Chapter 4
Disclaimer: I don't own anything. Everything belongs to their rightful owners.
AN1: Thank you so much for the support. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE leave a review. So I'm uploading another chapter as I really want you to read the changes in this chapter, as I want opinions.
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D 1x02
It has been about twenty minutes since Bobbi made the call to Phil about the 0-8-4 and she is walking into the Command Centre with Phil and Melinda, Phil having just told them that Skye accepted his job offer.
"Skye, as a S.H.I.E.L.D agent, do you really think she's qualified?" Bobbi asks as Phil does things on the holo com while she and Melinda stand around the table.
"No, which is why I've invited her on as a consultant." Phil says, "You both know that S.H.I.E.L.D does it all the time. Technically, Stark's a consultant." He reminds the two agents, who don't need the reminder as they have heard plenty of complaints about that fact form him, Natasha, and Maria.
"And technically, Skye's a member of the Rising Tide." Bobbi points out, "She hacked our RSA implementation." Bobbi points out.
"Twice. From a laptop. Imagine what she'll do with our resources." Phil says, honestly he was expecting Bobbi to be more supportive of the idea, and if Bobbi didn't know what she knows about Phil she possibly would be.
"I am." Bobbi says, "That's why I've got this frown on my face, Phil." Bobbi says, "Look, Skye has a lot of potential, I'm not going to deny that, but she's also a risk, and she doesn't think like us." Bobbi points out.
"Exactly." Phil says, "Both of you know better than anyone that sometimes the best S.H.I.E.L.D agents are people who have been considered risks, who don't think like most of our agents." Phil says, looking between Bobbi and Melinda, it being more than clear who he is talking about.
"That might be so, but Phil we have two kids on this bus who aren't cleared for combat, and now you're adding a third." Melinda says, really not liking that.
"Exactly." Bobbi says, "Phil, with what we have to do, I don't see how letting a hacker, a kid, who may be a survivor, but doesn't have any training, tag along is a good idea." Bobbi admits, as she meant it when she said Skye had potential, but she doesn't think that on the bus at the moment is the best place to explore that potential.
"You were an eighteen-year-old kid who only had a couple of months training when you were graduated early so that May could supervise, and train, you." Phil reminds Bobbi, who was really hoping Phil wasn't going to point that out, "And I was looking for an objection I haven't already anticipated."
"That's not fair, you know us well enough to know all our objections." Bobbi points out, causing Melinda to roll her eyes.
"I'm calling this." Phil says, "But your frown will be on record." He says, as he hands Melinda the tablet that he was working on.
"We've been called in to investigate an 0-8-4, and we know what that means." Bobbi comments, as Melinda walks out of the room.
"Yes, we do. It means we don't know what that means." Phil comments.
"Which just makes things interesting." Bobbi comments, "And fun." She adds.
"Glad you haven't lost your enthusiasm." Phil comments, slightly amused.
"Thanks. So have you and Melinda talked since yesterday?" Bobbi asks curious.
"Yeah, last night." Phil confirms.
"Wheels up in two. Lock it or lose it." Melinda's voice says, through the plans coms system, hearing that Bobbi and Phil exchange looks, and nods, and Bobbi heads out of the Command Centre.
As she leaves Bobbi sees Skye putting her stuff in the empty bunk.
"Hey." Skye greats, looking at Bobbi, "I know we…." Skye starts to say.
"Hey." Bobbi greats, with a smile, "Here." She says, handing over a brochure, "You should read this. This isn't like other planes." Bobbi says, before heading to the cockpit to sit with Melinda.
It has been a few hours since the Bus left Los Angeles and ever since Melinda and Bobbi have been sitting in the cock-pit in comfortable silence.
"So, an 0-8-4, in Peru." Bobbi says, finally breaking the silence, "That means that not only do we have the object, and any other interested party, but we also have to deal with the instability in the region." Bobbi realises, "This is going to be interesting." She comments, and Melinda just gives her a look, "What it will be." She says, and the she turns to make sure the door is closed, "You're worried about how Skye will factor in if something happens with Phil."
