Chapter 57
Disclaimer: I don't own anything. Everything belongs to their rightful owners.
AN1: Thank you all for the support. Hope you like this chapter.
October 31st 2013
It has been about a week since Natasha and Clint made their surprise visit to the Bus and it was more than clear to Daisy that seeing two of their closest friends was really good for her mother and Uncle, her mother especially.
It early morning and while Phil is running on a treadmill being assessed by Simmons for a physical Daisy and Fitz are in the lab with Ward, Daisy sitting on one of the tables doing her schoolwork while Fitz and Ward are talking about Fitz's latest weapon.
"Sorry, Fitz. It's close, but it's not right," Ward comments, as Daisy looks up from what she is doing
"Really? Cause Agent Coulson had no problems," Fitz comments, and Ward gives him a less than impressed look.
"It's an ounce too heavy," Ward comments.
"An ounce? Seriously?" Daisy asks, looking shocked.
"You said you've had weapon training, you should know it's the difference between success and failure," Ward comments, looking at Daisy, "When you're on a rooftop with a fifteen mile an hour wind your target is five hundred yards away…" Ward starts to say.
"Yeah, but we do have rifle," Fitz comments.
"Loose the ounce," Ward instructs, before leaving.
"Yeah, on it," Fitz says, "Lose the ounce," Fitz says, pretending to be Ward, "I'm Agent Grant Ward, and I can shoot the legs off a flea from five hundred yards, as long as it's not windy," Fitz says, doing a pretty good Fitz impersonation, causing Daisy to laugh.
"Not bad, Fitz, not bad," Daisy admit, looking amused.
"Thank you," Fitz responds, "How's your assignment going?" he asks curious.
"Slowly," Daisy admits, "I don't know if I'm going to get it done in time," Daisy explains.
"I'm sure you will," Fitz comments, "You're smart Daisy, you've just got to apply yourself,"
"I'm not sure whether to say thank you or I'm insulted," Daisy admits, giving Fitz a look, and honestly not wanting to get into the whole reason why she finds it so hard to concentrate, though she is trying the strategies her father helped her find.
"I'll…," Fitz starts to say, but before he can figure out what to say another one of the lab doors opens and Simmons walks in, "Look, Jemma's here," he comments.
"So, Ward was here?" Jemma says, as she walks in, not realising that she has just interrupted something, "Let me guess, the night-night pistol again?" Simmons asks.
"Yeah, he said it was off by an ounce," Fitz says.
"Of course he did," Simmons says, sounding disbelieving, "I'm Agent Grant Ward, and I could rupture your spleen with my left pinky, blindfolded," Simmons says, impersonating Ward, and once she speaks Fitz, Simmons, and Daisy all laugh.
"That is dead on," Daisy says.
"Hey, Hustle up and grab your gear," Ward says, walking into the lab, "We're on a mission, and Daisy your Mom wants to see you," Ward explains, and she nods, as he does he looks between Daisy, Fitz, and Simmons, "Something funny?" he asks, looking between them.
"Poor, silly Fitz," Simmons quickly says, picking up the night-night gun, "He mistakenly left a dummy round in the pistol, should be proper now," She explains, and once she does Ward takes the night-night pistol and gives it a test.
"Great, thanks," Ward says, before walking out and once he leaves Daisy, Fitz, and Simmons all try their best not to laugh.
"I should go check in with Mom," Daisy says before leaving the lab, leading Fitz and Simmons.
After leaving the lab Daisy heads straight to the cockpit where her mother is,
"Ward said you want to see me," Daisy says, as she walks in.
"I do," Melinda confirms, putting the plane on autopilot and turning to look at her daughter, "Daisy, I want you to shadow Ward during this mission," She reveals.
"Sure, I can do this," Daisy confirms, "But why?"
"You've seen how I do things, how Uncle Phil does things, how your sister, and Aunt Natasha, Uncle Clint, Sharon, and Antoine, do things, but we're…," Melinda starts to say.
"Weirdos," Daisy finishes.
"Unconventional," Melinda corrects, giving her daughter a look, "I want you to really see how a not unconventional agent handles things,"
"Sounds boring, but okay," Daisy confirms, with a nod.
"Daisy this is a learning experience, treat it like one," Melinda tells her daughter.
"Yes Mom," Daisy confirms.
"We're about to land, you should get your stuff," Melinda instructs.
"Okay," Daisy confirms, and she heads out of the cockpit so that she can get her stuff, and as Daisy leaves Melinda's phone goes off with a message saying,
"Are we on for a video call before Peter goes Trick or Treating?" from Tony.
