A/N: This is my first fanfiction - please review! Also, I don't own anything...sadly...

"Alright, team. Move out!" At Coulson's order, Ward adjusted his gun belt with one gloved hand and nodded in Simmons's direction. Rushing over to him, she smoothed flyaway wisps of hair out of her face with a nervous hand.

"Let's go." His curt command did nothing to ease the worried look on her face.

"Right," she breathed. "Go. Yes."

Sighing to himself, he attempted a comforting tone of voice, "it's going to be fine, Simmons. Routine mission - you are just along for analytics."

Before he had even finished the sentence, she was nodding decisively - it looked like she was trying to convince herself more than him. "I know that," running her hand along her arms, she muttered, "just routine. Field work."

"Ward, Simmons," Coulson's voice interrupted their conversation. "You have to leave. Now."

Swinging into action, Ward smoothly climbed into the driver's seat of the black sedan parked by the plane and waited until Simmons had settled herself beside him before he started the car.

"Seatbelts. Safety first," Simmons said, flashing him a nervous grin.

He rolled his eyes, carefully facing away from her so that she wouldn't see the gesture. But he put on the safety restraint.

"So…" Simmons started to presumably ask a question about their destination, but Ward held up one hand to quiet her as he pulled away, leaving Coulson in the distance.

"Before you ask, I don't know much more than you do," he said, masking the annoyance in his voice with a steely tone.

"Then what do you know? Because I know nothing, not even where we are going or what materials I need." Her accent clearly conveyed her distaste at being kept in the dark; Ward could empathize with that feeling.

The scenery - an evergreen forest - flashed by as Ward stared straight ahead, pondering his response.

…

"It's top secret, Agent Ward. Above your clearance level." Coulson had shrugged ruefully, then added, "to be honest, above my clearance level too. But Fury specifically requested a field agent and a scientist."

Ward raised his eyebrows. He wasn't one to question orders, but the vague details and the strange situation made him unusually anxious. "Why Simmons?"

"It was either her or Fitz, and apparently her biochemistry training will come in handy." Coulson looked Ward directly in the eyes. "I hesitate to send you two off without back-up, but I can't fight these orders - they come straight from the top."

"Not to complain, but is Simmons up for this sort of field work?" It was unreasonable to expect an answer to the question, but he felt it necessary to express his concerns.

Not bothering to refute his statement, Coulson replied, " Simmons is a professional - she will be able to cope, I'm sure, with your help. You leave today."

"On that note of confidence," drawled Ward, "I had better tell Simmons to pack."

"Yes, I think you had better. Good luck, Agent Ward." Holding out his hand, Coulson waited for Ward to shake it in a gesture of friendship. Turning to go, Ward looked back as Coulson added one more statement: "And take care of Simmons."

"Yes sir."

…

"Ward? Ward, are you listening to me?" The British accent broke through Ward's thoughts, reminding him that she was still waiting for an answer.

"I have no details, but the GPS is programmed to take us to our location, where we will wait for more instructions."

Obviously disappointed at his response, Simmons leaned back against her seat and crossed her arms. A moment of silence reigned, then she asked, "How long until we get there?"

Fighting an exasperated sigh at all her questions, he responded, "No clue."

"Then," she folded her long legs under her body and shifted away from him, "I'm taking a nap. Try not to crash."

Grasping the steering wheel tighter, he glanced at the GPS. I hope we get there soon.

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