Prologue:
Dr. Serena Pierce, is one of S.H.I.E.L.D's top doctors, and is the daughter of Alexander Pierce. With a name like hers, many believe that she is just another 'Nepo-Baby'...but unknown to many, Serena hates her family, and hates her last name. She works with purpose but is constantly reminded of her family. Her father, being the head of S.H.I.E.L.D., makes her feel like she is constantly in her shadow, and that she never had to work for anything. Her mother, a world-renowned surgeon herself, constantly feels the need to control her due to the fact that Serena was kidnapped when she was five. This lead to Serena being rather rebellious during her teen years. All she wants to do is distance herself from the Pierce name. And even though she is highly respected amongst her colleagues, and loves her work, she longs for something exciting that she can't receive within an OR or behind a lab bench.
When she meets Captain America, her entire world is turned upside-down. Chaos unfolds. Will Serena continue to look at the past, and be constantly reminded of the Pierce name? Or will she look to the future, and take the chance at adventure?
Rated T for swearing and suggestive themes.
Eventual StevexOC
Story Starts in 2013 (before CA:TWS)
Present Day (2013)
S.H.I.E.L.D. Medical Facility: Location: Classified
Serena's POV
The game. They say a person either has what it takes to play, or they don't. My mother was...one of the greats. Me on the other hand, I'm kind of screwed. I can't think of any one reason why I want to be a surgeon. But I can think of a thousand reasons why I should quit. They make it hard on purpose. There are lives in our hands. There comes a moment when it's more than just a game...and you either take that step forward or turn around and walk away. I could quit, but here's the thing...I love the playing field.
I sighed as I investigated the microscope sitting on my lab bench. As of right now I had a strain of E. coli sitting on a glass slide at the end of the lens that was causing a havoc amongst some of the agents who worked down at the Triskelion. I may be a surgeon, but I originally got my interest in the medical field with Human Genetics. It was my mother who talked me out of becoming a Geneticist and insisted that I go to medical school. My father on the other hand wanted me to go to the SHIELD Academy and become a field agent. The later never happened. I graduated from Johns Hopkins with a degree in Molecular Genetics, before my mother sent me to Harvard Medical School in Boston to make me learn how to become a surgeon. I'll be honest, I do love being a surgeon, and I'm quite good at it, but the research side of things fascinates me more, as you can make a brand-new discovery just from looking into the microscope. It's kind of remarkable when you think about it.
My lab is state of the art. While I do practice medicine at this facility, and deal with all the injured SHIELD agents that come in and out of here, I do have a small research lab running. I have a couple of techs who some minor experiments, and a couple of trainees that work under them, but mainly it was me who was pushing for all these experiments to get done. I looked up from my microscope and began to write down the notes of my findings in the tablet I had next to me when someone barged into the lab.
"Serena!" Brooke began. "You're needed down in the med bay; we've got injuries coming in."
"Can't you see I'm a little busy." I explained not looking up from my tablet and looking directly back into the lens of the microscope.
"I get that you're trying to get published and all, but this is important. Fury's going to get mad if you don't come down." She replied.
"So then let him get mad. Don't give me a research lab if you don't expect me to use it." I countered still not looking up from the scope.
"Ser, these are the people from that explosion in lower Manhattan. Don't you want to listen to the screams of the injured, see their bruises, and look at their broken bones." She asked.
I finally looked up from the scope with a monotoned unimpressed expression on my face. "You're point?"
She sighed in disbelief. "Are you serious?"
I shrugged as I took my gloves off and took my blonde hair out of the bun I had it in. I kept then took off my lab coat and put on the coat I usually wear when seeing patients that had my name written in cursive on the left side: Serena Pierce M.D. Brooke finally smiled as she saw me walk around from behind the lab bench and eventually walk out the door.
"You look tired." Brooke began as I closed and locked the door to my lab behind me.
I quickly looked at my reflection through the mirror. My green eyes, which were usually lively, looked rather drowned out with the slight dark circles I had under my eyes.
"You try being up for 36 hours." I explained.
