That night Akela Amador visited the Coulson's home. Akela got a copy of Skye's file she had hacked into and she talked to Skye for a few minutes. Skye and Thomas and Donnie had retreated to Skye's new room while Melinda and Akela talked in the kitchen. Phil excused himself to his office to work on preparing class lessons and grading.

"So you're a foster parent now."

"Yeah. Phil and I are."

"Tell me Melinda. How did he pull that off? Last time I was here, you were dead set against it."

"I don't even know. It just kind of happened."

Akela shook her head. "How does taking in three kids just kind of happen?"

"Phil wanted to do it. You know how he is. He collects strays."

"Yeah but that's Phil. How did he convince you?"

"I felt I owed him something. For so long, he put up with me and my – well -you know. I merely promised to go to hear out the social worker and ended up signing the paperwork."

"You don't do anything you don't want to do Melinda. You never have."

"I guess a part of me wanted to change? I don't even know. Everything happened so fast the last six weeks. First, I showed up for Phil at the meeting, next thing I know we get Donnie. At the same time Skye appears in our lives and well things worked out in such a way that she ended up here too. Thomas was the real surprise. Although thinking about it now, it makes perfect sense for him to stay with us. He is temporary though. Probably. We think anyway."

"The girl is connected to all this. Missing files at a group home like St Agnes being gone is not normal. Hospital records disappearing. People falling off the grid. All these crimes being shoved under the rug. Evidence disappearing. And the whole thing leads back to the Wards and Gideon Malick. We've been investigating them for over a year."

"For what exactly?"

"It's complicated. One thing is we are positive they are connected to Ian Quinn. He's always been just shy of breaking the laws and has great lawyers. As does Malick. Nick is positive they all have several politicians and law enforcement in their pocket. We just can't connect the dots enough to prove anything with Quinn or the Wards or Malick."

"How do the Brodys fit into this?"

"That we aren't sure. Other than the fact that Malick is backing Brody for State Senator to take Ward's seat. Do you think your young guest, Thomas Ward, knows anything about his father's dealings?"

"I highly doubt it, He's only fifteen. And he's not exactly their favorite son."

"I can't believe what they did to him."

"That's what they are counting on. That the public believes them and not Thomas. That they can continue to push the narrative that Thomas is the problem and not to be believed. Trouble for them though is that so many people are now on Thomas' side. Sharon Carter, Vic, Izzy, Jeri Hogarth, his lawyer, Phil and me, Skye and the other kids. That boy is not a drug addict, nor does he have mental issues. That's the narrative they are using to bury all this, whatever all this is. At first, I just assumed they were protecting their other son, but there's far more to it than that, I'm sure. What all that is, who knows. But I'm will bet that whatever Malick and Quinn are up to, the Wards and maybe the Brodys are in the thick of it.

"The Brodys were Skye's foster parents. Before she came here right?"

"Right."

"Why would they all of a sudden take in a foster kid? A foster kid with a bunch of deleted files?"

"And a redacted file. Don't forget that piece of the puzzle. And her former foster parents who appear to have fallen off the edge of the world. No one can find a trace of them. Vic's been trying everything she knows to trace them down." Melinda paused as she heard footsteps.

"Oh hey. I didn't mean to eavesdrop." Skye entered the kitchen. "I was – I just wanted to say goodnight Melinda before um – you know – getting to bed. Thomas is already in bed downstairs and so is Donnie up in his room. We're all kind of beat."

Melinda got up. "I didn't realize how late it was. I was going to help you guys make up your beds."

Skye grinned. "We can make our own beds Melinda. It's fine."

Melinda grinned back. "Good to know."

"Yeah it's late Mel. I should be heading out."

"I didn't even ask where you were staying. You at a hotel?"

"It's a B and B. Only a few miles from here."

"We do have the spare room upstairs. If you'd rather?"

"Um – I'm fine Mel. You have your hands full here, looks like. Anyway, nice to meet you Skye. I'll stop over at your dojo tomorrow Mel. I want to see it again. Last time I was there you were just starting it up."

