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A few hours passed while the boys hid from the public after the second attack at the school. Mick and his friends were picked up from the Bennet home by a SHIELD agent and drove down to a holding facility. It was terrifying being separated from them, Mick's anxiety was eating him alive. This small dimly lit room with just two chairs and a table didn't help matters at all. What if they were questioning Jerren and Davis, thought something was wrong with them? Were they going to lock them away like they did with Grant Reigns? What was going to happen with Patten and his reckless driving, would he be in trouble for that? Why leave him stuck in the dark, wasn't he practically a SHIELD agent? How was this fair? His mind spiraled until the heavy door opened, and Coulson stepped in. 

"It's about time," Mick was exasperated. 

"It's only been ten minutes since we put you in here," Coulson said as Mick's eyes widened. There was no way that could be true. It felt like so much longer. "When were you going to tell me about the new abilities of Bennet and Hale?" Coulson seemed a little frustrated, his look showing that fatherly disappointment. 

"I was trying to figure out all of that on my own," Mick looked at the ground, preferring to not make eye contact and feel the full weight of Coulson's gaze. "I was also scared you'd be forced to take them away." 

"Did we take you away when we found out about your powers?" Coulson asked, leaving Mick to feel even worse about hiding it. If Coulson wasn't a dad, he certainly had that tone and demeanor. "That's not what SHIELD does, we evaluate and make sure no one could get hurt." 

"I'm sorry," Mick still refused to look up, feeling the full force of Coulson's disappointment. 

"Mr. Brent told me about Alice and her friends calling themselves the Coven, and how he suspects they're the reason behind the strange powers and new found behavior quirks of Bennet and Hale. Do you agree with his assessment?" Coulson's gaze pierced Mick to his core. He couldn't even utter the words, he simply nodded yes. "I do too. I tested it by mentioning Alice Westley's name, and asking if either knew who the Coven was, both bore the same blank expression, and had the same robotic undertone with the same answer. We can't talk about that. Then they shook their heads as if they blacked out, and had no recollection the question was asked." 

"They've both done that to me when I bring up Alice or something to do with her," Mick admitted. 

"Is there anything else in this mystery you want to tell me?" Coulson asked, leaving Mick grateful that he was given the opportunity to lay it all out. Mick then explained everything that happened at the school, only to be made aware that Davis recorded the whole incident on a small digital camera, then gave the camera to Coulson.

"I think you know everything now," Mick held up his fingers and began making a list. "Shadowfury, hellhounds, witches, the weird dream powers for Jerren and Davis, and then today." 

"We're going to put a SHIELD cover agent at the school with you. Someone we can trust to keep an eye on things and be there in case things go even worse than they already have," Coulson said firmly as Mick nodded. "It's not going to be me, so don't get any ideas. I'm don't think settling down and being a teacher or a principal is for me/ You kids are already too much drama for me to deal with." 

"Is it at least going to be someone I know?" Mick asked hesitantly. 

"I have the perfect person in mind for the job. She's still looking to prove her worth as the youngest SHIELD agent on the books so far. 

"Sharon?" Mick titled his head as Coulson shook his head. 

"Don't get the wrong idea, this is now a SHIELD sanctioned mission. You cannot compromise her identity. However she presents herself, you have to go along with it," Coulson warned. "One more thing for you to think about. How would you feel if we invited your friends into the SHIELD Academy? I know you try and protect them, but they're already in pretty deep, and I'm sure we could harness those new found skills of theirs pretty well there."

"I'm sure they would all like that. You are including Patten, right?" Mick asked as Coulson chuckled and nodded. 

"Of course. He has the workings of a great strategist already," Coulson said to Mick's relief. They could all be a part of this, and they could all be trained and be safe with him. That was a little relief at least. 

It was a full week before the high school opened back up. Unfortunately, just like the homecoming attack, this brought a swarm of reporters looking for any information they could get regarding the attack, Recluse, the student's psyche, or the creatures. Some were nice enough to let you pass if you just shook your head and kept walking, others were more pushy. Mick was unfortunate enough to be caught by that one as he was getting off the bus. This quirky, plump woman with curly blonde hair and a nasally voice. "Hi! I'd like to interview you, it'll only take a second!" Mick tried hard to brush passed her, making his way toward the hallway entrance where the reporter couldn't follow. "Oh this one is too shaken up to even speak! Please tell me you got that footage!" She looked at her puppy-like cameraman, who nodded eagerly.

"Oh what's the matter Mickey? Are you really scared?" Jake Carson wrapped his arm around Mick, halting him just before he could escape. "Hah! There's nothing to be scared of! We've got two real life super heroes, Recluse and Shadowfury who protect our little school!"

"Oh is that so?" The reporter perked up as Mick jerked free of Jake's grip. 

"What makes you think they're both heroes?" Mick growled as Jake looked intrigued, as did the reporter as Mick's contradiction. 

"I saw the dudes fighting off the dogs, one the drove off in this sweet mustang!" Jake cheered. "Man, if I were him, I'd use that to pick up chicks all day long."

"You would," Mick snarked as he reporter fixated on Jake, giving Mick the chance to escape. Mick had despised Jake Carson for years, ever since they were in junior high and he went after Laynie out of spite of Mick. The way he spoke about her, or any girl for that matter bothered Mick to his core. How could he have ever been friends with someone who only saw girls in such a degrading manner? 

