good enough for the deadly spy.
Steve chuckled as Skye cowered under the Black Widow's harsh instructions before promptly sticking her tongue out at her the second Natasha had turned around. Skye had been undergoing many tests, mostly to do with her computer hacking and her hand to hand combat skills. Steve knew that it was only a matter of time before Natasha would want to see her powers in action though.
"Well if you ask me it would be great just to have a good looking girl on the team who probably won't kill you in your sleep."
Steve turned to see his good friend Sam walk in covered in sweat from no doubt another extensive workout.
"What, Wanda too scary for you?"
"Dude every time she looks at me I am sure she is imagining another way to kill me. The girl's Dad is Magneto, remember the crazy mutant out to destroy all humans. Plus she spends all her time out with the tin can. Also don't even get me started on how terrifying Natasha can be." The Captain looked over at his friend with his eyebrow raised.
"Vision and Wanda are getting on well?"
"Can he even…never mind it's just weird. My point is that Natasha should just let the new girl join! I mean we saw the footage of what her powers can do. Cap I need someone else to hang out with! Rhodes is constantly off doing something at the army base when he is not on duty and Natasha will be gone with you and doctor hottie soon."
Steve looked startled at the mention of Dr Simmons. He felt the need to correct Sam but dismissed it as the man was always flirting and talking like that about women and he had never paid it any mind before. He went to open his mouth to dispute his reasoning for wanting Skye on the team before somebody beat him to it.
"We can't put her on the team simply because you want someone to hang out with Sam." Both men looked over as the red head walked in and stood to look out the viewing glass at the punching Skye.
"Fine, but I don't see why you have her doing hand to hand combat and computer games when you could just have her bring down a mountain. Give her a uniform, a handshake and presto." Sam was met with a scathing look from the Black Widow.
"The Captain and I will be leaving soon and by then I should have made a decision. While we are gone you are in charge and I expect you to have her continue training, maybe have her spend some time with Wanda. I am fully aware of her powers, but if she cannot keep them in control or hold her own without them then she will only be a liability to this team."
Sam for all his jokes and laid back attitude was underneath a very mature and loyal man. Steve watched as he thought seriously about Natasha's words.
"Maybe some forms of meditation and a safe environment for her to practice would be a good idea." Natasha smiled at the man's words; that was why she was leaving him in charge.
"It will also be a good chance for me to get to know her better," he said with a wink. Natasha rolled her eyes, and that was why Wanda had been instructed to keep an eye on him.
Steve continued to sit there as all three watched Skye go over and over the forms she had been asked to do. There was soon a knock on the door however and Sam went over to open it. Dr Simmons stood shyly on the other side. Steve quickly looked over to the fidgety biochemist as she looked up startled at Sam.
"Hey if it isn't the lovely Jemma, came to take me up on that offer for a drink?"
The Captain felt himself frown, he told himself it was because Sam shouldn't be fraternising with any agents.
"Perhaps another time thank you Sam." Steve looked over at the smiling man. Since when had these two even met let alone become on a first name basis? It had only been a couple of days since the three agents had arrived and Dr Simmons had spent most of it studying reports and newspapers or anything to do with the legend of the Winter Soldier. She spent the rest of her time brushing up on her Russian and doing some light training when she could manage it.
Steve didn't have long to ponder before he was caught by Dr Simmons' calculating gaze.
"Could I speak with you Mr Rogers?" The first avenger quickly excused himself to leave with Dr Simmons, he received a pout from the obviously put out Sam. As soon as the doors swished behind him and Dr Simmons had checked that they were alone she began to ramble off on some information she had found out.
"There was another sighting of someone with a similar build and with an apparently metal limb, this one was in 1959 by a farmer in the outskirts of-"
Steve had noticed in the couple of days since she had been here just how incredibly intelligent the young woman was. She would often go off on these tirades spurting out facts as well as theories all to do with the mission. Steve often found he couldn't keep up but was content to simply listen to her stream of intellectual thoughts. He often picked out important bits and gave his own less intelligent thoughts on the matter.
"-Anyway I asked agent May but she was too busy and I thought maybe if you weren't too busy, that is of course you would be busy. I simply meant if you weren't so incredibly swamped under to possibly help me. I mean I know overseeing Skye's testing is also very important and I would never be so presumptuous as to think that my own-" Steve cut her off.
"You need my help?" The biochemist gulped and looked down at her shoes.
"I was undercover in Hydra so of course I have been trained to go in the field but…well this is such an important mission and I don't want to be a hindrance or burden to you or Miss Romanoff, I don't think I have enough skill to keep up or to-" He quickly cut her off.
