Chapter 7 Ava's Quirks Are Ready For Work

Barney's

Ava smiled as she woke late the next morning in her own bed. She hadn't realized how many people had been in the bar. As soon as her singing was done, she had been hit on left and right. A glare from Barney Ross was enough to shoo them away with a vengeance. She smiled in appreciation at him. It was nice that someone out there still found her attractive despite the bruise on her face, but she wasn't ready. She was healing faster now that she wasn't on the run with barely any food in her. The stress of being caught had lifted and that alone had allowed her body to relax and heal.

Perhaps one day she'd be able to date again. She knew Luna wanted her and Lee together, but from how cozy Lacy and Lee were she didn't think that had any chance of happening. She wasn't a homewrecker. She didn't steal taken men. She'd look, but not touch. I mean he WAS a nice hunk of man and that accent of his sent her knees to knocking if she wasn't careful. How was she going to make it through training? She shook her head from her thoughts and got up to greet the day.

After showering and dressing she felt more alive. She followed the smell of bacon to the kitchen to find Lee cooking breakfast as Barney read the newspaper.

"Well isn't this domestic?" she joked as she popped two slices of bread in the toaster.

Lee and Barney frowned and looked at each other.

"He volunteered to make breakfast since you were sleeping," Barney grunted.

"Hmm," she said, "I don't always make breakfast for the record. I have an unhealthy, ongoing love affair with a leprechaun who thinks his cereal is magically delicious."

They both turned to her with a look that said 'she's got a screw loose'. She opened a cupboard door near Lee's head and shook the Lucky Charms box. A look of understanding crossed their faces and they both shook their heads. She returned the box and sat at the table.

"Tho Reese's Peanut Butter Puff cereal is like sex in a box," she said waiting for their reactions.

Barney spit out some of his coffee and started coughing while Lee barked out a laugh.

"I must be having the wrong kind," Barney mumbled.

"Cereal or sex?" Ava asked.

"Not something I'm talking about with my daughter."

"So sex," she guessed, "You know you'd actually have to HAVE it in order to compare it."

He glared at her as Lee cackled evilly.

"That is spot on," Lee said through his laughs.

Barney turned his glare to Lee, "I don't need any comments from the peanut gallery."
"So it's been awhile huh?" Ava said as Lee set the teapot on a hot pad on the table.

Lee's eyes were crinkled with more silent laughter. Barney just pointed his finger at Lee and shook his head before returning to his coffee.

"I'm too old for this," he muttered.

"Never too old for sex," Ava said grinning, "Nana broke a hip and went back to it after they managed to replace it."

Barney covered his eyes and shivered, "I do NOT want to imagine Nana Regati having sex."

Ava decided to lay off picking on her father. Just as she was about to ask Lee about what time they'd be starting her training, Barney's phone rang.

"Ross," he answered gruffly.

He listened for a bit before he asked, "What's the payout?"

Ava's attention focused on Barney when she realized it was a job. He bickered back and forth with some guy named Church before settling on an acceptable fee. He hung up without saying goodbye and sighed heavily.

"Must not like this Church guy?" Ava asked.

"Don't trust him," Barney said, "He sends us on most of our jobs, but I prefer his co-worker."

"Church has sent us on a couple jobs without all the facts and they usually end up being major shit fests," Lee said as he plated the last of breakfast.

Ava looked at him before helping herself to breakfast. She was starting to wonder why Lee was over every morning. She shrugged. Maybe he checked up with Barney before making his plans.

They ate quietly. Lee and Ava did the few dishes quick while Barney called the crew.

Not even thirty minutes later, everyone was pulling in and taking random spots around the main room. Ava followed Lee in and stood between him and her father.

As Luna entered with Smilee, Doc smirked, "Always last little lady."

Luna glared at him.

"Oh I wasn't talking to you," he said as he looked at Smilee.

Smilee shook his head and made no comment as they all turned to Barney. Barney rubbed his hands together before he spoke. Lee leaned against a support beam next to Ava with one foot on the beam and his arms crossed.

"Church called."

A lot of groans and swear words followed Barney's statement.

"We got us a job rescuin a CIA company man who got in over his head. He's supposed to have intel that's essential to one of their ops. We just gotta bring him home alive. Rest of his team is confirmed dead," Barney said.

