Assemble (Book Two of The Avengers Reports)

Chapter Six (Picture of Maria Hill)

NCIS Navy Yard

Capitol of the United States of America

"Boss."

Gibbs turned and raised an eyebrow as another woman, this one with very dark hair, walked up to Borin and stood at attention.

Borin nodded at her. "Agent Gibbs, this is Agent Maria Hill," she introduced them. "Maria started around the same time as . . . her." She gave Gibbs a pointed glance.

Gibbs cleared his throat and nodded, holding a hand out to Maria. "Good to meet you."

Maria smiled, shaking his hand. "It’s good to meet you as well."

"Where’s McGee?" Borin asked, looking past Tony, and she appeared to be ignoring the looks he was giving Maria.

Gibbs clipped Tony on the back of his head, and he yelped before straightening to attention. "Currently trying to find out, Agent Borin," he replied, glaring at Gibbs before going back to his computer.

Gibbs looked at Borin and nodded towards the Director’s office. "I’ll fill you in on everything up here," he told her casually.

Borin took her cue and nodded. "After you," she agreed, following Gibbs up the stairs.

***

Maria watched as Borin followed Gibbs up the stairs, then turned to the two agents sitting at the desks. Both of them were watching her. "What?" she asked sharply.

"You seem just like Borin," the woman commented in reply.

Maria raised an eyebrow. "Is that a compliment?"

"That depends on if you think it is."

Maria simply turned to the man at the desk. "Do you usually　work with computers?" she asked.

"No, McTech usually does," Tony replied, nodding towards the desk on his right.

Maria turned. The desk next to the woman’s was obviously the other man’s – Gibb’s – but there was still one other desk. "And who sits there?" she asked.

Right away, she knew she struck a nerve. The man cleared his throat, looking back at his computer. The woman swallowed. "She’s currently in the hospital in a coma," she replied.

Maria narrowed her eyes. "What happened?" she asked.

"Some man poisoned her with gamma radiation," the man mumbled. "Do I need to say anymore?"

"No," Maria replied, walking over to the desk and looking around. "What was her name?"

The man looked up. "Natasha Romanoff."

Maria’s blood ran cold, and she looked up sharply to the man. "Really?" she asked, trying to loosen up her voice.

"Is everything OK?" the woman asked, standing up.

"I’m fine," Maria snapped, backing away. This is bad, she thought. Really, REALLY bad. "Do you guys have a restroom?"

"Right around the corner," the man replied, pointing.

Maria practically ran that way. She had to find another way out of the building. Again, REALLY bad.

***

Thor’s attention was caught as soon as he saw a familiar woman run out of the NCIS building. Maria Hill? he wondered in surprise.