A/N: Yay! After many failed attempts I have the sequel for Out of the Shadows...which I HIGHLY recommend reading first. This will be a shorter fic, I needing something to bridge the gap into the next longer one. As always I adore your feedback and am always open to hearing what my readers want to see. Either drop a review or send me a PM.

Disclaimer: I own nothing!

Two sets of nearly identical blue eyes bore into each other, a battle of wills that neither one was willing to loose, not with so much at stake. Director Phil Coulson and Agent Leo Fitz sitting across from each other over Coulson's desk in his office. "I told you it's too dangerous, you are not going" Coulson said firmly finally breaking the silence.

Fitz threw his hands up in frustration "For one it's not as dangerous as you think, two I am a still a Shield Agent, and 3 Simmons and I are the only ones who won't stand out like a sore thumb with that lot". It had been a few months since the small group had settled into the Playground and began the intimidating task of rebuilding Shield from the ashes Hydra had left. The first few weeks had been rough scrambling to just get basic supplies and personal. The missions slowly turning from scavenging to actually striking back at Hydra. Now thanks to Hill they had the beginnings of a new Bus sitting in the hanger. It was a far cry from the original, former Deputy Director fishing it out of a graveyard somewhere but it did allow them to customize it from the ground up, complete with every upgrade Fitzsimmons could come up with. Coulson cherishing the time he and Leo worked on it, much like he and his own father had Lola.

It was the new bus that had started the current argument as Christian Ward of all people was hosting a conference advancing the development of non-lethal weaponry. Fitzsimmons had significantly advanced that field with the ICER, however it was one was one of the projects they had only heard whispers about...one of those indicating its inventor would be at the conference, cloaking. Fitz knew he could develop one from scratch but time was ticking away and they needed one sooner than later if they wanted to start taking on more vital and productive missions against Hydra. It also provided and excellent opportunity to recruit for their own lab. He and Jemma were good but they needed more hands to keep up with the demand.

"No, I am not willing to risk it, risk you again. May and Tripp can go, you can be in their ears and talk them through the conversations" Coulson said still not budging. Fitz heaved a heavy sigh and rubbed his forehead having already gone through this more times that he cared to count. "They would see right through it, that particular group is very tight knit, they know each other from conferences, school, and journals. Like it or not they know Jemma and me, so if someone else is trying to pass off our work as their own it won't go over too well. Besides we don't even know who is behind the cloaking and I can guarantee something like that will be kept close to the vest until they feel safe sharing it".

Coulson felt like he'd finally scored a point "There you said yourself that you and Simmons would be recognized, all the more reason to keep you here".

Fitz didn't back down both loving and loathing his father's protective streak "Yes, and thanks to Garrett Hydra knows that we are alive and well so it's not exactly a state secret. A US Senator will be there for heaven sake! A Ward! He'll have his own private security force alone, not to mention the security provided by the companies and labs of the attendees".

"Hydra could be with any…" Coulson fought back before Fitz interrupted him "Hydra could be anywhere now! I get not allowing us on a mission to capture an operative or even scavenging fallen bases for supplies, but this is our world, let us help". As he spoke his voice got softer and he met his father's gaze again. "If I wasn't your son and still just one of your agents you wouldn't hesitate in sending us in. You can't hide me from the world forever".

Coulson let his shoulders drop in defeat, Fitz was of coarse right, and this was exactly the kind of mission Fitzsimmons was suited for. "I can try" he said softly finally earning a smile.

"I promise we'll be careful and I know you won't send us in there alone, you will all be there to back us up at the first sign of trouble" Fitz said sincerely.

"Fine" Coulson relented trying to ignore the shouting outside his door that suspiciously sounded like Skye telling Tripp to pay up. "But I reserve the right to pull you out if I feel like anything and I mean anything is off". Fitz flashed a brilliant smile before walking around the desk and hugging his father "Deal…should we let the others in now to plan or take the secret tunnel down to the garage and work on the Bus for a bit?"

As tempting as some father son bonding time was they had a mission to prep for "Let them in I want to make sure we have every little detail of this worked out".

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Days later Jemma giggled as Fitz held her hand gently leading her down the hall, unable to see where he was taking her due to the blindfold he had slipped on her when she was packing up the lab. "Where are we going?" she asked having lost track of all the turns in the base.

