Chapter 4: Quake Labs

Simmons entered the bus, shortly followed by Fitz and Skye, talking in a secretive manner. She felt detached from two of her, once closest, friends but with her mind set on finding a way to contain this intergalactic epidemic, there was no time for small talk.

She rested down the biological equipment, from syringes to high-tech machines, which were engineered by Fitz, last year. How things had changed. Now there's no light-hearted jokes or open spaces of time to fiddle with gears and electrical wires, to create a new software or helpful gadget, for the lab. There are just two individuals who happened to have a history, but are now so far away, despite never being further than a room apart. No longer Fitzsimmons, merely Fitz and Simmons.

"Simmons? Fitz was wondering when the results will be back from Mack's blood samples." Simmons turned around to see Skye, no longer with Fitz. He must have left to reprogramme his old investigative gadgets before they land. Skye could sense the tension between the two scientists and hadn't seen Jemma so agitated in all the time she's known her; so she thought she'd pass on the information as a third party. Saves their emotions getting in the way of the blue-glow investigation.

"Why couldn't he have just asked m- nevermind, tell him that they should be back by tomorrow. I've listed them as urgent with the main office, so they should be a top priority in the S.H.I.E.L.D lab. I'm sure he's still infected." Simmons turned back around to her medical equipment and placed everything in an orderly fashion, but Skye could see right through her stubborn act. Even with those weeks at Hydra, she still couldn't keep her true-self hidden. She was overworked. Skye could see straight through her.

"Jemma, maybe you should go and take a nap before we land. We won't touch down for another two hours, you may as well get som-"

"No, it's fine. Honestly, I feel fine. I am just going to see Bobbi. Bye Skye." Simmons interrupted and sped off out of the lab to find her teammate.

Skye was taken back by her friend's behaviour. She needed an intervention, that's for sure. Fitz dodged Simmons as she strode past him exiting the lab. After a short moment caught in thought, he saw Skye and finished their earlier conversation from entering the bus.

"She says the results will be back tomorrow." Skye added. She wasn't overly worried about Mack; she just presumed it was the traumatic experience that has made him unlike his usual self. Simmons was far too exhausted and blinded by emotion to actually give a clear hypothesis. Skye wasn't convinced that Mack is still infected, it seemed too far-fetched.

"Ok, Skye I've made you a sedative. I know it seems irrational, but you know how dangerous you could get. If at any time, things get out of hand and you fear that it's getting out of your control, take it. One pill, that's all. It should knock you out for an hour, no more, no less."

Skye knew it was out of kindness, but she couldn't help but feel afraid. Not only for herself, but for the people she's around. What if she loses control around Fitz or Coulson, or even Simmons! It was too risky not to have a back-up plan.

"Thanks, Fitz." Skye gave him a slight hug and offered him some tea.

"Skye, I know you're trying to be kind but... I didn't want to break it to you like this." Fitz stared at Skye, never had she seen him so deadly serious.

Skye stopped, terrified of what he was about to say about her powers.

"You can't make tea. It's horrendous!" Skye let out a burst of laughter, which Fitz hadn't heard in a long time. "It's true! You leave the teabag in the cup! Who even does that?! It's not hard: Teabag, water, stir, milk, stir. Obviously sugar. Lots of sugar. Simmons never has it, but that's just strange. It's essential."

Skye couldn't stop laughing and Fitz joined her. There had been far too many dark times recently, it felt nice to let out a laugh or two. May saw them as she was walking by, stopping in the door's frame and taking a moment to reflect on what life was like before all of this... mess.

Fitz and Skye noticed her as she dared to move the muscles in her face and astonishingly reveal a smile. An actual smile.

"May, smiling. This needs to be documented. Fitz, pass the diary! 15.03.15 thirteen-hundred hours. 'May smiles.'"

"This will go down in the history books." Fitz joined in as May chuckled.

"Don't push your luck, you's two." She pivoted and left from leaning on the door-frame.

