Virus Vulnerability

The first few days after getting out of isolation felt wonderful. Skye was practically walking on air as she got to make her own food, eat with her teammates, spar, and even take a run around the outside of the base. Those things were great but she hadn't counted on how much she'd gotten used to communicating with Grant every day and she missed him terribly. She found herself wishing she could tell him everything that was going on, all that she was doing or not doing. Grant was a keen observer of human nature and Skye really wanted to hear his analysis of situations or his humorous opinions of her coworkers.

As much as she wanted to, Skye couldn't risk using her secure email because people could wander into her room as she was writing or she might have to leave her computer at a moment's notice and wouldn't be able to lock it down. To compensate, she entertained herself by thinking of things she'd tell Grant if she could. Bobbi and Hunter are like magnets. You never know if it's a compelling day where they're joined at the lips or if it's an opposite day where they're repelled by each other. After a late-night bullshit session, Skye wished she could talk with Grant about Trip. How is a guy who comes from Howling Commando ancestry so laidback? After a while though, she stopped because having thoughts she wanted to share but couldn't made her too lonely.

She told herself that Grant's team was working on a plan for them and tried not to worry about it. But she wondered if he was going on any missions. If so, this was risky and she would be concerned. She also thought a lot about something she hadn't had the nerve to bring up to him: his relationship with Kara. He'd talked about Kara casually but they lived and trained together. She'd also looked up her file and discovered that Kara was quite beautiful. Skye knew first-hand just how easy it was to become intimate with someone you lived and worked with so closely, especially if both people were attractive. And, let's face it, Grant's incredibly hot. Plus, his attention to detail and general skills made him a very desirable roommate. Some of the Playground agents weren't nearly as accommodating and the contrast irritated her.

By the end of the week, the waiting to communicate with Grant was wearing on her. Other people were noticing too. Hunter made an unkind comment about hormones at breakfast one morning (Bobbi quickly shut him down, saving Skye the trouble) while Jemma asked twice if anything was wrong. Skye was grateful that Trip didn't say anything but she caught him looking at her speculatively whenever he thought she wasn't paying attention. She didn't want to lie to her teammates but she also couldn't tell them the truth. This made her interactions with them uncomfortable, something she really didn't like since it once again made her feel like an outsider.

To make everything even more difficult, they got another of the COP calls. COP was what they were labeling the communications that led to the capture of enemy agents, illegal weapons and stolen equipment because they were Collect On Pickup. These mini-missions had become so routine that only lower level agents were sent to retrieve the "package." Most agents didn't even blink an eye whenever they passed someone carrying alien technology, a mass of weapons or captured enemy agents with glum expressions. Skye schooled her face not to react but she got a secret thrill from realizing just how much Grant was once again making himself into an asset. This is going to work!

Skye was in the gym during the most recent return from a COP. She'd gotten a glimpse of people walking by with prisoners and equipment but didn't let it distract her from the intense workout she'd devised for herself that day. Cold showers were for the birds, so instead of talking with Grant, she worked out. She was so heavily involved in perfecting her uppercut on the punching bag that she didn't realize anything was amiss until she heard the team called into the conference room over the loudspeaker.

Skye wiped herself down as much as she could, then hurried into the conference room. Most of the team was already assembled. "What's wrong?" she whispered to a grim-faced Jemma as she slipped into a seat next to her at the large oak table.

Jemma just shook her head as Coulson came into the room, his expression forbidding. He started talking before he was even completely in the room. "As you all know, we got another COP today. There was the usual calling card but this time it said, "Compliments of Grant Ward and Kara Palamas." The disgust in his voice when he said Grant's name made Skye squirm a bit in her seat.

"Kara Palamas?" Bobbi asked sharply. There was a slight, barely detectable undercurrent of fear in her tone.

Coulson nodded shortly. "Do you know her?"

Skye was puzzled by the way the always-confident Bobbi seemed to shrink at the question. Everyone else seemed startled by Bobbi's outburst too, even Hunter, since they all were staring at her in surprise. What's going on?

"Not really," Bobbi said quietly. "I've…just heard the name before."

Coulson paused, looking like he wanted to say something more, then turned his attention back to the rest of the group. "Kara Palamas was a SHIELD agent, one of our best. She disappeared after the Triskellion fell. There've been rumors that she was captured and brainwashed by Hydra but the information was considered speculative at best. Her association with Grant Ward now seems to confirm those rumors."

Oh, for Pete's sake! Coulson appeared to be straining to make Grant look bad, leading Skye to wonder if Grant was right about Coulson not liking him even prior to his reveal as Hydra. This was frustrating because it led to questions about Coulson's objectivity about mission-related information. Hydra was the organization most hurt by the pick-ups, so anyone with any skill for analysis could figure out that they weren't the ones arranging them.

Skye knew she should keep quiet since she didn't want to raise suspicion about her relationship to Grant but she couldn't help herself. "Why would Hydra give us these deliveries?" She hoped her tone sounded casual and not hostile.

