Phil had eventually gone to bed the night before, but Jemma fell asleep in the chair beside Skye. They slept until at least noon. She only woke when she felt the absence of Skye's hand in her own. She sat up straight and stretched her back before making eye contact with Skye, who was sitting on the bed, already having removed her oxygen mask.
"How are you?" Jemma asked to break the silence after they just sat there and stared at each other for a few minutes.
"Physically?" She asked.
"Or emotionally." Jemma answered.
"Well, my house just burned down. But I think I'll survive." Skye said. Jemma could see in her eyes that she was trying to stay strong, but clearly wanted to start crying.
"You don't have to do that with me." Jemma told her.
"Do what" Skye asked defensively.
"Hide your feelings. I'll always be here if you want to talk." Jemma told her. They were interrupted by a loud banging noise outside. Jemma stood up and moved the curtain aside to peek outside.
"No way." She breathed.
"What is it?" Skye asked, leaping out of bed.
"Come on." Jemma instructed Skye, leading her by the hand for a change. Jemma led Skye right out the front door even though Skye told Jemma she wasn't ready to see the barn yet. Jemma told Skye that she actually might want to and continued to drag her outside.
Skye's jaw dropped when she saw what Jemma saw. Sure, most of the barn was blackened and turned to charcoal, but a portion of it had already been rebuilt. A large crowd of townspeople were working away building a new barn. Ward stood a few meters away from the porch and crossed his arms across his chest, smiling up at Skye.
"You did this?" Skye asked him in disbelief as everyone stopped what they were doing and started clapping when they saw Skye alive and well. She had actually saved many horses that belonged to people in the crowd, who started the applause for her courageous act.
Skye smiled and ran to hug Ward.
THANK YOU, Jemma mouthed to Ward. He winked back at her over Skye's shoulder.
"Skye, that is so unsanitary." Jemma scolded her friend, who just ate some raw cookie dough out of a bowl. They, mostly Jemma, were making cookies for everyone working outside and Skye wasn't making it easy.
"If you put that finger back in there I'm going to have to make another batch and I'm going to make you eat that whole thing." Jemma told her.
"Maybe that was my plan all along." Skye answered evilly, flicking flour at Jemma. Jemma gasped and stopped stirring the bowl that was in her arms. Jemma put it down on the table with a clank and Skye thought she was actually mad for a minute until Jemma threw a handful of flour at Skye.
"Just know it takes two to play this game." Skye smirked and reached into the flour bag.
Within minutes they were out of flour. Jemma and Skye both looked like ghosts and they were sitting on the floor leaning back against the cabinets, laughing so hard their eyes watered and they had to catch their breath.
"I have to admit, this kitchen would look nice if Phil decided to paint it white." Jemma commented, sending Skye spiraling into another fit of laughter. Skye sneezed and flour poofed out of who knows where, making Jemma laugh again.
Things were starting to look better at the ranch. Although Skye's clients had to take their horses home until they could provide stalls again, they were saving grocery money because everyone kept bringing them food.
Jemma liked this town. When something bad happened to one family, everyone helped. Everyone knew everyone. Jemma hadn't left Skye's side during the whole rebuilding process and introduced herself to everyone in the town. Throughout the day random people would come up and hug Skye and she would smile and hug them back.
It was absolutely amazing, what everyone working together could do. The barn was rebuilt within two weeks with everyone's help, and Skye moved back into the loft. Many of the elderly citizens brought boxes of their grown children's clothes and other possessions and Skye thanked them gratefully.
Jemma and Skye had walked up into the dark loft for the first time together when the barn was complete. Jemma held Skye's hand and they walked over to the double doors, unlocking them and swinging them open for the first time. All the people who had participated in the building of the barn cheered below and Skye was crying happy tears.
They threw a little party that afternoon and all of their new friends brought their kids, including Ward.
"Skye!" Jemma and Skye turned around when they heard a little voice call her name.
"Hey kiddo!" Skye kneeled down and retrieved the child that jumped into her arms before standing up and balancing the little dark haired child on her hip. The two nuzzled their noses together and Skye kissed his cheek.
"How are you doing?" Ward's wife, Jill, asked Skye.
"I'm doing great. I am so thankful for everyone's help." Skye said. Jill looked back and forth between Jemma and Skye and then gave Ward a questioning look, but he just smiled and shrugged his shoulders.
To Jemma it appeared that everyone was wondering if they were together, and Jemma was slightly frustrated that Skye didn't even seem to notice.
Jemma had to admit, Skye looked excellent holding the little kid and unconsciously Jemma pictured her and Skye having a kid that age. She shook her head to bring herself back to the real world and Skye gave her a funny look.
"Hey buddy, want to go get some of the cookies and lemonade Skye and Jemma made?" Ward asked his son as Skye lowered him to the ground. He nodded furiously and Jemma laughed with Skye and the boy's parents as he ran to the folding table holding the cookies and lemonade, along with the food people brought. Jemma couldn't believe she ever thought Ward was with Skye.
"Skye, can I show you something?" Jemma asked. Skye nodded and followed Jemma around to the back of the house, where it was quiet. Jemma pulled out a box wrapped in newspaper she had hidden there. For the last two weeks Jemma had discretely been collecting bottles of beverages the volunteers had been drinking while working and a few days ago Phil brought her to the hardware store to get some lights and glue while Skye was out herding the cattle.
"What's this?" Skye asked when Jemma handed her the box.
"Open it." Jemma nodded at the box, fidgeting with the hem of her shirt in her fingers. She was so nervous. Was Skye going to like it, or would it just make her sad?
Skye tore of the paper gently and gasped when she saw the contents of the box.
"Jemma..." Skye squeaked. She pulled the strand of bottle lights out of the box and admired them. She set them down in the box gently and threw herself at Jemma without warning, knocking Jemma back a few steps as she wrapped her arms around Jemma's neck.
"I love them. Thank you." Skye stated, never letting go of Jemma.
"I thought you might." Jemma said.
Skye pulled away and held her at arm's length. So close... Just ask her right now! The annoying voice in Jemma's head sounded like Fitz.
"Skye?" Jemma piped up.
"Yeah?" Skye questioned. Jemma was going to ask her, she really was, but Skye's big brown eyes staring into hers made her terribly nervous. She couldn't bare the idea of Skye rejecting her and in her mind it was better to not even ask, to enjoy what she had.
"Nothing." Jemma muttered. Because Jemma glanced down at her feet, she had missed the disappointed look that was on Skye's face for just a millisecond before she masked it.
"I'm going to go put these up." Skye said, picking up the box of lights.
"Ok." Jemma answered. Skye lingered for a moment, waiting to see if Jemma changed her mind about what she was going to say, before walking back out front. Jemma watched her leave. Just because of the way Skye walked away from her, which was much different than the way Skye always walked to her, Jemma knew that Skye felt the same way about her. At least a little bit. But Jemma wouldn't admit it to herself.
It wasn't because she was self conscious, or in denial that someone like Skye could like her, it was because Jemma was scared. Jemma was scared of leaving in eight days. She didn't want to kiss-and-run, so to speak. She didn't want to hurt Skye or herself by starting a relationship and then having to throw it away the day after because she lived in a different country.