"I am." Melinda confirms, "I believe you're right about Skye having potential, I just don't think this bus is the right place for her to explore that potential.
"That's exactly what I thought." Bobbi admits, "But we've been overruled, which means we just have to make the best out of the situation." She says, and Melinda, drift into silence as they sit side by side.
Hours later Melinda, Bobbi, Fitz, Simmons, Skye, and Coulson have arrived at the location where the 0-8-4 apparently is and are starting to get out of the car, every single one of them having changed into clothes that are more suitable for the environment.
"There weren't any tails, at least none that I could spot." Bobbi reveals, as Melinda stops the car, "But there were tire tracks forty meters back. I'll check them against the sites trucks, just to make sure we're alone." Bobbi says, looking at Melinda as the others head towards the temple where the 0-8-4 is.
"Too much exposure here." Melinda reveals, "I'm gonna find a place to park." She reveals, before driving off.
It has been a little while since Bobbi left Melinda and ever since she has been checking the tire tracks she spotted against the others in the area. After finding a match Bobbi heads to the temple where Melinda is standing guard outside off.
"Tires match the professors truck." Bobbi reveals, as she walks towards Melinda, and as she does she notices something, "Do you really think now is the best situation for your whole 'if you need a gun you'll take one' thing?" Bobbi asks her mentor curious.
"Yes." Melinda confirms, "Gun and Staves?" Melinda asks.
"Of course." Bobbi answers, and as she does she notices a subtle movement in the bushes, "I know you don't want to be in the field, and I respect that." Bobbi tells her mentor as she starts to walk towards the bush, "But selfishly, I'm glad you're here. There's no one I trust more to watch my back." Bobbi says, as she pulls the armed man out of the bushes, disarms him, and points a gun at him.
As Bobbi does that Melinda disarms two other men and puts their own guns at them, but they quickly become outnumbered as a vehicle approaches and men yell,
"Drop it! Move!" at them in Spanish.
"We should have taken more guns." Bobbi says to Melinda, and as she does Bobbi knows what she has to do, "Coulson?" Bobbi asks, through the coms.
"Go." Phil responds.
"We have a situation." Bobbi reveals.
"I'm on my way." Phil says, and less than a minute later Phil walks outside, and says, "Good morning. I'm Agent Coulson. We are here on a matter of international security." Phil reveals.
"Philip?" The woman in charge says.
"Camilla?" Phil asks, and because of the tone of his voice, and the look on his face, both Melinda and Bobbi can tell that those two have a history, "Do you mind?" Phil asks Camilla, referring to her men that are still holding weapons on Bobbi and Melinda.
"After you." Camilla responds, and in Phil gives Bobbi and Melinda a nod, and the signal to lower their weapons. Once they do Camilla speaks in Spanish to get them to lower their weapons, "And now time for a proper hello." She says, and Phil walks over and he and Camilla great with kisses on the cheek.
"Comandante, a promotion. Congratulations." Phil says.
"Three years ago, but thank you." Camila says.
"Agent Melinda May, Agent Bobbi Morse, this is comandante, Camilla Reyes. She's with the Policia Militar del Peru." Phil explains, "We used to work together back in the day." He says, and as he does Melinda scoffs and she and Bobbi exchange looks, both of them knowing exactly what that means because of how well they know Phil, "Let the team know everything's okay." Phil requests.
As Phil says that Melinda and Bobbi walk towards the temple and exchange nods, agreeing on something without words. Once they do Bobbi heads inside the temple to where Fitz, Simmons, and Skye are.
"We've got company." Bobbi reveals, as she walks in, "National Police." She reveals.
"What?" Fitz asks confused, "Why are they here?"
"They heard about the object. They're probably here to protect it." Bobbi reveals, as she walks towards the object that is embedded in the wall, "Or steal it." she adds, as an afterthought, "This area has lot of rebel uprisings." She explains.
"Yeah, people are fighting back against the government's mining policies. It's pretty kick ass." Skye explains, causing Bobbi to frown.
"Yeah, it's kick-ass, all the violence." Bobbi says, with a frown, as while she is more than willing to fight she certainly doesn't love fighting, nor does she always think it's a good thing.
