CHAPTER 11

DECEMBER 23, 2013

The graveyard was empty and quiet as usual. The sun was warm and there was a gentle cool breeze. Allie sat on the grass with her legs crossed and a Charleston Chew in her hand. She stared at the tombstone that read "Agent Phillip J. Coulson." She opened the candy bar and broke off a piece and shoved it into her mouth.

"I had a vision yesterday," she swallowed. "Millions of people are going to die and I have no idea who is going to cause all of this to happen." She took another piece of her candy and popped it in her mouth. "Sometimes, I really wish you were here. I feel so… helpless."

"Maybe you're not as helpless as you think," a deep voice said behind her.

The young woman turned her head around and saw it was Nick Fury. "What do you know?"

Fury walked up to the tombstone and gave it a long look. "The dream you had. Tell me about it."

"I'm sure my father told you everything," she replied as she chewed on another piece.

He adverted his eye at her, "Actually, he didn't tell me a thing about it." She swallowed and furrowed her eyebrows together. "I know, I thought it was odd too," he answered her silent question. "Which is why I really need to know."

She glared at him. "Why is it that you only come around when you want something?"

Fury bowed his head down and inhaled deeply. He didn't know how to respond to that. He looked back at the young woman, who was staring back down at the tombstone. He smiled as he read the wrapper. "That's his favorite-"

"Candy bar. Yeah," she cut him off and looked back at him. "I know."

"If you know he's still alive, then why do you still come here?"

She crumpled the wrapper in her hand as she finished the rest of her candy. "Because, I like it here. People are too indecisive, it gives me a headache. Dead people don't have to make decisions."

He raised his eyebrow at that. "Fair enough."

There was a moment of silence.

"When dad asked you to be the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D, why did you take his offer?" She asked, staring at him in the eye.

He gave her a long hard look before he answered her. "I wanted to keep innocent people safe, and I felt that I was the best man for the job."

"And what about now?"

He gave her a small smile, "That's why I assembled the Avengers."

She nodded her head. "What if I told you, you shouldn't trust them?"

"And why would you say that?"

She held her breath for a few seconds before she exhaled. "Last night, I saw- um - I saw so many people die. I'm not sure how. But, Rogers was there. He was on the run. He was a fugitive."

"Rogers?" Fury repeated firmly. "Captain America, Rogers?" When she nodded, his forehead creased and his eyebrows scrunched together. "Are you sure?"

"I am sure we was a fugitive. I'm not sure if he will be the one behind all of this. I'm still investigating. But, I did find something that was odd."

"What's that?"

Allie stood up from her spot, "My father left a file on his desk for me to give to Rumlow last week. And me being so clumsy, I tripped and fell on my way to the elevator and just so happened to catch a glimpse of what was inside." She smiled sweetly. "There was nothing but a flash drive."

"You couldn't possibly know what was on there," Fury replied.

"I didn't," she admitted. "Until I took a look. I'll tell you what's on that flash drive, if you answer one more question honestly."

Fury gave her a surprised look. "Okay, I'll play along."

"If you could get proof that Alexander Pierce works for H.Y.D.R.A, what would you do with it? No bullshit."

Fury stared the young woman down for a long time and gave her the most honest answer. "I'd bring him down."