Chapter 36: As Seen on Television

The flight back to base was rough. Their pilot was good, but Logan kept fading in and out of consciousness, unable to focus on anything if the way his eyes and head were rolling when he had his eyes open were any indicator.

As they approached the base, Simmons was fretting over him, ready to intervene as Logan's gasping increased and his eyes closed again. The friends shared a worried look as his vitals became very irregular, but after a couple injections, and a stern talking to from Simmons, Logan seemed to be holding his own again — though he did not wake up. Simmons radioed in for him — pushing past the usual protocols to request an OR be ready to go on their arrival for multiple gunshot wounds, and a pneumothorax — a term that got Peter to sit up a bit straighter and stare at Logan with his brows drawn together. The three friends shared a nervous glance as the medical team obsessively watched his monitors and checked his blood pressure. They looked as nervous as Kate did.

On landing, medical was not only ready and waiting — but rushing, mobbing the transport as the door opened. The Awesome kids were pushed back as they took Logan and Simmons out of the transport and Simmons shouted out what his status was all the way down to the surgical suite in a far more commanding tone than anyone in attendance could have imagined from her.

The kids had to stop where they couldn't follow Logan any further, and all three of them looked distressed as Kate tried her best not to cry and Kurt was looking livid. But his tone was incredibly soft as he whispered Kate's way, "Don't worry, liebling. He's too stubborn to die so easily."

As the kids waited outside the operating room, Fury himself stalked in, looking incredibly angry and concerned as he started pacing. He looked ready to fight anyone that crossed him — and no one even tried to find out what his problem was until Coulson called out to him.

"Sir," Coulson said. "I'm pretty sure whatever you might need from a debrief is going to have to wait."

Fury looked ready to spit fire as he turned Coulson's way. "That team — those docs can't screw this up," he replied, his tone deadly serious. "Because if they do..." He paused and glanced toward the operating room doors. "We don't have everything we need to reverse it."

"Oh yes we will," Kurt said, turning to face Fury with a look of, well, fury. "If we have to get it ourselves, we will."

"You're not in a high enough ranking team to get in and out without ending up dead or in the medical wing yourself," Fury replied. "Eleven is hot." He looked around the group of them. "I'm not risking you."

"That's Logan in there," Kurt replied, his tone still heated as he gestured toward the closed doors. "Whatever is in Eleven, it can't stop me."

Fury glared at him for a moment. "I'm not sending you to Eleven," he said evenly. "But … we should be able to scrape up a team that can go." He let his voice temper slightly. "You should be here."

That did at least seem to get Kurt to pause for a moment, though he still looked thunderous.

"Coulson, ask Wilson, Romanoff, Barton, and Cage if they're up for a run. Just to be safe." Fury turned to Peter and Kate. "Or am I wrong that you'd want to be here if this surgery doesn't go well?"

The three friends glanced at each other before Peter was the one to speak up. "Well, yeah…"

"Then stay close. Even if the team makes it to Eleven, there's no guarantee they can even get the materials." He turned to Kate. "That is why I was trying to get him to stand down."

"You didn't try real hard until the very end, director," she said with heat to her gaze.

"I tried more than you realize. You don't know all of the little codes and phrases we have between us," Fury countered.

"No, but I know enough to tell you you're a moron if you think you could stop Logan from killing Creed when he had half a chance," Kate countered, her arms crossed over her chest.

"Those two have been on a team together for about a year." Fury gave her a dry look. "He's had plenty of chances."

"Not when Creed was blatantly betraying the team… come on. You had to know that was crooked."

Fury nodded. "Logan had gotten the green light to put an end to Victor Creed," he admitted. "I was trying to call him off. Creed had back up we didn't know about until it was too late."

"Great spywork, Fury. Really impressive," Kate said, matching his dry tone from earlier.

