Special Agent 2: The Dark Soldier

Chapter 36

"Fury's death is classified for now," Rumlow told the NCIS agents and Rogers as he led them down the hall toward Alexander Pierce's office. He had already debriefed them on the attack in the STRIKE wing, taking down notes on what had happened leading up to Fury's death. "We need to make sure SHIELD is secured before we release news of this to the public."

"Understood," Rogers said grimly. The Avenger was dressed in his iconic blue uniform, ready for action. DiNozzo and Bishop had changed into their STRIKE gear under Rumlow's orders, in case news of Fury's death leaked to the wrong groups and an attack was launched against the Triskelion. Gibbs glanced at Rumlow as the STRIKE agent stopped and gestured to the office door. His gut was telling him he was walking into a trap. If Fury was right, and if everything he knew about Pierce was right, this was a trap.

I wonder if Vance knows how to contact Agent Torres, working the underbelly of SHIELD.

Rumlow had already informed them of SHIELD's assuming jurisdiction on the Morris case, and how an agent had already been dispatched to collect the files. Although at this point, the files weren't going to help solve the case. This was so much bigger than a murder.

Pierce stood as Gibbs, Bishop, DiNozzo, and Rogers entered his office. The Secretary of the World Security Council gave them a weary smile, his face lined with age but no less hard for the wrinkles. "Thank you for coming." He nodded to the young female agent standing beside him. "Thank you, Agent 13."

The woman smiled tightly and turned to leave, nodding to Rogers as they passed. "Captain Rogers," she said.

Rogers looked shocked to see her there. "Neighbor."

DiNozzo lifted an eyebrow at Pierce. "Looks like Robert Redford," he muttered to Bishop.

"I'll take that as a compliment," the Secretary announced, causing DiNozzo to widen his eyes. "Captain Rogers, Agents Gibbs, Bishop, DiNozzo. Please, take a seat."

The four took seats. "I'll cut right to the chase, Agent Gibbs," Pierce said. "Why was Nick in your basement?"

"Everyone calls me Fury. Not Nicholas, not Joseph, not Nick. Just Fury."

"He wanted a drink," Gibbs answered. "Wanted to talk about the Morris case, warned me SHIELD was taking it over. That's about it."

Pierce gave him a look. "You sure about that, Jethro?"

"I'm sure," Gibbs replied coolly. "Anything else, Pierce?"

Pierce glanced at Rogers. "What were the three of you doing at Gibbs' house?"

"Romanoff tells me I work too much," Rogers answered evenly. "I need a hobby. So I decided to talk to Agent Gibbs about woodworking. DiNozzo told me he is quite skilled at it." He nodded at DiNozzo and Bishop. "They were kind enough to direct me. We were going to grab a bite to eat afterwards at a local diner Bishop had recommended."

Bishop and DiNozzo nodded, expressions serious. Well, they had learned Rule 7 well – always be specific when you lie.

Pierce sat back, eyeing each Avenger in turn. "We all just suffered a tragic loss. Nick Fury was an irreplaceable leader. The two of us, we were realists. We knew that despite all the diplomacy and the handshaking and the rhetoric, that to build a really better world sometimes means having to tear the old one down. And that makes enemies." He directed his gaze at Gibbs. "You were the last person to see Nick alive, Jethro. I don't think that was an accident, and I doubt you do, either. So what was he really doing there?"

Gibbs stared down Pierce, his eyes cold and impassive like a rattlesnake's. "Rule 35, Pierce."

"And which one of your rules would that be, Gibbs?" Pierce's tone was suddenly icy.