X marks the spot

A Hen In The Wolf House

"Eight dead, six of them Navy." So, today was starting off well.

"All part of an anti-HYDRA unit." Yeah, it was going really well.

"Any idea what was used to carry out the attack?" Hunter asked as himself, Aaron, Rebecca, Skye, May and Trip walked down the hallway at a pace.

"Nope, but the effects appear similar to those from the Obelisk." Skye said, looking at all her friends as she spoke.

"Which we assume is in HYDRA's possession." May added as they walked into the living area to go up to Coulson's office.

"What else is new?" Aaron said with a tone loaded with sarcasm.

"For once bud, could you just tone the dry humour down a little?" Skye asked of her friend. Said friend rolled his eyes.

"Only when I'm dead and gone." Was not the morbid response she wanted, but she got the message; No.

As they walked into Coulson's office, they saw him quickly try and hid something from one; some thing that looked like he was etching into the table.

"Heard back from your Navy contact?" May asked as they all stood on the opposite side of his table.

"Radio silence." Was his quick response.

"Any chance we could find a way in? Maybe poke around a little?" Skye asked, hands foldeded at her front.

Coulson stood up, "Entire fleet's closing ranks. These were their men. No one other than the CDC, Navy's top brass are setting foot in that position." Coulson told them, telling them their bleak odds of that happening.

"Ok, then, that's a dead end." Hunter deadpanned.

"What about agent Simmons? She's inside HYDRA, any chance she has some intel?" Trip asked, now with everyone else knowing where she was being out there.

"Still waiting for her to make contact." Coulson said, making them all a bit worried for their friend who was still out there, behind enemy lines.

"Should've sent me, instead." Aaron said under his breath.

"What was that, agent?" Coulson asked, having fully heard something.

"You should've sent me instead." Aaron said, louder now; but he wasn't backing down.

"You said this when she first left –" Aaron cut him off.

"And I say it now, would've worked out better."

"You think she's doing a bad job?" Coulson asked.

"Not at all, but she can't lie, I can; I've been doing it my whole life."

"Are you lying right now?" He asked, looking at his agent more careful to try and catch him out.

"I've lied to you before, about HYDRA. Simmons could barely lie to Jasper fucking Sitwell and my ill timed sniper shot to the guy she was talking to probably hasn't helped things." Aaron said, maintaining eye contact with her the entire time.

"You can't solve everything, sometimes they need to do that themselves." May suggested; Aaron shrugged his shoulders.

"When have we ever done that, May? Simmons would be with Fitz, he'd be doing a lot better with her; I'd be in the field, doing what I do best." Skye just looked between the three of them like it was a tennis match.

However, she then stopped when she saw what was on the table.

"Sir, what is that?" Skye asked, looking at the carvings in the desk.