Chapter Four

Fitz gave Dr. Mattsson a tight smile as the waiter came by and filled his and Skye's wine glasses up with Merlot. Dr. Mattsson gave the waiter a slight smile and shook the waiter's hand before he left the table. Fitz watched as the waiter nodded back, sticking his hand in his pocket and walking back towards the kitchen.

Before Fitz could process the strange interaction, Dr. Mattsson had turned his attention back on Skye and Fitz. "So, your honeymoon. Have you been enjoying yourself thus far?"

"We just arrived right before dinner," Skye replied. "But I am especially looking forward to touring the vineyards. I have heard they have some wonderful wines to taste." She swirled the Merlot around her glass and took a sip.

Fitz followed suit, swirling the dark red wine around the glass. He lifted the glass to his nose to smell the bouquet before taking a sip. The wine was bitterer than he remembered a Merlot being, but he continued to drink.

Fitz was grateful that Skye was doing most of the talking. She was smooth and quick on her feet. Mrs. Mattsson seemed to be intrigued by the young hacker and Skye was doing a good job of volleying questions back at the couple. Fitz could feel his mind wandering even as he began eating the food that the waiter had put in front of him; it wasn't until Skye put her hand on his that he snapped back to reality. Pushing through a slight haze of confusion, Fitz focused on Skye. Her eyes were on his, genuine concern in her gaze. "Right, Leo?"

"Uh, yes," Fitz didn't know what he was agreeing to but it felt like the right answer.

"Are you feeling all right?" Dr. Mattsson asked. The tone in his voice held concern, but there was a knowing twinkle in his eyes.

"Yes, of course." Fitz said, doing his best to smile at the older scientist. "It's just been a long day."

He looked over at Skye who replied, "Yes, a very long day. I guess I didn't realize how much I needed a vacation."

"Getting away from the stress of the world is always an important thing to do," Dr. Mattsson replied. "I'm sure you just need a good night sleep."

"Yes, that would be great." Skye looked at Fitz before turning back to Dr. Mattsson. "I think we may turn in for the night. Hopefully we can catch up with you later. I know my husband is still dying to know what you have been working on."

"Later, yes," Dr. Mattsson replied with a smile. "We will talk later."

Coulson had been staring at the wall for the past thirty minutes just listening to the conversation coming out of the comm. Skye and Fitz were not getting anywhere. It was beginning to look like Dr. Mattsson was not going to talk about his research. No matter how hard they tried, Skye and Fitz were not going to be able to complete their mission.

"Good night, Dr. Mattsson, Mrs. Mattsson," Skye's voice came through the comms and they could hear rustling noises as Skye and Fitz made their way out of the dinning hall.

"Whatever he is working on, he doesn't seem to want to share," Coulson said.

"No, he is keeping his work confidential," Fitz replied back. "We can try again tomorrow, but there is a chance we will not be able to get him to speak about it openly."

"We knew that was a risk," Coulson replied. "We will keep you there through tomorrow before pulling you out."

"Yes, sir," came back both Fitz and Skye's reply. Both sounded exhausted, their voices quiet and breathy.

"I want regular check-ins. Keep your ears open. I want to know if anything out of the ordinary is going on there."

Coulson waited for a reply, but no reply ever came.

Fitz opened his eyes, not sure when he had closed them. The last thing he remembered was walking back to the room with Skye. They had been right around the corner; Fitz must have fallen asleep the moment they got into the room. But as Fitz looked around the room he realized that it was not the overly cheery, floral bedroom in the Bed and Breakfast.

He was in a lab.

For a second he thought they were back on the Bus. Everything was identical to the lab that he shared with Jemma. The furniture, the equipment, even his messy desk was perfect. Except this wasn't the Bus. The walls were a clean white and there were no windows, only a solid white door.

Fitz groaned, fear washing over him. Not again.

Fitz stood up and looked around. Skye was lying on the other side of the room. Fitz quickly moved to her, immediately searching for a pulse. He found her pulse strong and could see her chest moving up and down as she breathed. "Skye?"

She groaned and turned over before finally opening her eyes. She looked up at Fitz, her eyes immediately growing wider. "Fitz?" She looked around the lab. "Where are we?"

"I don't know," Fitz said, helping Skye to her feet. "I don't even remember how we got here."

Skye looked like she was thinking, trying to unbury deep, locked memories. "I don't either. Were we drugged?"

"I think so." Fitz could still feel his head spinning a bit. "Flunitrazepam most likely."

"We were roofied?"

Fitz just shook his head slightly. "Must have been the Merlot."

"But why?"

Fitz heard a sound come from the door. "I think we are about to find out." Fitz watched as the door slowly swung open. He thought he was ready, but as he stared at the man at the door he realized he wasn't.

Benedikt Daecher stood in the doorframe, the same smile on his face he had the last time Fitz had seen him.

"Daecher," Fitz said quietly, backing up towards Skye, separating her from Daecher. Skye wasn't Jemma, but he still didn't want anything to happen to her.

"Hello again Mr. Fitz. I'm glad to still see you doing well," Daecher said, his voice oily. "Where's your little girlfriend?" he asked as he walked up to Fitz and Skye. "Oh, wait, I forgot. You're married now."

Daecher got right up next to Skye and twirled a piece of her hair around his finger. "Get your hands off of me," Skye said, smacking Daecher's hand away from her. The man recoiled but didn't seem to be fazed.

"SHIELD found you once, they will find you again?" Fitz said, spitting the words at the man.

"You see," Daecher said, beginning to pace around the room. "I've learned a couple of things since the last time I met with SHIELD. I was trying to do things on my own. I have found that having friends is always better, wouldn't you agree?" Daecher flashed them a sickly smile. "I would be careful who your friends are, Mr. Fitz. I think they might surprise you."

Fitz didn't back down. "I know who my friends are. They will be here soon, just like before."

Daecher turned to look at Skye and Fitz. "Oh, I count on it."

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