The two of them looked ready to escalate when Coulson broke in. "I have my team ready to go. If you can quit … sniping with my Tahiti agents, that'd be great." Coulson gave the three kids a look before he and Fury stepped out of the room. Once they were in the hall, away from them, Coulson laid it out. "Either way this goes? When he wakes up — when. Not if. When he opens his eyes, he's in my side of the building and he's staying there. Any further missions if and when he's ready to run them — they'll be his call."

"I'll be back to see how he comes through this," Fury said. "But Coulson, I'm honestly hoping he doesn't need the vibranium. I'll be close by." With that, Fury simply left, and Coulson had to let out a breath before he stepped back into the room where the three friends were waiting.

"They're on their way to Eleven already," Coulson told the gathered group. "I had them prepped to go when Simmons called in saying there was big trouble."

"He won't need it," Kurt said in a tone that had much less heat than the one she'd been using with Fury only moments before.

"I hope you're right," Coulson agreed. "If he pulls through on his own, it'll be a slower recovery, but much preferable for the amount of trouble he seems to drag down on himself every time he leaves the building."

"He's just like that," Skye said as she arrived to join the group. She had her arms wrapped around herself as she glanced around the room. She gave Coulson a tight smile, then took the seat on the other side of Kate. "How's he doing?" she asked very quietly.

"If you ignore the alarms and the doctors freaking out — he's fine," Coulson replied with a tiny smirk. "You know how contrary he can be."

Skye gave Coulson a small smirk and nodded at that, leaning her head back against the wall. "So," she said after a long moment of silence. "No masks, huh? What possessed you, drama queens?"

"Well, to be fair, Logan wasn't wearing his either," Peter pointed out, looking a bit sheepish.

"And we were not going to reunite with Logan wearing masks, especially not under the circumstances," Kurt said as if it should have been incredibly obvious.

"That and I really wanted to see Creed go down," Kate muttered with a little vindictive smirk.

"And did he?" Coulson asked. "Is Creed out of the picture?"

Kate paused, and the smirk slipped. "He wasn't dead when I saw him last," she said. "So ... I don't know. I'd like to think the Capitol finished him off, but ... I don't know."

"If you didn't see him die, then he's still alive," Skye muttered, staring almost vacantly at the OR doors while more monitors protested inside.

"There was more than just the Capitol in operation tonight," Coulson said.

"Hydra?" Skye asked.

"Looks like it," Coulson said. "But it's hard to believe that Creed is involved with Hydra when he made it very clear that he hated them."

"There are too many players to keep track of on this scoreboard," Peter said, shaking his head. "Why can't it just be us versus Thanos?"

"Because Thanos doesn't have the backing he thought he did, and power has splintered," Coulson said. "Whoever it is, if they are outside of Hydra — they're minor players right now."

"Minor players who back Creed," Kate said with narrowed eyes.

"No accounting for taste," Coulson agreed.

"Well, whoever they are, we'll track them down and deal with them," Peter said decisively.

"And it doesn't really matter right now anyway," Skye pointed out. She glanced at Coulson and let out a breath. "There's a lot of Capitol chatter, AC. They expected to, ah, film the demise of Weapon X."

"So they're disappointed, or … they think they have our guy dying on tape?" Coulson asked.

"Actually…" Skye paused. "They went silent. Dead silent. Right around when our gallant heroes were rushing Logan to the transport."

"Was that you or them?"

"I want to say it was me," she admitted. "I really do. I was working to jam them as soon as I heard the chatter about filming it. But Coulson... I don't know what they caught on tape, and if they have something, they're being very tight-lipped about it."

"Well. I guess now is as good a time as any to start editing up what you need for a slow release about Tahiti. I'm sure Fury will be back before Logan's out of surgery."

"I can bring my laptop in here," Skye said, sounding relieved to have something to do as she nodded and leaned forward. "I'm sure we're about to get hit with footage of dead kids, so ... we'll need to get ahead of it before they start saying we're all, I don't know, zombies or something."

"Good thing you were already on it," Coulson replied.

"Lucky," she said. Skye glanced toward the door to the medical wing for a moment, obviously reluctant to leave, then bit her lip. "So I'll just ... bring my laptop in here while we're waiting," she said as she slowly pushed herself to her feet and then glanced at the other three. "Do not let me miss anything."

