"You want to do what?" Vanessa asks me, as though I've gone insane.

"I might as well, Vanessa," I whimper. "I'm going to be under S.H.I.E.L.D. for the rest of my life, if you think about it."

"Who planted the idea in your head?" I think Vanessa's waiting for me to say a name so she can go after someone.

"I did." I cross my arms. "Do you have a problem with it?"

"You barely know enough about us and what we're up against. You seriously want to join?"

Our little heated argument started when I proposed the question to my sister as we were gathering breakfast. It had been on my mind for quite some time now. "I'm doing nothing right now," I complain. "We've barely had time to help me remember, and Bucky barely gives me anything anymore. He's too busy practicing with Agent Romanoff. Everybody seems to be so busy all of a sudden." I pout. "I think everyone's tired of me."

"No, something's come up," Vanessa protests calmly. "It requires some of our attention."

"By some you mean most." I narrow my blue eyes.

She sighs heavily. "Getting back to what you were saying, I...I'm not sure if that's a good idea."

"Come on! I'm sure nobody would have a problem with it!" I lightly hit my hands on the table.

"I do."

"Why?"

"Danielle," she says, "it takes commitment—"

"I'll commit. Don't bullshit me, Vanessa. Tell me the real reason why."

Her green eyes turn pleading. "I don't want you to get hurt. Look at you now! You can't remember growing up together, or your graduation, or your first boyfriend, first kiss, anything. I've already lost a good part of you thanks to the head injury, I don't want to lose the rest of you because you got the insane idea to join S.H.I.E.L.D."

I smile somberly at her. "Vanessa, I'm twenty-seven. I'm an adult. I know you'll always view me as your baby sister, but I'm old enough to make my own choices. I don't want to just hang around and do nothing. I want to contribute. S.H.I.E.L.D. needs another agent in the mix."

Vanessa looks at me, I can see her mind working, playing out all the possibilities. She and I know the root reason behind her rejection: she doesn't want to lose me. She took a big risk in life, and look where it has her! She's still alive, still has her family intact (for the most part), and she's doing one of the most important jobs in the world. Her risk paid off.

Who's to say that mine won't?

"S.H.I.E.L.D. can't just grant you acceptance, Danielle," she says lowly. "It's got to be considered."

"Then grab high ranking agents and have them think it over," I propose. "Vanessa, I want to go through with this. I know you know who the higher up people are. All you have to do is put in a word of consideration for me." I bat my eyes and smile at her. "You'd be the best sister ever if you gave it a try. Just because you don't approve doesn't mean that those who think it over will share your view."

"What are you two arguing about this morning?" Bucky joins the party, taking a seat beside Vanessa.

"We're not arguing," Vanessa snaps.

"Wrong," I retort, looking at Bucky. "She's not happy that I want to join S.H.I.E.L.D."

"Legitimately join? Like, be an agent?" Bucky asks.

"Yeah, legitimately," I say slowly. "Why is this surprising everyone?"

"I might have to agree with your sister on this one."

"Why? I'm not disabled!" I shout a bit too loudly. I blush under the pressure of strangers' stares. "I need something to do besides wait until your schedules open up for you to help me with my past."

Vanessa and Bucky just stare at me. I try my puppy dog eyes and pout again, hoping that I can maybe get Bucky on my side in it. I don't know if the look ever made Vanessa cave before.

"We'd have to have someone train you," my sister finally says. I try to hide my smile. "We need people available for that."

"Then make people available," I push.

"You need approval first," Bucky reminds us both. "The best person to bring that up with is Agent Hill."

I have a feeling I'll get what I want if it comes down to her and a few others. "If you won't propose it, I will," I threaten Vanessa. It'd be kind of cool, to work alongside my sister. It might help us bond more, especially if she's the one to help train and educate me in agent etiquette.

Vanessa sighs heavily. "Alright, fine, I'll see what I can do. Just don't think up impossibly high expectations, okay?"

I nod eagerly. At least I've got a chance, a chance I assume will be granted.

I don't see Vanessa after breakfast, so I assume my nagging and pleading have made her get her task out of the way before I find her and harp on her about it. In the meantime, Bucky takes over as my babysitter. He doesn't really tell me much, he's been kind of quiet. Something's bothering him, but I can't get down to the bottom of it. Every time I ask what's wrong, he gives me a vague answer. That's the one thing about being aboard this Helicarrier: you can't get a straight answer out of anyone.

