Episode 2: Heavy is the Head


Sara frowned as Hunter sped into the alleyway. She tilted her head to the side as Hunter slammed the car door shut. Trip walked up to him with a smile.
"Nice ride. Some rich guy loan it to you?" Trip asked.
"Yeah, something like that. Shame about the rims though, eh?"
"Yeah. Probably cost a grand each."
"At least."
"Hm." Hunter caught Sara's eye and sighed. "This isn't a friendly stop, is it?"
"Nope. Hands on the car, Hunter." He did as he was told, allowing Trip to pat him down.


About an hour later, Sara sat in Coulson's office, holding a sleeping baby. Jonathan had been extra clingy since she arrived back at the base. She was watching Coulson and Hunter argue.
"How he hell did you lose him?" Hunter shouted. "Why haven't you got every agent out there looking for Creel right now?"
"You think you're entitled to answers?" Coulson snapped.
"He killed my two friends. I think that's entitlement enough."
"Well, it's not."
"You should've aborted the mission."
"Hartley should've followed my orders."

Sighing, Hunter sat down beside Sara.
"Yeah, well, she tried to. Izzy's only mistake was listening to me."
"Is that why you came back?" Sara questioned. "Guilt? A desire for revenge?"
"Or was it because of what Talbot promised you?" Coulson asked.
"All of the above."
"So, you took the deal."
"I have forty-eight hours to deliver you."
"Or else you're a dead man?"
"Words to that affect, yeah."
"Talbot. And you didn't give him our location?"
"Don't get me wrong, I thought about it. He put a four-man detail on me, took three hours to shake them. I could had led them right to the door."
"It's so kind of you to reconsider. And in exchange for me, you get what, exactly?"
"A proper burial for Isabelle Hartley. I wanted to make sure her record was cleared, that her family was probably notified."
"Commendable," Sara nodded. He nodded back at her before looking to Coulson.
"Look, Coulson, between you and Talbot, I know you'll get to Creel first. He's the only thing I want. Well, that and the money you owe me."

With a scoff, Sara shook her head at him.
"You're kidding, right?" Coulson asked. "Cause sometimes I can't tell."
"No, I'm not. I want my pay, and not just mine, either. I want Hartley's and Idaho's, too."
"Okay, now you're kidding."
"It's for their families. I think they deserve something for their loss, don't you think?" Coulson stared at him for a moment before sighing, taking his seat.
"I'll take care of it."
"Good. Once we have Creel…" Hunter stood, crossing his arms. "I'll be in the wind." He started towards the door, pausing just inside the doorway. "Or three sheets to it." He left, leaving Coulson and Sara.

Coulson glanced at his daughter, who was readjusting Jonathan in her arms.
"What do you think?" he asked. "Can we trust him?" Sara shook her head.
"You can't trust anyone, Coulson."
"You know what I mean." She stood, cradling her son to her chest.
"Do you trust me, Coulson."
"Of course."
"I trust Hunter." He nodded and she left him.


In Hartley's room, Sara sighed as she packed up her fellow agent's belongings. She smiled at a picture of Hartley and her sister.
"You remember Jane?" Hunter asked.
"Yeah. When they got together, there was a lot of laughs."
"And bottles of wine." She chuckled quietly, setting the photo into a box.
"Hartley was good when it came to family."
"Yep. Which is why I'm taking this." Hunter picked up a pendant, holding the charm in the palm of his hand. "It belonged to her mum."
"Yeah. I remember the funeral."
"You hear Jane has it now?"
"Damn."
"Life can be a mean drunk that way. Never knows when to stop punching."
"Life sucks."
"We really gotta stop getting attached to people."

He held out his arms and Sara hugged him tight.
"I've tried that. Didn't work. For you either."
"Mmmmmm, Skye reminds me of Izzy."
"Yeah?"
"Raw but sharp. She's got skills. Type that could earn some real money in the private sector."
"As a mercenary? Yeah, I don't think she'll take it." She pulled away, going back to packing.
"We prefer the term "private military contractors."" He pocketed the charm. "What's your exit strategy?"
"I don't know. S.H.I.E.L.D.'s been my life forever."
"S.H.I.E.L.D. isn't a life, Sara. It's just a job, a means to the end. If you hear anything more about Creel, will you let me know."
"Of course."
"Thanks, Princess." She laughed, nudging him.
"Don't call me that."


Sara sat on the kitchen floor, passing a ball back and forth with Jonathan. He was giggling as he played with her. She was taking advantage that most of the team was out. Or else she'd be in her room, but Jonathan got antsy when in once place too long. Something they both shared.
"The second that frequency comes through; I want everyone on the move!" came Coulson's voice. She looked up as May, Skye, Trip, and Coulson entered the room.
"What frequency?" she asked. May shook her head, advising the younger woman to be quiet.
"What if Creel melts down again?" Skye asked. "The lab hasn't figured out how to shut down his powers yet."
"If he's an immediate threat to civilians," Coulson said, "Trip's got the backup plan."
"What kind of backup plan?" Skye asked. Trip winked at her.
"The heavy-duty kind with armor-piercing rounds."
"Will that work?"

