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I don't own Marvel.

I apologize ahead of time for any wrong medical terminology in this chapter.

Enjoy!

Avengers Tower

Status:

Undetermined

Time:

14:00

Skye blinked her eyes open groggily. However, she was wide awake when she saw Natasha hovering over her with a hand on the brunette's forehead. The red-head was smiling at Skye, but it immediately turned to a frown when Skye groaned loudly.

"Skye, are you okay?"

Skye shook her head no. "My heart feels like it's on fire, and my whole body would much rather die right now."

Natasha ran her hand through Skye's hair. "About that . . . Skye, I have to tell you something that could make you freak out. But, we'll work something out. Okay?"

"What happened, Nat?" Skye asked impatiently.

Natasha sighed. "When you were shot, the bullet went straight through your heart. Steve, May, and I were all too caught up in the moment to realize it, but you should've been dead. But you weren't. Your heart was still beating somehow after it had been literally ripped open, and when—When Steve and I took you to Stark to see if he could help you, he saw something. Skye, your heart . . . was whole. You healed yourself. Now, Jemma's done some research—"

"No," Skye mumbled while Natasha continued talking. "No, no, no, no."

"And she determined that healing your heart took a lot of energy and put you under a lot of stress. I'm not sure how all the dots connected, but that's why you passed out. The strain of suddenly remembering was too much for your body to handle."

Skye let a few tears fall down her face, making Natasha's soul ache for the girl.

"Oh, Skye."

Natasha moved the hand that was running through Skye's hair to her face, wiping away the tears with her thumb and cupping Skye's cheek gently.

"Nat . . ." Skye said. "I shouldn't be alive."

"Don't say that, Skye. You shouldn't have been shot in the first place, and I'm sorry for that. I don't have an explanation for this . . . thing, but I am eternally thankful for it. You should be too."

Skye looked up at her girlfriend, thanking her lucky stars that they were together. She smiled weakly up at the red-head from her hospital bed.

"I'm glad I'm alive. I really am, but . . ."

"But what?" Natasha asked urgently yet gently.

"What does this mean? I healed myself, but how? I don't know what's happening to me, and I-I'm . . . I'm scared."

Natasha kissed Skye gently on the cheek. "I know you're scared, and that there's nothing I can say to fix that. But I also know that you're strong. I know you'll get through this, Skye."

Skye smiled. "Thanks, Nat."

After a few more moments of just sitting there and enjoying each other's company, Natasha spoke up. "Skye, it's been a while since you passed out, and the others still think that you're unconscious. All the girls freaked out a bit when I called everyone to the gym. I didn't tell them what happened, just that you started screaming. Simmons took over from there. I know everyone's worried about you. Do you think you're up for some company?"

Skye moaned as she held onto Natasha's hand. "But you're company."

Natasha smiled. It was amazing Skye could still joke after everything. "Skye," she warned."

"Oh, alright," Skye pouted. "I want to see them, especially Bobbi and Fitz. Plus I could use some meds from Simmons. Bring 'em in."

Natasha nodded at Skye's requests and gave Skye a quick peck on the forehead. Just as she was exiting the room, she called back to Skye, "I also told everyone you're my girlfriend. But don't worry! They're cool with it," and Natasha left.

Skye gaped in shock at Natasha's retreating back. She knew the Black Widow was sneaky, but never would she have dreamed that the famed red-head was evil.

Not a moment later, the entire team and the Avengers returned, Natasha leading the charge.

Skye was bombarded with questions of what happened and little statements of gratitude like "I'm glad you're okay," and even Tony's "She's alive!" that strongly resembled Dr. Frankenstein. Skye found it all very heartwarming, and she would've loved to answer their questions if Jemma hadn't appeared at the front of the group, looking extremely worried for her little sister in all but blood.

"Skye?" she asked in a small voice, immediately making all the others shut up. "Are you okay?"

Skye smiled a goofy smile. "Oh yeah. I'm great. You know, it's not every day that you pass out."

To her surprise, Jemma smiled. "Well, I'm glad to see that you're still our hilarious Skye."

Skye smiled genuinely at her favorite doctor. "Why would I ever change? But . . . to answer the "Are you okay," from earlier, I could use some painkillers." It was then that Skye saw a perfect opportunity to showcase her remembrance of Fitz. "Maybe you can get Fitz to engineer some high-tech painkiller that you only ever need to take once."

