Jemma rinsed off her hands and ran another couple of damp paper towels over her now-dusty Captain Chemistry costume. Next year, she would make sure the showrunners kept a backup superhero outfit on hand. It'll be dark soon, anyway. Even if people could see the grass stains on her clothes in the evening dim, she doubted anyone would care. But really, what was she supposed to do when she saw a veritable stampede of baby goats running past? Not help? I just wish animal wrangling wasn't such a sweaty business.

While she had a moment, though, it would be worth checking her phone to see if she'd gotten a response from Fitz. It wasn't as if she'd been waiting by the phone - in fact, she'd successfully avoided dwelling on the possibility that he'd refuse her, or the jump in her pulse at the thought that he wouldn't. Skye had been teasing her, of course, with predictable jokes about how Jemma just wanted to see him in a spandex bodysuit. But she really did want the chance to work with him.

Of course, when she pulled up her missed calls hoping to see one from Fitz, she wasn't expecting to see three, plus a text claiming an emergency that needed her attention. Jemma broke into a run on the way out of the restroom, dialing as she went.

"Where are you?" she panted, when he picked up. "Stay there. I'm on my way."

-o-

"It appears that they only took the fireworks, nothing else." That was something of a relief. She could still carry off the same performance she'd been giving all day, which was a minor consolation. "What's the next step? Have you alerted the authorities?" Jemma was remaining calm. She certainly was not flying into a panic at the prospect of botching the biggest show of the year. "What did they say?"

Fitz shook his head, a bit shamefaced. "The first thing I did was try to find you."

"Park security's headed down here." Mack stepped in, his tone sympathetic, but pragmatic. "Look, I'm sorry to bring this up, but, uhh…" He sighed. "I mean, we can call the police if you want, but it won't do much good." He ran a hand over his head, eyes narrowing in commiseration. "Preacher John's got a lot of powerful friends. He and Chief Talbot go way back. Mr. Quinn, too."

Of course. Garrett was the Talbot children's godfather, she remembered that now. "So they get together and smoke cigars and plan out how to set back minority rights a few decades?" she bit out, startling slightly at her own words. Skye's been rubbing off on me.

Fitz frowned. "Sounds about right," he muttered darkly. "I hate livin' in a small town sometimes."

Mack stepped over to the empty crate. "Point is, we need to focus on what we can do. What time does the show start?"

Jemma nodded, brow creased. "Less than an hour." She was busily dry-washing her hands to keep them from flying up to her neck. "Even if I could get Skye to sort out a replacement for what they stole, there's no time for her to drive them out here!"

"Let me take your car," Fitz volunteered. "I'll go to Triskelion Heights and find you something."

"Oh, Fitz." Her mouth turned down in pained gratitude. "You're sweet to offer, really, it's just- even if we knew where to find someone who was open, and even if I were comfortable making a purchase like that unapproved, it would still take entirely too long. We have to try to track down the original fireworks."

Fitz snapped his fingers with a sound almost like a squeak. "Idaho! He was here earlier. He might've seen Garrett hanging about, or seen where he went." Whipping out his mobile, Fitz punched in Hunter's number. "Lance? Good, I'm glad I caught you. I need to get hold of Idaho, can you give me his number?"

His eyes unfocused, and he brought his hand up to press the heel of his palm against the bridge of his nose. "You're not serious. Oh, for- Lance, I'm gonna have to ring you back." Fitz hung up with a punch of one button and turned baffled eyes to the other two. "Idaho…" he shook his head, blinking, "He told me he was here catering. Lance says he went out tonight with his church group."

Jemma bit down an expletive. She'd been friendly towards the fry cook, and had supposed the feeling went both ways. But now… He's dead to me.

"And what proof have you?" The head of Hyde Park security, some lady named Sif, had an oddly stilted manner about her. She almost sounded British, but not quite. It was driving Fitz a little mad.

"We found this at the bottom of the crate." He handed her the fake $20, and she took it with a pair of tweezers, turning it over and looking closely at both sides before turning her attention to Jemma.

"You have a history of conflict with this man?"

"Yes," Jemma's voice shook only slightly, and Fitz felt an absurd rush of pride. "He's antagonized me on several opportunities, but I never thought he'd stoop to something like ruining an event aimed at children."

"I am saddened by your plight, Captain of Chemistry." Sif stood very tall. "And I will pledge my assistance in righting the wrong that has been done to you." She turned to nod at Mack and Fitz, and did some kind of warrior salute with her fist. Seriously, where in blazes is she from? "As guard of this park, I shall hunt the man responsible for this transgression across the nine campgrounds. He cannot have gone far."