"Be assured that we do not expect you to be up to the fighting level that I or Natasha are and we are fully equipped to protect you. You are coming mainly for your knowledge of Hydra, your medical expertise as well as your experience with robotic limbs. I don't think it is a bad idea if you learnt a few things while we have the time though. I would be happy to show you some moves." Steve added a smile for good measure cringing inside for his last use of words. He watched as the poor woman's shoulders slumped in relief, it seemed she had been quite nervous.
"Oh well, thank you very much. I didn't want to bother you, I mean Sam did offer-"
"Sam's very busy at the moment, got a big mission coming up. I have to go hear an update from a teammate of mine right now but how about I meet you down at the base training room and I can see what you've got." Dr Simmons smiled widely thanking him again before walking off to go get changed and warm up. Steve only felt mildly bad for the little white lie. Sam would likely be annoyed if he knew.
Jemma had promptly gotten changed and started warming up in the said training room. She was by no means an excellent fighter but she had gone through training and passed her field assessment before she was sent undercover.
She had been nervous to ask the famous Captain America and had first wanted to go to May, she had been busy of course and had immediately wanted to know for what she needed the practice for.
Jemma proceeded to do some stretches and relax her muscles. She had been so stressed these last couple of days, being in Hydra and standing in a room alone with both Coulson and Agent Hill put together had not been as stressful as this experience. The only time she could think of being this nervous and stressed had been when Fitz was in a coma. Fitz…Jemma felt her heart tighten. She missed him terribly but knew he could use the time away from her, besides, she was needed here.
Jemma moved her arm over her head and felt the marvellous pop that followed, she hoped Mr Rogers wouldn't be too long. She had come to enjoy his brief company over the last couple of days. He was very friendly and he had exquisite manners, Jemma often had to hold down the urge to blush every time he would hold open a door or ask her if she needed anything. She supposed it was how he had been brought up, she found it refreshing and quite sweet.
She tried very hard to remain professional and hoped that the Captain had not picked up on her slight appraisal of him. She of course knew of the rumours that the Captain and the Black Widow were an item, she had no desire to be on the feisty woman's bad side, nor in the Captain's pity. Besides the biochemist was quite happy to be of help to Mr Rogers and hopefully he may even consider her a good agent.
The woman straightened as she heard the door slide open. Instead of the tall figure of Mr Rogers a much smaller one came through the doorway. Simmons had the sudden terrible idea that Miss Romanoff had heard her thoughts about her boyfriend and had come to kill her and quietly dispose of her body. Jemma automatically dismissed the silly notion and stood at attention.
"Sorry but something came up and Steve had to rush off to help, he should be back by tomorrow. He told me that you would like some help with your fighting skills and I offered to come and have a look." Natasha disposed of her jacket to reveal sweats and a tank top similar to Jemma's.
"Hope that's ok."
Jemma felt her heart beat increase but nodded her head, she had seen how hard the deadly assassin had been on Skye and she did not relish the thought of her attention being put on her.
Before the biochemist could think anymore the woman in front of her had already pounced and delivered a swift kick to her abdomen sending Jemma sprawling to the ground.
Just as Jemma was about to ask what she was doing the Black Widow had already moved closer and was about to grasp her ankle. Thinking quickly Simmons kicked her legs out and attempted to sweep the red head's legs out from under her. Miss Romanoff promptly back flipped, crouched back and then flew towards Jemma fists ready. Jemma quickly rolled to her left and stood up ready to block a swift right kick from the assassin.
It occurred to Simmons that perhaps her idea wasn't so silly and that the assassin was trying to kill her.
Jemma attempted to hold her own and lashed out with a right hook but Miss Romanoff had lightning quick grabbed her extended wrist and twisted it behind her back. Simmons knew how to get out of this, she had been trained. She went quickly through the steps in her mind but before she could execute it the red head had pushed her to the ground gently and had her held in place. Jemma found herself panting and thoroughly stuck.
"I'm sorry I suppose that came as quite a shock. If it helps you were much better than expected, you have good reflexes." Jemma felt the light pressure leave her back and she found she was able to stand up and face the smiling woman who had attacked her.
"Um…thank you?" Simmons rubbed her arm where she had landed roughly.
"You have good reflexes but you think too much. That isn't your fault, you're a scientist after all and it's your job to think." Natasha seemed totally friendly and Jemma could hardly believe it was the same woman who had just attacked her.
"Fighting isn't an exam though, you have to learn to go by instinct, muscle memory. Thinking is good once you have time, and your brain Jemma Simmons will be your greatest weapon. My job though is to teach you what to do when you don't have time to think." Before Jemma could reply a fist came flying toward her and she was forced to duck.