6 Months Later

December 2013

Location: Washington, D.C.

Serena's POV

I groaned in annoyance as I reached over to my nightstand and practically threw my alarm clock off it, so it shut off. As I slowly sat up, I prayed to every single god there was, that the damn little machine was broken…unfortunately, it wasn't. I groaned again before getting up out of my bed to start my morning routine. I have been living in D.C. for 6 months now, and honestly, I love and hate it. Do I miss New York? Yes. But do I love D.C.? Yes. Honestly, I have 50/50 feeling about it…I love it because I grew up here, my childhood is here, but I love New York as well.

Once I took a shower, brushed my teeth, and put on light makeup to cover the dark circles under my eyes, I walked into my closet and began to pick out the clothes I would be wearing for the day, even though I would most likely be changing out of them once I got to the Triskelion. I grabbed a pair of dark jeans, a black turtleneck, and a pair of knee-high black heeled boots. I also grabbed a white cashmere scarf that my parents bought me for Christmas a few years ago, before I threw on a long black-wrap coat. There was a snow storm a few days ago, so D.C. was covered with snow…I truly loved it. After grabbing my bag, I walked out of my apartment, and building, and headed to my car. Thankfully I had a few days off, so I could dig my car out of the snow, plus, occasionally, I need a few days off to myself. I had just bought my car within the recent couple of months, with my own money. So many people In S.H.I.E.L.D. think that I'm only in the organization because of my father's nepotism, so when I pull up with a black Porsche Macan, their automatic thoughts are 'your father bought it for you.' They're 100% wrong. Not only did I earn all my degrees on my own, but I have been making enough money for the last couple of years, that it was time for me to buy myself something that I earned.

After about a half hour of driving, mostly due to traffic, I drove across the bridge that led to the Triskelion. It looked kind of majestic, as the sun was coming up, and the snow was on the ground, but I toned it out as I put on a pair of aviator sunglasses on. Once I parked my car, I gave myself a once over in the mirror, before grabbing my bag, and finally getting out of my car. As I walked into the main entrance, I scanned my badge, and security quickly checked my bag.

I raised an eyebrow. "Really Tom? I told you; do you really think a member of the World Security Council's daughter would have any weapons on them?"

Tom rolled his eyes. "We go through this everyday Dr. Pierce…it's protocol." He then roughly handed me my bag back.

I groaned in annoyance before roughly taking it from him, before walking away.

"Protocol my ass." I murmured as I walked away from him.

Just as I started walking across the lobby, heading toward the elevators, I was met by Brooke, who handed me a binder and a coffee from Starbucks.

"Morning to you too." I replied.

"Relax, I got you your favorite." She began.

"A soy latte?" I asked taking a sip from the cup.

"That, and I also got you a case." She explained as we got into one of the elevators.

I opened the binder and my jaw dropped in shock. She brought me the case of all cases. The removal of a wooden stake lodged into someone's chest, that was slightly piercing the agent's heart. I smiled greatly and hugged Brooke.

"I love you, Brooke." I said in glee as I pulled away from her.

"I know…I've only known you since we were in diapers." Brooke replied.

I laughed, but what she said was true. I went to the same schools Brooke did growing up, and our parents knew each other as Brooke's father and my father both knew each other rather well, as they both served in the President's Cabinet at the same time, with my father as the Secretary of Defense, and Brooke's father, Markus Thatcher serving as the Secretary of Homeland Security.

I was about to hit the floor for the medical wing when I got a buzz from my phone. I looked at it to notice that I got a text from my father, saying to meet him in his office, ASAP. I showed Brooke who shook her head in annoyance.

"So, I guess that's a no?" She questioned.

I sighed before passing her the chart. "I'm keeping the latte…don't be surprised if I lock myself in my lab today."

She sighed. "I won't."

As soon as the elevator doors opened, Brooke stepped out, and I pushed the button for the top floor, which contained the World Security Council's meeting room, my father's office, and Fury's office. I knew in the back of my mind that this was either a good thing, or a bad thing…but based upon the text he sent me, it's going to be bad.

Once the elevator doors opened again, I started to walk down the long corridor that I absolutely hated so much. I glanced over to look into Fury's office, but noticed he wasn't in, which was unfortunate, considering I love to bother him. I've been annoying him since I was a kid, and even though I annoy him to no end, him and his wife Priscilla love me to death. They have always been so kind to me, and always have welcomed me into their home, whenever my parents were out of town. They basically became my surrogate parents when my real parents weren't around…which was always. When people ask me what my childhood, I either ignore them, or lie and tell them it was fabulous…the latter being 100% not true. Most of my childhood was me being taken care of by Renata, as my father was away on business, and my mother was busy in an OR. Both of my parents were never around, so I was always by myself, or with Renata, and when Renata couldn't watch me, I had Fury and Priscilla.

