(A/N) Hey guys, sorry that this one is going up a bit late (again, I know) but I was out late last night, seeing Annie the musical, and this is literally the first chance I've had to get this up. A Carolina chapter, but instead of being written by ParabolaOfMystery like usual, StormBlue has filled in, and I think she's done a damn good job! Hope you're all getting excited as we slowly creep towards the end!

Enjoy!


Chapter Eighty-Six – It's Your Party

Agent Carolina

Written by StormBlue


"My only goal is to stay focused on my craft and make sure my life is as sharp as it can be to attack any character that is given to me." - Michael K. Williams


Carolina sighed, absent-mindedly rubbing her shoulder as she walked. Her muscles were sore, and the hot shower hadn't done much to help. Still, despite that, she still held herself strongly, her posture refraining from sagging. She was looking forward to a few hours of good sleep before going back at it again.

The training session had been intense and Carolina had put her all into it, working hard to improve her abilities. They all had to be at the top of their game for what was coming, herself not excluded.

"Hey Carolina!" York's familiar voice rang out, and she spotted him farther down the hall. He jogged to catch up with her.

"Oh, hi York," she said, continuing on her way.

"How'd it go?" he asked, genuinely interested.

"It went fine," she replied. While that was true, she still felt she could do more. Maybe next time…

She realized she had almost tuned York out in her musings.

"-so hard? You really should get some rest. You're not going to be any use in the field if you're exhausted," York was saying, worried about her.

She brushed off his worries, even if she was touched by them. "I'm fine."

York gave her a speculating look. "If you say so," he says, unconvinced, but he let it drop.

It was then that Carolina realized that they weren't headed toward the room she shared with Michigan, and also that York was the one leading them. "York, where are we going?"

"What do you mean?" he feigned ignorance, grinning cheekily.

Her eyes narrowed slightly, and she could tell he had something planned. "Come on York, I'm not buying it."

"You're ruining the surprise. Just go with it," he insisted, trying to drag her along.

She gave in, wondering what the locksmith had in store this time. He led her into the lounge, and her eyes flicked over to the corner where a few of the guys could usually be found when Grifball was on. She briefly remembered encountering York there when they had first arrived at Project Freelancer, and he had invited her to watch the game with him, which she had turned down. Her eyes turned to the rest of the room as a rush of voices greeted her.

"Hey, there she is!" Georgia waved them over.

"It's about time, we were about to get started without you guys," Cal said, looking eager now that she'd arrived.

"We couldn't start the party without her," Florida protested. "After all, it's for her."

York looked hurt. "I told you she'd be here. You didn't think I'd be able to get her to come?"

Most of the Freelancers were hanging around in a group, being friendly and sociable with each other, and they had even managed to get snacks and drinks.

What Florida had said stuck out to her. "What is this?" she asked. It wasn't unlike them to have a party and enjoy some downtime, but what was irregular is that they'd seemed to be waiting for York and her.

"Happy birthday!" Massa said happily.

That surprised Carolina even more. York saw the look on her face. "Don't tell me you forgot?"

She didn't say anything. She hadn't necessarily forgotten, but at the same time, she had. It just...hadn't seemed important.

Cal started laughing, pointing at her. "She did! She forgot her own birthday! Who does that?"

Mich bumped him on the arm. "Shut up, Cal, not everyone needs as many excuses for a party as you."

"Well don't just stand there," Ark prompted.

"Come and get yourself a drink," Wyoming agreed.

York led her over, and she turned to him. "How did you even know?" Even though giving away personal information was against protocol, she had to give it to York. He certainly was determined when he wanted something.

He winked at her. "A good magician never gives away his secrets," he teased, being purposefully vague.

At first, Carolina looked at the sight in front of her in slight disapproval. They were on their way to Bysantium, the Insurrectionists were about to make their last stand, and this was their chance to end the war with the Insurrection. And here were her teammates, all gathered and having a party like there wasn't anything bigger to worry about.

But as she realized something, her expression softened. They were trying to end a war. There was no telling who would get out alive...and who wouldn't. The same held true for any battle, and while there was only so much training any of them could do, York was right. They wouldn't be any use if they were all exhausted. Maybe sometimes they did need to...relax and enjoy themselves.

Cal pulled something out and tossed it to Carolina. "Hey Carolina, I got something for you!"

She deftly caught the book and looked at the cover, raising an eyebrow at him. "Failsafe Ways to Ward Off Boys?" She might have imagined it, but out of the corner of her eye, York looked a little worried.

Cal shrugged in turn. "I figured you'd need it," he said. She fixed him with a stare, and he gulped. "Or maybe not. Keep it anyway."

Carolina felt herself smile, and Cal looked triumphantly over to Mich. "Told you it wasn't a stupid idea."

Mich just rolled her eyes at him.

"As long as we're handing out presents," Florida said. "Here," he handed her a music device she could use during her downtime. Wyoming looked over her shoulder to see what it contained, and nodded in approval.

"Johnny Cash. I've always had a soft spot for the oldies."

"Old fashioned, but very popular in his time," Carolina agreed, scrolling through and finding all the songs she recognized.

"And that's one of the devices you can add your own music," Ark added.

