There was nothing more that Phil hated than being pulled out of a mission. He liked to see things through all the way to the end; to finish a job before moving onto the next one. Why they were being pulled off this one really boggled his mind, especially since Fury was so eager for them to figure out what was happening in this town. There was definitely something happening here, something very weird and to leave before they figured out what it was really made him mad.

"She didn't say when he was going to call?" Darcy asked as she cleared their dinner plates away. They had been waiting for over an hour and half now, and so far they haven't heard a word from Fury or anyone else.

Phil looked up from the mission file. "No, she just said that he'd be contacting us shortly."

Darcy flopped down on the couch next to Phil with a loud sigh. "They can't pull us off this, Phil. There is too much weirdness going on here. Annie's mom is sick now and what about that weird hair you found? We're getting close to something, I just know it." She reached over and took a file from Phil and began to flip through it. "Um, did you ever check for bugs in the house?"

"Bugs?" He looked up and smirked. "You mean like cockroaches?"

Darcy chuckled. "No, you know what I mean. Like, spy bugs or whatever the correct term is."

"Worried S.H.I.E.L.D caught us getting our freak on?" he teased.

"Maybe that's why we're being reassigned?" Darcy tipped her head on his shoulder and giggled. "Getting our freak on? That just sounded so wrong coming from you."

Phil chuckled. "There was nothing. I checked the first night we were here," he replied, kissing the top of her head. "Nothing like that to worry about."

"Good," she said closing her eyes for a minute and then looking up at the clock. "It's almost ten-thirty. This wait is killing me ..." She would have suggested that they make out while they wait but he probably wasn't in the mood, and honestly, neither was she. Her stomach was knotted up with anticipation and worry.

Phil picked up his phone, looked at it, and then set it back down on the arm of the couch. "I can't think of any other assignments in the pipe that may take precedence over this one. Not any that I'm assigned to anyhow."

"That's it! I'm calling Clint," Darcy said grabbing her phone from her bag.

"Barton?" Phil raised his eyebrow.

"Yep. His ears always seem to pick up on gossip," she said putting the phone up to her ear. He's gotta know something." She listened to the ringing on the other end hoping Clint would pick up. It was too early for him to be in bed yet; the only reason that he might not pick up is if he's at work or with a girl. She watched as Phil got up and walked into the kitchen.

"Darce?" Clint answered after a few rings.

She shifted on the couch a bit and moved the phone to her ear. "Clint!" They haven't spoken in a while and to hear his voice again just sent all kinds of happiness through her. "Hey, hows it going?"

"Good. Wasn't expecting a call from you." He sounded sort of distant, like he was busy doing something.

"Is this a bad time? I'm not interrupting sexy times or anything, am I?" Darcy asked.

"No-no, I'm just finishing up some stuff at work."

"You're still there?" she asked.

"Yep. I just got my next assignment. I'm just sitting here, reading through all this shit." She could hear him rustling some papers around. "So how's married life treating you?"

He sounded back to his regular self now.

"It's great. I have the best hubby ever." There was so much she wanted to tell him about her and Phil.

"Really?" She could tell he was smirking. "Care to elaborate?"

Not with Phil in the other room; Darcy had no doubt in her mind that he was probably eavesdropping. "Hey, you haven't heard anything around the HQ about Phil and I being possibly being reassigned, have you?"

There was silence on the other line.

"Clint?"

"Uh, yeah." There was another long pause before he started to speak again. "I heard something about that."

"Well, what is it?" Darcy asked. "We've been waiting for almost two hours for Fury to call us. So if you know something-"

"Word on the street is that Fury is sending a small team to Bagalia. I heard he wants Coulson to head it up."

Darcy scrunched her eyebrows. "I don't know what Bagalia is? I've never heard of it."

"You can ask Phil about it. Listen, Darce ... I'm not even supposed to know about any of this ..."

"Did you hear anything about me going?" Darcy asked.