"Hopefully. We're about to go on mission," Melinda sends back.
A little while later Daisy, Melinda, Phil, Ward, Fitz, and Simmons have made their way to where their latest case takes place, a camp ground. Even though she is with her mother and uncle Daisy is staying close to Ward as she is supposed to be shadowing him.
"Troop leader's name was Adam Cross," Phil reveals, "Apparently, he said he heard something in the woods, went to check it out that's when the electrostatic anomaly occurred," He explains.
"What I don't understand is, usually, they're caused by a massive electrical storm," Fitz says.
"But there wasn't a storm within a thousand miles of here last night," Simmons admits.
"This anomaly's different, it has a side effect we've never seen before," Phil explains, looking between Fitz and Simmons.
"The battery blew straight up through the hood," Melinda comments, looking at the truck.
"Landed over here," Ward comments, "Hell of a force to create that kind of trajectory," He says, and as he does Daisy squats down next to Ward and pokes the battery with a stick, not sure it is the best strategy, but it is the one she is going to try.
"What are you doing?" Ward asks curious.
"Shadowing you, just like I was told," Daisy explains.
"Shadowing, not smothering," Ward corrects, standing up, "There's scorch marks all over that tree, lucky the whole forest didn't burn down," He comments, as he starts to walk.
"I don't get it," Daisy says, as she follows behind Ward, making sure to keep her distance, "Seems to me like this electroshock thingy was some freak lightning strike. I mean, why call us?" Daisy asks, following Ward through to a clearing, "What's the big?" she asks, as she sees a man floating in mid-air, "Oh never mind," Daisy says, looking amused, and thinking that things are very cool.
"So sad a man died this way, and yet, so amazing," Simmons admits, as she looks at the dead body of the person who was killed in the electrostatic abnormality.
"Fitz-Simmons any idea what could cause an effect like this?" Phil asks, and once he does Fitz and Simmons both start talking, at both the same time, so that it is hard to understand what they are saying, "Time," Phil requests, "Let's try that again, any idea what could cause an effect like this?" he asks.
"The hell if I know," Simmons admits.
"Uh, no, no clue," Fitz says.
"Seems to me like we're either dealing with some freak natural event or a new high-tech weapon," Ward comments, and as she does Melinda and Phil exchange a look, both thinking the same thing.
"Or," Daisy says, stepping forward, "Could it be someone from the index?" Daisy asks, looking between her mother and Phil as she figures one of them would know.
"There's no one on the index with this type of power," Melinda explains to her daughter.
"That we know of," Phil corrects, "I'll contact Agent Blake at S.H.I.E.L.D HQ, have him check it out," Phil explains, "Whoever or whatever's responsible, we can't let this happen again," Phil says.
"Fitz, see his forehead? Look at that endothelial discoloration," Simmons points out.
"Yeah, same dispersal pattern as the strike on the truck. Could be an entry wound cauterized immediately," Fitzy says and as Simmons goes to check something she is shocked, "Freaky," Fitz comments.
"Freaaaky," Simmons confirms.
A little while later the team arrive back at the Bus and while Melinda is getting ready to perform an interrogation Fitz and Simmons are taking the body into the lab and Daisy is with Phil and Ward.
"Daisy," Phil says.
"Yeah, Uncle Phil?" Daisy asks, turning to look at him.
"I need you to find anything you can on Cross," Phil explains, "Do your thing, see what you can find," He says, it being clear exactly what he is giving full authorisation for.
"You got it," Daisy says, before hurrying upstairs so that she can get started on her work.
A little while later Daisy is in the Command Centre searching for anything she can on Cross when Phil and Ward walk in.
"Daisy, you've found something on Cross?" Phil asks.
"Yep, many things," Daisy confirms, "Adam Cross, single, no kids," Daisy explains, "Originally from Wrigley, Pennsylvania, not far from here,"
"Been there, they have a nice little strawberry festival in the spring," Phil explains.
"When was that?" Daisy asks curious, as she doesn't remember her Uncle going to Wrigley, but that doesn't mean he has never gone.
"A while ago," Phil explains, "Occupation?" he asks curious.
"Phys-ed teacher at the local high school, and Varsity baseball coach, and troop leader, and volunteer firefighter," Daisy reveals, "I thought it was possible I'd say he's almost as much as a boy scout as Captain America, but that's not possible," Daisy says, knowing that thanks to her father.
