Chapter 13: Strategy of a Summers

September 27

Fury's Secret Base

That session… had not gone well.

Scott had come with Mac and observed from the room adjacent to Logan's as Mac tried to talk to Logan, tried to reason with him or just… get him to stop acting like he was. But no matter what Mac had tried, there was no changing the simple fact that Logan was having none of it, though the most shocking part of the whole session was that Logan quit. One minute, he and Mac were arguing heatedly, and the next, Logan simply closed his eyes and stopped.

That didn't jive at all with what Scott knew, what he'd seen and experienced for himself. The guy he'd dealt with didn't know how to stop, let alone when. So seeing him like that… it was clear Mac didn't know what to do, and Scott was at a loss as well, with no idea what to even say to Mac after he came out of the room looking like he did.

"It's only been a few days," Scott finally offered in an undertone to Mac, purely because Mac looked so discouraged he couldn't keep from at least trying to cheer his adoptive dad up. Even if he had no idea what to say after that. Yeah, it had been a few days, but … that just meant the days ahead were going to be long. He knew Mac wouldn't give up on his cousin, but it was going to be rough, especially when Logan had so clearly given up on himself.

Mac looked very quietly resigned until they got back to where the rest of the Hudsons were staying. Of course, as soon as Josh hit Mac with a hug around the knees, the resigned expression was carefully stashed away as Mac scooped him up into a snuggle that Mac needed every bit or more than Josh did.

Scott, on the other hand, kept looking thoughtful after he'd walked with Mac all the way back… and then he turned around to go right back where they'd come.

He didn't exactly know what he'd do. Or say. But he knew he had to do something, so when he got to the room and found Coulson frowning at the mirrored glass, he put on his most determined glare. "I'm talking with him," Scott said, gesturing at the room on the other side.

Coulson glanced up at Scott for a moment then back to Logan before he drew in a deep, slow breath and nodded. "Good luck."

Scott paused for only a second at how much arguing he didn't have to do before he nodded once and pulled open the door to the isolation room. Though he tried to temper it, Scott couldn't pull back the frustration at all, arms crossed as he looked at the strapped-down former victor. "That was some crap you just pulled with Mac."

Logan closed his eyes and locked his jaw. Out of all the people to throw at him … "Thought you didn't go along with torture, Coulson."

"You're one to talk. What the hell?" Scott said through gritted teeth. "You have any idea what that stunt is putting your friends through? What — you giving up on them too? Walk away like always?"

Logan let out a sigh and nodded. "Yeah. That's the idea."

"Then don't make Mac watch," Scott ground out.

"Let me up and I won't."

"No."

"Summers, let me up and I won't bother any of them again."

"This isn't about you, you arrogant…!" Scott trailed off, pissed off at this point as he threw his hands in the air.

"I'm just trying to get out of the equation." He turned his head as much as he could Scott's way. "I'm agreeing with you."

"On what?" Scott asked, clearly livid. "You've never agreed with me a day in your life."

"I got no business around any of 'em. At all."

Scott let out a frustrated sound, shook his head, and made for the door. "Right. So why try now that they care? Typical." He slammed the door shut behind him as he went, muttering a dark "good luck" toward Coulson before he stalked out to get some air, passing Peter Quill on the way as the young ex-victor was headed in to take his turn making sure Logan wasn't alone.

"What's got him all worked up?" Quill asked when he got down to Coulson. "He was nearly matching his glasses."

Coulson let out a long, weary sigh. "He came with Mac and heard when Logan told Mac he'd be better off dead. Summers came back in swinging." He ran a hand over his face. "Those two… have never gotten along."

"Why … why would he pull that now?" Quill asked with a frown.

Coulson gestured toward the room with one hand. "Logan, apparently, feels that he's too compromised and dangerous to keep alive. As for Scott — I'm not entirely sure, but he seems to take exception to Logan."

