AN: Hey! I hope you all had a great week. As always, many thanks to MegaDiary123 for being the best Beta I could have asked for. Oh, just a forewarning, this is one of the instances when the AU of the story comes in play. I've slightly changed how some scenes play out, compared to how they play out in the series. Yup, that's all. Without further ado...

All rights go to Marvel

Skye's POV

We arrived in Rome really early on Saturday morning, but of course we didn't stick around to enjoy the city, or do any sort of sightseeing whatsoever, and left only a couple of hours later for Malta, after we got everything we needed from the Italian base.

We had managed to come up with the best possible plan we could with the time limit we were facing. I had to give it to Fitz, as he created a make-up compact which, when put near a computer, would allow him to hack the laser defended field even for only a few seconds and allow the two other members of the team to infiltrate the villa and extract Hall.

After going over the plan, my eyes caught May and Coulson talking on the side, the former complaining about the amount of combat she had seen so far, and it being way more than what she had bargained for. The leader of the team assured her that she was not going to see any more combat as he was going to be the second person along Ward who was going to help out in rescuing Dr. Hall. And after that he turned to the rest of the team, leaving May with a concerned look on her face, and ordering us to gear up.

I quickly went to my bunk to change, wearing a bright pink dress, clearly saying that I was an attention seeker. Though my wardrobe while in S.H.I.E.L.D. mostly consisted of dark-toned clothes, my cover had more lively colours in her clothes. She was just a simple woman after all who had nothing to do with a not-so-secret organisation. Jemma, Fitz and May stayed in the Bus, which was hidden away for any prying eyes, while the three members for the mission exited and started walking our respective ways. Ward was preparing the boat with which the two of them would reach the shore of the villa while I was about to call for a taxi to get me to Quinn's building.

After working up the nerve to say what I wanted to say I turned to Coulson. "I don't want to question your orders, sir" using the term 'sir' to emphasise the seriousness of what I was about to say. He had told me to call him Coulson after all, unless it was a formal meeting and I really wanted to get his attention.

"Good" he answered, overlooking Ward at his preparation.

"But…" I stretched out. "I couldn't help but hear agent May's concerns about you being on this mission, out on the field. I don't mean to overstep any boundaries, but you once told me that you would always send at least two agents together in a mission. Ward and I make two, there is no reason for you to get involved. I strongly believe that we can see that this mission comes to fruition even without your assistance" I spoke quickly, but confidently, before he got a chance to interrupt me.

His hands were still crossed over his chest as he fully turned to look at me. His demeanour was as serious as ever. It was clear as day that he was not really pleased with what he heard and I knew that I was about to get an earful from him. So I decided that it was as good of a chance to say what was on my mind as any would be.

"I can tell you disagree and I respect that" I started before he managed to say anything and I saw his jaw tighten as he kept it shut. "I have also been taught espionage, phycology and interrogation techniques by the best there is" a certain redhead's image flashing briefly in my mind. "You might have agreed with my idea, we didn't have any better option to begin with, and you might have not said anything outright but I know that a main reason you are taking part so actively is to keep an eye on me. You are trying to hide it, and your pretending is successful to most people, but I am not most people". I took a breath and let a few seconds tick by so that what I had said so far was properly digested before I continued. "I am not going to question your orders and if you think that tagging along is what is best for the mission, I will trust your judgment. However if you are, indeed, doing it for the reason I suspect, I would kindly ask you to reconsider and not put yourself in any unnecessary danger because of it. Despite having planned out everything in the best of our abilities, there are many factors we couldn't take into consideration just because we didn't have the time, or the man power, or the weapons or many other things. The plan could go south with the slightest change or delay and I know that a heavy part of the mission lies on my shoulders". My clock buzzed and I looked down on my wrist only to see that I had to leave.

I lifted my head and my eyes locked with his. There was a flash of something I couldn't quite place, but the determination was still there and I knew that despite my speech, he would still go with his original plan. I pressed my lips together and nodded, accepting that there was nothing that would change the man's mind. "Good luck, to both of you" I told him and walked off to get in the taxi, turning on my ear piece so that the agents left on the Bus could hear me from then on.

After getting off the taxi, with the number M250 on the side, walking in the event and talking to people, making contact with the target, who was Ian Quinn in this mission, was pretty standard and simple. With the three agents in my ear and all the information I needed for the other attendees at hand, it was not too hard to blend in and play the part of Jane. What I did not expect though was the man offering me a job. Well… offering Jane a job. That was something I could use in my advantage if it come down to that.