"That's not what I'm saying." Skye says, realising that she might not have given the best explanation for what she tried to say.
"No, it's what you're typing. In your van, alone, where it's safe." Bobbi says, being pretty sure that this being in this situation is going to open her eyes in a lot of ways, but at the same time Skye's inexperience is one of the reasons that she doesn't think Skye exploring her potential on the bus is the best idea, "Fitz, Simmons, how much longer?" Bobbi ask, looking at the two scientists.
"What's the hurry?" Simmons asks.
"Are we in danger?" Fitz asks, looking concerned.
"Not if everyone does their job." Bobbi says, "We know what we're doing." She says, looking between Fitz, Simmons, and Skye, trying to reassure them, "But I need to know, how long until you think we can remove it from the wall? How long until we can transport it?" Bobbi asks, looking between the scientists.
"An hour, maybe more." Fitz explains.
"Great, just great." Bobbi mutters sarcastically, expecting that they're not going to have that long, and just like Bobbi suspects about two minutes later there is the sound of gunfire and rumblings from upstairs, "We've got to go, they're coming for it." Bobbi says, "Move quickly." She instructs, as Skye tries to help Fitz and Simmons put away their dwarfs, but it quickly becomes clear that she is just hindering them.
"We need a containment case for the 0-8-4." Simmons tells Bobbi.
"We don't have the time." Bobbi says, hurrying over to the wall where the 0-8-4 is.
"But Bobbi, it has a fluctuating power core, frequencies way above 10 exaherts." Fitz explains.
"Which means it's dangerous to transport, I know, but leaving it in the wall isn't an option, same with risking someone else getting their hands on it." Bobbi says, "Stay back, all of you." She instructs, not wanting to risk one of them, before pulling the 0-8-4 out of the wall.
"You did not just pull that out of the wall!" Fitz says, shocked as it was clear to him that Bobbi understood what he was saying, "What is the matter with you? Do you realize we do not know the amount of photon emissions coming out of this?" Fitz ask, as Bobbi puts the 0-8-4 in a bag and gives it to Fitz.
"We don't have time to figure things it out." Bobbi explains, "We need to get out of here with the object so that no one else can get it." she explains, being pretty sure that the object may be more dangerous than the rebels which is why she needs to make sure they don't get it.
"We also don't know what will happen if it gets excited." Fitz tells Bobbi.
"Then I guess we have to do everything we can to make sure it doesn't." Bobbi says, pulling her gun, "Stay close and stay behind me." Bobbi says, as she runs out in front of Skye, Fitz, and Simmons, and starts firing.
As Fitz, Simmons and Skye run out behind her they start to get fired upon, "GET BACK." Bobbi yells, at the three young adults. Coming to a conclusion Bobbi reaches into her jacket with one hand while she fires, and pulls out an object, as she does Bobbi locks eyes with Phil and once Camilla yells at her men to get down Bobbi flips down the stairs, lands on the ground, and uses a piece of tech that causes everyone who is standing to be knocked on their asses.
Even though they have been knocked down people continue to fire at Bobbi, Fitz, Simmons, and Skye, but before they can get hit Melinda drives the car up and blocks the path.
"Get in!" Bobbi tells the trio.
"Move! Now!" Melinda yells at them and they all hurry into the car, Bobbi getting in the front while Fitz, Simmons and Skye get in the back.
A few minute later Melinda is speeding the car back towards the Bus, as they continue to get fired upon.
"Coulson's secure in PMP's truck." Bobbi reveals, knowing Melinda will want to know that, "Take the south route to the airfield." She suggests, being pretty sure that it might be the fastest way.
"Gotcha." Melinda says.
"Slow down!" Fitz yells.
"You're joking, right?" Skye asks, sounding completely shocked.
"Bobbi, listen! We have to be careful. There's a binding energy structure that could overheat." Fitz explains.
"I could roll down the window." Simmons says, and she goes to roll down the window, but as she does bullets ricochet.
"Do not roll down a window!" Skye advices.
"Stay quiet, keep your heads down, and Fitz, put the bag on the floor." Bobbi says as she turns up the air-conditioned, "We want to keep it cool," she says.
