Disclaimer: I don't own anything Marvel. I just won Anna.


Chapter 12

Making Friends and Influencing People

Having people to train with that weren't super powered individuals was really refreshing. Sure, Anna had trained with Natasha, and even Clint when he was around the Tower - which understandably wasn't all too often unless there was a mission. But Nat was generally off doing her own thing, or even more surprisingly lately, hanging around Dr. Bruce Banner in their spare time. Steve was Anna's primary sparring buddy, and though it definitely made her a much better fighter in the long run, it got tiring knowing that your opponent had to hold back his punches so he wouldn't shatter your jaw, or snap a rib that would puncture a lung.

It was nice to have relatively normal people (because let's face it, spies weren't normal) invite her to hang out and practice shooting with them. That's where Anna found herself. She stood in a simple black tee-shirt and jeans with the noise canceling headphones on her head, goggles over her eyes, and gun in hand firing away at a piece of paper that was supposed to be a dangerous threat.

Skye was in the booth neighboring Anna with May instructing and supervising her training. Come to learn, May was Skye's SO now that she was a field agent. After Ward was found a traitor, and Coulson created the new SHIELD, Skye continued training under her. And she couldn't have had a better mentor. Unless it was Phil, but Anna was bias.

Anna set her gun down and took the rest of her gear off as her time ended. She stepped back and leaned against the table behind them to check out Skye's handiwork. She wasn't bad. She was greatly improved from when Anna had met her what seemed like a lifetime ago.

"I imagined they were all Ward," Skye clarified as they studied the results of her shooting.

"Imagine they're all targets," May corrected. "Don't get cocky. This is step one. It's all about controlling your body and your body." Skye had joined in quoting what obviously May recited to her quite often. She shut up when May continued to press though. "In the field, you need to maintain control whatever the situation - hostages, bombs about to go off…"

"So what you're saying is what I just did is puny and sad?" Skye asked.

May grabbed Skye's wrist and checked her watch. Anna had to crane her neck better to see what was going on. "Sixty-one beats per minute. Consistent the whole time." It was one of those fitness watches. "Not that puny."

Anna scoffed. "That's about as good of a compliment as you're gonna get from her, Skye," Anna said. "She means well, she just knows you have a lot to offer. She was the same way with me when I was growing up. But really, you did good. Even I still have a hard time keeping my heartrate down. Meditating and stuff never was my strong suit."

May walked over next to Anna and picked up a sniper rifle off the shelving rack. Skye looked up from her watch and furrowed her brow. "Speaking of not puny…"

"Yeah, I want you to get used to this," May said. "It's a sniper rifle."

"Pardon me," Hunter said, pushing a cart down the hall with Mack trailing next to him. They paused once they made it to the group of women. "Uh, just one quick question for both of you. You two went to SHIELD academy, right?"

"You didn't," May said. "If you did, you would've known better than to shoot us."

"I'm missing something here, but I'm gonna ignore it," Anna laughed.

"Apology number four hundred seventy. I am very sorry, Agent May," Hunter said.

"Don't be sorry," she said. "Just wait."

"Uh, we just have a little wager. So did you?" Mack asked.

"Go to the academy? Yeah, no," Skye answered.

Hunter dramatically sighed and collapsed onto the cart. Mack handed him his clipboard and looked smug in triumph. "All right, well, have fun with inventory. And remember, Koenig likes them neat. And none of those Euro sevens with the lines through them. Drive him crazy."

"Hold up, I still have a chance," Hunter said, causing Mack to pause in his step. "Agent Barnes here hasn't answered."

"I didn't go to the academy either," Anna said.

"You were my last hope, you know that? Now that's gone," he groaned. He stood up straighter again and turned to Skye. "Coulson said you were a field agent with a badge and everything."

"More like a work study thing," Skye clarified. "Badge I had for like a day before SHIELD booom." She made the exploding noise and everything.

"You know Hartley, se loved her blades. Hated guns. Idaho, if on a job someone ended up dead, he'd go to church and light a candle. Said it balanced the karma. See, I knew them. What they do, not do. So, us bein workmates and all…"

"You're wondering if I've ever taken anyone out," Skye finished.

"Have you?" Hunter pressed.

"Not that I know of," Skye answered.

"What about you? What's your story?" Hunter asked, turning to Anna. "They call you Little Miss SHIELD, after all. What's that about?"

"My parents were agents," Anna said. "I was born to help with undercover missions and whatnot, so I've been in the business my whole life. Never went to the academy, but my CO was Coulson, and I've trained under May, Romanoff, Barton."

"So that's why they call you that," he said. "Because you're like the poster girl for SHIELD."

"Yes," Anna said. "Only thing I've ever really known. Have a hard time seeing myself doing anything else." Anna pushed off the table and put her gun away. "And yes, I've taken people out, if you must know."

She left him with that.


