As they landed Coulson appeared and, rather unusually, shepherded them off the plane using one of the doors. He didn't think Ward would want them to see him the way he was, and using the cargo ramp would lead them all straight past him.

Coulson grabbed Tilly's arm before she left and told her to stay.

After everyone had disembarked Coulson took Tilly to his office.

"What's up Coulson? Am I in trouble?"

"Why would you be in trouble?"

"For the itching powder. I was in on it."

"I know and no, you're not in trouble for that. I need to talk to you about your brother."

"Grant? What's he done?"

"Nothing. Does he have any allergies that I need to be aware of?"

"Why do you ask?"

She was good. The only indicator that she knew something was the same hint of a blush on the top of her ears, that Ward has.

"He's downstairs in a medical bay unconscious."

Tilly's face dropped.

"Washing powder. He's highly allergic to washing powder. There's one he can use without itching and there are three that will put him in hospital" She whispered, dropping into a chair, tears rolling down her face.

Coulson raced from the room to Simmons in the medical suite.

May was getting more worried by the second. Coulson had insisted that they used the exit doors. They never used the doors. The cargo ramp was easier. When she had left the 'bus she saw the medical team board. This got her more worried. She hadn't seen Simmons, Skye or Ward all morning.

So she did what any good spy would do. She spied.

She climbed back onto the 'bus using the stairs. She saw Coulson leave his office and followed him. He led her to the medical suite. She could see him stood with his arms around Skye, who was sobbing. Simmons was stood off to one side explaining something to the medical team. Then one of them moved and she saw it. Ward was laid on one of the beds, tube sticking out of his throat, skin red and angry.

For the first time in a long time, Melinda May let her emotions show. She backed into the Lab doors and sank to the floor, tears glistening in her eyes. One of the strongest men she knew was in trouble. Big trouble.

An arm suddenly snaked around her shoulders, pulling her into a hug.

Fitz was worried about Simmons. He hadn't seen her leave the plane. He saw May creep back onto the 'bus and followed. He made it to the lab doors when he saw her back up against them and collapse into a heap. He walked over to her and he saw the same thing that she had just seen. Ward was in danger. He sat beside May and put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her into his chest.

They both started crying.

Tilly walked into the Lab and saw them sat on the ground. Fitz, who heard her enter the room, opened his other arm to her and she sank into the other side of his chest.

Around half an hour later Coulson came out of the medical suite, and on seeing the rest of his team cuddled together on the floor of the Lab, evidence in their eyes that they had all been crying, decided not to hide it from them any longer.

"Ward had a severe allergic reaction to something called 'Poly carboxylate'. It's an ingredient common, in varying concentrations, in most laundry detergents."

He saw the looks on the faces of the team. They didn't want to know that. They wanted to know how he was and if he was going to be alright.

"He'll be fine in a couple of days. They have given him anti-histamine and some other medication which has cleared up his breathing. The tube was taken out ten minutes ago and replaced with an oxygen mask."

May, Fitz and Tilly let out breaths they didn't know they had been holding, while Coulson set off to brief Director Fury.

"We shouldn't discuss this with him. He didn't want you guys to know." Tilly told Fitz and May.

"Why?" May asked, slightly confused.

"He's embarrassed. He can fight the world but washing powder takes him down." Tilly pointed out, while the others smiled, knowing exactly what she meant.

Tilly decided there and then to confess another one of her brother's secrets.

"Did you guys know it's his birthday next Wednesday?"

Fitz and May snapped their necks to look at her.

"I'll guess that's a no then."