Hey all! So this new season has been AWESOME! The original idea to this story was a sequel to my last story, "Mirrors"; but I revamped it and have decided to set it by itself.

I hope you all enjoy and can't wait to see what y'all say!

Disclaimer: No, not mine.

"Death Of An Avenger" (Chapter 1)

MAY 2012

MOMENTS AFTER COULSON'S DEATH

"Sir?" Maria Hill's voice filters through his deep concentration as she comes to a stop near him.

"Commander Hill?" He automatically says in a questioning tone as he fiddles with Coulson's bloody Captain America trading cards.

"Those cards…" she trails off briefly as Fury lifts his head to look out in the skyline. "They were in Coulson's locker, not his jacket." She points out with crossed arms. Neither looks at the other.

"They needed the push." Fury responds, to which Hill lifts her eyes to look over at him. Then, their attention is averted to the Avengers leaving.

~AoS~

Later, after the Battle of New York is conquered, Fury tends to clean up. He is finally – late at night – able to get some downtime. Sitting in his office chair, he revisits fingering Coulson's cards as he decides on what to do with the man. He has a project in the works that Coulson himself had overseen, but the report and thumb drive that sits on his desk before him tell him it's not the smartest move.

Yet, as he glances down at the closed file, he gets the sense that it's the route he should go – despite all the possible negative outcomes.

Finally, unable to resist any longer, Fury slaps the pile of cards on the desk in exchange for the file and thumb drive. Sighing heavily, he finally walks over to put the thumb drive in to watch once again Coulson's resignation video. As it begins, Fury walks back over to his desk but surpasses it in favor of his view. Clasping his hands behind his back in a typical fashion, he stands watching the traffic below.

So many circulating thoughts run in his head. I failed, ma'am. You gave me one job and I failed! Project T.A.H.I.T.I. sounds like the best option. He must be here. Everything will fail if he doesn't!

"You're thinking loudly again, Sir." Commander Maria Hill's voice startles him out of his thoughts. He jolts, half turning to the doorway where Hill stands uncertain, arms crossed like she's protecting herself.

"Commander Hill?" He questions, turning fully to face her as she propels into the room. Coulson's voice is continuing his transmission. Quickly, Fury tells it to pause. "Why haven't you gone home already?"

Hill stands with her hands on the back of the chair before his desk. "Same as you." She glances over at the frozen frame of Coulson in mid-speak. "Trying to figure out a way to bring him back." She looks longingly at his face. "We failed, Nick." She states unnecessarily.

"I know." Fury stresses, looking at the cards again.

"It was our job to keep him out of danger, and–" she starts, looking anywhere but at Coulson or Fury.

"We should've been stricter with him from the beginning, despite what his parents said. He would have been more cautious." Fury picks up the cards.

"Do you honestly believe Phil would've been more cautious?" Hill says it in a disbelieving tone.

"I doubt it. He probably thought he should fear no fear, that he was protected." He eyes the file again. "I know a way we can bring him back – hopefully – but it will come at a cost. And I want to keep his destiny from him until the time comes. Maybe this time, he'll be a little more cautious."

TBC...