He tsked and continued his journey "You'll just have to wait and see" he said with a hint of mischief as she heard a door opening "Now wait here for a moment Love". She obeyed feeling butterflies in her stomach. The romantic relationship had been born during their captivity had only blossomed over the last few months at the Playground. There they were safe and they were able to properly talk, working side by side each day helping their agency rebuild. And despite Hydra's constant threats it was easily the happily the pair had ever been. Though one downside is they had yet to have a proper date. Being the new Directors son and two of the most sought after scientific assets in the world meant that Coulson rarely let them off base for missions and a date with just the two of them was out of the question.

Jemma was broken from her thoughts when she felt arms wrap around her from behind and Fitz place a few sensuous kisses to her neck. She tilted to allow him better access before his lips moved up, eventually ending at her lips. She was more than happy to respond, blindly wrapping her arms around his neck to pull him closer. "Now if you start that you'll never get your surprise" He teased pulling away after a few moments. Her lips pouted and she wished she could see his face, his hands slipping up to the blindfold and tugging it away.

What she saw took her breath away. Fitz had apparently taken over one of the empty rooms in the depths of the base. The ceiling was covered in fairy lights, giving the illusion of a sky full of stars. The floor had a nearly arranged pile of cushions, pillows, and blankets. Before the welcoming pile was another blanket spread out with a bottle of wine and her favorite pasta dish steaming on two plates. All surrounded by numerous flickering candles. She could help but gasp, tears at the thought of it filling her eyes. His arms were around her again, "Since we can't go out for a picnic I thought I'd bring the picnic to us".

"Oh Fitz" she said turning and kissing him again, "Just like the old days at Sci Ops". He smiled proudly as he helped her sit down before sitting himself and pulling his laptop from under one of the pillows. Opening it up to reveal an episode of Dr. Who queued up and ready to go "Exactly, felt it fitting as this is our anniversary so to speak, first time we were paired together and Fitzsimmons was born".

"So I take it Jarvis is with Aunt Skye" Jemma asked digging into her dinner remembering the day fondly wondering just who he'd wrangled into cooking the dish up since he'd been with her or Coulson all day prepping for the mission. "Didn't take much convincing" he said his pet monkey nearly a constant companion for them now "Though I'm sure she's going to teach him something awful again".

Jemma nodded the last time Skye had watched over the little creature for them he'd come back knowing how to blow raspberries.

They ate making light conversation, Fitz clearing the plates away and moving the laptop so they could both see it. Before again reaching into the pile of pillows, this time pulling out a small box and handing it to her with a nervous smile.

"Fitz" she said taking the box from him and opening it. In the candlelight it flickered, a delicate necklace of intricate intertwined lilies, her favorite. "Where?" she asked stunned, another downside of being on the run is gifts, especially like this, weren't the easiest thing to come by.

"Do you like it?" He asked hopefully helping her put it on. She fingered the flowers feeling the tears pricking again, how had she gotten so lucky? That despite it all they had found and still had each other. "I made it…I hope you don't' mind but there is a tracker…" he said unable to say anything else before her lips crashed to his own again.

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Despite having okayed the plan now that it was time Coulson was debating whether to pull the plug and drive as fast as he could back to base and lock Leo back up in the lab. They were in a small hotel across the street from the small convention center where the event was set, placing the finishing touches on everything before Fitz and Simmons went in.

Tripp peered out the window, barely moving the coverings as to not bring attention to anyone below. "Senator Ward has arrived" he said eyes narrowed. From what he knew the elder Ward was just as bad if not worse than Grant, the only thing saving his face was the fact that he was a public figure who wanted to make sure he looked good in the eyes of said public.

"Ready?" May asked surveying the pair as they put they put the last touches on their outfits. They were dressed much as they had on the Bus, fresh from the academy, noting with a smile the new necklace that Simmons now wore at all times. Though she knew looks were deceiving. The necklace as well as Fitz's watch, shirt buttons, and soles of their shoes contained trackers should the worst happen and they be taken again. The glasses they wore each containing miniature cameras and transmitting what they saw back to Skye here in the room.