I'm outside on the Helicarrier, on one of the outdoor hangars. It's been a while since I've been in fresh air. The ocean breeze tousles my blonde locks, I adjust my glasses on my face. I tilt my head towards the sun, feeling the faint heat.

"A tanner, are you?" Bucky teases.

"Nah, I'm just enjoying the sun," I murmur. "S.H.I.E.L.D. can't consist of just Helicarriers." It's a random thought, but it has to be true. I find it very hard to believe that this is all that there is to the organization.

"Definitely not," he agrees. "I'm sure they've got hidden bases everywhere. Not like I'd know the locations." His voice turns a bit edgy.

"I thought you were on their side?"

"More on the fence, but more in favor of them," he clarifies.

"Why? Am I even allowed to ask that?"

"You are, but I don't know if it's your business right now to know the answer."

I blow out an annoyed breath. "Always secretive, you people are. I bet it'll be no fun once I'm like that."

"That's if you get your wish."

"So you're not an agent?"

"More like a tolerable ally."

My brows come together. What the hell does that even mean, "tolerable ally"? "So what else of my past can you tell me?" I try to move on since he's clearly not giving me anything that I'm looking for.

"You're very dedicated to your job, always strived to get to the top."

"I guess that sounds like me." I shrug. "Wish I could confirm that."

"Oh, you don't have to, I saw it."

"Are we friends, Bucky? Or, were we? You understand what I'm asking either way."

"We just worked together." The corners of his mouth dip slightly. "It seems like we might do so again."

"If you're not working with S.H.I.E.L.D., then why are you here?"

It takes him a minute to respond. "I've got nowhere else to go. I'm sort of like you, Danielle, stuck here."

"But it's not a bad thing, is it? To be here?"

"It was in the beginning. It's not much better now, though."

I purse my lips, wondering how Bucky even got here. A lot of things still don't make sense to me.

"Are you two having fun out here?" Vanessa's voice pierces through the quiet. Bucky and I turn to see Vanessa strolling towards us. I raise an inquiring eyebrow, hoping to get an answer. "Looks like you'll get your wish after all, Dani." I'm a little taken aback by the nickname. "You've been granted permission to train."

I almost jump for joy. Instead, I beam at my sister. "When do I start?"

"Right now. You're going to get a rundown of how this is going to work. I'm here to bring you in. Come on. You too, Barnes. We'd rather not have you out here alone."

"Any other time people don't have an issue with me being on my own," he grumbles as he and I tow behind my sister.

We go back inside the Helicarrier with Vanessa in the lead. Hype runs in my veins.

Before I know it, I'm in a meeting room that's filled with Agents Hill, Romanoff, and Barton. I see Barton visibly stiffen up once we all fit ourselves in the room.

"Agent Finley told you, then?" Agent Hill asks me.

I nod. "I'm ready."

"Unfortunately, we're in a bit of a situation right now that requires a lot of our agents working day and night. Fortunately for you, we've got a few to spare. While I won't be able to provide any assistance, you'll be taught by Agents Romanoff and Barton. Your sister, I'm afraid, won't be able to help you, as I'm going to need her."

I frown but don't make a comment.

"And Barnes will help you as well, more so for strength training."

"Thanks for calling me a weakling," I half joke. From the corner of my eye, I see Bucky smile. I'm glad I won't be trained by total strangers. I'll be around people I somewhat know.

"You'll be trained on combat for a while until you can be sat down and learn more about the organization itself. We figure it's better to go hands-on just in case something happens." My eyes widen. "Don't worry, these two are some of the finest agents S.H.I.E.L.D. has. You'll be in good hands." She offers me a smile. "Welcome to S.H.I.E.L.D., Agent Finley."

The title gives me a newfound sense of purpose. Now that is going to be super confusing, especially when I'm around Vanessa.

I look at the three of my mentors. "Who's getting me first?"

"We'll work on that tonight. Expect someone pounding on your door tomorrow," Agent Romanoff tells me. "For now, enjoy your last day of peace." She smiles mischievously.

Something tells me that my mentors are going to take the fun out of agent training.