Phil's Girl

I.

Phil is sitting in his office when Skye knocks on the door, two quick taps before she opens it a fraction and peeks her head inside.

Do you have a sec, AC? She asks, taking a seat in front of him before he can even reply. There's something I want to talk to you about.

He looks up from the papers and eyes her expectantly, but she looks down at her hands, fidgeting slightly. The expression looks out of place against her dark uniform, the holster around her hips. It makes her look years younger – more like the hacker she used to be than the field agent she's become.

Skye, he says, and she jerks her head up, eyes locked on his, any trace of nervousness gone.

I want to enroll at the Academy, she says, her voice steady.

That's not what he expected.

Not right now, obviously, we're too close to taking down the Clairvoyant. But once that's over... she pauses. I want to do this right. I want the real SHIELD experience.

Phil opens his mouth to respond but she cuts him off and starts rambling. Simmons has clearly rubbed off on her, maybe a bit too much. I know what you're going to say, she gets up and starts pacing. There's going to be another threat after the Clairvoyant and Centipede, and then another threat after that, and the team needs me and I've already been in the field for a while now so there's no need to backtrack-

She's starting to get carried away, he notices, so he interrupts before she can derail herself completely. I think that's a great idea.

She turns to face him and puts a hand on her hip. See, I told Grant that you wouldn't be okay with it, but he just said everything would be fine and there was nothing to worry—wait, what?

Skye, he says, his lips quirking upwards. It's a great idea.

She gives a girlish squeal and launches herself at him, hugging him so hard he almost loses his balance. He wraps his arms around her and smiles against her cheek. All he did was tell her she could go back to school, but she acts like he just bought her a pony for her birthday.

Really? Skye asks, pulling back and looking at him incredulously. I can go to the Academy?

Phil takes her hand and gives it a gentle squeeze. If I had known you were so interested, I would've enrolled you months ago.

You're the best! She beams at him, giving him another quick hug before rushing towards the door. I mean it!

Not so fast, he calls after her. What was that I heard you saying about Agent Ward? He raises an eyebrow. Or as you apparently call him, Grant.

She turns around, blushing as she walks back over, and shoves her hands into her pockets. Oops, she winces, I was hoping you wouldn't catch that.

He crosses his arms across his chest and sighs. The truth is, he caught them together a while ago. Back then, his first instinct had been to wait in Ward's room with a shotgun in his lap and tell them to break it off, but now, he's glad he didn't. They're good for each other. Ward has helped her gain confidence and become a better agent, and she's gotten him to finally loosen up.

Are you going to tell me it's against protocol? Or to be careful and end it before he can break my heart? She tries to laugh it off, but Phil can hear a slight tremor in her voice.

He shakes his head and places his hand on her cheek softly. I was going to tell you not to break his.

Skye smiles. I promise, AC, she whispers, a distant, dreamy look in her eyes that makes him believe her.

You know, he calls out to her as she walks back towards the door, you can call me Phil.

She pauses on her way out and turns around to face him. There's a bright smile on her face, and he can already feel himself missing her.

Thanks, Phil.