A Matter of the Soul

A/N: Hi guys! I've had this idea for a long time now, and it's finally been put to paper! This is a sequel to my story A Matter of the Heart, but you don't have to read that to understand this (though I would be pleased if you did). There will be multiple chapters, with the whole team taking part (besides May). FitzSimmons pairing, as well as a bit of SkyeWard. Anyway, I hope you enjoy it, and please review!

Jemma looked up from her desk and saw Fitz sitting on the other side of the room, his elbow on the table as his hand cradled his chin. He was lost in thought, something that had been happening more and more frequently lately. The whole team had been quiet, and she knew why: since they had rescued Coulson, there had been no developments about Centipede.

As she looked at Fitz she smiled. He was adorable when he was like this. In an old friend type way, of course. But as much as she liked letting him mull things over on his own, the look on his face wasn't merely one of contemplation. He was lost in thought, but his blue eyes held a certain stress in them, searching the air for an answer they couldn't find. They needed something to cheer them up.

But what? She thought back to the Academy, the last time she had been completely stressed out. Fitz had been there for her, and they had discovered a way to unwind in a very amusing way; they had discovered a karaoke bar. It was the first time she had really put on a show in front of Fitz, and after that first time they had made a habit of returning. It was actually their place, she realized. In their Academy days, the karaoke bar was the place she and Fitz had talked about everything and anything (besides the science lab). That's it, she thought. I know what to do.

"Fitz." She said softly. He snapped out of his thoughts and turned his head to face her. "Are you at a stopping point?"

He looked down at the papers in front of him. "Honestly? I've been at a good stopping point for the past hour. I just can't seem to find the answers I need."

Simmons nodded and put down her pencil forcefully. "I would agree with that. We have been working on and analyzing documents that we have analyzed a thousand times. We need a break."

Fitz met her eyes with a mischievous gleam. "Should I set up Frozen on my laptop?"

She laughed and smiled at him. "That does sound fun, but that's not what I meant." Her face grew serious again. "We can watch Frozen at some point, though, right?"

Fitz nodded, fighting back a smile. "Of course. But what do you want to do?"

Simmons stood and walked over to him, sitting across from him. "Remember that karaoke place we always went to in our last years at the Academy?" He nodded and began to smile as he caught on to her idea. "It really helped me unwind. Our team is too stressed, Fitz. It's our responsibility to care for them, and I know this will make them loosen up. Do you want to?"

"Do you even have to ask?"

She felt a rush of excitement run through her, chasing away most of her weariness from their latest task. Fitz seemed more alert as well, his eyes sharp as he grabbed a fresh pencil and pad of paper and started drawing on it. "This is what we'll need." He said, drawing the items and writing their names and standard measurements next to them. "My laptop can act as a base for the download, but we'll need two speakers, two microphones and stands, a spotlight…"Simmons watched as her partner in crime became more and more animated, really getting into the plan. It had been a while since she had seen him excited about a project, the Centipede problem being their main task since rescuing Coulson. "I can come up with a laser show if I have enough time…"

"Fitz!" she said. "Let's start with the basics, shall we? First things first: where to do it. Which part of the Bus is best suited for this? Somewhere with enough space, where everyone will feel comfortable…"

Their eyes met and they spoke at the same time: "The lounge!"

"It's the perfect place to do it!" Simmons exclaimed.

"No one is there very often with all of the activity recently."

"And no one else will mind if we move things around."

She thought of the lounge and pictured its transformation. The white couch and chairs with an end table between in all, with plenty of space in the room, even a bar. It was an exciting prospect, but it would take time if they wanted everything just right. All of the furniture would have to be rearranged, the equipment they needed moved up there.

"We'll need help getting this set up without the whole team noticing." Fitz said. "I think we need to go see Coulson."

Simmons agreed, and the two left the lab to see the leader of their team.

"Come on in." Coulson called from inside his office. Fitz stepped through the open doorway, Simmons just behind him. "Did you figure something out?" Coulson asked, his voice hopeful.

Fitz shook his head. "No, sir."

"Actually, we decided we needed a break. The whole team does." Simmons said. She closed the door and walked closer to Coulson's desk. "We have an idea of a way to make the whole team relax. A karaoke night."

Coulson raised an eyebrow, his mouth slightly open as he thought of how to respond. "I don't really know what to say to that. I want everyone working to find the Clairvoyant. Especially you two." He rubbed his face with his hands. "We need answers."

Simmons backed up a step. "But sir -."

"The team needs a night off." Fitz interrupted. He stepped up next to Jemma and looked at Coulson with determination. "Simmons and I haven't found anything in days, and we're going crazy down there. We need to take our minds off of the case and start with fresh eyes later. This way the whole team can participate. It'll only take a little time once it's set up."

Coulson looked at his computer, clicked his mouse a few times, and turned it off. "What the hell. You make a good point." He grinned and raised his eyebrows. "What do we need to do?"

