Author's Note – This was from a prompt at the Darcy Lewis Impromtuthon. I also set myself a personal challenge. Each chapter had to be right around 500 words and written in 30-45 minutes. I like the way it came out, and I hope you do to!

Strike! Strike! Strike!

"There's no coffee!" Tony's irritated voice rang out from the kitchen even as the other members of the household gathered in the dining room.

"What do you mean 'no coffee'?" Jane frowned. "Darcy always makes coffee." She looked around, but it suddenly struck everyone. No one had seen the usually smiling brunette.

Tony stalked out of the kitchen. "Lewis! You're falling down on the-" He stopped. "Where is she?"

"Mr. Stark," JARVIS interjected, "I have a message for all of you from Miss Lewis. Shall I play it on the media screen?"

"Yeah, yeah," Tony muttered before leading everyone into the next room.

The blank screen flickered and then Darcy's face appeared. "Good morning, guys and gals," she chirped. "JARVIS is going to be playing this whenever he can get a majority of you in one room." A mischievous look crossed her face. "Don't worry though. The missing folks are getting it as well. Nice to know some of the…ahem…connections between SI and SHIELD are in proper working order." Her expression turned serious and she sat back. "Now, on to the important bit - I, Darcy Lewis, am formally announcing my intention to go on strike. This particular little gofer is fed up with being taken for granted. Everyone expects me to be there at the drop of a hat and ready to go to work without so much as a good morning or a thank you." She frowned, but lifted her chin in a slight show of defiance. "And I am done. You super heroes, super brains, and super agents can just figure out the small stuff on your own until you are ready to appreciate the little people." There was a pause and then she continued. "Oh, and don't bother trying to find me until then. You're going to find that I've learned a trick or two from you lot…including how to disappear until I'm ready to be found." She gave a quick wave at the screen. "Have fun!"

The screen went black.

Silence reined for a long moment before people began talking over each other.

"What does she mean?"

"She'll be back."

"We do not take her for granted."

"That's a little dramatic, don't you think?"

Steve's voice finally rose above the others. "She's probably just having a bad day," he reasoned. "I'm sure she'll be back soon.

"And if not, we can manage until she does," Betty said softly. People began nodding, although Jane and Pepper were both more hesitant than the rest.

"Mr. Stark," JARVIS interrupted. "Director Fury is on the line and would like an explanation about 'connections' between Stark Industries and SHIELD."

"I'm not here," Tony replied instantly. He stood up and began walking towards the door. "I'm going to my lab. Fifty on Lewis breaking down and coming back in less than two weeks."

"I'm in," Clint chimed in.

Light laughter broke out as people left to get back to their usual workdays. Little did they expect the trouble that was to come.