"Good. We can have lunch. Thomas and Skye will be there as well. Lunch is around one-ish."

"Okay. Good night." She exited the kitchen leaving by the side door in the hallway. Melinda turned to Skye.

"Come on."

"I don't need to be tucked in you know."

"Okay. Good night then."

Skye lingered a few moments. She then spoke up quietly. "Although maybe you could come up and we could talk a little, yeah?"

"Sure. If you'd like."

"I mean if you want." Skye turned, left the room, and headed upstairs with Melinda following.

Skye opened her bedroom door and entered, followed by Melinda.

"So you used to work with that lady?"

"Akela. Yes. For years with the FBI. She and I worked on many cases together. We came into the FBI office around the same time."

"So -um – how'd she lose her – her eye?"

"She was shot in the line of duty. Unfortunately, that injury took her out of the field. She worked administration here for a few years and then when Nick Fury took over in the DC office, she moved there with him. She's been his assistant down there ever since.

"Oh. That's terrible. Her getting shot I mean."

"Yes. It was only a few months after our accident. I wasn't that great a friend to her at that time."

"Well you were going through a lot of stuff at the time, yeah?"

"I guess. Mike had been shot a few months prior to the car accident too. A lot of bad things happened within a few months of each other. A series of bad luck for law enforcement in the area."

"Was it? Bad luck I mean? Or in some way connected?"

"I think the conspiracy nut in you might have had too much caffeine tonight?"

"Yeah. Just bad luck, I guess. It happens. Gonna put my pajamas on and get to bed."

"Okay." Melinda searched Skye's face. "You okay? You want me to stay a while yet?" The hesitancy on Skye's part clearly indicated Skye wanted her to remain. "I can stay if you want."

Skye grabbed her pajamas and started to pull off her clothes. Melinda turned away looking at the wall. She noticed Skye had started putting up posters on her wall. Above her bed was a Star Wars poster featuring some of the women from the series. Next to that one was poster of the Northern Lights.

Melinda smiled and spoke. "Space, the final frontier."

Skye laughed and walked over to Melinda. "It's very cool don't you think. I only put those two up so far. I want to move the bookshelf over there and the dresser there where the bookshelf is, and I think maybe the desk would fit better over in that corner and then I need to move the bed a little over. Unless you want everything to stay where it is. I can do that too."

"It's your room Skye. Move it however you want. Put up whatever you want. I can help you move the furniture around tomorrow night, if you want?"

"Nah. Thomas and Donnie and me can do it. Donnie was excited to be back at school. He likes school. He's very smart."

"I know. How's Thomas, Skye?"

"He's good. Well he's better anyway. He talked to his sister tonight. She's trying to arrange everything to get a flight out here. He said she had a couple little kids and a busy job. She wants him to go live with her, but he isn't sure what to do. She's in Chicago. He wants to get away, but he also wants to stay – if that makes any sense. I mean I get it, he likes his friends, and is used to everything, and something new can be stressful. I told him you guys would let him stay here till everything could be figured out."

"Yes, he can. Maybe I should have a talk with him tomorrow. What do you think?"

"Sure. He's a little shy at first. I could sit in if you want?"

"Sounds good. While we are at the dojo would work. Maybe after lunch. It's late. Maybe you should try and get some sleep?"

"Okay. Tai Chi tomorrow?" Skye asked as she jumped into bed.

"Sure. I'll come and get you."

"Okay." Skye smiled at Melinda who sat down on the bed."

"Unless you want me to stay here tonight?"

Skye's eyes widened. She quickly looked away. "That would be weird though, right?" Skye continued to stare down at her hands.

Melinda reached over and lifted her chin up to look her in the eye. "No. Not weird. I've just, um – picked up this vibe from you that you don't want to be alone. You want to talk about it?"

