"So what exactly are we looking for?" TIlly asked Ward as they reached an ancient Peruvian temple and started searching in front of it on the jungle floor.
"Something I don't expect to still be here."
"Well that's helpful!" Tilly responded, making sure he wouldn't miss the sarcasm in her voice.
"A bracelet with a bullet in it."
"Why does it have a bullet in it?"
"Because it got shot..." Ward responded, this time it was his turn for the sarcasm.
"Why were you even here before?"
"We were called in because something was found that shouldn't have been here. Then we all got shot at."
The two of them searched for the bracelet in the blistering heat, swatting mosquito's away from them as they did. Minutes turned into hours.
"Hey! Over here. I think I have something!" Tilly called as she stretched her back out and looked up into the nearest tree.
"Why haven't you picked it up then?"
"Because it's in the tree and I'm not sticking my hand into that web to get your crappy bracelet that I could have reproduced for you."
Ward looked at his sister, realisation dawning on him. He could have asked her to make him another, but he had completely forgotten she was a scientist.
He looked into the tree and saw the bracelet. It was there: right in the middle of a gigantic spiders web. It had been spun over so many times that it was barely visible. It was just a flash of matt silver. The spider that was sitting on the web looked particularly venomous.
"All yours." Tilly said to him, taking a few steps back.
Ward's eyes turned blue as he focussed all of his attention on the spiders web. Slowly, so he didn't aggravate the spider he disentangled the bracelet. Tilly was amazed. She knew her brother had this skill but she had never seen him control it and use it.
The bracelet was soon in his hand, still covered in web. The bullet was still there and was starting to rust.
"How long has this thing been here?"
"About two years."
"Two years? And you came looking for it?"
"I did tell you I didn't expect to find it."
Tilly rolled her eyes at him.
"Can we got climb the Inca Trail now?" She asked, batting her eyes at him.
The following day Ward had made all of the necessary arrangements to climb up the Inca Trail to Machu Pichu. They were at the base of the trail checking that they had everything in their packs. He had declined a Sherpa to carry their possessions as he knew that Tilly, on some strange level, felt like it was more of an achievement is she carried her own.
They were just about to set off on the three day hike when the Sat phone rang.
"Hey guys." Tilly said into the receiver.
"Put him on." Coulson ordered.
Tilly handed the phone to Ward.
"Coulson?"
"Ward. We have a situation here. We need to drop Skye off with you and Tilly. Where are you?"
"We are at the base of the Inca Trail. Where are you?"
"Airport."
"OK. We'll come to you."
Coulson hung up without another word.
"Sorry Tilly. Looks like we are postponing for a day or so."
"It's ok. The volume is set to loud on that thing. I heard every word."
Back at the airport Ward and Tilly arrived to find Skye arguing with Coulson.
"I'm fine. Why won't you believe me." She pleaded. As much as she wanted to join Ward she also wanted the current issue to end.
"You're fine now. But we can't risk you freezing up during a fight." Coulson told her in a matter of fact tone."
"Why would she freeze." Ward asked as he and Tilly got closer to them.
"I'll let Skye fill you in. I have to get back on the plane." Coulson said before turning and leaving.
"What's going on?" Ward asked his wife.
A/N: I am keeping you hanging on from the last chapter... I am cruel like that. All answers to what was in the cage (and the current mystery on why Skye is now off the plane) will be answered in the next chapter.
And if you are wondering which temple they are at... It's the one that they found the 0-8-4 in...