Irreplaceable (Resiliance Book 3) (Avengers Fan-fic) [COMPLETED]

Chapter 14

Sam

I closed my eyes and breathed deeply, taking a step back from the computer. Don’t punch the screen. Don’t punch the screen. Don’t punch the screen. I chanted to myself, before opening my eyes, and turning away from the screen, walking over to the main desk, and picking up my coffee. I turned back around, leaning back, against the table as I let the warmth seep into my hands.

I needed rest, I knew that I couldn’t keep going like this forever. But I couldn’t leave. I felt like my worst fears were coming to life right before my eyes, and I wasn’t going to leave them unattended. I would try to sleep this afternoon. That way I would be awake for the night. I nodded to myself. That was a good plan, but for now, I needed to focus.

RHOKA had used the Ten Rings’ software to reset all of their codes and passwords, which meant that I would have to start my hack from the beginning. I heard a little beep, and looked around, confused. I felt something land on my shoulder, and looked down to see a familiar figure, who I hadn’t seen in a long while.

‘Fredster!’ He beeped chirpily in response, running along my arm, to sit on my hand. I quickly moved my hand away from my mug, not wanting my Freddie to fall in. Then again, he’d probably just get hyper. ‘How’ve you been buddy?’ I asked. He had been working with the Avengers and NCIS in a collaboration on a case. They had needed the extra hand, and Freddie and I had been happy to oblige. But I had become paranoid about him recently, so Abby Sciuto, a forensic scientist and computer nerd who worked with the NCIS, had been looking after him for me. He ran back up my arm, crawling into my hair. I pouted not wanting to hurt him by patting my head to find him. I pouted and folded my arms, just as Phil walked in, a file in his hands, as usual.

He looked over at me and chuckled. ‘What are you pouting at?’ he asked with a smirk. I sighed and looked at him.

‘Freddie just appeared here, out of nowhere, and now he’s hiding in my hair, knowing that I can’t find him without hurting him.’

Phil chuckled, and I pouted, before an idea hit me.

‘Freddie! Either you get out of my hair right now, or I’m donating you to Harvard.’ I threatened. A high-pitched beep sounded, and Freddie quickly dropped onto my shoulder. I chuckled, shaking my head, as I took him into my hand, walking back over to the computer. I lowered my hand to the desk, and he quickly scrambled off. I sighed and pointed my finger at him.

‘Go to bed.’ I scolded, and he immediately curled up, going to sleep, or in his case, turning off. I shook my head at him, smirking, before sighing, looking up at the many screens before me. Of course my sneaky little creation would lure me back to my work. I blew a raspberry, looking up at the screens. Phil walked over to me, looking me over.

‘You alright?’ he asked. I nodded slightly as I bounced on the balls of my feet, glancing at the room’s reflection in the screen before me, checking that there was no-one nearby. Seeing no-one within earshot, I sighed and answered him.

‘Mentally or physically?’ I replied, under my breath, as I wrapped my arms around myself. Phil glanced at me, his face unreadable. He quickly looked me over, before clasping his hands together in front of him, keeping the file tightly in his grip.

‘Both.’ He said simply, before looking back to the screens as I shrugged.

‘I think I’m doing about as well as I could possibly manage, given the circumstances.’ I answered tactfully. Phil nodded to himself, before speaking.

‘So you’re not al…’ he began, and I interrupted, shaking my head.

‘Nope, not at all.’ I told him quickly, before we settled into a moment of awkward silence, watching the screens. I rocked back and forth on the balls of my feet, watching the screens aimlessly. A thought hit me, and I brought up a subject I had never thought to before.