Author's Note:

So I've had a couple people tell me they're confused with the flashbacks and present day. I'll be honest, if you're only only interested in what happened to Skye and Lincoln and not how they are now or their bonding with the team, you can read the odd numbered chapters and still completely understand the story... at least up to the point the flashbacks catch up with the present day. (Because there will be more plot after that.) But that shouldn't be until like... after chapter 35 or something. And I'll catch you up with previouslies at that point if you have been doing that :)

Basically the chapters with them back at base are all friend relationship/seeing how they've changed, definitely not plot related. So if you're confused and only want to do that, you can!


Previously: After being deprived of food and water for three days, Skye was forced to fight a woman named Thrash. Weak from the physical exertion, she fainted.


Eight Months Ago

"Whoa!" Skye shouted, bolting upright. She immediately regretted this as her throat was still burning from lack of water. But she was cold and she was wet, and such a sudden cold and wetness made her shocked enough to yell.

"Jesus Skye, I thought you were dead."

Skye laboriously lifted her head to see Lincoln, his concerned face beaming down at her through… a gate? Oh. They were on separate sides of the room.

"I was scared for you too," she admitted with cracked strain. "But right now I'm dying to get something to drink." Literally. "Is there water?"

Lincoln grimaced. "I just used the rest of mine to get you to wake up. I was honestly really worried..."

"I have some left," Raina said, whom Skye only just registered was standing next to him. "Hang on."

Raina returned shortly with a cup about half filled with water and she passed it to Skye through the gate. It just barely fit. Had it been any more full, some would have more likely than not spilled out from the amount she had to tilt it.

Skye tried to drink it slow, but the attempt was torturous and futile. And when it was gone she felt even less satisfied than before. It was like trying to turn the Sahara into a beach by throwing a pail's worth of water onto it.

Not to mention it almost made her want to puke.

Lincoln took notice. "You're basically too dehydrated to even drink anymore. When people don't drink enough, their electrolytes get so screwed up it'll make you nauseous."

"Oh don't worry," Skye said, suppressing the urge to make a comment on how that made zero sense. Stupid body. "If there's more water I can keep it down. Where did you get it?" She pressed on her belly, hoping she was right. She just needed more.

"They gave it to us with dinner," Raina explained. "I don't think you'll get any until tomorrow Skye, you missed both meals today."

Skye felt such a pang of loss at the information her heart felt as though it had fallen into an endless abyss that happened to be her stomach, but she didn't think there was much she could do about the fact.

"Ok," she conceded. She tried to comfort herself with the fact that she was at least no longer in 'Box One.' Then thought to change the subject to something useful. "Raina, how long have you been here?"

The woman curled into herself rapidly and immediately, becoming apparently self-conscious. Lincoln laid a tender hand on her shoulder.

Skye was abruptly envious, being away from them. Being separated from the touch of other humans who didn't want to harm her.

"She's been here since Afterlife, Skye," Lincoln said, when Raina seemed unable or unwilling to provide the information. Skye started. That had been months ago. "We didn't know enough about her powers to realize she'd survive."

"I was not meant to survive!" she shrieked. Her large sad eyes looked up to Skye. "I… I saw it. That was truly supposed to be the last time you and I spoke. And I wish it had been."

"No," Skye said determinedly. Her voice was still so rough, she didn't really want to use it. But she pushed through. "You're alive and that's what matters. You helped me realize what my mother really was by sacrificing your own life and… and I'm going to make sure you get the hell out of here."

Raina began to laugh, a dark chuckle that always helped Skye assume she was a supervillain. Now it just seemed desperate. "Don't you get it? We're already in hell."

Skye shook her head. "We can do this."

"You haven't been in the fights yet, you don't know," Raina hissed. "You think them forcing you to hurt me was bad? You think your stay in a Box was bad?" She scoffed. "You have no idea."

Skye stood, her hand clinging to the gate between them. "Then tell me and we can figure it out together! What happened after they took me to the Box?"

Lincoln shared a quick look with Raina, who nodded. He seemed ashamed by the time his eyes met back with Skye's.

"I did it. I… I attacked her."

"Oh, Lincoln…"

Skye wasn't mad. She didn't blame him. She pitied him, them all, for having to make such ridiculous decisions in the first place. This wasn't a mission and these weren't SHIELD agents. These were fabricated situations civilians were being forced into.

"Raina told me it would be better for both of us," Lincoln explained. "And it was."

Skye nodded vehemently. "Ok, that's fine. Keep yourselves alive and well. But do not let them take any more than you were willing to give when you first got here. They're going to try and influence us slowly, make us take baby steps so by the time we're murdering people, we won't even realize it."

Lincoln agreed fully.

Skye couldn't be his SO, not really. She wasn't experienced enough quite yet, but that didn't stop him from looking up to her like one. The trust he had in her was… flattering.

Raina merely scoffed, crossing her arms. She clearly didn't trust in what Skye was saying though she didn't attempt to disagree.

Skye eyed the area around them. Most of the people were just lounging, barely speaking with the others. At first glance, you could think they were just anti-social.