"Yeah, I kinda got that when they were up on the roof. You know. In the Capitol. I just figured it wouldn't carry over."

"Well, it has." Coulson sat down heavily. "I shouldn't have let him in the room."

"You had no idea he was gonna do that," Quill said. "And … I don't think he would have either if he had any clue." He looked to the room and then to the door that he'd just come through. "Can you cover for me for a little bit? I think it's time someone gave that kid a clue."

Coulson nodded and wordlessly gestured toward the door. "Go ahead."

Quill turned on his heel and swept right back down the hallway he'd just come down, and it didn't take him long at all to find Scott, as the young man had more or less gone in a straight line until he came out on the nearest fresh air, an overhang in the mountains where Fury had hidden them all that still protected the whole place from view.

It looked like Scott had been pacing, if the footprints in the snow were any indication, and Quill huffed before he went right over and grabbed the young man by the shoulder to spin him to face him. "Way to kick a guy when he's down, Million Dollar Kid. Great job. Really spectacular."

"Don't start with me," Scott shot back, shrugging Quill's hand off of his shoulder with a deeply set glare. "You don't know the first thing about what happened."

"No, kiddo — you don't know the first thing that happened."

"I was there," Scott said, eyes flashing. "You know what he's been telling people, right?"

"Yeah, I do," Quill replied. "And to be honest, I'm surprised it's taken him this long."

Scott paused at that pronouncement and then shook his head. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"It means you don't know what he's been through to get to where he is," Quill said. "You think you know, but you have no friggin clue."

Scott gestured outward, the annoyance clear on his face. "Then enlighten me," he snapped. "Because I'm telling you now — I doubt there's anything I haven't already heard from Mac or Heather or even Clara."

"You sure about that?" Quill challenged. "Where do you want me to start? The 'normal' victor crap or the part where he basically traded himself off to save your butt in the Games?" He paused for a moment. "Or maybe you want to talk about the freakin' wedding band he's been wearing that no one wants to bring up."

The wind seemed to leave Scott's sails in an instant as he almost gaped at Quill for a moment. "What band?"

"Really? That's where you want to start?" Quill let out a totally mirthless laugh before more or less shouting into the snow. "You missed the black and green wedding band?"

"Apparently," Scott said, looking much more like he was listening now.

"Fury spilled the first time I went in there to see what the heck was taking so long," he said as he stopped his pacing. "Viper made him marry her. To fulfil a favor he owed."

Scott swore under his breath when he heard it and shook his head. "That's what he meant when he said Seraph wasn't there," he muttered almost entirely to himself, though out in the snow just the two of them, Quill could hear it crystal clear.

"You ever wonder what the heck he could have owed anyone for?" Quill challenged. "Come on, you're supposed to be smart. Put it together."

Scott frowned and shook his head lightly. "There's no way he'd owe that much of a favor on my account," he insisted. "He doesn't even like me."

"You have no idea," Quill said, wide-eyed and angry. "It wasn't easy, pulling together what he did. By any standards — and the royals set the bar high." He continued his pacing again before he slapped one hand on his thigh and gestured to Scott. "But then again, maybe he wasn't just thinking about you. Considering who it was that adopted you. But I can promise you he wouldn't have done it at all if he didn't like you."

"No, no — you had it right at Mac and Heather," Scott said. "That fits."

"You're an idiot, Million Dollar Kid. But you just go ahead and believe what you need to. But you don't gotta push him even if you don't like him."

"Of course I do," Scott grumbled. "He's in there trying to bail on everyone again. Of course I do!"

"And you've missed the whole point," Quill said. "He's where he is because he refused to bail. Even when every other victor in the place was telling him to let it go, he wouldn't quit."

At that, Scott looked pissed as he spun to face Quill. "I never asked him to do any of that. There was no point, not being his tribute. I knew I was dead going in. What the hell was the point?"