Simmons stared open-mouthed, along with the rest of the room, but it was Fitz who spoke up. Completely cured of memory relapses and speech impediments with the power of science, Fitz said very clearly and coherently, "You remember me?"

Skye couldn't helped but feel touched at the pleasant reaction. "Yeah," she said simply.

"Let's test her," Tony stated aloud, much to Natasha's chagrin. The last thing she wanted was for Skye to be showcased like she was some science experiment. "What is Fitz' full name and occupation?"

Skye smiled. "Easy. Agent Leopold Fitz of S.H.I.E.L.D. is a level seven Engineer and an excellent impressionist if I remember our first undercover mission correctly. Does that sound about right, Fitz?"

Fitz nodded, dumbstruck. "You really remember me?" he asked once more after a moment's pause.

"Yeah," Skye said sweetly. "I really do."

There was not a single person in that room that went unaffected by the heartwarming moment between Fitz and Skye.

Breaking the comfortable silence in the air, Skye looked at Bobbi, who was sporting a neat rim of black all around her left eye. Skye winced. "Did I really do that much damage?" she asked worriedly.

Bobbi shook her head quickly, even though it was obvious to all that the injury must have hurt quite a bit. "I'm fine, Rockstar. It's just a black eye. It'll go away soon enough."

Skye still wasn't convinced. "I'm really sorry for that, but are you sure you're alright? 'Cause I-"

"Really, Skye. I'm good. I'd be more worried about you. Didn't you say you needed painkillers."

It was then that Skye remembered the burning pain in her chest that was slowly eating her alive. She winced what must have been imperceivable to all but Natasha.

Jemma ushered everyone out of the room, including Natasha, somehow, and proceeded to check Skye's vitals.

"Blood circulation is ten above normal. Heart rate is 40 bpm. Well, isn't this peculiar?"

Skye raised an eyebrow at Simmons' musings. "What's peculiar?"

"Well, your heart rate is 40 beats per minute, which in itself is unusual, as many well-trained athletes have between thirty-five and forty-five bpm, but, taking your recent phenomenon, caloric intake, and the increased rate of blood circulation, I'd assume it would be higher, at least 80."

Skye smiled. "You're great, Jem. You really are, but I didn't understand a word you just said."

Jemma smiled as she flipped a switch on one of the tubes connected to Skye's arms. "Don't worry about it. Dr. Banner and I can do some research on it later. For now, you just rest and let the painkillers kick in. I'll send Agent Romanoff in for you."

Skye grinned goofily as soon as the door closed behind Natasha only a moment later. "What's up, Nat? How's your day been?"

Natasha smirked as she sat in the plastic chair next to Skye. "Mostly I've been worrying about this brown-haired girl I know. She went and decided it was a good idea to pass out on me right after I kissed her."

Skye whined at that. "I didn't try to pass out! It just . . . happened."

Natasha smiled at her girlfriend. "I know, Skye. I'm just teasing."

Skye nodded at this. Glancing at that uncomfortable-looking chair, she pushed herself to the edge of the bed, so she only took up one half of the stark-white hospital bed.

"What are you doing?" Natasha laughed as she watched Skye struggling to move due to the constricting IVs in her arms.

Skye answered gently, almost like this one action would mean the world to her if fulfilled. "You looked uncomfortable, and I really don't want to be in this bed alone right now. Come here."

Natasha ditched the chair almost immediately, in favor of lying down right beside her girlfriend. She had to admit, she was more comfortable, and only a quarter of that had to do with being in the bed. The other three-quarters . . . Those went to the beautiful doe-eyed girl facing her, curling into her, just enjoying Natasha's presence.

Skye's voice in the quiet startled Natasha, but she had to say, she loved what she heard.

"Thank you, Natasha . . . for everything, getting me to Stark after the mission, helping me remember, being with me when I woke up, for now, everything."

Natasha only said one sentence in answer, but it held the world's meaning. "For you, I'd do anything, sweetheart."

Author's Note

I know! It took me forever to write another chapter, and I'm really sorry! But I'm back now! I really hoped you guys enjoyed this chapter and all the little moments between Natasha and Skye. I really loved writing it! Thank you to SLYNNR, Tamara, Divine Fighter, SerenityKieraSilverwind, and FabinaForever11 for wonderful reviews on chapter seven! I really appreciate the support every single one of my readers has shown, even if you don't leave a review. It means a lot to me that you take to the time to read my story. Be on the look-out for a new chapter soon! Until then, my friends!