Coulson and Skye shortly joined the team in the lab. They hadn't missed much. The team stood around the Holo table as Fitz explained some kind of mechanical complication in their earlier-decided-upon plan. Simmons stood silently, with her hands neatly placed on the table in front of her, registering his explanation and slowly nodding in assurance. Ward's arms were crossed in their usual spot, across his chest, as he leaned against the wall, and May stood straight with her arms idle at her sides. Not really paying attention but listening nonetheless.
Skye walked over to the empty spot around the table and stood silently beside the scientist. Trying hard to contain her emotions, Skye looked up at Coulson who stood down the table between Ward and Fitz.
The team had progress into a back-and-forth discussion; each person expressing a new issue in their particular field of expertise when the man walked in.
Standing motionless, his eye locked on Coulson, "Phil," he said, "There are some things we need to discuss. May we take this to your office?"
After a short moment, Coulson raised his arm, indicating its direction, "After you." He offered as the two men left the team in the lab.
May watched the men leave and slowly rolled her eyes toward her younger team members. "I'll be in the cockpit." She said as she exited out moments after they had.
"So, I've been working on improving the night-night gun." Fitz explained to the remainder of his team.
Coulson opened the door and ushered his Director in. Closing the door behind him, he slowly made his way to the desk; taking the time to mentally analyze the back of Fury's head.
"What can I do for you?" he finally said, taking his seat.
"Agent Sitwell has expressed concern for your well-being."
"My well-being?" Coulson fought the urge to laugh as he all but spat back.
"He believes you might be getting yourself into trouble with something that is of no concern to you." He man's voice rang gently.
"Does he?" Coulson asked in a mocking tone.
"Yes, he does." Fury responded. After a moment of staring Phil down, Fury finally cut to the chase. "You know what the deal was."
Coulson said nothing. He stared expressionless at the man.
"What I want to know is, why, after I warned you about the girl, did you still insist on bringing her in?" The man with the eye patch began, "The girl stays away from anything SHIELD related and is watched at all times. That's the only way she gets to stay alive." Fury silently threatened, "That was the deal. I told you that when you went digging around in classified files."
"And I'm glad I helped her discover the truth." He said flatly.
Fury pulled a disappointed smile together and stood up slowly. "Well then I guess you've made your choice."
"I guess I have." Coulson said in agreement.
"Don't say I didn't warn you, Phil." He turned toward the door and stopping just as he reached it. "This is much bigger than you realize… I'll be out of your hair by morning, then." He called over his shoulder.
"Morning?" Coulson echoed.
"Yes," he replied, turning to the man still at his desk, "I could use a good night's rest and a break from manning ship. I figure, 'why not give my crew a break as well?' I'll let them know they're off duty for the night."
Coulson flashed the man a forced smile.
"Plus, I'm running a little low on fuel. Care to spare some extra?"
"Sure." Coulson said. "I'll get right on that."
Fury took a moment to analyze Phil's face. Stone-faced, the man turned and left the room.
Coulson did not waste a second. He pulled his desk drawer open and ruffled through its contents.
Four minutes earlier
"So, what's this new weapon he's keeps going on about?" Skye ask.
"I don't know but he's really excited about it. It's actually quite adorable." Jemma smiled at her fellow teammate as he quickly tiptoed around the Holo table to a briefcase that lay on the floor.
Skye lit up with smile as she turned and nudged the girl's arm.
"Did I say that out loud?" she whispered.
Still smiling, Skye nodded.
Fitz, far too lost in his creation to be paying any attention to the girls, pulled the latch up and picked up his new weapon. "Look at her," a smile snaked across his face as he admired the weapon extensively. "She's a beauty, isn't she." He said rather than asked.
"Oohhh boy," Skye leaned backwards against the table and half rolled her eyes to his admirer, "not again."
Simmons gently elbowed her friend in the rib and let out a light chuckle.
Fitz handed the oversized handgun to the tall, brooding agent.
Ward handled the weapon with caution.