And after Quinn started his speech about Gravitonium and how his company would use this new element and how his shareholders better jump at the opportunity, I slipped away and headed to the main building so as to complete the mission that I was there for.

The man really needed to change his security if he thought that the men he had at the moment were capable of stopping anyone who wanted to get into the building. Getting in the highest floor there was, it was easy enough to reach Quinn's office. We had already gone through the blueprints of the estate and his office was as high as it could possibly be, so that he not only could see what was happening to the rest of the villa, but he was close enough to the roof in case he needed to escape fast in a helicopter.

I tried to open the door, only for it to remain closed. "It's locked" I said to my earpiece. "But there's no lock" I hurriedly added.

"Eh, check for a keypad" I heard Fitz over the comms, sounding like he was chewing something.

"Are you seriously eating right now?" I yelled whispered as I looked for what the rocket scientist has pointed out only to find none. "Nope, no keypad" I said, but just as I finished that sentence my mind map picked up movement coming towards me. It matched Ian Quinns vibrational print, which I had memorised as he walked up when I met him. "Shit, he is coming" I said to myself, having forgotten that there were people hearing my every word.

"What? Skye you have to hide!" Jemma was quick to say in an urgent tone.

I closed my eyes and placed my palm over the door knob. "Stop talking" I whispered in a commanding voice which had the girl stop short from whatever else she was about to ramble. With a gentle push so as to not destroy the inner lock, but just unlock it for the moment, I sent a vibration and the handle turned with ease. Quickly, I walked in, the lock clicking when the door was closed and my back rested on its surface.

After a couple of seconds when nothing happened, I walked towards the balcony, looking at the incredible view that this room had. Not too close for people who might be strolling underneath to spot me, but enough to appreciate the sea and everything underneath. I opened the make-up, waited until the red lines turned into green for Fitz to work on and smiled at my reflexion.

"Oh, yes!" I basically heard Fitz jump on the spot right before fast typing just as Jemma exclaimed a quick "Amazing!"

I heard the door unlock and looked over my shoulder just as Ian Quinn walked in. When he spotted me he stopped in the spot momentarily and then narrowed his eyes "How did you get in here?"

I turned to fully face him just as the other voices in my ear seized the moment they heard the man's voice.

"I got the e-vite from the encrypted back channel that I send you the request from. I have also managed to get myself into many restricted areas in several buildings over the last years. Let's just say that I have a few tricks up my sleeve" I said with a confident smile on my face. Not a seductive one, as Quinn would not be one to be tricked into that short of thing so easily.

"So what?" He asked as he closed in on me. "I invite you here as a guest, and you treat me like another corrupt institution, looking for trade secrets to leak online?"

"Please" I interrupted with a scoff before he attempted to call the security. After his question that was the part that usually followed in these kind of situations. "You are the kind of person that had created Quinn Worldwide. You are not stupid enough to have any kind of secrets lying around in your office. I bet you have all your important files stored away, secured by guards with guns and maybe not even in Malta. Maybe the States, or even in an exotic destination where your enemies would not even think of looking for" I walked around the sofa in front of me and sat at the edge, crossing my legs as I did so.

With a raised eyebrow, but with the phone still tightly clenched in his hand he approached and looked out of his balcony and to the sea beyond. "Why then?"

"You offered me a job, did you not?" I said without hesitation. "I wanted to talk to you about that, since you are not the only job offer I have at the moment" I said nonchalantly. I could still see the tension on his shoulders and could sense his quick heartbeat, letting me know he did not fully believe me. "Look" I let out a heavy sigh and let some tiredness slip into my voice, as if accidentally, making it seem like I was finally speaking honestly. "I am a hacker. I have a van for home that I have been living in for the past how many years, alone" I especially emphasised the last word. "I don't have agoraphobia or anything, but let's just say that I feel more comfortable behind my computer rather than in a place filled with people whose monthly pay-check is more than what I've made my entire life".

Seriously, how long was it going to take Ward and Coulson to get Dr. Hall out of here? Plus Ward was supposed to come here and help me out. "Ward's coming over to you" May's voice answered my questions but still. He was taking his sweet time getting here, wasn't he?

Instantly I could tell that he felt more at ease than before. Though there were still some reservation, it was clear that we were at a much better place than we were before as his phone was now back in his pocket. "If you are really here only for the job, you have to tell me what other offers you have, I have to know who my competitors are after all"

"Oh, you know, the classic suspects I'm afraid. F.B.I., C.I.A., S.H.I.E.L.D., S.I. and many others. I have hacked them all and they all have the same logic for some reason. 'You hacked me, so you are better and I want you to improve our systems'"

"And how come you never accepted any of them?" He continued the small 'interrogation'.

