Chapter Text
22 December 2013
May watched Fitz, Simmons, and Skye fidget, excited for Percy's return.
Leaning against the door jamb of the bus, May glanced at Coulson, standing beside her. "They're nervous."
"They're excited," Phil replied, shooting her a warning look. "Fury realized that a week wouldn't be enough for Percy, so he agreed to leave us with very simple missions for now."
May murmured.
She, too, if she had to admit the truth, had missed Percy.
The work they'd done together before Phil assembled the team had been limited, but it had been enough for May to understand the kind of agent, and person, Percy was.
Seeing him react to the staff had made her realize that some of the wounds he was enduring had never fully healed.
And yet, despite everything, Percy had never let that trauma slow down his work or change him.
May watched, out of the corner of her eye, as Ward checked his watch before the officer strode purposefully toward them.
“Sir?” Ward asked, looking at Phil almost anxiously. “What time was Percy scheduled to return?”
“2:30 PM.” Phil replied calmly. “I think we were a few minutes early, weren’t we, May? Apparently, Fitz, Simmons, and Skye weren’t the only ones excited to see Percy again.”
May ignored Phil’s good-natured teasing, preferring to focus on Ward’s expression, which had gone pale after Phil announced the meeting time.
“Sir,” Ward called, his tone almost anguished as he continued, “it’s 3:45 PM.”
May watched Phil’s expression darken as realization dawned on him.
“May, open the communication to SHIELD headquarters for me,” Phil ordered, his voice serious, firm, and confident. “We have a missing agent.”
***
Victoria Hand had held many assignments throughout her SHIELD career.
But nothing had made her as alarmed as the news that Percy Jackson was missing.
“Agent Coulson,” Victoria held out her hand, shaking Coulson’s, then nodding to the other agents present, who had proven themselves worthy of the elite, a quality that seemed to be common to every team Coulson led.
Then, after releasing Coulson’s hand, she gestured discreetly to the men accompanying her.
“Given the importance and significance of Agent Jackson, Director Fury has decided to deploy a great amount of resources. He has sent Agent John Garrett and his subordinate Antoine Triplett here as backup. Jasper Sitwell will also join the search.” Victoria pursed her lips, then returned her gaze to Coulson. “Agent Jackson has failed to report.”
“My report is that the agent is missing, not failing to report, Agent Hand.” Coulson replied, fixing Victoria with a steely gaze.
Victoria sighed.
Every agent could betray. Every agent could disappear. That’s what procedures were for.
To correct human error where it was necessary.
“I’m simply following procedure,” Victoria replied. “First, let’s try to find him. Then we’ll decide how to classify his absence.”
Coulson nodded, a curt gesture, but it was all the permission Victoria needed to begin her investigation.
“Very good.” Victoria nodded in return. “Let’s get on with it, then.”