Forced to go back to Scotland under SHIELD orders and use his home as a base, Fitz is less then pleased with the situation. Hoping that it will be a quick mission and that he won't encounter his father, Fitz is dragged back into his dark past, unable to hide it from his team and true family. Will he and the team make it through?
I have not seen season 3 or 4 of Shield so i don't know what happens after Simmons is sucked into the gravitonium. Therefore I am sorry if it doesn't align with cannon events - that's why its called an AU i guess.
I really hope you enjoy this story an please feel free to contact me at any time for questions reviews etc. Now READ!
Fitz was just in the lab when the rest of the team walked in. He refused to stop tinkering on the D.W.A. but did look up quickly to show that he'd acknowledged their presence.
"We've got a case about some supposed alien activity and we need to head out and check it out. I was hoping you could help us with something though."
"With what?" his face remained glued to the machines.
"Shield doesn't have an appropriate base close enough to the site. So since the case is in Scotland near your area, HQ asked if we could use your house as a base. That is of course if your parents don't mind. Fitz?"
The boy's hands were frozen and shaking slightly as he put down the tools. "I'll call to tell 'em we're comin'. Excuse me." And without a single glance at the others left the lab, his shoulders slumped.
"Something's not right here." said Skye. "Shouldn't he be happy to go back home?"
"Obviously he either doesn't want us to meet his family or his family to meet us." stated Ward in his usual cold fashion.
"Are you suggesting he's ashamed of us?" asked Simmons, her voice barely above a whisper and her face now etched with worry.
"No," cut in Coulson, shaking his head. "If that was the case I'm sure Fitz would tell us. It's probably nothing."
It didn't take long for them to get to Scotland, especially since the journey was filled with packing bags all with 'Fitz approved clothes' suitable for Scottish weather. However on arrival, due to Scotland's curved nature it was rather hard to land the plane anywhere near as well as inconspicuous. Since most of the fields were used by the horses and their riders, they decided that they could leave the Bus at the closest runway. And so they were all waiting for the ramp to descend before stepping out onto the empty tarmac with their bags and equipment.
Well the tarmac was empty except for a single car. It must be said that the team could barely suppress their gasps as their looked at the car, a magnificent Rolls-Royce phantom, 1960. And leaning against its sleek black exterior was a man, approximately in his late 40s or so. As soon as Fitz saw him he couldn't suppress a wide grin and before anyone could ask anything, he dumped his bags on the floor, running into the man's laughing arms, whose smile revealed two worn dimples in either cheek. His hair was a luscious brown, with visible streaks of white that was cropped short under the tweed flat cap. In fact the man was dressed only in thick tweed; the jacked even had the elbow patches that Fitz was so fond of.
After a few pats on the back the man held Fitz at arm's length, looking up and down at the young man.
"Why laddie, ye've out done yerself this time! God I'll only have grey hairs by th' time ye return to this pace."
Fitz's face melted into worry. "I'm sorry; I'll try to come sooner next time."
"Nah lad, I'm just messin' with ye. Goodness knows ye deserve to be away from this place." He waited for Fitz to smile again before turning to the others. "Now who are these bright lads and lasses Fitz?"
"Well this is Skye, Ward and May. This is Simmons my lab partner," Fitz pause allowing the other man time to shake their hands "an' the director of the team, Coulson."
"A pleasure to meet ye Mr Coulson." He said as he grabbed Phil's hand in a firm handshake while Fitz had started putting his bags in the trunk.
"I'm sure I speak for everyone in saying that it's lovely to meet Fitz's dad after working with your son for quite a while."
The man paled, the smile falling from his face for a few seconds before he turned to Leo.
"Lad, what have ye been tellin' them?"
"Uh Mr Coulson… Malcom isn't my dad." said Fitz, his face now finding the tarmac increasingly interesting.
"I'm so sorry, I didn't mean any offence…" began Coulson.
"Nah," he said waving away the apology "Ah can see how come ye'd say that. Practically raised that wee laddie myself. Na, I'm th' grounds keeper Malcom."
"Well it's still a pleasure to meet you."
"Cheers. Now let's start headin' over or we'll be caught in th' mirk."
"Rule one of Scotland guys, don't get left out in the dark." said Fitz with a smile but they could all hear the underlining seriousness of the matter. They all filed into the car, Fitz taking the driver's seat beside Malcom.
"Mind you, when 'twas 20 minutes till nicht and Fitz 'ere was a'wonderin' around th' hills. I tell ye! I swear to god I was gunna get down on my knees and pray to th' devil to bring him home."
