Did I mention I ship FitzSimmons? I knew I forgot something. Yeah, Skyeward is pretty cute and I suppose I could warm up to the idea of Philinda if it's built up well enough, but FitzSimmons is my main ship. As for Maria Hill & Steve Rogers/Captain America, I know someone who ships them so I put that little pairing in there for her (you're welcome).

Oh, and I decided to name the chapter titles based on lines from the specific chapter. So if you wanna play the 'they said the title' game then you're welcome on that too.

Moving on with the actual story…


Ward huffed as he entered the lab. "What do you want now, Fitz?"

Fitz proudly held the Night-Night Pistol in his hand. "This time, Ward, I have done as you requested."

"Great," as Ward reached for the gun, Fitz started playing keep-away. "What gives?"

"Now I need you to do something for me in return."

Ward groaned. "Is this involving that stupid love letter?"

"You're the only other person who knows about it."

"Unfortunately."

"So you're the only other person I can talk to about it."

"That is also unfortunate."

"And I'm gonna make you a deal: you'll get your Night-Night Pistol-"

"Still not calling it that."

"-when you do me a favor."

The sound of an intercom buzz encompassed the lab. Coulson's voice soon followed with, "FitzSimmons, I need to see one, or both of you in my office as soon as possible."

"Aye, sir," Fitz replied.

"The favor?" Ward reminded once the intercom buzzed off. Fitz slipped him a copy of the typed love letter. "Don't tell me; I'm the mailman."

"I was going to compare you to Hermes, the messenger God," Fitz admitted as he shoved another copy of the letter into his pocket, "but mailman works too. Just make sure she gets it and then you get your Night-Night Pistol."

"Again, I'm not calling it that." Unlike Fitz, Ward carefully folded the note and tucked it in his pants pocket.

"Do we have a deal or not?"

Ward flashed a smug smile. "Go see what Coulson wants."

"Was that a yes?" Ward nodded. "Then we have a deal," Fitz took the gun with him before Ward got a hold of it. "You get the Night-Night Pistol after you play mailman."

Once the coast was clear, Ward took another sheet of paper and the pen and quickly jotted something down. When he finished, Ward folded that paper and set it in his T-Shirt pocket. "I'm changing that stupid name," he muttered to himself as he left the lab.

As the little interaction between the two boys was happening in the lab, two girls sat in the lounge in a more lighthearted mood.

"I'm gonna have to resist the urge to call him Leona now," Skye

"Well you can't. I'm the only one who knows about that and I wasn't supposed to tell anyone," Simmons reminded.

"Ugh but it's so tempting!"

"Skye!"

"Fine, fine, I won't say anything...to Fitz."

"Skye!"

"If I tell this to Ward and he laughs it'll prove he's not a robot."

"Skye!"

"Robots don't have a sense of humor or emotion!" Simmons shot her a pleading look. "Okay, I won't say anything to anyone."

"Thank you."

"But I would pay anything to see that." Skye's jest sent her and Simmons into a giggling fit.

"Ahem," the giggling was soon interrupted by the serious Ward clearing his throat.

"Can we help you?"

"Shouldn't you be spending your free time more wisely?"

"Is that code for you wanting me in the workout area?"

"You've got less than ten minutes." Ward walked away.

"Yes sir, Sergeant Serious."

"I hope he didn't hear you say that," Simmons said to her.

"Why not? He knows about you guys mocking him and he seemed cool with it."

"Yes, but it's all in good fun. There's not much he can really do about Fitz and I mocking him though; it's not like he's our supervising officer."

"Oh-kay," Skye stressed out that word, "I'm not sure what you meant by that last part."

"I'm suggesting you try to stay on Ward's good side."

"If robots even have a good side."

"Supervising officers have to give detailed reports you know."

Skye's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. "No, I didn't know!"

"Oh. Well...you know now."

"What do they do after they finish a report?"

"Once they complete a report they send it in to their superior."

"And Ward's superior is Coulson?"

"Exactly."

"What does Coulson do with the report?"

"Don't quote me on this; but I'm fairly certain he sends it to Director Fury."

"These reports, are they written?"

"They could be. More often than not they're delivered verbally."

"With my luck they're probably verbal."

"There, there, I'm sure the reports aren't that bad."

Skye stood up. "I've gotta find those reports."

"What?" Simmons soon found herself chasing after Skye. "Skye, wait! You don't even know if they exist!"

Coulson sat at his desk across from Agent Melinda May, who was staring intently at something that was on S.H.I.E.L.D stationary. "Well?" he prompted.

May frowned as she flipped over the paper Coulson made her overlook. "Really? This is what you want my opinion about?"

"I happen to know you're a sort of…connoisseur of the arts."

"And you think that this drawing of a porcupine beside a piece of poop with knives sticking out of it is art?"

"I'm pleased that you were able to figure out what I drew so quickly. I spent three hours perfecting that drawing."

"The point, Coulson?"

"I just wanted to make sure my art was obvious."

"Please tell me it's not going in a museum."

"It's a gift."

