Disclamer: I do not own any part of the marvel universe.

Chapter 2:

Ward's Quarters

3 Days 8 Hours and 33 Minutes Until

00:00 Christmas Day

"Agent Leo Fitz, a pleasure, I was sure it would be either Agents Grant Ward or Melinda May coming along with that lovely S.O Veronica Head, Hello Veronica." Ward's hand gripped at his gun holster there was a tone in the kids voice that set alarms off in Ward's head. Something was off, a sideward glance at May told him she was thinking the same thing. This kid was going to prove to be quite the problem.

"I would be a level three would I not, on S.H.E.I.L.D's long list of 'bad guys'? Intelligence is always undervalued is it not Leo, Never considered as important as brute strength. I agree however, that you are every bit the government agent Grant Ward is. Different yes, but difference is good." That stung, even now almost a month after the mission Ward couldn't help but know he had thought little of his mission partner going in. In intellect surely few could match Fitz but a field assignment was different. Or at least he thought it was. He still remembered that it was Fitz who made sure both got out of there in time. It was also a jab at Agent Head who had sent the two on said mission. What was the kids play?

"He is trying to play you Fitz. Keep your cool. He wants you to trip up." Ward said even though he could hear the silent expression of 'I know' from the only other male agent on the plane. The interrogation was more like a wayward math problem for the teen. Trying to find the right combination of intel to make Fitz bite. Ward was happy to say that Fitz kept his cool a lot longer than many field agents Ward had come across would be able to. And those people had interrogation training at a level Fitz did not. Then the teen talked about Simmons and though Ward knew the kid was stuck in interrogation he still took a step closer to the scientist. He noted May shift ever so slightly as well, Skye was more bold and grabbed the Biochemists hand. When Skye was brought up the hacker barely even flinched.

Then the teen poured a vat of salt on a very open wound for the team, Coulson. "Phil, it alright if I call him Phil right, Or maybe A.C…" the clipped answer that followed raised even May's respect for the research agent. The fact he showed no outward signs of flinching when the kid brought up the fact Agent Coulson was possibly being tortured raised the field agent's level of respect ever so higher.

"Tahiti, A.C…" Skye said softly.

"He didn't," May began before a sharp look from Ward had her rephrase that, "doesn't believe the Tahiti story. It is quite loose really." She continued.

"Is it possible," Simmons asked not tearing her eyes from the screen. "That Coulson is being…" She turned to the other two, S.H.E.I.L.D conditioning taught her worse case scenarios and even had simulation days but Jemma Simmons lived in the world of holographic computers and biochemistry. Knowing and hearing were two different things in this case. After all she knew at the Academy as a research agent she would have a level of safety, she also knew Coulson would not be given that benefit.

"Hey Jem," Skye's voice was soft as she addressed the young woman. "A.C will be fine." The word will was not lost on any agent's ears but they took it anyways. Sentiment was always welcomed on hard days.

"Fitz" Simmons said being the second to note but first to react to the man's presence. May having assisted the agent once again in interrogation, therefore, she knew exactly when he left and entered the room. Ward suggested the team move to the lab where Agent Head was sure to go after their heads. Fitz, Simmons, and Skye obeyed but May grabbed his wrist before he was able to follow.

"Can you call his bluff?" She asked and Ward looked after the three other plane occupants seeing them a good enough distance away he turned back.

"No, he's good." Ward sighed, he didn't want to admit it but whatever game the kid was playing he and his team where a few days late and a few dollars short.

"Too good, he was fishing for a catfish." May whispered and Ward's facial expression slipped for one moment at the seemingly outrageous idiom. "What," he asked and May fought the urge to roll her eyes at the man before her.

"I've seen the footage of Romanoff doing it and so have you. Pushing and pushing till she finds a sore enough spot to slip though. Fitz went in there and was played like a fiddle."

"Now May,"

"I'm not saying he did not conduct himself well, kid did good for the fact he was more than likely never trained, but he was not in control of that interrogation and we both know it." May said her voice dropping so it was more a growl than anything else. Ward looked at her with concern in his eyes before nodding.

