Disclaimer: I do not own Marvels Agents of SHIELD. I only own Alex and any future characters come up with while writing.

A/N: As promised, the next chapter. We finally meet Yuri, but only briefly. I won't give to much away, but some may not be happy about how things turn out in the end. I would like that I have a good reason for doing what I did and will make sense in future chapters.

Anyway, I will let you read the chapter and come up with you on own thoughts on it. I hope I did the fighting scene well, it's what I struggle with the most.

Enjoy!

The Hacker, The Biochemist and The Beast

Chapter 8

A Trapped Foiled

Alex's POV

Ward, Coulson and I arrive at the warehouse the body was found at earlier. The sun is just setting in the sky, making it look like it's on fire with varying shades of orange and red. I exit the car after Ward puts it in park and quickly scan the area with my eyes. He is here and waiting. I think, zipping up the jacket that Fitz made for me all the way up. I share a quick look with Coulson, silently objecting to this plan. It's the only way to get Yuri.

"Let's go to where they found the body." Coulson says, doing what we discussed on the plane. "Maybe you can pick up this guys scent to track him." Giving Ward and I nod before starting in the direction of where the body was found.

As soon as May asked if Yuri was setting a trap, a plan popped into my head. I also knew instantly that Coulson wouldn't like, but I was surprised by everyones reaction to my plan. None more so then Skye and Jemma's.

3 and half hours ago

"Alright, Alex. Tell us your plan." Coulson says once everyone is in the briefing room. I take a deep breath before I start to explain my plan.

"To answer May's question. Yes, it is a trap." I finally answer May's question. "A trap I plan on using to our advantage. For this to work, everyone will have to play there part." I say, looking pointedly at Ward before continuing. "Yuri wants to get me alone, so he'll trail his scent to the warehouse. He knows in order for me to get a good hold on his scent, who ever is with me will have to keep a small distance behind. I think once I'm inside he plans to keep who ever I am with out by locking the door after I have entered. Part one of my plan is to let him do this." I pause to let this sink in and let them react to it.

A chorus of "WHAT!" followed by Jemma yelling "Are you insane!?", Skye yelling "No way!" and Coulson saying in a stern voice "Not happening.". I let everyone somewhat calm down before continuing.

"I know it's not a great idea, but I'm the only one here that can hold him off long enough for the second part of my plan to be enacted." I say, turning my head towards Ward. "Your a specialist, how good of a shot are you?" I ask him and watch a smug smile appear on his face.

"I got perfect marks and was top of my class." He replies.

"Good. Skye, can you hack into where they would have the blueprints for that warehouse?" I ask, turning my head towards her. She has a perplexed look on her face and still doesn't look happy about this whole thing.

"Yeah, I can." She answers, narrowing her eyes at me.

"Once we have the blueprints, we'll look for the perfect spot for Ward to take a shot at Yuri." I explain before turning my attention to Jemma and Fitz, both not looking happy about this whole thing as well.

"How strong of dendrotoxin do have on the plane?" I ask them and watch them exchange a look.

"Strong enough to take down someone that has the Centipede serum in them." Fitz answers.

"Um. Not sure what that is, but I'm going to assume that it's a good thing." I reply a tad confusedly, not knowing what this Centipede serum is. "We'll use that to take down Yuri."

"Wait, I thought you said it was better to put him down." Ward states.

"I know it is, but death will be too good for him." I say in a monotone voice. "I'll let the higher up's decide what to do with him. I just want the killing to stop." I say the last part in a tired voice. Yuri made this personal by taunting me, making it about us. When we fought at the Facility, he would always win. I never really fought back because I refused to tap into that part of myself. The people that controlled the place never let him kill me, but if given the chance Yuri would have no problems taking my life. Whatever happens to him, I want him to know that I beat him and without using that part of myself.

"I don't like this plan, to much could go wrong." Coulson says in all business tone.

"Do you have anything better?" I ask and he shakes his head. "Like I said, if everyone plays there part this will work. Your a team, lets see that teamwork in action." Looking at everyone with a small smile.

"Let's get work." Coulson says after a few minutes of silence. "I want to leave in two hours." Everyone exits to get what they need to get for the plan. "I'm going to call Hill and inform her of what our game plan is." He says looking at me with a look before heading up to his office. I purse my lips, knowing I will be getting a long lecture from both Maria and Natasha. Totally be worth it if this plan works. I think, watching Skye tap away at the table screen. She stops what she is doing and turns to face me with an unhappy look.