"Let's hope you save the receipt." In immature retaliation, Coulson stuck his tongue out at her. "Is this drawing supposed to symbolize anything?"

"It's an inside joke between friends."

"You have friends?"

Coulson crinkled his nose at her as someone knocked on the office door. "That was faster than I expected. Come in!" An anxious looking Fitz entered his office carrying the Night-Night Pistol. "Fitz, you're looking more nervous than usual. You alright?"

"Fine," Fitz replied. "You wanted to see me Sir?"

"Dr. Streiten was pleased to hear that you were able to find a vaccine-"

"Anti-serum."

"-for Simmons' virus. Streiten wishes to keep your solution in S.H.I.E.L.D.'s medical database in the event that something like this happens again. I promised him I'd send him your notes later this afternoon."

"I actually don't have them with me right now."

"I assumed you wouldn't. Could you or Simmons deliver them to me no later than noon?"

"Aye, sir."

"And Fitz," Coulson took his drawing from May and held it up for Fitz to see.

"I didn't draw that!"

"Don't be so nervous, you're not in any trouble." Fitz breathed a sigh of relief. "I just wanted another outsider's opinion." He pointed to the sketch. "What does this look like to you?"

"Crafty bastard," Skye muttered under her breath as she submitted another incorrect passcode to gain access into Ward's bunk.

A nervous Simmons kept watch for her. "I really think you should let this go."

"Not until I see his reports on me."

"You know for a fact he keeps written reports?"

"Not until I get in there and check." She inputted the wrong passcode again. "Dammit!"

"He's coming!" Simmons warned.

"Crap!" Skye stood upright and turned toward Simmons. "Pretend like we were having a conversation."

"I thought we were having a conversation."

"How about that last mission huh?" Skye made sure she would be heard as Ward approached them. "Talk about crazy."

"What are you doing?" Ward questioned.

"Oh hey Ward, didn't see you there," Skye lied. "Simmons and I were just talking about yesterday's mission."

He raised an eyebrow to her. "Next to my bunk?"

Skye decided to play dumb. "Were we by your bunk? I had no idea. Simmons and I were on our way to the workout area." Skye let out an obviously fake laugh, but soon stopped when Ward's stare became more intent. "Not buying it, huh?"

"So that's one set of fifteen pushups for tardiness, and another fifteen for lying." Skye nervously bit her lip. "You're terrible at playing dumb. Go get ready for our training." Skye turned around and headed for her bunk to change into her workout attire. "And Simmons."

"Yes Ward," Simmons meekly replied back.

Ward reached into his T-shirt pocket, pulled out a neatly folded piece of paper, and passed it to Simmons. "I was told to deliver this to you." he winked at her before leaving. He continued walking down his intended path where he bumped into Fitz. Without saying anything, he removed the Night-Night pistol from Fitz's grasp.

"Hey!"

"I held up my end of the deal."

"Wha—you delivered my note?" Ward winked at him in response. "What did she say?"

"I just delivered it. If you want to know if she read it then I suggest you ask her yourself." Ward handed the pistol back to Fitz. "Now why don't you really fix my gun?"

Fitz sighed. "I suppose I should; seems only fair after what you just did for me."

"I want it ready today Fitz."

Fitz waited until Ward was out of sight before commencing the mocking. "I want it ready today Fitz. I'm Agent Grant Ward…"

Ward, meanwhile, en route to the workout area, took out another folded piece of paper and threw it into the trashcan in the lounge.

Or so he thought.

While May was walking down the hall, she noticed a folded up paper by the trashcan in the lounge. "Why can't they ever pick up after themselves?" she stormed over toward the paper. "Might as well have FitzSimmons invent a self-cleaning machine." As she bent down to pick it up, she noticed the paper was printed on S.H.I.E.L.D. stationary. Thinking it was a message of importance, Melinda unfolded the paper and scanned it over. She looked stoic as she reread what was written on it. Immediately after, she refolded the paper and hurried over to Coulson's office.

"Ever heard of knocking?" Coulson quipped after May barged in.

"You need to take a look at this," May threw the note on his desk and watched it land between two folders before Coulson finally picked it up.

"What am I taking a look at?" he questioned as he unfolded the paper.

"Read it."

"Okay," Coulson did as he was told. "Wow." He blew out a breath. "Melinda, I'm flattered, really but you..." he looked up and saw the scowl on her face. "...you obviously didn't write this."

"Obviously. I found it folded up by the trash receptacle in the lounge."

"Any idea who wrote it?"

"Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't that typed?"

"Okay, any idea who typed it?"

"No idea."

Coulson rose out of his chair. "As of right now this letter is a 0-8-4. But it won't be for much longer."

"You want me to go over security footage?"

"I think I know an easier way," he started to leave his office.

"Where are you going?"

"The lab."

"The lab? What's in the lab?"

"Fingerprint analyzer."


When I write, I try to picture everything in my head like I'm watching a TV episode or movie. I for one would love to see that exchange between Coulson and May at the end. Anyone else agree?

So if Ward attempted to throw the love letter away, what did he give to Simmons?

Your guys have any ideas? Any theories on what happens next?