"I would assume that you wouldn't be. I don't know exactly who is going on it other than Phil and Natasha." She heard him start up his car. "I'd guess that Fury is sending a small group of our top agents. Phil, Nat, McAvoy, maybe Sitwell. I'm hoping I get put on it. I am the best shot S.H.I.E.L.D's got after all."

"Well, I don't think it's fair that they're pulling us out of our current mission." Darcy leaned to the side of the couch to see if she could see what Phil was up to.

"I've been pulled out of a lot of missions to be put on other ones. It happens. It's like Coulson's biggest pet peeve though. I'm sure he's pissed." There was more silence and then Clint chuckled. "So, I don't mean to keep asking, but how are things really going between you two? I just keep getting this vibe from you, like, things are really good. Did you happen to use that little gift I dropped in that card?"

Darcy rolled her eyes. He was going to keep harping on it until she told him everything. "I think you already know the answer," she whispered.

More silence.

"Damn. Really? Like for real?" Clint sounded shocked. "You and Coulson ... like ...got sexy ... together?"

"I can't talk about it now," she whispered even more quietly than before. "I gotta get going. Talk to you soon."

"Alright. Darcy, ... just be careful, okay? I hope to see you soon."

"Hope so too. Love ya." Darcy hung up the phone and leaned back on the couch. Why did she tell him about her and Phil? Tonight of all nights probably wasn't the best time to do it. Something huge sounded like it was brewing at S.H.I.E.L.D; whatever this Bagalia thing was had Clint on edge. She could just tell by how his voice was tonight; he sounded distant like his mind was elsewhere. Damn it, she had already broke one of Phil's rules of them keeping their relationship secret. She knew Clint wouldn't say anything or report them, he wouldn't do that ... but still.

"Hey," Darcy called out. "What's Bagalia?"

A second later Phil emerged from the kitchen with a two cookies in his hand and his eyebrows scrunched together. "Bagalia?" he repeated, handing a cookie to Darcy and then sat down next to her.

"Clint heard something about you possibly being reassigned to Bagalia. Maybe with the Black Widow and a few others. He didn't exactly sat what Bagalia was though. He said for me to ask you about it. So ... what the hell is it?

Phil shifted in his seat. "It's a nation ruled by criminals and super villains. It's hidden, and you definitely won't hear about it in the media. I was in charge of a mission there about seven years ago. It's not exactly a fun place to go to."

"Let's see ... a nation made up of criminals and super villains. Nope. Doesn't sound like it would be a vacation destination. It sounds-"

Phil's phone buzzed and he grabbed it. "Coulson." He answered.

Darcy scooted up on the couch more, her heart pounding in her chest. She mouthed the word 'Fury' to Phil, and he nodded yes.

"I understand," Phil's voice had a bit of an edge to it. He stood up, and starting to pace back and forth in the living room. "If we're not shipping out for a while let me and Agent Lewis have a little more time to figure this mission out. I know. But, you also know how much I hate being pulled off a mission, Nick. I just sent a sample over to the labs a few hours ago, if it comes back as a squirrel then you can pull us out. We've already invested over a month into this, and I want to see it through! Yeah, well I don't really care."

Darcy pulled the blanket off the back of the couch and covered herself up. Phil was arguing with Fury over the phone. No one argued with Fury, unless you wanted to possibly disappear off the face of the earth. One time Darcy gave Fury a little attitude and he gave her a look that made the hair on the back of her neck stand on end.

"Give Agent Lewis and I two weeks to finish this mission. Nick, I understand the importance of the Bagalia mission, but since I'm already familiar with the terrain-" Phil was silent as he listened to Fury. "Yessir, and thank you." He hung up the phone and then nodded at Darcy.

"Are we still being reassigned?" she asked.

"We're going to be pulled out in two weeks, but at least we're not being pulled out tomorrow like they planned. Two weeks is still more than enough time to close this case."

"Can I just say that you arguing with Fury was fuckin' hot?" Darcy grinned.

Phil smirked. "If he wasn't my best friend, then I wouldn't have."

Darcy's mouth dropped open. "Say what? You and Fury are best buddies? I didn't think Fury had friends. Of course, I didn't think you had friends either..."

