Chapter 5

As I left my room that morning placing the bud in my ear, I acknowledged that this was very likely my last mission with my team.

"Getting coffee. Do you copy?"

"Touring the town. Do you copy" Fitz.

"Magpie in position. Do you copy?" Melinda.

"Wallace in position. Do you copy?" Ward.

"Caatinga in position. Do you copy?" Coulson. "All members in position. Timer starts now."

I started the hack, locking down the security system and disabling the alarms. I pulled the security cameras.

"2 in entrance hall. 3 in guard room. 2 touring C." There were more guards but as they were in other buildings and hallways, they would be locked in location once I finished locking out the security system.

As Ward and May crept through the prison, I focused on the hack, ignoring the security cameras. I needed to make sure the prison software did not attempt to kick me off otherwise the team would be up a creek without a paddle. Of course, things rarely go to plan, and being in a creek without a paddle seemed to be what I was best at. Suddenly alarms were blaring. I checked the code, I hadn't tripped the alarm. I scanned through all the points.

"One of the guards tripped the alarm." I ground out, frustrated.

"Or you didn't do your job." Ward snipped back.

"I did my job. Maybe you just aren't as sneaky. And if you don't trust me, you shouldn't have read me in."

"Shut up. Skye what can you see." May was calm, but I could hear levels of frustration and anger. She believed I sabotaged the rescue.

"We appear to have an unaccounted for guard wandering through block B."

"Unaccounted for? Skye I thought you had eyes." Coulson seemed to also think I had something to do with this.

"He isn't on the roster and he wasn't in any other rotations. I can't find a record of this guard."

"I told you we couldn't trust her." Ward likely wouldn't follow any of my directions at this point.

The line went silent. Jemma, sitting across from me looked at me. "Yes sir."

So they cut me out. They didn't trust me. Fine. I would get them out, there is nothing on the plane I need. I would go to ground and find my stupid siblings.

I focused on at least making sure Ward and May had the right doors open as Jemma watched me. She probably thought I was stupid and didn't realize they would try to arrest me once the mission was up. But she also didn't realize that I had been taught to go to ground by the best. The second I heard Jenna confirm all agents were out I started to pack up.

"Skye, the mission isn't over yet."

"Yes, but I know you think I betrayed you and intend to arrest me. So forgive me for not staying. My part in this debacle is over. I shouldn't have come back."

"What do you mean?"

"I am not stupid. I know when I am cut out of something."

"You weren't."

"Do not play me. My comm was off. I came here as a show of good faith and an apology. But you have spent the entire time waiting for the other shoe to drop."

"Skye-"

I cut Jenna off with a signal. I felt the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. Clint taught me to always trust the hairs on the back of my neck. I rushed stuffing everything in while scanning my surroundings. Two men who did not look in the market for an Americano seemed to be making their way toward the cafe.

"Jemma, I know you do not trust me, but we need to run."

"Why?"

"I suspect the two gentlemen headed this way are not here to help us."

She swiveled her head. There went any hope at being sneaky. I grabbed the bag, grabbed Jemma's hand and dragged her along. She followed without protest. I guess she figured out that was the better of two options. I heard the start of pursuit behind us.

"Two unfriendlies in pursuit. Request backup."

Well, good news, I had backup if only so Jemma would be safe. Bad news, a higher chance I was going to be arrested. As we ran, I saw two more suits ahead and ducked down a side street. At this point, it was a full-on sprint, with Jemma slowing me down. Ugh...I am not Clint or Natasha who can take down 10 men without breaking a sweat. Why did I not insist on self-defense lessons?

We ducked down another side street. I turned to Jemma, and she was fighting to keep up. I needed to find us a crowd and dump the laptop.

"Jemma, when we get to a crowd, we need to blend in and walk. Do not look back, do not act suspicious."

I didn't get a response back as we turned through a series of streets. Finally, I saw a small market ahead. I grabbed Jemma and pulled her close as I turned into a crowded side street. I pulled Jemma closer.