"I have a few toys ready for you guys," Ava said.

Barney nodded, "Anything'll help at this point. We're goin in blind on this one so full lock and load."

"Who's stayin with Tech Goddess?" Thorn asked crossing his arms and lifting his chin towards Ava.

"She's stayin here with Tool watchin her back," Barney said.

"That gonna be enough?" Luna asked.

"What do you mean?" Lee asked.

"The way some of you reacted to her ex's identity tells me he's not someone to be trifled with," Luna said crossing her arms as she raised a brow, "I just want to make sure the only other woman on this team lasts."

Barney and Lee gave each other a look before looking at Ava. She caught them looking and her eyes widened.

"Don't look at me," she said holding her hands up, "I have a feeling what I've seen is just the tip of the iceberg."

Barney nodded and turned back to Luna, "From the info we've gathered he doesn't have a clue where she's at. If she keeps her head low like she has been, she should be fine."

Ava nodded in agreement.

They discussed a few details before everyone went to gather their gear.

Lee sat on the new stool by the re-cleaned off table in Ava's work room sharpening his knives while she unplugged some of the items she had repaired. She pulled out a few cases she'd designed and opened them to reveal a few new goodies she'd invented. She'd been surprised when she found the materials for a few of her designs from her previous job. One of which she'd made specifically for her father.

When Barney came over to check on her, he raised a brow at Lee before shaking his head and turning to Ava. She smiled and slapped a thick, black band on his wrist before adjusting it to the correct size.

"What's this?" he asked curiously.

"This is just for your wrist size, wouldn't want it slipping off," she removed the band and turned back to her now cleanish table.

She held up a wide faced watch before attaching it to the band expertly, "This is not just a watch."

Barney frowned at her, "I'd hope so."

"Sorry I've always wanted to say that. Something James Bondish," she said smiling widely before pointing to the different buttons on the side, "You have to push these hard since I didn't want them going off accidentally. Black click will change the screen to track the others, click it again to go back to the time. If you click and hold it will temporarily deactivate the tracking screen and just show the time. Blue click connects to my computer."

She gestured to the new high tech computer sitting on the table away from the doorway, "My computer connects to my cellphone using an app of my own design that is encrypted. You can talk into the watch to talk to me if you need something additional and can't find a normal cell signal. You have to click it again to turn off communication. I can turn it off on my end if it's not one of the team. Now the dark red button is your panic button. Twist it counterclockwise and pull it out to notify whoever is here at base that you need more help getting out. I might not be able to do anything, but I'm sure Tool knows peeps and I DO have connections in the airforce if you need a ride. Just clicking the red button will notify the others that you are captured or in need of assistance during radio silence. Because yes I made one for everyone including me in case someone decides I'd make a good bartering chip. It also communicates with this computer. It is highly encrypted and I have yet for anyone to hack me thank you very much. I have to admit that mine only has the tracker and panic button, but you get the jist."

Barney and Lee blinked heavily and looked at each other as Thorn whooped from behind them.

"Finally someone who knows what they're doing!" Thorn shouted excitedly.

"Thorn, just the person I wish to see," she outfitted him with one as well before showing him the computer, "I gave you login access in case something happens where I can't be here and you are."

She quickly showed Thorn what to do for each situation and then turned to Lee, "Your turn."

Lee raised both brows and held his hands up in surrender, "Alright sweetheart."

She chuckled lightly as she fit his new high tech watch as well. All three guys twisted it slightly around their wrist and back to check the fit. Thorn whistled.

"Marry me," Thorn said as he stared at the watch.

"Sorry the watch isn't into long term commitments and I'm staying away from men right now," Ava quipped.

"But you're surrounded by men," Thorn pointed out.

"Yeeeaaah," she said slowly, "But I don't think any of you are gonna try anything with Daddy Dearest over here being all protective. I have no complaints with that right now."

Barney chuckled as he went to check on the other guys and send them Ava's way for the watch with the five minute explanation.

Luna smiled when she got hers. It had tiny skulls and crossbones with a small pink bow on the skulls hand painted on the sides.

The crew packed up and left hoping to get some sleep on the plane. Tool stood besides Ava as she waved goodbye and the back of the plane shut tight. She clenched her hands nervously as the plane soared off leaving them alone.

"Does this get any easier?" she asked Tool.

"No hon it doesn't."