Cut It Out and Restart *Daredevil*Damned*Agents of SHIELD*

6) Slip and Slide

Nica truly tries to stick to her attitude and façade. But sometimes... sometimes she slips.

-.-.-

Nica couldn't begin to tell how grateful she was for not having to stay in the medbay of the Hub for too long; she would go crazy there with no doubt. After several operations – yes, several, as if more than one, she was lucky to be alive at all – she spent two weeks there before being released to 'home care'.

This way, she might be stuck in her cubicle on her bed, but got access to files, reports from older missions of her team so she could be caught up to speed, and as much as she was trying to hide it, she was really, really glad she had some company at times.

Simmons was in the charge of her treatment, occasionally consulting with other experts – she was more into chemistry than physiotherapy after all. They just finished a session for Nica's arm when the doctor smiled at her, praising her for her determination.

"Well, let's be honest. Being benched sucks. I want to be back on my feet asap," Nica explained, her efforts rewarded by Jemma's gentle smile.

"Don't overdo it. If we push too hard, we might-"

"-make it worse, I know."

"Don't worry. I'm sure you'll get another chance to see Prague," Simmons offered, rising to her feet.

Nica's heart stopped, a void opening her ribcage instead of not worrying as Jemma advised.

Prague? They were going to a mission to Prague of all places? And Coulson didn't think to tell her?

It wasn't like she thought she should worry about being compromised in the field, she could barely move in the electric wheelchair since two days ago, but come on! She had knowledge! She spoke the damn language! For once, she could actually help them, her specifically!

Not to mention she was itching, dying, to do something useful in the first place.

"Nica? You okay?"

Simmons' voice snapped Nica from her indignation and she forced herself to shook her head and chuckle.

"Yeah. Was just thinking about what you said," she lied easily. "Thanks for the session."

"Of course," the other woman said, her expression nothing but surprised. As if it was granted she would spent tons of her time to help Nica recover. It made Nica wonder just when had they become... sort of friends. "Get some rest."

Sure will, Nica thought and the moment Jemma's figure disappeared, she eyed the wheelchair, her mind racing.

She didn't want the team to now about her past, but what harm could it do to say she spent some time there? She didn't have to share anything too specific. Mm...

She'd be fine.

-.-.-

"...I don't think this is the best road we can take. Yes, it's easy to get lost if we leave the car, but watching the CCTV, the speed we'd move in the car is pitiful to say at least."

May's words reached Nica over the low hum of electricity of her wheelchair, making her unsubtly roll her eyes. Of course the speed wasn't high enough; that was Prague they were talking about – probably the centre of it, no less – even walking fast was sometimes an issue, she remembered how much she had hated that.

Nica was hoping to sneak into the mission planning, but this was a team of spies – on different levels, but still sort of spies. Nothing went past them.