But then Skye saw the scars. The bruises. Bandages and inhibitors that were all the marks of everyone in this place being subject to abuse. One kid couldn't have been older than fifteen.

It was disgusting, and Skye vowed in that moment to find an end to it. Not just escape herself.

"First things first, we have to start talking to these guys. Gaining support-" Skye stopped, the dry tickle in her throat becoming too much and giving a light cough. "Gaining support in here is really important, because-"

Alright, the tickle monster was full on attacking her now. Skye found that she couldn't stop gagging.

"Ok, that's enough talking for you," Lincoln told her. "You're severely dehydrated."

Skye's lips quirked into a smile. "Yeah, that's what happens when they starve you of water for three days."

Her quip's failure was evident by the concern and horror on Lincoln's face when she looked back to him.

"They're not trying to kill me," Skye answered the question on his face. "I mean, I don't think. That would be kind of stupid…"

"I'm going to ask a guard for water," Lincoln said shortly, standing up from his kneeling position.

"They're doing this on purpose," Skye told him. "They won't give it to you."

"Well, I'm going to try," he said in a tone that meant there was no arguing. His concern washed over her in waves. Despite her starvation, she felt better than she had in the passed three days.

"Fine. But don't get yourself in trouble. We'll figure this out more… when they give us meals tomorrow and I'm not dying anymore."

"Please stop joking about your death," Lincoln said.

If his tone was no nonsense before, it was funeral serious now. Which made sense, talking about death… because, funerals…

Skye might have been a little slaphappy.

"Ok," she said earnestly.

"Just try to sleep," he said. "But you'd better wake up when I nudge you once they call us to the barracks."

Skye smiled. "Now who's joking about death?"

Lincoln gave her a sad smile, touching her fingers that lay at the bottom of the gate. She took the liberty of grabbing his hand. Despite that Lincoln said he was going to go find water and despite Skye just sitting on the ground, she was able to fall into a relatively peaceful sleep as she found comfort in his touch.


Lincoln had intended to ask the guards for water, but Skye was probably right. They knew exactly what they were doing.

And he couldn't imagine just leaving her there.

Skye, who was helping him become a SHIELD agent just as much as he helped her transition to Inhuman, who was so strong and defiant no matter the circumstance, had been dropped back into this cage like a broken bundle of limbs.

He was at least grateful they'd left her at the gate where he and Raina could reach her; keep an eye on her. Her lips were chapped and pale. Bruises were forming on her face and, though he couldn't see them, he could imagine the ones that were on her stomach from the shocks easy enough. He'd been looking at his own for three days.

And in that time, what had he accomplished? Skye said they needed to talk to people. He had Raina, but the girl was a sliver of the woman he once knew. She'd explained that most of the people there were either too heartless to care about the pain they inflict on one another or too cowardice of punishments to help their peers.

It did not seem like an easy place to make friends.

Lincoln rubbed his thumb over Skye's hand, wishing he could wake her up. She appeared too vulnerable like this. But he knew time would pass quicker if she were sleeping, and until she had proper nutrition she was going to be in pain.

"How could they do this to her…" Lincoln mumbled, mostly to himself. He didn't expect a response.

"They've done it to a lot of people," Raina said, her voice hallowed. It was her norm. "Whenever someone doesn't obey the first command, that's their go-to punishment."

"To put someone in a hole without food or water for three days?"

Four, his mind amended, as Skye wouldn't be getting anything until tomorrow.

Raina nodded. "Exactly. It's the best response to get rid of resolve quickly."

"That's disgusting."

Raina tilted her head. "We're in a place where they force us to live like dogs in a kennel, then fight in the same way. If you know any part of this that isn't disgusting, please, let me know."

Lincoln eyed her warily. "Skye hated you, you know. Said you tortured Coulson and were responsible for the death of a lot of people."

"That's all true. Regrettably."

"So you're not holding out on us? You really haven't had any visions, seen a way out of here?" Lincoln asked, his eyes narrowing with scrutiny.

"No. They block my powers just as they do yours, only they don't allow me them back even when I fight in the ring. Though I suppose I should be grateful to them for that, as I get very distracted when I'm having them…"

"You haven't had any visions in months?" Lincoln asked. "Since you've been here?"

Raina bristled. "No."

"You hesitated."

"Well what do you expect, Lincoln? You're interrogating me!"

"Raina," Lincoln said softly. "What did you see?" Her eyes glanced up timidly. His brow furrowed. "What did they make you see?"

"Your location. Where you and Skye would be," she told him, obviously ashamed of the admission. "Someone else knew about you and was aware that I could be used to find you. When they realized you were collecting Nuhumans… they delayed your capture."

"That's how they beat us to every meeting," he muttered.

"I'm so sorry, Lincoln." She reached out a hand, but he pulled away. From Skye as well.

"It's not your fault, Raina… but I need a minute. Keep an eye on Skye."

Lincoln stood and hastily walked away. He knew they'd coerced her, probably tortured her, but how many of the people here were captured because she told them exactly where they were? Twenty? Thirty? How many houses had Lincoln and Skye gone to only to find scenes of struggle and abandonment?

