Grant groaned tiredly. His alarm was going off. He was just always tired. It was like he didn't sleep at all. He had slept though, through the night. Or at the very least he didn't remember waking up. The agent twisted himself out of bed and stretched. He pulled a shirt on and meandered into the bathroom. It was around nine o'clock. Not that he had to be anywhere but he really did need to stick to some kind of schedule. He didn't need to work for a while this week. Shift had been pushed back two hours.
"Good morning Ward." Apparently everyone was sleeping or busy, usually Agent May didn't monitor.
"Good morning. I'm going to disconnect for a while." Grant responded. The small-ish device was starting to make his ear sore.
"Copy that." May responded in her rather monotone way.
Grant walked out and set the earpiece on his dresser checking the lock and the alarm system. He went back into the bathroom. He really didn't want to look in the mirror but look he did. It looked like someone had punched him in either eye. The agent sighed. He showered off quickly and pulled out the small bag. It was pretty much your everyday cosmetics kit. He could change his skin tone or completely alter the shape of his face. The Shield Operative could be at least thirty different people with this kit. Or, for now, he could just hide his fatigue. He didn't even know what this crap was called but it covered up the bruise color under his eyes. Then he used the little trick he learned from a friend.
"Agent Ward?" The piece buzzed. "Just an update. Caleb is on the move."
"Got it." Grant said.
He could catch up to him later. He pulled the metal spoon out of the freezer and placed it up under his eyes. It burned for a second then the metal warmed up. He put it back and took out the other utensil and repeated for his other eye. He glanced in the mirror. Perfectly well rested. Grant pulled on his clothes, it still felt weird not being in a suit, and retrieved his comm.
"All right May. Where is he?" Grant picked up the car keys.
There were a few clicks and a whirr. "Looks like he's headed back to that little cafe where he first contacted you."
Grant nodded locking the door behind him. "They have good coffee there."
He started his car. It was going to be one hell of a day. The whole sky was crowded with big nasty grey-black looking clouds. Grant spun the dial on the radio to an AM station.
"Good morning folks! This is Kathy Davy with this morning's weather." The guy was named Kathy. "As you can see we're in for an interesting day here folks. We have a big nasty looking thunderstorm squatting right over top of us. This sucker's meant to go hell bent for leather around six this afternoon. We are recommending everyone gets inside and stays there. For today, it's going to be a bit chilly with small downpours here and there, just a little teaser trailer of the show tonight. And now for our traffic."
"Thanks Kathy." A girl's voice took over. "Traffic report brought to you by Anderly Furnishing Company. No accidents today but construction is causing some major back-ups along the highway. Those who take route 77 east I would highly suggest another way to work today. If you see a problem, give us a call at 1-800-carstop that's 1-800-carstop."
Grant flicked the radio off. He'd be back well before the storm. It started to drizzle a bit. He flicked on his headlights and windshield wipers. Other cars whipped passed him trying to get where ever they were going. He drove the bridge over the highway. Everyone in their cars, highways full of people going somewhere, somewhere, somewhere, nowhere. There were a lot of brake lights on.
"I guess they weren't kidding about the traffic." Grant murmured.
"A Shield Agent caught in traffic?" Skye apparently had woken up.
"No." Grant replied simply.
His drive continued in the silent noise of rain on the roof. He pulled his car into the café parking lot. He saw two people carrying a big box through the rain toward the front door. Caleb was soaked and so was the bartender guy, Jason.
"This could be suspicious activity." Grant reported.
He pulled out the glasses that let his team see what he did.
"Copy Ward." Coulson finally woke up too. "Move in to intercept."
"Or you could just look through the box." Skype put in boredly.
Grant flipped the vision of the glasses to the ex-ray. First of all Caleb had a really nice body. Second of all there seemed to be lengths of solids and different panels in the box. The label was so washed by the heavy rain they couldn't read it.
"Un-identifiable." Coulson reported after a minute or two of looking.
The door was bumped as they tried to muscle it through and it swung closed on the box, trapping them in the doorway.
"Hang on." Grant said.
