"Wait, so that wasn't the secret?' Grant asks.
"No, it was debt due to gambling." The professor says. "How did you guys find out about the child trafficking?"
"We knew that there were no sharks on them. So, we knew that there had to be more to the story," I say.
"You both did well," the professor said.
"I would call Agent Romanoff and Agent Barton. This was originally their case." I tell the professor.
"It's your lead to it's your case, feel free to call them. I know you have their number," He replies.
"I guess it would be my case," I say uncertainly. I've never had my own case. I call Natasha.
"Hey bug,"
"Hey Tasha," I say. "Do you remember the case of the child trafficking?"
"Yeah. The one I could never solve," She says seeming disgusted.
"That one. I found the warehouse on my assignment. Well, Grant and I found it." I say.
"Grant and you?" She says.
"Yeah," I reply.
"We are on our way right now," Nat says. "We will be there in two hours."
"Okay," I agree.
"Make your plans for the case," she says.
"Me? Make plans for the case?" I ask.
"Yeah, your lead, your case." She says.
"Alright, see you soon," I reply.
"Bye bug," she says hanging up.
"She calls you bug?" Grant questions.
"Yeah, she said I was quiet as a bug. The name stuck after," I explain.
"We should figure out a plan," he says.
"Yeah, well we could watch the Romans for the day. Have Nat, Clint and I check the warehouse. It there are cameras or alarms. I can disengage them. We can get the kids out and safe then sit and wait for whoever shows up. They were talking about a meet with the big guy tonight to see the product," I tell.
"Sounds good. I suggest you two get some sleep. You were up all night and I assume you will be up most of the night tonight." The professor says shoving us off.
Grant and I start walking to my dorm. Miles and Leslie catch up.
"What's this about a case?" Leslie asks,
"Remember the stuff I had you drop off. Thanks, by the way. We found a child trafficking ring that shield has been trying and failing to track for months." I say.
"Holy shit! So, this wasn't planned by shield at all!" Miles exclaims.
"Yeah, I remember Clint telling me that nothing goes to plan in the field. You have to be ready for everything. We both stumbled into it having no idea the magnitude," I say.
"So, I guess no classes for you two," Leslie says.
"No, we are to go to sleep," Grant says.
"I handed the decoded assignment in. it was all correct," Miles informs us.
"Thanks. That's one less thing we need to worry about," I say.
"We get first?" Grant asks.
"Yeah, we did." He says.
"Sweet," Grant cheers.
Miles and Leslie head off to class. Grant and I arrive at my dorm.
"Why don't you come up and sleep here? It will take you thirty minutes to get back to your dorm you might as well get all the sleep you can." I say.
"Thanks," he says.
We head up to my room. We both crawl into my bed. I fall asleep quickly. I wake up lying on Grant's chest. He has his arms around me. We must have cuddled in our sleep. He opens his eyes and moves away from me.
"Sorry," he says.
"It's all good. Don't worry about it," I say. "We should both get up anyway. I woke up cause my phone buzzed."
"What's it say?" he asks.
"Natasha is just saying they are landing shortly. She probably knew they would send us to go to sleep. She knew a text would wake me up as well." I say.
"She's a good S.O. she always seems to be looking out for you." He says.
"She's the best. Garrett doesn't look out for you?" I ask fishing for answers.
"I mean he does just not in the same way," he says uncomfortably. "We should get up." He gets out of my bed.
"You're right," I agree getting up.
"Your bed is surprisingly comfortable." He says.
"Thanks. Hopefully you had a good sleep." I tell him.
"The best, since I got here," he replies.
We both leave my dorm. Mat texts me telling me to meet them at the Heli pad. Grant and I head to the Heli pad.
"I've never been here," he says looking around.
"You haven't?" I ask.
"No, Garrett and I came by car," he says.
"Nat and Clint both prefer the Heli. They like the speed it gives," I tell him. "So, I'm up here a lot."
We see Nat and Clint land. They both duck and exit the helicopter.
"Bug! We missed you," Clint exclaims hugging me over enthusiastically.
"Hi Clint, how are you?" I ask hugging him back.
"Better now that the team is back together," he says.
"Is he okay? Was he drugged?" I ask Nat.
"Unfortunately, he gets like this sometimes," Nat says.
"Well, this sucks. What are we supposed to do with a sappy agent?" I ask.
"Take him out back," Nat says jokingly. We all laugh. Grant is just standing back awkwardly.
"This is Grant Ward. Grant this is Agent Natasha Romanoff and Agent Clint Barton." I introduce. They all shake hands and exchange pleasantries.
"We are heading to the debriefing room," Nat says leading the way.
We climb down a few flights of stairs to get to the room We walk in and there is a large table with chairs all around it. There is a screen on the wall as well. I see John Garrett sitting in a chair at the table. Grant and he lock eyes and Grant stiffens. I know Nat didn't miss that we all go sit beside him.
"Good future agent you have there, Garrett." Clint says.
"Yeah, I picked well," Garrett says in a cock tone.
"Where did you hide him? In the forest." Nat asks. Grant looks panicked.
"No of course not. I just wanted to personally train him," Garrett says partly lying.
"If you want to lie, do better. My student picked up on the lie even," Nat calls him out.