At least Skye had been trying to do the right thing when the crystals fell into the ocean.

Lincoln didn't know where to go in this tiny hole. He'd been there three days and had already mapped out what they called a "Courtyard" in his head, not that there was much to it. It took him almost two days to find the TV due to the sheer amount of people that crowded next to it.

There were at least fifty people in here, maybe more, and not enough room that would fit the adequate qualifications for a prison.

He wanted them all out. He needed to get his people out.

Not that all of them were Inhumans. A man named Crusher (they all had their ring names) got his powers trying to become a better boxer. There were a few more as well, but it didn't matter. No one deserved this place.

Lincoln dragged a hand across his hair in frustration. He needed to do something. But what the hell could possibly be productive in this hellhole?

He could get Skye water. He should get Skye water.

Lincoln went to the edge of the yellow line to beckon one of the guards over when a loud foghorn sounded.

"Alright!" shouted a guard as he paced the threshold. "Boundary's off. Get to your barracks!"

Lincoln rushed back to find Skye in the now swelling crowd. Raina was gently shaking her. The woman had been able to get on the side of the gate with Skye when they took down the defenses in order to allow the gifteds access to the barracks.

"She didn't wake up with the horn?" he asked. Raina shook her head. Lincoln knelt down and tapped Skye's cheek. "Skye. Skye, wake up." Her eyes opened heavily, taking a moment to zone in on his face. "Ok, there you are. You have to get up now." They'll hurt you if we take too long, he left unsaid.

She nodded sleepily, hulling herself up with no absence of effort. He helped her to her feet.

Raina had already slipped away, not that Lincoln blamed her. She'd been taught the punishments well enough to be wary of them, he'd learned.

Once Skye was standing she separated herself from Lincoln, to his dismay. She didn't look normal.

"So what are the beds like?" she asked him as they caught up with the crowd, her voice still sounding dangerously croaky.

"Like an ironing board, complete with no pillows," he told her truthfully. She still smiled.

"Better than a box."

He hated when she would do that. Downplay horrors. And Skye only did it when they applied to herself, of course.

"But really, the box wasn't so bad…" he heard her mumble.

"Yeah?"

"Mmhm. Four walls… no scenery…"

"Sounds great," he said sarcastically.

"The box… if I were a cat, it could have been nice."

Her words were overlapping each other, slurred together. Lincoln rushed forwards to look at her face.

"Skye?"

"If I fits… I sit…"

Then she collapsed.

"Skye!" He knelt down next to her immediately. "Skye wake up. Wake up, you're ok."

She was not ok. She was dying of thirst, of dehydration, and they wouldn't do anything about it!

A guard walked up to them. "Move, now."

"She fainted, she can't move!"

The guard hesitated. "Why?"

"She needs water."

Another guard headed over and addressed the first, asking what was the matter.

"She was in a Box," the first explained. "She needs water."

Huh. So maybe they weren't pure evil.

"Oh yeah," the other agreed. "I'd hate to have any of the goods croak on my shift."

Or not…

He returned with one of the plastic cups they drank from at all their meals. Lincoln hoisted Skye up, his hand supporting her back as he poured the liquid down her throat.

It took a few moments, but she coughed. She was alive.

Then she started heaving. It wasn't unexpected, given that he'd just forced it down when she wasn't even awake. When she was dying of thirst in the first place.

Anything she'd gotten down came back up and onto the ground.

"Ugh!" exclaimed a guard in disgust.

"Thought you said she needed the water?" asked the other.

"She needs an IV. She's too dehydrated to keep it down. I know they have equipment here!"

The guards looked to one another. "We take her to Kane, he might decide she's more trouble than she's worth."

"Yeah, and I'm not going to be the one to show him a defect product..."

Lincoln couldn't believe this. "It's his fault she's like this!"

"Lincoln," Skye's small voice turned his head. Her fingers grazed his hand. "I can keep it down."

He wanted to ask if she was sure, that he'd find Kane himself if he had to and demand the bastard help her. But he didn't want Skye to have to use her voice again. He lifted the cup to her lips.

Very slowly, he helped her with a few more sips of the drink. Once a few minutes passed and the guards were satisfied that they wouldn't have to get their boss involved, they became much more impatient.

"Alright, time to move it. We're late enough as it is."

Lincoln threw a glare to the guard, but kept most of his attention on Skye. "Can you walk?"

"Yeah," she said, proving her salt by standing up herself.

The guards began leading them towards the barracks. They followed dutifully behind, Lincoln keeping an eye on Skye. Miraculously, the small amount of water seemed to help her miles.

She leaned into him. "Stop looking at me. Keep your eyes open for anything that can help us escape," she said, surprisingly. He thought she'd come in close for support with walking. "C'mon Lincoln, that's spy lesson number one, and my observation skills obviously aren't up to par at the moment."

She moved a little faster and Lincoln began trailing behind, her sudden vigor leaving him stunned.

Skye really was a SHIELD agent, through and through.