He shuddered at the thought of his ill fated junior high rebranding, so grateful that Jerren and Davis helped him out of that nonsense. As he stepped out into the commons, the debris had mostly been cleaned up, several brick planters had been been completely removed, awnings missing, and one of the entrances to a building was taped off were it sustained heavy damage. No one seemed to notice it though, there was something else taking up the focus, a rather large crowd drawing everyone's attention to the hall near the front office. 

Mick made his way to his friends, who were also peering in the crowd's direction, trying to figure out what could possibly be drawing such attention. "Guys," Mick made his presence known, startling both Davis and Jerren. 

"Have you seen the new girl?" Davis asked; he had a giddy, goofy undertone. 

"New girl?" Mick looked frazzled. "She must be something special drawing this kind of attention." 

"Oh she's quite pretty," Jerren said, staring in attempt to catch a glimpse of her through the crowd. 

"I mean, she's just your standard pretty blonde," Patten sighed, as Mick chuckled. "Not worth turning into a zombie over, but she is nice to look at." 

The crowd seemed to part somewhat, giving Mick the slightest glimpse of this supposed angelic being. He laughed internally and bit his lip when he saw her. That straight blonde hair, her round face, those sharp eyes. Of course these guys would be smitten by her, he was when he first met her too. At least until she slammed him to the ground in the boxing ring twice back to back. 

"Oh no, not you too," Patten groaned as he looked at Mick's face. 

"What?" Mick laughed. "No, I'm on your side." 

"Are you insane?" Davis prattled. "She's like a beautiful angel that descended from heaven so we could truly see the glorious works of God." 

"Really?" Patten just stared at Davis while he followed Sharon with his eyes. 

"Why don't we go say hey? Maybe offer to give her a tour around campus?" Mick said slyly as both Jerren and Davis seemed flabbergasted at the thought of speaking to her. 

"Is one of your powers insanity? Do you see the crowd of guys around her? Why would she pay us any mind?" Davis growled. 

"He has a point, look at her radiance," Jerren started. "We are but mere nerds, specks of dust on the perfection of her beauty." 

"She's just a girl," Patten stated firmly, quite annoyed at their zombification. 

"Then you and I can go talk to her and leave these two to daydream," Mick said as Patten raised his brow, curious as to why Mick felt suddenly so bold. 

"Fine, but we're not putting you back together when she crushes your hopes and dreams like a bat to a vase!" Davis called out as the two started towards Sharon.

"You didn't go making any deals with Alice did you?" He asked as Mick shook his head without hesitation. 

"No, I see Jake moving in, and I don't want her to think we're all like him," Mick said as he moved faster, forcing his way through the crowd, using a little of his strength to force the more muscular guys out of his way. 

Mick reached her just as Jake did, the two boys locked eyes, Jake clearly trying to command Mick to stand down with an intimidating glare. "Hello Beautiful, would you like to take a ride on the wild side? Maybe let a real man show you the ropes?" Jake held out his hand to Sharon as she looked at him with intrigue. 

"Or, if you'd prefer," Mick chimed in with Patten at his side. "We can give you the tour of the school without any strings attached." Jake was surprised by the fierceness in Mick's tone. 

"What are you trying to accuse me of little Mickey?" Jake growled. 

"You know good and well," Mick's eyes narrowed, every impulse in him wanted to take his typical Recluse battle stance and actually fight Jake here and now, but Patten's hand on his shoulder calmed that urge. 

"You two boys seem really nice," Sharon looked at Mick and Patten, as every other boy following her felt the air leave their lungs. "I'd love it if you'd give me the grand tour. I'm Kate Powers." 

"Mick Bellouve," Mick held out his hand.

"Patten Brent," Patten followed suit as Sharon shook his as well. 

"You'll regret this Mick," Jake said furiously. "Don't come crying to me when the nerds bore you to tears little lady." Jake stormed off, shoving his way through the now dispersing crowd. 

"That was, something else," Sharon stated as Mick nodded. "I didn't expect my morning to be so eventful." 

"Welcome to Denham," Patten said with a chuckle. "We've got crazy guys, crazy dogs, monsters, and who knows what else hiding in our small town." 

"Sounds like it should be fun," she smiled as Patten shrugged, his charade seemed to be falling apart the more he tried to keep his cool around her. 

Both Davis and Jerren wore the same awestruck looks as Mick motioned them over. "You'll have to forgive them. Something about you being an angel has them all weird," Mick waved his hands as Sharon laughed. 

Patten eyed Mick, curious as to how he was so unaffected by the girls charm. "So do you guys know where any of these classrooms are?" She held out her schedule. 

"Sure do!" Davis cheered! "You've got gym with me! 

"She's with me in Chemistry!" Jerren was a bit more excited than anyone expected. 

"We have English three together," Patten said as he looked at the intrigued expression on Mick's face. 

"You're with me for music, math, and civics," Mick looked at her, unsurprised she'd be around them all day to keep watch. "Just curious, what instrument do you play?" 

"Clarinet, and you?" She dared him to challenge her again, realizing that Mick is testing her cover. 

"Trumpet," Mick replied. "Guess we should get started on that tour before the bells ring, huh?" 

"Maybe we should," Sharon said with a touch of bitterness, that only Mick would understand. He wasn't exactly sure how, but he knew she was going to make him suffer for trying to challenge her like that.