"You did what!" Tony said slamming his hands down on the table, causing most of us to jump at the sudden noise. Steve had called Fury when we'd arrived back, who'd called a mandatory meeting for all of the team. Steve was giving a run down of what had happened. He'd just reached the part where he drove Tony's car into oncoming traffic.
"There was nothing else I could have done!" Steve defended.
"Maybe not blow up my car!" Tony yelled back.
"Just buy another one," Fury said, slightly annoyed. He looked back at Steve, motioning for him to continue.
"Well, then Buck showed up and we fought with the attackers," Steve shrugged, looking over at James who sat in the corner like a statue.
"Who were they?" Natasha asked, leaning forward.
"I'm not sure, I didn't see a HYDRA symbol. But I wasn't looking," Steve said.
"I don't think it was HYDRA," James said quietly. Everyone turned to look at him.
"And why's that?" Fury asked. James shifted slightly.
"Well, they didn't fight like HYDRA," James said with a slightly haunted look. "Trust me, if they'd wanted us dead, we'd be dead," he said. His voice sent shivers up my spine, it was very different from the James I'd met only an hour ago.
"Alright, then who was it?" Clint asked leaning back in his chair.
"I don't know," Steve said defeated. There was a dead silence for a long moment.
"What about you Doctor, do you know?" Fury asked, turning everyone's attention toward me.
"I have no idea, you said my work could have attracted all kinds of attention," I shrugged, still feeling shaky.
"You can't expect her to know, she's just a civilian," Steve said.
"Even so, civilians can notice things too. Sometimes even better than we do," Fury said. He looked back at me, "So are you sure you don't have any idea?" he asked again. I thought for a moment.
"No. It looked like FBI or something. But I can't help you," I said. Fury gave me a hard look before nodding slowly.
"Natasha, go with Clint and see if you can dig up anything on the attack today," Fury said. The two nodded before disappearing out of the room. I was getting up to leave when I was caught up by Steve and James.
"So Doctor, Steve tells me you walked in on his shower this morning," James said with the charm and smiled back in his voice.
"Oh come on Buck, I didn't say that!" Steve said, turning slightly red.
"Oh, I tend to remember a part about our Doctor here and your shower," James teased, throwing an arm over my shoulder.
"Buck come on-"
"Ladies, you're both pretty," I snuck in. They both looked down at me . Steve looked somewhat embarrassed, while James just smirked.
"I like her. We should keep her," James said squeezing my shoulder affectionately. We started down the hall toward the elevator.
"Can you help me find my apartment, if I go by myself I'll get lost for days," I asked Steve. He nodded bashfully.
"Sure thing doll," James said as we reached the elevator. Steve pressed the call button and turned to James and me.
"Would you behave yourself Bucky, please," Steve said as the elevator doors slid open. We stepped in and waited for the doors to close. Steve pressed 37 and we started down.
"What am I doing?" James asked. Steve looked over him with a knowing glance. There was a moment where they seemed to be speaking with simply just looks.
"Boys, use your words," I teased as I glanced up at James. He smirked down at me.
"I've been tellin' Steve this for years. Women like words Stevie. No different than the 40's," James smiled at Steve.
"You're from the 40's too?" I asked, dropping my teasing tone.
"Yes ma'am!" he smiled proudly down at me.
"Did you fight in World War II with Steve?" I asked. There was a flicker of something in his eyes but as soon as it was there, it was gone.
"Served in the 107th. Who do you think inspired little Stevie to join the army," James teased as he pushed Steve's arm affectionately. The elevator doors swung open.
"Oh please!" Steve said stepping out of the elevator, followed by James and me. Steve turned to face James, "I seem to remember saving you in that war," Steve smirked. James smirked back at him.
"You gonna really compare who's saved who more?" James counter. They continued bickering as we turned the corner. The metal door to my apartment hung open slightly. I came to a stop, looking at it.
"Uh, boys," I said. They both turned to look at me. I pointed toward my door slowly. They both turned to look at it before stepping in front of me. James whipped out a gun as Steve pulled his shield off his back; they're argument was completely forgotten as they made their way toward my door. They moved in silent unison toward the door. I followed close behind as they entered the apartment. There was very little options of hiding spots in the living room and Steve and James went to search them all. I stood near the hallway and heard dull banging coming from my room. I seemed to have been the only one who'd heard it. I turned to tell James and Steve about the noise but neither were looking at me. The bang came again with a hushed slew of curses. I turned down the hallway and started toward my room. The door was left open. I looked in hesitantly through the open door. Not paying any attention to me, Tony Stark stood in front of my closet.
"Come on JARVIS! Open it for me!" he growled pressing his hand roughly against the door of the safe.
"I'm sorry sir," JARVIS said regretfully. Tony Stark growled and slammed his hand against it. I crossed my arms and leaned back against the door frame.
"JARVIS," Tony warned.
"Sir, you know I cannot open it for you ," JARVIS said awkwardly.
"Performance issues?" I piped up. Tony jumped slightly and turned to look at me. I cocked my head to the side and smirked, "What was JARVIS saying about you can't?"
"Well, it's impossible for Mr. Stark to open up the safe because when the quarter is given to another person, that person gets all power over the locks. Mr. Stark's overrides no longer work," JARVIS explained. I pushed myself off the wall and over to Tony.
"Hmm, power over Mr. Stark. I like the sound of that," I said, hovering my hand over the safe. He stared at me with a slight smirk on his mouth.
"Ah, but see JARVIS, I didn't give the quarter to Dr. Scaffer, Fury did," Tony leveled, pressing his hand under mine and against the door of the safe. Nothing happened. I suppressed a laugh as I pressed my hand under his.