"Skye's right," May said unexpectedly (This was so astonishing that it took all of Skye's self-control not to blurt out, "I am?") "It doesn't make any sense for them to do that, especially since this delivery included Sunil Bakshi and two of his top lieutenants."

"Bakshi?" Bobbi asked.

Coulson looked irritated. "Have you heard his name before too?" Skye sat up in her chair. Bobbi and Coulson always seemed to be close. Next to May, she was the one he consulted when anything serious was going on and Skye had seen them laughing together more than once. Something must be seriously wrong for the usually mild-mannered Coulson to be so sarcastic toward one of his favorite agents.

"Yes, sir!" Bobbi said. Despite his sharp tone, she seemed to regain some of her customary confidence. "He's one of the top leaders in Hydra, second only to Daniel Whitehall. He was who I reported to when I was undercover."

Coulson nodded thoughtfully. "This particular delivery does appear to deal Hydra a severe blow," Coulson said in a skeptical tone at odds with what he'd just said. "In addition to capturing Bakshi and his top aides, we also got the Asgardian staff and the plasma particle beam that we found in Peru along with several other items stolen from the Fridge."

Skye felt excitement trickle down her spine. The rest of the team might not understand the significance of the COP gifts but she did. This had to be the beginning of the big push to get Grant and Kara back into SHIELD. Grant's team was upping the ante, offering important captives while also revealing the existence of Kara as a team member. And Grant was returning material that was taken because of his actions. Two of the larger gifts were even ones he'd had direct involvement with. The message behind the delivery was so crystal clear to Skye that she was starting to think the others were kind of dense.

"The Asgardian staff and the plasma particle beam were items Ward helped us get," Fitz said. His speech had gotten much better since he'd been working with a speech therapist but he still had to speak slowly. "And he was involved in the raid on the Fridge when most of those items were stolen."

Skye hid her smirk. Maybe not everyone is dense.

May crossed her arms in front of her. "What's your point?" she asked harshly.

Skye winced. May tended to be gentle with Fitz (by May standards) and was generally one of his biggest supporters. Fitz appeared unaffected by her anger. He shrugged. "I'm not sure. But all these deliveries kind of seem like a way for him to say he's sorry."

There was a pregnant pause, then the room erupted into chaos as everyone started talking all at once. Skye could hear Jemma reminding Fitz that Grant dropped them in the ocean (As if Fitz could forget!), May saying no one should ever trust Grant (Oh boy!), Bobbi pondering the importance of capturing Bakshi (More than you know, Bobbi.) and Hunter commenting that they seemed to hate Grant Ward more than they do Whitehall (Good point.).

Skye didn't air her own views but just listened, trying to figure out who besides Fitz might be an ally for Grant. She'd just determined that perhaps Trip and Hunter could be won over but that Mack or Bobbi's true feelings were still a mystery when Coulson's, "That's enough!" cut through her musings. The room immediately got quiet as all eyes turned to Coulson.

"We have bigger problems than Ward's motivations. Ever since the coronavirus hit, it's been standard procedure to check the temperatures of all captives." The room was now deadly silent as everyone braced for what was to come. "All three Hydra prisoners not only had elevated temperatures but also exhibited other signs of the virus. They, as well as all members of the team that picked them up, are now in quarantine."

You could've heard a pin drop. Although the virus was contained for now, the implication was clear: the coronavirus had penetrated their facility. Everyone was vulnerable.

Skye almost groaned aloud. Although she was scared of getting sick (no thanks, those symptoms are definite do not wants!), her larger fear was that she didn't know when she'd be able to see Grant again. This new development was going to be a huge setback. "What are we doing to do?"

"For the most part, we're going to do what we've been doing," Coulson said. "Agent Simmons and her team have been preparing for this for months. They've converted the vaults in the basement into quarantine rooms and we've stockpiled PPE. We should be fine. But just to be sure, new safety protocols will be implemented. Everyone will be required to take their temperature before leaving quarters in the morning. If your temperature is elevated, you will isolate yourself until such time as you're cleared for duty again. The entire Playground will be tested weekly and any gatherings will be limited to under 5 people. Time in the gym will be allowed according to a strict schedule so that everyone can exercise at least six feet apart. And no more sparring."

The last safety precaution didn't go over well – there was audible grumbling – but it was clear that no one wanted to risk exposure. The base was such tight quarters that infection would spread like wildfire.

"We're not expecting any visitors for a while but if any come, they'll be required to wear a mask at all times and their temperature will be taken upon arrival." Coulson paused, making eye contact with each person. "I don't need to remind you how serious this situation is. We can't help anyone if we're sick ourselves."

Next to Coulson, May nodded. "No one's saying the new protocols won't be tough but, if we do this right, it'll only be for a few weeks."

Skye smothered a grin as she left the briefing room, thinking how odd it was to hear May try to be reassuring. This pandemic has brought out different sides to people. Maybe it hasn't been all bad.