Chapter 51: You Guys Are So High


May 26

Tahiti Wing


For the past couple days, Kate had been getting around just fine on the crutches medical had given her, and she thought she'd stop in and see how Kurt was doing. She got more kisses that way anyway — something about how she shouldn't be overtaxing herself.

But to her surprise, she met him in the hallway. He seemed to be headed to gear up — though there wasn't anything on the mission schedule. She frowned his way, though he did stop in his hurry to wrap his arms around her waist and pull her into a quick kiss. "Where are you going?" she asked with one eyebrow raised.

"I have a mission," he said with a grin.

She couldn't help but smile at the excited look on his face and kissed him again. "Jealous," she teased.

"You should be," he replied. "I'm headed out with Logan and Wade this time."

She grinned even wider this time and kissed him all over again, this time with the proper enthusiasm. "Be careful," she told him seriously, knowing that particular team had a talent for the worst kind of trouble.

"You worry too much," Kurt said before he kissed her quickly. "We'll be fine."

"Uh-huh. It's not that I doubt you? But I'm just hobbling over to hang out with Skye for worried girlfriend reasons."

"Then as I understand it, you should be able to watch the whole thing," Kurt replied. "They wear body cams for their missions."

"Which is why I'm headed that way." She tapped her temple by her eyes. "I like to have eyes on my guys."

"We'll try not to be too spectacular for you," Kurt teased with his chin tipped up before he headed off to suit up.

Kate smiled after him and then hobbled off to Skye's office, giving her a little wordless wave as she settled in beside her. "Don't mind me. I'm not even here."

"Right?" Skye replied before she handed her the bowl of popcorn. "We've got time before anything fun starts."

Kate grinned and helped herself to a big handful. "Well, this time there's an Elf in the mix, so I'm expecting much more dramatics," she laughed.

"First mission? Could go either way," Skye replied. "Cameras don't go on until they exit the plane. Can't have them being tracked before or after. Sadly."

Kate sighed. "Then we're missing all the hair-braiding and talking about girls?"

"Oh no; we have the audio feeds," Skye said, nodding her head. "That's a more secured line, and I don't think Fury could take it if he couldn't hear them on their way in."

"Has to get his gossip fix somehow," Kate teased.

"Well, when you don't trust anyone, it makes it hard to make friends."

"Good thing our next director doesn't have that problem," Kate teased, throwing a kernel of popcorn at Skye to hit her in the forehead. "That's you, director."

"Oh, are you joining that party officially?" Skye asked before she threw a few kernels back.

"I can totally see it," Kate said. "So bossy. And you're the one with all the answers around here," she teased.

"And now I see why you and Logan are friends," she teased. "Great imaginations."

She just smirked. "Nu-uh. We're just right."

"Delusional," she muttered, leaning back in her chair. "You'll never pass my psych eval."

"Oh no. I guess you'll just have to put me on house arrest. With an Elf. Whatever shall I do," Kate deadpanned.

"Yep. Somewhere with a beach," Skye agreed.

"I already want you as the new director. How can we hurry this along?" Kate laughed.

"Win? And talk Fury into retiring peacefully. And … I think I'm well behind at least a dozen other people … you know... Qualified applicants."

"Well, I shoulda just taken a shot at Gamora then. Step closer to winning, and they shot at me anyhow," Kate laughed lightly.

"Yeah, that was just … weird," Skye said with a little frown. "Fury was pissed."

"Why — because I didn't take the shot, because Logan was on TV again, or because he didn't know we'd have a princess there?"

"No," she said as she leaned forward and dropped her voice to a whisper. "Because apparently, according to Bobbi, Hydra knew she was going to be there, knew you were going to be there, and were hoping that we'd kill her for them and take the heat."

Kate stared at Skye for a moment before she just looked mad. "Well." She sniffed. "That's just stupid."

"It is," she agreed. "But it means we still have a leak — or a tap on the wire somewhere. But it's got to be someone that doesn't have access to Weapon X, because if they knew how many times Gamora had walked through their crosshairs …"

"And they didn't take the shot?" Kate shook her head. "That woman is living on borrowed time."

"Like I know Logan told you — if whoever it was had taken the shot, they'd be dead right now. Bad side of working a team like this is that no one knows they're there to back them up most of the time."

