A/N Sorry this is a day late, I still don't own it, and please review. I love every single person who reviews ever unconditionally. Unless it's on someone else's story, in which case you should be able to review on mine. Even if you have nothing interesting to say, I get more motivated, so that means longer chapters probably, or at least better quality. I wasn't even going to write anything about this, but then I started and it turned out to be a chapters worth, so here is the second half of the same day as the last chapter. :) enjoy. Or hate, but if you hate, don't tell me. Ignorance is bliss.
When Elizabeth and Coulson arrived back at the bus, they were met by the rest of the team.
'Where's Leah?'
'The interrogation room.' Ward replied.
'Your hair's really messy.' Simmons stated to the both of them.
'That's the problem with a convertible.'
'The only problem with Lola thank you.' Coulson added in defence.
'You've got a bit of a lipstick smudge there, Liz.' Skye said gleefully.
'You too Sir.' Simmons added, grinning.
'Wow, you guys are geniuses, are you spies or something? Oh wait.' Elizabeth deadpanned, both her and Coulson ridding themselves of the evidence.
'I'm going to go talk to Leah, 'cause it seems you have better things to do.' Ward said, getting a high-five from Skye as he walked away from the group. May quirked her lips in a small smile, before going to the pilots seat. Skye and FitzSimmons stood around the pair, obviously amused with the situation.
'Get a life.' Coulson smiled before barging past them.
'Details.' Skye demanded.
'Now.' Fitz added.
'Please?' was Simmons' plea.
'We kissed. End of story.'
'That's so not it! We want every minute detail.'
'Nope, no I don't want every detail. That was enough, I feel a little queasy already.' Fitz said before hurriedly leaving.
'Well, there was when we danced, then after we talked to Matt, then again in the car.'
'Is he, good?' Simmons asked timidly.
'Yes Simmons, he's quite talented in that area too.'
'Ok, I'm gone, I don't know if I can look at his face anymore.'
'Where else are you going to look?' Skye laughed. Simmons raced back to the lab.
'And then there were two. Leave anything out and die.' Elizabeth indulged her, just this once.
Ward walked to the interrogation room, glad to be doing something useful again. Opening the door to the room, he stuck a single foot inside the door before looking inside and seeing it empty. Suddenly a massive weight dropped down onto his shoulders, a smooth, yet scaly something. The long creature wrapped itself around Ward, from the waist up. He tried slamming it into the wall, but it had no effect. He slammed his body onto the ground, but the reptile had almost steel-like scales. He was quickly running out of breath, and he felt a few ribs crack under the pressure. The world was beginning to darken, and if anything, the snake increased the pressure until all Ward could see was black. It unwound itself from around Ward's motionless body and morphed itself into a fly. From here it flew out the door and flew around the halls, bothering each member of the team. It watched Coulson do paperwork, May preparing the plane for take-off, FitzSimmons doing research and Skye and Elizabeth gossiping. By this time, May had closed the cargo door, so it settled down for a little while in the kitchen.
Coulson thought it was strange Ward was taking so long, he was usually up to boasting about how he coaxed some vague piece of information out of the subject. He walked out of his office, and down the length of the bus to the interrogation room. The door was ajar, and upon walking in and seeing Ward motionless on the floor, he called out, 'Simmons!' His voice reverberated around the bus, everyone dropped what they were doing and came running. He noticed the bruising pattern all around Ward's neck and face as he checked for his pulse and breathing sounds. Simmons arrived first, with a simple first aid kit in hand. 'What happened?'
'Snakes on a plane.' When May arrived, she stood stock still for a few seconds, then asked menacingly,
'Where is she?'
'I have no idea. She could be a breadcrumb now for all we know.'
'A fucking scary breadcrumb.' Elizabeth added.
'Fitz, can the dwarves find her?'
'I think so. I'll get on that.' He said leaving the room, the calculations already running through his head.
'Elizabeth, can you please get us the net guns?'
'Why them? Shouldn't we go with something bigger?'
'I prefer reliable guns now. Where you know what's coming out.'
'Fine.'
'Skye, I want no access to the outside.'
'Alright AC.'
'Simmons, you keep Ward alive. And May, could you please re-land the plane?'
'No, I need to find her.'
'We will. Any minute. Elizabeth will find the nets, Fitz will find her and hey presto, we have ourselves a shapeshifter again.'
Elizabeth walked in and handed them each a hand gun. 'Is this the right one? It seems a little small, but it was under "Net Gun".' Coulson nodded, and muttered his appreciation.
'May, I need you to land, because otherwise there is a possibility we could crash and I really don't want to deal with that paperwork on top of having a loose powered person. And Fury would kill me over that bar.'