A short while later, Anna was called into Coulson's office for a mission briefing with Skye, Hunter, May, Mack and Fitz. This was really the first time Anna had gotten to see Fitz since her arrival back at SHIELD since after everything went down. Last time she'd been there, Fitz was still in the hospital recovering from oxygen deprivation because traitorous Ward threw him and Simmons into the Ocean. Fitz figured out how to get them out, but with only Oxygen for Simmons.

He was doing far better than Ann would have expected, but he wasn't the same Leopold Fitz she'd come to know and love. She was just grateful that he was alive.

This was also the first mission she was getting officially put on since joining the new SHIELD. Her trip to Asgard wasn't a secret, but why specifically wasn't exactly declassified. She could tell people she was doing research on alien species, but not which one had been found on Earth and used in Phil's body to revive him - and come to find out, Skye. But Skye wasn't reacting the way Phil and Garrett had, so she was under strict observation from Phil and May.

On the tablet she was issued, Anna could see an Index Profile. The Index was what SHIELD used to use to list gifted individuals, or individuals that could be a threat, or asset, for SHIELD. People like the Avengers were on it. People like Donnie Gill.

Donnie Gill had been a student at the SHIELD Academy of Science and Technology when a device he created backfired and caused him to have the ability to freeze anything through touch. That, in combination with genius level intelligence, he would be valuable. Or dangerous.

"Most case scenario, Hydra is looking for another weapon. From what we've been able to put together Donnie Gill had limited powers when he entered the Sandbox," Phil informed them.

"While there, he was taught to control, amplify those powers," May said.

"Lovely, and who, exactly, do we have to thank for that?" Hunter asked. "SHIELD of Hydra?"

"Doesn't change the fact that it happened," Anna muttered. "Says here he wasn't a bad kid. There wouldn't have been too many red flag for helping him learn to control his powers. Plus, less chance of an accident with others."

"Right. And your guess is as good as ours," Phil said. "Hydra had agents embedded at the base. Explains how they took it so quickly."

"A friend of mine was stationed there," Mack said. "He said it got bad fast."

"Is that when Gill escaped?" Trip asked.

"I don't know," Phil said. "What I do know is that Creel wasn't an isolated incident. I've been told Gill is next on Hydra's wish list."

"Told by who?" Fitz asked.

"I have a source," Phil answered.

"A source you trust?" Trip pressed.

"Very much so," Phil answered. "Now, I want us to bring Gill in before Hydra gets their hands on him. Fitz, you know him better than any of us. Got anything to help us narrow the search?"

"Um, well," Fitz stammered. Being on the spot made him uncomfortable. "The la- the last time that I saw him, he was, um…"

"Angry? On Drugs? Uh, friendly? Sleepy?" Mack tried to prompt.

"Yeah!" Fitz said.

"Sleepy?"

"No, what, the one, go back one," Fitx stammered.

"Friendly?"

"Friendly, uh, um, no, he had trouble making friends," Fitz corrected himself. He looked rather disappointed with how long it took for him to get that information out of his mouth.

May sighed. "Anything else?"

"I don't know," Fitz said, agitated by the probing. "Maybe ask Jemma if you have a contact number for her."

"Okay, and if you think of anything..." Phil said.

"Yeah, we'll work on it," Mack said.

"May, you lead the search to find Gill. Let me know as soon as you have something."

"Scan satellite feeds for any temp-"

"Shouldn't skye be here?" Fitz interrupted.

"She's working another angle," May answered.


A little while later May came back in with information on the whereabouts of Donnie Gill. "Meribel del Mar. Anchored in the port of Casablanca. It's a privately owned cargo ship. Supposed to cast off this morning, but didn't. It's frozen in ice," May said.

"Iceberg in the Middle East? Gill's not subtle." Trip said.

"Trip, how long till you can get the Bus in the air," Phil asked.

"Fifteen, tops," he answered.

"You heard him. You've got fifteen minutes to gather your gear," Phil ordered.

Anna got up from her chair, far less comfortable ones than the Helicarrier had, and moved towards the door to go get changed and to grab her gear. She halted when Hunter spoke up.

"Excuse me," Hunter said, stopping everything. "But Gill wasn't hard to track. If Hydra is looking for him, they'll find him."

"The Asset said that Hydra would be ready to take him out if they couldn't capture or recruit him," Skye said.

"Which is why we have to beat them to it," May said.

"I'll coordinate from the bus. Down to fourteen minutes. Let's get moving."


Anna hadn't been on the Bus too many times before, but it was still a little odd to her. It was like being in someone else's home. Anna was technically a part of this team, but this plane had been the HQ for Phil's original team. A team Anna hadn't been brought in on. She didn't want to be petty and admit she felt left out, but it was try. She was there now, but the plane itself was a reminder of the separation that was now dividing Anna and Phil.

