AN: Thank you for everyone who took the time to review! They really help to motivate the writing process. This has not been beta'd, apologies for any errors.

On a side note, just graduated from nursing school! Woohoo! Have a lot going on the next few days so will try to update as soon as I can.

Chapter 3 Intangible Homecoming Part 2

Coulson had left Ward and Simmons to tend to Skye, recognizing that he was of no use to them.

He walked to the briefing room where he found the tech expert typing away with screens of the footage from the facility running in the background. "Just wanted to warn you to not go downstairs," the older agent started, to which Fitz tiredly looked up and nodded. This whole thing had hit close to home for the entire team. Once they had found out her possible location for the third time, everyone had worked endless hours to set up a new breakout plan, trying not to get their hopes too high. "How's it coming along here?"

"Good news is they weren't able to track us Sir. The explosion did a great job of keeping them busy. Now that we're up in the air, I suppose it doesn't really matter," Fitz finished as he sent the coordinates that May had requested before quickly going to the pilot seat.

"What's the bad news?" He couldn't help but asking.

"Bad news, Sir, is with the storm, I'm no longer able to monitor the activities at the facility." Fitz replied. "The footage on the monitors," he nodded towards the screens, "is the footage from the operation. I wanted to make sure that I didn't miss anything," he explained.

"Good work. I'm going to check up on May and see where we're at," The older agent patted the shoulder of the young scientist sitting in front of him before leaving him to his work.

Coulson walked into the cockpit, having to use the walls with the slight turbulence. "What's the status?" he asked May, as he moved to the copilot seat.

"I've managed to stay ahead of the blizzard, but unfortunately it's moving too fast and will catch up with us." May replied, her focus on the winter storm in front of her.

"The farther we are from that place, the better," Coulson replied. "Get as far as you can safely, then we'll land and wait out the storm."

"There is a forest nearby that contains a small clearing. It would be a good place to put the camouflage on," May stated the plan, already knowing he was going there.

Coulson nodded to himself then began to head back to the main area before he heard his name. Looking back, May glanced at him before asking, "how is she?"

"Really scared," he replied, pausing before adding, "especially of me. Physically, her broken bones will heal. Mentally….," He drifted off, Skye's face staring at him in fear taking over his thoughts.

"We'll get her back. We just have to be patient," May encouraged as she pulled Phil back from wherever his mind had gone off to. Even though she couldn't see him, Coulson nodded once again before heading back to check on the rest of the team.

*******AoS*******

Ward began feeling the small trembles the closer he got to the shower room. He was three feet away when her breathing started to head towards erratic. He stopped in his tracks, turned and shook his head at the scientist. There was no way that he was going to put her through that. "Its ok rookie, we're not going in there," he reassured, walking away from the room and towards the med table once again.

"There's a drain and running water in this room," Jemma started, referring to the lab, "in case of a spill that needs cleaning. I'm sure Fitz could change the temperature." Part of Jemma wondered if they should just do a towel bath, but she knew that if she was in that situation she would want all of that grime off of her.

Ward watched the scientist head towards the computer, before he looked down at his rookie who seemed to be intently studying the blanket wrapped around her. Every once in a while her gaze would drift to the shower room, as if she was waiting for someone to come out. "Do you want to get cleaned up?" he asked gently.

Skye's gaze immediately drifted back to her blanket. She bit her lower lip, trying to decide if there was a right answer that he was looking for. She wanted the dirt off, she wanted them off. If she could have her way, she would scrub the top layer of her skin off, anything to make their touches disappear. All he got in response to his question was a long blink. He couldn't help the little bit of hope that he felt at his old rookie still being there, fighting.

Ward remembered one of the movie nights that had started a long discussion about comas and being in a vegetative state. Skye had insisted that they all needed a way of communicating as it would already be frustrating being stuck in your own body but not being able to reach out to the outside world. She insisted that they create a whole language. After they had all given her incredulous looks, they had compromised that the two words that were really needed were 'yes' and 'no'.

Jemma being the peacekeeper had immediately jumped in and suggested that a deliberate long blink, would be 'yes' and two successive blinks meant 'no'. Skye had added that the yes blink had to last at least 1.5 Mississippi's, arguing that people could have different standards that could lead to a miscommunication. Ward had simply shook his head at his rookie and the things that she got passionate about. Not getting the agreement she wanted from her S.O. at the new standards, she had begun to stare at him, even when he looked away. It was in these moments that he realized just how stubborn she could be. The staring didn't stop until he agreed to follow the standards, to which she simply replied with a smile on her face, "I'm glad that that's settled. So whose up for lunch?"

Is that how she felt right now, trapped within her body and not able to communicate with the outside world? The only time that she had talked was to beg them not to do something, and even then she had cringed as if waiting for retaliation. Ward refocused his attention at his rookie, before quietly replying, "that was definitely at least 1.5 Mississippi's."

Could he be real? She began to think, hesitant on getting her hopes up and yet knowing that the Ward that enjoyed inflicting pain would have never known that. She began to think about the drugs and their effects, maybe she was hallucinating and her mind was making it up to give her something to hold on to.