"The real fun will be when it's time for Logan to make another public appearance," Coulson said. "Tahiti or not — we're going to want him out there."

"Fun for him or for the rest of us?" Skye couldn't help but tease.

"I guess we'll just have to wait and see," Coulson smirked her way.

March 27

SHIELD Base One

There weren't many personnel around the base who weren't agents or fighters of some kind, and even with some basic training, most of the stylists still felt like they fell into that category.

Which was frustrating, because they wanted to be able to help — but it also meant that, since they weren't going on sanctioned missions, they had become fast friends with the rest of the people on the base who were also staying behind.

In particular, the families of the former Team Awesome were completely open to spending their time with the old stylists and escorts — especially Susan, who was being showered with attention, as every stylist wanted to make outfits for the little girl she was expected to have any time now. Susan, of course, had her own ideas and suggestions, and both MJ and Honey were determined to teach her their craft — properly.

Then there were May and Margali, who seemed to have the supernatural ability to keep order in this particular group, even with the twins counting down the days until they were officially old enough for SHIELD training. And of course, everyone loved the Hudson kids and made it a point to positively spoil them with attention.

So that particular morning, as Noh and Jubilee were headed to breakfast with the full intent to sit with the usual group, they were surprised to see the Hudsons watching the news further out from the rest of the crowd looking downright concerned. Even the little kids were watching. Elsie was clutched onto Heather's shirt, and Josh was pretty well hidden behind Mac as the rest of them were watching in various states of hidden behind their fingers.

"What seems to be the…" Noh trailed off from his greeting as he and Jubilee finally got close enough to see what was playing on the screen — footage from yesterday's mission, showing Logan and Creed fighting as Tanaleer Tivan commented that the rebels couldn't even keep from fighting in their own ranks, that they were divided and weak.

Jubilee was positively wide-eyed at the action on screen, one hand over her mouth as she watched Logan and Creed duke it out.

But it didn't stop there. Tivan seemed to be building up the dramatics, working up to a reveal like he used to do in the Games. And sure enough, before their very eyes, they watched as two very familiar kids joined the fight ... and then a third... and the whole of Team Awesome was reassembled, all while Tivan continued to berate the rebellion — this time for using the populace and their sympathies.

"The man running this so-called revolution was Gamemaker during that year," Tivan argued. "Clearly, he was using the Games as his own personal recruitment — and allowing the citizens of Marvel to believe their own children were lost when instead they were being twisted and turned into weapons."

There was a clatter further out in the cafeteria, and the little group looked over in surprise. Peter's Aunt May stood over the tray she'd dropped, staring at the screen playing the news with one hand over her mouth as the first tears started to slip down her cheeks.

Honey Lemon got to her first to help her to her seat, her eyes wide with concern, while the Wagner twins seemed to be unable to decide whether to start celebrating or start searching for their clearly still-alive big brother. Susan, of course, had burst into tears — no one could tell if she was relieved or upset, not even Susan herself — and Margali was simply rooted to the spot.

"He… never told us," Margali said quietly, though the shock on her face was starting to turn into something much more like anger. "All this time," she said, her voice rising, "and he never told us!"

"No," Mac said, shaking his head as he turned her way. "Logan couldn't have known."

"Then what," Margali asked, sweeping her hand toward the screen, "is that? That is my son!"

Mac watched the screen for a moment and had to agree. "Yeah, but I'm telling you — there is no way Logan knew."

Margali looked like she was about to argue, but she was derailed entirely when the Capitol feed was hijacked — the SHIELD logo briefly showing — before she saw Kurt sitting on a couch, his hand in Kate's, his face to the camera.

"Of course it's been difficult not being able to tell anyone," Kurt said, apparently in answer to a question. "Not being able to see my family, or my friends — knowing they all think we're dead. I just pray one day soon everyone can know, and we can start to heal." He let out a sigh, and Kate squeezed his arm. "But I know we're doing good work here," he added quietly.

