"Ahh, you must be Claire."

I'd walked into the meeting room at the Helicarrier, to be met with a room filled with both SHIELD's agents and government officials. Fury was standing in his usual place, and beside him was a greasy haired man in a suit, who leaned forward as I entered. Out of the corner of my eye I spotted Tony, Natasha, Clint and Bruce seated around the table with Agent Hill.

"Captain Rogers," Fury addressed Steve, who was standing about a foot behind me, "Take a seat."

Steve did as he was told, sliding into the chair next to Tony.

"As I was saying," The greasy haired man coughed gently, drawing our attention back to him, "You must be Claire."

"Agent Reynolds." I said coldly, linking my hands behind my back and standing a little straighter. Throughout my time at SHIELD, one thing had become clear to me; when the government walked in, you were in trouble.

He faltered, and glanced at Fury, who I could see from here was concealing a smile. Something he'd picked up on from even my early days here was my complete disregard for authority. I barely even listened to him, so how the hell would this guys get a chance?

"Uh... Agent Reynolds..." He began again, and I saw Tony bite his lip in an effort to stop his laughter. "We have a mission which we think you would be interested in."

"We?"

"This is a directive coming straight from the president." he opened a black briefcase on the meeting table and took out a file. "I believe you know this woman?"

The file was slid across the table to me, and I flicked it open.

"This is my sister."

"Yes, and we believe that she and Loki are working together, again."

"That would hardly surprise me," I said coolly, "They're sleeping together too."

The atmosphere in the room changed completely, and I saw jaws tighten around the room.

"Well we want you to track them down." The greasy haired suit said, "We believe that with your tracking skills and knowledge of them, you can bring them in for us."

"My knowledge?" I raised an eyebrow, "The last time I met them we almost blew up an Island. They got away. Clearly I don't as much knowledge as you think."

"That was unfortunate. However, we believe that this time you will be less emotionally unstable, and-"

"Less what?" I said, much more loudly than I'd meant to. Clint shifted uncomfortably in his seat.

The man swallowed hard before continuing. "We believe that your sister's involvement in the mission may have compromised your-"

"Let's just clear one thing up before you go any further." I snapped, "You read the filed report on the Spear of Destiny, and are aware of the fact that neither Loki or SHIELD now has access to it. You also believe that I was emotionally compromised by the fact that my sister had involvement with Loki, even though we all got out alive, and now you want me to haul ass across the world to track them down again?"

"Yes."

I tipped my head to one side, folding my arms across my chest. "No. Find one of your other agents, who are less 'emotionally compromised' than me."

I turned to leave, gripping the door handle with one hand, when he spoke again.

"You've got two choices in this, Agent Reynolds."

I glanced over my shoulder at him. He was standing taller, and there was an odd glint in his eye.

"You either accept this, and bring them in, or we send one of our other agents in, and they terminate them."

Something dropped inside me. It might have been my heart.

"You'd kill them?"

He nodded, "So make your decision."

It didn't take much thought. "I'll go. But if I see one of your agents, even a single one, I'll take them out. Understood?"

He shrugged, "That seems fair enough. We'll be in touch to give you our orders."

He closed the briefcase and picked it up, brushing past me ad leaving through the glass door. I clenched my jaw and looked around the meeting room at the others. Steve was looking down at the desk, Clint was still shifting uncomfortably, Tony was twirling a pen between his fingers, and Natasha was watching me silently. Was that pity in her eyes?

"Well," I murmured, "If that's all, then I think I'll be leaving."

Fury nodded to say that I could go, and I stepped out into the corridor, my head spinning. I was going to have to chase after Loki and Anna, again.