Chapter 38
They landed with a quiet thump, silently disconnecting themselves from the ropes. Keeping low to the ground they used the trees as cover. Pausing, they noted the passing of the guards, watching their patterns, noting their behaviours. As soon as they had the pattern down it would be safe to move forward. The coms they had would pick up the smallest whisperers so they could plan without alerting the others. The simplest plan was the best, divide and conquer. After the next passing of the guard, they crept towards the target, guns armed and ready. They were two meters away from the target when everything went to wrong. A guard deviated from their pattern, rounding the corner taking the team by surprise. He watched as the guard moved in on his partner, no time to give a warning. He watched in horror as he loomed over her. Sensing danger she whirled around, silently pinning him to the ground, taking him out. Clearly the lessons had worked, it was beautifully executed.
Sending her a swift grin that was just visible beneath his balaclava he continued moving forward. As she watched his back he was free to pick the lock, gaining them entry into the target. 200m down the hallway and they reached their target. Gun raised they entered the room, each surrounding the target.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” A voice yelled from behind them, sending him jumping.
“Grandpa.” Tripp turned, hiding the water gun behind his back. Trying to school his face, he caught sight of Mel looking at the ground, her gun on the floor.
“Well?”
“We’re playing secret agents.”
“Yes and that’s why Leo is crying!”
“I may have put him down a bit too hard.” Mel murmured, glancing down at the floor. “Is he alright?”
“He’s got a sprained wrist.” He looked down at them and Tripp felt his heart pound. Heat rushed to his checks. “You need to remember that they haven’t learned what you did.”
“I’m sorry.” Mel wailed.
“Just go and apologise.” Grabbing her small hand he headed for the door.
“Oh and if I ever find you pointing a gun at your brother again…” Tripp shuddered at the menacing look on his face.
“No Grandpa.” They both chorused as they rushed out of the room.
Curled on one of the sofa’s they found Leo cradling a bandaged wrist, red puffy eyes. Hearing their approach he glanced up, breaking into a smile.
“Did it work?”
“Well he doesn’t suspect anything.” Tripp shrugged. “How’s your wrist?”
“A bit sore.”
“Sorry.” Mel slid beside him, rubbing her hand carefully along the bandage.
“I told you to throw me properly. It’s not your fault I landed weirdly.”
“But still I didn’t mean for you to get hurt.”
“Forget about it. Besides I got ice cream.” He grinned wickedly.
“Come on. We’d better find our how Jemma’s getting on. Phil will keep Grandpa busy for a little while longer.”
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Turning and taking in the room, he sighed. When he’d arrived it had been a living room, a few toys scattered around. Now it resembled a bombsite. Chairs were over turned; food thrown across the floor, he’d turned his back for one moment and then found Phil drawing on the wall. Before his agents got back he was going to have to ensure the room had been redecorated, he didn’t want to explain why there was a red snowman covering half the wall. If it was anyone else he would have glared them into submission, he’d managed to stop wars with that glare. But kids? Kids, you can’t glare at. Especially not toddlers. Parents gone two hours and they’d nearly killed each other. Sure they were kids who used to spies. He was partially convinced his scientists had lied when they’d said they didn’t remember anything of their adult lives. Mel and Tripp certainly remember some of there training.
Pulling up video on his tablets he located one of his troublemakers and set of to round them all up. He was almost tempted to remove his eye patch; maybe he needed both of his eyes on these kids.
“Grandpa?” Phil blinked up at Fury, his cheeks flushed. Lifting him into his arms, he grimaced as chocolate smeared down his clothing. Thank god he wore black. Carrying him into the main bedroom, Phil was quickly placed in the bath. Adding bubble bath he manipulated the setting to bring up the video feed so he could watch the others. They seemed happy enough playing a video game for now so he had time to bath Phil. Muttering under his breath as he managed to accidently turn on the Jacuzzi setting, much to Phil’s delight, he eventually got the dial tone he was after.
“Sir? Kind of busy.”
“Work and talk Romanoff. I know you can multitask.”
“Yes sir. What can I do for you?”
Ignoring the noises in the background and the small bangs Fury waited until the line was clear again.
“Coms Natasha? What made you think… No Phil. That was a good idea? NO Phil. Shield technology should be in the hands, don’t eat the bunny Phil, of children?”