"Last night felt safe. Like nothing in the world could ever hurt me again." She paused, looking away and then back at Melinda. "I used to dream about having a mom who would read me stories, comfort me after a nightmare, sing songs and hold me when I was upset. You've been – you are doing all that now, and – and – I -I um – I like it. It's still weird though, right? When I was little, every time I'd go to a new foster home, I would have this hope that they would be kind and nice and they'd do all that stuff that I'd see parents on TV doing. Even in some of the better homes though, no one got that close, some of them had no time. I just- I got used to not having any of that. But now – with – with this and you – last night – you did and – last night and before – I just – it - I mean I'm almost fifteen. Fifteen-year-olds don't – they just don't – they – it's kinda weird right?"

Melinda stayed quiet sensing that Skye had more to say. After a long pause she did speak again.

"I have this feeling of dread though too. For so long I learned how to not need or want that anymore. But now I – I seem to crave it. Having you – having you hold me, or just squeeze my shoulder, or smile at me or even tease me. It just – I just like it. A lot. Like last night waking up in the middle of the night and just seeing you there, knowing you care, knowing that you won't leave – it makes me feel so happy and I feel safe. But then I remember all those times when I was little that I hoped for this and I remember being so disappointed and so sad." Skye bit on her upper lip and then cleared her throat. "I just – I don't think I could make it back, if this all went away. And you being with me makes me safe. It's weird right? It's um kind of childish. Like I shouldn't crave that – your attention so much – a shrink would say it's weird. Like I'm not a little kid. I don't need to constantly be – I guess need constant assurance – cause I'm not a kid. I just – it feels – I feel – I just like being in your arms. So weird right?"

She finally chanced looking up at Melinda as a few tears escaped. To her surprise Melinda was crying. Melinda pulled her in for a hug and spoke shakily. "I'm so sorry Skye. No kid should ever feel afraid of hoping. Nor of wanting affection and love. And no sweetie it's not weird. Needing someone to be there for you, or just wanting a hug, is never weird. Wanting to touch someone to feel safe is not weird. Needing assurance, whatever form that may be is a natural human need."

Skye just melted into Melinda and stayed there for quite some time. Melinda gently rocked her back and forth, letting Skye hold onto her and not breaking the contact, letting Skye take the lead. She did speak though when Skye was quiet for so long. "You okay? You sleeping?' She felt a slight shake of Skye's head and smiled

A few moments later Skye pulled away and spoke. "I'm so afraid of losing this. Of losing you."

Melinda brushed Skye's hair from her face gently. "Hey. I'm not going anywhere. As long as I have any say in the matter you will never lose me."

"I've never quite wanted anything this bad before." Skye turned away to stare at the wall. "Not just this room, this house, you guys as fosters, this whole new world I always dreamed of but gave up on having." She looked back at Melinda with her chin quivering, her eyes hopeful. She then whispered, "A mom."

And with that, Melinda's heart swelled. She had never thought that she would ever be mom to any kid ever again. She had not only had a severe head injury and a broken arm from the accident, she also had suffered a miscarriage and with that was injured so badly that carrying another child to term would never happen. But this girl in front of her, this scared, snarky, intelligent, beautiful, and compassionate kid – was hers. There was no doubt about that. Melinda wasn't sure how it had happened nor how it had happened so quickly, but here they were.

Skye was still staring at her waiting for Melinda to respond and Melinda was pulled out of her thoughts staring into a face that was slowly morphing into grief. Skye looked down and pulled her arms around herself. Melinda reached over to lift the chin of the girl whose face had dropped down to gaze at her shoes.

"Hey." Melinda smiled at her. "I was just thinking."

Skye swallowed nervously and then bit on her bottom lip.

"I never thought I'd ever get a second chance to be someone's mom. I thought I was too damaged, too undeserving, and that the fates had conspired against that title for me. But I've thought of you as mine for a while now. And I couldn't imagine having a more perfect daughter than you. You are, without a doubt, everything I could have ever wanted a kid of mine to be."

Skye threw herself into Melinda's arms.

Melinda rocked her gently. "That must have been a very scary thing for you, huh. I won't abandon you Skye. Not ever."