"But that's just it — you weren't," Quill said. "After you got your fancy shades, the odds were falling your way. Half the Capitol or better was betting on you."

Scott let out a humorless laugh. "Yeah, right up until they sent a giant spider mutt our way. You and I both know the Gamemakers don't do that in the Final Four unless they don't like the way the Games are tipped."

At that Quill looked as pissed as Scott was. "You want to see Fury's notes from that day? They didn't send that spider — you just went the wrong damn way. And it wasn't the Gamemakers that had it out for you. It was the Royals."

Scott gestured at Quill. "Kind of my point, isn't it?"

"And you're still missing the part where he went against the royals to try to help your stupid, stubborn, arrogant ass!"

"And look where it got him!" Scott shouted back.

"You know what, forget it," Quill said. "I'll let you know when he finally succeeds in offing himself, alright? Maybe then you can stop acting like … whatever this is." He was shaking his head as he headed toward the doors, muttering under his breath "I can't believe he was right. Waste of my time trying ..."

Scott watched Quill leave, still clearly frustrated, before he finally dropped down into the snow, with his back against the rock wall as he tried to sort it out for himself — without Quill yelling at him or Logan being… him.

It was several hours later when Scott did finally come back in, shaking the snow off his jacket and looking more thoughtful than usual — which was saying something. And when he did step into the room where Coulson was, he very quickly held up both hands. "I'm not here to start anything."

"What can I do for you, Mr. Summers?" Coulson asked.

Scott glanced to where Peter Parker was having about as much success as anyone else had thus far and then back to Coulson before he indicated a seat near Skye. "Just want to observe," he said honestly.

Coulson looked from Scott to Skye. "It's up to her if she wants to sit with you."

Scott glanced at Skye, and she shrugged with a little smile and motioned to the seat, so he slipped in to sit next to her. "Any luck?" he asked, not expecting anything to have changed, but he wanted to know all the same.

"He's quieter," Skye said softly. "Hasn't yelled at Petey or honestly said much at all."

Scott winced slightly at that and shook his head. "That… might be my fault," he admitted.

"How?" she asked with a frown.

"I asked Coulson to let me talk to him and… well."

"What did you do?" she asked, looking irritated with him already.

"I lost my temper with him," Scott admitted. No sense in lying to her, after all.

"Are you kidding me?" she said, in an exasperated tone before she threw a pen at Coulson. "You'll let him go and yell at him but you won't even let me in the room?"

"Woah, hey — you should let her in," Scott said, turning Coulson's way with his eyebrows raised.

"You don't get to make requests," Coulson said to Scott before he turned to Skye. "Really? Throwing things? That's how toddlers get their way, Skye."

"Well you're not listening to anything else," she pointed out.

"And you're not going to bully your way in there," Coulson responded. "I told you before. He needs some forward progress before you go in."

Scott gave Skye a sympathetic look as Peter came out of the other room looking disappointed. "Well, I tried," Peter said Skye's way. "Not even a micro-chuckle or a 'shut up Parker.'"

Skye let out a little sigh. "Thanks, Spidey," she said quietly. "Maybe next time."

"You want me to grab you something to eat while you're all… holed up camping in here?" Peter offered.

"I could go for my space heater," she replied with a smirk. "But maybe later."

"Sooner than later," Peter agreed before he slipped out the door.

"So who's up next?" Scott asked Coulson.

"No," Coulson said without looking at him.

"I was going to offer to go with Skye," he countered. "Not alone. I'm not that stupid." He gestured Skye's way. "You and I both know she'd deck me before she'd let me yell at him again."

"Oh yeah, I'd flatten him," Skye agreed, half-heartedly pounding one fist into the palm of her hand, hoping to get Coulson on board for at least that much.

"It's not happening," Coulson said flatly. "I already told you no."

"That's because you forgot how to say yes," Skye tried to argue. "Coulson!"

"I told you what needed to happen before you could get in that room, Skye. It's not a 'no.' It's a 'not yet.' So just... please be patient," Coulson argued.