"Alright, Agents Barton, Romanoff, and Garrett, enough fighting. This is future Agent Ward and Thorne's case." The agent brought in says. "You both have agents Garrett, Coulson, Barton, and Romanoff at your disposal."
"I'd like to hand control oner to Agent Garrett," Grant says.
Garrett looks pleased with himself. Like the cat who got the cream.
"Technically, future agent Ward you don't have the power," I jump in.
"Why?" he asks.
"Because technically this is my case not yours. I was sharing it. Which was allowed because it's my choice." I explain. "I found the evidence. I started the deeper inquiry. I pointed out that something else was going on." Garrett's face falls.
I can tell he is pissed. This is a big case and to lose it like this is a big deal.
"I'm thinking Agent Barton, Romanoff, and myself go in and sweep for alarms and camera's guards and the like. Future agent Ward will tail the suspects. Agent Coulson you will run a team in to get the victims out. After the sweep Agent Barton will meet up with Future agent Ward and help tail allowing if the couple meet up with anyone or split up. One can go in one direction. The other can go in the other," I say explaining.
"What would you like me to do? Future agent Thorne?" Garrett asks putting emphasis on future agent.
"Can I just keep him here?" I ask.
"No, sorry," Nat says.
"Dang, okay," I say thinking.
"I ca go with future agent Ward." Garrett offers. I don't want him with Grant. I can see the fear. I want him protected. I can't always protect him, but I can try for now.
"No, that would be too many people and too noticeable. I'm thinking air support," I say.
"But I don't know how to fly," he comments.
"Agent May knows how to I bet she would be willing." Clint says having my back. He may not understand what I'm doing but he knows there is a reason.
"Perfect call her." I order.
"She's on campus with her student." Nat says after getting of the phone. May comes in and we brief her. She agrees and we all head out.
"You saw that?" Nat asks when we get in the car.
"Yeah, comms on?" I ask.
"Not yet. We muted it for the car ride." Clint says. "That isn't strange for us. So, they will think it's just that."
Coulson and his team are following in a SUV behind us. Grant went off to find they victims. He's not allowed to mute his comms because he's alone, for safety reasons.
"So, what have you noticed?" Nat asks picking up on my strange behaviour.
"I think Garrett is trying to control Grant. I also think it has something to do with HYDRA." I tell them concerned.
"HYDRA's been eradicated, though." Clint says.
"Has it? just because they are hiding doesn't mean they are gone," I say.
"That's true. You take notes of everything you know?" Nat asks me.
"Always," I say with a smile.
"I knew my note taking class would pay off," Clint says with a cheer.
"Sure, the class did. There's a higher chance she just used her head," Nat says. Clint pouts.
"Don't worry Clint. I organized the notes like you taught me," I say trying to make him feel better.
"Yay!" He cheers.
"Now, you've done it." Nat says.
"Sorry, him being upset is like being mad at a puppy," I say with a shrug.
"Speaking of puppies, Kal-EL will be meeting us at the warehouse. We were on a mission when you called, and he was at training." Clint says.
"Kal-EL's helping?" I ask excitedly.
"It is your case. So, of course, he would. He's also good at his job. He can find anything," Nat says with a smile.
"I would even say you like Kal-EL," Clint says.
"Of course, I do. He's Sam's dog." She says with a laugh.
"But you always act like you don't like him," he replies confused.
"They keyword is act," she points out.
"We should jeep one eye on Grant and Garrett. I think we should keep them apart. From Grant's reaction I think Garrett abuses him." I say changing the topic back.
"I'll text you anything I notice." Nat says seriously and Clint agrees.
Being abused by your SO is a big deal. Being an SO is a privilege and if this has something to do with HYDRA it's an even bigger deal.
We park and all meet eyes. There is a field beside us. A helicopter lands. The door opens and Kal-El bolts out. I jump out of the SUV to greet him. I pet his snow-white coat. He's a purebred husky in pure white. He wears a red collar that sticks out against his fur. I wave to the helicopter that. I get waves in return. We get back into the SUV. We head back to the road.
"What's with the dog?" Coulson asks in the comms.
Clint unmutes his. "He is highly trained. He will be helping with the search and rescue and the take down." Clint says.
He remutes his comm. I pet Kal-EL and switch out his collar. There is a camera and tracker in his working collar. That way if he takes off after a suspect, we can find him and apprehend the suspect. He has done that a few times. He has even gotten in a car when a criminal changed cars without the criminal noticing. We followed them using Kal-EL the criminals couldn't figure out how we did it.
They had stolen Asgard technology. Thor was very grateful to get it back. He loves Kal-El. He thinks the world of him and finds his name very fitting for him. Even Tony Stark loves Kal-EL. He's apparently a great lab assistant. Stark made Kal his own lap coat for the lab, even.
We drive to the warehouse. We park just out of sight of it. So, if there is camera's, alarms, or guards they won't notice. We unmute our comms. I take the same route I did last time. I let Kal-EL run and go himself. Nat and Clint follow me. Coulson it watching Kal-EL's feed and relaying what the camera picks up.
"Kal-EL isn't picking up any alarms or camera's," Coulson relays.
"Copy," I say quietly.
"He did find a guard though, two big guys. Kal is staying out of sight though," Coulson says.