Bombshell [B. Barnes]

1.

It had been months since Christine had followed Coulson's team onto their giant plane and flew to Nick Fury's secret base. She had parted with the team when Hill arrived at the base and offered her immunity as well as an opportunity to continue working with herself and Natasha which the brunette gladly took, but not before making it clear to Coulson that she would always be loyal to SHIELD and that he should contact her if he needed anything.

It hadn't taken long for him to take her up on that offer.

The British agent had been walking out of the Avengers Tower about a month later, having finished work for the day, when she got the call from a private number. Calls from private numbers were common in her line of work so she hadn't thought anything of it when she picked up.

"Agent Harris?"

"Coulson?" Christine was shocked to hear his voice. She knew she had said to call if SHIELD needed anything but in truth she had assumed the organization would die out once Coulson and his team had settled their score with Grant Ward and John Garrett.

"Remember when you said to call if I needed anything?"

"Distinctly, sir."

"Again with the 'sir,'" Coulson chuckled, reminding her of his request back at the Hub. "There's a car waiting for you out front if you're interested in hearing me out."

Christine sighed as she stepped out onto the crowded Manhattan pavement. "Coulson, surely you understand why I wouldn't get into a vehicle with someone I didn't know."

"I do understand," Coulson responded just as Christine looked up, locking eyes with the man. "That's why I'm driving."

Phil Coulson was parked in front of Avengers Tower in a 1962 red Chevy Corvette.

"You're letting me ride in Lola?"  Christine gasped excitedly, knowing how much Phil Coulson prized his antique car. "You must really want my help."

"Well, don't get too comfortable," He said as she buckled her seatbelt, "I'm going to have to blindfold you."

"Coulson where exactly are we going?"

"SHIELD's new secret headquarters."

"You resurrected SHIELD?" Christine couldn't keep the excitement from her voice. Being a SHIELD agent was all she had ever known and the month in which she had presumed it dead was devastating, but hearing that the organization was still operating, albeit in secret, provided her with a sense of relief she couldn't quite explain.

"With Fury's blessing," Coulson responded with a grin before faltering. "I assume you know Fury's alive?"

"It seems I can't stop working with men who are supposed to be dead but aren't." She quipped.

"I suppose you're right." Coulson conceded lightly before returning to business. "I'd like to take you to see the new HQ and meet the team but until you agree to sign on, I'm afraid its location will have to remain a secret."

He held out a blindfold and Christine sighed reluctantly but took it nonetheless. 

"Won't it look a little suspicious, me sitting clearly blindfolded in your convertible?" Christine questioned, unintentionally stalling putting on the blindfold. "You didn't have any other vehicles available with a bit more discretion?"

"Oh, I could've taken one of the SUVs, but it's like you said: I really want your help."

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