WE'RE CURSED [Leo Fitz]

0-8-4

The Bus soared through the air. Coulson was talking to SHIELD headquarters on a walkie-talkie.

"Yeah, we're all good. It's gonna be blue skies from here on out," he said.

As if on cue, a violent explosion rocked the Bus, tearing a hole in the side of the plane. The screen began to light up with words no one ever wants to see: "HULL BREACH". Coulson grabbed onto a chair, hanging on for dear life as another person was sucked out into the atmosphere.

"Aah! Aaaaah!" Coulson yelled, gripping onto the chair.

In the distance, Simmons could be heard yelling, "Coulson! Hang on!"

-

19 hours earlier

Alex, Fitz, and Simmons were in the lab. Alex was typing away on her computer while Fitz worked on yet another new invention. Simmons was writing in a notebook, occasionally glancing up at the many samples in front of her. This was a typical day in the lab. Everyone did their own thing, and they were all content together. The peaceful silence was broken by Skye as she entered the lab, a box clutched in her arms. Simmons immediately perked up, while Alex and Fitz continued working, only glancing up to see who it was.

"Oh, Agent Coulson told us the news," Simmons was grinning from ear to ear, "What a wonderful surprise isn't it, Fitz? Agent Stowe?"

"Yeah," Fitz mumbled, still focused on his invention.

Simmons rolled her eyes at Fitz's lack of interest and Alex's lack of an answer, "No, it's wonderful."

"Yeah, a surprise," Alex finally spoke up.

"You must be very excited."

Skye nodded over the box, "Yep, the first day of school."

She walked over to Fitz, who stood up, confused. He was even more confused when Skye dumped her box into his arms, making him grunt at the surprising new weight.

Alex got up from her seat to follow Fitz as he left the room with Skye's belongings. She decided that she would leave Simmons and Skye to keep each other company.

"Okay, so... just -," she walked past Skye, "sorry. Yeah."

She looked back one last time to see Simmons and Skye already deep in conversation. Alex and Fitz climbed the ladder to the upper part of the Bus. They reached the lounge area, and Fitz immediately set Skye's box down on the counter.

"What do you think about this?" he asked Alex.

"What do you mean?"

"You know what I mean. Skye. She's not an agent. Do you think it's wise to allow her to join the team?"

"Coulson knows what he's doing. And it's not like she has any more field experience than you and Simmons."

"That's not the point. I mean, can we trust her? We barely know her. She was a member of the Rising Tide. I'll be okay with her as long as Coulson is, but I think we should still keep an eye on her."

"Agreed. But that doesn't mean we can't be hospitable."

Fitz nodded, straightening up as he saw Simmons and Skye enter the lounge.

"Do you two mind helping me give Skye a tour of the Bus?" Simmons asked them.

Fitz nodded, beginning, "This is our plane," he held his arms out, showing off the lounge, "Officially, it's an airborne mobile command station. But we call it the Bus. We find it best to use shorthand when in the field. But everything has to be just so, you know, because of the danger."