“Everything ok there sir?” He could practically hear the smirk in her voice. “It’s not Shield’s. Stark made them.”
“I should have known. No more technology for them understood?”
“Yes sir. By the way I love the apron. It’s a good look on you.” The dial tone prevented him answering. Frowning he glanced around, there was no apron here. Sure he’d worn one earlier when he’d made lunch but as Phil had covered him in chocolate there was no point protecting his clothing now. Stopping Phil eating the bunny again, he failed to notice the absence of children in the games room. If he’d paid attention he may have spotted the trail of sugar from the kitchen into the living room, but Phil decided to splash soap in his eyes. He could be forgiven for missing the splashes of coke that covered the table as Phil ran out the room naked having just been dried. But Fury released he walked back into the living room with a finally dressed Phil that he really should have noticed the lack of noise and the guilty silence that had fallen over the house.
It was all he could do to stare as four kids ran around in a sugar rush, chatting ten to the dozen. Watching them bounce off walls he knew when he’d reached the end of his skills. Dialling a little used number he fought to stop pleading entering his voice.
“I need your help.”
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They entered swiftly, Ward in front, completely in black combat suit, two guns drawn, clearing the way. She followed behind, not quite as silently but more so than she could have done four months ago. She’d been nervous that she’d forgotten all the training but it was like riding a bicycle, once you knew it you never forget it. Keeping her gun steady she followed him through the maze of corridors, heading towards the server room. It was a simple office building that contained a number of legitimate companies, hence why they were entering at night by the roof. Her hacking skills had come in handy, switching off the alarm and gaining them entry. She hadn’t been entirely sure why she was needed on this mission apart from as someone to watch Ward’s back until she’d made it to the computer room. For a simple law firm they had a lot of security, virtual and in real life. Ward’s skills had meant they’d avoided meeting any of the goons roaming the hall but getting out wasn’t going to be as easy.
“I’ll be as quick as I can.” She whispered setting down her equipment and accessing the computer. “I’m into the mainframe already.”
“It’s fine. We shouldn’t be detected. Just grab all the information you can. We can sort through it somewhere else.”
“I know. I just want to get done.”
“Missing the kids?” The room was dark apart from the glow of the computer screen but she was still convinced she could make out a faint smile on his face.
“How can you ask that? Of course.”
“Me too.” He made it sound like a weakness.
“I’m sure they’ll be fine with Fury.”
She could feel his look rather than see it and had to concede his point. They could be a bit of a handful.
“It takes two of us and we barely manage.”
“Hey just look at it this way if they destroy the house Fury can’t complain as it’s his fault.” Catching the waving of his hand she dimmed the brightness of the screen and practically held her breath until boots trooped past.
“Two?”
“Three.” He assessed. “Well trained by the look of it. You’re safe.”
“On it.”
Two minutes later and the data transfer was nearly complete.
“Uh oh.”
“Skye?”
“I..I think I tripped an alarm. They’ve build in a failsafe and I tripped it.”
“How long?”
“A minute before the alarms go.”
“Grab the hard drive.”
Disconnecting the equipment she rushed to his side, taking his offered hand. As they rushed down the corridor, speed valued more than silence, she held out the hard drive.
“Safe with you.” They still hadn’t got onto to resisting torture.
“No you keep it.” He ordered, shooting an upcoming goon with an ICER. As they hit the end of the corridor all hell broke loose. Alarms blaring they fled down the corridor, both brandishing guns to prevent ambush attempts. Hitting the stairs she began to climb, pausing when she realised he wasn’t following.
“Ward?”
“Go. I’ll make sure you get away clean.”
“Grant!”
“Go! I’ll be right behind you.”
Knowing it was pointless to argue she raced up the stairs, wincing at bullet impacts behind her. Reaching the roof finding the evac waiting she felt the tension leave her body. They could make it. Throwing herself into the helicopter she turned to wait for Ward. The roof door burst open, sending dust flying. As bullets flew through the air Skye automatically ducked, reacting as Ward did. Noticing the waiting helicopter and the approaching men he made a quick gesture to the pilot.
“No. What are you doing?” She screeched but the pilot couldn’t hear her without headphones. Before her eyes Grant was buried under bodies, taking blows to his body. As they began to fly away she saw she could read his thoughts telling her everything would be all right. But it wouldn’t be. He was still stuck there.
“GRANT!!!”