You'd awoken just after four in the morning with a dream and were unable to go back to sleep. So you'd made the coffee and found yourself a spot at the side of the room where you could watch the Avengers pass through as they woke. You weren't certain half of them even realized you were there.

"What's your plan for the day?" Natasha asked as she ate. She didn't glance at you, but you knew the words were meant for you just the same.

"I need to pick up Lola from the base."

Tony jerked in his seat and looked over his shoulder to where you sat in the corner. "Jesus. How long have you been sitting there?"

You simply smirked and lifted your mug in a mock salute.

"Lola? Who's Lola?" Steve asked.

Nat grinned. "Her car."

"Your car's name is Lola?" Sam asked with a little smile.

You shrugged. "I didn't name her."

"Lola's not going anywhere. You need to audition for the team this morning," Clint said as he handed you a breakfast sandwich.

"What do I have to audition for? They let you on." You took a big bite of the sandwich and gave him a closed lip smile as you chewed.

"That hurts me, Nikki. Seriously."

"Nikki?" Tony asked.

"Long story," Clint responded immediately shooting you a look to say sorry. You ignored him. He'd been calling you that for over a decade at this point. You didn't expect him to stop just in case someone read something into it.

"I don't recall agreeing to join the team though," you said. "In fact, I'd intended to head to Sister Margaret's after breakfast."

"No." The word came in unison from three different voices, Bucky joining in with Nat and Clint.

You rolled your eyes and finished off your sandwich. "Fine. Let's get this over with then."

***

Bucky stood to the side with his arms crossed over his chest as he watched you spar. He planted his feet and forced himself to not react anytime one of your opponents' blows landed. You'd started with Clint but quickly moved onto Natasha. You were more than holding your own.

"Nicely done," Steve announced as he stepped forward. "But how do we know Nat's not taking it easy on you?"

"Really, Rogers?" the assassin snapped.

Bucky smirked. Sometimes his best friend was really stupid.

"Fine then, Captain. You fight me." You seemed completely unbothered by this prospect. If anything, you sounded a bit bored.

Steve glanced back at Bucky who simply shrugged. Did he want you two fighting? Of course not. But he also knew Steve would try not to hurt you. The blond climbed into the ring with you taking Nat's place. Bucky shifted his weight as his gaze flicked between the two of you.

You were the first to attack. Steve dodged but the look on his face said you'd surprised him with your speed. Punches and kicks were thrown in equal measure. Some were dodged while others hit their mark. It was about five minutes in when you flipped Steve and he landed on his back in the middle of the ring.

Bucky couldn't keep the grin from his face when you smirked down at your opponent. "Captain." You held out a hand for Steve.

He took it and let you help him to his feet. "You're strong. And fast."

You arched a brow. "There's a reason Coulson was the one to adopt me. And why I was allowed to grow up in SHIELD." You bent your elbow to show off the arm that had been thoroughly marked up the day before. The wounds were faded and looked as if they'd been healing for days rather than hours. Bucky rubbed his own arm where the matching marks laid. What were you exactly?

"Thanks for the match." You left the ring with a little wave over your shoulder. You went to the other side of the room where your things sat. Everyone watched as you took a long pull of water and sat on the floor, back against the wall.

Tony turned his attention back to the team. "Well, Steve, what's the verdict?"

"What do you mean 'what's the verdict'? She kicked his ass," Sam said with a grin.

Steve shot him a look. "She didn't kick my ass. I can say that Nat wasn't holding back though. How does she heal the way she does?" He directed the question to the two SHIELD agents.

"Not our story to tell," Clint answered.

"See, that's my problem. We don't know anything about her. Not really. That makes her a liability." Steve kept his gaze from meeting Bucky's.

"You can't expect her to tell you everything within a few days of meeting you." Nat's brow furrowed as she argued.

"And you know everything about her?" Steve asked.

They hesitated a moment before Clint answered. "Not everything, no. But we know enough. None of us has the right to know everything about anyone else here. This is a job, Steve."

Steve frowned in disgust. "It's more than that and you know it."

"Do we really need another member right now?" Tony asked.

