The pick up truck was silent for a long while, and after several hours had passed, and the sun had finally broken over the horizon line, K turned to Logan and bit her lip, simply watching him for a long while. "We need to pull over for just a minute," she said.
"Choppers fell back," Logan said with a nod, and in short order Logan found a fairly well hidden turn out not far into Pennsylvania, near the Michaux State forest. As soon as he'd turned the truck off, K slipped out of the passenger seat and then went directly under the truck. Logan reached down to release the hood and got out to look in the engine compartment, and Scott found his way out of the backseat to see what they were up to, though by now, he knew - it was a scan for bugs, tracers - anything electronic that would allow SHIELD or Stark to track them.
"Did they really think that would work?" Scott asked as Logan pulled one that had been attached near the windshield wiper fluid reservoir.
"Likely not - which is why we're not stopping at just finding one," Logan said. He handed the little device to Scott and then stepped up on the bumper to look into the harder to see spots for someone of his height. Logan had one hand on the top of the air filter box as he leaned forward - and pulled another tracer off of the EGR valve. "Two up here anyhow," he said - though Scott was sure it wasn't for him to hear.
"I have three," K replied before there was a sizzling hiss and she swore outright.
"Things are hot down there," Logan said dryly, though he winced when he did exactly the same thing on the engine block.
"Thanks for the tip," K sang back. "Never would have guessed."
Scott smirked to himself and simply stood back when Logan finished up, with another one that had been on the backside of the oil cap. All told, there were nearly a dozen by the time the three of them finished looking through the cab of the truck - and the bed too. Scott shook his head to himself. He wasn't surprised when he thought about it. This was SHIELD, after all. They had more resources than just about anyone else. Of course they were going to bug the living daylights out of a vehicle that they'd just handed over to two ex-weapons and a kid. Who wouldn't?
"What are you going to do with them?" Scott asked, as he counted up the ones in his hand.
Leave 'em here," Logan said. "All together. You can bet Coulson's expecting us to ditch 'em."
"He absolutely is," K agreed. "So let's not disappoint him."
Logan handled the tracers, and K started digging through their clothes, going over them with a fine toothed combs and looking for any scent other than clean clothes. But it gave Scott and K chance to be alone for a few moments.
"This is infinitely better than staying with Tony," K said before Scott could get to even speaking. Not that he was sure he knew what to say. "Thanks for waiting for me."
"We … were rushed out because of my mistake," Scott pointed out, but already, K was shaking her head.
"No, no," K said, resting a hand on his arm. "No, that saved me from having to try to explain again to Tony why no, I was not that interested in him. That was miraculous timing." She squeezed his arm and smiled at him. "So even if it was an accident, I'm still sticking with divine intervention."
Scott looked pleasantly surprised for a moment, then smiled back at her with a nod. "Okay. Good."
K gave him a little smile - one of those that always meant something fun was going to happen back when they'd worked at the cafe - with light dancing in her eyes. "So. Let's hope that we can keep under the radar, huh?"
"Yeah," Scott agreed, unable not to return the smile - but still feeling that anxious twinge in his chest that hadn't eased up since his little loss of control at Starks.
K pointed to him quickly and tipped her head toward the truck. "No glow," she told him before she climbed into the front seat. "I know you were a little anxious. I just … thought I'd reassure you on that. Especially since it sounded like you couldn't tell if you were still glowing back when we were by Steve and Tony."
Scott rubbed the back of his neck with one hand, shrugging slightly. "I don't know how to control that. And seeing as the glasses are red too, how am I supposed to tell?"
"Well, maybe you'll get more control when you figure out how to turn it on and off," she said with a little smile as Logan returned to the truck and took his seat behind the wheel.
In short order, the three of them were back on the road, headed deeper into Pennsylvania - purposely to skirt well around Washington DC on their way to South Carolina. They didn't need to explain the reasoning as to why - Scott was already sure he knew once he saw that both of them had pointed out an alternate route from the more direct route that Steve had suggested. Not that either Logan or K pointed it out to the other until they were well away from Steve and the rest of SHIELD.
"We're not going to be here for long," Logan said, though who he was directing it toward was anyone's guess. "The spot that Coulson picked is more of a vacation area than anything."
"Wait … are you saying a SHIELD Agent sent us on a vacation?" Scott asked in a disbelieving tone before he turned to look at K. "Is this normal?"