The pair nodded in unison as they placed the comm devices into their ears. Coulson still looked uneasy placing a hand on each of their shoulders "We will be running backgrounds on anyone you meet and let you know if we feel they are safe to recruit. If so we'll get their contact information and follow up after the conference. If you find who has the cloaking I am hoping your reputation is enough to get them to share if not…get it by whatever means necessary. If you feel in danger at all, activate the panic button on Fitz's watch".

"And Senator Ward?" Simmons asked feeling the nerves starting to get to her, it had been ages since she'd been in the field "What should we do if we are approached by him?"

Coulson felt his skin crawl, he didn't want any member of the Ward family anywhere near his son, let alone the one he felt was responsible for setting Grant down his dark path. "Obviously avoid engaging him at all costs, but if he does approach you make small talk. We can't afford to upset such a powerful Senator right now. And everything we have says he doesn't know you were part of Ward's team let alone that he abducted you…let's keep it that way". Fitz gave him an exasperated look back before clasping his father's hand on his shoulder. "We'll be okay" He assured one last time before Coulson pulled him into a hug, the rest of the team politely looking away.

"I know" He said letting go and straitening up "All right, let's get to work!"

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Four hours later Fitzsimmons were exhausted but had been successful in at least one of their objectives, finding a number of scientists who were interested in joining and passed the initial background tests. They had yet to find anyone who knew anything about the cloaking and were running out of time with the last speaker set to start in the next half hour.

"We're running out of time" Fitz said scanning the chatting groups that surrounded them. Jemma made a non-committal noise of acknowledgement and pushed her glasses up on her nose, the extra tech in the causing them to continually slip down. "If you guys have had enough you can pull out" Coulson said his voice slightly hopeful, he was beyond ready for this mission to be over.

Fitz was tempted to take him up on it, as his eyes fell on an elderly gentleman in the corner. He was easily in his sixties with wild white hair and thick glasses that gave his eyes a magnified effect. Fitz had seem him a few times throughout the afternoon, the man seeming to follow him and Jemma from a distance throughout the day and never engaged anyone else. He was about to suggest they go talk to him when Jemma tugged on his sleeve and his stomach dropped when he realized why she was trying to get his attention. Christian Ward was heading straight for them. The glasses allowed his father to see this too, the older man letting out a curse. The old man forgotten they straightened up just as he arrived in their small space. "Hello, I don't think we've formally met yet. I'm Senator Christian Ward".

Simmons flashed a bright smile as they took turns shaking his hand, he speaking before either of them could answer "And you are the famed Leo Fitz and Jemma Simmons I've heard so much about". They both froze their smiles faltering slightly, and he immediately picked up on how uncomfortable they were. "Oh I'm sorry, you must think me a stalker or something. When I came up with the idea of pushing non-lethal technologies your names came up repeatedly so I eventually had to do some homework. I'm impressed, two so young having such a list of accolades and as I understand it you two created the ICER's that are currently in production".

"We are flattered Senator Ward, a man of your stature taking the time to even give us a second look" Simmons said sweetly, for once her nervousness doing them some good.

He raised his glass to them before taking a sip "So what have you been up too since Shield fell? I would have thought someone like Tony Stark would have swooped you right up".

"Independent research" Fitz said easily and it technically wasn't a lie "We're working in our own lab until we decide what we want to do next". He thankfully didn't press further "Terrible thing what happened to Shield…you know my dear younger brother was in Shield…it's a long shot but perhaps you heard of him, Grant Ward…" The hair on the back of their neck standing on end followed by more creative cursing from Coulson in their ears.

"AC…" Skye said over the line her voice sounding panicked "Something's not right outside…" her warning drowned out as the comm began to flicker out and Christian continued to speak "He was a field agent and you two probably were in a lab when it all happened. But our family hasn't heard from him since before the fall wish I knew what happened to him, I loved him so…"

Skye's garbled voice again coming over the line "….Guys! Get out of there! I'm going to evacuate the building…AC is coming…" she shouted as the fire alarm went off the next second later. Ward looked up confused his security detail closing in around him and forming a circle around him and the scientists he was talking too.

"This isn't right" Ward muttered as those assembled began to move towards to the exits calmly as Fitz tried to look for a way around the wall of muscle that surrounded them. "We'll just be getting out…" Fitz started trying to push he and Jemma through when the horrible sound of gunfire filled the air, at least a dozen masked men entered from every doorway to the room. They all shot into the air causing the scientists to scream in terror, taking cover under tables and huddling against the walls. One of the men scanned the room until he found what he was looking for "The Senator" He shouted.

