Coulson pulled up a chair, sitting and gesturing for the others to do the same. Once everyone had found an appropriate place to sit down, he gestured to Skye.
"Simmons, how long do you think she'll be out for?"
"A few hours at least, I'd say." the bio-chemist mumbled, instinctively shuffling a little closer to Fitz.
Phil nodded, smoothing out non-existent wrinkles in his suit. "Alright then. I think we should figure out where we're heading next. I need to know whether our team can help Skye sufficiently or whether we need to entertain the thought that I may need to contact SHIELD. Technically, she is not an agent but she is under my authority and I can get her into SHIELD's psychiatric centre if that becomes necessary. However, I do not want to have to do that, so if we can help her here, then that's what I want to do." he glanced around.
"Um quite, Sir. See, the thing is, I'm not sure how…bad it is yet. Over the past few days, she hasn't been eating at all but we haven't pushed it. Actually, we've all been…well, coddling her. She needs to eat, that's the bottom line. But more than that, we need to get her to see that it's okay to, that she has to, that it's not a bad thing. She sees it as something that's getting in the way of her becoming an agent." Simmons spoke up, wringing her hands.
"You want to know what I think?" Ward looked up from Skye. "I think Skye does need to go to the facility."
Immediately, FitzSimmons started to argue.
"No! What Skye needs is us, being with her!"
"There is no way in hell are you taking her there!"
Ward held up his hand, shaking his head. "No, not what I meant in the slightest. Not to stay there, to go, see some of the agents. If that's okay with them. It'll shake her up, shock her, maybe give her the kickstart she needs to see what she's doing to herself."
May spoke for the first time. "That is not a bad idea." she said quietly. "That might be exactly what she needs, as…cruel as it sounds."
FitzSimmons exchanged looks, silently taking each other's hands. "Is that such a good idea? What if she gets…jealous?" Jemma whispered, Fitz silently squeezing her hand.
Coulson nodded. "That's a valid point. But we have to do something. Leaving her to starve is not an option. We need to try this. Are we all agreed?"
Their replies were drowned out by a hoarse scream. All heads swivelled to the bed and Grant, the closest to Skye, stood, placing his hands on her shoulders. "Skye? Sweetheart, you're safe." he said quietly, shaking her gently as she thrashed under his hands. He received a punch for his efforts, sending him stumbling back. He winced and shook his head before going back to her side. Simmons rushed over, a prepped sedative in her hand. "Hold her as still as you can."
Ward kept his grip on her shoulders, Coulson taking her wrists, May and Leo her legs.
"Please! Oh god, I'm sorry! I'm so sorry, don't…don't do it. You can't leave, you can't." Skye sobbed, bucking up, screams building in her throat.
Simmons slid the needle into her arm, stroking her hair and soothing her until her head lolled and she was still.
Everyone was silent for a few minutes. May was the first to leave, "I have to get back to the cockpit." she muttered.
Coulson went next, mumbling something about 'having work to do'.
Instead, the two senior agents meant in Coulson's office.
"It's time we told Skye the truth, Mel." Phil said softly, the both of them cradling glasses of whiskey. "Her nightmare, you know it was about her parents, it had to be, some of it at least. She deserves to know the truth."
Melinda shook her head. "Coulson, the girl's broken enough. She doesn't need to know about her mother on top of that."
"Mei." Phil sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose.
Melinda softened, leaning forward. "Alright. When she's stronger, only then. Our girl's too weak right now."
Coulson chuckled, tucking a strand of black hair behind her ear. "Our girl. I like the sound of that. No matter what happens, she'll stay our girl."
Back in the lab, FitzSimmons busied themselves working on some sort of project, distracting themselves really.
Ward had an ice-pack pressed to his eye with one hand, his other hand holding Skye's. His thumb gently brushed over her palm. "I'll fix this, you'll see. I'll help you." he whispered, pressing a kiss to her temple. "I love you. I mean that. I was stupid to say that maybe I did. I know it know. And I'm sorry." he murmured, closing his eyes. "I love you."
There we are. Basically some shippy moments for all three of the ships. Crappy and short chapter, I'm really sorry. I won't bother you all by telling you why it's late. I'm sorry. Thank you, love you all.