"Sure sounds like a 'no'," she said sullenly.

Coulson shook his head at her but decided not to press the issue any further, since he could sympathize, after all. But that meant the room was very, very silent as Skye glared holes in the back of Coulson's head all the way through Jessica Drew's attempted visit. Which was about as successful for her as it had been for everyone else.

By the time May arrived to take over for Coulson, the normally stoic agent looked beyond frustrated, and May pulled him aside so she could talk to him out in the hall and get the update on what all had gone on, both of them speaking in quiet tones that even Skye with her ear pressed up against the door couldn't hear.

"How long do you think they'll be?" Scott asked as he stood up from his seat, crossing the room to the mic and door controls by the mirrored window.

"They usually don't take too long," Skye replied quietly. "Seeing as most of the time they share a brain. It's kind of scary to see them work in the field, really."

"I've never seen it, but I'll have to keep an eye out," Scott said with a smirk as he keyed in a code and the door unlocked. He gestured toward it. "What do you think — a couple minutes, maybe?"

"Are you kidding me?" she asked, wide-eyed.

"Um, no. I saw him key it in when Jessica Drew came in." Scott shrugged. "Come on; you're wasting time."

Skye grinned widely at him as she slipped in through the door, with Scott just behind her watching their exit. He didn't exactly make a move to get any closer than the door and kept out of her way as she approached Logan on her own with a wide grin and a muttered: "finally."

"It's been forever," Skye said as she made herself comfortable in the chair that visitors could use, though she scooted it much closer than the others had. "I missed your face."

Logan looked at her in open surprise for a long moment. "Why?" he asked.

"Uh, because I love you, you goon," she said as if it was obvious.

"You're crazy," he replied thickly, shaking his head.

"Yeah, well ..." She grinned at him even wider. "But you love that about me. You said so yourself."

Logan seemed to think about it for a long while before he quietly cleared his throat. "What did they tell you?" he asked.

"Coulson tried to keep me out of all of it, but you know how well that works for him," she admitted. "So…"

"You changed all his passwords, didn't you?"

"He won't figure it out for a while. I spelled 'stupid' with two zeros and backwards."

"Skye, you don't have to stick around for any of this," he told her after a few moments. "I know you got more important things to deal with."

"Hey, someone's gotta do something about that stupid thing," she said, pointing at his left hand. "Quill took his off the second he got here, but you know… seeing as you're tied down… I gotcha."

"Not gonna be that easy," he told her.

She frowned at that and scooted in a little closer, her eyes narrowed to slits when she saw the way the ring had been seared into the skin there. "Oh, I am going to kill her," she said in a tone that she just didn't use, clenching her hands into fists.

He dropped his gaze and closed his eyes in a clear attempt to try to block it all out.

Skye took in a breath when she saw his reaction and ground her teeth for a moment before she stopped herself from reaching out to lay a hand on his arm, bit her lip, and then reached out anyhow, very carefully and gently touching his arm. "So… how opposed are you to adultery, because I don't have a problem with it, but…?"

He couldn't help but smirk at her for that. "You have a one-track mind, you know that?"

"I'm not even going to apologize. It's been weeks without my favorite lumberjack space heater, and I gotta tell you — your flannels just don't cut it."

"Yeah, I … don't know how the hell that could ever happen again." He shook his head lightly. "There isn't a way out of this."

"Well, Xavier has the whole rundown of what happened, and Hank's got all the drugs… all we gotta do is work at it…"

"I can't be trusted," he said flatly.

"Well, that's a lie." She crossed her arms.

"It's really not," he argued.

"I trust you."

"Well you're wrong to do that," he said. "I can't even trust me."

"I trust you," Scott said from the door. He hadn't moved, but he shrugged his shoulders up as he said it and held Logan's gaze.

But Logan shook his head and looked down again. "I know better than that, and I really don't want to do this again, Slim."

