Maria struggles to bring herself back up to her feet.  She reaches for the bed and Sue is nowhere to be found.  She is free from all that had been hooked up to her.  There is a slight trail of blood that she notices has made its way to the floor, leading a small line to the door.  Maria follows the trail out of the room and down the hallway, in the midst of the confusion around her.  For a moment, Agent Hill looks up from the blood trail that has dried up and focuses her sights down the hallway.  She sees a nurse suddenly bumped aside by nothing.  She sees a door open rather violently toward the emergency stairs, seemingly on its own.

Maria “I repeat!  We have a situation!”

Maria gives chase, her mind trying to forget that she may literally be chasing a ghost.  She races down the stairs.  She hears Sue’s voice, but does not see her.

Sue “Stay away from me!!!”

Maria “Miss Storm!  I need you to stay where you are!”

Maria continues to give chase down the stairs.  She can hear the panic ahead of her.  She makes her way to an emergency exit door that, like the previous one has been violently swung open by what appears to be air.  Maria looks out into the city.  She sees a parking lot.  She sees other buildings.

Maria “Miss Storm!  We’re only trying to help you!  Please show yourself!”

Maria listens intently, steadily approaching one of the columns of the parking lot.  She can hear the crying.

Maria “Susan…Sue…please.  We’re here to help.  I’m here to help.  I can’t do that if you run away.”

Maria stops at the column, looking to her immediate right.  She hears the sobbing, but sees no one.

Maria “Sue?  Are you there?”

Agent Hill is taken by surprise as Sue suddenly appears before her.  She is seated in her hospital gown, curled up in a ball against the column and weeping.  It takes a moment for Maria to take in what she has just seen.  She blinks momentarily and then crouches down, placing her right palm over Sue’s short blonde hair.

Maria “Miss Storm.  Please…let me get you back to your room.  We’re going to do everything we can.”

Sue “Wh…What’s happening to me…?”

Maria “I don’t know.”

Maria can tell that Sue is in anguish, not just physically, but emotionally.  Sue becomes invisible to the Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. as Maria picks her up in her arms.

Maria “Director Fury.  Everything’s…fine.  I’ll explain further later.”

Maria can hear the voice of Nicole Fury in her right ear.  From Nicole’s office, Director Fury contemplates all that has happened in the past few days.  Her office is at S.H.I.E.L.D. Headquarters.

Washington, DC

Director Fury has just given Maria her orders as it involves one Susan Storm.  She stands away from her desk, drinking a cup of coffee and looking out her window.  The nation is growing restless.  There is a school in upstate New York that S.H.I.E.L.D. has to keep an eye on at all times as it is the home for what are considered, “the gifted.”  There are people who want the school shut down, along with the very different people that reside within it.  They are considered a threat.  Now, with what has happened to Miss Storm, Nicole takes a sip of her beverage and considers that this is only the beginning of her troubles when it comes to humans suddenly having or gaining incredible powers.  She is aware of the technological and militaristic experiments going on, both federally and privately.  She is aware of the gamma tests in New Mexico.  She is aware of a seemingly insignificant amount  of radioactivity being detected in New York City.  Not enough to alarm the masses, but enough to alarm the befuddled scientists.  She is aware of Natasha Stark’s armor plans and her family’s history of working with the government.  She, like everyone else in S.H.I.E.L.D. is aware of a metal plated despot ruling a small European nation that has bigger aspirations.

Director Fury is aware of many a thing.  To her, it only seems a matter of time before it all comes to pass and she, Agent Hill, and the rest of S.H.I.E.L.D. will need to be ready when it does.