I continued to walk to my father's office, and hesitantly paused before gently knocking on the door.

"Come in." I heard him say from the other side of the door.

I carefully opened the door, and I saw him sitting at his desk, on the phone with someone. He gestured for me to come in and sit down in the chair across from him. I nodded and walked over to the chair and sat down. I crossed my leg in impatience, as I waited for my father to finish his call.

"Yes, I completely understand…no, don't worry, I'll take care of it. Yes, I hope you have a good holiday as well. Alright, I'll see you in a few days. Take care." He explained before hanging up the phone.

I raised an eyebrow at his facial expression as he sat down in the chair on the other side of the desk.

"I'm sorry about that Sera." He began. "I have to head to Geneva in a few days due to a World Security Council summit."

"Something serious?" I questioned.

He tilted his head from side to side. "More like the exchange of holiday gifts and talks about our families…with a small side of politics."

I rolled my eyes. "Is this why you called me? To ask me to keep Mom company while you're gone?"

He shook his head. "No, your mother is coming with me. I called you here because I need you to investigate something."

I crossed my arms. "This better be worth, the 10-hour surgery that I just passed up."

He smiled. "It is."

He placed a small test tube of blood on his desk. I leaned forward and picked up the small vial.

"Our spies picked this up in a lab outside of Moscow The lab was being run by a couple of bioterrorists that have been on S.H.I.E.L.D's radar for a while now. We're concerned as to what's inside of the blood." He began.

"What do you mean, inside the blood?" I asked in confusion.

"I mean it's DNA components. We're concerned that the terrorists were trying to create something, perhaps they got their hands on Chitahuri blood and are trying to clone the race…we don't know, but I want you to find out, what the components are in this blood." He explained.

I placed the vial back on the desk. "You want me, to basically do a genome screen on a tube of blood…do you know how long that could take me…I would have to shotgun almost everything."

He nodded. "Sweetheart, I'm aware of the lengths that you need to go to figure this out, but you are the only person I trust for this job. With your background in Molecular Genetics, you are one of the most talented scientists of our time…and one of the few people I trust. The entire world could benefit from this, and I am sure the World Security Council would feel the same…I am informing them as soon as I get to Geneva."

I sighed as I glanced at the tube of blood on the desk. I knew my father was right, this would not only benefit S.H.I.E.L.D.'s future, but also the world's future.

"Ok, I'll do it." I explained finally meeting his eyes.

He smiled again. "Thank you, you don't know how much this means to me."

I nodded before I stood up, placed the vial of blood in my bag, and started to walk out. "I'm sure, now if you'll excuse me, I am going to go lock myself inside of my lab for the foreseeable future."

Just as I was about to close the door, I was met by his voice again.

"Serena." My father called making me turn around to look him in the eyes.

"Keep this between us for now, I don't want anyone to worry." He explained and I nodded, even though I knew deep down that he knew I wouldn't tell anyone. I walked down the hall and got back into the elevator. I immediately pushed the button for the medical wing, so I could take my coat off and place the vial of blood in my bag, in a safe place, so no one could find it. Once in my lab, I hung my coat up, took the vial out of my bag, and placed it inside of a biohazard container, and then placed it, inside of the small safe I had, in case, I was doing anything top secret. Once the safe was locked, I went back over to the coffee cup I had on my lab bench, and noticed it was empty. I sighed before grabbing my badge, and wallet, to head to the cafeteria to get myself another cup of coffee. I put on my white coat that I usually used when I was operating on patients, so that no one would think I was a civilian…even though I'd highly doubt it. Once I got to the cafeteria, I walked over to the coffee station and began to make my coffee, when a familiar voice called for me.

"Serena!" I heard a familiar voice say.

I immediately turned around to be met by the face of Steve Rogers himself.

"Captain Rogers, it's good to see you." I said with a small smile.

"I thought we'd agreed that you can call me Steve, and I can call you Serena?" He questioned with a small smirk.

I huffed in amusement. "Right. Sorry, a lot has been going on."

He nodded. "I can tell…you look tired."

I sighed. "Is it that obvious?"

"Well, I mean I'm not one to judge, but you just put salt in your coffee…I don't know if that's a new thing everyone is doing these days…as back in my day we just put sugar in it." He explained.

My eyes widened before I placed my cup in the garbage.

"Shit." I murmured.

"Can I buy you coffee, so you don't add salt to it?" He asked.

I nodded. "Honestly, I trust your judgement better than mine these days."