He got out hopping quickly through the rain. The dark haired man pulled the door back open for them. They got the box inside. Caleb and Jason set the box down panting.
"Thanks Grant." Caleb smiled.
Jason held his chest breathing hard.
Grant frowned. "You ok?"
The guy waved him off. "Asthma." He stated catching his wind finally.
"All righty then." Caleb dusted his hands off. "How many more?"
"I think there's two more." Jason peered through the rain at the open semi-truck trailer.
"How many chairs did you order?" Caleb asked exasperated. "We're never going to get these all put together."
Chairs, Grant thought.
"I wasn't planning on them coming today like I said earlier." The man smelling of coffee grounds said thinking hard. "Maybe we can get a few together then stack the other two for my crew to deal with next week."
Caleb shook his head. "Let's get the next one."
"Hang on." The other man looked at Grant. "Did you want to order something?" He asked.
Grant nodded. "Yeah but I can wait. You all need a hand?"
"If you grab the door again it would be awesome." Caleb said waving his friend back out into the rain.
They brought in the next two boxes and the rain stopped. Caleb just laughed.
"It's just like the rain." Jason grumbled. "What would you two boy-os like?"
"I'll take mine straight black." Grant answered.
"I'd like hot chocolate please." Caleb answered distractedly pulling a pocket knife across the packing tape.
The blonde pulled out the soggy instructions,laying them flat on the table, and started pulling pieces out. Grant picked up the papers they tore themselves apart in his hands. Caleb chuckled taking the mushy mess and giving it a toss to the trash can.
"Bloody Swedish direction." He rumbled playfully.
He gave Grant's shoulder a gentle shove. Grant chuckled a bit holding the pieces of wood passed to him.
"Can I leave you two to it?" Jason asked setting their mugs on the table. "I gotta drop off some paperwork before this big 'ole storm hits."
He left before getting an answer. Caleb shook his head taking a sip of his drink. He held it between his hands, warming them. The blue eyes closed in comfort. Grant watched, feeling the peace creeping into him as well. His chest felt warm and soft. The Shield Agent felt his fatigue hit him full force and couldn't stop a yawn.
"Tired?" Caleb half asked, half stated.
"Nope." Grant responded snapping one of the chair legs in place.
The chairs went together easier than expected. They even split into the second box before Jason came back.
"You fellows really get into a project dontcha?" Jason huffed.
"Whoops." Caleb said checking his watch.
"I guess we missed lunch." Grant said.
It was around four now. Caleb's phone went off. He answered it dutifully.
"Hello." …. "Yes sir, sounds good." … "Actually he's right here so I'll take care of it." … "Thank you sir." … "Same to you." … "Yes." … "All right. Take care. Bye then."
Caleb shut the phone and turned to Grant. "The director says he has the museum and he wants his employees to get home and stay out of the storm."
Jason refilled their drinks and wandered back to his customers. Grant sighed heavily. Wonderful, more time for him to not sleep in.
"Hey Grant?" He looked up at the blue eyes. "You busy tonight?"
"Not really. Why?"
"Do you want to catch the game at my place?" Caleb rolled up the scraps of cardboard. "I think it's like the Chargers and the Chiefs or something like that."
"Sure. Sounds good." Grant started thinking that was an excellent way to infiltrate someone's home.
Caleb grinned broadly but it went unseen by the agent, "Just let me throw all this bubble wrap in the dumpster then we can get going."
The blonde walked out the doorway.
"Agent Ward." Skye said in a sing song manner.
"Yes Skye?"
"You just got asked on a date and had no idea." Skye and Simmons laughed.
"I what?" Grant asked confused.
Caleb swung back in.
"You ready to roll?" Caleb asked throwing his coat on.
Grant nodded. He hadn't brought a jacket. His shirt was going to be soaked. Oh well.
Jason came back in. "I can't thank you two enough." He shook both their hands. "Have a safe drive yeah?"
"We'll be careful." The blonde agreed.
The two raced outside and by the time they got to their cars they were wet all the way through. Even Caleb was soaked from the waist up despite his coat. It was just that kind of rain. Grant started his car and pulled it around to stay right on Caleb's bumper.