This Time Around (Sequel to All Over Again)

Chapter Twenty-One

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Inside the van, silence reigned as Agent May navigated through the Philadelphia traffic. The sun sank low in the sky and as twilight crept in, McKenna's spirits sank right alongside the brilliant orange fireball.

She broke the silence as they pulled up to the bus. "What happens tomorrow, when that Tesseract turns into a pumpkin?"

Skye's hand came down atop hers. "Try not to think about that."

"How do I not think about it, Skye?" McKenna asked softly, turning toward her. "Ward has my son. When that Tesseract goes all dud tomorrow, I'm guessing he'll be pretty pissed about it."

Cynthia sighed, rubbing her forehead. "We have to find them before that happens."

"Of course. Because it'll be that easy." McKenna leaned forward, toward the front seats. "Is there a contingency plan in place?"

Coulson nodded. "Actually, there is. I don't trust Ward. He doesn't want your son, McKenna. He doesn't really want you. He wants Loki. Loki knows the full power of the Tesseract, knows how to access it and use it. Selig is the bait. And to be honest, I thought you would become bait as well."

"What?"

"I expected Ward to do a double-cross, but not yet." Coulson reached for the travel mug in the cup holder on the dashboard and lifted it to his lips.

"He is changing the rules again," May said without taking her eyes from the road. "We thought he'd take you as well. To ensure Loki's return to Earth."

"But he doesn't know Loki can't leave right now. And I wasn't about to offer it up because God only knows what would happen then." A sense of fiery frustration swirled through her. "And I've had enough of this. I'm sick of this guy and I'm sick of his games. I'm sick of the fact that every time I get undressed at night, I'm reminded that he stuck me without even blinking an eye."

Skye, who'd been dozing, lifted her head and rubbed one eye. "Are we there yet?"

"We're there." May tugged the keys from the ignition and she and Coulson climbed out. Cynthia tugged open the sliding door and humid night air wrapped all around them as they made their way onto the bus.

Hunter looked up as they came into the main room. "Where's the little one?"

Skye shook her head. "Ward screwed us over."

"Bloody hell."

"You can say that again." Cynthia tugged out the chair next to him and practically threw herself into it. "I'm starting to really hate that guy."

"Join the club." McKenna leaned against the credenza holding the liquor bottles. They were more than a little tempting, but she was afraid if she started drinking now, she'd never stop. Her head ached. Her body ached. She just wanted to find Selig and take him home.

Before the fake Tesseract went dark.

"Where are FitzSimmons?" she asked, shoving away from the credenza.

"In the lab." Trip pointed toward the front of the plane.

She nodded. "Thank you."

"McKenna, wait-" Coulson reached for her.

She jerked out of his reach. "Wait? For what, Phil? That prick has my son and when that stone goes out, Ward isn't going to be happy. He's going to know you tried to screw him over and when he figures that out, what do you think he's going to do to my son? And I am not about to let that happen, you got that?"

She bit off the last part as she marched up the short flight of metal stairs leading to the small lab. Coulson followed right after her. "Then go back to Asgard and get Loki."