"Of course, you'd say that," Phil says, looking amused, and mildly insulted.
"What about a criminal record, restraining order, something that might give us a suspect?" Ward asks.
"Nada, not even a parking ticket," Daisy explains, "I skimmed all his posts, anyone linked to his pages, hoping for a crazy ex or a superpowered stalker, and he's clean," Daisy comments.
"According to you," Ward comments, "You haven't been at this long enough to know that everybody looks clean on their first go-round," He explains.
"Wow," Daisy says, giving him an annoyed look, "Can you not do anything without being a jerk?" she asks curious.
"Daisy," Phil says, giving her a warning look, and she can't help but roll her eyes.
"What do you want me to do now, Agent Coulson, Sir?" Daisy asks, and as she does it is clear that she is clearly annoyed, and Phil is pretty sure that it is the first time, ever, that Daisy hasn't called him Uncle.
"Dig deeper," Phil instructs.
"Yes Sir," Daisy says, before leaving, it being more than clear that Phil is far from her favourite person right now.
"Was that really necessary?" Phil asks, giving Ward a look, as he is struck by Daisy annoyed is a lot like Tony annoyed.
"May asked me to show Daisy what being a S.H.I.E.L.D agent is like, that's exactly what I'm doing," Ward says, honestly considering there is nothing wrong with the way he just treated Daisy considering how Garrett trained him.
"There are kinder ways to do that," Phil reveals, "Daisy does good work, but she responds to what she gets in return. If you give her attitude, she'll give you attitude, if you treat her with respect, then she'll do the same. Remember that," Phil says, before leaving the command centre, giving Ward a lot to think about.
As he knows he has to take his own advice Phil heads straight to Daisy's bunk rather than anywhere else so that he can talk her. Getting to Daisy's bunk Phil reaches out and knocks on the door.
"Come in if you must," Daisy responds, and as he is pretty sure that that's the best answer he's going to get Phil opens the door and walks in.
"Daisy, can we talk?" Phil asks, looking at Daisy who is sitting cross legged on her bunk.
"Do I have a choice?" Daisy asks, not looking up from her tablet, and so Phil walks over and sits down on the edge of Daisy's bunk, and she doesn't attempt to look at him, so Phil reaches over and takes the tablet, "I'm just trying to do the work you want me to do," Daisy comments, looking at Phil, though she is also ranting to Bobbi.
"I know, and you're doing great work, Daisy," Phil assures her, "You may not like it but on this bus, Ward is a superior, that means you should show him some respect,"
"Why? I've always been taught that respect is earned, not given," Daisy explains, telling Phil something he should already know as he's one of the people who taught her that.
"Which is exactly why I've talked to Ward," Phil reveals, "Daisy, if you're both hostile you're going to get nowhere," He explains.
"It always seems to work for Dad," Daisy comments.
"Not always,"' Phil comments, knowing every well that that has backfired on Tony more than once.
"Whatever, so you're saying I have to be the bigger person? Why exactly?" Daisy asks curious.
"Because it's what your parents raised you to do," Phil reveals, and Daisy rolls her eyes.
"I'd debate that one," Daisy admits, "But fine, I'll try to rise above, but if he keeps being a jerk, my patience is going to run out….. fast," Daisy reveals.
"Fair enough," Phil says, handing Daisy's tablet back, "You are doing great work, Daisy,"
"Thanks Uncle Phil," Daisy says, with a slight smile, and Phil gets up and heads out, so that Daisy can do her work.
After leaving Daisy's bunk Phil heads straight down to the lab where Simmons is while Fitz is standing out in the cargo bay, behind closed doors.
"Excellent timing, sir. I've been analysing sagittal and coronal images of the victim's brain," Simmons reveals.
"What's Fitz doing out there?" Phil asks curious, looking between Fitz and Simmons.
"He detected a strange energy coming off the body," Simmons explains.
"He's afraid of it, isn't he?" Phil assumes.
"It's the smell!" Fitz calls from outside.
"There's no shame in it, Fitz. It's perfectly natural to be afraid," Simmons comments, trying to be reassuring.
"No, the only thing I'm afraid of is putrid, decaying flesh corrupting my pristine workspace," Fitz reveals, and as he does Jemma groans, "Do you remember the last time you brought a dead thing into the lab?" Fitz asks.
"Oh, not the stupid cat again," Simmons says, sounding annoyed.
"The cat ..," Fitz starts to say.
"And it's our lab, Fitz," Simmons corrects.
