Coulson was surprised to see which agent came down from the transport docked above them. Maybe we have a shot after all..."Garrett? What the hell are you doing here?"
Garrett was all business. "Well, as opposed to the level 8 jackass I'm staring at, I still follow orders."
"You're the worst at following orders," countered Coulson, knowing exactly how big a lie Garrett's statement really was.
"Maybe..." agreed Garrett with a mischevious smile. He pulled a piece of paper out of his jacket. "But I like this one. You are to immediately turn Ian Quinn over for transport to the fridge." A second man came down the ladder. "Agent Antoine Triplett, Agent Phillip Coulson," announced Garrett, introducing the two men to each other. "You wouldn't know it to look at him, but Phil's one of our finest."
Coulson was touched for a half-second by Garrett's rare, sincere compliment. "An honor, sir," said Triplett. Coulson nodded.
"Trip joined me as your specialist after Ward came to *your* circus," Garrett explained. He turned to said specialist. "Go secure the prisoner."
"Yes, sir," said Trip as he climbed down the stairs.
Coulson led Garrett to the conference room. "Phil, come on," he teased. "Just because Fury gave you this pretty plane doesn't mean they won't shoot it out of the sky..." His voice trailed off when he realized where he was...and how big a crowd he had just joined.
"Why are you *really* here, Garrett?" Coulson demanded. "SHIELD could have sent any security team to collect Quinn. Why you?"
Answer the question, Skye projected into Garrett's mind.
"I've been chasing him since Malta," Garrett admitted quickly. "Then yesterday, your little Italian job cost my team weeks of work."
Ryan squelched the protest that he could feel forming in Skye's mind. Keep your focus, Skye. This isn't about defending your boss. This about keeping our access to Quinn's son.
"You can't have him," Coulson declared decisively. "Not yet."
"This isn't a request," countered Garrett.
"Things have changed since that order was written," argued Coulson. "We have two solid leads on the Clairvoyant."
Is that why all these people...thought Garrett.
Ryan caught on quickly. Red flag, he told Skye through their mind-link. He's wondering who we are.
That must be why all these spare agents are here, Skye projected into Garrett's mind.
"That's why you called in backup?" Garrett asked out loud.
"Our little 'Italian job', as you called it," Coulson replied, putting air quotes around the mocking title, "was far more productive than we could have imagined. We have reason to believe that Ian Quinn is the Clairvoyant's son."
Garrett rolled his eyes. "Oh, so this is all about your legendary 'Clairvoyant'..."
The Clairvoyant is real, Skye projected into Garrett's mind. Shut up and pay attention. This isn't just about Ian Quinn anymore.
The complaint died on Garrett's lips. "Go on."
Ryan had to resist the urge to smile. Nicely done.
"We need Quinn on the bus so we can move quickly on the information he gives us," Coulson suggested. "You're welcome to interrogate him here if you like."
"You're *sure* that Simon Quinn is the Clairvoyant?" asked Garrett, clearly hesitant to not implement the orders he had been so hell-bent to obey when he first came on board.
"We are," replied Coulson.
Garrett hesitated for only a moment before coming to a decision. "I need to clear this with HQ before I jump out of the frying pan into the same fire you people are burning in."
Coulson nodded in agreement. "Feel free to use my office. Top of the stairs, make a right."
The group had a thousand questions the minute Garrett was outside the range of the soundproofing spell. "*Two* leads on the Clairvoyant?!" asked May, forcing herself not to raise her voice.
"Gives us an excuse to split up," Coulson replied. He turned to Ryan. "How'd she do?"
"Gold star for her first 'real' mission," Ryan complimented with a smile.
Skye looked over to Ryan and shared his smile, knowing how things could have gone without his 'coaching'. "You're still going to train me, though, right?"
"Count on it," agreed Ryan.
"Then Skye, you need to go with the Guardians..." Coulson began.
Esposito cut him off. "I think you need to come with us, too, Coulson."
This stunned the SHIELD agents in the room. "What?!" exclaimed Simmons. "Why on Earth would you need..."
Coulson, though, had an inkling of why Esposito would make such a suggestion. "Is this about...?" Esposito nodded.
May frowned in confusion. "I don't get it. Why would you need to be with Skye while she trains?"
"This isn't about Skye," replied Coulson. He turned to Ryan. "Can you make sure everyone in the room can see him?" When Ryan nodded, Coulson announced to his team, "then it's time you guys met an old friend of mine."
The SHIELD agents jumped back, stunned, as a Bengal tiger casually leapt up on their conference room table. "That...that's a..." stammered Simmons.
"Tiger," said Fitz, completing the thought.
"How did it get in here?" asked May.
"He's been here all along," Coulson explained. "But until Agent Ryan here linked all of our minds together, only the Guardians and I could see him."
May couldn't seem to take her eyes off the tiger's face. "What *is* he?"
Coulson opened his mouth to speak, then closed it when he realized his old description of the animal no longer fit. "I suppose he's my...spirit animal, I guess."
The tiger looked surprisingly relieved. Finally, Raja's rumbling voice echoed in the minds of every person in the room. You have accepted me as something other than a 'hallucination'. Now we can 'get to work', Warrior Coulson.
Simmons, in particular, was stuck on the existence of the voice that had just presented itself in her head. "Am I crazy," she asked the group, "or did that tiger just *talk* to me?"
"He just 'talked' to all of us," Esposito shrugged. "It's how he rolls."
"What did he mean by, 'now we can get to work'?" asked Coulson.
Esposito tried and failed to keep himself from smiling. "You *do* have a lot to learn," he replied.
"Which is why I need to come with you," added Coulson. Esposito nodded.
Garrett returned during the break in the conversation. "HQ agreed to let us keep Quinn on the plane for now...but if these leads don't pan out it's all going to be on you, Coulson."
"They'll pan out," Coulson replied confidently.
Skye immediately noticed where Garrett's eyes were focused...and where they weren't. Garrett can't see the tiger spirit, can he?
Nope, Ryan replied.
That is so cool... Skye exclaimed.
"I have a contact in New York who's been looking into Ian Quinn's more secure financial assets," Coulson lied smoothly. "I'm going to take my computer girl and her team with me down there. I'm hoping we can follow the money back to dear old dad."
"Sounds logical," Garrett agreed.
"I trust I can leave my 'pretty little plane' and young Mr. Quinn in your capable hands, then?" asked Coulson.
Garrett raised a wary eyebrow. "You're going to let *me* run your playground while you're gone?"
Coulson nodded. "Ward, May, Fitz and Simmons will stay with you and provide any...additional assistance you may require."
Garrett still wasn't buying it. "What's the catch?"
"Don't scratch my paint job," Coulson replied quickly.
Something else is going on here... thought Garrett.
Ryan caught the thought immediately. Red flag, he warned Skye. Garrett's getting suspicious.
Don't look a gift horse in the mouth, Skye projected. Just enjoy the perks while you can get them...
"All right then," Garrett agreed without pressing further. "I'll have the transport's pilot send the plane and its escorts back to HQ."
"Thank you," said Coulson, trying not to sound as relieved as he felt. He shook Garrett's hand. "Good luck. You'll keep me posted?"
"As long as you do the same," agreed Garrett.
Coulson led Skye and the Guardians from the conference room to the loading bay. "You ready for this?" Skye asked her mentor quietly.
"Are *you*?" Coulson countered.
Skye grabbed Coulson's hand and squeezed in what she hoped would be a reassuring show of support as they disappeared.