The men moved quickly, clearly professionals, the men trying to protect the Senator falling dead from the simultaneous shots from multiple attackers. Fitz pulled Jemma too him as she stifled a scream into his chest. The men were moving again, the leader rushing forward and roughly grabbing a terrified Christian by the arm and hauling him away. For a brief moment Fitz though they were okay, only to have a vice like grip grab his arms as well, dragging him back towards one of the conference rooms. Each of the attackers appeared to grab a hostage at random, his eyes widened as he saw another forcefully pulling Jemma away "No, leave her!" he demanded.

His demand went unheeded, eyes on the door waiting for his father, May, and Tripp to burst in at any moment. But not before they were forced into the conference room with the others, closing and locking the doors. "Get along the wall and place all phones and credentials on the floor in front of you" the leader demanded as his men deposited the hostages, Fitz grabbing Jemma again and obeying. There was no need to call attention to themselves right now. Senator Ward was forced into one of the chairs away from the others.

"You have no idea what you have done" Ward said boldly "I am a US Senator, the CIA and FBI will be here in a matter…" he was silence as the butt of the leader's gun caught him in the head knocking him unconscious. Mentally Fitz agreed with him, they had no idea who they had unwittingly captured or the amount of pain that would be coming for them.

"Anyone else?" the leader demanded looking them over as one of the underlings brought him the pile of ID's. He looked through them quickly before tossing them onto the table, addressing the huddled scientists "I understand you are all scared but Shield thanks you for your cooperation in this matter. We also regret you had to be involved, we value our assets…however Senator Ward here has been making life very difficult for us…we intend to make him and your employers pay…because we know they will pay dearly to get their lab rats back. So if everyone behaves you'll all walk out of here and disappear back into your precious labs safe and sound".

At the word Shield Jemma gasped as did a few of the others worried eyes locking with Fitz's. There was no way Shield was responsible for the attack meaning someone was framing them. He responded by pulling her tighter to himself heart pounding in his chest.

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Coulson could feel the blood pounding in his ears as he leapt from the ladder of the fire escape to the street below, having taken it after bolting out the window when they had seen tactical team pull up to the conference center. He could vaguely hear May and Tripp calling after him but he didn't' care, all that mattered was getting Leo and Jemma out of there.

He ran faster than he though his legs could carry him, entering the lobby to the sounds of screams and gunfire coming from the main room. Terrified scientists were streaming out and he fought his way through the crowd, seeing May making more progress and getting into the room first. The trio ran in with weapons raised just in time to see one of the attackers slamming a conference room shut and the last of the scientists flee, leaving a nearly empty room in their wake.

"Did they make it out?" Tripp said scanning the room wondering if they had missed them in the crush trying to get out.

"They would never leave before they knew everyone else was out" Coulson said noting the dead security personal on the ground. Wishing the comm would come back up so Skye could tell them what they saw.

"They took prisoners" a small frail voice said, an old man with wild hair said struggling to pull himself up from behind a table, blood seeping form a wounds in his stomach and chest. Tripp immediately ran over to his aid while May kept her gun up should more attackers arrive. "Your young scientists were in the wrong place at the wrong time and were grabbed with the Senator".

May's gun whipped around him now with Coulson making no move to stop her despite his injured state. Tripp cursing as he opened the shirt to see just how bad it was. "How do you know they are ours?" Coulson demanded. If he was phased by the weapon or Coulson's harsh tone he didn't show it, first addressing Tripp "I know I am beyond help young man" he began, blood seeping from the corner of his mouth "My name is Doctor Kent Williams and I believe you sent Agent Fitz and Agent Simmons in looking for me". Tripp's eyes went wide as he could do nothing more than place pressure on the wound. "I am the one who has the cloaking technology you sought…I was the one who encouraged the Senator to have this little event…I was hoping it would bring out whoever was in charge of Shield so I could pass the research along before I was discovered by Hydra".

