Drabble 72: Undercover
A/N: This is for Spitfire303. I hope you like it!
"May and I will be going in as scientists." Coulson said to the group. "If for some reason we're made, Ward will be close by for protection. We'll retrieve the microchip from the lab. Skye, I need you to monitor their online activities and try to hack into their security feed."
"Try?" Skye raised an eyebrow. "Please, Coulson."
"Fitz-Simmons, stay in the van with Skye."
Jemma looked at Fitz. "Sir, do you remember what happened the last time you left the three of us in the van?"
"I can remind him." Fitz said. "We almost died!"
"And you think that was my fault?" Skye asked, turning on them.
"Of course not." Jemma said. "But we can help much more if it's Fitz and I who go into the building."
"Absolutely not." Ward said. "You two have no field training. The plan's only safe as it is because May can keep herself and Coulson safe until I get there. You two can't."
"But we're actually scientists." Fitz said. "We know the answers to any questions they'll throw at us." He looked down. "Not that I'm trying to sound full of it or anything."
"Fitz is right." Jemma said, giving him a reassuring smile.
"First, I can assure you that you'll be safe in the van. Second, I have a good reason for you to be there. May and I will need you to guide us through, tell us what to say when they ask those questions. And Ward was right."
"Wow." Skye said.
Ward glared at her for a microsecond.
Coulson cleared his throat. "If things go south, May and I can hold our own until Ward arrives to get us out of the building." He looked at everyone. "Are we clear?"
There was a chorus of "yes sir", and Coulson nodded. "Then let's get going."
This was the standard for those operations where the main goal was retrieving a small piece of technology or information. There weren't many, but Fitz and Simmons took careful notes each time, learning how to integrate themselves into the roles with the ease Coulson and May displayed.
It wasn't likely that they would ever need to use this new knowledge, but they thought it was worth knowing. Any way they could possibly help their team, they wanted to be able to.
So when the opportunity came for Fitz-Simmons to use the knowledge, it was a happy surprise.
"We need this intel." Coulson said. "MC-Squared is never open with outsiders, so this op will take time. May and I are going in."
"Unfortunately, they'll probably search us for wires as soon as we get in the facility." May said.
"So we'll have no contact with you." Skye said. "What if something goes wrong?"
"Nothing should go wrong. We just need to gain their trust enough to have private access to their network. The second that happens we can copy the intel we need and get out of there. Hopefully it will only take a few days."
"But what if something does go wrong?" Simmons asked.
Coulson's mouth was set in a line. "Then we fight our way out."
MC-Squared was a large corporation, growing in fame because of their leaps in technology. But S.H.I.E.L.D. believed their recent rise to power was because of stolen technology, and wanted it back. The mission was to retrieve the intel (expanded upon since it had been stolen) and delete it from their servers, which could be done with a virus.
When Fitz and Simmons heard this, they looked at each other, the same thought mirrored in each other's eyes. MC-Squared would be able to tell imposters pretty quickly. If they questioned Coulson and May on anything they didn't know, their cover would be blown.
They had a silent conversation and then nodded, no trace of a smile on their faces. What they would do was serious, and could definitely get them fired. But it would keep their teammates out of danger.
They were going to go undercover in May and Coulson's place.
May and Coulson planned to take a bus to the MC-Squared main facility, less than an hour away. It was less conspicuous than the Bus. Fitz and Simmons went with them to the bus stop, holding the bags with their clothing (which Fitz-Simmons had switched with their own clothes and materials). Skye was also there.
"We'll take it from here." Coulson said at the bus stop. "You really didn't need to see us off."
"Nonsense!" Simmons said, plastering a smile on her face. "We're a team, aren't we? Teams support each other!"
May looked at her with slightly narrowed eyes.
"Appreciate it." Coulson said. "But you should get going. Hand me my bag, Fitz."
"Uh…" Fitz looked at Simmons. The bag he was holding was heavier than Coulson's had been; their team leader would be sure to notice the difference in weight.
"Fitz." May said, her tone rising with a question. "What's going -?"
"I'm sorry!" Simmons exclaimed. She brought the ICER out of her open bag and shot May, who looked at her in shock before falling to the ground.
"What are you doing?" Coulson asked.
"Protecting you." Fitz said. Then he too pulled out an ICER and shot Coulson, before the older man could react.
Skye looked between them with a look of horror frozen on her face. "What the hell was that?!" she asked.
"May and Coulson are great undercover agents, but this op needs knowledge they don't have. We do." Simmons said.
"We're taking their place." Fitz said.
Skye recovered and shook her head. "You are gonna be in so much trouble." She said.
"We know." They said in unison.
Skye looked between them and seemed to realize that they knew exactly what they were getting into. "Just be careful." She said. "I'll keep them from following you when they wake up."
