A/N This is one of my favorite chapters out of the seven I have written: I love Skye-Simmons friendship, and I really believe that Skye would put a lot of energy into hurting other people to get through her own hurt at losing a dear friend. Enjoy!

May passed Hunter on the way towards the Bus, ignoring his greeting. It wasn't nearly so difficult as when, just a moment before, she had forced herself not to look in the lab to see Fitz puttering around. May had to purposefully push him out of her mind for the moment so she could focus on her initial target.

It hadn't been difficult to locate Skye on the security feeds: the Bus' board room had become Skye's getaway, something like a security blanket that reminded Skye of when the Bus was her safe haven and she had her family around her.

May rarely got nervous. She had seen and done too much, lost too much, to fully feel natural anxiety. She was quick in thought and quicker in action. Now, as she looked at the open doorway and watched Skye peacefully typing on her laptop, May paused. It wasn't nerves, exactly. Whatever emotion was working its way through her seemed to be more in tune with the obliviousness on Skye's face, and the desire to keep that there: a desire to prevent Skye from becoming "the Cavalry" 2.0.

One long, low breath in. May entered.

"Hey May," Skye spoke cheerfully, not taking her eyes off of her screen.

"Skye," May began slowly. Further words were silenced when Skye's head and eyes swung over to May's face in a single, fluid movement.

"Oh, god," Skye breathed out. "What happened?"

"Coulson needs you in his office." May told her in an unusually gentle voice, which seemed to rile Skye more.

"What is it? Something's wrong: is someone hurt?"

May didn't respond, just tilted her head towards the door and walked out, expecting Skye to follow.

As they pushed through Coulson's office doors, May in front of Skye, Skye's voice proceeded as if there had never been a break in their conversation during the long walk from the Bus. "It's Simmons, isn't it? Something went wrong. Is she okay?"

Coulson glanced up from the piece of paper he clutched, and his eyes moved slowly to meet Skye's. In a gentle voice he requested, "Take a seat, Skye."

"No!" Skye shot back, her eyes wide, voice vulnerable. "What happened to Simmons?"

Coulson looked to May for backup. May stepped behind Skye and gently pushed her towards a chair, saying, "Go ahead and sit down."

The gentle urging worked, and Skye defeatedly took a seat. Skye couldn't seem to find her voice, as her wide eyes took in Coulson's demeanor, the slight slump to his posture, the way his eyes couldn't seem to meet hers. She whispered, "Tell me it's not Jemma."

"I received a message today," Coulson began, his voice painfully quiet, "from one of our agents undercover in Hydra. Her cover's still good, and the call was monitored, so we couldn't find out much." Skye was shaking her head mutely, eyes wide, already denying Coulson's words. "All we do know is that … Simmons," Skye let out the faintest of whimpers, "…is dead."

"No," Skye declared. "No. No! She's fine! We just saw her! Her cover was intact, she was fine!"

May had at some point positioned herself, still standing, behind Skye without making Skye aware, and now she rested a hand on Skye's shoulder. Warmth from May's clasp offered comfort that Skye wasn't ready for, and she quickly shook May's hand away. The scorned gesture seemed to fuel a sudden burst of anger in Skye.

"What happened?" Skye demanded through gritted teeth which served to keep the glints in her eyes from dropping down her cheeks.

"We don't know yet," Coulson responded, sounding worn. "When the coordinates come in, May will collect … Jemma's body. We may get a few more answers. If we're lucky, our agent might leave us some more information at the drop. The best we can assume is that her cover was blown-"

"Of course it was!" Skye cried out, eyes blazing as she stood from her seat. "She's a miserable liar! Everyone knows that! You included! And you sent her in there, unable to lie to save her life, and guess what? That got her killed!"

"Skye-" May warned, bristling.

Coulson waved off May's protection, saying softly, "No, she's right."

"Damn straight, I'm right," Skye growled. "That girl trusted you. She trusted you to keep her safe, to have her back. You let her down. You threw her to the wolves." Coulson bowed his head as he allowed the onslaught to continue. "Was it worth it? Was whatever the hell you got from Hydra worth losing her? Because you may not have pulled the trigger, but I sure as hell hold you responsible!" Skye could feel her entire body quiver with the pent up rage, and she wound up for her parting blow. "I sure hope you can figure out what you are going to tell Fitz happened to his partner. Because if you think he's screwed up now, just wait! And when he breaks, remember that it wasn't Ward this time, but that it was you."

"That's enough, Skye," May growled, her eyes burning into Skye's.

"No, ya know what, that's fine, protect him! I can't even be here right now!" Skye hollered back. She shoved past May and slammed the door shut.

May's blazing eyes turned on Coulson. "You didn't have to stand for that."

Coulson let out a shaking breath. "I needed it. There wasn't a thing Skye said that wasn't true."

"That's a lie," May said, her face remained stoic besides her glowing eyes, but her voice cracked, thick with emotion. "You are the Director now, and we're at war. The calls you make aren't so cut and dry anymore. Do you think that every call Fury ever made turned out as he hoped? No, he made the best call he could with what he knew, and then he saw it through, no more, no less than what you did here. Not everyone can come home."

"She wasn't a field agent."

"No, she wasn't, Phil. But she was the best option to get eyes inside Hydra. And what you and Skye seem to forget was that Simmons wasn't forced into going: she knew the risks. Jemma knew how to stand up for what was right. She sacrificed herself, and you and Skye throwing around blame mocks her sacrifice."

Coulson fell into a pensive silence and didn't answer. May loudly snorted her derision, turned on her heel, and strode out through the door.

A/N Next Chapter: May/Skye friendship/bonding! Tell me what'cha think thus far! Feedback helps me write good ;-D