Kate let out her breath. "True." She leaned forward with a little sparkle in her eye. "But it would've been nice. Can you imagine the look on Quill's face if she was gone?"

"Oh, we have a bottle of champagne stashed just for him when it does happen," Skye assured her.

"It'll be a party," Kate agreed, leaning back with a smile as she tossed popcorn in the air to catch in her mouth. "Hopefully, we'll get it done before Kitty's old enough to drink," she added with a little playful sparkle in her eyes.

"Why is that? You think you're going to be the one to corrupt her?" Skye laughed.

"Oh no — I just think it would be oh-so-good for him to share the champagne," Kate laughed.

"She'll get a glass," Skye said, nodding to herself. "One way or another."

Kate grinned as she leaned back, and the two of them settled in to relax, lightly paying attention to the mission chatter — most of it Wade. But when Logan told him to keep the channel clear — finally — even Wade's enthusiastic speculation dropped off to nothing.

"Alright, here we go," Skye said as she double- and triple-checked that there were enough screens up and ready to record. "This one is Kurt's," she said, pointing to the one nearest Kate. "I didn't think you'd want to search for it. It's his point of view, but if you want to see him, probably watch Maverick's." She pointed to a different monitor — also nearby.

Kate grinned at Skye for that one and lightly slugged her in the shoulder. "You're my favorite director."

"You keep saying that, but it's not even a contest at this point," Skye laughed.

Kate laughed along with her and settled in to watch her Elf and keep an eye on what he was up to, though she had to glance at Skye about halfway through and shake her head. Skye acted like this was normal, but already, Kate was sure this was heavier than anything she was used to.

It was clear once they'd gotten to their objective — planting some relays in a major server and then breaking into a safe that no one was supposed to know existed in Five — that it wasn't a simple cut-and-dried, in-and-out mission. They were partway down a hall when an explosion went off ahead of the team, and Kurt's camera caught the action as Wade hauled Logan back right in front of Kurt.

Wade's voice was barely heard over the sound of gunfire as he asked if he was alright — simultaneously firing toward where the explosion had happened. It took a few moments, but all four of them were returning fire in no time, even as the enemy's rounds were ricocheting off their vests and helmets.

The advantage of all of them wearing cameras was that for the most part, Skye and Kate could see what each of them was up to. But when they were pinned down like this under heavy fire, it wasn't much of a help. Muzzle blasts and ricochet sparks were the most easily spotted amid the dark clothes bunched up close — though Kate had to smirk in spite of all of it as she watched each member of the team handing ammo back and forth without a word spoken between them as one or another ran low. It was a heavy assignment — but they were nearly seamless.

The team was starting to get back into their formation — the camera angles suggesting that they'd lightened up the assault enough that they could move at least — when first Wade, and then Logan both got shot. Wade's shot was high enough that it could only be described as either a fantastic or a lucky shot, as it had gone directly through the ball and socket in his left arm — blowing it entirely so he couldn't even hold it upright.

Logan's was one that went through his arm — the long way, the bullet lodging just under the arm — and though he didn't lose use of it right away, both of them were swearing up a streak as soon as it happened. Maverick rushed ahead to try and take out the sniper that had hit them, and Kurt tried to cover their other side, though he was obviously distracted by both of his friends in clear pain.

When another bullet whizzed past Logan's ear, though …

"Dumb sonofabitch doesn't know when to stop," Logan snarled before he darted out past Maverick at a dead run, gun long forgotten. The enemy fire was concentrated and heavy, and Wade let out a quiet 'oh crap, not again' before he ran right after Logan.

The last Kurt saw of either of them was when Logan clearly vaulted over a low wall … with Wade not ten steps behind him.

For a moment, the gun fire increased, and Kurt made a move to follow, but Maverick grabbed his arm and hauled him back before the gunfire died out very quickly after that. "Now we go get them," Maverick said.

The two of them came to the same point Logan and Wade had gone, and Maverick cautiously looked over the barrier before he gave Kurt the signal to go forward. "I've got your back. We need to get back into formation if we can and get the hell out."

Wade and Logan were both leaning against a low concrete wall. Both of them were panting heavily and coated in a layer of blood, more or less. Though they were both bleeding themselves, it was clear that Logan anyhow had gotten too close when he'd cut up some of the soldiers — if the splatter was any indicator.

