Assemble (Book Two of The Avengers Reports)

Chapter One (Picture of Clint Barton/Hawkeye)

NCIS Navy Yard

Washington DC, Capitol of the United States of America

"What is it you want?"

Abby took a deep breath. Finally. There was finally a chance she could do something here. "I need to talk to you in person. I wouldn’t trust anything over the phone lines."

"Why not?"

Abby put her head in her available hand. "Something’s happened here. Something that I think you might want to know."

"You’re a part of NCIS, right?"

Abby narrowed her eyes. "How did you know?"

She heard the man’s sarcastic snort. "Ms. Sciuto, your address popped up after you sent the first message."

She gritted her teeth. So much for being the freakishly-amazing forensics scientist. "Yes, I’m with NCIS."

"Fornell’s on his way over, if that’s what you want. I heard one of your agents got himself into a bit of trouble."

Abby stiffened. "It’s herself."

The man on the other end cut himself off abruptly. "Oh. A woman?"

Abby swallowed and nodded. "Someone very important."

"Does this have to do with why you’re calling?"

Abby nodded. "Yes," she whispered.

"All right. Where do you want me to meet you?"

Abby thought for a few minutes. "Well . . . how much do you like Starbucks?"

***

Starbucks

Washington DC, Capitol of the United States of America

Abby pushed open the door to Starbucks, looking at her watch. Ten minutes had gone by since she had talked to . . . whichever Avenger she had talked to.

She smiled to herself, walking over to where the napkins and straws were. It was funny: she had talked to one of the Avengers, and she hadn’t even gotten his name. Then again, she was going to find out soon.

She looked up at the menu, then snorted and shook her head. Starbucks caffeine would never keep her running the rest of the day. From her bag, she took a rather large cup of Caf-Pow and started looking for sugar packets.

"Hey!" one of the workers called to her. "No outside drinks allowed."

Abby snorted, looking at him. "I come here all the time, and I’m fine!"

"Do you ever come in here with one of those?" he retorted.

Abby could tell her face was burning. People from the chairs were starting to stare. "Yes," she replied hotly. "No one’s ever told me off before!"

The worker had come out from behind the counter. "Look, if you don’t get out of here now – "

Abby snorted. "What? You’re gonna beat me up?"

The worker swung his fist right at her when out of nowhere, another hand caught his wrist and flipped him right into the wall. The worker sputtered and started to get to his feet, but suddenly a knife was pointed right at his throat.

Abby scrambled away, her jaw dropping when she recognized the man that had probably just saved her life. Light brown hair, blue eyes, and obviously a warrior.