Simmons smiled and gave her a quick hug. "Thank you Skye."
"Just go!" Skye said.
Simmons turned around and realized the bus was over in its spot.
"Maybe we should move them." Fitz said. He dragged Coulson over to the waiting area chairs, and Skye dragged May. "Just say they collapsed if you get questioned."
"Got it. Now catch that bus!"
Fitz nodded, and then, with a look at Simmons, ran onto the bus just before it pulled out of the stop.
"You better not make a habit of this." Fitz said, a smile on his face as he recovered his breath from their dash.
"Of what?" Simmons asked from the seat next to him.
"Shooting superior officers in the chest."
She looked shocked for a second, and then she closed her eyes, smiling and laughing faintly. "You would bring that up."
"You're the one who keeps doing it."
"Shut up." She said.
He just smiled and looked out the window.
The bus dropped them off outside the MC-Squared main facility. Fitz adjusted his grip on the bag he was holding and looked at Simmons. "Ready?"
"As ready as I'm going to be." She said.
They walked to the door and were stopped by a security guard.
"We're here to apply as scientists." Fitz said. "We have an appointment."
The guard looked at his tablet and then nodded. "Jones and Hewn. Go on in."
"Thank you."
They walked through the doors and were immediately told to follow a woman in loud heels, who led them into a large office.
A man sat behind a large desk. He looked up when they entered. "Ah, Mr. Jones, Miss Hewn. I was wondering when you'd arrive."
"Sorry if we're late." Simmons said.
"Not at all." The man said. He pushed back in his chair. "In fact, I don't think we need to do an interview at all. I've looked over your records, and I'm fairly certain you'll do well here. You can start today."
Simmons looked at Fitz, clearly startled.
"Thank you." Fitz said. "You won't regret it."
"Finch, show them around." The man said, smiling. "These are our newest stars."
Simmons walked into their apartment and set down her bag.
"I can't believe we did it." She said.
Fitz hadn't bothered to set down his bag. He had just walked to a chair and sunk into it.
"We're in!" Simmons said.
"Coulson must have made some great cover stories." Fitz said.
They had been escorted throughout the facility, finally deposited in a computer lab with work stations right next to each other. They weren't allowed in there alone, but they were confident that the next day there would be some opportunity to be alone in there.
Fitz was surprised they hadn't been searched or questioned, but he didn't focus on it. Maybe this was just an easy operation, he thought hopefully.
"Let's try to get it tomorrow." Simmons said that night.
But the next day proved to be insanely busy. Fitz and Simmons were actually separated, running off to different sections at different times to perform certain tasks. They were certainly put to work.
And again the next day. Simmons tried to make many excuses to stay at her work station next to Fitz, but their companions made her leave anyway, and by the time she got back Fitz was off on some other task.
"This isn't working." Fitz said as they ate dinner on the third night.
Simmons took a drink. "Maybe we should try a different approach than what we've been doing."
Fitz thought about it. They had been focusing a lot on information, genuinely doing their jobs well. He realized he hadn't actually talked to anyone besides small talk. "I think we're being plenty convincing." He said. For him, that was a real work experience.
"But we seem like work is all we have. We need to connect with the other people, even if the connection isn't real."
"Meaning?"
"We have to act like we're in a relationship."
Fitz choked on his water and, spluttering, set it down. "Why-why do we have to do that?"
"It'll explain why we try to spend so much time together." She tapped her fork on her plate. "And once we have their sympathy as a couple kept apart by work, maybe they'll pair us together again. Then we can ask for a moment alone, before lunch or something, and take the intel."
Fitz swallowed, aware that his face was flaming. "Yeah, that might work."
Simmons smiled. "So let's do it. When they try to separate us tomorrow, follow my lead."
Uh-oh, Fitz thought. That could mean trouble. But he nodded. He didn't have any other ideas.
"Hewn, come with me." A woman said.
"Can I please stay and work with Ned?" Simmons asked.
"I'm sorry, not now. We need you to analyze this code for us."
"But we haven't worked toge-."
"Not my problem." She said, starting to sound annoyed.
"It'll be fine Mary." Fitz said. He sensed it was time to jump in. "It'll be all the better when we actually do work together."
"But it's not!" she cried. She looked at the woman summoning her away. "It's not going to get better, not unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot!" she said.
The woman looked taken aback. "What?"
"We came here so we could finally work together." Fitz said. "She's just over-reacting."
"Just forget it." Simmons said. "I'm coming."
She walked out of the room, leaving the woman looking at Fitz for a second, clearly confused. Then she turned heel and walked out quickly.
Fitz looked at his computer screen, aware that all eyes in the room were on him. That was what Jemma had wanted to do? Make a scene that led them nowhere?