Logan looked up at Kurt for a moment. "Our original exit's shot. Which way?"

Kurt blinked at his blood-covered friend and cleared his throat before he consulted his readout and nodded, pointing the way wordlessly. If he said anything, it might be to tell Logan just what he thought about this team and their missions.

Logan nodded and took his gun back from Maverick — who had thoughtfully picked it up before he and Kurt came after them — and with a long exhale, they took up their positions and booked it out of there. But, by the time they got nearly to the checkpoint, both of their injured number were slowing down substantially — though if it was from their wounds or the amount of exertion they'd put into that final push …

"I got the tall one," Maverick said, taking a few quick steps to more or less catch Wade as he swayed on the spot. And Kurt moved to do the same for Logan, wrapping his arm around Logan's shoulders as he shook his head at his friend.

"You don't gotta do that," Logan said slowly.

"I think I will anyway," Kurt said, still shaking his head.

"We did okay till that bomb went off," Logan said, trying to figure out where the trouble had come from.

"Yes, and now you are covered in blood," Kurt pointed out.

"I did notice that," Logan said as they stepped on to the waiting plane. The little group was taking off their gear as the plane lifted off, not bothering with seats until they were free of the stiff armored gear.

That at least helped with removing some of the blood splatter — that which wasn't dried already anyhow — and it showed the extent of the injuries both Logan and Wade had sustained as their teammates forcibly directed them into seats.

"Through and through," Maverick told Wade. "Got some bits of bone ... but .. they can probably fix it well enough." He turned toward Kurt. "What about you?"

"It looks like whoever's on tonight is going to have to dig out a round," Kurt said, frowning deeper at his friend as Logan tipped his head to the side.

"No, Elf. He means what about you — you didn't get out scot-free," Logan told him, reaching out to where Kurt's uniform was a more wet-looking black.

Kurt looked down in obvious surprise. "That… I didn't notice it," he muttered out.

"I noticed," Logan said as he helped Kurt get to a point that he could see the wound in his shoulder better. "I'm not the only one getting dug into." Logan got up and made his way over to the medical cabinet across the aisle and returned with three loaded syringes. "Where you want it?" he asked as Wade took his shot to give to himself. He sat down across from Kurt and held out the dose. "Unless you want me to give it to you."

Kurt let out a sigh. "Go ahead."

He nodded his head and rolled up Kurt's sleeve before he slipped him the dose quickly. "Should last us until we land, anyhow."


Skye's Office


"Any final word from the boys yet?" Fury asked as he invited himself to Skye's office, his hands on his hips and a glare on his face.

The two girls glanced up at the director and shook their heads in unison. "Not yet," Skye said.

"Who have we got on medical tonight?" he asked.

"Looks like everyone but Mav," Skye told him.

"And Simmons is out for the evening," he replied, shaking his head. "Any word on how bad?" He didn't wait for an answer before he changed his mind and pointed Skye's way. "Make them check in." Fury was pacing, clearly frustrated.

Skye nodded and leaned into the comm for a moment. "Check in, guys. I need everybody."

"Nobody died," Wade sang out. "We're just … we're just a little high. It's fine."

Skye and Kate glanced at each other with ill-hidden chuckles as Skye reached for the comm to call Cecilia in, and it wasn't long before the doctor showed up with a distinctly unamused expression, since she had been on shift for the main medical bay for SHIELD personnel after a recent Hydra hit.

"I've been half covered in blood all night. Stitches and concussions … please tell me these guys aren't going to be a major patch job. Please," Cecelia said, already sounding tired.

"You know I have no control over that," Fury replied before he took to the comm himself to ask the guys to check in. "I need a check in from everyone — individually, right now."

There was a chuckling over the comms, and one by one they all called out their code names — though Logan and Kurt switched with each other.

Fury shook his head. "I wish they'd check in before they self medicate," he said before he hit the comm button again. "Do you need medical intervention? Celia would like to know how bad you're all doing if there is trouble"

There was about five seconds' lag before the radio room started to echo with a rhythm of stomping and clapping before the whole of Team X came through the radio …

'Celia, you're breaking my heart, You're shaking my confidence daily. Oh Ce-cilia, I'm down on my knees, I'm begging you please to come home.'