Ward watched Skye's face closely, trying to read the reaction to his reply. She had her emotions a lot more guarded compared to the rookie he had first started training who was more than happy to let you know if you had annoyed her or if she was happy. His old trainee had certain emotions that she had hid well, but after working with her for a few months, she became an open book. For now, he barely caught the confusion that crossed her face before she controlled her features into a non-expressive expression again. The task of studying his rookie's expression was interrupted by the scientist.

"Fitz has successfully diverted…He was able to get the water heated," Jemma caught herself, "And I told him to not let anyone come down till we're done." She walked over to the two, Skye sitting on the bench and Ward right next to her, a supportive arm wrapped around her. Poor Skye looked like she just wanted to pass out; Ward was possibly the only thing holding her up. "We could do this later," Jemma offered.

"Lets do it now," Ward replied, after he felt his rookie tense up at Simmons' offer. Jemma made quick eye contact with the agent who gave her a nod of encouragement.

"Ok. I've raised the temperature in the lab so it won't be so cold. Just have to grab a few things," she stated. 2 minutes later and Jemma had a whole table covered in new blankets, towels, Skye's pajamas and clothes, shower items, bandages and ointments.

When Skye saw the hose attached to a shower head, she tensed her body before leaning against Ward and away from the water source. You're not cuffed. This is different, she kept repeating to herself. Her mind started feeling groggy, probably the morphine.

"So you are going to get wet," Jemma looked at Ward, who nodded in reply. "Skye, we'll do your hair first, then get the rest of you washed up and bandaged." Of course there was no reply, so she started the water and tested it.

Skye watched the scientist out of her peripheral vision, surprised that she was testing the water. Normally they would just…she stopped her thoughts and focused on the fact that she wasn't stuck in a small room, her hand was not cuffed, and they hadn't wrapped anything around her neck. Nothing made sense since she had been taken out of her little cellblock.

Skye buried her head into Ward's side once the water hit before realizing that it actually felt nice. Ward of course was soaked really quickly. Grabbing the shampoo and conditioner, Jemma was gentle on her friends head, afraid that she might have bruising, but made sure to do a thorough job as the SO helped to hold the water with his free hand.

With her hair washed, Ward stated that he was going to close his eyes. Skye wasn't sure if she was losing it or the drugs were acting up, but she could have sworn that he said he would give her some privacy. He kept his arm around her, supporting the tired analyst, but otherwise he closed his eyes and waited for the signal that they were done.

Once she had cleaned the previously dislocated arm, Jemma held out the lufa for Skye. The analyst looked a little surprised, but she hesitantly took the soap covered ball. This was the first time since they had taken her that they were actually letting her 'participate' in her own shower. This can't be real.

Jemma focused on the soap the whole time, trying her best to ignore the bruises that were everywhere and the lacerations on her wrists and ankles. Once they finished, she would have a breakdown and would then be ready to help her friend in anyway she could. Just a little longer. She let Skye do what she could, wanting to give her some semblance of control.

"Ward, we're going to have her stand up," Simmons stated, not wanting her friend to fall. Ward stood up and held his other arm out for support, his eyes still closed. Jemma caught Skye's glance at her SO's face, surprised that his eyes were indeed closed. She held on to the man that was supposedly her SO, hating it but knowing the alternate was the ground.

Within 15 minutes she was dry and dressed and Ward was finally able to open his eyes. Working together they set her on a dry bench before wrapping her ribs and bandaging her wrists, ankles, and other minor cuts. The older agent felt the anger boiling inside of him when he saw how deep the lacerations on her wrists were, but he hid his emotions. She didn't need to be anymore afraid of him than she already was.

Ward wrapped his rookie, who looked like she was barely hanging on to consciousness, with a few blankets before carrying her to her old room, not wanting his wet clothes to get her wet. She was passed out by the time they made it to her bunk. Jemma pulled the covers back before he placed her gently on the bed, and tucked her in, an ice pack on her right shoulder. Jemma set up the IV fluids and oxygen tank next to the bed, out of the way.

Coulson stood in the doorway, watching the scene. "How bad is it?" he asked quietly.

"I gave her a sedative to help her sleep. Physically, she'll recover. Just needs to take it easy on those ribs and her shoulder. Emotionally, well that's a whole other story. I want to head back to the lab and run some diagnostic tests on her blood, see what they gave her," Simmons responded.

Coulson merely nodded, not taking his eyes off of Skye, before stepping out of the way to let the scientist pass. "Agent Ward," Coulson called, getting the younger man's attention. "Go get cleaned up, I'll stay with her till you get back. Somehow I don't think she'll find it very comforting having me here when she wakes up."

Ward tore his eyes away from Skye and gave his boss a sympathetic look. He knew how much Skye had meant to him and couldn't imagine how he felt right now. With one last glance at his rookie, he walked out of the room and headed to his bunk to grab some clothes for a quick shower.

AN: Please review and let me know what you think! Hope you enjoyed!