ΣΙΓΜΑ and Avengers Phase I

Chapter IX: There Was an Idea

If you haven't seen the outfits for the 3 OCs yet, they are in the previous chapter at the top.

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Director Fury rushes into the detention center and sees Agent Coulson propped up against the wall, a stab wound though his chest. Fury kneels down in front of his agent and Coulson says breathlessly, "Sorry, boss. They got rabbited."

"Just stay awake." Fury sees that Coulson's eyes are becoming misty. He can't seem to focus on anything, so Fury moves Coulson's face to make him look at himself. "Eyes on me."

Adrena shakes, pain filling her every muscle. Her head pounds and blood rushes through her ears as she tries to open her eyes. The bright light makes her head hurt even more, which makes her almost pass out again. Adrena uses all the strength she has to prop herself up on her knees. She slowly opens her eyes, tears lining the rims of her eyelids. Taking short, quick breaths, Adrena manages to make her way over to Coulson and Fury.

"I... can... heal..." Adrena manages to say. If only she left the Hulk to Thor, she would have been able to get here sooner and keep Coulson from getting stabbed. Adrena wraps her hands around one of Coulson's cold ones and shakes as she tries to use her healing powers.

"I'm clocking out here." Coulson says in a tired voice. His expression turns to one of exhausted, like he just wants to sleep.

Adrena keeps trying to use her healing powers, but she is in too much of a weakened state and Coulson's wound is too great. She suddenly realizes that she isn't able to save him. She blinks and she sees a member of her old crew dying in her arms. Adrena rapidly blinks again to get the image away. She knows that she can't heal him, but she can dull his pain until he's gone.

"Not an option." Fury doesn't accept it, however, still believing that Coulson can make it. The medics are coming, he just needs to last a bit longer.

"It's okay, boss. This was never going to work." Agent Coulson slowly looks at Adrena, a bit of fear in his eyes. His grip tightens around her hands. "If they didn't have something... to..."

Phil Coulson's hand goes limp in Adrena's hold. Nick Fury stands up and Adrena respectfully closes Coulson's eyelids over his faded eyes. She backs away as the medics come in with stretchers and equipment. She lets them pick the agent up and carry him away.

Fury puts his hand up to his earpiece. He knows he has to notify everyone about what happened. "Agent Coulson is down."

Agent Hill is being treated for a gash in her head when she hears the news. She waves the medic away, not believing what Fury is saying. Another S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, assumed to be head of the medical department, says, "Paramedics are on their way."

"They're here." Nick says. Everyone who is still on the helicarrier also listens in. "They called it."

It takes a while, but Fury manages to gather the remaining heroes into the briefing room besides Natasha. Steve, Adrena, and Tony all sit at the table. Everyone has devastated faces, Adrena and Tony more than the others. For Tony, he knew Phil the most out of anyone else besides Nick. As for Adrena, Phil saved her from being shot in the detention center by Loki's guard. She never actually thanked him.

Nick pulls out a few cards that seem to have blood stains on them. He holds them up for everyone to see. "These were in Phil Coulson's jacket. Guess he never did get you to sign them."

Fury throws the cards on the table, making blood smear on the glass. Steve picks one up and flips it over to see the cards Phil wanted him to sign. A lump forms in his throat and he doesn't trust himself to speak.