The Globemaster Endeavour
It was close. So very close. Never before had Fitz and Simmons seen a Jenga tower support itself on such a barren base. They more than doubled it's original size, and had to spend most of their turn looking for a possible block to take. They were lucky the skies were clear, because bumping into even one cloud would send the whole tower tumbling.
"Got it." Simmons whispered as she placed her last piece. She backed up past the warning line and Fitz stepped in.
"I'm still surprised you managed to get that without a step stool." he muttered.
"Me too."
Fitz circled the tower twice before he found a fitting block to take. It was about two thirds of the way up, but still held a good deal of weight. Fitz held his breath as he tapped it once. And then again. The friction held the piece in place. He took a few steps back to regain his breath, and then moved in again. He positioned himself to strike. Simmons held her breath, even though she was five feet away. Even the tension could be plucked like a guitar string.
Fitz struck. In one fluid motion he snatched the piece from the structure. He waited a second. The tower stood.
"Simmons?"
"Yeah?"
"Could you get me the step stool?"
"Sure." She didn't even care if she had to do without it. Simmons handed it to Fitz, who took it without looking away from top the tower. He placed it a few inches away from the bottom. Fitz paused after he got on the stool. Sweat formed on his brow. There was the tower. And only the tower. Nothing was more important than the tower.
He positioned the piece above its new spot.
"Playing games?" May asked from the door way. Simmons squeaked and Fitz dropped the piece. The tower shivered. And then stopped.
"You almost ruined it!" Simmons shouted. She was so caught up in the game that she didn't even care that she was yelling at May. Fitz got off the step stool and stormed toward May.
"This is literally two inches away from a world record. And we're on a plane!"
Then, something dawned on Simmons, "Wait, if you aren't flying, who is?"
"Coulson."
Just as she said it, the plane jerked a bit. The sound of hundreds of tiny wooden blocks crashing to the ground filled the room. Fitz and Simmons didn't even turn around. A tear formed in Fitz's eye.
"Two inches..."
Simmons comforted him as May rolled her eyes and walked out. She had to stop herself from apologizing.