She put her hand on the holster in her belt that held the tranquilizing gun and taser, turned on her heel and stalked off purposefully. Mack let out a low whistle, watching her leave.

"Well I'd say if anyone's going to get your fireworks back," he raised his eyebrows, "she can."

"We need a contingency plan." Jemma was certain that Ms. Sif would do what she could, but if she was being honest, she didn't think they'd get any kind of real justice. They had no witnesses to the theft, no one had been physically harmed, and they were going up against a highly influential man. Jemma had never been one to dilly-dally, sitting on her thumbs and hoping for the best. "I need to come up with something to end the show. Preferably related to pyrotechnics, or I'll have to rethink the entire final section."

"Erm." Fitz scratched his jaw. "I might have an idea."

Anything, at this point. "Yes?"

He shifted his weight, pulling on his sleeve.

"Out with it, please!" This was not the time for dawdling.

Fitz looked at Mack. "The flamethrowers for the Quinn job, are they still in the van?"

Mack's look was flat, and frankly disappointed. "You never took them out for recycling, did you?"

Fitz reared up defensively. "No, okay- I didn't, but- you see, it's a good thing that I didn't, because now…"

"I could set off the fire jets for the big finale!" Jemma breathed out. A smile rushed over her, sweeping across her face like a sandstorm.

"I mean, it's not ideal- it's not as impressive as what you-" Fitz was trying to downplay the gesture, but she was having none of it. She gripped his hands and squeezed, trying to convey her thanks.

"It'll be perfect. I really appreciate this." Before she could lose her nerve, she planted a quick kiss on his cheek. "And thank you too, Mack."

"No problem. Any friend of Fitz's." He reached out, almost as if he were going to ruffle her hair, but apparently thought better of it and clapped her shoulder instead. "Well, I'd better go grab that stuff out of the van, huh?"

"Oh, take Lincoln with you!" Jemma volunteered. "He's helping me with the set today, and he can carry quite a lot." She pointed the young man out and Mack set off, calling him along.

"I guess I should head back to the Fungineers booth," Fitz frowned. "It's probably been sitting abandoned."

Jemma tamped down the prickle of disappointment that came with Fitz's impending departure. "Oh, yes of course. I've got to set up for the show, as well. Okay," she went in for a hug, at the same time that Fitz extended his hand for her to shake. It resulted in an awkward half-embrace, with Jemma's free hand hovering strangely until she patted at his chest like she was blotting a stain. "All right, then, thanks for all your help. Take care. See you later."

Fitz bobbed his head from side to side. "Good work. Sleep well. I'll most likely kill you in the morning." At her confused squint, he immediately backtracked. "It's a quote- it's from a mov- you know what, never mind. Later, Jemma."

He took off down the path, several yards away by the time she called out after him, "The Princess Bride!"

He looked back, shading his eyes against the descending sun, then winked and gave her a thumbs up.

Arrgh. Jemma was probably the best person on the planet, even a cave fish could see that. She deserves more than some half-assed flame jets. Not when she'd been expecting to launch a grand display of lights across the sky.

Fitz was no amateur, even if he couldn't "carry quite a lot" like some people. That half-beard's not even as tall as Mack, he scoffed. What good is he? Fitz could put something together for the finale, something that would impress her. A show of good faith to kick off our working relationship. Perhaps a nice cartoon of Captain Chemistry flying across the heavens, handing out fire extinguishers and locking up dangerous chemicals? Maybe I could- no, he really shouldn't make this about his own feelings. Something friendly, though. Welcoming. 'Treehouse Falls Welcomes Captain Chemistry - Thanks For a Great Year!' Something like that. After all the practice he'd gotten with this sort of thing while working for Ice Machine Apocalypse, he doubted it would even take him very long. Thank you, Seth and Donnie.

Of course, he told himself, it would be wonderful if it helped advertise the business - just something small he could do for Mack while he was still in a position to. And surely Jemma would give Fungineers their due; she'd been surprisingly easygoing today, even stressed out as he knew she must be. Bodes well, that's what. And, well, if she was the sort of co-worker who kissed her fellow employees on the cheek, he supposed he could probably live with that.

Fitz got to the Fungineers booth and unlocked it, flopping into the chair at the front. He tugged his phone out of his jacket. "Mack? Make sure you get the stuff for the laser lights too, will you? I've got a plan."

Author's Notes:

In honor of the Agents of SHIELD finale, I decided to give y'all a bonus chapter! Hopefully for those of you who don't get to watch in real time, this will provide some distraction, at least. And I can 100% guarantee nobody dies in this fic!

:-D

And yes, "bonus chapter" does mean that the next one will be up tomorrow, as usual! Have a good day, fellow fans!