"It was one time Malcom." muttered Fitz, his cheeks now red which Malcom gave a hearty chuckle at.
"I don't mean to be rude," said Ward from the back "but do you even know how to drive this thing?"
"OF course he does lad!" replied the grounds keeper with a grin "Who d'ye think tinkered with it whenever he could and begged me to let him drive at th' age of nine. Mind ye, he had to have boxes attacked to his feet to reach th' pedals but he drove that motor once he could handle th' tractor."
Malcom smiled at Fitz as he brought the car to life.
So with a purring engine and Malcom's constant chatter, they sped off into the Scottish hills.
Despite Fitz's accent becoming heavier by the minute and Malcom's being already as dense as lead, the team was able to understand some of what they were saying. However, certain phrases were so quick and even in Gaelic that the team was left a little clueless. Nether the less they all felt better seeing Fitz laugh and smile at Malcom's stories about what he'd been missing, like the disappearance of Mrs Hangler's horse.
"Turns out they found it in th' valley." translate Fitz since the team had shot him multiple quizzical looks.
"Ah, here we are."
And here they indeed were, pulling up before the old stone mansion. Its grey brick walls looked all the darker in the fading light, yet the last red tinges of the setting sun stained the walls red. It even brought out the green ivy that climbed up the walls.
"It's startin' to reach th' tower." Commented Fitz, his neck craned up to look at his home as he killed the motor.
"Aye, that it has." Malcom sighed. "Ye've been gone too long." The smile on his face was a sad one, yet not accusing. But it soon disappeared. "Go on inside while I take th' car round."
"Not before we take our bags out." Fitz was already out of the car and heading towards the trunk.
"Now Leo, I'll…"
"No, ye always were stubborn Malcom," replied Fitz his tone clearly full of affection. "We're all capable of takin' our own bags. Besides I don't want to see ye luggin' all this up th' stairs."
"Really Mr Malcom." cut in Coulson "It's really nothing new for us."
After Malcom finally gave up and he'd driven off to store the car, they picked up their belongings and followed Fitz to the door.
"Um Fitz," began Skye "how are supposed to get in if you don't have a key?"
Fitz merely smiled. "Ye'll see." he said as he pressed the second doorbell on the door's side.
Nothing. The bell didn't make a single sound.
Fitz pressed the bell twice more with a pause in the middle, and it rang noiselessly to the great confusion and worry of the team.
Ward sighed "Fitz, I don't think..."
Then they heard it. A distant bark and the running of paws. Soon there was a rather large dog rushed up to the door which then miraculously opened, much to the amazement of the team.
"Hey there lass," said Fitz as he attempted to stay upright as the dog flung itself at his owner. "How are ye Lotte? Come on, off ye go." He said as he pushed the canine through the doorway, allowing his friends passage inside.
"How did she open the door?" asked Coulson, knowing that no one had quite grasped the mechanics of the situation.
"Th' bell is calibrated to ring at a frequency above 20kHz which of course while not in human hearin' range is within a dog's. So I trained Lotte to come open th' door when someone rang th' special doorbell 3 times with a few seconds break between rings."
"That is quite ingenious Fitz." commented Simmons with a smile.
They all stood staring at the rather imposing staircase that reminded Simmons of the beauty and the beast one. However Lotte, being accustomed to the grandness decided to sniff all the new people. Eventually she seemed to decide that her favourite was Ward, who was now petting her grey head.
"What breed is she?"
"Scottish deerhound," Fitz replied "and before ye ask Simmons, yes I did name her after Charlotte Auerbach th' geneticist."
"I knew it!" Simmons cried out in happiness.
"Well I should probably show ye yer rooms."
Telling them to leave any lab or other equipment, Fitz led them up the right side of the staircase onto the second floor. There were four bedrooms with their door open, indicating which were destined for the guests. The last one's open doorway however allowed light to flood into the corridor, and that is where Fitz headed straight for.
Inside, they found a small old lady with pure white hair pulled back in a bun, making the bed. As soon as she caught sight of him a huge smile took place on her lips. She lay down the sheets and quickly moved to hug the young man.
"Well if it isn't my dear Leo."
"Hello Allison."
She pulled back, both hands cupping his face. "Ah look at ye. I thought ye said ye'd eat enough!"
"I do!" replied Fitz, feeling more than a little self-conscious as she poked his meagre frame. "Ye always say that."
"Just as any cook should my dear." she retorted with a mischievous grin before looking behind him at his guests. "So are these th' people ye've been living with?"