A/N: Look, I know it's been forever, and I am so so sorry. Just to clarify, this story is an AU after Yes Men.

Disclaimer: Nope.

Chapter 6

"This is Mason Earhl."

The man pasted on the screen is green eyed, dark haired, cold, proud, pale and a bit otter-like in facial structure.

"Okay," Simmons screwed her brow, "Why do we want him? His record looks clean."

"That's the problem. It's too clear, especially for a former S.H.I.E.L.D agent."

"Wait, Mason Earhl used to work for S.H.I.E.L.D?"

Coulson turned upon Skye, "You know him?"

"Yeah. He was a legend in the Rising Tide. In fact…" Her fingers were already twirling over her phone, lodged in her pocket.

"May I?"

Coulson bowed his head and motioned towards the screen.

Skye snapped the cell into place, and accessed some older records.

"I can still get into some of the archives they had before I was cut off."

She danced around the firewalls until a file appeared, portraying the same man, definitely, but with blood a frozen trickle from his left brow as the photo was taken.

"Nice of you to join us Agent Ward."

All eyes, previously latched onto the screen, flicked to Ward. He let out a small breath.

"I apologize, sir. It won't happen again."

"You're right it won't."

Skye wasn't completely sure they were talking about Wards lateness.

"Um, guys? I found something."

The men snapped back to the screen.

"Okay, he was a genius, best in the business, and a few years back, he fell off the grid."

"Why?"

"That's what we didn't have, until," she pulled up another article, "He resurfaced, three months ago. He came out as a billionaire, the owner of one of the largest chain of grocery stores in the United States, and the head of the one and only Cybertek."

"So Earhl is heading Centipede's main technological resource facility. Of course Fury sent us after him, it all makes sense."

"Wait, hold up," Skye put up a hand, "Fury gave us this mission?"

"Personally," Coulson remarked. "He wouldn't give me a reason, but now I know."

"So Fury wants this guy-"

"He wants him alive."

"It's logical. If he's at the top of a research facility, funds Centipedes projects, gives them what they need for, just about everything, Fury probably wants to interrogate him. A man like Earhl could be useful," Ward surmised.

"Especially if he cracks easy," Coulson pushed himself off the table.

"Skye, I want you getting everything the Rising Tide has or had on Earhl. Fitz and Simmons, pull up Cyberteks file. Blueprints, funding, whatever we've got. Every speck of information that could be relevant."

"Yes, sir," Simmons nodded. She and Fitz were already toeing the threshold.

"Take this," Coulson snaked his ID badge into her hand, "My level 8 clearance will give more than your level 5."

"Thank you sir."

The scientists scurried off to the lab.

"Coulson, how are we gonna do this? Earhl's a billionare, and you're telling us he was S.H.I.E.L.D. Even if he doesn't have a thousand dollars worth of security, he's probably got some kind of superspy mojo up his sleeve."

"Earhl was never in Operations. He was a Biochem Engineer. Left early on, after his first real project was shut down."

"What was the project sir?"

"The super-soldier serum Agent Ward."

"Then no wonder Centipede wants him," Skye breathed, "He's probably a landmine of secrets."

"I think it's more to do with the fact that his try at it was the only one that made it to testing. I wouldn't be surprised if they were paying him off. Earhl, the genius behind their constant fascination, plus Cyberteks funding, SHIELD would be facing a real threat."

"So we stop it," Skye stated, "How do we get past his security?"

"Turns out, we don't have to. He's having a party at his mansion and two days. We just have to be ready. Skye, I know you've been cooking up a new virus. Do you think you can have it done by tomorrow?"

"Definitely."

"That's what I like to hear. When you're finished, give it to May. She and Simmons will be looking for a computer. When they find one that's hooked up to the main server, they'll activate it, and we can watch Centipede fall from afar. You, however, will be on the floor with Fitz, entertaining members of Earhls secret service."

"Wait, he has a secret service?"

"Of course. A man like him in a position like that? He'd take precaution to a whole new level. Ward; that leaves you with me, and we get the fun part."

"What's that sir?"

"We get to nab Mason Eahrl."

There's a soft rapping on Phil Coulsons office door.

"Come in."

"Sir?"

"Agent Ward. What can I do for you?"

"I'd like to request that I'm on the floor with Skye for this mission."

"Oh?" the senior agent settled back in his armchair, letting his left brow pace its way up his forehead, "And why is that?"

"No reason sir."

"No reason? Would it be because of how I found the two of you this morning?"

"No, sir, Skye and I... we're nothing like that."

"Well I find that hard to believe," Coulson sighed and shifted out of his seat, walking around, and leaning against the front of his desk "Your record speaks for you Agent Ward. You've broken protocol before, with May. I found you this morning with a rookie agent in your bunk. I don't think I'm jumping to conclusions here, and, as much as I love children, I would rather not have one scampering around my plane."

"Sir, I've told you, Skye and I are just friends."

"But you want more."

"No! I mean..." he sat down heavily in the rickety wooden seat, "I don't know. All I know, is last time I wasn't there, she took two in the stomach. And I can't let that happen to her anymore."

"For her sake or yours."

"I'm not sure," He scraped his hand over his eyes, "Both?"

He heard Coulson let out a breath.

"Ward, I want you to know I'm not blind. I know what happened with Lorelei. And we are here for you. All of us. But if you're using Skye just to make yourself feel better, and then you toss her aside, that won't work. Not for me."

"I wouldn't do that."

"Maybe not."

Coulson copied Ward, moving his hand over his eyes and pinching the bridge of his nose.

"To answer your question, no. I won't switch the teams, but thank you for your concern."

Another heavy breath slowly makes its way past him.

"It's late, Ward. You should get some sleep."

Ward nodded, "Goodnight sir."

He stopped off the check on her before he went to bed.

SHe was sprawled out on her mattress, her hair half tied back, laptop open on her stomach, eyes shut.

He smiled, a huff of air flying past his nose as he did. Gently, he reached over, and placed the laptop, still open, on her bedside table, and unable to resist, dropped a kiss to her forehead.

"Goodnight Skye."

So that is it. That is my new chapter. Hope it's good, especially since I wrote it at three in the morning (Thanks sis, for deleting my first draft). So Yeah, hope you like it. Probably gonna update sometime soon, keep you posted, then, since I'll be leaving for a week, I'll upload not one, btu 2 chapters. Woohoo! Unless I can convince my friend to upload for me.

Thanks for being patient with me lovelies!

SlayGal