"Yeah." Skye mumbled a few more words into Melinda's shoulder she couldn't understand.

It was hours later, Melinda was laying in bed, Skye curled up into her. She'd gone to change into pajamas after Skye was calmer and both laughed a bit and talked more, moving away from the serious tone into a much lighter one discussing school and Melinda's previous work with the FBI. Right now, Melinda couldn't fall asleep. She laid awake still processing that Skye saw her as her mom. No, she hadn't called her that. But that's what she now was to her. She knew Skye looked up to her, and they had bonded very quickly after their first meeting. She knew Skye was a very empathetic and emotional person. She wore her heart on her sleeve for others, but also was very closed off for herself. She also knew she'd been tossed around from place to place and never felt she belonged anywhere. Until now. Melinda knew that this step forward was just one step. She knew it was likely after tonight Skye wouldn't bring it up again for days or weeks, or even longer. She knew that for kids like Skye, their sense of belonging and their trust was constantly going to be tested. But tonight, Skye had let down her walls in a major way and revealed her deepest hope. Melinda watched the young girl sleep peacefully. No, she couldn't do this every night. No, having Skye become co dependent on her would not be a good long-term thing. For now, however, she needed this. She needed the closeness, the assurance, the love, and the security that Melinda was more than willing to give her. For now, she needed her mom.

Phil looked up from the stove as Melinda entered the kitchen followed by Skye. Both said good morning. Donnie and Thomas were already at the table eating pancakes and bacon. Skye sat down and immediately grabbed a couple pieces of bacon off the serving plate.

"Morning Skye. I'll have this next batch of pancakes done in a jiffy." Phil spoke to her as he leaned over to his wife, kissing her on the cheek.

"Okay. I'm really hungry Phil. Just saying."

Phil glanced in surprise at the girl. She normally referred to him as Mr. C. and not Phil. He lowered his voice speaking only to Melinda. "She okay. I noticed you didn't come to bed last night."

"She asked me to stay. You were busy downstairs, and I guessed you would figure it out. You're smart that way."

He grinned at her. "I did. I looked in and you were both asleep. But everything's okay?"

"Yeah. I'll talk to you later." Melinda, who had been making her tea, grabbed her mug and sat down at the table, content to just listen to the kid's conversation at the table. They were making plans to watch the second Star Wars movie that night and continue with a marathon the rest of the week.

The week went by quickly. Donnie continued to go to school, Phil continued to go to work at the high school and Skye and Thomas continued to go to work with Melinda and do their schoolwork at her office. Tuesday evening saw everyone, except Will, return for self defense class. Melinda worked with Skye's training more during the day, whenever she had free time, and Thomas joined in the lessons. Akela had stopped by the dojo on Tuesday lunchtime and discussed more of the cases she was working on with Melinda. Donnie started baseball training at an indoor facility that Phil had signed him up for. Sharon visited the home on Thursday as an official social service visit so she could make her monthly report. Jemma and Ryan returned to school on Wednesday.

Skye was still trying to connect all the dots of the hacked info she had been able to get. She and Ryan and Jemma and Leo continued to make plans to check out the Unity Spiritual Center Service coming up the next weekend. Thomas was brought in the fold and Skye went over everything, including her suspicions, her hacked intel, and what she and Donnie had seen in the past. He agreed to join them after she showed him all the pictures connecting all the players as knowing each other. Skye continued to use Jemma's computer, which she had left with Skye, to look for more information. A plan was formed that Skye and Ryan, and Jemma, Thomas and Lincoln would stay in the car on surveillance. Leo and Callie, who Skye found was pretty great with tech, would coordinate from Leo's house. Skye had brought in Lincoln because she didn't want to keep anything from him and because he had a driver's license. At first, he wanted her to go to the police and tell them everything, but she had convinced him they needed more info to connect the dots and assured him once they did that she would tell Melinda and the police.

