I Thought You Were Different: Part 6

Challenges

You had met Jemma and Fitz only once before, but it was memorable, and encountering them again was much the same as that day. They were a lively pair, constantly bickering in a playful way, both with each other and with you. Some of the things that they said to each other made it clear that they had worked with Phil for far too long, but it also made you miss your old friend and wish that he had come along for the trip.

"Was Phil too busy to tag along?" you asked, groaning under your breath as Jemma poked a needle through your skin.

"Sorry, can't be helped," she smiled sadly, though her eyes never left your arm. She waited for the flash of blood into the syringe before continuing, and you heard her release a held breath at her success. "I know that he would send his regards, but he's on vacation."

"Vacation? Phil Coulson takes vacation? That's new."

"Yeah, not as new as you'd think," Fitz joined in. "He and May have been reluctant agents from afar ever since they-"

"Woah, hold on," you interrupted, trying to sit up until Jemma pushed you back down.

"There still a needle in your arm, (Y/N)."

"Right, sorry," you apologized quickly and a bit half-heartedly, "but Phil and May?! When did that happen? I mean, that's great, and it's about time, but what made them finally see what's going on?"

Jemma and Fitz exchanged a knowing glance; it was quick but filled with understanding, and an entire conversation happened between them in mere seconds. "It's quite the long story," she answered. "Perhaps when this is all over, he'll be able to tell you himself."

"Pfft, right," Fitz scoffed, "if he can stop chasing May around like a lost puppy for more than five minutes."

"Didn't I tell you all that I don't want to hear one word about Coulson's love life?" Nick added as he entered the room. He had a somber look on his face, one that almost made you think he had either heard bad news, or that he was about to tell you something that you didn't want to know. At this point, it would simply be one more thing, and you would rather hear it now than later; you were pretty much a captive to Jemma's needle, so you couldn't do anything anyway.

"Spit it out, Nick."

Rather than giving you a direct answer, your friend took a wide step to the side, watching your reaction as the newest guest made his appearance through the door, though it didn't carry his usual attention-getting way. "Sweetheart, what are you doing?"

"No, Dad, what are you doing?" you grumbled under your breath. "Seriously, did you track me down after I explicitly asked you not to? I thought we trusted each other better after all this time."

Tony was trying to hurry to your side, the worry in his body nearly pushing him forward against his own will, but he controlled himself and moved slowly. He didn't want you to panic, and now that Jemma was clear of your arm and you were free to move again, he feared that you would do exactly that. "I do trust you, (Y/N). Well, for the most part," he clarified. "I was looking for you because I was worried that you would do something crazy, like you do, but I guess I was wrong. I fully expected to find you trashing a Hydra base somewhere looking for leftover serum."

"Wow, Dad, thanks. Not really selling your point very well."

"Give me a break, (Y/N). You know as well as I do that it sounds like a perfectly plausible idea for you."

"Yeah," you sighed heavily, standing up to meet him, "it really does. I'm kinda surprised that I didn't try that first."

Fitz took a long step towards you, tapping your shoulder to get your attention, "we're just going to take the sample to Nick's office and start analyzing. We'll let you know the second we have an answer."