"But, Bobbi…." Fitz starts to say.
"Quiet." Melinda and Bobbi say, both knowing that it isn't a good idea to hear more about all the things that could possibly go wrong right now.
"Do you think you can beat your record time of getting the wheels up?" Bobbi asks curious.
"I can try." Melinda responds as they pull into the plane and everyone gets out.
"Ramp!" Melinda says to Bobbi as they hurry out.
"On it." Bobbi says, still having her gun in her hand, as she heads to the ramp control.
"What are you doing?" Skye asks shocked, "Coulson is still out there!" she says, not being able to believe that Bobbi would let Coulson die.
"Skye, get off the ramp, you're in the line of fire." Bobbi says, as she continues to fire back at the people who are attacking, and about thirty seconds later Coulson, Camilla, and some of her men hurry onto the plane, "You cut it pretty close there, Phil." Bobbi comments.
"I didn't want to leave anyone behind." Phil admits.
"You never do." Bobbi comments.
"I got to say it. I miss my van." Skye admits, "What were you yelling about? What's the problem?" she asks curious, not realising that it is probably a better idea for her not to have the answer.
"As I said before this device has a high-frequency, fluctuating, sub-material compression." Fitz explains.
"Fitz, English." Phil requests, though he guesses that from the look on Bobbi's face he guesses that it isn't good.
"The 0-8-4 is fuelled by Tesseract technology." Fitz says, and everyone who knows what that means becomes even more panicked, "Hydra, World War two, Captain America. It's full of lethal amounts of gamma radiation." Fitz explains.
"Are you saying it's nuclear?" Skye asks worried.
"No, he's saying it's much, much worse." Coulson answers, and everyone moves away from the object.
A little while later Bobbi is having a very intense conversation with Fitz.
"You understood what I was saying, why did you just pull it out of the wall?" Fitz asks her shocked, as they walk into the lab.
"Because it was the best option." Bobbi explains.
"How can the best option involve the possibility of us blowing up?" Fitz asks angrily.
"If we tried to contain it safely before leaving we would have been killed. If we had left it the rebels would have gotten it and would have used it to hurt a lot of people." Bobbi explains, "Risking it was the best option, and it worked out for the best." She explains, looking between the trio.
"How can you talk about almost being blown up so calmly?" Skye asks shocked.
"It's not the first time I've faced the possibility of blowing up." Bobbi admits, causing Skye to widen her eyes, "Which reminds me, Fitz, next time when in the field and trying to explain the danger of something do so in the quickest, simplest, way possible, because next time we might have even less time." Bobbi explains.
"Next time?" Simmons asks shocked, and Bobbi notices a look of terror pass over Skye's face.
"Everything okay in here?" Phil asks concerned, walking into the lab.
"Yes Sir. I was just explaining a few things about being in the field." Bobbi reveals, "Not everyone was prepared for a firefight." Bobbi explains, being pretty sure that everything that just happened was an eye opener for not just Skye, but Fitz, and Simmons too.
"We got out, didn't lose anyone, even saved a few of theirs. I'd say we did all right, don't you think so Agent Morse?" Phil asks, clearly wanting her opinion.
"I'd say we did the best we could, considering." Bobbi says.
"I agree." Phil says.
"You're kidding right?" Skye asks, "That was insane, and I'd say Fitz and Simmons agree." Skye comments, not being able to help herself, "This was your first mission, right?" she asks, looking between the scientists as she remembers what Bobbi said during the interrogation.
"Second." Simmons corrects.
"Oh right, I was your first, that's sweet." Skye says, remembering what Bobbi told her.
"That amuses you?" Bobbi asks, suspecting that Skye is using jokes and sarcasm to hide what she is really feeling.
"I'm terrified. I am in way over my head." Skye reveals.
"That's okay." Bobbi assures her, "I was younger than all of you when I first went into the field." Bobbi says, and because he sees that Bobbi has this situation under control Phil slips out of the room.
"Really?" Fitz, Simmons, and Skye ask together.
