Previously: Bobbi warned Coulson not to listen to Lincoln and Skye's story anymore, as she thought of him as a father and it was too personal to talk about. We found out that Skye's tests are showing up as her pregnant due to increased estrogen, but the results are wonky.

Present Day

Bobbi's voice rang through Coulson's head over and over, like her hallowed words were playing on a loop in his mind.

"...has PTSD" "Ward's fault" "executed" "shouldn't listen anymore" "do it for Skye"

"daughter."

He was concerned, to say the least. His anger at Ward (that he'd skillfully covered from Morse the moment she'd told him such information) had been overtaken by worry for Skye as Bobbi recommended not listening in on their debrief anymore.

What happened that had been so awful?

Many things came to Phil's mind. Vivid imaginings of the worst possible predicaments inflicting his progeny, until visions of her screams were bouncing through his skull as easily as Bobbi's voice.

So he threw himself into his work. Felt nearly, for lack of a better word, inhuman as he scoured communications on how to find Kane.

Turned out, it wasn't that hard.

He found that the man had evacuated the museum they'd stormed on a large private jet. It had been cloaked, but careless piloting had the thing manifesting somewhere over West Virginia. Which would have been fine.

If Coulson hadn't sent a few of the gifteds they'd found to a safe house there.

Those people were still under his care. He had to send a team, and therefore, he had to speak with his own.

To all of them.

Morse and Hunter showed up first, followed by the slow trickle of remaining agents: Fitz, Simmons, May, Skye and Lincoln. Belatedly, even Mack showed up. He had been MIA for majority of the day, deciding to keep an eye on the gifteds still at the base in his care (as was his job) in order to make sure they gave Skye and Lincoln space for the day. But they should all have been present.

"What's the red flag, sir?" Mack asked, after a brief 'hello' to Skye and Lincoln. Unfortunately he hadn't been briefed on what they had been through yet, so his common nickname giving habit turned sour the moment he used 'Static' on Lincoln. No one really reacted, but the awkward silence and tension-filled air had been enough to tell the mechanic he'd said something wrong. Though he did get quite the glare from Skye, who…

Whoa, what had happened to her hair?

That was probably best left for later.

"The 'red flag' is Kane," Coulson explained as soon as he filed away the thought of Skye's new appearance.. "He's headed to Charleston."

"Oh no," Simmons breathed.

"The gifteds' safehouse," said Bobbi, calmly and presumptively. "I can take a team, sir. Hold him off."

"No," May growled. "I'll be leading this mission."

The ferocity of the woman sent a blip of fear up Phil. Surely being responsible for Skye and Lincoln's eight - month kidnapping would be enough… but the anger was clear as crystal on her face.

What if there was more to it?

"Fine," Bobbi said shortly. "But I'm coming."

"I think I should tag along as well," Simmons put in. "I dread to think if any of them got hurt…"

"And I can check on their chips' status," said Fitz.

"I'm coming too!" insisted Hunter. "You need more field agents, if you ask me."

Coulson huffed. Not from annoyance, but he was a little overwhelmed. And… ok, a little annoyed that his agents were assigned themselves roles without consulting him. But they were capable. "Fine. You're all cleared to go."

"Us too?"

It was a quiet voice, and not one Coulson had become accustomed to hearing from the girl since they'd gotten her back. Honestly, he was still shocked to hear her voice much at all.

Skye gripped Lincoln's hand tightly as they sat in the back of the room, clinging in close proximity as though praying for some harsh storm to pass overhead.

"No," Coulson said. "You're on leave. Recovery."

She shrugged, a coy and tired smile playing on her lips. "Sounds like you're making those up as you go along…"

"It's just not a good idea. You'd see that…"

"I just need to face him, Coulson," Skye pleaded. "I need to know… why he treated us like dogs. What made him think it was ok."

"And you'll get that when we apprehend him."

"I have earthquake powers!" she shrieked suddenly. "Lincoln is a walking thunderstorm! If you guys miss out on the chance to grab him, it could be because we weren't around to do something."

"You're not ready for field work Skye, that's final," he told her harshly.

Too harshly, much too roughly for what she'd been through. Her eyes lit fire for a moment before they dimmed, and she receded into herself once again.

"What about the debrief?" Lincoln chimed in. "We don't have much left, but it could help…"

"You can tell me-"

The words died in his throat.

Don't listen to the debrief anymore.

But if not Coulson, whom? Preferably May, or Simmons… they could explain it over comms. It wouldn't be as comfortable, but doable.

Or he could just let them go. It would make Skye happy.

It would make Skye happy, and in the end, that was what really decided it.

"Alright, you can take the Zephyr 1 with the team." Coulson stepped closer to Skye, who was currently trying to hide the smirk on her face. "But I want you to stay there. Don't go near Kane in the open, alright?"

She nodded, and strangely, it was a nearly grateful gesture from the add on of Coulson's sentence. "Alright."

"I mean it," Coulson said insistently, allowing himself (and hoping it was helping more than hurting) to place a hand on Skye's cheek. "We can't lose you again. Not so quickly. Not ever. Understand?"

She pursed her lips, trying to fend off tears. "I understand."

"Good." He placed the hand on her cheek to Skye's shoulder, giving it a firm pat. "Then let's get a move on."

At those words everyone stood and scurried out, working to get ready for the mission as quickly as possible.

Except Skye.

"Wow," she said, standing in the middle of the room all alone. Even Lincoln had left with the crowd. Everyone turned. "Not one mention of my hair? I nearly cut it all off!"

Each person turned to another sheepishly, clearly unknowing of how to react to Skye. Not willing to admit they hadn't wanted to set her off.

"It looks good, but I wouldn't say you cut it all off," said Simmons in attempt to fill the silence. "It's still passed your shoulders a tad."

"Yeah, and we thought maybe you just wanted a bit of change," said Fitz. "Like the fringe."

"Aha! I knew those were just some emo hair phase!" Hunter exclaimed. Coulson raised an eyebrow. "I mean, it's not like I knew Skye before she had the fringe but after that Hydra debacle… all you SHIELD people were very depressed looking. It made sense..."

Skye shrugged largely, calling attention to herself. "It's cool," she said in a small voice. "They were pretty much emo bangs Hunter, but I've gotten used to them now. Anyway I like my new hair, I just thought it was funny you guys didn't notice." She shook her head. "Sorry, ridiculous. Hair talk at a time like this. How about we get this asshole off the streets?"

Skye strutted out of the room as though she'd just stolen Coulson's job of 'in charge', appearing on top of the world. Coulson wasn't sure how much good haircuts could do, but her mood switches seemed rapid. Like mood swings.

Maybe Simmons would have some answers.

Author's Note: Ok, sorry guys! I've been on vacation and have had almost no time to write or proofread. I wanted to fix up this chapter a lot more as I am not a big fan of it, but I figured y'all have waited enough. Next chapter is muuuuch better IMO ;)