Tahiti or Bust
Chapter 1: Now Boarding
"A routine maintenance assignment. That's what Fury called it. Agent Watson isn't here to maintain the plane, but the people."
Author Note: This is just a random idea I had. Kinda AU, I guess. Maybe a little character/OC romance? Haven;t decided. Also, I'm completely ignoring the May/Grant stuff. Not really a fan of that pairing.
Disclaimer: I in no way own anything other than my original character. If I owned Marvel, I would not be driving a Toyota and living with my parents.
Lucy Watson could feel the sweat pooling in the small of her back. The room felt too big and she felt too small. She needed a gummy bear, her go-to comfort food. Yeah, definitely needed a gummy bear, and maybe a hug. Even after every assignment she was given and completed she had yet to make direct contact with the man sitting in front of her now. While she had only a short time with the agency, she had an exceptional resume. Working on a multitude of cases on nearly every continent each with a success rate of 98%. She was good. But she did not think she was this good. Not Nick Fury wants a personal audience, good.
"Agent Watson, please have a seat." Director Fury motioned to one of the many black, leather chairs placed around the long, oval table in the conference room. She hastily took a seat, trying desperately not to trip over her own feet as she did. The man in front of her reached for a pile of folders and picked up the one on top, laying it open in front of him. She recognized her own name written on the tab and suddenly felt light headed.
"It seems you have a very impressive track record with your assignments, Agent." His voice alone was intimidating. Lucy reminded herself that he still pooped, just like everyone else.
"Thank you, Director Fury. I try to do well." Lucy never had been one to boast her own skills. A trait inherited from her mother.
"The last assessment you performed, you noticed a slight irregularity in the stated reports of an Agent stationed in the White House for over 10 years. He was evaluated and shown to have a plot in place to assassinate the President. A fact that had gone overlooked by your superiors" He looked up from the file to train his eye on her. "That is better than 'well' Agent Watson. That is worthy of my attention." Unsure of what to say, Lucy just ducked her head down in acknowledgment.
"I see you've been following this case here, since it's inception." He took another folder from the small pile in front of him and slid it across the table to her. She opened it, seeing the familiar names and pictures.
"Sorry if that's not allowed sir," she began, still hoping she wasn't in trouble. "But since I was there for the process in the beginning, I wanted to keep tabs on things to ensure that everything was working smoothly."
"That's quite all right, Agent. I actually wanted to speak with you about your observations in the case." He folded his hands in front of them. The door behind Lucy opened and she whirled around to see Dr. Campo and Agent Maria Hill walking in together. They each took a seat on either side of Nick Fury and looked directly at Lucy.
"Sir?" she questioned, looking from the doctor to the Director to Agent Hill.
"No need to worry, Watson. As you have probably guessed I have a personal interest in this particular case, as does Hill and Dr. Campo here. We are each genuinely curious about your report here where you stated the need for an in-person assessment. What makes you think that?"
"Well, sir, the process is still in its infancy and under the parameters of the incident that lead to the need for the Agent to undergo such an event, I believe that it is a case that should be followed closely. And I'm sure that Agent Coulson would agree. I'm actually surprised that he hasn't requested such an action."
"Agent Coulson is unaware of the details of the process," It was Dr. Campo who spoke now. Lucy was shocked, and she was sure that it was painted all over her face.
"He doesn't know?" She turned to Director Fury now. "Sir, how can he not know the details behind the Tahiti Project?" Again, Dr. Campo answered her.
"We decided it was best if he were not informed on the details. We believed it would negatively affect his performance." Lucy just looked down and shook her head slightly. They didn't tell him? How could they see that as a good decision?
"Agent Watson," Fury spoke now. "I am sending you to make contact with Agent Coulson and his team. Your assignment will be routine maintenance. You are to observe and report back. To do what you do best. You will be giving observational assessments as well and interviews and tests on each member of the team. And a special test for Agent Coulson. I'm sure you know the one." She nodded, forcing herself to pay attention.
"Excellent." Fury collected all of the files on the table, and Dr. Campo picked up a black briefcase from the floor, gently placing it in front of Lucy. "In this case is all you will need for the tests. Make sure you come up with a good passcode. It's eyes only, of course. Any questions?" Was she really about to question this man? Yes. Yes she was.
"Just one," she looked into the eye of a man that truly terrified her. "Do you honestly think that not informing Agent Coulson about the details of Tahiti is the best plan? Do you not think he has the right to know? And that we have a moral obligation to tell him?Especially after all he's done…" The director stood up and gave her a look that cut of her line of questioning. Her mouth clamped shut and her heart beat faster.
"You're going to perform 'Routine Maintenance'. So go and maintain. That's all you need to worry about." He placed a file on the case in front of her and left the room, Campo and Hill following closely behind. Lucy bit the inside of her lip and reached for the items she'd been given.
"Maintain, huh? Sir, yes sir."
Skye paused while reaching for the carafe of coffee, her mug firmly gripped in her very tired fingers.
"What do you mean another agent is coming on board the bus?"
"Exactly what I said, Skye. Another agent from Headquarters is coming on board the bus for a while to do some routine maintenance." Agent Coulson had his usual slight smile plastered on his face. the same one that seemed to be a default expression for the man. Skye finished pouring her coffee and took a seat next to Fitz who seemed irritated by something.
