Written for: liz-a-bell. June 3rd, 2019 Natasha/Skye "I know it hurts, but I'm here."

Daisy tried to make herself coffee. 'Tried' was the keyword.

She was running on an hour of sleep and couldn't remember the last time she ate more than an energy bar. At least a day had passed, maybe two. Maybe more. All her time went to watching every news report from every country as the death toll climbed higher and higher. Her mind was sluggish, sending warnings to the rest of her body that she needed to eat something or drink something or just stop for a few minutes. Before she stopped for good.

But the names.

So many names. So many she knew and so many more she didn't. They kept her eyes open when she tried to close them. Made her retch when she tried to get a sip of water down.

One name had not yet shown up. If it did, Daisy didn't want to think about what she would do. Huge cracks in the walls deepened every time an old friend or colleague was confirmed dead (or maybe just 'gone' as it were). The building made strange noises as the foundation grew weaker. Sometimes, she thought about getting out before the whole place collapsed. All she had to do was put her laptop away and walk out the door. If she could just look away from the screen and the names for one second…

"Daisy."

The voice startled her. She sat up and looked around. It was dark out, pitch-black like midnight. Looking at the clock, it really was a quarter after twelve. Her stomach whined at her, begging for food it didn't really want. It would've made a great alarm clock, but the voice calling her name and the hands shaking her shoulders did the job just as well.

"Can you hear me?"

Soft eyes stared at her, framed by blonde hair which would never hold a candle to her natural red. Daisy had balked the first time she saw it, much to Natasha's bemusement. She may have been going incognito, but blonde just wasn't her color. She'd have been better off going with black.

"Nat…" she whispered. Her chapped lips cracked and she could taste blood on her tongue.

"Where is everyone?" Natasha gently pulled her to her feet, leading her to the bed. "Are they here?"

Daisy blinked. The clouds in her vision wouldn't go away. "They were."

Natasha's hands grew tight and cold. If she had more questions, she didn't ask them. She wouldn't have liked the answers anyway.

They sat on the bed, not moving or talking. Daisy held her hand, not caring how hard Natasha squeezed. If she asked her to stop, she might let go. Then she might disappear, too. Or maybe Daisy would. Her laptop was still running, adding more names. "What's happening?"

She stared at the doorway where Jemma had once stood, talking about mission details something or other, before her body faded into nothingness. Somewhere to the left was where Coulson had been. And Fitz. And May.

"I don't know," Natasha said. "But it's not good."

Daisy looked at her, and there were tears in her eyes. Months they had known each other. Years Daisy knew of her, of her reputation as inscrutable. A true ice queen who could kill with a glance. Who never showed fear or rage or pain.

And she was crying.

The dam burst. Daisy threw her arms around Natasha and let loose the last few days in a single wail. Natasha held her, pulling her close and peppering her hair with kisses. Some nights, when Daisy woke up screaming from a nightmare, this was the only thing that could calm her down.

Not this time. This time, there was no waking up.

"I know," Natasha said. "I know it hurts, but I'm here. I'm here."

"Don't leave," Daisy sobbed. New cracks formed in the flooring. "I can't… don't leave me."

"I won't."

"Please."

"I won't." Natasha dropped down on the bed, taking Daisy with her. "I promise, I'll never leave you again."