"Jemma, pretend we are dating. As we walk we are going to buy things to slowly change our appearance. But we are going to meander like love-struck tourists." I whispered into her ear.

She nodded. Terrified.

"I promise, I had nothing to do with this."

"If you did, I don't know what game you are playing."

"I have no idea what is going on, but I am not on board with it."

We spotted some hats and scarves in a stall, we peered down and quickly purchased two hats and a scarf quickly with little haggling. As we wander down the street we grab and discard various items. I try to track the men looking for us, constantly reminding Jemma not to look around but trying to keep her apprised of their location.

"Skye, eta of backup is 5 minutes." Jemma leans to whisper in my ear.

5 minutes. We have to hold it together for 5 more minutes.

We stay in the crowd, moving through the street buying a drink, and keeping with larger groups of tourists. After a few minutes, Jemma starts guiding us to wherever I assume the rendezvous point must be. We leave the crowded streets and separate, no longer pretending to be lovers wandering the street together on vacation. I see the SUV a block or so away with May and Ward standing outside. We make our way to the vehicle when I feel a tug behind and cold metal pressed to my head.

Suddenly, the back door of the SUV swings open. Out steps the two people who I know are beyond mad. Mad might not even be the word I used. Mad at me for being here, but madder at the men behind me who are holding a gun to my head. Shit just hit the fan.

"Sorry folks, need the pretty lady here. Mr. Quinn is most anxious to meet here." A goon not holding the gun to my head is doing the talking. Smart. Makes sure the one holding the gun isn't focused on two things. Then I realize the mentioned Ian Quinn and my blood runs cold.

"I believe I told your boss I wasn't interested in his proposal."

"Mr. Quinn thinks you just need the appropriate motivation Miss Johnson." The good news, they only have my alias at this point.

"And what motivation would that be?"

"Don't worry your pretty little head."

"Oh, I am not. Just curious. One other question, how did you know I would be here?" Might as well figure out if the two crapshoots here were related. No need to allow a repeat to happen and endanger my siblings. Speaking of siblings, mine seems to have disappeared while I am being dragged back. The rest of the team keep their guns trained on the goons (and myself) but Jemma has been pulled to safety.

"Well, Mr. Quinn realized that a good hacker was needed to rescue a couple of agents in a facility he controlled. So he knew chances were you would be asked, given you are one of a very select group who have ever broken his security system."

"Why, I am flattered. Shame I am still not going to see your boss."

"Miss Johnson, I have a gun. Your team doesn't trust you and likely don't care enough to save you. You no longer have an immediate use." I look at the team and see guilt across their faces. It does not matter I realized this back at the coffee shop. A car pulled up behind us.

I hear a thud behind me. Found my siblings.

"Well you know what they say, the man with the biggest gun doesn't always win the girl." Moments later, the man holding the gun to my head was missing and arm.

"Did you just make a sexual innuendo about a gun to your head?" Nat looked giddy at the humor.

"I felt that it was a rather apropos statement."

Clint was clearly not amused and still ensuring that any threat to my person was removed and dealt with. He kneeled down to the one conscious person, "Let me make one thing clear. You made a mistake coming after her. You made a bigger mistake in doing it and thinking I would make good bait."

"Ohhh...all this time, I always thought I would be bait. Turns out, I am not always right."

"Are you always this cheerful when individuals take you hostage?" Ward asked as handcuffs were being placed on me.

Nat was there in an instant, pushing Ward away and removing the handcuffs in what appeared to be one smooth motion. "Touch her and I will cut off all your limbs and feed it to you."

"No. But I also was pretty sure that with the present company I was safe."

"You are in trouble." They hustled me into the car with Jemma.

Any attempts at the team to get near me were rebuffed by the two assassins who seemed determined to maintain a bubble between me and the idea of danger. Ward's attempt to arrest me had firmly put the team in the danger category.