"Routine maintenance," he scoffed under his breath and took a rather forceful bite of his toast.
"Something on your mind there, Agent Fitz?" Coulson asked, sipping his own coffee. Skye could've sworn she saw an amused smirk hidden behind that mug.
"Oh only that there's not a thing on this plane that we can't maintain ourselves and that the presence of a third party who knows nothing of this particular crew and equipment is completely nonsensical and…"
"We're just a little unsure of why there's a need for a maintenance visit at this time." Agent Simmons butted in, effectively cutting off the angry Scotsman's ramblings with her soft, gentle voice.
"Well, Director Fury sees a need for it, so we will welcome the agent and do everything we can to help and be accommodating." Coulson took another sip of his coffee and set his mug into the sink. "I'm going to go check our ETA."
"What's the name of the agent?" Agent Grant Ward spoke for the first time that morning.
"Agent Watson, I think." Coulson took his phone out of his jacket pocket. "Yes, Agent Lucy Watson." The air around Ward seemed to change and Skye heard him mutter under his breath, "Great."
Shortly after landing on the tar mac, Skye and Ward headed downstairs to meet up with Fitz/Simmons in the bay to wait for the final landing procedures to be completed and the door to be opened.
"Where are we anyway?" Skye asked, glancing out of one of the plane's small windows.
"Just outside Sydney, I think." Ward said. Skye frowned a bit at his answer. He usually knew everything. He seemed off, had since this morning's meeting. As they went to stand next to the two scientists, she could hear that Fitz was complaining to Simmons.
"…checked her credentials. She's not educated in physics or chemistry. Not even mechanics or engineering! How is she going to be performing 'maintenance' without any sort of knowledge on how anything on this plane works?!"
"Because she's not performing maintenance on the bus," Grant interjected. "She's skilled in psychology, interpersonal relations, counseling and profiling. She's coming to do maintenance on us." Skye looked at her S.O. and watched his demeanor go from being tired and distracted to focused and commanding, crossing his arms in front of his chest and placed his feet shoulder-width apart. Did he mean to intimidate their new guest?
"At ease, Ward," Coulson's voice came from the spiral staircase behind them. "No one is in any trouble or danger here. Just routine. You're scaring Fitz/Simmons." The senior agent gave a little side-smile to the two agents and went to stand next to them. "We have nothing to worry about."
The large door began to open, sending in a rush of hot, dry air. The sun was just beginning to set and the sky was a brilliant shade of pink. Ahead of them was a small group of black suit-wearing people, complete with sunglasses and shiny black shoes.
"Is this agent from the Men in Black or something?" Skye asked to no one in particular.
The people stood in a line in front of the bay door impassively for a moment until a voice came from behind them.
"Guys, seriously? They're fellow agents, move please!" The two suits in the middle parted and let through a brunette. The woman had to be in her mid to late 20s, was wearing a pair of dark jeans and stripped jacket and dragging a bright red duffel behind her. Skye was quite sure she saw a Nirvana t-shirt under the woman's jacket. She smirked. This could be interesting. The woman boarded the plane and walked up to the group.
"Sorry about them," She smiled, removing her own shades to reveal bright green eyes. "I got a death threat yesterday and my superior was worried about me so he sent an entourage." She turned to wave goodbye to the suited men behind her and they walked off.
"I'm agent Lucy Watson," she said as she put down her duffel bag, swung her messenger bag back over her shoulder and thrust out her hand to greet everyone, starting with Coulson. "I believe we have met sir, once."
"I remember," he said. "Nice to see you again, Agent Watson."
"The pleasure is mine sir. You must be Agent Simmons, and Agent Fitz! I have read up on you two before coming. The work you do is fascinating. Even the stuff I don't understand." She practically oozed friendliness. Skye sensed Grant's uneasiness beside her. What was up? This girl was harmless.
"And Skye I presume?"
"You presume correctly," Skye shook the woman's hand.
"Heard about you too. Director Fury is impressed by your skills in hacking. And that is saying something." Skye just shrugged and watched as the woman's eye-line moved from her to Grant. The green gaze that was so bright and cordial, faltered as it landed on the man. The woman's smile fell just a fraction of an inch, her whole expression changing, before it snapped back in place so quickly Skye almost wondered if it happened.
"Grant," she cleared her throat, as if trying to hide the fact she just called him by his first name. "Agent Grant Ward. Nice to see you again." She held out her hand for a greeting, her eyes practically begging him to reciprocate. He paused a moment, looking from her hand to her face, before reaching out and shaking her hand in return. Ward nodded at her, glanced at Coulson, then retreated up the spiral staircase.
Skye watched the whole thing with almost gleeful interest.
Oh yeah, this was going to be interesting.
Back in the fanfic game and loving this show. (and anything Marvel and Whedon) Just starting on this. I don't have the best track record with finishing big stories, so this one will be short-ish. And I already have the ending in mind, so if you've read any of my stuff before, rest assured, this one will be completed. LoL (so will my Heroes fic. Caught a second wind on that one.)
Please let me know what you think. I, of course, appreciate reviews.
Thanks for reading!
3Genesis