Chapter 4: The Asset Part 1
About 30 minutes after take off, Ward heard a knock at his door./p

"Its open."

The door opened to reveal Agent Melinda May. Her expression was the same as it was before: Cold, Indifferent, and slightly suspicious. Ward wondered if she looked like that all the time. Probably. No person could do what she did and not come out changed.

Clearing her throat, May said "Coulson wants to brief us in the command room along with the science kids. Now." With that she turned around and closed the door without another word.

Ward sighed, and got up from his bed. Opening the door, he started to follow Agent May, who was a little ahead of him, until they came into a small room dominated by a large Wireless screen, and a large conference table. Coulson and the science kids were already in there.

Coulson looked up as Ward entered the Command Room. "Ah, Ward." Nodding towards Fitz and Simmons, he said "You have become acquainted with Fitz-Simmons i see." Both the science kids gave Ward small, nervous smiles.

Nodding, Ward said "We got a hit on one of the Rising Tide people Sir?"

Coulson nodded in response. "The person who took the video on the ground? Whoever he-" at this, Simmons gave a very audible cough, while May raised her eyebrows ever so slightly, the first change in her expression all day. " or she" Coulson amended " is, the phone they used to record the incident had the same signature as that of one of the Rising tide members posting online. Goes by the username Skye21. Whoever this person is, they've been on S.H.I.E.L.D's radar for a little while. A person using the same phone recently hacked into the S.H.I.E.L.D database, released some information we preferred had stayed in house. Before that, that same person had hacked the NSA Database. Unfortunately for the hacker, we can use that same signature to track them to their location"

Ward shook his head, amazed and slightly weary. Whoever they were dealing with here wasn't some amateur kid playing hacker; This Skye, whoever he or she was, knew what they were doing. You don't hack the S.H.I.E.L.D and NSA Database without some serious skill. "Why haven't we taken this Skye person in before now Sir?"

"Fury i think, until now, wanted to avoid us bringing whoever this Skye person in, and whoever it is going to tell the media about "S.H.I.E.L.D Brutality" and "Violation of Constitutional Rights". S.H.I.E.L.D is under enough scrutiny as is. After New York, people started asking questions we weren't able to answer."

Ward nodded again, and said "But now this guy, this... superhero, is out in the open, he wants us to bring this Skye person in so they can lead us to him" Ward had to keep the sarcasm out of his voice when he said "Superhero". Heroes aren't self-righteous bastards in spandex like Captain America, or some bored billionaire like Stark; where were these 'heroes' when i needed them? When my brother need them? .To Ward, their was only one hero to him. John Garrett. The Man who saved him.

Coulson nodded. "When we get to New York, Ward, you and me are going to find this Skye person. May, you take Fitz and Simmons to the site of the explosion, see if you can find anything useful."

May nodded. Both Fitz and Simmons started to talk excitedly to each other, saying something about using the "Dwarves". Ward wasn't sure what exactly they were talking about. It was probably something science y. May didn't seem to be very impressed. She gave the two scientists a look, like their chatter was hurting her ears.

Coulson cleared his throat, to get the scientist's attention. When he did, he said "When we land in New York, we'll be met by Agents from the Brooklyn Office. They'll provide transport for us. After me and Ward have this hacker, we'll contact you, and if you guys are done, we'll meet up back here at the bus, and will go from there. May, how long before we reach New York?"

May checked her watch. "About 10 minutes."

\Good. Fitz and Simmons, go into the lab and get any equipment you need when your on the ground in New York." Both of them nodded to him before turning around and going back down the staircase to the science lab, resuming their excited chat. "May, i want you to get back in the pilots seat and keep your comms open in case either HQ or Brooklyn try and get in contact with us."

As May moved off towards the cockpit, Coulson turned to Ward. "Ward, when were on the ground, and when we go to pick up the hacker, i want you to maintain professional conduct while on mission." At Wards quizzical expression, he said "I read the reports on the Paris and Sarajevo ops." Ward stiffened immediately. Of course." I know that your not the biggest fan of the Rising Tide. Believe me, i understand completely. But i want this Skye, whoever it is, brought in by the book, cleanly, without incident. Regardless of any personal feelings on your part. Understood?"

Ward nodded. "Sir im a professional. I don't let any personal feelings or attachments interfere with me while on mission. I go in, i get the job done.

Coulson nodded, giving Ward a small smile as well. "Good. Glad to hear it. Your dismissed. Pack a pistol and some mags, you'll find them in the labs compartments. I highly doubt we'll need them, but i'd rather we be safe rather then sorry."

Nodding again, Ward said "Yes sir." before turning around and walking in the direction of the lab./p

Coulson sighed. Thinking about possibly trying to catch some shut eye before they landed at JFK [He had not been sleeping very well of late] his plans were abruptly put on hold when his cell phone went off. Looking down at the caller ID, he smiled and pressed the accept button.