"They're drugged," Celia said with a look of disbelief, but Kate ooked like Christmas had come early.

"Yes they are," Fury said, shaking his head.

'Making love in the afternoon with Cecilia up in my bedroom. I got up to wash my face when I came back to bed someone's taken my place. CELIA you're breaking my heart, you're shaking my confidence daily OH CE-CILIA I'M DOWN ON MY KNEES … '

"Knock it off," Fury called out over the singing as laughter erupted along with the song from the team. "We'll have full medical for you on your arrival."

Kate grinned even wider as she leaned forward. "The tenor's mine," she informed the rest of the room.

Skye was trying to hide her smile as Fury and Celia left the room. "That … is a first."

"What, you mean they don't serenade you every time? They are slacking."

"Are you kidding me? If they did that every mission, I'd be selling tickets," she laughed.

"You'd sell out in a second too. They aren't half bad," Kate said, shaking her head. "They must really be hurting… I've never heard Logan sing."

"He does when he's drunk," Skye told her. "Like … really, really drunk."

"And I missed it?"

"You've missed so much," she said, nodding slowly. "Singing included." The girls got up and headed for the medical bay — no reason to head to the hangar when they knew where the guys were going to be headed.

"Well, as his apparent secret girlfriend, I feel like I should have been serenaded by now," Kate teased, bumping Skye's shoulder as they walked.

"You'll just have to get him drunk," Skye decided. "Which he can't do if he's on painkillers. Maybe you'll get lucky and they'll still be high enough to continue when they get here?"

"Well, we'll just have to plan a party. Maybe a victory celebration. Kill a princess, name you director, all that," Kate said with a wave of her hand.

"We'll have to see what's next. Anyone have a birthday coming?"

"Wade and Cassie celebrate in June… actually, I think Scott too. Don't think he's the drinking party type, though," Kate laughed.

"No, definitely not," Skye agreed with a smile. "His mom and dad would never allow it."

"I dunno. Mac's pretty cool for a Sentinel," Kate teased.

"Oh, for sure," she agreed. "And … you know that troublemaking gene has to be shared."

"Oh absolutely." Kate nodded seriously. "We should find out when his birthday is. Logan will get him started… maybe he's got a decent bass too…."

"I'm reasonably sure Scott won't let Logan do anything for him if he can avoid it."

"Well…" Kate tipped her head to the side. "Maybe this time we'll let him do a family party. Just this once. Just because it's the first."

"And he's only going to be what … seventeen?" Skye asked.

"Going on thirty," Kate chuckled.

"Going on forty, who are you kidding?"

Kate leaned forward with a twinkle in her eyes. "Yeah, but he loosens up around Clara and her wolf," she whispered.

"Does he loosen up enough to take a compliment?"

"Only when he thinks it's just the two of them."

"Sounds about right," she said, though the two of them stepped back as the medical staff rushed by — with Logan and Wade both solidly out on stretchers and Kurt being fussed over as two nurses tried to clean the shoulder wound. "Looks like you've got a shorter wait than I do."

"Well, heaven forbid they make me wait around on these," Kate teased, holding her crutches out to the side. "The other two are just being considerate for me."

"Well , mine's not going to be too happy. Every time he comes in like this, Simmons comes in after the regular docs are done and starts … poking. I'm starting to think he's right and that she's waiting on purpose."

"She has a warped sense of humor," Kate laughed.

"She just wants un-drugged samples, but … come on."

"She wants un-drugged Logan," Kate corrected. "He likes to hit on her to make Fitz mad otherwise."

"Only if he's around," Skye said with a laugh. "I'd pay to see him pull that stunt on them when he was high. That … you know he'd lay it on thick."

"Oh yeah. By the time he was done with them, Fitz would be so purple he'd be proposing by midnight just to make it stop."

"Put that on the to-do list," Skye muttered under her breath. "He got them to kiss when he locked them in the lab with nothing else to do but drink champagne and eat chocolates. Devious."

Kate giggled. "Well, someone had to do it. We were wondering what finally pushed them over the edge."

"That's why May owes him a bottle of booze," Skye confided.

"Well that just explains everything," Kate laughed. She gave Skye a crooked grin and a two-fingered salute as she maneuvered to climb into a seat by Kurt. "Have fun with your bass!"