"How did…" Coulson started and he was stopped by a gentle laugh. "They won't know me…but I was on the board at the Academy…and while I never taught them I watched them every step of the way…and I'll admit even after they graduated. They were so brilliant we kept tabs on them best we…Agent Weaver and I…could once they joined your team…" he coughed again this time more blood spilling out his breaths getting weaker.

He reached weakly into his jacket pocket and pulled out a flash drive "I had no idea that they were even alive until I saw them come in….but the second I did knew they were with a Shield team, neither of them had any need to wear glasses other than to offer monitoring…."

Coulson now knelt down next to him, taking the tiny device he was offering "Tell them I'm sorry, I never meant…" he never finished the sentence, his head suddenly lolling to the side and his eyes glazing over. Tripp cursed gently pulling his hands away as Coulson lowered the man's eyelids, he had given his life ensuring his technology fell into the right hands.

They didn't have time to process before their comm flared back to life, Skye's shouting causing a ringing in their ears. "…can anyone hear me?"

"We read you" Coulson said pocketing the drive "Tell me you know where Leo and Simmons are" he said quickly. They could hear her fingers flying over her keyboard "They are online too and in what looks like a conference room…guys if I'm right look down at your shoes…." There was a pause and now Coulson wished he was back in the room where he could see what's going on. "They can hear us AC before you go all papa bear you need to listen. These guys are broadcasting ransom demands and claiming they are Shield….hang on I think he's done monologuing….shit….they want 10 Million and Ward…our Ward…in exchange for the Senator. The authorities are no to come within three blocks or else…"

May raised an eyebrow, "Hydra" she said explaining how well trained the attack team had been. "They are the only ones other than us that would want to get their hands on Agent Ward so badly".

Skye came back over the line "They are now making demands to the individual labs the others came from…5 million each…ouch and Stark Industries has four in there…."

"Fitzsimmons doesn't have a lab" Tripp said "you listed them as independent".

"He didn't make demands for them…didn't even pull them on camera like the others" she said "okay the transmission has ended he'll make contact again in a few hours. I suggest you guys get out of there in case someone steps out and sees you". The trio turned to look at the door and moving to the lobby, reluctantly leaving Doctor Williams behind. "We're coming back to the room to regroup, Skye keep an eye on the outside parties and make sure no one is thinking of doing anything stupid. Leo just sit tight and don't' call attention to yourselves. They don't seem to know you're affiliated with the real Shield".

They entered the lobby to the sounds of guns cocking, their own ICER's coming up in defense. "Don't move" a distinctly British accent said coming in from the left while a tall blonde woman the right. "Drop the weapons" she demanded.

"You first" May countered.

The man laughed "I don't think you're in any position to make demands" he said "There is no way you can take us out before we get at least two of you". May raised an eyebrow at him sometimes missing it when someone didn't recognize her. "And you have a lot of gall, attacking a bunch of scientists!"

Coulson took a step forward without lowering his gun, "We didn't attack them" he said staring at the blonde…he knew her from somewhere and couldn't place his finger on it. "We are here to help….we're Shield". He saw a flicker in the woman's eyes as she studied them carefully.

"Shield fell" she said coldly.

"Not all of it…my name is Phil Coulson I'm the Director"

Now her eyes widened and her gun leveled at him, her companions following "Nice try, Coulson and his team died during the fall, I myself saw the wreckage of his plane". The trio looked at each other, this time May speaking carefully. Only very select agents knew Coulson was alive let alone that he had been in command of a mobile unit. "Fury Protocol 6378-4" she said.

"If you think mentioning Fury is going too…" the man started stopping as the blonde lowered her weapon "Agent Barbara Morse, formally of the Illiad, that is Lance Hunter formally of Strike" she introduced even smiling when Coulson whispered "Mockingbird".

"Agents Antione Tripp and Melinda May…" Coulson started the one identified as Hunter squawking "The Calvary! It's the bloody Calvary! Bob what the hell have you gotten us into?" Mays dark eyes locked on him and Tripp had to put his hand over his mouth to hide his smile as May properly stared him down "Never call me that" she hissed.

Hunter held his hands up and took a step back muttering something about Shield and the crazy women it produced. "Sir" Tripp said glancing nervously behind them into the hall "I recommend returning to the room, they could still see us out here". Coulson nodded "If you would come with us…we have a command center and imagine you have some questions…as do we".

To Be Continued...