"Everyone falls short sometimes Mr. Stark," I whispered as I smirked up at him. The safe popped open. I pulled my backpack out and swung it over my shoulder and closed the safe door.
"Lucy!"
"Doctor!"
Steve and James called as they barreled down the hallway. They burst into the room and looked from Tony to me.
"Don't worry boys, it was just Mr. Stark being nosy," I said stepping away from Tony to stand next to James. He slid his gun back into it's holster and smirked down at me.
"Almost gave Steve here a heart attack, Luc," James teased.
"Bucky," Steve groaned. James laughed.
"So Dr. Scaffer, would you like to see our labs?" Tony butted in impatiently.
"Well, let's see. I've been kidnapped, shot, blown up, considered missing, in a car crash, had a lengthy argument with a computer and the computer won, and saw Cap naked. So why the hell not," I said. Stark smiled down at me.
"See! Even she says it!" James said turning to Steve.
"Bucky, do not make me kick your ass," Steve said as he and James left my apartment, taking their bickering with them.
"Like an old married couple, those two," Tony commented. He took the lead and led me out of my apartment and back to the elevator. When we got into the elevator, he pressed the number 95. Tony leaned back against the back wall and crossed his arms, "So what's so important in the backpack that you need to lock it up?" Tony asked. I glanced back at him and studied him carefully. He was trying so hard to seem indifferent but I could see his burning curiosity in his eyes. I glared hard at him, trying to figure out what his endgame was. Was he genuinely curious or was he asking for Fury?
"If I told you, I'd have to kill you," I said flatly. He broke a smile and laughed.
"That secret huh?" he asked. I pushed off the wall and stood in front of Tony.
"Tell you what. I'll tell you what I have in this backpack if you tell me how your suits work," I said quietly up at him. His smile fell for a moment and he clenched his jaw uncomfortably. The elevator dinged and opened. We stayed where we were for a moment before Tony cleared his throat.
"Come on Doctor," Tony said stepping out into the hallway. I smirked as I followed behind him. As we got further down the hallway, Tony became more like himself, "Alright Doctor, the 95th floor is our Biology floor. Micro, Macro, evolution, medical, disease research. You name it, if it's got anything to do with Biology, it's up here," Tony said as we passed through glass, double doors. Inside one of the most prestigious and well equipt labs I'd ever been in. It out shown the labs at the University. Dozens of scientists were scattered around the room, all working on something different. I was amazed. Tony glanced over at me with a smirk. "Impressed?" he asked.
"I am," I said quietly, "But you do know Archaeology isn't actually part of Biology, right?" I asked turning to him.
"Well yes, but we don't get much Anthropologists here so I put it up here on the rare times we do," Tony said as we started walking further into the lab. I nodded as we neared a counter with a man bent over the work in front of him.
"Dr. Banner?" I asked. His eyes shot up form his work and over to me.
"Dr. Scaffer! How nice to see you again!" he said straightening up.
"Yeah! I didn't expect you to be up here. Shouldn't you be off in a Chem lab somewhere?" I teased. He laughed.
"Yeah, well I've had enough of chemistry for a while," he said sheepishly. I smiled knowingly at him.
"Well, you know anything about Anthropology?" I asked slipping my backpack off my shoulder.
"Very little, I'm afraid. I may not be very useful to you," he said unsure. I waved my hand and shrugged. I put my backpack on the counter and looked up at him.
"Well that's alright, I teach Anthropological lab methods so I'll teach you. All I really need is a lab assistant with a basic understanding of evolution," I said. He smiled over at me.
"That I do have!" he laughed. I clapped my hands and smiled.
"Fantastic! You don't mind being my assistant do you? I totally understand if your work is too important," I said motioning at his work in front of him.
"Oh, this, busy work. Your work is much more important. I'd be honored to be a part," he smiled at me.
"That's beautiful but don't you wanna see the rest?" Tony asked from behind me. I completely ignored him as I looked down at my backpack.
"Do you know if there's a Radiocarbon Dating Machine here?" I asked Banner.
"Yeah, it's through that doorway," Tony said behind me. I didn't even flinch as I continued to look at Banner. Bruce glanced from me to Tony and back to me.
"Uhm, yeah, it's over there," he said slowly, not entirely sure what to do. I nodded.
"Awesome," I unzipped the front of my pack and pulled out two masks to cover our faces. I handed one over to Banner as I tied mine behind my head.
"What are those for?" Tony asked. I continued to ignore him as I started unzipping my backpack again. I felt Banner's eyes on my again.
"Uhm, it helps keep from cross contamination," Banner said to answer Tony. I continued to pull out all of the artifacts from my pack. I placed the six stone tablets on the counter and they immediately drew Stark's attention.
"What are those?" he asked reaching out to touch them. Without turning to look at him, I reached out and smacked his hand away.
"Unless your name is Scaffer or Banner, do not touch," I warned without looking at him. I pulled out the remaining things which included: two jars of dirt, several pot sherds, few small bones, and a couple of bundles of seemingly random things.
"Woah, you found all this in Africa?" Banner asked, tentatively reaching out to pick up one of the bundles. I dug out from the bottom of my backpack, a few stone tools and carefully brought out the sharp rocks.
"Yes, all before someone blew it up," I said pointedly without looking at Tony.
"This is amazing!" Banner said picking up one of the stone tablets, "Do you have any idea what language this is?" he asked.
"I have no idea, I'm pretty sure this site was before language so..." I trailed off as I looked down at another tablet.
"What do you mean 'before language'? How is that possible?" Tony asked. I groaned and rolled my eyes. Before I could retort anything sarcastic, Banner spoke up.
"It means Tony, someone or something had to place these here. Something that had language was present before written language was conceived and they wanted these found," Banner said setting the tablets down and looked up at me with a haunted look.