Falling for the Captain

Strictly Business

"Faye!! Welcome back!!" Kris says.

"Come here, crazy!!" Griffin exclaims and engulfs me into a hug.

"Oh god, we missed you so much!" says Grace as she plants a kiss on my cheek.

"Meh I didn't miss you that much," Sam says, "JUST KIDDING! GIVE ME A HUG!"

"Lieutenant Commander Faye, great to see you," as Fury holds out his hand. I smack his hand and give him a big hug. I know Fury isn't a big hugger, but he's also like a father figure to me. He's helped me through some dark and even darker times, especially this past year. He's stiff at first, but loosens up and hugs me back even tighter.

"Why is everyone acting like I was dead? People, you all saw me last week!" I laugh.

"Okay, yes, but this is a big step, especially for you, Faye. We missed having you around. It wasn't the same," Kris explains.

"Yeah! THANK GOD you're back. I was really getting tired of Sam and Kris fighting all the time. I mean it provided some laughter during the day, but it wasn't the same without you," Griffin says.

"HEY!" both Sam and Kris exclaim at the same time. Grace holds her stomach, obviously dying from laughter.

"Okay, okay settle down. We have a lot to do today, including sending Faye on her first mission back as LC" Fury yells over all the craziness that's happening in his office. Because Lieutenant Commander is a mouthful, people call me LC for short. I don't mind it at all. It actually makes me feel somewhat of a normal person. Minus the part where I'm the second highest ranking person in this office.

I laugh and make my way to his couch and my cousins follow right behind me. I really did miss this: gathering in Fury's office, the laughter, the commotion, all of it. I still carried a heavy piece of guilt in my heart after my last mission. I just hope I can handle whatever Fury has planned for me.

"So, LC, your first mission shouldn't be too complicated. You're on watch detail for Captain Rogers" Fury says.

"You said what now?" I hesitantly ask. My cousins shove me around and laugh like kids when I say this.

"See this is what I missed!" Kris laughs.

"Shut it, Kris! Fury why does Captain America need security? Second, he's CAPTAIN AMERICA! I'm sure he can mend for himself. Third, why am I security? Why can't it be one of these goons?" I say and point to my cousins. They make dramatic faces and I stick my tongue out at them. Yep, one crazy dysfunctional family.

"Because despite your family being one of the best assassin teams in the world, I want to slowly bring you back into this field. You've been out for a while. I think this is a great first mission," explains Fury.

"Oh come on, Fury. You damn well know what I can and can't handle. I can handle a lot more than being a babysitter for Captain America!" I project, slightly getting annoyed.

"Careful, Faye. Don't wanna hurt the Captain's feelings!" Sam says in a half crying half teasing face. God, maybe I need to go on another hiatus after being back for a solid HOUR. I mock Sam and repeat what he said to me. I couldn't think of a good comeback, so that's all I had right then and there.

"You're not a babysitter. It's just a one night thing, Faye. Plus, he won't even know it's you. We'll only inform him that he'll have a team ready if he needs it. Anyways, back to the mission: Cap was invited to a dinner tonight and one of HYDRA's leaders is supposed to be there. You'll go in pretending to be an invited guest. He has his mission, which is to take down HYDRA once and for all, while you remain as backup, if needed. Emphasis on the IF NEEDED PART" says Fury.

I grunt and blow the strand of hair that was in my face. An agent can handle this type of mission, not me, the LC! I cross my arms in front of me and unconsciously, my leg begins to bounce, probably because of my anxiety. I know this is a basic mission, but it's my first mission after being gone for a while. Kris notices and places her hand on my thigh, right above my knee. Thank God for this woman.

"Fine. But if I go, so do they." I point to my family.

"It's a done deal."

Fury and I shake on it and my cousins begin to groan.

"OH so now y'all wanna complain? 10 minutes ago you were saying how much you missed me!" I half yell half laugh.

"Yeah, but that doesn't mean we want to go on a stake out mission!" Kris exclaims.

"Well, I'm excited. I get to dress up and play secret agent without having guns or knives involved, hopefully. Obviously, I'll still be strapped, but it's the thought that matters. Plus, I haven't done that in a while! This will make me feel like a kid again," Grace says. She's the wholesome one, the person that completes us. You can say she's the glue of our family.

"You and I had very different upbringings, Grace," I laugh and engulf her in a hug.

"Are we done with the shenanigans? Stark is waiting for all of you at the tower. Hurry up and get your asses over there!" Fury yells at us.

"Yes, sir!" We mockingly say and head for the elevator.

"Boy, are these sons of bitches going to be the death of me," I hear Fury mumble below his breath.

"We can still hear you!" Griffin exclaims.

"THAT WAS THE POINT, GRIFFIN!" Fury yells back.

We all laugh and wait for the elevator to reach Fury's office. It feels great to be surrounded by my family. They make me feel whole again, like they're the missing piece of my puzzle. I don't know what I would do without them. But, I knew I was missing a couple more pieces. What it was, I didn't know.

"Stark lent me one of his suits, so you guys take the quinjet and I'll meet you at the tower," I say.

"Wait, no fair! Why do you get a suit? Why can't I borrow one?" Sam says in a child-like voice.

The elevator doors open and Tony's suit opens for me to enter. I climb in and look back at my cousins.

"Because I didn't ruin the last one he gave me!" I exclaim. Then, the glass windows of the elevator opens and I fall backwards, letting FRIDAY take control.

"See you in a bit!" I yell as I fly back up to them.

Out of the corner of my eye, Kris and Sam are showing me that I'm number one. I laugh at that image that's engraved in my brain.

"FRIDAY, take me to your master!" I say.

"Don't ever say that again," Tony says over the coms.

"I'll see you soon, Tony!"

Well, this shouldn't be too bad of a mission. What could go wrong?