Facing Your Destiny [Book 2]: A Grant Ward FanFic

Chapter 4 - (Not So) Old Flings

Facing My Enemy.

Taylor stood in the command centre of the Bus with Tripp, waiting for Skye.

"I think we'll make it." Skye said. She throws the flash drive Hunter gave to her to Tripp. "Hunter did a good job, uh, distracting Gabriel Soto's executive assistant." Trip has plugged it into Skye's laptop for her and she begins typing.

"Oh, I bet he did." Taylor told her sarcastically. They see some sort of spreadsheet with names and money figures of $25,000.00 up on her screen.

"Damn. Tickets cost $25,000?" Tripp exclaimed.

"Each. Which is why I'm going for the five-finger discount." Skye told him. She clicks a couple of keys.

"Mack, you're on." Taylor told him.

"Copy that. We're pulling up now." He replied over comms.

"Good work on the cover, Skye and Taylor. We're in." Coulson informed.

"Okay. Remember, Soto has the painting in a sublevel storage room, until it comes out later tonight for the guests." Skye explained them.

"How heavy is the security?" May asks.

"Still assessing, let's assume 'very'." Taylor informed. "Keep in mind we've got diplomats here, state officials. These are not friends of SHIELD."

"Bridget said Soto's sending out the painting for verification first thing in the morning." Hunter Told them. "She, uh, whispered it in my ear, if you know what I mean."

"Yes, everybody on the planet knows what you mean, Hunter. Let's focus." Coulson ordered.

"Right, so upshot is tonight's our one chance to steal this thing."

"Director, are you sure you don't want me there? I can help you and May" Skye started. "Get around any security measures Soto has in–"

"No, keeping it to two agents allows us to minimise detection in a small space." Coulson told them. "I hope you don't need me to explain covert operations again." Tripp looks over and sees Fitz entering the room as Skye looks disappointed.

"No, sir."

"Good. This writing was in Garrett's lab, The Obelisk and now a 500-year-old piece of art. It's important. Getting that painting could mean answers for us." Coulson explained.

"Yes, sir. We will–" Taylor's words are cut off by a very loud and boisterous laugh, Skye's and Taylor's eyes go wide with shock. "Wait, what was that?"

"Yeah, that's May." Coulson tells them. Skye looks genuinely startled.

"I-is she okay? Is everything okay?" Skye asks.

"Yes. She's laughing." Coulson told them with a laugh of his own. Skye, Tripp and Taylor give each other a shocked look. "I think the worst of it is over now."

"My face hurts." Is all May says.

"Come on. We got a cover to maintain and some details to go over." Coulson tells May. "Going radio silence. We'll resume contact shortly." Skye watches as his signal drops, she looks at the other three.

"Did they just turn off their comms?" Skye asked.

"Yeah, well, I-I thought that was obvious." Fitz said to her. They all laughed.

-----<>-----

Hunter and Mack have just arrived and entered the Command Center.

"Nice work out there. Do we get to keep the scooter?" Hunter asked, jokingly.

"Nice work, yourself, though it didn't look like you were suffering too much." Skye commented.

"And I was babysitting an empty plane. How is this fair?" Tripp joked.

"I feel you bro." Taylor nudged his side.

"It's weird, women just like me. Always have. Never understood it." Hunter tells them. Taylor scoffs and Tripp and Skye just roll their eyes as Fitz listens in, almost ignored. "Must be a magnetism thing, I guess. Who can explain it, eh?"

"If it makes you feel any better, I don't get it, either." Taylor commented.

"You hear that?" Hunter asks. Skye and Taylor laugh. "If I wanted someone to take jabs at me, I'd still be married." Mack makes a face.

"Hmm, not this story again. Can we not?" Mack cringes.