That evening torrential rain had set in and forced everyone back indoors. Skye and Sue with the aid of Simmons had created a long list of things that needed doing before the wedding. Amber had come back with a few possible venues that had the date still available. She had taken her own photos to show Ward and Skye as brochures always showed venues looking better than they were.
Skye was sat at the breakfast bar on her laptop, Coulson was filling Ward in on his report and May was cooking dinner. Amber and Kain were sat talking in the corner while playing checkers. Fitz was working on Skye's ring while Simmons was talking to him. At times Fitz's ability to multitask astounded people. Tilly was researching something in her textbooks with a battered bracelet in front of her. She kept looking at the bracelet before making a note on what looked like a schematic.
Rob and Sue were watching everyone with fascination. They had been invited to stay for dinner yet again and could not believe that this team worked so well together. They could clearly see that Coulson was in charge and Ward and May were the muscle. Fitz and Simmons were clearly the genius behind keeping Ward and May safe. Amber and Kain were obviously learning on the job. From where Rob and Sue sat they had a long way to go. The only person they hadn't figured out was Skye and what she brought to this team.
Coulson's phone rang so he answered it. There was a hushed conversation and Coulson hung up.
"Skye!" He shouted, making her jump.
"Yeeess?" She asked, even though she knew what was coming.
"Why the hell are you hacking into S.H.I.E.L.D secure files?" Coulson asked, lowering his voice a little. He had only shouted her name to get her attention
Everyone turned to look at her. Rob and Sue figured out then what Skye contributed to the team. She was a hacker.
"I was just curious to see..." She started but Ward had crept up behind her and was looking at the screen.
"Curious to see what Skye?" Coulson prodded.
"Well, erm..."
"Your birthday." Ward answered for her.
Coulson could tell he was lying as he was making no obvious attempt to hide it from him, which meant 'drop it and I will tell you later'.
"October 16th." Coulson told her. He noticed Ward give her a tug on the back of her jeans. They left the room and Coulson followed.
"Ok. Spill. Why were you looking into Bahrain?" Ward asked her as they entered the lounge.
"Coulson told me you hit some trouble there which is what last night was all about. I know you find it difficult to talk about it, but I wanted to know what you had been through so that I could help." She rambled as Coulson walked in.
"And what did you find?" Coulson asked
"Nothing... It wasn't even on the server you told me it was on. The file I found said that he got out six months later completely unhurt."
"You mean you didn't find that at all strange?" Ward probed.
"Well yes. Why keep you for so long. There was no ransom, and if they had no intention of releasing you why didn't they just kill you?" she asked.
"That file was a fake to hide the truth from Garrett. If he knew the truth there was a greater chance I would have been killed." Ward told her, wrapping his arms around her.
"I don't want you to talk about it if you can't, but I would like to know what happened to you."
"I never told you that file was on the server. I said it was on the most secure database. One which even you can't hack your way into." Coulson told her, before turning to Ward. "I would also like to see that file. I know only what you have told me, but I would appreciate a little insight into the whole thing."
"How do you know I can't hack into it?" Skye asked Coulson confused.
"Because it isn't connected to the internet. It isn't even connected to a computer." Coulson told her.
"Then where is it?"
Coulson looked at Ward before Ward answered:
"In my fake knee, which does not leave this room."
Skye pulled out of his grasp and looked at him like he had lost the plot.
"Why would S.H.I.E.L.D.'s most secure files be in your knee?
"Seemed the best place for them at the time." Ward replied in a flat tone.
"Can I see the file?" Skye asked.
"Will you promise to stop hacking into S.H.I.E.L.D?"
"Yes, unless it's an emergency."
After Dinner Ward, Skye and Rob all jumped into one of the cars and headed back to the 'bus. Rob has asked if he could go as he was interested in how they all lived.
They arrived at the airport and showed their badges to gain the security clearance they needed to access the 'bus. When they approached it Rob's jaw dropped. He had never seen anything like it.
Ward fiddled with a dial on the dashboard and the cargo ramp of the plane lowered and Ward drove right up it. When they were on board he closed the ramp to stop people coming aboard.
"This place is awesome." Rob said, looking around the hold. He saw Fitz-Simmons lab and couldn't believe they had such sophisticated machinery on an airbus. Skye showed him around the rest of the plane while Ward gathered the equipment he needed and some bits and pieces the others had requested he collect for them. When he had picked everything up he went to find Skye and Rob. They were just coming out of the cockpit and Skye was telling him the story of when they blew a hole in the side of the plane. He was shaking his head in disbelief. Clearly S.H.I.E.L.D were more specialised than his beloved Green Berets.
"You look stunned." Ward said to him.
"Well from the outside it looks like a slightly unusual, but more normal plane. On the inside it's like 'WOAH!'"
"Tell me about it!"
Ward and Skye led Rob into their living quarters. They showed him all of their bunks.
"Which one is yours?" He asked.
They showed Rob their bunk and he was astounded.
"How do two of you sleep in a single bed? You must sleep on top of each other?"
"Pretty much, but you get used to it. It's time we set off back of Sue may send out a search party" Ward replied, checking his watch.
A/N: In the next chapter... you find out why the snake only has one eye!