May huffed off and prepared the plane for landing. One of the dwarves whizzed past Coulson's head, and after it came Fitz running comically after it. 'Doc found it!' he called out excitedly. Coulson and Elizabeth went after Fitz, 'A fly. How unimaginative.' Fitz said as soon as he entered the kitchen. The plane began landing, and it unbalanced the three of them. Suddenly the fly morphed into a metallic bird. It soared above their heads and Coulson shot his net gun at it, encasing it in a titanium net. They stood, watching the net as it sat quietly for a minute, until the bird ripped through one side, and at full speed, flew through the wall of the plane, leaving a bird-shaped hole in the wall. They stood, looking bewildered at where Leah used to be.
'Well.' Coulson started.
'That didn't work.' Elizabeth finished.
The bird flew into the distance, and Fitz was working furiously at his laptop.
'I tagged her.'
'What?'
'We have a permanent tag on her now. I have her GPS co-ordinates now.'
'I am not even going to ask how.' Elizabeth said.
'Alright, first of all, how is Ward doing?' Coulson asked the team, looking around for the absent member. He slowly walked in, bruises covering him from the waist up.
'I'm here sir.'
'I told you to lie down Ward!' Simmons exclaimed.
'I'm ok.'
'Here, have a chair at least.' Elizabeth offered.
'No.' he flatly refused.
'Fine. We lost Leah. Fitz has tagged her, but we need to find her by tomorrow morning, because Elizabeth and I have a meeting with Fury. Fitz and Simmons, you stay here and tell us where she is. Skye and Ward will be together, May you can handle yourself, and Elizabeth, you will come with me. We will each take one approach. And we have no idea what the extent of her abilities are, so she is highly dangerous. Only engage her with the night night gun, but I don't want you taking any chance with her. Keep in contact and good luck. And Ward, don't hurt yourself again, you already look like Violet Beauregard.'
He received quite a few blank stares from everyone, excluding Elizabeth. 'That one was even famous. Johnny Depp? Anyone?'
'What does Johnny Depp have to do with it? Isn't Roald Dahl a better clue?'
'More people have seen one of the movies, rather then read the book.'
'I haven't seen any of the movies.'
'Don't bother with the latest. Gene Wilder was way better.' The others were looking at them confused, although Skye had caught on in the middle of the conversation.
'You guys are perfect for each other.' she smiled.
'Well, ok, lets get going.' he blushed.
FitzSimmons and Skye all said, 'Aww.' as Coulson left the room. Elizabeth grinned at them and followed him out the door.
'I didn't know you read.' Coulson stated as they sat in Lola.
'Reading is easy, you can sit anywhere and read a book, and people won't think you're weird. I used to spend days in parks just reading.'
'Favorite book?'
'Jane Eyre.'
'Makes sense.'
'How's that?'
'Well, she came from a rough childhood, is really independent, halfway through the book she goes away and does her own thing even though it's really hard for her, she makes her own way in the world, not relying on anyone. But the end is hopeful, because she gets her happy ending.'
'Rochester is blind.' She stated.
'He gets his sight back in one eye.'
'Rochester is kind of creepy anyway. George Knightly is much better.'
'Why not Darcy?'
'Knightly is just Darcy with social skills.'
He nodded, then handed her a gun. 'We're here, don't shoot unless you have to. You'll probably be on crowd control.' He said as they pulled up to a busy shopping center.
'I thought shopping on a Saturday was bad. This is going to be much worse isn't it?' She asked.
'Yep. But if all goes well. We will be done in like ten minutes and you can finally have that shopping trip.'
'Good, 'cause I'm getting sick of having my underwear stamped with the S.H.I.E.L.D logo. Let's face it. You've probably got Captain America down there.'
'Well what are you going to get? Manifold?'
'I was being sarcastic. Really, you've got Cap?' She looked down and turned her sight on. 'Aww! You weren't kidding!'
'Don't do that in public.' He growled. She leaned in and placed a chaste kiss to his lips before getting out of Lola.
'You coming?' He smiled at her and followed her into the building.
'Ward, you take the East. Skye, West. May, North and we'll meet in the center.'
'Right.' He heard Skye say in his ear. 'Which way's West?' Eventually they were all in position and Coulson asked Fitz, 'Ok Fitz, where is she?'
'She's in Victoria's Secret.'
'Of course she is. Alright, everyone stay on the exits, Elizabeth will go.'
'What? You can't be trusted in Victoria's Secret?'
'Just go. I have to stay on the exit anyway.'
'Yeah, sure.' She winked as she walked away. He would be lying if he said he didn't enjoy the view as she left.
She walked into the store, and looked around for the familiar face. She was in the perfume aisle, so Elizabeth walked up to her. She picked up a bottle, and sprayed the paper with it, it was sweet and flowery, so she put it on her wrists. 'Hey Leah.'
'I can't come with you guys.'
'Why is that?' she asked as she followed Leah around the store.
'You say it will only take a day or so, but I have dinner with my fiancee tonight.'
'Can't you re-schedule for tomorrow night?'
'He came back from service in Iraq today. I couldn't meet him at the airport because of that stupid wedding this morning, then you guys took me. We booked this months ago, and I want to make this nice for him. I can't miss it.'
'If he's waited this long, can't he wait one more night?'