"I'm not trying to pick a fight," he said, both to Logan and Skye, who looked a little wary. "The last thing I want to do is screw things up again," he added, this time mostly directed at Skye.

Skye held his gaze for a second before she leaned closer to Logan so she could speak at just over a whisper. "Yeah, he's the one who snuck us in, believe it or not," she had to admit. "Guess who memorized Coulson's code?" she added in a stage whisper. "Such a rebel."

"I'm sure there was a rule he tweaked to justify it," Logan replied. "Loopholes."

Scott looked a bit red-faced. "You… told me to listen to my girlfriend. Thought you should take your own advice," he muttered.

"And what advice is that?"

"Listen to your girlfriend," Scott said, gesturing Skye's way with the beginning of a smirk that Skye matched in spades.

"Yeah, come on, Logan. Even he knows I'm right," she agreed quickly..

"Every director thinks so," Logan countered.

"Sounds like you're disagreeing with the girlfriend," Scott said, still with the smirk in place.

"Well he was earlier," Skye said, shaking her head at Logan.

"If you're talking about my ability to do anything I used to, I'm right," Logan replied.

"Mmm. No. Good try, thanks for playing, but I fully expect to be snuggling my sweetheart once Xavier and everybody gets done doing their thing," she said. "And you will have oh so much missing time to make up for."

"I'll have to buy you an electric blanket," Logan told her. "Cause I doubt I'll see the outside of a cell again."

"Not nearly good enough," she said. "Can't snuggle it."

"And a very large teddy bear."

"Can't tease it."

"Skye, I don't remember most of my time with SHIELD," he pointed out.

"Do you remember me?"

"Yeah," he replied.

"You remember getting snowed in way up in the nowhere of district Seven? Or what about Heather totally playing twenty questions? How 'bout the first time you kissed me?"

"No, that I remember," he said, nodding slightly.

"So the rest of it's just crap anyhow. You've still got the important stuff."

"I remember training. And the lab rats' experiments. Killing people with Creed …"

"What about when Kate's niece was born and you went and did that thing that, I swear Logan, never ever do that in front of Heather or she'll give me looks."

"I don't know what you're talking about," he replied easily, though it was hard to tell if he was being serious or not.

"The thing with Katie?" she prompted. "I have never seen a baby stop crying so easy. And now there are two, Logan. Charles had his little boy, and I swear to you, I will actually let Heather give me looks if you can just get better and do it to him too because that will mean you're out of this stupid room."

"Yeah, you're talkin' nonsense," he said. "Not nice to make stories up, Skye."

"I can't even tell if you are screwing with me right now," she said.

"Neither can I," Logan replied with a little smirk that lasted far too short a time.

She had to laugh and shake her head at him as she scooted a little closer. "I missed you," she said as she very, very carefully slid her hand down to his and gave him a quick squeeze.

He shifted his hand a little to hold onto her too. "Sorry for all this. I know I let everyone down."

"Save it for when you actually do something wrong like forget my birthday or something else equally horrible," she said, waving her free hand. "I'm just glad you're back. I missed the teasing, believe it or not."

"I don't believe it," Logan said. "And I'm not back. Not really."

"Not entirely. Not yet," she corrected him. "And you know what, that's okay. I'll take a little bit back over not at all and work from there."

"You'd do better getting a real pet. Like a dog or something."

"First of all, no, they are a pain to clean up after. And second of all, in what universe is a pet nearly as good as my boyfriend?" she asked, one eyebrow raised.

He frowned for a moment and thought it over. "I don't know how to answer that."

"The answer is 'no universe ever.' Come on, what are you thinking?" she said, shaking her head. She squeezed his hand for a moment and let out a breath. "Okay… I probably gotta go face the music with Coulson."

"Maybe I'll see you again," Logan said quietly.

