Chapter Text
“Captain Rhodes, come in.”
“Admiral Fury,” said Rhodey, walking in and drawing himself up in front of Nick’s desk.
“Come in, sit down. I have a mission brief for you,” said Nick.
“Sir, I just received a new assignment from Lord Hood,” Rhodey objected, “also unless I missed some very important paperwork, I work for the Navy, not ONI.”
“Well it is the office of naval intelligence. You’ll be handling both, and before you ask, I did clear it with Terrance,” Fury said. He pulled a data pad, and a bottle of scotch out of his desk.
Rhodey settled into a chair and looked over the data pad while Fury poured scotch.
“Sir, this looks more like a job for the 717th. Possibly the entire 717th” Rhodey complained, “and I don’t really have the facilities to house a team of civilian scientists.”
“Do I look insane, I know that, we’re already retrofitting the Patriot with an armour bay, a couple of labs won’t pose a problem. I know you have the space. Besides, Spartan teams need technicians.”
“I already have an engineer who can handle that.”
“Not Stark.”
“He’s perfectly capable.”
“He has six separate disciplinary offences for being an insubordinate pain in the ass. I’m not trusting him with Mjolnir.”
“He also has six commendations from preventing my ship from actually exploding. I trust him with the Shaw-Fujikawa drive and the fusion reactor.”
“Dr. Fitz is an expert who helped design the mjolnir systems.”
“And he’ll be reassigned as soon as you find something else for him to do. Fireteam Avenger is permanently assigned to my ship, they need a permanent technician.”
Fury glowered at him and huffed, “fine. Stark is your problem.”
“And that’s the way I like it,” said Rhodey.
“You always were crazy,” Fury said, “I’m glad you didn’t get blown up.”
“Yeah, you too,” said Rhodey.
“I’m immortal,” said Fury, “ask anyone. Me and Admiral Parangosky, we’re indestructible, we’ll be running this place forever.”
“I hope so Nick,” Rhodey said, and drained his glass.
“So, how’s the new bridge crew working out?” Nick asked, “because I know you’re too high-minded to just ask me to replace them if you don’t like them. Carter was one of ours originally, I wouldn’t mind having her back”
“I’ve only just finished breaking the new crew in, please don’t steal my tactical officer,” said Rhodey, dryly.
He reached over and poured another finger of scotch, “they’re good people, its just - well, you know what it was like, the last couple of months. I’m still wrapping my head around losing Reach, I don’t think its actually hit me yet.”
Fury furrowed his brow and looked for a moment like he was about to say something, but an alert on his data pad chirped, and he looked down at it and then stood up.
“No rest for the wicked?” Rhodey asked.
“Or the wicked aren’t resting,” said Fury, “I probably won’t catch you again before you leave. Good luck Captain.”
“Thank you sir,” said Rhodey.
“Don’t thank me yet,” said Fury as he turned to excuse himself, “there’s been a lot of damage done out there, and we’ve just dropped all of it in your lap. You’re going to need that luck.”