From behind Sara, Hunter spoke up.
"Get close enough to him, catch him off guard…" He took a seat on the floor beside Jonathan, tickling the baby. Jonathan's giggles spread through the room. "Where do you want me?" Hunter asked.
"That depends… Can you follow an order."
"Absolutely, sir."
"Because a part of me wants you here running back-end. The other part knows we need boots on the ground, and I've only got a few good pairs."
"I'll be good." He held up three fingers in a salute. "Scouts honor." Coulson raised an eyebrow, as if not believing him. "Please, sir, I owe Hartley one."
"You can use him," Sara said. Coulson took a deep breath.
"Suit up." Hunter gave Sara a thankful smile before frowning as Jonathan's ball hit him in the shoulder.
"Oi! Quite an arm, mate." He scooped up the boy, hugging him tightly.
"Sara!" called Mack. "Come help me in the lab, yeah?"
"Why?"
"I'm trying to get through to Fitz and I think your presence will help."
"I'll be there in a minute. Gotta leave Jonathan with his babysitter."


In the lab, Sara stood beside Mack while Fitz' spoke. Three lab techs were beside them, holding pens and clipboards.
"It's all about the…" Fitz held a length of cables in his hand. "The resonant. I didn't solve this today."

Holding something up, Mack asked about it.
"What—what—what is this? What, is this some kind of sonic thing, like the cloaking device?" Frustrated, Fitz leaned heavily against the table.
"No, I didn't, uh…"
"Look, forget about the cloaking device, all right? No one is blaming you for that. Right now, we just got to focus on taking down Creel."

With an exasperated sigh, Fitz shoved all the papers off the table.
"Fitz, calm down," Sara murmured. He scowled at her, walking away as he ran his hands through his hair in frustration. Mack gave Sara a look and she backed away. She needed to let Mack handle it. Fitz needed someone other than her and his imaginary Simmons to talk too.
"Get out of here," Sara snapped at the techs as she headed to her desk. "I don't care what Coulson's ordered you to go. Get out of this lab." The three scurried off as Fitz turned back to Sara and Mack.
"Okay."
"Take it easy," Mack said.
"Look, I didn't solve this today!" Fitz yelled.
"Yeah, I know! You said that already!" Mack yelled back. Sara sat at her desk, rubbing at her forehead.
"I didn't solve this today!"

Mack paused, then started nodding in understanding.
"Wait. Are you saying you didn't solve this today? You solved this before?"
"Yes!"
"Y-you're looking for an old design?"
"Yes! Yeah. Yeah!"
"All right. Okay." Mack grabbed a tablet, turning it on. "All right, I'm with you, Turbo. All right."

Pulling up schematics, Mack started swiping through them.
"No. No. No…"
"You want the Overkill Device," Sara said quietly. Fitz nodded quickly.
"Yeah! That." Mack swiped to it and Fitz' eyes brightened.
"Yeah! Yeah! Thanks, Sara."
"Anytime." She stood from her desk, crossing over to him. She gave him a quick hug, which he returned along with a kiss to her forehead. "Need anything else, boys. Or do you have it from here?"
"We've got it," Mack nodded. "Thank you, Sara."
"Yep."


That evening, after the team successfully took down Creel, Sara stood outside the lab, watching Mack and Fitz talk. May walked up to her, wrapping an arm around her shoulder.
"I'm glad he's talking to someone," Sara murmured. "I've got to admit though, I'm having a tough time with it."
"That's understandable, Sara. He's changed."
"We've all changed, May."

Turning, Sara looked May in the eyes.
"We've all changed. Hell, I've got a kid, Simmons is gone, Hunter has agreed to be an agent. And you know who else has changed?"
"Besides me becoming an honorary grandmother?" May joked.
"The Director," Sara corrected. May sobered, shaking her head.
"Coulson has a lot on his plate, rebuilding S.H.I.E.L.D."
"I wouldn't know. He's not exactly the sharing type these days."
"He has the world to worry about, not just us, not just the team."
"It's not just that, May. I've been watching him for months, and I know he's keeping something from me. You're keeping something from me. I've been talking with Skye and we agree-"
"Sara…"
"Stop. Is Coulson all right?"
"Of course." May hugged Sara tightly. "I know you are worried, but he's okay. And if he's not, he will be."
"May-"
"Hey! Princess!"

The two women turned to find Hunter holding Jonathan.
"I thought you said you were only going to be gone for a few minutes. My show's about to be on."
"Whatcha watching?" Sara asked, walking over to him.
"Cake Boss."
"Ooooo! Can I watch." Hunter swung an around her.
"Come on, then!" Jonathan reached for Sara, and she took him. He started babbling to her and she spoke back.
"Why do you talk to him even though he can't hear you?"
"Eh, trying to give him a normal childhood."
"Ah… have you figured out why he was born deaf?"
"If not genetically, then we suspect I came into contact with some chemicals. I was in the labs for a long time before I realized I was pregnant. And stress in utero."
"Okay… can you tell me who the father is?"
"He's dead," Sara answered flatly. Hunter nodded, then grinned.
"Great! Cake Boss it is!"


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