MUTT

THREE

I wake up in a huge soft bed. Pillows surround my head like a feathery crown. A dog sits at the foot of the bed, watching the door like a hawk. Beside me, an I.V drips into my veins and a nurse busies herself to my left, cleaning up a tray full of tools.

"Where am I?" I ask my voice cracking.

She jumps, "Oh, gezz! You scared me! You're at S.H.I.E.L.D.! Well, what's left of it! You are the last one to arrive." She walks towards the door, "I'll let Mr. Fury know you're awake. Oh! My name is Dawn. I'm your nurse. Welcome Grace!"

"Wait one more question!" I say struggling to sit up.

"Uh-huh?"

"How long have I been asleep?" I ask, touching my fractured head and dislocated right shoulder. "And how long is this going to heal?"

"I thought you said one more question! A week and for your wounds..." she smiles, "You'll see!" and with that she pads out of the room, closing the door gently behind her.

I flop back down in the bed and the German Sheppard perched by the door, trots over to me and out stretches his muzzle. I let him lick my fingers and Steve and Natasha walk into the room.

"Good morning, Grace." He says, smiling.

"Hi." I say.

"Tonight, we have a banquet. And you are in it. But before it happens, you have to meet the rest of your team!" Rogers says. "Dawn will be bringing you to the lounge."

"And I will be getting you ready for the banquet later today." Natasha adds, "Change into these." She says, picking up a stack of clothing on a chair by the bed. She throws it at me and without another word she and Rogers leaves the room.

I carefully change into the white tee-shirt and grey sweats. I cringe when I slip my right hand into the sleeve.

Dawn gives me a crutch and we-she walks, I hobble- to the lounge.

She smiles and pushes open the glass doors.

//...//

Heads turn as I limp into the room. I pause as seven new faces take me in. Blushing and embarrassed, I sit on a recliner near the door, avoiding eyes.

A girl with long jet black hair with midnight blue tips sits beside me, jiggling her leg up and down. A serious looking girl with straight shoulder length dark brown hair and shocking grey eyes sits across from her. Her skin glows as she sits back with her hands crossed over her chest. Beside her, an arrogant guy with black, curly hair and bright green eyes looks at his watch like he has some where better to be. Sitting cross legged on the floor is a young girl with rainbow streaked hair and dark brown eyes humming a song. Sitting beside the girl with the tipped hair, a boy with chocolate brown hair and a mix of grey, green, and hazel eyes reads a book. Across from me a guy with curly dark brown hair and dark, dark blue eyes with gold flecks, sits backwards on a chair. He's really cute. He looks at me and smiles.

I look away and fidget with my crutch. I sneak another glance at him and he's still looking at me. I cover up a smile and he winks as if to say he won.

The doors open and The Avengers and Nick Fury walk in. They stand at the front of the room.

Fury scans the room before speaking, "You should thank us. We saved your butts from the hell you were going to face if HYDRA got their hands on you. You all are prodigies, you all are mutants, and you all are powerful. We couldn't save the twins but we saved you seven. You will be trained with our Avengers. Iron Man, Black Widow, Captain America, Spider-man, Hulk, and Hawkeye. At the end of seven weeks you will have your 24 hour initiation. You will be awake for 24 hours facing your strengths, your weaknesses and your fears. You will be put in every situation thinkable. You will be angry, frustrated, aggravated and scared. You will be at your wits end' on the verge of going crazy."