AN: Hope you are all still sticking through the story and enjoying it so far. Thank you all for reading, following and reviewing. Anyways, I do hope to keep a regular update schedule. I think I am dragging this to long so on with the story and as per usual feel free to review or PM with any questions, critics or opinions you may have. Enjoy...

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Chapter 4

He was tinkering once more on his newest experiment all the while hearing a steady stream of punches from the front where Ward was trying to ease Skye into the art of competence or something. Mostly it was Ward being stoic and business like while Skye was taking jabs at his already stern persona. It was quite funny to watch, a good distraction because he was growing tired from thinking about the small chip in front of him.

Soon he saw Ward enter the lab, Skye following him. As much as he felt they had no time or place to discuss how their respective assignments were going he was happy not to. Because, then he would have to tell Ward that he was having doubts about everything, the foundation of all his beliefs was slowly crumbling and he wasn't ready to form an opinion on anything for a fact.

"You haven't managed one solid punch and all you do is nag so why are you still around?"

Skye only laughed at Ward's sour mood.

"Because of your charming persona, no offence Ward."

She moved to inspect the gear on the far end and leave her gloves there. Ward only glared at her back and when he saw Fitz fighting back a smile he rolled his eyes at him. He liked how Skye always kept Ward on his toes and out of his comfort zone and he was sure somewhere deep done Ward agreed.

Because underneath that entire heavy exterior, he doubted his mission as much as Fitz did, he was sure of it. Being an agent only gave him an upper hand in dealing with it without looking like a lost animal waiting for someone to show him the way. Fitz decided to just go along with it.

"I do have a charming personality, you on the other hand leave much to be desired."

He spread out his hands looking baffled at them turning on him.

"Really, even you will side with Skye. I thought you had my back man."

Fitz only shook his head as Skye came to join in the banter.

"Yeah, no. I'm the charming one, can't be seen with the likes of you."

Skye laughed and just joined in.

"Yes Fitz and I need to stick together so you don't fall of the deep end and lose what little sense of personality you have. We have to show you the way."

Ward only let out an exhausted sigh and turned to leave the lab.

"Yeah, a way to my deathbed."

When he was gone, the awkward silence soon followed. He was still not used to being alone with any of them. Always afraid he would slip up.

"So, what's the deal between you and Jemma?"

That was one question he never expected.

"Eh, what?"

She was looking rather expectantly at him and he was still dumb folded by the entire situation. Not knowing what to say was just one of the things on his mind.

"Yeah, I see the way you look at her and more importantly the connection that is there. Can't fake that."

He quickly busied himself with the chip that had stood there long forgotten and appeared to be working, only replaying briefly, "I don't know what you mean."

Skye only smiled at him and before she could take another jab at him he decided to turn the spotlight on her.

"What about you Skye? The same goes for you and Ward."

She took a step back and just stood and watched him for a moment before whispering.

"Touché."

He quickly glanced back in her direction in astonishment. He didn't think she would actually admit to it.

"Wait, hold on. So there is actually something going on?"

She was lost in her own thoughts and then a panicked look came on her face as she realized what she said.

"I mean no, uh, that wasn't what I meant. I..uh.."

He only continued to watch as she went from panic mode to hyperventilating in the matter of seconds. She quickly came towards him and grabbed him by the shoulders, a pleading look now residing on her face. How she managed to go so fast through the motion is beyond him.

"Okay… okay. There maybe is something, Like an itsy bitsy tiny thing. Not even worth talking about, especially not mentioning to Ward. It's so miniscule there should be no mention whatsoever to anyone, but especially Ward. Okay, Fitz?"

He only wanted to divert her attention from him and Jemma, but this had blown up that he didn't know what to say or do, so he just nodded. She gave him a relieved smile and made a shush' motion before quickly leaving the lab.

He stood there for a couple of seconds, still holding the chip in his hand, trying to grasp it all. Not a minute later he said what was on his mind.

"What just happened here?"

The fact that he was alone in the lab didn't make him feel any better.

He walked back to the bunks and before he went to his he saw Ward lounging in his. He tossed him a small tennis ball, before asking him.

"What's up, you seem a bit dazed there Fitz?"

The ball dropped from his hand and he tossed him a flash drive. Ignoring the question he moved on to what was important.

"That is the code that will respond to the chip I had custom build and replaced one of Shield's that was on the server of the plane. He will serve as a back door for our cause. The compound should take that and be up and running as soon as possible. They will know everything that comes and goes to this plane. All the information, hotspots, connections to the branches, hidden sight, basically if we get anything from them our guys home will know it too."

Ward quickly stood up and took the small flash drive.

"Good job. I will arrange for them to pick it up on the next drop."

Even as he said that, Fitz felt as if he wasn't as pleased as he thought he'd be.

"Keep your focus on the goal, right Ward?"

Ward looked at him and after a moment the same emotionless mask slipped on, but he already read what was beneath it and he was feeling this task just got a lot more complicated.

"Right, Fitz. Good work."

With that he left and Fitz was left to ponder what it was that was slowly changing. He felt as if he was already on the shaky ground to begin with, but he never thought that Ward would be wavering in his resolve.

"Fitz?"

He turned around and there stood Jemma. As emotionally exhausted as he was he really didn't know if he could handle anything more.

"You know I felt like I had seen you before and I did some digging."

He really didn't like where this was going.

"You know, there was a student before on the academy, his spot was erased from the roster. I believed that it may be some mistake or something but the more I thought of it I found it weird that you didn't attend academy and yet you were chosen."

He laughed nervously, because if she asked Coulson he would tell her that he did because when they fabricated the evidence they only managed so much in the small time period they had. That was that if logged with Coulson's ID it would appear that he did attend the academy and was one of the best in engineering. Sure, he was one of the best but just not in that academy.

"Maybe you were chosen like Skye was, so I didn't want to pry." she said "I'm just being paranoid, aren't I?"

He looked at her hopeful face and didn't know what to tell her. So he decided not to say anything.

"I know. I'm so sorry, you probably don't want to talk about it. I just feel like I missed out on knowing you and I don't know why."

Before she could continue to ramble he said, "You can start now, Jemma."

She looked at him and smiled fondly at him. The warmth he felt whenever he was around her returned and it made his mind hazy, with it his control slipping.

"I suppose."

She grasped his hand and squeezed it for a second before letting go.

"Thanks for listening Fitz."

He smiled and nodded.

"Sure, anytime."

She left and he plumed into his bunk bed. Taking a deep breath he realized one thing.

He was screwed.

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