"Wow, you really did think little of me didn't you?" Phil set his phone down on the desk. "We've know each other since the army."

"You were in the army?" She was learning all kinds of things about Coulson tonight.

"United States army ranger."

"You're fucking turning me on right now," Darcy fanned herself. "Not only am I with a badass level 7 S.H.I.E.L.D agent, but now I find out that I'm with a badass level 7 S.H.I.E.L.D agent who was also a badass US army ranger? Holy fuck, I really won the jackpot!"

Phil shook his head and chuckled. "Fury and I were recruited by S.H.I.E.L.D at the same time. We went different routes though. He was always more of the leader type. I was better at military tactical and recruiting."

"Who ever recruited me into S.H.I.E.L.D sure made a mistake," Darcy joked.

"I never make mistakes."

Darcy looked at Phil and blinked several times before she said anything. "You were the one that wanted to bring me into the agency?"

Phil nodded. "With you background in Political Science and computers, you seemed like a perfect fit. Not to mention that you're tough as nails and don't take crap from nobody. We need people like that in S.H.I.E.L.D."

"Why didn't you ever tell me? I mean, I didn't even think you liked me before this mission," Darcy's head was spinning.

"I'm sorry," he apologized. "Of course, I liked you. I've always had faith in you as an agent. I still do. I will admit, that some times you spend a bit too much time goofing off with Barton, but you still have what it takes to be a kick ass agent."

Darcy smiled. "Thanks," she said with pure sincerity instead of her usual snark. This man was more and more amazing every second she spent with him. He believed in her, and that's one of the things she set out to accomplish; falling for each other was just an added bonus. "So two weeks? Okay, so we really need to get our butts in gear and figure what the hell is going on here. I'm going over to the Martin's tomorrow." Darcy put her finger up to her lip and tapped it; deep in thought. "Annie knows something ... her parents know she knows something, and they don't want her talking about it. I mean, I don't know for sure, but I have that gut feeling."

Phil sat down next to Darcy and pulled her against him, kissing her shoulder. "I wasn't invited back on the lumber crew. I guess, they thought I did a lousy job spray painting trees. I was thinking about going into town tomorrow to snoop around there. I might even stop at the sheriffs department."

"Ugh, creepy-ass Sheriff Dunham." Darcy played with the buttons on Phil's shirt, looking up at him with a playful smile. "I suppose, picking up where we left off is not in the cards for tonight?" she asked hopefully.

Phil chuckled. "It's pretty late ..."

Darcy pouted. After everything he told her tonight, there was nothing more she wanted to do than have him make love to her. Make love? Yeah, she was falling really hard for him.

Phil chuckled and then placed a kiss on her cheek. "You have to remember that our time has been cut on this mission, Darcy. Every moment needs to count."

"I know ..." she said quietly; smiling gently at him. "You ... you liked it, right?"

He grinned. "The lap dance? I loved it," he said wrapping his arms around her. "I'm hoping that maybe you'll give me another one some time?"

Darcy grinned. "Yessir." She kissed the tip of his nose and they both fell silent for a few moments. Darcy snuggled up as close as she could to Phil, resting her head against his chest; breathing in his scent; feeling the rise and fall of his breaths. "Was Clint right then? Are you being assigned to the Bagalia mission?" She felt him nodded yes, and then his arms went tighter around her.

"How bad is it?" She kind of feared the answer but couldn't help but ask.

There was a long pause before he spoke. "I want to tell you that it's going to be an in and out mission, but I don't want to lie to you," he said quietly. She could tell he didn't want to get into detail with it because he quickly changed the subject. "We should probably get some rest, sweetheart."

"Yeah, sounds like a good idea." She stood up and started to walk but Phil caught her and scooped her up in his arms.

"Let me carry you."

"Ugh, you are so sweet."

"Not always," he said carrying her up the stairs and into the bedroom.

"To me you are. You treat me better than any other guy I've ever been with," she said sleepily as he set her down on the bed. It was the truth though, Darcy usually picked really bad boyfriends. They either cheated on her; took advantage of her; just wanted her for sex. None of them ever treated her as kind as Phil did. She propped herself up on her arm and looked at him as he sat down on the bed next to her. "You sure you don't want to have sex tonight?"