I rolled my eyes at that. "You are the one who asks me that?" I asked as if it was the most obvious thing in the whole world. He stared back, challenging me to resume and answer my own question. "It's the secrets" I answered more genuinely than I would have wished. He nodded, prompting me to continue. "What the Rising Tide stand for is freedom of information. And the organisations I named are all hiding so many secrets, information that people deserve to know because they are affected by said secrets. Especially S.H.I.E.L.D." I mean, what was the harm into saying what was on my mind? After all Quinn was such a hard-core anti-S.H.I.E.L.D. that I would only get into his good side. "I have to admit though, S.I.'s offer was really tempting. But if you really think about it, Iron Man has been so involved with S.H.I.E.L.D. and we don't know what kind of secrets he is hiding. Plus, Stark can be… eccentric"

"That makes sense" he spoke after thinking over what he had just heard. "You are too good to be left unchecked for them". By the time he finished his sentence I had started sensing vibrations start spreading all over the ground, slowly picking up the rate and strength. Why on earth would there be an earthquake here?

I shook my head and brought my attention back to the task at hand, stalling Quinn. "You're saying they wanted to rope me in because I pose a genuine threat to them?"

He shrugged and sat on the other corner of the sofa. "Yes. And fit their profile"

"Profile?"

"Sure. For Stark Industries, well, you can use a computer and you have a pretty face. You know Stark's reputation. As for the others… you're a criminal. You have a warrant somewhere"

"Probably"

"Specialised skill set"

If only you knew my skill set, I thought. I smiled instead "I try to stay humble"

"No family" he declared. The smile disappeared from my face. I was not playing the part of Jane anymore. I had a family, a very dysfunctional but loving family. Still, my mind flashed back to a time when I was looking into my actual family, where I was coming from. Who I really was. "I'm sorry" He said after the long pause, studying my expression. "I didn't mean to hit a nerve, but that is what these people do. S.H.I.E.L.D., they prey on fear and loneliness and desperation, and then they offer a home to those who have no one else to turn to. I can offer you something better. You stay with us, there are no secrets, no lies, and no agenda. You're free to do what you do without a big brother watching over you" just as he finished an earthquake shook through the place, stuff falling of the nearby shelves and onto the floor.

But this was no ordinary earthquake. After I figured out about my powers, one of the first things I did was study earthquakes, their patterns and how they evolve, and I had also lived through several ones in the past years. This was different, it felt different. It felt… unnatural. I could swear that it was almost like it was manmade, maybe even artificial.

As Quinn fell to the ground, I saw a pen start levitate. This was a clearly not good sign. I needed to get out of there, waiting for Ward was no longer an option. "Thi-This was a pretty strong shake there. I think I'm going to leave the building and try to get to the ground" I said to Quinn, purposely making my voice shake a bit before bolting from the room.

Just as I was about to take a sharp left the agent bumped into me. "What took you so long?" I asked him, but as he opened his mouth to answer I interrupted him, grabbed his arm and took off from where he came. "Nevermind that, we have more pressing matters at hand. Something is going on with the Gravitonium"

We both halted just as a handful guards came running towards us. They stopped momentarily when they saw us, clearly not expecting us, before running again ready to attack us.

"Seriously?" I asked Ward before the first guard reached me. He made a move to punch my face but I dodged away and then hit his Adam's apple, which had him fall to the ground with his hands around his throat trying to breathe in. I had just docked another's kick, and landed an uppercut which seemed to do nothing to the huge man in front of me when I spoke again, "Why did you not incapacitate them on your way here?"

I could feel Ward rolling his eyes even though I was not looking at him. "The plan…" grunt, "…was to…" grunt, "…sneak in" final punch to the head that had his opponent knocked out.

"Is that why…" I kicked the man behind his knees before landing a round hound kick to the side of his head and he joined the other in dreamland. "…it took you so long to get to me?" I turned to him as one of the fallen guards made a move to stand up but was put back on the ground as both Ward and I punched him in the face.

"Please, you could have handled them" and with that he just walked off.

I was internally screaming as I caught up to him and we made our way to where I could only assume Coulson was. But despite his words, I sensed no ill-intention hidden in his voice, so I couldn't really hold a grudge.