The black of the night began to change to a deep red as the sun started to rise. News reports continued to weave their own elaborate and dramatic tales about what had happened last night. Rumours of giant lizards spread around the city and despite being told that those who had been infected were cured, you could already find the occasional person who swore they had seen one.

S.H.I.E.L.D. were content top let the rumours brew after a sweep search of the city found nothing, and with the main culprit sitting behind bars there was nothing left to fear. For the moment, that is.

Call me pessimistic but I knew it wouldn't be long until a new danger was stalking the streets. Alternatively you could just say it was kind of obvious when you're living in a comic book/movie world. Either way, I knew I was going to have to solve this emotional crisis before my next big battle.

The bridge of the Helicarrier was filled with the usual silence as the agents focused on keeping this thing up in the air. I stood next to the giant glass panels which presented a view of New York basking in the fiery red glow of dawn. It was both breath-taking and slightly disturbing. The old rhyme sprung to mind and I unconsciously ran my hands across my face. Yup, blood was spilled last night. But the world- or city rather- had been saved, Captain Stacey had also been saved- so why did I feel so sad? Was this part of my ego complaining at being a fifth wheel- it was Tasha that kept Gwen's father from coming up to the roof and it was Peter who switched the chemicals. Although I had helped my delivering the chemical and distracting the Lizard so he wouldn't tear the kid limb from limb.

"Something troubling you, Agent?" I didn't see Fury until he stood next to me, gazing out at the view with me.

Yes, there was something bothering me. Ever since the Lizard had clawed my eyes out and I'd had my soul-baring moment, something I gathered was supposed to give you clarity and had instead left me a self-pitying wreck. Why was the question. Why had I been asked to join S.H.I.E.L.D.? Why had Loki decided to help us we were fighting the Chitauri? Why did they still pay attention to me?

"Agent Romanoff informed me of what happened in the tower," Fury continued when I didn't answer. "I have some idea if what you went through. It's not a pleasant thing- moments of clarity never are."

I turned my head to look at him, but he kept his gaze straight ahead.

"You'll see it happen a lot in moments like these- the ones were you are forced to take account for what you are actually doing." He turned to meet my gaze. "Stark had his in Afghanistan and look where he ended up because of it- a superhero and a pioneer in renewable energy rather than continuing recklessly on as he had before. Loki on the other had, from what I can gather from Thor, had his moment of clarity when he discovered this 'big secret'- whatever that was- and what he decided to do with it ended up with him invading Earth."

He paused for a moment.

"The point is you need to resolve whatever the issue is or it will eat at you for the rest of your life, and trust me when I say that is not something you want." He sighed. "I recruited you for a simple reason; not because of your magic or the fact you were from an alternate world, but because when the Chitauri kidnapped you, you didn't sit around moping you got off your backside and did something. Likewise, with Coulson you can tell yourself all you want that anyone from your world would have done it- but do you really think that everyone would be willing to throw themselves in front of a blade? When you were in the tower during the invasion, you didn't sit around and do nothing- rather you again got off your ass and did something. So next time you're moping around think about that."

I ran my hands through my hair as I flushed slightly. Sometimes I could swear he was reading my mind. Reaching to my belt I pulled off the vial of Lizard serum I had recovered from the sewers and held it out. "I thought you could use this, sir."

He took the vial from me and put it on his own belt. "Thank you, Agent."

We stood there for a while longer, at least until another Agent announced my jet was ready. I turned around to leave when I felt a firm hand on my shoulder.

"I'm extending your break and I except you to make up for all the lost hours when you return." Fury nodded briskly to me before releasing me and turning his gaze back to the window as I walked away.

/

"So it looks like they were here for that regeneration serum then."

"Are you telling me that we hired that lunatic for no reason then?"

"We weren't able to know what there target was- we had to be cautious."

"And your being 'cautious' means they now know something is going on at Oscorp."

"Apologies sir. We needn't worry though- the project has been relocated to a secure facility."

"Good- we don't want those S.H.I.E.L.D. watchdogs finding the symbiote."