The girl sighed and primarily stuck to herself as she put on her parachute towards the door. She could hear Hunter helping Skye get settled with her chute behind her. "Your first jump?" Hunter asked Skye.

"Second," she answered. "First was with Coulson and Lola." Hunter gave her a quizzical look, so she went on to explain. "It's a car. It flies. Yeah, it's my first."

"He took you out in Lola?" Anna gaped. "Damn, I've been trying to get him to do that with me for years…"

"It's okay to be scared," he told her.

"I'm not scared."

Anna rolled her eyes, thankful that had back was to them so they couldn't see. From how quickly she answered, and the defensive tone of her voice, she wasn't fooling anybody.

"Well, maybe you should be. I packed your chute and according to my ex, my folding skills are abysmal. Nice thing is, this is as scary as it gets. Once you jump, physics takes over."

"Yeah, I'm good, thanks."

Phil and May came out joined them. May already suited up for their jump. "Trip says two minutes out," May said. She walked over to the control panel and hit the release button for the door.

"Remember, Donnie Gill is a gifted. He could be a formidable weapon on either side. Let's make sure it's ours," Phil told them one last time before Anna jumped followed by May, Skye, and Hunter.


The boat, for the most part, was rather quiet as they made their way up to the top deck before going inside. Before they could head down, two guards came out of the porthole. May was the quickest to act and took them out.

May was the one to report back in the current status of their mission. "Coulson, we're not alone."

"Not what I hoped, but not unexpected," he told them. "Proceed. Let me know when you have eyes on Gill."

"Copy that," May said.

"Skye, you cover the door," Hunter instructed.

"You don't give the orders, Trainspotting," she said.

"I'm not Scottish."

"Skye, protect the exit route," May officially ordered. "Barnes, keep an eye on the deck."

"Roger that."

Anna just nodded and headed down to the main deck. Her job wasn't to take out everyone in cite yet, not that there was really anybody out on the deck anyway. There were a few frozen individuals that were clearly dead, but other than that, Anna was left on the deck alone and in the shadows.

"May, Hunter, do either of you have eyes on Gill?"

"Not yet."

"Target is talking to Hydra," Hunter answered.

"End that conversation. Now."

"Copy that."

Anna could distantly hear shots going off. She glanced over at the door from her hiding place, her Icer, in hand, though she was itching to use Jern Slange more than anything. She was too used to her Asgardian weapon. She never thought she'd prefer anything other than her gun - besides hand to hand sparing.

"What am I hearing?"

"Agent May shot me," Hunter said.

Come again? Anna thought, arching a brow. I mean, I could see you getting on everybody's nerves, but I doubt it's to the extent of May shooting you.

"Repeat."

"May. Shot me."

"Simmons is here. Repeat. Simmons is on site with Hydra. Do we maintain her cover?"

Jemma Simmons undercover in Hydra? Now that's surprising, Anna thought. I didn't know she had it in her. Last I knew she sucked at lying, and she didn't seem like she had the skin, or nerves, for undercover work.

"Yes. Maintain her cover."

"What about the primary target?"

"If we can't take him in, we take him out. Do you copy?"

"Copy that."

"Copy."

Anna isn't comfortable with this. If Gill really was a true supporter for Hydra, then yes, it wasn't a good idea to just let them go. Taking him out would be the play to go with. But if he wasn't and Simmons could get him to go on their side, it was a waste of life to take him out just because. He was a human. A powerful one, yes, but he was a living breathing human. But this wasn't her call.

Anna heard a noise, and she turned her attention back to the door. It opened, and four Hydra foot soldiers walked out, followed by a man in a finely tailored suit, Agent Simmons with a cute shorter hair cut, and Donnie Gill.

"I can't move without being seen," Anna whispered.

"I've got it," Skye told her.

The man in the suit said something to Gill, but Anna couldn't hear them from her position, and he had his back to her so she couldn't attempt to read his lips. The man walked away, and Gill placed his hands on the side of the ship and started to freeze the interior.

That's when Skye took the shot. Gill fell into the water as Simons looked over the edge as his body sank. The Suited man walked back over to Simmons after what had happened. Simmons looked up and saw Skye, and in order to maintain their cover, Skye takes a deliberate shot and missed, allowing Simmons pushes the man out of the way. They quickly took their leave.

"The threats been neutralized," Skye said. "Hydra doesn't have him."

"And Agent Simmons?" Trip asked.

"Her cover's been maintained. She's safe for now." Their helicopter took off. "They're leaving empty-handed, but we're not."


So, kind of a filler chapter, but I wanted to have some time with the show's characters.

Thanks fo to the following for their reviews on the previous chapter:

Jedi Jesla777 - Rey is great. I have to consciously remember he's here though, so sometimes he's not around simply because I forgot he existed. Poor thing got forgotten and by the time I got done with this chapter I was like, oh crap. So he's just doing his own thing at HQ lol.