Family Squabbles — Chapter Thirteen
"No, No— he would never go for that!"
"I'm aware, that's why it's going to be great."
He blankly stared at her. "He's gonnae murder ye." The accent came out stronger in his high pitched voice.
She scoffed. "Please— he's like a soft, fluffy, little teddy bear. It's perfect."
Fitz uttered a breath that was as close to a laugh as you're gonna get out of Fitz nowadays— and all because of that absolutely amazing description of their friend. Daisy wasn't sure if it was in scepticism, or in agreement. But why not both?
"Com'on Fitz, you know he is on the inside. Plus he's even learning spanish in his free time now for you know who, it'll be even better." She grinned. "Anyways could you…" She gestured towards the screen, nudging him.
Fitz sighed. "Braw. I'm putting the blame on ye when he asks." He muttered as he went to type the (perfect) cover name into the computer.
Daisy relaxed in Simmons' swivel-chair that she stole (borrowed). "That works for me. Just tell me when you're done so I can hack the CIA, create some background info for everyone's files. And then redact all the words leaving whoever manages to come across it completely and thoroughly pissed off."
"That is utterly pointless." He paused temporarily to process that. "And, you do happen to realize that it doesn't matter if you redact et all— you still need a senior agent to sign the mission reports?" Fitz took a glance at her.
"Well aware, Fitz, I've got May's mother on it."
Fitz froze his typing to look at her properly. "What in the bloody-hell does May's Maw have to do with any of this?"
"She's CIA,"
"She's wha—?!" Fitz's eyes widened. "Since when?"
"How the hell would I know?" Daisy shrugged her shoulders.
Fitz gaped at her for a moment. "How— Why— When did you learn May's mum was CIA? It's not like May goes galloping around spewin' information like that on a daily basis."
"Or at all," Daisy remarked. "Which is why I hacked her file."
Surprisingly (to Daisy at least), Fitz smiled. There was a mischievous glint in his eye that she hadn't really seen much of since that prank war on the BUS had started. Or at all after his brain injury.
They still had not a single clue who put that shaving cream on Fitz's hand when he was sleeping— it was the prank that started it all. They also were no step closer to figuring out the one who moved all the lab supplies two inches over everyday for a week. However that prank everyone just assumed it was Daisy (back then Skye), which it most definitely was not. No one believed her though, not even AC. She had a suspicion it was Ward back then, his 'pranks' were always mental like that.
"Now that," Fitz started. "I believe, is somethin' that could be used as, something like a— a weapon next time ye have a go tae trick me into doin' yer chores, Agent Johnson."
Daisy straightened up, her eyes narrowing. "You wouldn't."
Fitz crossed his arms over his chest, looking rather smug while doing so. His only response was a, "Hm."
"Fitz," Daisy started, her voice dangerously low. "I do not want that many bruises— please."
Fitz rubbed his ear thoughtfully. "It's tempting, you know. Having that huge information in these wee hands. Who really know what were to happen if Agent May happened tae hea—"
"If I happen to hear what?"
Crap.
They honestly should have expected that. Saying her name three times is like daring Melinda May to gain inhuman powers. Specifically Gordon's inhuman power.
Thinking fast, Daisy replied. "If I made Mack's cover name that for when we drop off the kid. I bet you would glare at me."
Not surprisingly May lifted an eyebrow and (Daisy guessed it) glared.
"Yeah, exactly like that!" She held out a hand to Fitz. "Hand over the fiver, Fitz."
"Wha— there were no bets made!"
"Yes there was, we literally shook on it like five seconds ago!"
"There was no shooking previously done!"
"The proper grammar for that sentence, Fitz, is: There was no shaking previously done!"
"Ye are bein' wi'oot a doubt, th' absolute—"
"Are you two done?" May growled.
Both Daisy and Fitz's head whipped to the side to face the older agent. They watched as May dumped the CIA uniforms (that appeared out of nowhere) on the table in front of them.