"Really, and I was beyond frightened." Bobbi admits, "Whatever you three are feeling right now you should know that it is completely normal." She says, looking between the trio.
"Does the fear ever go away?" Simmons asks, there being a clear, or at least clear to Bobbi, undertone of fear to her voice.
"Some of it does." Bobbi admits, "But, with more time in the field you get better at controlling it." Bobbi admits, before leaving the lab, leaving Fitz, and Simmons to do their work and all three of them to think about her words.
A little while later Bobbi has left her jacket in her bunk and is walking around the upper level of the plan twirling her batons, using it as both a way to clear her mind and conduct a risk assessment.
"Did you want something Skye?" Bobbi asks as she sees, out the corner of her eye, the young girl standing, with two bottles of alcohol, and watching her.
"Am in interrupting something?" Skye asks, confused about what Bobbi is doing, and honestly not wanting to interrupt something important.
"No, this is just something I do sometimes, my SO taught me to use it as a way to clear my mind." Bobbi explains.
"SO?" Skye asks confused.
"Supervising officer." Bobbi explains.
"Got it. Hackers had lingo, too, but I'll pick yours up." Skye says, "I was going to ask if you want a drink, but do S.H.I.E.L.D agents even drink?" Skye asks curious.
"More than most." Bobbi answers, with a smile, "Come on." She says, leaning Skye over to the couches, and the two of them sit down across from each other and while Skye opens a bottle to pour a drink Bobbi puts her battle staves down next to her, "Are you even twenty-one?" Bobbi asks, curious realising that she should have asked before she agreed to have a drink with Skye.
"Yeah." Skye answers, as by the birthdate the orphanage gave her she is, but she doesn't even know when he real birthday is, "So this is all legal."
"That's good." Bobbi says, deciding not to mention that she was drinking before she was twenty-one.
"What I said before, when I said the uprising was, whatever I said, a good thing. I don't want you think I'm oblivious." Skye says, and Bobbi doesn't say anything as her instincts are telling her to just let Skye talk, "What I was talking about where the Tweets." She explains.
"Tweets?" Bobbi asks, giving Skye a look that she learnt from Melinda many years ago.
"Yeah, tweets." Skye confirms, "Peruvians have organized for the first time in decades. Thousands of suffering people who had ever met uniting over a common idea? It's mind blowing." Skye says, as she hands Bobbi a glass, "And even though I probably shouldn't bring it up, you should know that that's what the Rising Tide is all about." Skye reveals, and Bobbi gives her an interested look, "Usually, one person doesn't have the solution, but one hundred people, with one percent of the solution, that'll get it done. I think that's beautiful pieces solving a puzzle."
"I envy your view of the word, Skye. Over the years I've learnt to see the world in a very different way." Bobbi explains.
"Well, I've never been in a war zone during a way until today. That was crazy. I take it you've seen that a lot." Skye comments, looking at Bobbi.
"Yeah." Bobbi says, taking a drink.
"Back in the lab you said you were younger than me when you went on your first mission." Skye says, "How old were you when you joined S.H.I.E.L.D?" Skye asks curious.
"Eighteen." Bobbi answers to Skye's shock, "I spent a few months training at S.H.I.E.L.D's academy, and then my SO pulled a few strings so that I could graduate early and finish my training in the field, under her direct supervision." Bobbi explains, having learnt since then that if she had screwed up in a big away back then then Melinda would have taken the fall as that's what she agreed to when she requested Bobbi be graduated early, and she also learnt that one of the only reasons Melinda's request was even considered was because it wasn't long after 9/11.
"Does that kind of thing happen often?" Skye asks curious.
"Basically never." Bobbi admits, and as she does the plane starts to move.
"We're turning." Skye notes.
"We've entered restricted airspace, so we have to follow certain, regulated, flight paths." Bobbi explains, "This plane is capable of fully automated flight, but May has to be on the stick herself tonight." Bobbi explains, causing Skye to laugh.
"You've got an SO. May's got to be on the stick. Lots of good lingo on this plane." Skye says, looking amused.
"S.H.I. . has some great lingo." Bobbi reveals, remembering some of the jokes Melinda and Clint used to make.