It was Friday night and they were finalizing their plans for Saturday evening. The Enlightenment Center had services on both Saturday and Sunday and Skye wanted to check it out on Saturday. It took delicate planning and conspiring. Skye had noticed that the upstairs balcony to the extra room next to hers, was next to a tree. And that the tree had strong branches and that a couple kids would be able to get to the back yard rather easily if they really wanted to. Skye made sure everyone was on the same page for their adventure. Soon, everyone went off to their rooms to sleep and Melinda knocked on the door.

"Yeah?"

"Just checking to see how you are. Everything okay?"

"You can come in. It's fine." She gave Melinda a bright smile as Melinda entered the room.

"So are you sure you want to return to school, both you and Thomas on Monday? You don't have to if you're not ready."

"Yeah I know. But those guys won't be there, and all my friends already went back. I kind of miss it, you know?"

"I do. I just want to let you know you have options, that's all."

She nodded. "I know. I just think it's time. Not that being at work with you this whole week wasn't fun. Cause I think I might be in the best shape of my life. And all the extra training was fun."

"Fun huh? You whine a lot when you are having fun, did you know that?"

Skye grinned.

"Anyway remember, Phil and I are leaving tomorrow afternoon. Bobbi and Hunter will be here just to make sure you guys are safe."

Skye rolled her eyes. "I'm almost fifteen. I don't need a babysitter."

"Well with everything going on I need to know you three are safe. Otherwise I will worry and then Phil will worry about me."

Skye gave her a smile. "Okay. No one's worried about me as much as you have before. I just need to get used to it, I guess."

"Yes you do Missy."

"There you go talking all old like again. Next you'll be using words like 'groovy' and 'rad'."

"I'll have you know I was very hip back in the day."

Skye laughed. "I'm sure. You're pretty awesome now."

Melinda grinned. "I'm going to have to introduce you to some great movies from the 70's and 80's to watch."

"Like romcoms?' Skye made a face at her.

"Nope. Like classics. I'll make a list."

"Just me and you?"

"Yeah. We'll plan a night a couple times a month. We'll get take-out and watch a movie."

"Okay. I'd like that."

"And anyway, what's wrong with romcoms? Like those Hallmark Christmas movies?"

"No way." Skye looked at Melinda with amusement on her face. "No freaking way. You watch those?"

"Sometimes."

Skye laughed at her.

"Hey some of them are really good."

"Sure they are."

"How many have you watched?"

Skye said nothing she just smirked more.

"Ha. You can't knock um till you see um."

Skye grinned again. "You're kind of weird, you know that?"

"Hmmm. I'm not the one who puts mayonnaise on their peanut butter and banana sandwiches."

"Don't knock it till you've tried it."

"No Skye. That is never gonna happen."

"I like this. I like this a lot."

Melinda raised her eyebrows at her. "What?"

"You and me. Being dumb and silly and just – just normal, I guess. I like it. I could get used to this."

"Me too. You sure you – um - are okay with me being gone tomorrow. You know Phil and I are going out of town overnight. It's too long a drive to just go up there Sunday morning and his first meeting starts early on Sunday. He made the plans to attend this seminar months ago."

"It's fine. I'll be okay. Like you said, Bobbi and Hunter will be here. Thomas and Donnie are here. I could invite Lincoln over to sleep over too." She watched Melinda's reaction.

"I don't think so." Melinda's eyes narrowed. "Just how serious are you two anyway?"

"Not serious. I mean we could be. We could get there. Maybe. But I don't think I'm quite ready for – well – you know, I'm not – I'm – I'm only fourteen Melinda."

Melinda laughed. "I wasn't talking about sex Skye."

Skye's eyes widened comically at how blunt Melinda was.

"I was referring to you two just getting closer. How serious it is, if it's more than just friends?"

"Oh. I don't even know. I've never had a boyfriend before."

"Well you are only fourteen."

"Almost fifteen. And it's new. Brand new to me. I mean I had crushes and stuff. But you know, I never stayed anywhere too long."