She looked between the two of them and shrugged. "What? They didn't give you a little mini vacation last time they moved you?"
"No," Logan answered, shaking his head at her. "You got that old boy wrapped around your finger. Is that a common issue for you? Getting guys to fall at your feet like that?"
"Okay, let's get something straight," K said, turning his way so she could face him as squarely as possible. "It's not like that with Phil. At all."
"Oh, okay," Logan said, nodding lightly, though he clearly was trying to rile her. "You don't trust SHIELD, but the one agent you do like, you call by a first name, but it's not that."
"Hey," she said with a laugh as she reached over and pinched him at the ribs. "He's … okay. Phil … has a soft spot but it's not like that, okay? He just … he's the one that helped me do a solid ditch on Creed."
Logan glanced up at the rearview mirror, where he and Scott shared a look. "Alright. You can't start up a story like that and leave it hanging in the wind."
"And you definitely left that part out of the story when you told us about what the department did to you," Scott added, quickly picking up the torch from Logan and running with it.
"You two are so not subtle," K said as she pulled her feet up into a cross legged position. "Fine. It wasn't a major thing. They were scrambling my memories as it suited them best - and they got cocky." She let out a shaky breath at the memory of it. "My handler made clear what his intentions were … and I … stabbed him."
"It's never that easy," Logan said, giving her a sideways look.
"Yeah, but that was how they found out I had claws," she said. "All of my work before then I was careful not to use them. At all. And they just got a little side swiped. Anyhow," she waved one hand as if that part was totally to be expected. "I stabbed the guy over Creed and jumped out of a helicopter over open water. It hurt. But, I got to shore long before Creed did, and I got out of their search radius before the helicopters could catch up. Coulson relocated me when one of his men found me."
"They started searching once the choppers were out in force," Logan said with a nod.
"Yep. And he was glad to get my full debrief on everything I could remember," K agreed. "In exchange for the information - he wiped my record. To keep other agencies off my tail." She gave Logan a little smile. "So I kinda screwed them over on my way out in every way I could. So yes. Phil favors me. For that."
"And Tony?" Scott asked.
"Tony … is an idiot. Nice guy - no, really. He is. Hear me out," she said holding both hands up when both of them scoffed. "He's just wrapped up in his image. Yes. He screws around a lot, but apparently once a woman turns him down …" She shrugged. "He's an idiot, okay? I tried."
Scott smirked light at that and then shrugged. "He just… doesn't seem like your type."
She turned to look his way with a fond sort of smile. "He's … not exactly not my type either."
"Sure," Scott said, looking out the window.
"The ego was the deal killer," she promised. "Man's been spoiled his whole life. No. Thank you."
"Well, we're happy to be the backup plan to the rich idiot," Scott said dryly.
"Lets get something straight, Caramel Mocha - you're not the back up plan. At all." K had to grin at that. "Besides. While he was obsessing over how to catch my attention, he missed that I nuked his searches on me. So. Ha." She re-crossed her legs and leaned back. "He didn't have much on you guys either. Not anything new anyhow."
Scott nodded at that, not quite able to hide the obviously pleased smile before he shifted slightly and turned to Logan. "So, when we get there, we should find someplace I can practice."
Logan was still smirking, highly amused not only at K's approach to Stark - but also the fact that every one of the guys there was so hung up on the what if - that not one of them, himself included, noticed that she'd snuck into Tony's records. "I'm sure we'll find something for you," Logan said, nodding lightly.
"New change in topic that's not at all abrupt or going the other way at eighty miles an hour," K said, laughing to herself. "We should really discuss what our cover is before we get into anywhere public. At all. I'm sure you guys already talked it over, but … I was a little occupied being occupied to join in the fun."
Logan turned her way for a moment, let out a huff and went right back to driving. "What part of it did you need to discuss?"
"Ah … what it is? Might be nice. I know he's your boy, but where do I figure in?" K said, frowning slightly. "'Stray' is hard to explain to everyone else."
Logan drew in a deep breath, held it for a moment and then looked up at Scott in the mirror again. "You're with me. No one will ask you. Handle it how you want."
She turned her head and let out a little 'hmm'. "I guess I'll just follow the cues," she said quietly.