'His whole squadron was killed, that's why he was sent back. All his friends are dead. I need to be there for him.' She was pleading with Elizabeth. 'Just give me this one night.'
'Coulson? Can you get us reservations at,' she paused, 'What place is it?'
'Alinea. But you probably won't get a table.'
'Alinea?'
He replied, 'I'll give it a shot. Any reason in particular?'
'It's going to be a separate sort of double date thing. I'll explain later. And you guys can stop guarding the exits, she's not going to run.' Skye soon bounced in to meet them.
'We have three hours before we need to leave. Who's up for a shopping trip?' They all grinned at each other and called May and Simmons, asking if they wanted to join in. Simmons was going to join them in an hour, and surprisingly, May declined. Elizabeth ran out to Coulson and managed to scam some money off him before running off with the girls.
'Getting dressed up two times in one day seems a little much.' Elizabeth said to Skye.
'Maybe, but you look amazing. How did you get so good at doing make up? I only manage the basics.'
'I spent years conning rich men into falling in love with me then giving me their money. You have to look pretty damn good for that.'
'Could you teach me one day?' Skye asked hopefully. Elizabeth was stunned,
'Y… Yes.' she stuttered.
'Thanks, and by the way, Coulson is going to have a heart attack when he sees you.'
'God I hope not.' she laughed.
The dress was black, with lace around her shoulders. It fit her curves, and had a thick white belt just above the waistline. She wore silver earrings and bangles with it and took a black clutch, wearing taller black heels this time. Walking out, she met Coulson and Leah at Lola.
'You are stunning.' He smiled as he kissed her lightly on the lips. He opened the door for her, and then for Leah, before getting into the drivers seat.
'How did you get the table?'
'My infinite charm.' She looked at him skeptically. 'I said it was official S.H.I.E.L.D business.'
'I didn't realize you guys were together.' Leah said from the back seat. 'How long has it been?'
'Nearly a day.' Elizabeth laughed.
'How did you meet?'
'The same way we met you. But I got shot.'
'Oh.'
'So, two dates in one day. I'd say we were doing pretty well.' She smiled across the table.
'A few mishaps along the way, but yeah, I think we are too.'
'I've never really done this. I mean, I would go on dates with people I was about to steal from, but never with anyone like you.'
'Nervous?' He asked as he saw her shaking hand.
'I don't know why.' He put his hand comfortingly around hers and squeezed gently.
'What's your favorite color?'
She laughed, confused. 'What?'
'Mine's red.' He smiled.
'Blue. Sky blue. What's your favorite movie?'
'The Holy Grail.'
'Book?'
'Lord of the Rings.' Their evening was filled with laughter, good food, frivolous conversation, and no interruptions. The restaurant was about to close, and, being the only two couples left, they were politely kicked out. They met up outside and were all introduced to Chuck, her fiancee.
'She'll be back tomorrow afternoon.' Coulson said.
'And I'm sorry for your loss.' Elizabeth added. The big, bulky man grimaced, kissed Leah gently on the cheek and bade goodnight to them all.
'Leah, you can have my bed.' Elizabeth offered. 'I'll just grab a few things.'
'No, It's fine, I'll take that couch.'
'It's fine, you're not exactly saving me from sleeping on the couch.' She hinted, looking over at Coulson.
'Oh, right, how stupid of me. Ok. Thank-you.' she said sincerely.
Elizabeth grabbed her things and walked up to Coulson's room behind him. He acted shocked when she reached his door. 'Who told you you could come in here? This room itself is Level 7.' He joked.
'Some handsome man slept in my bed last night, so I thought I'd return the favour.' she returned. She kissed him fiercely on the lips and pushed him backwards. Smiling up at him, he realised he had backed up from the doorway and let her in. Sighing he closed the door, and pointed her towards the bathroom. She followed his directions and took her make-up off, brushed her teeth and got dressed. He went in shortly after and she was left alone. In his room. She looked along each of his shelves and saw, well, old stuff. All now collectibles from years past. He came out, dressed in sweat pants and a white tee-shirt. 'Coulson,' She admonished 'it's hot as hell tonight. And it's not as if I haven't seen the scar before.'
'It's different in color.'
'Maybe, but you can see my scars.' She had a few, one that ran down the centre of her back, two more that ran down her right thigh, and one across her stomach. She was dressed in a pair of patterned cotton shorts, and a plain black singlet, which she lifted slightly to show him the scars she mentioned. He came over and ran his fingers gently over the one on her stomach, and kissed her lightly. He sighed and took his shirt off, exposing his chest to her. She smiled up at him, and ran her hand over his scar.
'It's not even that bad. I don't know what you're complaining about.' She laughed. He drew her face up to look at him, and whispered, 'I'm not complaining about anything.' He placed his lips atop hers gently, then pulled away, turning off the lights as they both lay down. He lay on his back with his arm around her shoulders, and her head was on his chest, feeling each breath and hearing every steady heartbeat. He kissed the top of her head and they both fell into a deep sleep.