"Tell him about the cat!" Fitz says.
"Not your lab," Simmons says.
"You left his liver next to my lunch!" Fitz exclaims.
"Guys! Can we please..," Phil says, gesturing to the body.
"Yes, sir," Simmons says, "Um, as I was saying, this is the victim's brain," Simmons says, putting an image up on the screen.
"Looks like burnt baked potato," Phil comments.
"That's what happens when it's hit with close to 2,000 megajoules of electrostatic energy. That's almost double the power of a lightning bolt," Simmons explains, as Melinda walks in.
"Kid's clean. You figure out why the body was floating?" Melinda asks curious, looking at Simmons.
"Not yet," Simmons admits, "The molecular density of the victim was temporarily altered by an unknown energy source. I'm hoping to shed some light on its effects once I extract a brain-tissue sample," She explains.
"It's happening again!" Fitz calls.
"It's science, Fitz, I have to dissect something," Simmons explains.
"No, the satellite's picking up another electrostatic event, not twenty kilometres from here," Fitz explains, and as he does Phil and Melinda go running out of the lab.
A little while later Phil, Melinda and Ward, are speeding towards the farm house where the electrostatic event was detected while Daisy, Fitz, and Simmons are in the lab.
"Fitz, what's the latest reading?" Phil asks.
"We're at 324 megajoules and growing stronger…. dangerous territory, sir," Fitz reveals.
"At the centre of the signal there's a farmhouse, about a mile north, that's got to be it," Daisy explains.
"Daisy, dig up everything you can on whoever lives at that farm," Phil requests, "We need to know who we're dealing with" Phil requests, as he does Fitz's tablet beeps.
"Hold on, now. What just happened?" Fitz asks, feeling confused, "Um, it's gone," Fitz explains.
"What's gone?" Phil asks.
"The electrostatic signal, it seemed to pulse, then disappear," Fitz explains.
"We need a shortcut," Phi says, looking at Melinda, who makes one.
Over the next few minutes Ward, Coulson, and May make their way to the farmhouse and once they are there Melinda breaks in the door, and the group find another floating dead body.
"Scan the perimeter," Phil says to Ward, as Melinda climbs up into the hey loft, "Whoever did this couldn't have gotten far," He realises, "Barricaded himself inside. Went for his shotgun," Phil realises.
"He was scared, trying to protect himself," Melinda realises.
"From who? How did they get to him?" Phil asks, as he notices something, "Another burn mark on the forehead. No sign of anyone, no tracks, no vehicles down the road," Phil realises.
"Daisy, we need real-time SAT surveillance on this area right now," Phil says to her.
"Hang on," Daisy admits, as she internally debates whether Stark or SHIELD SAT surveillance will be better, "I think I found something you might want to see first, sending it over now," Daisy says, and once she does Phil and Melinda get an image which they both look at, "The guy who owns the farm's name is Frank Whalen," Daisy explains, "He's a volunteer firefighter at the same station house as our first victim, Adam Cross,"
"Our two victims knew each other," Melinda realises.
"They were both responders when the aliens crashed New York. Two victims from the same firehouse found in the same weird way. We're looking for a killer," Daisy realises, to everyone's horror as that means that it is a very bad situation.
A while after Phil, Melinda and Ward found the second body the three of them have travelled the farmhouse where the victims volunteered while Daisy, Fitz, and Simmons have been investigating the farmhouse and returned to the bus.
"What are you looking for?" Daisy asks Simmons curious, as she has spent enough time around Simmons in recent weeks to know when she is looking for something.
"A scented candle," Fitz, who is looking through the cabinets says.
"Not you," Daisy says, rolling her eyes.
"This wound, something doesn't quite make sense," Simmons admits, "Initially, I thought these were entry wounds, as if from a gunshot, but they're not, they're exit wounds," Simmons explains.
"What do you mean?" Daisy asks.
"It's not clear," Simmons admits.
"What if this weapon overloaded the brain past the threshold of its electrical capacity, causing it to discharge, like an E.M.P?" Simmons asks, and as she does Daisy starts to run through, in her head, everything she's heard her father and brother say about EMP's, to try and understand what Simmons is suspecting.
"You're assuming we're dealing with an external source, I'm saying it was something from inside him," Simmons says, as Daisy picks up a tablet, that has beeped.
"Something's happening, the satellite's picking up another reading. It's coming from the firehouse," Daisy says, looking concerned, as she knows that that is where her mother and uncle are.