"Oh, you will. It's just a matter of getting past AC, and with Scott the Rulebreaker over here, shouldn't be too hard," she teased as she got to her feet. "See you around."

When she got to the door, Scott opened it for her and muttered to her that he'd tell Coulson it was his fault — but they were both surprised when May and Coulson were both waiting for them in front of the big observation mirror. And May was grinning. Not her usual subdued smirk, but an outright grin.

"See, this is what happens when you don't listen to me, Phil," she said, gesturing at Scott and Skye. "They have to go out of their way to prove you wrong. And you were so very, very wrong."

"That was reckless," Coulson said, trying to keep his hard line still.

"Have you met me, AC?" Skye countered. "Seriously?"

"It could have gone so so incredibly badly," Coulson said, shaking his head. "I didn't want you getting caught in the crossfire."

"It was my idea," Scott said. "I was at the door in case things went south."

"It was not your idea. It was my idea. You were just… the delivery man," Skye shot back, shaking her head at him.

May looked more smug and turned to Coulson. "More progress in five minutes than you've had in days. Days, Phil," she said pointedly.

"We'll just have to see if he can keep going," Coulson said finally as he let his shoulders drop and he turned toward Skye. "I'll have Xavier step it up. And … maybe it would be good if you went with. Since he trusts you."

Skye beamed and pumped the air with her fist. "Finally. This will work, AC. I swear."

September 30

Hidden Room in Fury's Hidden Base

Fitz and Logan were almost chatting in the little isolation room hidden behind two-way glass. It was a matter of timing and tempering — as the medical staff wanted to at least try to get the stitches that Doctor Strange had needed to put into Logan's cheekbone when he removed the micro tracker. In preparation for the stitch removal, Fitz was waiting with Logan for Simmons to come in. He was spending the time explaining to Logan what the device had been and how it had been removed before he'd gotten up. Of course, Logan had wanted to know how it had been used, and Fitz's silence on the matter was telling enough for him.

So Fitz was sure to try and divert his attention from that and instead tell him about the poison distribution system that they'd removed from his arm as well — as a means to try and reassure him that much of what had gone wrong wasn't him. "It really wasn't anything you could've avoided. It was Hydra at work. They used every dirty, rotten, slimy trick they could find to get you under control," Fitz told him with an actual angry fire in his tone before he drew in a deep breath and tried to clear his head. "I promise, just make your best effort to get through this and I'll make Coulson authorize me to loosen up your restraints," Fitz said. "Xavier said you should be alright if you can deal with medical."

Logan gave him a dry look that made it clear that he didn't buy that for a second, but before he could really argue the point, the door opened gently, and Simmons stepped in. She gave him a little wave with the tips of her fingers, looking nervous herself as she brought in what she needed to remove the stitches. "Can't go too long without poking you," she tried to tease him lightly.

But Logan watched her unblinkingly as she crossed the room, obviously not trusting Simmons one bit. His hands were balled into fists at his sides as she started to set up, and when she finally decided to get down to it, he looked as if he was holding his breath, watching her work and entirely rigid.

She tried to work as quickly and lightly as possible when she saw his reaction and then gave him a tight smile when she was done. "Now. That wasn't so bad, was it?"

"That depends on if you're done or not," Logan answered through clenched teeth.

"All finished," she promised, closing up her bag as proof. "See?"

Logan didn't start to relax though until she'd put the bag far from him, and then only after she and Fitz started chatting back and forth. The two scientists had shifted seamlessly to a discussion on theories about the new energy weapons that Hyra had, like the ones that the soldier who shot Kurt had — the blueish energy was a whole new project for the two of them and, of course, as they always did with a new problem, they were going a mile a minute with each other.

The more they chatted, the more Logan seemed to settle in and zone out, though how much of that was him going to normal and how much of that was him distancing himself, they had no way to know.

Simmons still looked upset about the fact that Logan had been so nervous as the two of them left the isolation room — where the now almost-constant occupants of Scott and Skye were sitting in observation.