"Yeah, taking down bad guys. Kicking butt and taking names," Kate agreed.

Mac looked Margali's way with a little smile. "Looks like the time is here," Mac said.

Margali looked taken aback for a moment, some of the heat gone from her gaze as she saw Kurt on the screen, talking about his fencing lessons, with Kate chiming in occasionally to brag on him or to add her own stories.

It was a short interview — clearly just a clip of much more — but whoever was breaking into the Capitol feed was clearly trying to pack in as much as possible. Another quick snippet came right on the heels of Kate and Kurt, this time with Peter in full performance mode as he gleefully recounted learning how to use his web slingers to get from one building to the next.

"You have to get the timing and the angles just right or — wham!" Peter clapped both hands together and then winced. "Ouch."

Peter's interview didn't have nearly the same obvious overtones of anti-Capitolism that Kurt's starting words had, but that was somehow better. Just watching the young man — who had clearly grown into his height at last — full of life and laughter was enough to prove that these kids were thriving. Not secret weapons being locked away but honest-to-goodness children living the lives the Games should have taken from them.

The Capitol managed to get control of the broadcast part of the way through Peter gleefully recounting how he totally called Kate and Kurt being a couple, but as soon as that happened, the entire cafeteria — in fact, the entire base — was up and moving. Talking. Processing. Trying to make sense of what they'd just seen. Half the place seemed to be outraged; the other half was shocked. A secret of this magnitude… it was definitely going to make waves. Break trust.

And then there were people like the Wagner twins, who were knee-deep in an argument about whether or not they should wait until their birthday to go see Kurt or if they couldn't wait any longer and had to go see him now.

"We should figure out where my victor is," Jubilee said quietly to Noh. "Then we'll be able to find out where the others are."

"Wonder if we could find Fitzsimmons," Stefan mused.

"They're, like, the only SHIELD agents we know," Amanda said with a little nod. "But they belong to Agent Coulson, and as far as we know, he's high up."

"I'm sure with news like this coming out, it would be impossible not to start bringing the families together," Noh said quietly. "If only for the image of it all."

"You'd think they'd ask for our help in such matters," Jubilee agreed, doing her best to sound insulted.

"Yes, especially when we have such experience putting them in front of a camera," Noh agreed before he couldn't stop the grin, then leaned over and kissed her.

"Who else do you think they brought back?" Jack asked, purely out of curiosity. "I know Kurt was saying it's tough, but… do you think it was just Logan's old team?"

"It better not have been," said a new voice as Teddy Altman joined them, America Chavez not far behind.

"Hopefully, it was the ones that were worth bringing back," Jubilee said. "I can't imagine them not bringing your handsome fiance back. That would be criminal."

"Woah when did he become my—"

"Yeah, she's starting a line for you two. Don't question it. You'll like it, I promise," America said with a dry sort of smirk, patting Teddy on the back. Not that he was arguing too hard, even if he did shoot America a dry, dry look.

Jubilee grinned her way. "I am almost always right in these things — and everyone saw that kiss! Don't try to deny it!"

"I'm not," Teddy said, holding up both of his hands. "I'm just also, you know. Sixteen."

"So be engaged for a couple years," Jubilee said with a wave. "We'll need that long to come up with a properly awesome wedding. There are others in line ahead of you, you know."

"Oh, what's that? Are you two engaged?" America looked between Noh and Jubilee with a purely disbelieving scoff. "I never would have guessed!"

"You know," Jubilee said, resting her chin in the palm of her hand. "Once this new government reforms? We'll all need to start all new lines. I'm sure we'll all need proper inspiration."

"You just want an excuse to make wedding dresses all day," America shot back.

"I want an excuse to have a hand in designing the first ever wedding hot pants," she replied quickly.

America laughed outright at that. "Alright. Just for that, if I get around to getting married, you are hired."

"I just beat you out, sweetheart," Jubilee said before she kissed Noh's nose.

