Chapter Eleven (I Hear Her Breathe)

Lyrics are from "I Hear Her Breathe" by Sent by Ravens.

"She's been asleep for some time now, in a world of glass and paper doubt."

Ward stared at Skye's comatose body, standing in a cloud of grief. Coulson now thought he was crazy for something that had actually happened. But Ward knew that Skye had appeared to him in that strange way. He knew that she had told him that she loved him.

His eyes shifted to Skye's stark-white face. The way the light shone on her made it look as thought she was suspended in time. She might as well be.

Ward thought back to what the doctor had originally told the team, 'The bullets damaged a couple of her internal organs pretty bad. The surgery fixed them the best they could be. But I'm afraid that she may never wake."

He quickly pushed the statement out of his head. He didn't want to think about it now, and he still refused to believe them. He thought that she would wake up.

Coulson was searching for a cure within SHIELD, but Ward thought that it was a useless attempt. He was hoping that Skye would wake up naturally, without some kind of SHIELD chemical or whatever helping.

The doctor's words went on, "The hypobaric chamber was a good idea to bring back her pulse. That worked, but I'm afraid that she was in there too long. She may have sustained permanent brain damage from the low temps."

Ward trembled at the thought that he may forever lose Skye.

"The doc explains in the best way he knows how, but the cancer found its way in through our mouths."

Coulson approached Fitzsimmons and May. They were startled by the worry on his face.

"Phil," May asked. "What's the matter? Where's Ward?"

"He's fine. Still don't know why he passed out. I let him sleep, he seems fine now. But I think he's hallucinating." Coulson explained.

"Hallucinating?" Simmons asked. "Hallucinating what?"

"He believes that Skye was talking to him. Some kind of spirit image perhaps." Coulson replied. "Have any input?"

"The trauma from seeing Skye in her present state may have triggered them." Simmons explained. "But he may need to be looked at to make sure he's ok. Mostly because of the Berserker outburst earlier. We just need to make sure he's fine."

"And what 'bout Skye?" Fitz asked. "Any change?"

Coulson shook his head, "No. She's still the same." he sighed. "I just want all of this to end. I want her to wake up, but the doctors are saying she might not. I've been looking for something to help her from within SHIELD, but I've come up short of an answer."

"Where's Ward now?" May asked.

"He's still with Skye. It's probably best to leave him with her." Coulson replied.

"I'll go talk to him. I'll see if I can get anything from him." May walked off to go and find the agent.

"I still feel like this is all my fault." Simmons quickly said.

"Jemma, don't." Fitz warned.

"Simmons, it's not your fault." Coulson said softly. "It's Quinn's. And he's locked up in a secure SHIELD cell for it."

"But I knew that she was in the chamber for too long. The doctors say she may have brain damage, but they can't check because she's comatose. And they say it's probably from the chamber."

"Don't put the blame on yourself." Coulson said. "That was the only way at the moment to save her. And it did. She's just asleep."

"A-Are you sure?" Simmons asked, tears in her eyes.

"Yes. Now, I'm going to see if I can get somebody to look at Grant." Coulson said. "Don't stray too far." He disappeared down the hallway.

"Leo, is Coulson right? Will Skye wake up?" Simmons asked, now about to cry.

Fitz put his arm around Simmons' shoulder, "Jemma, hopefully she will."

"Wake from your sleep precious one, wake up now. I can hear her breathe. She's coming back to me. And when she speaks, can we live with what we've done? She's moving and I am terrified that we can't hear the whisper."

Author's Note: I don't own AoS, Marvel does. Ward still believes that Skye will wake up. May goes to talk to him. Simmons still blames herself and Coulson and Fitz are telling her not to and it isn't her fault. (Yes I love using lyrics now, I think it adds effect.) Marvel's Agents of SHIELD will return in a chapter. Keep reading and please review! ~AwakeAndAliveSpartan.