"I want you to know that I don't like this plan." Skye says in a stern voice. "Not. One. Bit." Emphasizing each word and I almost thought she would poke me with her finger when she did.

"I'll ask what I did Coulson." I say, crossing my arms. "Do you have anything better?" Watching her patiently for an answer, I know that she doesn't have. Seconds later, she sighs in defeat.

"No, I don't." She says, hanging her head and fiddling with the sleeve of her shirt.

"I'll admit I don't like this much better then any of you." I say leaning my hip against the table with my arms still crossed. "All I have to do is keep Yuri focused on me long enough for Ward to get into position to take a shot at him. That will mean fighting him, but I haven't been lounging around the Hub the past two years. I know how to defend myself." Better then I could back then. I think to myself.

"I wish there was another way." Skye says in quiet voice, looking down at her hand still fiddling with her shirt sleeve. "If you couldn't beat him then, what makes you think you can now?" She asks, sounding very worried. "There is no one to stop him from killing you." She says quietly, to quiet for human ears to hear. I soften at her words and a step closer to her, resting a hand on her bicep.

"I don't have to beat him, just hold him off long enough for Ward to take a shot at him." I tell her quietly. "I couldn't beat him back then because I refused to tap into that part of me. It scared me and still somewhat does. The past two years I have learned how to fight and somewhat use that part of me. I was taught by one of the best, so I can take care of myself." Rubbing her bicep in a comforting matter, hoping what I said will reassure her just a bit.

"You better," She says, looking up at me. "or I'll kick your ass myself." Giving me a stern look, which softens after a few seconds. "I don't want anything to happen to you. It sounds like you have been through enough." She says, resting her hand on top of mine that is still on her bicep. More then you know, Skye. More then you know. I think giving her a soft smile, before removing my hand from under hers.

"You find the blueprints for the warehouse?" I ask her, getting the focus back on my plan.

"Yeah, I did. It took a few minutes." She says, sounding a bit smug over that fact. I look down at the table screen and sure enough there is a blueprint on it.

"Impressive." I tell her, giving her a smile.

Skye and I spend the next thirty minutes looking over the warehouse blueprint. We find two ways for Ward to enter the building from the outside and at least three places where he can set up the shot. Coulson rejoins us in the briefing room and we tell him what we have found. He agrees with the spots we think Ward can shoot from, but ultimately it will be up to Ward. Shortly after that Fitz calls me down to the lab and I head down there, passing Ward on his way to the briefing room. Fitz explains to me that he had a com made for me from the scan Jemma had taken earlier. He said that it would fit perfectly in my ear and that he wanted to make sure it worked. I put the com in my left ear and as Fitz said it would, fit perfectly in my ear.

Coulson, Ward, May and Skye joined us in the lab seconds after we finished testing the com. Ward had picked out the spot where he will shoot from out of the three Skye and I thought would work for him. We spent the next twenty minutes going over the plan from beginning to end. Through out the briefing I notice Skye and Jemma exchanging worried looks with one another and looking to me after they do.

"Alright, everyone knows the plan?" Coulson asks after going over the plan one more time. Everyone nods, though Jemma and Skye a bit reluctantly. "Good. Let's head out." He directs towards Ward and I. Jemma and Skye approach me before I can head out to the cargo bay.

"Be careful, Alex." Skye says and surprises me by giving me a hug. "Remember what we talked about upstairs." She whispers in my ear before stepping back. I nod my head before another body is wrapped around mine, surprising me again.

"Come back in one piece." Jemma whispers hoarsely. She squeezes me once before stepping back next to Skye, looking a bit sheepish at her actions.

"Don't forget this." Fitz says coming to stand to my right, holding out the jacket he had made me.

"Thanks, I'm sure this will come in handy." I say, taking the jacket and slipping it on.

"Be safe, alright." Fitz tells me and holds out his fist for me to bump. I do with a nod and a smile. I look at the three people around me before turning to the cargo bay to join Coulson and Ward at the SUV. I don't notice May standing off to the side of the doors, to deep in thought over what just happened in the lab, until a hand on my bicep stops me. We stare at each other a moment before she speaks.

"I know you can take care of yourself, but as they said," May says, stepping closer to me, "Be careful." Giving my bicep a squeeze before removing her hand and stepping away. I nod my head before resuming my walk to the SUV, even more unsure of what just happened.