"I don't get it," Skye said with her nose wrinkled up as she rushed over to wrap Simmons in a little hug.

"Well, we know that Hydra's medical division was not kind to him," Simmons replied, trying for a smile.

"I know, but you and Fitz are practically joined at the hip," Scott said thoughtfully. "Something must have gotten scrambled, because Fitz seems fine."

"No, no," Fitz said shaking his head as he pulled up Bobbi's notes on his tablet. "Not scrambled. Some of his memories were replaced. But we can fix it." He handed Scott the tablet so he could read down the list. "Brains never delete files, they just lose connections. There's always a back up; it's just a matter of digging until we find them."

"And we haven't hit the right spots yet," Simmons finished with a self-deprecating smile.

"So how do you find the disconnected memories?" Scott asked, honestly curious.

"You just have to watch his reactions," Fitz said. "We know there's no logical reason to react the way he's been reacting to our staff. He doesn't. That's when you know you found something that's been fiddled with. I'd imagine it's mostly anything that he doesn't act like himself."

"So that's how you find the memories that need addressing. What then?"

"Different people can get away with different methods," Simmons said. "Charles will simply ask him straight out what the problem is. Fury gets all … frowning and wants to know what they did. Coulson tries to guess and tell him what's really going on. You have to just … try something."

"It's easier if you ask him," Skye said. "He tries to be honest if he knows there's an issue."

"He's more talkative with you," Scott pointed out with a smirk.

"We think that's because Hydra didn't know about her," Fitz said before he let his tone take a dip into ridiculous. "Think of what Lady Hydra would say about the secret lovers." He shook his head and gave Skye a look. "Scandalous."

"That's how it's always been with us," Skye said with a teasing smile. "Or didn't you read the newspapers?"

"You told me they were trash," Fitz said with a slightly raised voice. "I should have known you were trying to cover your tracks."

"Oh yeah," she laughed outright. "You better keep an eye out, Jemma. I'm a heartbreaker, you know."

"Yes, I'm sure," Simmons said, shaking her head. "Though I have to admit, I do miss the teasing and flirting."

"And the turning Fitz colors," Skye teased. She looped her arm through Simmons'. "Come on. I need a bite to eat. And maybe a little sunlight."

When the girls were gone, Fitz turned to Scott. "If you want a minute, Kurt isn't supposed to be down for another half-hour."

"Sure that's a good idea?" Scott asked with one eyebrow raised.

"As long as you don't try to pick a fight," Fitz replied. "It should be fine."

Scott let out a little breath and nodded. "Alright, but I think Skye would feel better about it if you were on the door. We don't… get along."

"Nonsense," Fitz said. "Besides, Fury said he didn't want him to be left to his own thoughts. Particularly after a medical procedure. Even a small one."

Scott nodded at that, thoughtfully, and keyed in the code to the door, stepping inside to take the usual visitor's seat. But for a good long while, he was quiet. He hadn't had the time to prepare any of the many things he was sure from days of observation needed to be addressed.

Finally, he let out a long breath, leaned forward, and rested his chin on his hands. "I never got around to thanking you," Scott said in a measured, even tone.

Logan frowned and turned his way. "For what?"

"For… all of it." Scott ran a hand over his face. "I don't just mean when you saved my butt back in Twelve, either."

"Forget it, Slim," Logan said, diverting his gaze and looking genuinely out of it.

But Scott shook his head. "Yeah, that's the thing. I can't. I never thanked you for getting me out of Essex's labs, either. Or for the glasses you sent me when I was ready to give up. Never even thanked you for letting us use your place back in Seven." He shook his head again, slower this time. "That's not even counting everything you've done for my family. And I never thanked you."

Logan thought about it for a while, though he didn't say anything right away. "You don't have to," he said.

Scott actually let out a little laugh. "Yeah, right. I guess I still haven't," he said with a little shake of his head.