"What?" She questioned. "Why?"
"I'm trying to figure out what is the cause of an outbreak down at the Triskelion...what did you think I was doing?" I rebuffed.
"Sorry. I even asked. Why are you wearing a dress and heels?" She asked as we walked down the hallway that led toward the medical bay. She must've noticed I wasn't wearing scrubs like she was and was in a maroon sleeveless dress and heels instead.
"I had a meeting." I explained. "I didn't have time to change afterwards."
"With whom?" She questioned.
"The World Security Council." I began as we started to walk down a large staircase that headed to the lobby. "They want me to investigate some Bio-Terrorist agent. Plus, they want to know my status on my research. They want me to use a codename for it."
"A codename? Why?" She asked in disbelief.
I just rolled my eyes. "I don't know. I feel like it's mostly my mother requesting that they check up on me."
She started to laugh. "Your mom is something else."
I nodded. "Yeah, a pain in my ass."
Upon entering the medical bay, we flashed the agents at the doors our badges, so they'd let us in, and once they did the two of us were met with doctors, nurses, and other personnel were running around frantically.
"Sometimes I feel like chaos follows me wherever I go." I explained as we walked over to the nurse's station to grab our stethoscopes and data tablets to document any types of injuries that may occur.
"Hi, Ali." Brooke began with a smile and wave.
Ali is our favorite nurse, and the only one we trust with our patients...at least the only one I trust with my patients.
"Dr. Thatcher, Dr. Pierce, it's good to see you both...get ready for the circus is in town." She explained.
"How bad is it?" Brooke asked.
She rolled her eyes. "Three incoming dislocations, one broken femur, one concussion, one torn Achilles, and I don't know how many people who need sutures."
I sighed. "I should've locked the door to my lab."
"I found her eyes deep in her microscope." Brooke explained.
"Fury asked me to figure out why there is an E. coli outbreak at the Triskelion." I explained
"Any leads?" Ali asked.
I shrugged. "Right now, I'm leaning toward a food-related outbreak."
Brooke nodded. "That would make the most sense...I still can't believe you met with the World Security Council."
"You met with the World Security Council?" Ali asked with surprise.
I nodded. "I told Brooke that I feel like it's just a way for my mother to keep tabs on me, but I guess that's what I get when your father is the former Secretary of Defense and the current Secretary of the World Security Council...sometimes I wonder if I even got this job or got into Hopkins or Harvard because of the fact that I'm related to Alexander Pierce."
"Well, you do get pick of the litter with everything." Brooke explained.
"Nepotism does have its benefits." Ali nodded in agreement before turning to confusion. "Wait, why does your Mom want to keep tabs on you 24/7?"
I sighed. "Because of what happened in Bogata when I was little...remember, I was 5...I was a hostage."
Brooke put her right hand up. "We get it, you don't need to get into a PTSD therapy session with us. We're not shrinks."
I rolled my eyes. "Sometimes I really hate who I'm related to." I then turned to Ali. "Are the patients through triage and in rooms?"
Ali shrugged before looking at the computer in front of her, after a couple of clicks she nodded before both mine and Brooke's tablets lighted up with patients along with their room numbers. I had to suture a couple of people, fix an arm dislocation, and I unfortunately got a concussion patient. My day was going to be filled. I knew my concussion patient would take the longest, hence why I saved them for last. After fixing the arm dislocation and suturing the rest, I headed to one of the private rooms for the concussion patient. Just as I was heading to the patient's room, I heard a familiar voice call from behind me.
"Sera!" A familiar voice called.
I quickly turned around to see my father, Alexander Pierce, walking toward me.
"Aren't you supposed to be in D.C.?" I asked as he gave me a hug.
"Aren't you happy to see your father?" He asked as he pulled out of the hug and avoiding my question."
"I saw you literally earlier this morning...on a video call." I explained as I continued walking to the patient's room, with my father walking with me on my right side. "You still didn't answer my question."
"Yes, but that was over video call. Your mother was worried about you." He explained.
I rolled my eyes. "She does realize that I'm a working full-grown adult, right?"