The bus landed at quarter-past three in the afternoon. The team each separated into two SHIELD cars and drove to Quake Laboratory where the crime happened.

Oh, the irony! Skye thought to herself as she saw the SATNAV's goal location and buckled up her seat belt, sitting in the car with May and Fitz. Bobbi, Simmons and Coulson took the other car which followed close behind.

They soon arrived in less than half-an-hour. Each of them leaving their vehicle and hiding their weapons beneath their clothing. Skye still couldn't get used to Fitz and Simmons using guns as she saw them pick them up from the boot of the cars. They just seem so innocent.

Coulson gathered the group up for a quick recap of roles.

"Skye, Bobbi, take statements from the staff. Blend in, act casual. We don't need to draw in any unwanted attention. Especially if this could be Raina."

They both nodded and grouped together, planning their game.

"Fitz and Simmons, try to find evidence of any inhuman activity. I'm sure you know how."

Simmons took a short glance at Fitz before picking up her case and walking next to him.

"May, you're with me. We'll meet back here in an hour. Good luck."

The team entered the building as a unit, then once they were welcomed by the staff that were expecting them, divided into their groups and they scattered across the building's circumference. Skye saw Fitz and Simmons take the elevator, presumably up to the floor of the crime-scene, as she moved along the ground floor with Bobbi, trying to find any witnesses or security guards that were present at the day of the attack.

It was all very opulent and sanitary. The walls were squeaky clean; floors were as white as a doctor's surgery; it seemed a bizarre concept to assume a crime had been committed here. It was as ordinary as any other laboratory in the entire state. Why was this one so special?

Bobbi found the a man with a security suit and casually walked towards him.

"Hey, do you know why those people are snooping around here? Is it a routine check or...? I'm new here, sorry." Bobbi asked, hoping playing dumb would help get as much information from him as possible. Skye stayed back, pretending to fill up a plastic cup at the water-fountain on the wall.

The man looked fairly approachable so it wouldn't be hard to get information, but Bobbi liked to use her charms to her advantage.

"Haven't you heard?" The man said, checking the perimeter to make sure his manager wasn't around. Bobbi acted confused. "Something happened on the 4th floor. I can't explain it. The video footage was distorted or something, I can't describe it. It was so strange!"

"What happened?" Bobbi pressed.

"A man came into the lab and knocked everyone unconscious. Then he left. We don't know why. Everyone's a bit shaken up. They're here to investigate."

He rubbed his temple, utterly confused by the whole situation. Bobbi caught sight of his security badge.

"Jon? Did you get a good look at the suspect? I mean, that seems so strange! I can't believe anyone would come here and do something like that for no reason. Were you alright?" She continued to twist her hair, acting innocent to draw his suspicion away from her questions.

"I know. I totally can't believe it myself. I was fine. I wasn't even on the floor when it happened. Me and Tom were sitting eating our lunch when Linda, one of our lab technicians, came and told us what she'd found. It was all crazy. You don't understand myself. You're new, nothing like this happens around here. Everyone has background checks before entering above ground floor. Wait- what floor did you say you worked on again?"

Bobbi backed away, "I didn't. Thanks." She began walking back towards Skye as they left that floor and began to make their way to find Linda.

"He seemed to know nothing. The hooded-man slid past security like he'd been trained to. This attack must have been planned."

"Hydra?" Skye questioned.

"Possibly. Possibly a nomad. We'll have to tell Coulson after we've found this 'Linda'."

"The lab technician?" Bobbi nodded and they headed straight to the reception desk.

Next Chapter: CSI

Thank you for the comments Marvel-Tolkien Fangirl, sondrex76, TheShadowWhoHidesInTheDark, MarkMcG9718, livvixxx and Emilie

p.s. I think I made a single typo in the previous chapter that I can't find again. If someone could point it out for me, I'd greatly appreciate it.

Teaser:

Skye's powers cause accidents, that lead to further accidents, that lead to a serious problem, which leads to deadly situations for a member of the team. 3 guesses which one. It's not revealed straight away so stay tuned. Things will pick up pace.