"The night-night guns," he began, "are a thing of the past. These babies are way more lethal!" his excitement, too carried away, took on a new level as he began muttering to himself, "It's amazing what just the right amount of Germanium Borate can do when mixed with Phosphorus Selenide. The two make for the perfect balance of power in both strength and its ability to stun its victim. Not to mention that once they've been hit we could track their every move."
"Haa-Ha—What?" Skye laughed in disbelief.
Ward turned his attention to the young engineer with a surprised expression.
Fitz looked at them, "Right?" he exclaimed.
Jemma stared at the gun in amazement, "how did you manage that?" she asked, eager for his response.
"Oh boy," Skye repeated, watching Ward's amused smile grow as he handed the gun to Jemma.
"That's my cue," Ward teased as he made his way out the lab, leaving the three of them behind.
"But," Skye started, "how don't they think that's suspicious? I mean, you get hit with something that's not a bullet and we just let you leave? They have to think something'"
"I'm glad you ask, Skye," Fitz strung up a cocky smile. He walked over to the scientist analyzing the weapon. "Give me that," he said while taking the gun out of her hands gently. "You'll hurt yourself," he reasoned.
Skye turned to face him, leaning her elbows on the table.
"I added an extra trigger. One of them, the main one, basically does what the Night-Night gun did before. Only this time she packs a bigger punch. The other trigger," he said, patting his pockets down as his smile quickly faded, "Damn it, I forgot the trackers in my bunk." He brought his right hand up to scratch the top of his head as he left to retrieve them.
Ward inched closer to the closed door and stood still as he overheard the men carry on their conversation.
"Morning?" Coulson echoed.
"Yes," Fury replied, "I could use a good night's rest and a break from manning ship. I figure, 'why not give my crew a break as well?' I'll let them know they're off duty for the night."
Ward heard the knob turn and quickly stepped back a few steps.
"—I'm running a little low on fuel. Care to spare some extra?"
"Sure." Coulson said. "I'll get right on that."
Ward stepped to the side as Directory Fury walked passed him. He took a handful of steps toward the open door, "Sir," he said.
"Ward," Coulson warned, turning his head from his drawer, "now is not the time."
"When is, sir?" Ward said firmly. "With all due respect... " he took a small step back as he shifted his weight and rose his arms accusingly, "you've been keeping secrets from us for weeks not. We all know you're not telling us the complete story about the drug and about your experience with it but, sir, how bad of a secret can you possibly be hiding that would make Director Fury come talk to you personally?"
"What makes you think the Director and I aren't on talking terms?" Coulson almost joked. When the agent did not react, he continued, "Look, for now, leave it alone." He warned, closing his drawer and getting to his feet.
Fitz walked to his bunk door and slid it back. He walked in and headed straight to his desk. Picking up the plastic container, he walked back down the hall to the lab.
"This is gonna be great," he silently cheered to himself in a hushed tone.
"I am giving you an order."
Fitz turned around not knowing who to expect. The hall was empty.
The voice spoke again. Its tone, hardened.
Fitz took two quiet steps toward the guest bunk and peeked in.
Director Fury sat at the end of the bed, his cellphone to his ear, "Authorized." His voice sounded almost robotic.
"I've been leaving it alone for a week!" Ward's voice was bold and fierce, the vein in his forehead becoming visible.
"We might have a bigger problem, Agent Ward. Put your personal emotions aside." Coulson shot back, half slamming his fist on his desk.
The door peeked open, "Umm, I'm sorry to bother you, sir, but I really need t-"
"Not right now, Fitz." Coulson spat.
"Sir, this is really important." He warned.
"It can wait a minute,"
"I'm afraid not, sir." Fitz pressed on, "It's about Directory Fury."
"What about him?" Coulson asked.
Ward turned to look at his teammate.
"I went to my bunk to get something that I had forgotten," Fitz pulled the container out of his pocket and waved it in front of the men, "see?"
"Get to the point, Fitz," Ward hurried.
"Right. Well, on my way back to the lab, I sort of overheard Directory Fury speaking to someone on his cellphone." Fitz watched as the two agents took in the information. "Sir, he was calling for backup."