Staying true to his word, he put sugar in my coffee. He also grabbed a cup for himself, before the two of us sat down at a small table in the corner that was right by the window, so we got a great view of the icy Potomac below us.

"How long are you going to be in D.C.?" Steve asked before taking a sip from his cup.

"Most likely permanently. My dad had me come to work here after I saw you in New York…he and my mother are a little over-protective of me." I explained.

"Do you like it here?" He questioned.

I nodded. "I grew up in Great Falls, which is about 30 minutes away. I spent most of my childhood growing up in my maternal grandparent's house…my mother inherited it when they died. My parents live right down the road…my family still owns both properties…but I love my grandparent's house more…it has equestrian facilities…it's home."

"Sounds like you're happy to be home." He said with a small smile.

I nodded and smiled. "Sometimes I am, and sometimes I'm not…usually depends on the day. What about you? Do you like it here?"

He tilted his head from side to side. "Yes and no…as you said, depends on the day."

I laughed lightly. "It must be hard adjusting…to all of this."

He nodded. "Yes and no. The food is so much better, we use to boil everything, no polio is good, the internet, is so helpful."

I smiled and nodded. "Everything you missed is on the internet, but I'll be happy to answer any questions you may have."

He raised his eyebrows in shock. "Really? You'd do that?"

"Of course." I smiled. "And I'm not just saying that because you technically work for my dad now…I'm saying it as a friend and colleague."

"We're friends?" Steve questioned.

"Every person, who I don't automatically cut open with a scalpel, and have a decent conversation with I consider a friend of mine." I said with a smirk.

He sighed. "That's fair."

I laughed again before we both changed the topic to something more current. Eventually, my pager went off, which pulled me away from our coffee session. Steve, being the gentleman he was, walked me to the medical wing. We talked the whole way, about a various of things, Steve's childhood, my childhood (I told him the good parts), and what it's been like for him to adjust to working for S.H.I.E.L.D. aside from his Avengers nonsense.

"This is me." I said as we walked into the trauma bay.

"This is intense." He explained as he saw a lot of injured agents being pushed on gurneys.

I nodded. "It gets crazy on some days, but I am going to be locking myself in my lab today."

He smiled. "You like the peace and quiet?"

"You have no idea." I said with a smile. "Thanks for the coffee, Steve. I really appreciate it."

He nodded. "Of course, just don't go putting salt in it, I doubt it would taste good…unless that's what you're into."

I rolled my eyes with a smirk. "You're never going to let that go are you?"

"No." He smiled.

"Ser!" I heard Brooke's voice call making me turn around.

"There you are, I've been looking for you every…holy fuck." She said in shock.

I sighed before looking to Steve with an annoyed face.

"Steve." I began. "This is Dr. Brooke Thatcher, my childhood friend, who has become the only other doctor I trust other than myself. Brooke, this is Steve."

Steve smiled and held out his hand to Brooke. "Ma'am."

Brooke, still wide eyed as ever, hesitantly reached out and shook his hand.

"You're…you are…Ca…Cap." She began.

"I'm sorry Steve." I explained stepping in front of Brooke. "We don't get celebrities in here this often."

He shook his head. "Nonsense, I get this all the time."

I nodded. "I have to go handle this case, but maybe we can grab another coffee sometime?"

He nodded. "Sure, I'd love that."

I smiled. "Great, I'll…"

"Dr. Pierce." A voice from behind me began. I glanced behind me. It was a nurse.

"We need you." They continued.

"Sorry Steve, I'll see you later, ok?" I asked as I grabbed Brooke by the hand and started to lead her away from him.

"Sounds good." He smiled. "Bye Serena."

I smiled back. "Bye Steve."
I was practically dragging Brooke along, who was stilled eyes wide and pale as a ghost.

"Come on Brooke." I urged her on.

"But that's…Ca…Cap." She continued.

"I know it's Ca-Cap, but we have a case, so snap out of it." I explained.

Almost like the snap of a finger, Brooke snapped out of her trance as soon as Steve was out of sight.

"You are doing coffee with Captain America?" She practically screamed.

I shook my head. "It was a spur of the moment. It's a long story. What is this case?"

"I want details, but not now." She explained. "And as for the case, it's an Appy, somebody's appendix blew in the field."

I sighed before taking a long gulp of my coffee. I shook my head and walked past her.
"I'll be in my lab." I explained.

Once in my lab, I locked the door behind me, and closed the blinds, so that no one could see in. I unlocked my safe and pulled the blood sample out. I picked it up and inspected the vial in my hands.

"Yeah, this is going to be harder than I thought." I said aloud, knowing this was about to be the hardest job of my life.