"Need? No. Doesn't mean we shouldn't take advantage when we have the opportunity to add some kickass talent," Sam said. "What does Bucky think? He's got more of a stake in this than anyone."

Bucky shook his head. "I don't want her doing anything where she might be in danger but she's going to do that anyway. At least here I can keep an eye on her. And I know you'll all have her back."

"I'm sorry, Buck, I just don't trust her," Steve said. "There's important things that she's not telling us."

Irritation crawled through the brunet super soldier. Steve was his best friend but he better back off his girl or they were going to have an issue. "Well, it's a good thing the decision isn't entirely up to you then. All in favor?"

Everyone raised their hand but Steve and Tony. The billionaire shrugged when Bucky glanced at him. "I don't really care one way or the other. Though it seems to me that if Capsicle really doesn't trust her, keeping her close might be the best way to watch her."

Steve sighed. "Fair enough. I guess she's in." They turned to where they'd last seen you only to find you and your things gone.

"Where did she go?" Steve asked.

"She left," Nat answered.

Tony's brows lifted. "Is she coming back?"

Clint and Nat exchanged a look then they both shrugged.

Fantastic.

***

You'd left a couple of sentences into their discussion about you. You didn't really care what the result was. You had enough choices you didn't have to worry about what you were going to do. But you did have a locker to empty and a car to pick up from the base.

You had your Uber drop you off at the front gate. "Hey, Kelly," you greeted the agent on duty.

He held an arm out in front of you. "Hey, Coulson. I'm sorry but you're going to have to wait here."

"Excuse me?"

The tips of his ears turned red. "You're not allowed on the base without an escort as you no longer work for SHIELD."

"Well, then get me an escort so I can get my shit." Petty ass Fury and his bullshit.

Kelly ducked back into the hut and picked up the phone. You listened to this side of the conversation as Fury himself came on the line. From what you could gather he had no intentions of granting you access. Walking over, you snatched the handset from the agent.

"Fury, if you don't let me on this base to pick up my father's car and the photographs from my locker, you will regret it. And don't forget that I know where you live."

"Are you threatening me, Coulson?" he sounded surprised though you didn't know why he should.

"You bet your ass I am, eyepatch."

There was a stretch of silence before he spoke again. "Your personal belongings have already been placed in your vehicle. You come in, get your car and leave. No lingering, no conversations, in and out. Understood?"

"Sure thing, Uncle Nick." He hated when you called him that. Or at least when you did it in front of other people.

He grumbled a bit before saying. "Put Agent Kelly back on the phone."

You handed the phone over with a smirk. You tapped your foot as you waited for the conversation to finish. Finally, he hung up the phone. "The director said you may proceed without escort but you won't be allowed back on the base after today until you come to your senses. His words, not mine."

"I figured. Thanks, Kelly." It was a bit of a walk to where Lola was parked but you didn't mind. Besides, you wanted to take your time, prolong the task as long as possible just to irritate Fury. He was trying to bully you into doing what he wanted and you didn't like it. God forbid he do the reasonable thing and apologize for being an asshole while offering you a raise to get you to stay. That would be too simple.

Lola was right where you left her. A small box sat on the passenger seat and you rifled through it to find all of your pictures. One in particular caught your attention and you pulled it out. It was of a much younger you surrounded by Clint, Nat, Fury and your dad. You were all laughing. Well, Fury was smirking. That's as close as he got.

You were feeling very alone at the moment. You missed your family. You missed your dad. A sigh left you as you looked at the picture one more time then dropped it in the box. All you wanted was to go home and lock yourself in your apartment with a glass of scotch.

You parked Lola in your spot when you got home and grabbed your box. The garage elevator took you to your floor and you shuffled off into the hallway. Yours was the third door on the left. You were relieved to find the hall empty. You'd half thought someone would be waiting to speak to you.

You balanced the box on one hip while you picked out the key to unlock your door. The key slid into the lock but wouldn't turn. You frowned and pulled it out to double check. Seeing it was the correct key, you tried it again. Still no luck. You dropped your head against the door with a groan. What fresh new hell was this?