Age of Grace

Chapter 1—A man out of time

The Avengers and S.H.I.E.L.D. belong to Marvel/Disney. Torchwood belongs to the BBC. I am merely borrowing them.

The man sitting alone on a park bench didn't draw any attention from passersby. The two men talking nearby did garner glances from the few joggers who happened by. One, dark-skinned with an eye patch, dressed in a dark suit, looked formidable and out of place standing at the side of the walking path in front of the blooming spring flowers. His companion, fair-skinned, dressed in a wool greatcoat meant for colder weather also stood out for his own reasons. They knew people were staring, none more than the individual they were talking about. And he was the reason Nick Fury, director of S.H.I.E.L.D. and an old friend were meeting.

"Think he's going to come over here?"

"I doubt it, Jack," Fury said. "Not if he knows what's good for him. Besides, he's too polite to interrupt. I think."

"Not that I'd mind. He's even better looking in person."

"Jack—no. Just no. No flirting, innuendo, nothing of the sort," Fury said. "I don't need him scared or scarred for life."

"Him? He's Captain America."

"I know, but you're here to give him a pep talk, to offer your unique perspective on your mutual circumstances," Fury said.

"I know that's not the only reason why I'm here, is it?"

"No," Fury said. "How are things over there?"

"As well as you can expect. We're laying low, waiting. By the way how's my daughter and grandson?"

"They're doing fine," Fury said.

"Good. That's all I need to know."

"You'll be seeing them soon," Fury said.

"Don't remind me."

"Just talk to him," Fury said. "And would you mind sticking around when you're done? I need a few words with him myself, and though I think he's going to be glad to hear some of what I have to say, he's not going to like the fact I lied to him."

"You lying? Why am I not surprised?"

"Harkness, remember who's going to be doing who a big favor soon," Fury said.

"I thought I was doing you a favor."

"You are, and I won't forget," Fury said.

"I know."

"Have fun," Fury said, clapping the other man on the shoulder. He gave him a wry smile, walking over to the man on the bench.

"Steve Rogers I presume?" he asked, offering his hand in greeting.

"Is this another weak attempt at a psyche evaluation?" Steve asked.

"Hardly," the man answered. "My name is Captain Jack Harkness. I'm an old friend of Director Fury, and he asked me to come talk with you."

Steve frowned. "About?"

Harkness sat down on the bench beside him. "I know what it's like to be a man out of time," he said.

"I doubt that," Steve said.

Harkness grinned. "Wanna bet?"

"Not really," Steve said.

"Fine," Harness said. "So, how are you adapting? I know it must be a shock, all the changes you're experiencing."

"I'm doing just fine, and I finally figured out how to work the pod thingie Banner and Stark got me," Steve said. "But I do like the Ipad better. It's easier to use."

"That's good, but how are you doing otherwise? Want to talk about it?"

"I have no desire to discuss my personal issues with a stranger," Steve said, standing, starting to walk away.

"I do know what you're going through," Harkness said. "The world changed and moved on without you, all your friends and family and everything familiar—gone. Your circumstances are different, but I know what it's like. I didn't get to sleep through it like you did, but I lived it. Every single moment."

"What are you talking about?"

"You'll probably age, just slower, but not as slow as me. You sleep, don't you? I know some of the serum's side effects, but not all of them. . .

"Do you have the right security clearance to be discussing this?" Steve asked.

"I have that and more," Harkness said. "Are you even listening? I've seen and done things you cannot even begin to imagine. At least you haven't died. Been there, done that more times than I care to count. I've got a nice, long track record. I've been in my current line of work for more than a century now—the longest linear period of my life."

Steve frowned, but he was interested. "You're not making any sense."

"You're not listening," Harkness said. "Look, I have to go. If you need to talk, Fury knows how to contact me. And stick around. He wants to talk to you himself."

Harkness stood, walking over to a hot dog vendor while Fury took his place. He hoped there weren't too many fireworks.

Fury sat down by Rogers. Direct was probably the best approach.

"Nice weather, isn't it?" Fury asked.

"Yeah," Steve said. "What do you want?"

"There's something you need to know," Fury said. "I'm not proud of what I've done, but it was done in your best interests, and that of the Avengers. Agent Coulson is alive. He's at our primary medical facility here in the city."