Massa tapped Carolina's arm and held out another book, this one a novel. "Here. It's one of the old ones, but I figured you might like it if you've got the spare time to read," she said.

To Kill a Mockingbird. Indeed it was an old novel, set in the time of the Great Depression about six hundred years ago. "They don't make you read these in school anymore like they used to," Carolina sighed. She was familiar with the book, but hadn't read it all the way through before.

"No, they don't," Massa agreed.

"Does it have explosions or jetpacks in it?" Georgia questioned, looking at it curiously.

Florida laughed. "Of course not."

"Oh," Georgia's face fell.

Cal laughed as well, tossing a cracker at Georgia, which bopped him on the nose. "I'm pretty sure they didn't have jetpacks in the 1930s," he said.

"I know that, but if it's just a book there's no harm in mixing things up a little," Georgia replied. He reached over and grabbed the entire bowl of crackers and promptly upended it above Cal's head.

"Hey!" Cal cried indignantly. He immediately stopped, however, as he popped one of them into his mouth. "This is good stuff."

Mich was trying to stifle her giggles and York looked on in amusement. He turned to look at Carolina. "So this wasn't too terrible, was it?" he asked teasingly.

Carolina shook her head. "No, it was...nice. I haven't had a birthday like this in years." There was a grateful tone in her voice that everyone else noticed.

Massa smiled, then stood and stretched. "Well, I'm off to bed. Good night peeps," she said, giving off a lazy wave of her hand and walking away.

Ark nodded. "I'm off too. Got to get up early tomorrow."

Georgia immediately stood as soon as Ark left, calling out to him. "Ark, wait! I wanted to show you something real quick!" And with that, he was gone too.

York plopped down on the seat next to her, draping his arm over the back of the couch. "Don't forget this one," he said, pushing something into her hands.

Carolina opened her fingers and looked at what was in her hands. It was a small, beautiful silver box with a jewel inlaid into the lid. It sparkled in various colors, showing pink, green and purple, leaving Carolina to wonder what it was until she recalled seeing another jewel very similar a few years back called alexandrite. The box itself appeared to be locked, and she couldn't tell if there was anything inside of it.

Now she really didn't know what to say. "What is this?"

"It's just a box that you can put stuff in. If you can open it, that is," he added, grinning at her. Trust a locksmith to give her a locked box.

"It's…" Carolina trailed off. It was beautiful.

"I know," York said. He already knew she liked it. How was it he always knew what was on her mind?

"Is there anything inside of it?" she asked, curious, fiddling with it.

York shrugged. "You'll find out. I know you can open it, you're a smart girl."

She nodded and looked down at the alexandrite jewel again. "I think I'm going to go to bed now. Tha-"

F.I.L.S.S.'s voice suddenly interrupted. "Agent Carolina, the Director wishes to see you," she informed them.

Feeling a slight pique of curiosity, Carolina put the lockbox down gently and didn't hesitate to get up and leave immediately, despite York's protests.

"Come on! Doesn't he have any idea how hard you've been working and how late it is?"

"It's fine, York," she reassured him, and looked around. As most everyone else had wandered off to bed, the only ones left besides herself and York were Florida and Wyoming, who were chatting amicably. The gifts from the others were still waiting in a pile, but she turned away. They could wait.

"Just make sure to get some rest!" York called after her as she walked away, and Carolina couldn't help but smile. It was as if he was afraid she would stay up all night and head back to the training room as soon as she was dismissed.

It wasn't like she spent all of her time training. Right? Only...well, most of her time. But she had good reason to. She understood that he was just worried about her, and she would take his advice to heart. But that didn't mean that she would stop pushing herself to be the best she could be.

The doors to the bridge opened as soon as she approached, allowing her access, and she stepped through. It appeared the Director was the sole occupant of the room, the Counselor not by his side for once. His silhouette was dark but clear against the background of the thick-glassed window that showed them the expanses of space. He didn't turn when she entered.

She stopped about ten feet away from him. "Yes, Director?" she questioned, standing upright and tall as a soldier would in front of her superior officer.

When he finally turned, she saw that he was holding something in his hands. It looked like a pistol of some sort. "I hope you have prepared for the upcoming fight," he said.

"Yes Sir," she replied, thinking of all the hours she had put in training.

He nodded in approval. "Good. They don't have anywhere to run." He was silent for a moment, leading Carolina to wonder if that was the only reason he had called her here, before speaking again. "You have shown your worth many times over with your exemplary actions in the field and leadership abilities."

He held the gun out to her, and she grasped it, knowing immediately that it wasn't an ordinary pistol. It was a grapple gun, and she thought of all the uses she could find for it. It could even save her life one day.

"Happy birthday," the Director spoke softly.

She looked up, meeting his eye. "Thank you...Sir."

He looked like maybe he was about to say something more, before waving a hand. "You are dismissed," he said, turning away from her.

She nodded and started walking away. As she was about halfway across the room, however, the Director called to her again.

"And Carolina?"

She stopped. "Yes, Sir?" she asked, looking over her shoulder.

He had his back to her. "Keep your mind free of any...distractions," he warned.

She faced the door in front of her again. "Yes...Director."

With that, she left, headed toward her room again. There was no doubt in her mind that he had been referring to Agent York.