Through Time and Space

Chapter 4

7 years later (Jemma is 25 and Grant is 32)

*Some lines from 1.1

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"What does S.H.I.E.L.D stand for, Agent Ward?" asked Deputy Director Maria Hill from across the table.

"Strategic, Homeland, Intervention, Enforcement, and Logistics, Division," replied Grant as he recited what S.H.I.E.L.D stood for.

"And what does that mean to you?"

"It means someone really wanted our initials to spell out S.H.I.E.L.D." He dead panned. Noticing Hill's face he rolled his eyes, "it means we're the line between the world and the much weirder world. We protect people from news that they aren't ready to hear. And if we can't do that, we keep them safe. If something turns up, like this Chitauri neural link," he said grabbing the piece of alien tech out of his suit pocket and slid it across the table, "we get to it before someone bad does."

"Any idea who VonTrap was planning to sell it to?" she asked as she examined the piece of tech in her hand.

"I'm more interested in how this Rising Tide group found out about it. I thought they were just hackers. What changed?"

"Everything's changing. Last year, people went to bed thinking that the craziest thing in the world was a billionaire in a flying metal suit. Then aliens were discovered and we've found a giant green monster, a costumed hero from the 40s, and a god."

"I don't think Thor is technically a god."

"Well you haven't been near his arms," Hill retorted with a small smile. Ward rolled his eyes. "The battle of the Cybermen was the end of the world. This, now, is the new world. People are different. They have access to tech, secrets, and formulas that they're not ready for."

"Why was I pulled out of Paris?" he asked impatiently.

"Now that, you'll have to ask Agent Coulson."

"Agent Hill, you know as well as I do that Coulson died in the battle of the Cybermen," he replied.

"Hey there Grant." Said Agent Phil Coulson as he stepped out of a dark corner, "sorry, that corner was really dark and I couldn't help myself. I think there's a bulb out."

Grant looked at the man before him in disbelief. He saw his mentor die, how could he possibly be standing here? "Does Jemma know you're alive?" he finally asked as he stood up to face Coulson.

"Yes she does, she and Fitz are back on my plane."

"How long have you been..." Ward asked as he gestured to Coulson.

"Alive? For a few months now."

"And you never told me?" he asked, not bothering to hide his accusing tone.

"I'm sorry Grant, I really am."

"Why are you here all of the sudden?" Ward raised an eyebrow.

"I came to ask you to join my team. We're a mobile S.H.I.E.L.D unit."

"You know I'm not a people person, who's on the team?"

"Me, Melinda May, and agents Fitz and Simmons."

"FitzSimmons is on your team?"

"Yep."

"Fine," he sighed. Somebody had to protect those two.

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Grant walked into the lab and set his bag down. "FitzSimmons?"

They both turned to look at him and gave him large smiles.