An hour later Fitz and Simmons walked into a local store. Simmons headed straight towards the construction center, Fitz to audio. Fifteen minutes later they had purchased enough wood to make a small lift for a stage, and speakers and their necessary cables and cords, along with a microphone (there was one already on the Bus). They wheeled the equipment into the parking lot, waiting by its edge until the Bus appeared. Then they pushed the cart up the ramp and moved it into the lab.

"You really think no one noticed the Bus picking us up?" Fitz asked skeptically as the Bus took off.

Coulson looked at him. "I made sure the parking lot was clear before parking. We're safe."

"But what about the other team members, sir? Won't they be suspicious of our stop?" asked Simmons.

"I told them you needed more technical equipment. Ward said you already had a virtual forest, but he believed me. They don't suspect a thing."

Fitz sighed in relief. "Then let's get started." He started testing the speakers and studying their connections, getting ready to set them up in the lounge. Coulson was in charge of the wood, nailing together the platform so it was sturdy but light, just a miniature stage a step off the ground. It was about six feet by four feet. Simmons kept watch for their team members and helped out when needed. Their little project was completed quickly, and Simmons scouted ahead as they moved everything to the lounge.

Luckily enough it was the time of day when Ward and Skye trained, and May was in the cock pit. They saw none of their team mates as they set up the living room. The furniture was arranged along the back wall, facing out with the end table in front of it. The wooden platform Coulson had put together was against the opposite wall, near the bar. Fitz had set up the speakers on either side of the platform, the microphone stand waiting to be used on the stage. Simmons went behind the bar and made sure beer and waters were ready to be served, and set out six glasses.

They finished by setting up lights. At seven o'clock everything was ready. FitzSimmons had discussed everything with Coulson, and he had called everyone else into the lounge.

May arrived first, raising one eyebrow when she saw the stage but saying nothing. Coulson directed her to a seat. Next was Ward, with Skye a step behind him, laughing. She stopped laughing and his smile vanished when they realized they were the last ones in the room, and Ward cleared his throat and looked to Coulson. "You called a team meeting sir?"

"I like what you've done with the place." Skye said as she took in the newly remodeled room.

Coulson nodded. "It's come to my attention that this team needs a break from the case. You have the rest of the night to relax, but there's a condition: you need to participate in the event we have planned. Karaoke!" He smiled and looked around for reactions. Ward expressed disbelief, Skye shock, and May a bit of disinterest.

Ward shook his head. "No way, Coulson. I don't sing."

Coulson studied him for a moment. "What if I said it was a direct order?"

Ward half-smiled at Coulson, his eyes showing respect at Coulson's tactics. "Then I would have to participate."

Coulson nodded, pleased. "Then it's a direct order." He looked at May. "How about you?"

She walked over. "Not what I signed up for, Coulson."

Fitz spoke up. "You know singing is good for releasing tension."

"There is a calming effect on the body." Simmons supplied. "If enough emotion is put into it, hormones are released, and muscles lose their -."

"Singing can be helpful." Coulson stated, stopping Simmons explanation. "If you don't want to sing, why don't you fight?" he asked May. "If Ward wins, you sing. You win, you can do whatever you want."

"Sir!" Ward said.

May smirked at him. "Want to fight, tough boy?"

He shook his head. "Not really. I trained all afternoon. Some other time maybe."

"Looks like that's settled." May said, going back to her seat.

Simmons stepped to the center of the group. "We thought it would be good to do this. Everyone has been stressed lately, and this will be fun!"

Skye smiled at her friend. "If you say so."

"Choose your songs now. Karaoke starts in ten minutes. FitzSimmons is going first." Coulson said, walking back to the seats and sitting beside May.

"What are you guys singing?" Skye asked.

Simmons gave her a crooked smile that told her it was something special to her. She hadn't known what to pick, since there were so many options. It took a fair amount of discussing before she and Fitz decided on a song half an hour before. Actually, Fitz had picked their song. He knew Simmons inside and out, and his choice had been perfect for her.

"You'll find out in a few minutes." Simmons replied. "There's a list of songs on the computer over there." She said, indicating Fitz's laptop.

Skye smirked. "I don't need a list."

Simmons started setting up with Fitz, bringing a second microphone and stand onto the wooden platform. She noticed how carefully Skye made her way over to the laptop and slyly glanced at its contents and tried to hide a smile. Ten minutes later Coulson turned off the lights and turned on the ones they had strung up earlier. The room was softly lit by the strings of light, and Fitz pressed a button that added more light to the room from directly on top of the platform, making it half-dark.

She walked to her microphone and saw Fitz step up to his, immediately next to her. "Fitz and I will be singing "I See the Light", from Tangled."

Skye chuckled as she realized Simmons' excitement. The scientist loved Disney.

Everyone took their seats as Simmons introduced the song, and then they were ready to begin. Karaoke night had begun.