"For your cover." She stated. "She said she's prepared to sign anything you need and is already backing everything up so far. Take agent Lather with you when you go. Don't forget to call the kid's parents." And then she walked away.
"Nice talking to you too, May." Daisy said sarcastically once May was gone.
"Who's agent Lather?"
Daisy slouched in her seat. "The new guy, recently came over from communications."
"Wait, wait, wait— tall guy, umm…" He scratched his ear. "Looks like a boring professor?"
Daisy nodded.
"Oh yeah, I've seen him around base." Fitz spoke as he worked. "Mack was complain' he was hogging up the Xbox yesterday."
"Not surprising exactly. He's so geeky that it looks like he should have been in Sci-Ops."
Fitz paused his typing to look at Daisy. "I'm from Sci-Ops." He pointed out.
"I know." She smiled. Daisy pointed at the screen. "While you do that, I'm gonna go call the Hallaways."
"The whos?"
"The Hallaways," Daisy repeated as she scrounged through the desk drawer. "The kid's family. Dammit— where did I put that notebook?"
"Do yae mean my notebook? The one you stole." He accused.
Daisy shrugged it off. "It wasn't stealing, I was borrowing it to find a thirteen year old's parents so he doesn't become an alien orphan."
"You took it and didn't tell me."
"Yeah, that too."
"You also took the dwarf that was definitely not ready to be used out in the field yet." Fitz stated.
Daisy scoffed at that. "Fitz-y, buddy, you're overreacting a bit. The dwarf worked perfectly. That thing is awesome, by the way— especially now that you gave them all cloaking. It's honestly a wonder that you didn't expect me to steal it."
Fitz— who tried not to focus on the praising and only of the stealing aspect of the mild disagreement— huffed. "Well, I didn't think my own teammate would turn against me and rob my most prized possession."
"I would never turn against you, Fitz." Daisy stated, certainty filled her voice.
She would never want to, ever, they were the closest thing she had to family, and… god, they actually cared. She couldn't say the same for the rest of the foster homes she lived in. They may be fighting aliens and Nazi's, but they always made sure that she took care of herself properly, that she didn't go head-first into a bomb, that she was able to stand back up after a hard blow, that she was still smiling and laughing after it all— always. No matter what. That's a family— or at-least what Daisy thought was family.
She probably wasn't the best person to go to for a reference, and to be honest— she was too afraid to ask.
"But you'd still steal my stuff?" Fitz questioned, seeing the obvious gap in her sentence.
"Oh, without-a-doubt."
"Get out of my lab then." Fitz pointed to the door with a completely serious face, yet Daisy knew he was joking.
She smirked. "Gladly, but I still need the notebook to get the phone number."
Fitz sighed, it was far too long to be an actually aspirated sigh. "Yeah, yeah, yeah. Fine." He said, shaking his head in tune with the yeah's and smiling.
"I thought it was Simmons' lab." Daisy remarked, confused.
Fitz got up his chair to look around for the notebook. "Uh… y-yeah. It is, was, um… we're.. co-owning now. I-I think."
"Good. I'm glad you and Simmons worked it all out," Daisy nodded. "You guys are a literal mess when you're apart."
"Yeah, i-it's nice... being closer, again."
Daisy laughed. "Fitz, you two deserve to be together, after everything."
Fitz paused his search for a second and scanned the room, seeming to look for people— there were none. It was just Fitz and Daisy, alone in the lab— satisfied with that, Fitz took a step closer to Daisy.
He drew a big breath in, for confidence. "Okay, um.. I haven't actually told anyone this but... a little over a month ago, here, in the lab. Jemma and I— we were, arguing a-and somehow, one way or another… we..."
Daisy didn't want to rush him by any means, even though she could tell this wasn't because of his injury— she really wanted to know what happened between her two best friends. She couldn't get much from Fitz's attitude alone if whatever it was— was bad or not, only that he was nervous about the aspect of telling her— like if it was a secret.