Ward is already in the drivers seat and Coulson is standing by the passenger side door. He gives me a look as I pass to the backseat. We both get in and buckle up as Ward starts up the SUV. I look out the front window to see Skye, Jemma and Fitz standing together where they were when we all first met. Skye and Jemma are stand closer together, shoulders touching. I keep my eyes on them as we back out the plane and until we drive off to the airfield entrance. On the way to the warehouse, Coulson, Ward and I go over the plan one more time. We fall silence at the warehouse comes into view fifteen minutes later.

Present time

We slowly walk to where the body was found, ducking under the crime scene tap that is still up. As we approach the scene, I keep all my senses on alert just incase. I can smell Yuri's scent strongly around the area, which I predicted he would do. The only heart beats I hear besides my own are Ward's and Coulson's, so that means Yuri is out range of my hearing or is masking it someway.

"The body was propped up here." Ward says pointing to just under where the words Yuri wrote on the wall. "There was signs of a struggle in the dirt, which suggests the attack happened here." He continues, looking at the ground that has blood spatter around and scuff marks around.

"Can you pick up on anything?" Coulson asks, looking at blood spatter on an old barrel. I take my time, pretended I haven't already pick up on his scent yet. I walk around a bit, careful not to step in any blood that's on the ground.

"Yeah, I can." I answer Coulson after a few minutes. "It's that same as the guy in the park. It's leading this way." I point in the direction the scent is going, slowly walking that way. Coulson and Ward follow a few feet behind me. I can hear Coulson's heart beating in his chest wildly and I know it's because he is nervous about this plan still.

Yuri scent leads into the warehouse through a door. I stand a few steps away from it, getting prepared for what happens when I step through the door. Just remember what Natasha taught you. Don't let your emotions get the better of you. I think to myself, eyes focused on the semi darkness beyond the door. You just need to hold him off long enough for Ward to get set up to take a shot with the night-night gun. Taking a deep breath and rolling my shoulders before walking towards the door.

I pass through the entry way and walk a few steps away from the door, looking forward to let my eyes adjust to the change in light. I hear fast running footsteps from my right and a slam of metal from behind me. And it begins. I think as a loud clunk sounds through the warehouse, announce that the door is locked from the inside. Coulson's and Ward's pounding fists on the metal door is heard next as I turn around to face the door. Yuri is gone, hearing his fast running off somewhere to left of the door.

"You were never very bright." Yuri's voice calls out from somewhere in the warehouse. With the vastness and emptiness of the place, it's hard to pinpoint his location within it. "But that has worked in my favour." He says with a laugh that echoes throughout the large warehouse. Coulson and Ward have stopped pounding on the door, but I can faintly hear them on the other side of the door.

"How so?" I ask, taking a small cautious step further into the building. I'm scanning all over with my eyes and keeping my hearing and sense of smell open for anything.

Another laugh echoes throughout the building, sounding more manically then the first. "I have you alone." He responds after his laughter dies down, but can still hear the faint echo. "I knew my little taunt would work. You'll be just like the others before those two men your with find a way in here." He says and his voice sounds closer then before.

I just have enough time to duck down before Yuri attempts to tackle from my left. Facing where he landed on the floor, I take a few large steps backwards in a defensive position. Yuri growls in frustration as he picks himself off the ground, dust and dirt coating his already messy clothing. Thats right, Yuri. Make this easier for me. I think, as Yuri glares at me.

"That will only work once." He bites out, also going into a defensive position like me. "I'm a quick learner, Alex. You should remember that from our previous fights." Yuri taunts with a growing smirk on his lips. "Or maybe me beating the crap out of you so many times made you forget." A glint flash quickly in his eyes that I remember all to well from our previous fights.

"I haven't forgotten anything." I say calmly, keeping my eyes trained on him as he slowly walks forward. "But I have learned somethings since then." Preparing myself for his attack.

"Oh, what's that?" He asks, tilting his head to the side and preparing himself to tackle me again. I don't answer him just giving him a smirk instead, which sets him off.

Yuri launches himself at me, trying to tackle me to the ground like he had before. I quickly side step him to the left and twist a bit, slamming my knee hard into his stomach. With my extra strength, I send him flying back to were he landed when he tried to tackle me with a loud groan of pain. Yuri's breathing is laboured and I internal high five at knocking the wind out him. Don't get cocky. I think, remembering Natasha lesson's.