"Does it get better?" Skye asks curious.
"Yep." Bobbi confirms, and once she does she notices something, "Skye, follow my lead." She instructs and the she quickly grabs her batons pushes Skye out of the way and then she start to attack the men, so that she can get to May, and she does pretty well, but then her eyes catch sight of the big screen in the Command Centre where she sees one of the men holding a knife to Fitz's neck, and so she has to stop attacking to save him and Simmons.
A little while later Bobbi, Melinda, Skye, Fitz, Simmons and May are tied to the cargo hold doors. While Bobbi, Fitz, Simmons, and Skye are awake Melinda is unconscious, and Bobbi has ran through all possibilities and to her they all seem bad.
"This is my fault." Fitz comments, "I should have learnt Kung Fu."
"It's mine, I shouldn't have pushed you into the field in the first place. You weren't ready." Simmons comments.
"It's not either of your faults, it was my job to make a proper threat assessment." Bobbi explains, not wanting the two scientists to blame themselves.
"Um, we, weren't ready." Fitz comments, looking at Simmons.
"This wouldn't have happened if Agent May wasn't on the stick." Skye comments, and honestly Bobbi suspects that she is right, "She would have busted out some of her ninja know-how."
"Agent May?" Fitz asks confused, "No, no, no, she transferred from administration." Fitz reveals, not knowing how wrong he is.
"Well, I've seen her destroy a guy, so…" Skye starts to say, and as soon as she says that Fitz and Simmons look to Bobbi for an explanation.
"May was a specialist before she transferred to Admin." Bobbi explains, "She was Strike Team Delta's go to when they needed an extra person." Bobbi reveals, causing Fitz and Simmons to be amazed.
"Hang on, I've heard Stories about that. Strike team Delta's go to was…" Fitz starts to say, but his eyes widen as he realises something.
"She's the Cavalry." Fitz and Simmons say together, both looking amazed.
"Never call me that." Melinda requests, as she wakes up.
"Oh, we're sure to get out of here now." Simmons says, relieved, "Um, how do we get out of here?" Simmons asks.
"We can't go through the doors, they're bolted, tied to the pressurization lines." Melinda explains, "Still can't get out of these?" Melinda asks, looking at Bobbi, there being a hint of a teasing look on her face but only Bobbi can tell that.
"Knew you were going to bring that up." Bobbi mutters, "We need a plan." She says, focusing on the mission rather than Melinda's teasing.
"I know." Melinda tells her, "Have you two geniuses have anything?"
"It's really hard to concentrate in these intense situations." Fitz admits, looking lost and confused.
"Hey, look at me." Bobbi says, to Fitz, "Take a deep breath. We're a team, which means you don't have to come up with the whole solution, just part of it, right?" Bobbi asks, giving Skye a look.
"Yeah. Pieces solving a puzzle." Skye comments and together the group start to discuss possible plans.
For the next few minutes the group of five discuss all possible ideas and come up with a plan that while insane, may just work, and in Melinda's and Bobbi's experience insane plans are usually the best ones.
"Well, that's clearly the worst idea we've heard yet." Fitz comments.
"But it could work." Skye comments.
"As soon as we land Reyes is going to kill us, blame it on rebels." Bobbi explains, "This plan gives us a fighting chance, and that's enough for me to take it." Bobbi explains.
"As good and is seems we can't get upstairs without going through the lab, and the only way to release the lab doors is from upstairs." Simmons says.
"The first thing is, we're tied to the cargo door, so unless you can…" Skye starts to say, but before she can say more there is a cracking sound that Bobbi recognizes well.
"What the hell was that?" Fitz asks, stressing each word.
"Her wrist." Bobbi answers, simply, not at all phased by what Melinda just did even though the others look horrified.
A little while later Melinda has dealt with the man outside the doors, and Melinda has driven the SUV through the lab doors to release the doors. Once in the lab Melinda started to make her way to the cockpit while Fitz, Simmons, Skye and Bobbi have done what they have had to do to get ready to put a hole in the plane, and now the group of four are standing outside the doors, tied together.