"Well if you want to talk about it, I'm here. To talk about anything."

"Okay."

"You don't need a birds and the bees talk do you?"

Skye looked at Melinda who was now smirking at her."

"Haha. And no. Besides that would be awfully embarrassing."

Melinda shook her head. "Anything Skye. You can talk to me about anything. I'll listen. It's late. I'm gonna get ready for bed. You good here?"

"Yeah. I'm good. Thanks though. For checking. Never had that before either."

"Okay. Good night." Melinda went to stand up and Skye pulled her back down and hugged her.

"Goodnight Melinda. Thank you." She released her and moved back onto the bed getting under the blankets.

Melinda reached over and pulled the blankets up around her and leaned down kissing her on the forehead. Skye rolled her eyes at the same time as a huge smile formed on her face.

"Sap." Then Skye giggled.

Melinda grinned.

Skye had convinced Melinda and Phil to allow Jemma and Ryan to stay over on Saturday night. Vic was fine with it since Bobbi and Hunter would be staying over. It was now three in the afternoon, and everyone had arrived. Melinda and Phil left for his conference at two after Melinda returned from work. She had turned all her afternoon classes over to Natasha. Clint was hanging around and he had cleaned the place and was going to stick around till Natasha's last class was over and take her home.

"I don't know Skye. I am having second thoughts about this whole plan of yours." Ryan was perched on Skye 's desk and was shaking his head. "Isn't anyone else worried about getting caught?"

"We won't get caught Ry. Skye's plan is great. All we need to do is slip out of here, go two blocks up the street where Lincoln will be waiting and head downtown. Donnie will run cover for us her with Bobbi and Hunter, Skye and you are the two fastest so you'll both go check out this place and take a few pictures and see what it's all about. Me and Jemma will stay in Lincoln's car hidden and take pictures of people coming and going. Lincoln will be relaying all info from all of us to Leo and Callie who will take notes, and check things on the computer. Callie's good with computer tech and so is Leo."

"Not as good as me."

"Well of course not Skye. But they can both handle this mission." Jemma nodded at her.

"Mission?"

"Well that's what it is Ryan. A mission to gather intel and connect the dots."

Skye grinned at her. "We should give it a name, yeah?"

"I'm still not happy I can't go with." Donnie gave her a dirty look.

"Well we need someone to run interference in case Bobbi noses around. And cause your younger, if people see you out and about, they might wonder why."

"Skye's right Donnie. Besides your part of the mission is just as important. Making sure no one finds out we are gone. Yours just might be the most important job of us all." Jemma smiled at him.

"So everyone clear on everything?"

Everyone nodded, except Ryan. "You know we could all get in a lot of trouble. I'm sure Vic would be angry at you Jemma and me. And you, Skye. Melinda will be really upset if she finds out. Not to mention Ms. Price. And Mr. C."

"Ryan. If you're too scared to go, just stay here with Donnie. The rest of us can pull it off."

"I'm not scared Thomas. I'm worried. These people all trust us. And who knows what will happen there or who will see Skye and me? What if they recognize us?"

"Let's just make sure that doesn't happen Ry. Just follow my lead. I know how to get into places, and I know how to act if we are seen. The trick is to act like you belong. Make up a story. "She paused and looked at a spoke in a serious tone. "Look I have this info, but I hacked in to get it. That's going to piss them all off at least a little. But if we can give them something really tangible, show them pics or tell them what we saw, they won't be as mad."

"Melinda and Phil will be disappointed Skye."

"I know that Donnie. But the end result will justify what I've been doing. They'll be upset but they'll forgive me. I know they will."

"Yeah. Maybe they'll realize we can help them more too." Thomas added. "Maybe they'll ask Skye to hack for more info."

"Okay." Skye smiled at everyone. Let's do normal stuff. We need to show our faces and bug Hunter and Bobbi and then eat and get loud and stuff, so they'll be happy to leave us alone, and be alone themselves, for the time we need. We leave at six and get there half hour before it starts. Then we implement the plan, the mission," she grinned over at Jemma, "get in, get out and we're back here by nine or so."

