Time Flies When You're Saving Lives

A New Life

Disclaimer: I own nothing you recognize. Only my OC, Agent Clarissa Melanie Connors, and her story line belongs to me.

~0~ = little break

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------An annoying ringing woke me up from my sleep. I groaned into my pillow, rolling over to my bedside table to get my phone. I glanced at the clock next to it, seeing that it was 3 in the morning. I squinted my eyes, the light emitting from my phone was a shock to my sleepy eyes. I scowled when I saw who was phoning me.

"Nick, you better have a good reason for phoning me," I practically growled into the phone.

"There's a problem in Budapest, I thought maybe you'd want to check it out," He informed me.

I groaned.

"Was that it? You woke me up at 3 just for that?" I asked Nick.

"Well, yes," Nick replied calmly, "You're the one who usually would want to be kept busy."

I shrugged to myself, knowing he was right. For the past 70 years, I have been going on a lot of missions, especially ones that require me to leave the country. Although I still had a slight fear of planes and needed Phil, Clint, or Tasha to be with me, I was all for it for leaving the country. The past decade my fear has gotten better.

"I thought I left a memo saying I wouldn't be in for a week or two and left you in charge," I reminded him.

"Oh, I didn't get the memo..." I could practically see Nick awkwardly scratching the back of his neck.

I sighed into the phone, "Just send Clint and Natasha to it, I'm sure they can handle it."

"Are you sure you don't want to take this Clarissa?" Nick asked me.

"Yes, I'm sure, they've handled worse. Besides, I trained them myself. I'm going to stay at Tony's for the meanwhile. I promised I would be at his award ceremony thing. I'll be back as soon as I can, report back to me if anything big happens," I ordered Nick as if I was his mother, which I practically was.

"Big as in Rome '08 or Texas '06?" He joked.

I laughed, "Texas, definitely."

"Alright, see you in a few Clarissa," Nick bid goodbye.

"Goodnight Nick."

I closed my eyes, ready to see the wonderful blue eyes I've been dreaming of ever since.

~0~

"Pepper!" I greeted the strawberry blonde when I saw her sitting at Tony's couch, her laptop in front of her.

"Clara!" She said, walking around the table to give me a hug.

"How have you been?" I asked her.

"Fine, you know, got a lot of work to do." She told me, gesturing to her computer.

"I see," I raised an eyebrow at her and smirked, "Tony treating you okay?"

"Well, Tony's Tony you know," Pepper said with a shake of her head and a small smile.

"Yes, I do know. Where is he, by the way? It's getting a bit late."

"Right! The ceremony, I almost forgot. He's downstairs in the workshop, as always. I tried to get him ready just in case you were to stop by earlier but..."

Pepper cut herself off with a shrug of her shoulders making me laugh a bit.

"It's alright Pepper, I'll handle him. Are you sure you don't want to go? I can pull a few strings and get you a seat at our table if you want."