"Simmons, forget what I said before. This is the moment that we'll regret." Fitz says, before using the dwarfs to set of the 0-8-4, which creates a hole in the plane.
"It worked." Skye says, as the light near the door goes from red to green.
"The drop in cabin pressure released the doors." Simmons realises.
"I'll take care of the soldiers, you three get to the 0-8-4." Bobbi instructs.
"And Coulson?" Skye asks.
"Trust me, he can handle himself." Bobbi reveals as they enter the cabin and Bobbi starts what is one of the most complicated fights she has ever been a part of.
A few hours later Bobbi, Melinda, Phil, Fitz, Simmons, and Skye have managed to take back control of their plane, though they caused significant damage, and thanks to Melinda's flying they have managed to safely land the plane at the Slingshot facility.
As they are landed Phil and Skye are talking by Lola while Bobbi and Melinda are not far away doing a weapons check.
"So, it looks like Skye might end up as more than just a consultant, despite our reservations." Bobbi comments, "I meant it when said she has potential, and with some serious work she could be a great asset." Bobbi says, as she's seen a glimpse of what Skye is capable of in the last few days, and she truly thinks she could be incredible with some time, and training.
"Well, if she wants to be a field agent, she'll need a supervising office, someone disciplined, someone good." Melinda says, giving her former student, and close friend a look, leading her to a conclusion.
"Yeah, she needs you." Bobbi comments, knowing exactly what Melinda is hinting at, but that doesn't mean she agrees.
"No."
"Melinda…." Bobbi starts to say.
"I'm not the best person to help her anymore, you are." Melinda tells her student, then to her relief Fitz and Simmons, both looking happy walk past.
"Hey." Simmons greats, "Come on. You don't want to miss this" She says, and both Melinda and Bobbi follow the two scientist, both of them suspecting that this won't be the last time they have this conversation.
About a minute later Melinda, Bobbi, Fitz, and Simmons are sitting on the end of the ramp while Skye is standing behind them. The four people sitting each have a beer which they are enjoying.
"So, it'll take about one hundred and eighty days to reach the sun. Now, yes, of course, it would have been faster if they'd used hydrogen-fueled APUs, but they're having fun." Fitz explains.
"How many of those have you had?" Skye asks, amused, causing Simmons to laugh.
"Skye, it's important when in the field to unwind from time to time." Simmons comments.
"Yeah, yeah, especially after a hard day of everyone almost dying." Fitz comments.
"Which doesn't happen every day, right? It's an anomaly, an irregularity, not the norm." Simmons says, and as she does Melinda and Bobbi exchange looks, both of them knowing how that for them at least, almost dying is the norm.
"Speaking of 'not the norm' whose idea was it to blow a hole in the plane?" Phil asks, looking between the agents, his eyes lingering longer on Melinda and Bobbi as that seems exactly like something they would decide to do, in fact he is reasonably sure they have before.
"May said the doors were tied to the pressurization, so I thought…" Skye starts to say.
"So we thought it was the only way to release them." Simmons explains.
"It was everyone's idea." Bobbi explains.
"Yes, quiet genius." Leo comments.
"Nice work." Phil comments, and everyone enjoys the sight of watching the rocket take off, and as they do Melinda, Bobbi, and Phil recognize the feeling of a team bonding for the first time.
It has been twenty-four hours since The Bus was landed at the Slingshot, but because of the damage they haven't been able to leave as the bus is still getting repaired.
As she has been spending most of the day keeping an eye on Fitz, Simmons, and Skye to make sure they don't get into any trouble, Bobbi hasn't been able to have the conversation she wants to have with Melinda, but as the three of them seem quite content playing board games in a room in the building of the Slingshot, Bobbi has gone in search of Melinda, and she isn't at all to find her friend, sitting in an empty room, away from everything and everyone, with a bottle of scotch.
"Hey." Bobbi says, sitting down across from her friend, and in return Melinda gives her a look of acknowledgement and starts too poor a drink into a second glass that Melinda, who was obviously expecting her, has waiting, "So did you hear Coulson getting reamed out by Fury early?" Bobbi asks, and Melinda answers by sliding her the glass, "It was nice to hear, it's been ages since he was in trouble." Bobbi comments, as it was usually Melinda and Clint who got in trouble, closely followed by her and Natasha, Phil and Maria on the other hand would rarely get in trouble.