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Phillip Coulson was bored out of his mind. He slept. A lot. The painkillers made him sleep, and he didn't want to take them because of it. The pain wasn't all that bad, nearly a month after getting stabbed back to front by an insane Asgardian god. Pain was a reminder he was alive, and the doctor did agree with him in theory, but not in practice. So all he did was sleep, and his waking hours were a mixture of reading, watching TV or surfing the Internet. There were the occasional visits from Director Fury, and they broke up the monotony. He knew he was lucky to be alive. He wanted to go back to work. Even reading field reports would be better than being forced to do nothing.

Director Fury said he should consider his forced time off as a vacation of sorts, as he never took time off. Ever. Coulson loved his job and genuinely liked most of the people he worked with. Even Tony Stark grew on him after a while. And the chance to meet his hero in the flesh, Captain America. Nothing could top that. Getting stabbed by Loki was worth it, as a price to pay for meeting Rogers, and being the catalyst bringing the Avengers together.

The Avengers. That was a happy thought. He wondered how they were getting along. Probably enjoying some much deserved time off. Not that anyone would tell him anything. His nurse, an employee of S.H.I.E.L.D., divulged nothing of what was going on with the organization. Maybe she didn't know, or she did, and had orders not to tell him. He was supposed to be recovering. How was he supposed to do that with any peace of mind when he didn't know what was going with work? He watched the news, and kept up with current events. It was all they would allow him.

Great. A knock at his door. 1:30 p.m., past lunchtime, he didn't need anything for pain, and Fury had visited that morning. His nurse opened the door.

"You have a visitor," she said, holding the door open.

Coulson couldn't hid his surprise or his smile when he saw who it was.

"Captain, it's good to see you," Coulson said.

"Call me Steve, since we're both off duty," he said, handing the agent a small package.

Coulson took it, unwrapping it to find a deck of vintage Captain America cards, signed. "To one of the bravest men I've ever met, thank you for your courage and sacrifice, Captain America."

"Thanks," he said.

"I though you'd like them," Steve said. "How are you?"

"Better," Coulson replied. "I want out of here, I feel fine, but they won't let me out."

"You nearly died, and I think the doctor knows more about your condition than you," Steve said. "By the way, I'm glad to see you are alive. Nice of Fury to let us know."

"When did he tell you?" Coulson asked.

"A couple of hours ago," Steve said. "I don't know if the others know yet. If Fury hasn't told them, I will."

"Think you could get me out here?" Coulson asked, hopeful.

"I don't think I have that much influence," he said. "But it couldn't hurt to try."

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Two days later

Tony Stark wouldn't take no for an answer. For once, Coulson was grateful for the other man's stubbornness. It helped get him out of the hospital, but not without strings attached. Like he'd help get him out on the condition he'd stay in one of the apartments in his recently Loki-renovated tower, and Bruce Banner would be his personal physician for the foreseeable future. That mollified his S.H.I.E.L.D. appointed doctor, and Fury also.

Now, the agent was the center of a winding down gathering with the assembled Avengers, Director Fury, Agent Hill and Stark's assistant and significant other, Pepper Potts. The relief and surprise they all had on seeing him in the flesh since his apparent death was an eye-opener for the agent. He kept his professional and personal lives separate, but here, in this one moment, they intersected. And the irony was Stark would be babysitting him for several weeks. The billionaire wasn't letting him live it down, either.

"I can have Jarvis download every episode of "Supernanny" to the entertainment system and put them on continuous loop," Stark said, grinning.

"I don't need them on continuous loop," Coulson said.

Thor and Banner shared a glance. "You watch "Supernanny?"

"Got a problem with that?" Coulson asked.

"No."

"What is 'Supernanny?'" Steve asked.

"I'm sure your biggest fanboy will fill you in, won't you?" Stark said.

Coulson gave stark his best menacing look, but Stark ignored it.

"Relax, sparky," Stark said. "I'm just glad you're still around to bother."

"Speaking of bother, everybody's had enough excitement for one day," Banner said. "C'mon, Coulson, I'll help you to your place. Besides, I need to change that dressing."

"Hey, Coulson—chicks are gonna dig your scar when it heals," Stark said. "Look at the chick mine landed me."

Pepper smacked him, but smiled despite herself. "I'll come down tomorrow and see you," she said, hugging the agent. "Call if you need anything."

"I will," he said.

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