"So we should call it Mission Connect the Dots," Jemma stated.

"That's lame." Ryan finally smiled. "We have to work on our name skills."

"That'll be your job Ryan. For our upcoming missions." Thomas gave him a smile.

"Wait. Who says there'll be a next mission? Or missions?" Jemma gave them both a worried glance.

Donnie laughed loudly. "Have you met Skye?"

The kids had descended on Hunter and Bobbi. Donnie got Hunter to go outside to throw the baseball around and play a little soccer. Ryan and Thomas got the xbox and started playing a loud and lively game of GTA in the family room. Skye and Jemma grabbed Bobbi and moved to the kitchen to bake brownies. They talked, laughed and were loud and boisterous, even after Bobbi had ordered in pizza, throughout the next few hours. Thomas and Donnie even started a food fight throwing Doritos at each other until Bobbi glared at them. Eventually they all escaped to Skye's new room, telling Bobbi they would be playing board games in the extra room where they had cleared a table, and then they were going to go help Donnie with his science fair project and later hang out together watching movies. They carried a substantial number of snacks and drinks upstairs with them, laughing and giggling.

Hunter looked at Bobbi with relief. She sighed dramatically and then grinned at him. "Looks like they've retreated. I need a beer."

"Or several, "he replied. "Are they always like that?"

"Kids you mean?"

"Yeah. I'm exhausted."

"Well to be fair, there are five of them. We're outnumbered."

"I'll grab a couple beers. And I think they left one bag of chips down here."

"I'll get the movie set up. Oh, grab those brownies Jemma left for us too."

The four teens piled into Lincoln's car. Skye jumped into the front and the others in the back. Lincoln was driving to the downtown area, specifically Murrey Street.

He looked over at Skye as he stopped at a traffic light. "You sure this is a good idea? If my mom finds out, she'll ground me for months."

"That's what I was saying." Ryan spoke up. 'But these three think they are invincible."

"Ryan I love you, but you really do worry too much." Skye shook her head at Lincoln. "It'll be fine."

"Okay so what is the goal here Skye. What are you trying to find? Tell me again." Lincoln looked forward as the light changed and he moved the car forward.

"Okay. So all the pics I showed you. Gonna try to find those people, maybe identify a few more of them. Plus see if anyone we know is here. Take pics discretely. Mingle around outside, get a feel for the place, fit in, maybe talk to some. That's me and Ryan. You guys take more pics and keep your eyes open for anything weird. Or anyone weird. Then me and Ry head inside and watch what they do, I can record it with my phone. I have a brand new, great phone that Phil and Melinda bought me. Lincoln you relay any new info to Leo and Callie, and they write it down, and check things on the computer. We can also send them pics and videos and they can try to identify people we don't know. Lincoln – your main job is to text Fitz license numbers. It's simple reconnaissance. It's not at all dangerous. Do you think Jemma would be in this if it was dangerous?"

"You have a point."

"Once you drop us off, we all have till eight forty-five to get it done, be back at your car. Remember to text me and Ryan when you move around so we know where you are at all times. Not that anyone will, but if anyone does run into any trouble, or someone recognizes you, turn your phone on to record, go with it and get the hell out of there ASAP. That's why we need to know when and where you move your car. Don't keep it parked in the same place to draw attention."

"So what we can conclude is that Skye here has watched one too many spy movies. Yeah?" Lincoln laughed at her when she glared at him.

"Well I'm glad she's done her homework. I want to find out all I can about my parents and their shady dealings." Thomas defended her.

"Yeah it would be pretty sweet to have extra ammo. I have a feeling my parents aren't going to take me leaving the fold well. And JJ will be looking to hurt me. And your parents and Grant the same to you."

"Well we all have a stake in this for sure. We'll be there in about five minutes. Everybody gear up. I always wanted to say that." Skye glared harder at him. He continued. "I never said you were the only one who liked spy movies."