New message from: APond87

Fitz's fingers stilled on the keyboard as he saw the notification pop up on his tablet. He looked up at Simmons, who looked like she was playing Words with Friends on her phone. Risking a glance at Bobbi, Fitz saw that she was still in deep conversation with the other agents who were supposed to be keeping an eye on the pair of scientists.

He clicked on the notification to read the message.

APond87 : Remember that summer you got obsessed with magic?

Fitz stared at the message, turning bright red at the memory, and wondering why in the world Simmons would be texting him - on the secure messaging program he had developed and no one even knew about - to remind him of his rather embarrassing interests as a 15-year old.

APond87 : Do you think you can still pull off some slight of hand?

The next message popped up before he could respond to the first one, and now Fitz was really stumped. He glanced up at Simmons, who still looked to be playing games on her phone. Not looking up, she must have sensed Fitz's stare, as she gave an almost imperceptible shake "no" with her head.

Getting the message, Fitz returning his attention to the screen and typed out a response.

FF&Custard: yeah i think so

FF&Custard: bad hand might muck things up a bit

FF&Custard: why

FF&Custard: what am i swapping

A thought bubble popped up and out of the corner of his eye Fitz saw Simmons shift slightly in her position next to the lab table.

Finally, a message appeared from Simmons, simply a picture of the small black box sitting on the table.

Fitz gasped in surprise, quickly covering with a cough when Bobbi turned to glance at him. Studiously avoiding looking at his phone or in Simmons' general direction, Fitz's mind ran a mile a minute. He could create a duplicate toolbox, easily. He had one halfway done in the lab anyway, the result of a moment of idle boredom last week.

If he switched out the real toolbox with a fake without the other SHIELD - or whatever Bobbi was calling them - noticing, he and Simmons would be able to get it off base. They could escape with the toolbox and somehow find Coulson.

Fitz risked a glance at Simmons who was now staring at him intently. For a second Fitz sent up a silent prayer of thanks that finally, finally, it seemed like they were back on the same page, as he was certain they were communicating via their psychic link.

FF&Custard: great idea

FF&Custard: i swap it and we get out and find coulson & team somehow

Fitz smiled to himself, satisfied with the plan and with their teamwork.

APond87: You swipe it, and YOU get out and find the team.

The grin melted off Fitz's face.

FF&Custard: what will u b doing

APond87: I stay here to distract Bobbi and the rest.

Fitz's head shot up to stare angrily at Simmons, but she appeared to be scrolling through Instagram. A sudden memory of their time at the academy where she got great at texting and getting away with it during class flashed through his mind.

FF&Custard: u want to just stay here and i run off to find coulson

APond87: Well, I don't necessarily want to do that, but I think that's the best plan.

FF&Custard: alone?

APond87: Seeing as you would not be here, yes, I would be alone.

FF&Custard: no

APond87: Why not, Fitz? It's a good plan and should easily work to get the toolbox out and to Coulson.

FF&Custard: No.

APond87: Why?

FF&Custard: im not leaving you alone

APond87: Oh, Fitz, it won't be for long! If everything goes well, once you get the toolbox to Coulson and the others, you can work on an extraction plan for me.

FF&Custard: and what happens if everything doesnt go 2 plan

Fitz watched the thought bubble hover next to Simmons' name, then disappear, then reappear again. He risked a glance at the girl who was now staring intently at her phone, eyes squinted in thought. Finally, she responded.

APond87: I know we don't like to talk about it, but must I remind you that I've been on solo missions before? I think if I can handle being undercover at Hydra, I can fake confusion for a day or two around Bobbi.

Fitz flinched, the harsh reminder of Simmons' time undercover. It was a painful memory on two fronts: they had been out of touch and she could have easily been killed. Which brought him to his next point.

FF&Custard: i know u can do undercover work. but if it goes wrong u dont have backup. at hydra u had bobbi. im not leaving u without backup

At that, Simmons looked up and caught Fitz's eye. A sad smile tugged on her face as she typed out a final message.

APond87: You have to.

APond87: It's the only way and you know it.

Fitz suddenly stood and roughly shoved his chair away as he slipped his phone in his pocket and headed for the door.

"Fitz?" Bobbi asked, blocking his exit.

"Since we're just sitting here and you're not actually asking us any questions, I figured I would go to my room and take a nap. Or is that not allowed, either?" Fitz snapped, glaring at his former teammate.

"Yeah, it's..." Bobbi said, taken aback by his outburst, "That should be fine, Fitz," she said softly, stepping back so the engineer could storm out of the room.

Fitz caught one last glimpse of Simmons as he left, her eyes wide in confusion. Once back in his room with the door closed, he pulled out his phone to send her one word.

FF&Custard: fine

Dropping the phone on his bed, Fitz stretched out and cracked his knuckles, then pulled a box of tools out from under his bed. He could finish his work on the imposter toolbox easily, and have plenty of leftover tools and materials to build Simmons several small weapons. If he couldn't be there to back her up in person, he would make certain she had a small armory at her disposal.