"Sweetheart, you know how your mother is." He began. "She's..."
"A control freak?" I asked as I glanced at him.
"I was going to say worried about you." He continued. "Serena, we are still your parents, we have a right to be concerned."
I stopped in my tracks as we reached the door. I turned to my father. "Are you following me?"
He shook his head. "Are you the doctor assigned to Captain Rogers?"
My eyes widened. "What?"
He nodded. "Captain Rogers is in this room awaiting a doctor. Nick is with him."
I was still in disbelief. "Captain America is my concussion patient?"
He nodded with a smile as he opened the door. "I'm glad he has the best then."
As I walked into the room trailing behind my father I was met by Nick Fury, eye patch and all, speaking to the Star-Spangled Man himself. He had some slight bruises on his face, which meant that he got into a pretty bad fight, and I could tell that there was some dried blood on his hands and lip as well.
"Captain Rogers, I want you to meet someone." My father began. "This is my daughter, Serena; she's going to be the doctor assigned to you."
I walked over to him and shook his hand.
I smiled. "Hi, I'm Dr. Pierce, it's an honor to meet you, Captain Rogers."
He smiled back as he shook my hand. "Likewise."
Turned towards Fury and my father.
"If you both don't mind stepping out for a few moments...it's technically a HIPPA violation, since I doubt neither of you are his emergency contact." I explained.
My father and Fury glanced at each other before walking out of the room and closing the door behind them.
I glanced at the door and sighed in annoyance.
"Tough crowd?" Captain Rogers asked me.
I gave him a small smile as I walked over to the sink to wash my hands.
"You have no idea." I explained. "I've known Nick Fury since I was a kid...and for some reason I still get intimidated by him."
"I can imagine." He replied. "I didn't know Pierce had a daughter."
"I kind of keep my name on the down-low. I honestly hate using my last name." I explained.
I quickly put gloves on before he could reply and began to examine his motor functions to make sure that they were all intact. Thankfully they were, as I'd hate to have the leader of the Avengers being stuck in bed for a couple of weeks without any type of crazy physical movement...Fury would for sure shoot me.
"Well, the good thing is that your motor functions are all intact." I explained as I sat down on the stool next to his bed. "So, you'll be good to go Captain Rogers."
"Please call me Steve, Dr. Pierce." He explained.
I smiled. "Only if you call me Serena."
He nodded with a smile. "Deal...so you're a surgeon?"
I nodded. "A Geneticist who's moonlighting as a surgeon, and dabbles in Microbiology here and there...my mother kind of forced me to go to medical school, she's also a surgeon so I really had no choice. She's quite the control freak."
"I can imagine." He explained. "That's interesting you're a microbiologist."
"Yeah, I'd rather be in my lab than seeing patients." I explained. "It's my happy place. Fury has me trying to figure out the E. coli outbreak down in the Triskelion."
"Probably food related." He explained and I raised my eyebrows.
"That's what I thought as well." I said with a smile.
"When Fury mentioned that to me, I figured that'd be the reason...there were those kinds of outbreaks during the war." He explained.
"You would've made an excellent scientist...considering you came up with the theory that I've spent the last couple of days trying to figure out." I explained. "You're brilliant."
He shook his head. "I'm sure you're the brilliant one...Fury trusts you a lot."
I nodded. "He's known me since I was a kid...that's probably why. He's been in my life since I was 5, he's practically my uncle at this point. Anytime someone has a bacterial infection he makes the doctors send the samples to me. My lab is upstairs, I want it to be a little bit bigger, but I don't know if they'll let me have a bigger lab."
"Isn't that something you should ask your father?" He asked.
I rolled my eyes and frowned.
"I guess not?" He asked in confusion.
I laughed at the expression on his face. I guess he wasn't used to this type of person.
I shook my head. "I don't want to ask him because then word will go around saying that the only reason, I got this job and got into college is because I'm related to Alexander Pierce."
"What schools did you go to?" He asked.
"Johns Hopkins in Baltimore for Undergraduate and Harvard for Medical School." I explained.