He reached for the light and then stopped to look over at her; his lip curling up slightly. "Always on your mind, huh?"

"If you mean since the other night with you, then yes!" she giggled.

"It's not that I don't want to ..."

"Because we don't have any source of protection?" Darcy rolled over onto her back just as Phil switched off the light.

"It's a good reason not to," he said putting his arm around her.

There was silence.

"You could ... use the pull out method," Darcy said; she felt her throat tighten up. The minute she said it she felt kind of embarrassed. Thank god it was dark in the room.

"What?"

Darcy was silent again. Did he really not know what that was? "It's ... it's when you-"

"No. I know what it is-"

"Oh, thank god! I thought, I was going to have to give a step by step Sex Ed. talk on birth control," Darcy said with a relieved laugh.

"I'm just ... surprised you trust me enough to do that."

"What's the matter, Agent? Don't think you have enough self-control?" Darcy teased. When he didn't say anything in response she sighed. "Is this getting too weird for you? Am I ... pushing this ... this thing we have going between to fast? I don't want to push you away," she babbled quickly.

"You're not. Not at all," he said, shifting a bit in bed so that he was close to her neck. He loved whatever body wash she used; it smelled like cotton candy or gummy bears ... something really sweet and girly. He nuzzled his face close to her and breathed in her scent. "I love that you have an intimate trust with me," he whispered.

Darcy smiled in the darkness. "I feel like there's a 'but' coming on?"

"We just need to be careful here. I just don't mean sexually ... If we want to try to have a relationship, we need to be extra careful. We have to make sure that we stay on track. Nothing between us can seem out of the ordinary. We can't compromise our work."

It was things that he had said the other night but was just reiterating on them again. Making sure that she really, really understood how this relationship needed to be played out. "I understand. I just can't help that you're so damn sexy. You know that when we're back at the HQ that I'm going to be mentally peeling your suit off you," she grinned.

"You're pretty damn sexy too. Hottest girlfriend I ever had," he kissed her neck softly. "And I promise, that when we're alone that I will commit a hundred percent of myself to you."

Darcy's grin grew bigger and her whole body felt amazing. "Girlfriend?"

"Am I the one being too pushy now?" he asked between more kisses.

"Can I call you my boyfriend?" she asked slipping her hand under his t-shirt; tickling her fingers lightly on his chest, making him flinch.

"Of course," He chuckled. "Although, I'm a bit past being a boy."

"Well, I am not calling you my manfriend," she laughed. She sighed lightly as she felt his lips suck gently on the little part where her neck and shoulder met. "Mmm ... you really have a talented mouth ..."

"Darcy, you are so beautiful," he whispered. "I consider myself a very lucky man."

"God, please stop! You're killing me with your sweetness," she giggled, playfully shoving him away. He really did need to stop because unlike him, she did not have very good control over her desires. At any second now, she could pounce on him and that would be it.

"Alright, I'll stop," he said with a quick kiss to her forehead before he shifted back to his own pillow. "Goodnight, angel."

Darcy smiled. "Night, baby." Darcy closed her eyes and rolled over to her side. Her stomach still felt quite uneasy; she kept trying to push whatever this new mission Phil was going to be sent on out of her thoughts. Concentrate on this mission first; worry about that one when the time comes, she kept telling herself that over and over.

They hadn't been silent more than five minutes when the most bloodcurdling, animalistic howl came from outside in the direction of the woods between their house and the Cedar's.

Darcy and Phil both shot up straight up in bed at the same time. Her heart racing, and she gripped onto the sheets so tightly that she could feel her fingertips going numb.

"Okay," she whispered breathlessly. "What the hell was that?!"

Notes:

Bagalia is a real place with in the Marvel 616 universe

The comic version of Coulson was an Army Ranger with Nick Fury before joining S.H.I.E.L.D. They are also friends.

I wanted to mix those facts into my story.