"I learned how to fight." I finally answer the question he asked of me before he tried to tackle me. Yuri glares at me while he struggles to regain his breath. He slowly gets up and his eyes flash yellow.

"You think a little fight training will help you beat me," He says, still sounding a bit out of breath. "You have another thing coming." He growls out, making his eyes go yellow and keeping them that way.

I crouch into a defensive position, ready for his next attack. Instead of running at me again, Yuri runs off somewhere in the warehouse. Wants to surprise attack me again. I think, staying in my defensive position and keep my senses on alert. I'm thankful that I studied the layout of the warehouse before coming here, so I know there not that many places for Yuri to hide. I noise up to my left draws my attention, which makes the steps running from my right go unnoticed until it's too late.

Large hands grab me by the front of my jacket and throw me backwards into a metal railing hard. I groan in pain when I hit the ground, the wind knocked out of me as well. There wasn't a cracking sound when I hit the railing, so I know none of my ribs are broken. Probably bruised though. I think getting up off the ground and watching Yuri stock towards me. He has an evil smirk on his face and that glint in his eyes that are still yellow.

"Face it, Alex." Yuri says as he approaches me. "You could never beat me. Not then and not now." He says, coming to stand a few feet away from where I am, raising slowly from the ground. Yuri takes the opportunity to make another move.

He throws a punch aimed for my head, but I easily deflect the punch and it allows me to throw a hard punch to his left side. Yuri doubles over for a moment but doesn't let it stop him and wildly swipes at me with his hands. He catches me in the chest, thanks to the jacket Fitz made me, doesn't cause me to bleed. Yuri quickly follows that while I'm recovering from the swipe, to grab me by the jacket again and throw across the room again. This time I collide with a wall and slide down with a groan. He sure likes throwing me around. I think, getting up off the floor, paining radiating through out my shoulders from hitting the wall.

As soon as I'm on my feet, I'm grabbed around the neck and shoved hard into the wall I was just thrown into. My feet are dangling off the ground and I feel his long nails digging into my neck, blood slowly trickling out where they dig into my flesh. Yuri smiles evilly at me, eyes still yellow.

"No one here to stop me from killing you, like before." He says all to happily, squeezing my neck tighter. Thats when I hear the two taps in my ear, the signal that Ward is in place and ready to take the shot. About time. I think as a struggle to breath.

"I wouldn't be so sure of that." I choke out, grabbing the wrist of the hand around my neck. Seconds after I say that, a shocked look appears on Yuri faces before he lets go of me and falls to the floor.

I stumble when I land on the ground, gasping for breath. That was cutting it close. I think, pressing my hand to my neck to access how badly I am bleeding from Yuri's nails digging into it. Two pairs of footsteps hurriedly approach from the direction Ward shot from. I look up to see Coulson and Ward coming my way. Ward goes directly to Yuri, rolling him onto his back to put the cuffs I arrived in on him. Coulson comes directly to me, concern etched over his face.

"Alex, you alright?" Coulson asks, resting his hand on my shoulder. I nod my head, throat hurting to much to answer with words. "Here, hold this to you neck to stop the bleeding until we get back to the plane." Holding out gauze for me to take. I take it from him with a small smile and press it to the side of my neck that is bleeding the most.

"Target secured, sir." Ward calls over to us. "Suggest we get back to the Bus and get him secured in before the toxin wears off." He suggests, bending down to pick up Yuri to carry him to the SUV.

"That's a good idea. The sooner you can get fixed up by Simmons." Coulson says, wrapping my arm around his shoulder so he can help back to the SUV.

I internally groan, remembering the conversation I had with Skye in the briefing room. Both Skye and Jemma said that I should be careful and come back in one piece. I tried my best and I hope they don't get too upset. I'm conscious and walking mostly under my own power, that should be something. Somehow I have a gut feeling that it won't at all. I'm surprised that they care about my well being, having only known me for a little while, but they don't seem bothered by it.

"Skye and Jemma are the least of your worries." Coulson's voice breaks me out of my thoughts of them. I look over to him with a confused look, wondering if I had spoken out loud without realizing it. He shakes his head to my unasked question as we reach the SUV. Ward is putting Yuri into the back. "You'll have to deal with Maria and Natasha when you get back to the Hub." He says and my eyes widen at his words as he opens the back door for me, helping me in.

Oh crap.

A/N2: I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I make no promises as to when the next time I'll update is, but I promise not to go to long.