"Excellent schools." He said with a smile.
"And I worked hard to get into them...plus I hate telling people I'm related to him...hence why I use to use my mother's maiden name when I was in school, even though most of the professors knew who I really was." I explained. "My mother is also a surgeon who did work for the Mayo Clinic, she also did some research for the NIH for a while, found a new way to harvest skin grafts. She's retired now, but still gets called to do speeches at conferences and runs the Pierce Foundation."
"Rebecca St. James Pierce is your mother, right?" He asked.
"Yes...let me guess, you've met her?" I asked with a small smirk.
He laughed. "I might've walked into your father's office and heard the tail-end of a conversation with her."
I rolled my eyes. "Most likely discussing what they want me to do with my life."
"They don't like you being a surgeon?" He asked in confusion.
"No, they do." I explained. "My mother pushed me to be a surgeon...my father wanted me to be a field agent, I didn't want to do either I wanted to be a Geneticist...but here I am, a Geneticist moonlighting as a surgeon...just to please my mother, my father on the other hand...sometimes I don't know if he's proud of me or wants to kill me...probably both at this point."
"I'm sorry." He replied.
I shrugged as I stood up from my seat. "It is what it is. I'd not go on a mission for about a week with your head injury, take it easy for a while."
Steve sighed. "It's hard for me to do that."
I laughed as I started heading for the door. "I figured. Just take it easy for a while and rest up, ok Ca...Steve?"
He nodded with a smile. "You got it, Serena."
I rolled my eyes before walking out of the room, still mentally in shock that I just gave medical advice to Captain America.
Later that night, I was once again on a video call with my parents.
"Did you have a good day dear?" My mother asked before taking a sip of her glass of wine. My parents were both in their house on the outskirts of D.C., whereas I was still stuck in my lab.
"As good as it could be...I saw Dad twice in one day." I explained before jotting down a few notes on my tablet.
"Your father had to make a quick stop in Berlin before coming back, but he wanted me to inform you that the World Security Council wants you to move to the Triskelion." My mother explained.
"Wait, why?" I asked.
"Your father said something about wanting to be able to work with you, rather than you work for him." She continued. "Sera please don't fight us on this...we miss you."
I nodded. "I miss you both too, but my lab is here, my residents and interns are here, my lab techs are here."
"Your father said he'd give you are larger lab with even more technicians, along with the most advanced prototypes of the current medical technologies. Sera, you'd be seeing more trauma patients, and you'd be closer to home. You know how much I worry about you, and I'm sure your father feels the same way." She said and I could see her practically begging me through the look on her eyes.
I sighed knowing how much my mother worries about me. I'm her only child, her pride and joy, and I completely get why. Her anxiety is always through the roof because of how much of a control freak she is, but on the other hand, I totally get why. She's got a lot on her plate...plus the fact that when I was a kid and accompanying my Dad to Columbia, I got kidnapped by radicals of the ELN...so I kind of get why she's a control freak, but at the same time, I'm a fully grown adult, she can loosen the reins a little bit.
"I'm not going to win this battle, am I?" I asked looking my mother over.
She shook her head. "No sweetheart, you aren't."
I sighed again agreeing defeat. "When do I have to be in D.C?"
"He said by next Monday...he also said that Brooke and Ali are also going to be able to come as well, and work under you." She explained. "Sweetheart, this is an amazing opportunity, and I'm glad that you are taking your father up on it."
I nodded. "Fine, I'll see you both next Monday then."
She smiled. "I love you Serena."
I smiled back. "I love you to Mom. Say hi to Renata for me!"
She nodded before I ended the call. I looked around my lab and realized that I'd finally be leaving the sacred space I'd love so much. Not that I was complaining, but I would miss my lab. But perhaps in D.C. I'd find myself. While I do love it here, I have been longing for something great, something new, a new adventure of some kind, and maybe, just maybe, I'd finally make my parents proud. Or I'd fuck everything up and make them both hate me for the rest of their lives...which I honestly think is what'll occur.