"I'm not too terribly disappointed. You are superior in every way," he told her with a little grin. "She's right to ask for you."

"Right, right, but that's years from now," Stefan broke in before the two of them could get too gooey. He made a face their way. "But we were talking about the more important fact of our brother being alive."

"I think you were on the right track before," Mac told him. "Find the two scientists. They can't lie worth a damn."

"They really can't," Amanda agreed with a little laugh.

Stefan jumped to his feet and helped Amanda up. "Great! Then … last one there's a rotten Sentinel!" he shouted as he took off running to go find the scientists, with Amanda close behind.

"I guess that's me," Mac said, taking his seat and picking up his mug. "They always did say I was the worst one in the district." He shrugged his shoulders and let Josh snuggle back in.

"Yes, but considering the source, that's a compliment," Teddy pointed out.

"I suppose that's true. Runs in the family — disappoint those in charge if you can."

"Only if those in charge are stupid," Teddy clarified, his eyes twinkling Josh's way.

Josh smiled at Teddy, then hid his face again, peeking out from time to time. Mac handed Josh to Heather and pushed away from the table. "However ... I do think that I need to find out how my cousin is. No one has told us if he's even still alive." He gave his wife a kiss and tipped his head to Margali and May for a moment. "I'll tell you whatever I find out." With that, he headed toward Fitzsimmons' lab, sure that he'd given the twins enough time to try and work the easy answers out of the two scientists.

And like he'd thought, they were teasing and picking, pleading and trying every trick they knew to get the two SHIELD scientists to spill … anything. But in spite of their adorable approach, they weren't getting very far, so Mac walked forward very quietly until he knew that the two lab rats had seen him before he took a wide stance and crossed his arms with a glare.

"Come on! When can we see them?" Amanda said, grinning. "Our birthday is like — right around the corner. We neeeed to see him."

"I don't know," Simmons admitted, worrying her hands in front of her as she glanced Mac's way. "Really ... no one expected this to happen the way it did."

Mac took a few silent, slow steps forward, giving them his best 'getting angry' glare.

"But," Simmons said quickly, "we can talk to Coulson about getting you authorized."

"I'm sure you're at the top of the list," Fitz agreed.

"We need to be careful and go through the proper channels," Simmons explained.

"Right. Don't want anyone to accidentally get in because we got sloppy."

The twins bombarded Fitzsimmons with questions after that as to how the authorization process would work and other details, but finally, satisfied that at least they were on the right path — and after both scientists had promised to speak to Coulson personally on their behalf — they left to go tell Margali what was going on.

When the twins bounded off down the hall, Mac took the last few steps forward. "How is my cousin? The footage they showed …" He took a deep breath and fixed them with a look. "Or have we not seen him because he didn't make it and you're doing … whatever … it is you do?"

"Oh!" Simmons shook her head quickly. "No! No, we ... we still don't know, actually," she admitted. "He's been in surgery since last night ... that footage was taken less than 24 hours ago."

Mac looked more concerned somehow. "How long can he be in surgery before there's a sure-fire problem?" he asked.

"Well…" Simmons glanced toward Fitz. "We can do a little more with the drugs and procedures we have that helped us bring people like Kurt back, so it's still a little… iffy."

"We should know soon," Fitz said quickly. "Any minute now."

"Can I ask how … what kind of injuries he got?"

Simmons and Fitz glanced at each other, but it was Fitz, not Simmons, who said, "Well, Creed tried to beat him to death, so ... if it can be broken…"

"Would you please come and find me either way?" Mac asked. "Even if you plan on … whatever."

"We'll let you know," Simmons promised.

"And we're really hoping not to have to ... whatever," Fitz added. "It's not always a sure thing, you see, so… it's better if we don't have to try it."

Mac paled a bit at that and just nodded his head. "Thanks," he said quietly. "I appreciate it."

"If it makes a difference," Fitz said suddenly. "We're pulling for him. Hard. Everyone is."

Mac gave him a forced smile and nodded before he waved as he turned to leave.