1 week later...

-Skye's Bunk-

Skye was sitting in her bunk, lying on her bed as she scrolled through the files on her laptop looking for any that related to the mystery of her parents. Her door was opened a sliver. Even though her eyes were looking at the screen, her mind was elsewhere concocting many different scenarios in her head on what could have happened to her parents, and why they gave her up.

A knock sounded at the door and a few seconds later it slid open and Grant propped his head in. "Coulson wants to see us in the Command centre ASAP." He told her in his usual serious matter.

Skye turned her eyes in his direction, absorbing in the sight the tall hulk of a agent took up.

Grant crossed his arms and narrowed his gaze onto his doe eyed rookie who looked to be a thousand miles a away. "Skye," her name slipped from his lips as concerned filled his voice. "Are you ok?"

Skye realised she hadn't responded to him and must look like an idiot just staring at him like some groupie. She forced a smile. "Yep." she answered clearing her throat. "Let's go."

Grant could see the hesitation in her eyes and watched her as she shut her laptop shut with almost disappointment and anger mixed together.

Skye had noticed that her S.O. hadn't moved from her doorway and it didn't look like he was going to move. He had a neutral expression etched across his face and was standing as still as a statue with his arm folded. "Ward?" She asked, walking the small distance towards him and stopped less than a foot in front of him. His presence blocking her doorway.

"Are you sure your okay?" He asked once again with concern, dropping his arms by his side. He cared for Skye, he hated seeing her like this.

"Yeah of course," She said while giving a swift kiss on his lips. Grant ignored the tingling feeling that was shooting through him at this moment and whenever he was close to her. "Now come on, Coulson's waiting", she simply answered as she pushed past him and headed for the command centre.

Grant was taken back. He didn't feel weird, he just felt different. They had been together for at least a month now but have decided to keep it to themselves as they don't want to cause any commotion, being against protocol and all. Grant shook it off and walked out of her bunk, closing the door behind him and caught up with Skye.

-Command Centre-

For the last twenty minutes Phil had been explaining to his four youngest team members the details of their current mission about a new threat who goes by Daniel Whitehall, the current head of Hydra. He has been suspected for experimenting with a new brainwashing technique with the possibility of making former agents to serve Hydra. S.H.I.E.L.D has been keeping an eye on him for the last several months now, but every time they come close to finding him - he manages to dispose of another one of S.H.I.E.L.D's agents. Fury made a call to their plan of action to infiltrate Hydra without being detected.

"So Coulson what your saying is that you wish to send your team in a compound full of Hydra agents and merrily stroll in just have a chat to Dr Whitehall?" Nick Fury said to the team, his attention focused Coulson.

"Well I don't think we would merrily stroll in but yes that is what I'm saying." Coulson inquired not switching his gaze from the large screen in front of them. Melinda entered the room a few minutes later, with an emotionless expression washed over over as she walked towards the large screen and stood beside Coulson.

"Sir," Melinda greeted her boss, deadpanned as she folded her arms and glared.

Nick gave a curt nod of the head. "Agent May," he greeted back before looking back at Coulson. "I understand Coulson that you wish to find answers but this is big risk that could cost the lives of your fellow agents." Fury stated as he tried to prove a point.

"I know Sir but I am willing to take it at the expense of my team." Coulson argued as he looked at the agents that stood across from him. Skye and Fitzsimmons nodded slightly to say that it was the right decision.

Fury hesitated for a moment as he looked at the agents that stood before him. "Ok Coulson I trust you, but don't count on me to get your ass out of this if things go south." He told him.

"Thank you, we'll keep in touch." Fury nodded before Coulson ended the call.

"Ok so how do you suppose we go in without being detected?" The young hacktivist blurted out. "I know that we have done many field ops before but this is different -cause our organisation doesn't exist anymore."Skye murmured the last few words to herself.

May rolled her eyes. "We will have to go in quietly without drawing much attention to ourselves, so the roof will be the safest option." She told Skye as she unfolded her arms.

Skye bit down on her lip. "Right."

"And then higher up the building the less agents there will be." Ward said as he looked over at Coulson.

"Yes." He nodded. "They use the same concept of levels as we do."

"Wait are you serious? You think the seven of us can single handedly take down Hydra?" Skye exclaimed.

"Fury always said that a man can accomplish anything when he realizes he's a part of something bigger – a team of people who share that conviction can change the world." He said as he stole a glance at May but she was as unreadable as always. She hadn't looked his way once since entering the room.

"Take down." Fitz gulped. "I really don't think-"

"Oh Fitz do you really have to assume the worst of the situation." Simmons cut in. "I mean we have a plan right?" She voiced, uncertain.

"Of course." Coulson assured her. "Fitzsimmons will be on comms, myself, May and Skye will run front end and Ward will be piloting the Bus."

"Which means no backup." Skye supplied.

Jemma and Leo both let out a collective gasp at the comment Skye made.

"Yes." Coulson nodded his head. "Fitzsimmons," He voiced turning his eyes towards the two scientist. " You will be the eyes and ears for the team. We'll communicate via comms. And make sure the night night guns are locked and loaded. We need enough to go around."

Jemma and Leo nodded their heads.

Phil turned his eyes towards Ward. "Ward, you'll remain on the bus with FitzSimmons and we will contact you via comms to be our getaway 'driver' in case things go south."

Phil then switched his gaze to face the whole team. "Now we have just under an hour before we reach our destination … so let's suit up." With that everyone began to depart. "May." He called just as the others had left leaving them alone.

May sighed she knew what he wanted to talk to her about. She turned to face him.

"May I know you don't want to talk about this but we have to tell Skye, she has a right to know." He expressed.

"Your right I don't want to talk about this." May deadpanned as she turned her eyes from his.

Phil automatically took her hand in his own and laced their fingers, giving her hand a squeeze. "May I know that this is hard for you," He told her, sadness lacing his tone. "But we need to tell Skye. She has waited long enough."

Melinda shook her head. "No...I can't." She expressed with a shaky breath, trying her best to control her shaky hands.

Phil gave her hand another squeeze. He always knew when she needed comfort and when to back off. "Please May."

Her nerves started to calm, his touch always did that. "I'm sorry Phil." She voiced as she held back her tears. "But I need more time...I just..." She said as she let go of his hand. "I need more time. I'm sorry."

Coulson watched her leave, the love of his life. He knew that this was hard on her. He had grieved too for many years but as time passed and they began working together again - he thought that they might have even reconciled, but then Bahrain had happened and the Melinda he knew - disappeared.