"It has." Melinda confirms, as Bobbi takes a drink.
"We need to talk about Skye." Bobbi comments.
"Bobbi." Melinda says, in a warning tone of voice.
"Melinda, we agreed that Skye has potential and there's no one better than you at helping someone realise their potential." Bobbi says, speaking from person experience.
"That might have been true once, but it's not anymore." Melinda says, taking a drink.
"Yes, it is." Bobbi says, leaning forward, "Melinda I wouldn't be the agent I was today if it wasn't for you, neither would Maria, and I think Clint and Nat would say something similar." Bobbi says, "I remember how hard it is learning to be an agent while being in the field, and Skye's going to have that uphill battle, if she going to have a chance she needs you."
"I'm the last person she needs." Melinda says, believing that, "I'm not capable of helping her anymore, but you are." Melinda says, feeling that she is too broken to help Skye become an agent.
"Mel…" Bobbi starts to say.
"I believe in you, Bobbi, I always have, that's why I plucked you from the academy." Melinda tells her student, "If Skye is going be the agent that both of us, and Phil, believe she can be then she's going to need you. You can teach her, you can help her, I can't." Melinda explains, and from the look on Melinda's face Bobbi realises that she believes everything she is saying, and the two of them drift into silence.
"Okay." Bobbi finally says, "I'll be her SO." She says, still planning on getting Melinda to take over Skye's training at some point as she truly believes that if Skye is going to become the agent she can be then she needs to be trained, in some way, by Melinda.
A few hours later Melinda and Bobbi have returned to the Bus. While Melinda undertakes her usual search to make sure the plane is secure Bobbi heads upstairs, and when she realises the light is on in Skye's bunk Bobbi heads over to their rather than her own bunk.
Once Bobbi gets to Skye's bunk she reaches out and knocks on the door.
"Yeah." Skye's voice says, and Bobbi opens the door, "Bobbi, hey. You disappeared earlier." Skye notes.
"Yeah, there was someone I had to talk to." Bobbi admits, "Can I come in?" she asks.
"Of course." Skye answers and Bobbi walks over and sits on the end of Skye's bed, "Did you want something?"
"No, but there is something we have to talk about." Bobbi admits, "At the moment you're on this plane as a consultant, how you feel about having a more permanent role?" Bobbi asks curious.
"You mean like becoming an agent?" Skye asks, a little surprised, though it is a good surprise.
"Exactly." Bobbi says, "If you're willing, I'm willing to start to train you, teach you to become an agent." Bobbi explains, "It will be hard, difficult in ways you can't even imagine." Bobbi reveals, remembering her old training, "How would you feel about that?"
"I don't know; you're not exactly selling it." Skye admits.
"I'm just making sure you understand." Bobbi admits, "Why'd you say yes when Coulson asked?" Bobbi asks curious.
"Coulson said that I'd be front row to the craziest show in the universe." Skye admits, "I wanted that."
"It is quiet the show." Bobbi says, knowing that most people wouldn't believe some of the things she's seen, "After today is that something you still want?" Bobbi asks.
"Yeah, it is." Skye says, "Could you train me to be a field Agent, like Coulson?"
"I could, and I will if you want." Bobbi assures the young girl.
For a minute or so Skye debates Bobbi's offer, before she finally comes to a decision, "Yes, I want you to train me. I want to be a field agent." Skye says.
"Okay." Bobbi says, standing up, "Get some rest, you're going to need it, we start tomorrow." Bobbi reveals, heading to the door,
"Bobbi." Skye says, and Bobbi turns around to face her, "That person you care about, the reason you're on this team, your SO, it's May isn't it?"
"Yeah, she is." Bobbi confirms, "I'll see you tomorrow, Skye." Bobbi says, before leaving.
Even though she may have ulterior moments for being on the Bus Skye can't deny the fact that what's she's felt the last few days has felt nice, and she is actually looking forward to being trained by Bobbi.