Naturally, the whole structure of their cover was tested as soon as they got to their rest stop/coffee break. She made sure that she slipped into the booth first, and let the boys fill in as they chose. Scott made it easier on her by taking the seat across from her, and a moment later, Logan slid in next to her - and put his arm on the back of the booth. "You could have just said that's what you were going for," she told him quietly enough that Scott missed it.
"Not doing anything for the cover right now," Logan replied just as quietly, which got her to visibly pause.
She thought about it for just a moment - and right about the time it looked like Logan was going to move his arm, she slid a little closer to lean on him. "Fair enough," she said loud enough that Scott could catch.
"You know," Scott said quietly as he watched the two of them. "Someone's going to notice that we're not exactly - there's no-" He shook his head. "There's no… umm. Rings."
K smirked and spoke in a perfectly normal tone. "You think we need that?"
"I was just thinking about…" Scott looked up at her and waved a hand between her and himself. "I'm trying to think ahead, and how it looks. You and I look more alike, and I don't want anyone to think Logan's not my dad."
K grinned and crossed her arms on the table as she leaned forward. "I cheated on your dad. I'm pretty sure he figured it out already. He was disappointed you didn't have his nose, but … he's a genuinely good guy."
Scott blinked at her for a second and then couldn't help but smirk. "I'm just trying to look ahead," he said. "If we're posing as a family."
"Second husband," Logan said with a little chuckle. "That's easier to wrap anyone's head around. Or … boyfriend. Whatever. Don't need to be rings if it's not an established whatever."
"I couldn't stand your father anyhow," K said, shaking her head with a little smile at Scott. "Too tall … and smug. And tall."
"I wasn't angling for a backstory, but if you have a problem with tall people…"
"I'm just trying to entertain you," she laughed. "I'll go with whatever you want. Might be a good idea since apparently when someone hits on me both of you shut your brains off."
Logan didn't argue that part of it - he'd been caught and he knew it. It made no sense to deny it.
But Scott just flushed and looked down, the reddest part the edges of his ears. "Just didn't want to split up," he muttered at the table.
"Speak for yourself," Logan said. "I didn't want to see her with that moron."
K looked between the two of them and shook her head. "Okay. so. The last thing I remember before getting picked up by that group was a half a discussion about sticking together. So you two must have worked out more than that when I was out. I am invested in you being okay, Scott."
Scott's ears looked a little brighter as he kept his gaze on the table. "I'm okay."
"Of course you are," she said almost briskly. "Doesn't mean I'm not going to want to keep it that way." She looked over at Logan and settled in a little better. "Wasn't really crazy about splitting with you guys either. But I would have if that's what you wanted."
The rest of their meal break was in relative quiet, as was the last leg of the trip. To the shock of both the guys, the spot that Coulson had picked out for them wasn't the usual tucked in hidden away cabin - but instead a fairly busy string of condos on the beach. They had the keys to the condo, and the three of them were looking forward to a more private break. They all had space at Stark's place, but it was hard to shake the feeling that someone was watching them at some point or another.
Once they got inside, K dropped her bag on the couch and Scott headed upstairs to see what the layout was. "You should take a break," K suggested to Logan. "You drove most of the way, and I know you didn't sleep before we left."
"I'm fine," he said quietly, though he headed over to see what they were dealing with too.
"There's one bedroom up here," Scott said as he made his way down the stairs.
"And one down here," K muttered, shaking her head. She hadn't started looking around - but there was a note on the table that was obviously from Coulson's sweep of the place. Use your cover. "We need to do a better sweep for bugs. That or Phil is trying to low-key set something in motion."
"So, do you guys want upstairs or downstairs?" Scott asked straightfaced. "I'm fine either way."
K whipped her head around to look up at Scott, already suspicious since it was clear Coulson had a soft spot for kids, and she was positive that Phil had really liked this one.
"We'll stay down here," Logan said, shaking his head. "Entry points …someone comes in they'll have to go through us to get to you."
"Alright. I'll try not to do any balcony shooting, then," Scott said with a little smirk as he turned around to head back upstairs so he could settle into the room.
"He's ... " K stood there for a moment just staring at where Scott had disappeared. "What the hell?"
"Kid likes being right. Who doesn't?" Logan said before he picked up her bag and took it to the downstairs bedroom.
"Okay, I can't handle both of you being so … smug. So you're gonna have to stop it." She watched him for a moment before she followed to grab a change of clothes. "Feel free to pass out. I'm going to clean up and see what the local news is."
