Pre- S1E1

[protect_and_survey]

Jemma cannot remember the last time she was this excited. It's really, really happening - her field assignment starts today, and Fitz is coming too, and they have their own mobile lab, and it's all quite frankly the best thing ever.

So Jemma is exploring. She'll visit the lab later with Fitz, but she wants to see everything else too (and possibly scope out the best bunk).

Comments

[protect_and_survey]

Clearly, clearly, May hasn't spent too much time in the Sciences division - Jemma doesn't get asked that question too often. Not anymore.

Her expression reflects her surprise and amused glee at hearing it though.

"Do I have a limit?" Her SO gives her three questions. It helps with priorities. And with his blood pressure.

[not_the_cavalry]

Melinda checks her watch. "I have a meeting in twenty minutes. You have ten."

[protect_and_survey]

"Oh! In that case, do you know if there will be any other agents from the Sciences division in this team? And I didn't see an end-date to this particular assignment, do you know if this is meant to be an ongoing assignment or more of something done on a trial basis to work out logistics? Are we to have backup? Are we really going to have enough down-time to want... this? Oh! Do you know where we're going first?"

May. Ten minutes? This may be the longest ten minutes ever.

For the record, she's hoping the answers are 'yes, there's an actual doctor', 'ongoing, get used to it', 'possibly', and 'somewhere with snakes, lots of snakes, so many snakes'.

[not_the_cavalry]

"Questions one at a time," Melinda clarifies. "The assignment is ongoing, as a non-combat unit we are unlikely to require backup beyond Agent Ward, and our current schedule and travel plans are undecided. We'll go where we need to, when we need to -- which means there will be lulls."

Pause.

"Were you expecting another agent?"

[protect_and_survey]

Jemma, very well aware of her extraordinary good luck in getting this assignment in the first place, spots the warning in that tone, her eyes going wide.

"What? No, just... wondering how best to divvy up the lab, that's all."

Oh lord, she'll need to read up on emergency living human medical things. All of them.

[not_the_cavalry]

"I'll leave that to you and Agent Fitz. You will remain in control of the lab space if we do have guest scientists."

[protect_and_survey]

Guest scientists?

...

Could they get Hawking?

...

Or Banner?

...

Jemma displays discretion and decides not to ask those questions. Not yet, anyway.

"Oh, that's good, we pretty much have that down to an art, honestly, there was just that time with the cat and that really wasn't a problem Fitz just shouldn't be eating in... erm. I mean. It will be fine."

[not_the_cavalry]

May's eyebrows don't arch. But there's an impression that, if she weren't being the utmost professional, they would.

She checks her watch.

"Will that be all, Agent Simmons?"

[protect_and_survey]

No, it really, really isn't, but Jemma knows that tone too.

"Yyyes. Yes ma'am." She can figure everything else out on her own, and with Fitz. She's sure.

Or she can find someone else to ask, if necessary.

[not_the_cavalry]

Agent May's expression softens slightly, bordering on a smile.

"I look forward to working with you."

Then she turns, and leaves the room, heels making muffled taps against the carpet.

[protect_and_survey]

"Likewise, Agent May!" Jemma calls after her.

Well, no time like the present to go check out the isolation unit. Looks like she's going to be the one in charge of the dang thing.