"We are all worried for him May. But Skye was," he began before correcting himself. "Is right, Coulson is stronger than we give him credit for. He will pull though in the end. You know that better than anyone."

"A mission with intellect given to us by a wild card got us in this mess in the first place." May reminded him her voice dangerously low.

"It also got that agent" Ward said stressing the word. "killed. Mike Peterson risked his life for Coulson something not one of us, his handpicked wonder team, did." He said and May's face softened slightly before hardening again. He moved to walk away before deciding not to end the conversation that way.

"We will be prepared this time, and watching all attempts at contact." Ward said turning to leave. May followed soon after.

Agent Head was in the lab as expected and was in the process of berating Fitz explaining how a man down in S.H.E.I.L.D was a man lost. There were no recon missions in situations like this. Though she did note acceptance of the kids offer, for no other reason than the amount of Intel the inside man must have had. After her speech she left the room and Ward followed her into the hallway.

"Ma'am, Coulson…" He began but was cut off with a hand in his direction.

"Agent, hear me and hear me clear because no matter what you're ranking I will not say this again. No one agent is that important." She said before moving to walk away.

"Agent Coulson is."

"S.H.E.I.L.D will not be sending any of our agents into a suicide mission for one agent, Coulson or not."

Interrogation Room

3 Days 10 Hours and 33 Minutes Until

00:00 Christmas Day

"One shot back of head, Bang You're dead, I have killed you." A musical voice thick with an accent rang though the snow buried forest, its pitch to high and its owner to innocent to say those words in any way but child's play. This wasn't child's play however, he needed to remember that. His head shot up and he searched for the voices owner but came up blank. There was no one around him. A glance forward showed a large armored truck coming his way telling him that he was to be brought back to the one place he did not want to return, base.

He had little choice in the matter however, at age seven he stood no chance against the armed and trained guards that picked him up. When they got back to base he expected to go back into his 'room' but instead they brought him to a completely white room with one table, the men pressed him next to the other four children. Specifically a large, in comparison to the other children, pre-teen that seemed to tower over everyone else but still had a shake to his hands, the men began speaking in a language the seven year old did not understand before they turned and left. Moving away from the rest of the children he resisted the urge to cry out like two of the children down the line where.

It was almost twenty minutes before the door opened again and a man the seven year old had never seen before entered the room. Dark hair cut short and a black Kevlar suit with multiple weapons visible. He almost looked like an army man but the twisted grin on his face ruined that image. Behind him a girl who had to be no more than six. She had white blonde hair that was pulled into a high bun and clear blue doe eyes. Her nose was slightly crooked and her cheeks bright red. She wore a white snow suit much like the one every other kid wore and stood at attention scanning the other children until her eyes fell on his.

"See the face of your killer," The man said and not one child reacted at the statement. The girl was pushed forward a bit too forcefully but despite a jolt forward stayed on her feet and kept staring forward at the children.

"Boy at the end stand," She said her voice still soft and high pitched the seven year old did as asked and the two where led out of the room behind them they heard gun shots signaling the death of the three other children.

His head shot up and he searched for a gun, as his surroundings came into focus he realized he was in no immediate danger, rather in an interrogation room. Not that the interrogation room was safe. It just wasn't the compound and for that he was grateful. 'Everything will work out fine' he reminded himself as he took in a deep breath. Trust the plan, the plan would work.

The plan had to work. He had tried everything else, disappearing didn't work. One could not go off the grid when they were running from those who wrote the grid. They had tried it once, and paid a heavy price for it. S.H.E.I.L.D would be their best shot, it had worked for others. Hell, even if they were considered prisoners it would be better than the compound at this point anything was better than the compound. Throw in a suicide mission to save an agent who was probably already half dead and there you go, one crazy ass hair-brained plan he hoped would work. The door opened again and Fitz walked back in and tossed him a silver bracelet. Momentarily he wondered how long it had been since the interrogation, how long was he asleep. He brushed off the thought and looked up.

"Tracking bracelet," The teen said before letting his face fall into an easy smile. "You don't trust me," he said in a sweeter voice before hardening it once again, "good, I knew you were a quick learn. Let's begin."

A/N - There is chapter two. I hope everyone enjoyed. Please Review. :)