"Not what I meant. Just … it's not necessary."

"That's the whole point, Logan. Just… shut up. Thank you, alright?"

"Any time," he replied.

Scott shrugged up one shoulder and fell silent again.

Logan leaned back a bit and closed his eyes to give Scott an out. The truth of it was he really didn't know how to take a 'thank you', let alone one that he was tied down and forced to listen to.

So both of them were almost relieved when Kurt came in to take over for Scott, wearing an excited little smile. Scott slipped out the door without a word as Kurt perched more than sat in his place.

"What's got you all … bubbly?" Logan asked. "You finally break into Fury's office and get some whiskey you'd like to share?"

"I may just do that," Kurt said with a little smile. He leaned forward with a sparkle to his eyes. "I've got permission for a little leave tomorrow — just a very quick trip to One to do a little ring shopping."

"Oh? Sounds like someone's gettin' serious," Logan said.

"Well, it's really thanks to you. There wasn't much else I was going to put SHIELD's paychecks toward, considering they feed and house us," Kurt teased.

"And wouldn't exist without you," Logan countered. "So they still owe you."

"I'll keep that in mind when I ask Coulson for permission — and the paperwork — when I get back," Kurt said, still grinning. "You'll be best man, of course."

"Don't you have a brother?" Logan asked, looking a little taken back. "That … would be better — smarter — for this."

"It's my decision," Kurt said, shaking his head. "I thought seriously about making Stefan the ring bearer," he added in a teasing whisper. "He's a bit tall."

"I don't know that I'm getting out of here, Elf," Logan admitted quietly. "And if I do, it'll probably just be to go in a cell."

Kurt waved his hand. "Of course you're getting out. We have time. Kate and I aren't getting married tomorrow or anything. I haven't even proposed yet."

"Still think you're being wildly optimistic," he countered.

"What, you don't think she'll say yes?" Kurt shot back.

"I'm sure she will," Logan replied.

"Then I don't see the problem here," Kurt said. "I'd like a proper wedding, and that will take time to prepare…"

Logan half tried to pick up his hand. "I'm not making forward motion here. And I'm probably the least qualified for the job."

Kurt shook his head. "The position of best man goes to the groom's best friend. That's how it should be, and that is you."

"Coulson said I tried to kill you three."

"Yes, you did," Kurt said. "Don't do that."

"I don't remember it," he said. "Nothing to stop it from happening again."

Kurt paused and let out a breath. "We know what caused it, mein Freund. There was a phrase… and I can promise you it's not one you'll hear at a wedding. You're fine."

"Charlie said there was a lot of those," Logan said quietly.

"He also said that those are easy enough to deal with," Kurt said. "Relatively speaking." He leaned forward with a smile. "This is still miles better than how things were two weeks ago when you were gone. And you say there's been no progress," he scoffed.

"Pretty sure everyone had a lot better things to spend their time on than babysitting," he argued.

"No," Kurt said, shaking his head. "We're all exactly where we want to be. Let Fury and Hill worry over where they think we need to be, but we've often pointed out — we are free agents, not slaves of SHIELD."

Logan tipped his head lightly and let out a breath.

Kurt cleared his throat and straightened up, drawing Logan with him as he redirected the conversation. "So ... I can trust you not to tell Kate, ja?"

"I don't know nothin' about nothin'," Logan agreed.

Kurt grinned that much wider. "I would have loved to take you with me to One," he admitted. "But I didn't want to wait any longer."

"And you don't need a trouble magnet for that," Logan added.

"But I do need a friend," Kurt said. "I've asked Kitty to come with me, actually."

"You should get Petey too," Logan said.

Kurt grinned crookedly. "Pete is in charge of keeping Kate busy."

"Good," Logan replied with a little nod. "Let me know when it happens."

"Oh, I'm sure you'll know. If I don't get here, Kate will," Kurt said, still grinning.