When K got out of the shower, Logan had done exactly that - and when she got out to the living room, Scott was already watching the news. "All settled in?" she asked before she dropped into the seat nearby.
"More or less," he replied. "You should get some rest."
K smirked and shook her head lightly. "You should. You've been stressed out hard for the past couple of days. I'll take the first watch." She pulled a blanket up over her lap and snuggled into the chair, but when Scott didn't move right away, she knew she had to say something. "I'm just a little paranoid after everything. If your dad wasn't exhausted, I doubt he'd have gone to sleep at this point of the game either. But he hasn't been sleeping for a few days."
"Probably be able to relax when we're not at a stopgap, right?" Scott asked.
"Me? I just need to listen for the first few hours anyhow," she said. "Him? You tell me."
"I don't know," Scott said honestly. "I don't think he's really relaxed since that fiasco with the Department."
"They've kept close tabs on him for a long time," she said, nodding. "Too bad they lost a lot of their data. Maybe it'll lighten up after the next move."
"Maybe," Scott said. "But I don't think so. Not when he knows we're all in the crosshairs," he added with a frown.
"We'll have to fix that somehow," K decided, snuggling in a little deeper. "Did you two have plans for the summer, or was it going to be just - work at the coffee shop and ask pretty girls out?" She was smiling at him just like she used to do at work when she'd tease him about Farrah.
"Well, not really solid plans, though I did want to put in some flight time," Scott admitted with a small smile.
"You're a pilot?" she asked, brightening up. "Shouldn't you know how to drive first?"
He smirked at that. "My dad, well, my birth dad, was in the Air Force," he explained, sitting up a little straighter and breaking into a real smile. "And one of the first things Logan and I got to do was go to a show. Antique planes." He couldn't contain the sparkle in his gaze. "It was amazing."
She couldn't help but smile with him. "Then whatever else happens, we need to get you behind the stick. Anything that gets a smile like that has to be indulged. Often." She leaned forward a little. "And I'm sure the chopper ride wasn't up to snuff."
"Not really," he admitted with a little smirk.
K reached over and gave Scott's wrist a little squeeze. "Go on. Take a nap at least. When I get tired, I'll go to bed. I promise."
He raised an eyebrow at her but finally nodded and got up from the couch. "I'm glad you're sticking around," he said, pausing at the bottom of the stairs.
"It's hard to want to walk away from you two," K promised, "Thanks for not ditching me. Might have been easier if you had though. Cover or no."
She watched him head up the stairs with a little smirk, and she did, in fact sit there for a long while listening to the ambient sounds around them - the ocean's gentle waves, the sound of traffic a few miles down the road, a dog barking. But there was nothing outside of normal airline traffic over head. Nothing but commercial liners.
So after she felt her eyelids drooping, she finally admitted to herself that she needed to go to sleep. She tried to settle in where she was, but it really wasn't working for her and after a few attempts at settling in, K gave up trying to hunker down on the chair.
She left the blanket there and tiptoed over to the downstairs bedroom where Logan was sleeping. "This is such a bad idea," she muttered under her breath, knowing full well that startling him could hurt. She paused at the side of the bed, watching him for a long moment.
"I'm not going to bite," Logan said quietly, cracking one eye open at her. "But I can leave if you want me to."
"No. Not necessary," K said, climbing onto the bed. "I just … didn't want to bother you."
Logan frowned at that and pulled the covers back. "Not gonna happen."
The two of them settled in- though definitely on their own sides of the bed. K fell asleep a lot faster than she'd thought she would, and a short while later, she woke up with a start and nearly squeaked when she saw the man asleep next to her.
Logan turned her way and held up one hand. "Is this gonna happen every time to fall asleep with me?" he asked, though he relaxed when she put her hand to her chest and let her shoulders drop.
"No. I'm just ... it's hard to relax," she said, though Logan could hear her heart racing.
"C'mere," he said, waving her closer. "Not gonna hurt you. Maybe the scent will remind you you're not with a total jackass."
She paused as she considered him, but slid closer anyhow. It was a sound theory. It was just the practice she was concerned with. And … the fact that she found him attractive. "Right. What could possibly go wrong," K deadpanned, though she couldn't help the little smile when he wrapped his arm around her to pull her closer.