Saving Grant Ward

Chapter Thirty-Two

The next afternoon, FitzSimmons launched into a lesson plan with more energy and excitement than I would've thought possible. I didn't want to derail them, and I felt terrible when I finally raised my hand after the first fifteen minutes to tell them they were still starting way over my head. They didn't let it phase them for a second, though. They reassured me immediately, altered their lesson plan on the fly, started with the absolute basics, and then we were off to the races.

I had the absolute time of my life. We fell into a rhythm for the next week, covering all the basics of chemistry, biology, physics, and a little bit of engineering. I still hadn't even quite made it to the level where they'd originally planned to start, but still, I knew much more than I had a week ago. Just like I'd been hoping, they made science fun.

May and I kept up our training alongside the science lessons, and after the first few days, I reached out to Cole Matthews to see if he could point me in the direction of some basic coding classes. With his recommendation, I started a handful of those, too, and by the end of the week, I'd actually started feeling like myself again.

I headed into the lab the next Monday morning with a giant smile on my face. FitzSimmons had promised to show me an experiment that resulted in an explosion today, and I couldn't wait.

"Alright!" I called, moving through the lab with a bounce in my step again. "Where are the chemicals? I've been waiting for this since you suggested tutoring me."

Fitz and Simmons turned around from the lab table they'd been preparing to grin at me, but another agent I didn't recognize slid into my path before I could get to them.

"Agent Slater!"

I stopped in my tracks and frowned at her. I glanced over her shoulder to see FitzSimmons looking equally confused, and they drifted in our direction as I turned back to the newcomer.

"...That's me. What's up?"

"You've been assigned to a solo mission in Naples, effective immediately."

I frowned. "Seriously?"

"Yes. You'll be on a commercial flight, scheduled to leave JFK in three hours."

"WHAT?" I couldn't help shouting, even as every head in the lab whipped around to look at me. JFK was not close, and I still needed to get my gear together.

"Here's your mission file, which should contain any information you need," she continued, unphased as she extended a file to me. I shook my head, but took it.

"Alright, great. First solo mission, first mission in a month, leaving JFK in three hours. Perfect." The agent just shot me a sympathetic look, then headed off, presumably to go drop terribly timed information on someone else. I sighed and turned to FitzSimmons. "I'm sorry, you guys, but apparently I have to go."

"Oh... alright," said Simmons, visibly deflating.

"I guess we'll seen you when you get back, then..." said Fitz, doing the same. I pursed my lips, then pulled the two of them in for a tight hug. They seemed surprised, but they quickly returned the gesture.

"I'm going to miss you guys so much!" I said. "Thank you for everything you taught me. I promise, I'll come find you for lunch as soon as I get back. And we can continue our lessons, if you guys still have the time for it!"

"Of course we will!" cried Simmons, looking outraged that I'd suggested otherwise as we pulled apart.

"Yeah, you were just starting to get the hang of velocity and acceleration," agreed Fitz. "There's no way we're stopping now."

I grinned at the two of them. "Good. I promise, I'll be back as soon as I can."

"Have fun!"

"Stay safe!"