Really short oneshot that wouldn't leave me alone. Spoilers for 1x13

Title: Dark and Red
author: Cindy Ryan
category: oneshot, postep

They had an hour till they touched down at the nearest S.H.I.E.L.D medical facility. Leo had only convinced Jemma to rest if he took watch over Skye. She was exhausted and Leo still wasn't sure there weren't after affects of being hit with the night-night gun.

Leo was surprised to find the cargo bay empty. Coulson had been a constant since they had taken off. Fitz had thought he'd stayed until they landed. Perhaps it was too much for their team leader. Leo wouldn't blame him if he needed some time. Leo was barely holding things together as it was.

Absurd as it was as Leo approached the hyperbaric chamber all he could think of was Snow White. With her clothes still stained with blood and her dark hair combined with the glass enclosure it reminded Fitz of the fairy tale. Leo didn't know if his brain was latching onto the children's story as a coping mechanism but it wasn't working. There was no curse. No true love's kiss would cure Skye. It was a miracle she'd lasted this long.

Letting out a long breath Leo busied himself with checking Skye's vitals and making sure the equipment was working properly. Everything came back the same as the hour before; normal. Nothing about this was normal. Fitz didn't think the team would ever be normal again. He had certainly made a lousy partner.

Resting a hand on the glass Leo looked at Skye's unconscious form. They should've done more surveillance. He should've been more insistent that they wait for backup. The odds against them had been too great. However the chance to get Quinn had been too good to pass up. Worth whatever risk there was. Leo shook his head sadly; they'd all paid too high a price for his lack of judgement.

"I'm sorry Skye."Fitz whispered. "So sorry."

The plane turned and Leo realized they were getting close to landing. He swallowed hard, ran a tired hand over his face and stepped away from Skye's still form. Leo checked her vitals and the machine's readings one last time before heading back to the main part of the plane. As Leo walked one thought kept repeating itself. A thought he clung to. One that became hope. Snow White had a happy ending. Maybe just maybe the team would survive this and have a happy ending too. They deserved it; they'd earned it. It had to happen; just had to.

"Wheels down in twenty."May instructed over the com.

Leo found a seat and strapped himself in. He sent off a silent prayer that his team would be the one to find the Clairvoyant. When they did they would get justice for Skye and hopefully it'd be enough to heal this shattered team.

end