But an hour later, Fitz saw that maybe Jemma had a point in her "outburst". When he was walking to get some materials with two other men, they spoke to him. Fitz hadn't really spoken to anyone here, so this was a shock.
"How long have you two been together?" one man asked.
"Uh, we're not-."
"Sure you're not." The second man said, clearly not believing Fitz. "We've all been there, man. Come out in the open and the higher ups will let you see each other more often. That's how I get to be with Sheila so much."
"Okay." Fitz said, nodding. "Will do."
They retrieved their materials and walked back to their room. That talk gave Fitz an idea. One hour till lunch… perfect.
"Ned, you coming?"
Fitz looked up and saw the two men from earlier waiting for him by the door. "Yeah."
He acted like he was walking over to them, then hesitated, his gaze lingering on Simmons as she neatened up her station. "We'll catch you later." The first man said.
Fitz walked up to Simmons. "You need something?" she asked, somewhat coolly.
"Yes." He said. "We came here so we could work together, but I want more than that."
The women standing a few feet away looked at each other with knowing glances. "It's not about what it is." He said. "It's about what it can become. It's about us being together."
She looked at him for a moment, and to Fitz's surprise her cheeks became pink.
The women obviously wanted to know what happened, but when Fitz and Simmons didn't say anything they reluctantly left the room. Fitz walked over and closed the door, and then walked back over to Simmons.
"Keep acting." He murmured. "I bet they didn't go far."
She smiled and kissed his cheek, twining her fingers with his. Fitz listened and heard a few footsteps fading away, and a moment later separated from her.
"It worked." He said.
"I'm so impressed!" she said, smiling. She sat down at her computer and pulled up the information they needed, sending it to Coulson and making a copy for safe-keeping. Then, with Fitz's help and a pre-made code (made by S.H.I.E.L.D. computer experts), she set a virus to the stolen intel that would destroy it on all of MC-Squared's computers once it was accessed again. It was meant to be untraceable.
"Done." She said, standing up. She tried to hand the copy to Fitz, but he shook his head.
"You keep it."
He opened the door for her and they started walking to the lunchroom. "You didn't think my idea would work, did you?"
"I had my doubts."
"And?"
He smiled. "I'll never doubt you again."
They walked into the lunchroom and Simmons was taken away by those women immediately. The men gave Fitz congratulatory pats on the back.
Fitz allowed himself to revel in it. They'd gotten the information. The purpose of their mission was done. Now all they had to do was get back to the base, which would be easy.
He thought they were in the clear until just before they left the facility. Then the woman with loud heels, Finch, told them the boss wanted to see them.
Simmons looked at Fitz as they walked, already looking guilty and worried. He tried to reassure her with a look, but he was feeling worried himself. They had to know about the virus. But how did they find out so quickly, when it was supposed to be untraceable?
"I have one question for you." The man behind the desk said once the door closed. He was facing the window, his back to Fitz and Simmons, his hands clasped behind him. "Did you really think I wouldn't find out?"
His tone was completely serious. Now Simmons's eyes widened. Fitz could tell she was about a second away from panicking.
"What did you find out, sir?" Fitz asked.
The man turned to face them. "You two are an item!" he said, grinning.
Fitz sighed in relief and Simmons laughed nervously.
"What did you think I asked you here for?" the man asked. "I wanted to say congratulations."
"I know we're not really supposed to be involved with co-workers." Simmons said.
"But you two were brought on as a team. I know you're stronger together. I can let it slide."
"Thank you sir." Fitz said.
"Just keep up the good work." He said, nodding at them approvingly.
"Good night, sir." Simmons said.
They ducked out of the room and didn't speak until they were back at the hotel room. Fitz couldn't believe their luck. Their first undercover mission, and they hadn't had any real trouble.
He let out his pent-up energy by woo-ing as he ran to his room to pack his bag. Simmons laughed out loud, her real laugh that she hadn't used in some time. As they got ready to walk out the door they looked at each other, spirits high and moods light.
"I've never felt this way before." Simmons said.
"I know what you mean."
"I was terrified when I thought we were caught, but now…"
"Now it's exhilarating." He said. Their eyes locked and both blushed.
"Exactly." She said a moment later.
There was a charge in the air as they looked at each other, and Fitz realized how close they were standing. Then Simmons grabbed her bag and it dissipated. "We should get back."
Fitz was slightly disappointed, but her words cleared his head. "How bad d'you thing we're going to be punished?" he asked.
"We succeeded, so probably not too badly."
"Jemma, we knocked out May."
Simmons bit her lip. "Skye will protect us?" she said hopefully.
Fitz chuckled. "Next time we do this, let's have authorization."
"Next time?" Simmons asked, stopping by the door.
Fitz grinned and kept walking.