"Hey John"

"Hi Phil. Just thought i'd call in, see how the kid's doing so far."

Phil smiled. He knew how much Ward meant to Garret. When Ward had graduated from S.H.I.E.L.D Ops academy [with honors] and was immediately placed on his first assignment [Not the most glorious of missions, just a standard recon op in Nigeria, but still pretty impressive for a rookie] Garrett couldn't stop bragging about Ward for over a week. He didn't stop talking about him, even when he and Coulson were stuck in a firefight with a couple of Maggia Hitman in Madrid [It was meant to be just a simple information swap, but Garrett, whose big mouth was legendary at S.H.I.E.L.D, had offended the tradition heavy Maggia by flirting with their leader, Madame Masque] Garret was pretty close with most of the agents he had trained and led, but Ward was different. He was like a son to Garrett. That much was obvious.

Still smiling, Coulson said "Not too bad. He's met the whole team, and that didn't go too baldly."

"Even you-know-who?"

Chuckling, Coulson replied "Yeah, he met May. She was actually sorta friendly, i mean for her. She didn't completely ignore him or try and punch him anyway." Both Garret and Coulson chuckled as they fondly remembered incidents where other Agents had not been so lucky. "I think your protege may just develop a crush on her. His eyes didn't leave her at all until she returned to the cockpit."

Chuckling, Garrett replied "Well, i always said the kid had good taste." For a second, Garrett was silent, before saying " So, you think he'll fit in with you guys?"

Coulson sighed again. Honestly? I'm not sure. "Hopefully he will John, but you know how hard it is. To go from being a specialist, working almost exclusively with other specialists, into a team like this. Its hard."

Though Coulson couldn't see him, he was sure he was nodding in agreement, wherever he was. "I know. Other then at S.H.I.E.L.D Academy, and... before" He didn't need to elaborate. They both knew Ward history. "the kid never really interacted with other people. For most of his S.H.I.E.L.D Life he's only ever worked with other specialists, like him. Other then me and Trip, he's not really close with a lot of people. And ever since he left the academy, all he's ever done is mission after mission, non-stop. Practically no social life, no close personal attachments out of work. Kids got a great work ethic, don't get me wrong, but his people skills..."The rest was unsaid.

Coulson nodded, sadly. He knew why Ward was like he was. Why it was hard for him to trust people, to get close to them, to let them in. It was horrible, what he had had to endure, and so young too. And the job Ward did, didn't exactly leave much room for healthy interpersonal relationships either: Either he worked with people who were trained to be perfect liars, like him, or with people who would kill him on a moments notice if he made a single mistake or slip up with his cover. Not ideal, by any means.

Hoping to lighten the mood, Coulson said, in a warm tone "You know what Maria gave him for his peoples skill mark?"

"What?" Garret replied, a chuckle building in his voice.

"A piece of crap with knifes sticking out of it." They both laughed. "She swears its porcupine, but still..."

Garrett, who was still laughing, said "Hey, your not exactly one to talk Phil. You weren't exactly what one would call 'friendly' and 'approachable' when you were the kids age."

Coulson scoffed. "I'm not the one who punched his first supervising officer in the face John." He could hear Garrett groan. "One mistake, and i get it thrown in my face every damn time-"

"One mistake?" Coulson interrupted, incredulous. "What about that arms dealer in Jakarta? Or the informant in Rio? Or, oh god, the Shaman in New Delhi-"

"Okay okay smart ass, you made your point." His tone was slightly gruffer, but there was still warmth in his voice.

Coulson snorted, before saying "Besides i grew out of it, eventually." Answering the unspoken question, Coulson added "And im sure Ward will too."

Garret was silent for a moment, before saying "Your right. He'll be fine." Then he said, in a teasing tone "As i recall a certain specialist had something to do with you growing out of it? What was her name..."

Coulson, who seemed to have become very uncomfortable, said "Hey John, i gotta go. Were landing soon and i cant have-"/p

"Your phone on? On a S.H.I.E.L.D Mobile Command Center?" Chuckling, Garret said "Your not fooling me Phil. But i have to go now anyway. Me, Trip and Dan are meeting with a possible gifted in a few minutes in the Kapalıçarşı [Turkish:Grand Bazaar]."

Phil smiled, thankful he wasn't part of that op. He had dealt with 'Gifted' individuals before. The ones who weren't fakes usually tried to kill him. "Okay. And John... don't worry about the kid. He'll be fine."

"I know he will Phil. He's in good hands."

Coulson nodded. Lets hope there good enough. "Selamünaleyküm my friend."

"Aleykümselam my friend." With that, the line went dead.

Sighing, Coulson checked the time on his phone. If it was right, and if May was as precise as her word [which she virtually always was] they would be landing in about 2 minutes. Sighing, knowing rest was probably a long way off, Coulson decided to go down into the lab, to make sure the science kids and Ward were ready.