"And um… basically. . . ." He waved his hands around. "Wekissed."
Daisy wasn't sure she heard right— he said it so damn fast.
"I'm sorry, d-did you just say you and Simmons kissed?" She questioned, you know, just to make sure.
Fitz looked like he was about to shush her for being so loud about it, instead he just nodded hesitantly. Immediately Daisy pulled him into a quick hug, unable to contain her excitement over this. To be honest she was like the captain of the FitzSimmons ship and this was the best knews she heard all year. Well besides Simmons actually being alive, that will hold the top spot for a while.
"Fitz! That's amazing, I'm so happy for you guys." Daisy exclaimed
"Yeah, well, it hasn't actually gone anyw—" He glanced over her shoulder. "Oh! I found it!"
Fitz walked around her, leaving the embrace to grab the great all-mighty notebook. Daisy smiled and snached it out of his hands before he even had the chance to do anything, and before he knew it she was already walking out of the lab— notebook in hand.
"Thanks!"
"You better return that!" He called after her.
"No promises, Fitz!"
After a quick walk to her room and the number dialed, she called the Hallaway's home phone number.
Daisy was pacing, suddenly nervous. She wasn't sure why she was nervous, she just knew she was. If the family was anything close to slightly hostile, then there was no way she was going to let Lukian get anywhere near them. Maybe that's why she was nervous, nervous to find out the family of the kid she's been training does confirm her fears. The fears about sending him home was wrong, and a very bad idea. It's just... the gut feeling telling her so— wouldn't go away.
The phone rang four times before it was picked up, and once it was Daisy tucked away her fears and focused. She willed herself to listen and pick out anything out of the ordinary, if there was anything. There was the unmistakable sound of the Tv on, and a very high pitched voice giggling in the background.
"Kye, shush. I'm on the phone." The muffled voice of a woman spoke, Daisy guessed a hand was held over the microphone poorly. The voice sounded much too young for it to be Leona, the daughter maybe.
"Sorry about that. Hi…. I, uhh— don't mean to sound rude— but, umm… who— are you?" Asked the now clear voice. She definitely sounded too young to be Leona.
"Agent Powers— I'm with the CIA." Daisy spoke, putting on her best authoritative voice.
"Shit—"
Another voice came from the background. "Anika…" They were admonished.
Daisy hid her chuckle from the phone.
"Sorry, sorry." Anika apologised. "I-Is this about Lukian? H-Have you found him?" She could hear the utter hope rising in the young teen's voice.
"Is your mom around?" Daisy inquired.
There was a moment of silence. "Umm… No, no I don't think so. She's still at work, I believe. But, can I interest you in a conversation with my soon-to-be step-dad instead?"
Oh, so they were engaged now. Good for them. While just being married was no proof of a stable relationship and household, it helped Daisy feel a little better about sending him back.
"Anika, who are you talking to?" Celeb— Daisy assumed— asked.
"The CIA," She responded, matter of fact.
There was a small crash in the background. "Shit—"
"Celeb..." Anika mocked, Daisy heard the mischievous smirk in her voice.
Suddenly there was rough static that reached Daisy's ears, she guessed the phone was being passed off.
"Anika, listen to me— take your brother and go and wait in your room." The mic was muffled once more by a hand. It truly astonished Daisy that people believed that actually worked. "Now!" Caleb urged when— she assumed— Anika stood frozen. When Celeb had yelled the order it wasn't harsh in any way, or overly loud at all— it was in an authoritative tone yet it held a certain calm that probably felt easing towards the kids.
"Hi, my name is Celeb Dougg— Detective of the 99th precinct. What's going on?" She could tell he prepared for the worst.
"Agent Powers, sir." Daisy introduced using her cover name. "Well, first I want to say congratulations on the engagement. And second… We have your soon-to-be step-son, he's safe."
There was a loud exhale of air that came from the other line, certainly in relief.