But it Feels Like You Mean Goodbye

The light tap on the door shattered the uncomfortable silence in the laboratory waiting room. The occupants looked up from their various perches as the door opened. "Doc says fifteen minutes. Do what you have to…" A young man poked only his head in, relayed the message then disappeared.

Daisy drew a deep breath and rubbed her hands on her lap a few times before standing. Both sets of parents stood at the same time. Skye curled into William who remained seated.

"I guess this is it." Coulson grinned as he put out a hand to Phil.

Phil started to reach with his own then stopped, stared at it for a beat before pursing his lips and shaking his head.

"Yeah," Coulson mirrored the same expression as he withdrew his own hand and brushed it against his pant leg. "Probably not the best idea."

Phil gave a weak smile and a soft nod.

"I guess it's a little weird…but…" Coulson hesitated.

"Weird, yeah," Phil chuckled, "has been for a while now."

Coulson gave a quiet snort. "Yeah, kinda never really get used to it." He shook his head. "I just wanted to thank you for letting me…"

Phil raised his brows.

Coulson stepped closer and lowered his voice. "For letting me see what it could have been…for giving me…us that time…" He closed his eyes and let out a long breath. "This is definitely not coming out like I planned."

Phil drew a breath and gave a nod. "I get it. Hell, we've been sharing the same…same everything for what the last ten years."

"It's been a little different on our side, but yeah that's about right." Coulson nodded. He looked across the room at the little girl cuddled against her grandfather's side. "You're a lucky man." He jutted his chin toward Skye, then glanced to Melinda.

Phil followed his gaze and nodded. "You didn't do too bad yourself."

"Could have done better by both of them," Coulson referred to May and Daisy.

Phil shook his head. "You've done your best and no one knows how much they mean to you more then me…you." He stopped and both men chuckled. "Weird…yep, just weird."

For a moment they fell silent. "She'll be okay." Phil assured his counterpart softly. He nodded toward Daisy. "William's got a lot of faith in Liu. I don't think he'd try this if he wasn't sure it would work."

Coulson pursed his lips and nodded slowly.

xx

William wrapped his arm around Skye, pulling her into a one armed hug. "I think your friend would like to speak to you." He tilted his head toward Daisy who had been sneaking glances toward the girl for the last few minutes.

Skye turned her face into her grandfather's chest. "I don't wanna talk to her."

"Skye, I think it is important." William spoke to the top of the little girl's head. She shook it rapidly and pressed closer to him. "There are many times in our lives, Skye, when it is better to do the things that make us uncomfortable."

"It makes me sad, not uncomfterbul." Skye mumbled into William's jacket.

"Sadness is difficult, sunnu, but regret is not such a good thing to carry." William bent low and spoke close to the little girl's ear.

Skye shook her head again. "I don't wanna, Yeye. I can't. Please don't make me." She was close to tears.

William wrapped both arms around the child and hugger her tightly. He shushed her softly and smiled at the girl across the room.

xx

May stood at the window facing the room she had recently exited. She debated knocking Daisy unconscious and shoving in that damn thing then slamming her hand on the 'to go' button. Problem was she wasn't sure which button to slam and slamming the wrong one could be disastrous.

Melinda moved next to her and faced the same scene. "You're not so sure about this." She stated rather than asked. May didn't reply. She didn't have to.

"I'm damned either way." May exhaled. "I lose her no matter what."

Melinda sighed. "It is a risk…"

"And we all have to take it." May finished with the same sigh as she turned and walked away.

"I don't think I could do it if I were in your place." Melinda stared at the equipment in the laboratory

"I lost her once. I don't think I can handle it again." May whispered

"Lost?" Melinda wondered. She turned from the window and stepped next to May.

May pursed her lips and shook her head. "It's a story for another time."

Melinda understood. She looked at Daisy, struggling to hold her own emotions from overflowing. "She is a beautiful girl, a bit headstrong, but…beautiful."

May laughed silently. "A stubborn jackass is more like it." She paused for a moment. "But she comes by it honestly.

Melinda matched that laugh. "Skye's changed quite a bit these last few weeks. That attitude," she let out a low whistle.

"Are you…" May turned defensive.

Melinda held up a hand and smiled. "I am not saying Daisy's responsible but together they've made life…"

"A rollercoaster…a battle…one surprise after another." May finished. "That's Daisy. She does mastermind some wild plans."

"Mastermind, is that what you call it?" Melinda snickered.

May returned a curt nod. "There've been a few times in the last few months that I truly envied you having the little girl version of her."

"Oh, that little girl has pushed me to the edge on more than one occasion," Melinda nodded.

"I'm sure you got to the bottom of it." May chuckled.

Melinda mirrored the laughter. "That little bottom had a rosy blush quite a few times."

"Any chance that little bottom might have belonged to my kid?" May raised a brow.

Melinda looked up for a moment in thought. "I am pretty sure that happened once or twice."

"I'm sure she deserved it." May snorted.

"Absolutely…" Melinda agreed.

May thought for a moment and watched William console the little girl. She recalled holding her infant, her first steps and the day she started school. She smiled at all the experiences she had shared with this little imp and all she would now miss. "I envy you the next few years." She admitted poignantly.

"Puberty?" Melinda gasped. "You are a glutton for punishment."

"Maybe," May shook her head and stared at Skye tucked into her grandfather's side. "But, I've missed a lot and…" She stopped knowing she was getting too close to her emotions. Emotions she kept in check at all times. Looking to Daisy she almost begged. "Don't let her follow you into this life."

"I can't stand in her way." Melinda smiled at her little girl then looked to Daisy standing a few feet away. "It doesn't look like you did."

"She's the best agent I've ever trained." May swelled with pride. "And that terrifies me."

"She's the best of both of you." Melinda smiled.

"And the worst," May sniggered sadly.

"Probably could say the same about you and I." Melinda nodded toward her father. "Baba tells me I am so like mom and she accuses me of being too much like him."

"Huh," May laughed. "I've heard that enough."

"I don't know what's going to happen or how here is different from there but if my Skye grows to be anything like your Daisy, I will be a very proud momma." Melinda grinned.

"I'm gonna miss that little girl." May admitted. "You make sure she tows the line."

"Oh, that I will Agent May." Melinda agreed, then continued. "And May…" May lifted her head, listening. "You love that one," she nodded toward Daisy, "for both of us."

xx

"Skye," Daisy spoke the name softly as she stood in front of William. The little girl shook her head. Daisy squatted down and took the little girl's hand. "Come on kid, we really have to talk." She tugged her gently.

"It is time, Skye." William spoke silently as he urged her forward.

Skye did not resist. She gripped Daisy's hand tightly and followed her across the room. Daisy sat on a small couch and motioned for the little girl to sit as well. Skye hesitated but sat without making eye contact. For a moment both stared straight ahead.

"I'm just gonna pretend it's like always." Skye pouted, folding her arms over her chest.

Daisy laughed a small laugh. "Then I guess you'll be mad at me a lot." She shrugged.

Skye gave a sideways glance then relaxed. "I won't be mad." She mumbled. "Just waiting."

"Skye…" Daisy started.

"No!" the little girl shouted as she turned toward her. "I don't want you to go away. I need you. You need me. We're us, member?" Skye's eyes filled with tears.

Daisy brushed away her own tears. "We'll always be us, kid. Together, united like dynamite." Daisy offered a brave smile.

Skye shook her head. "We won't be together. You'll go away and I won't see you anymore, not ever."

Daisy drew a breath to hold her emotions. "You'll see me every day, kid. Every time you look in the mirror, I'll look back. And one day, poof, it'll be this face looking right at you." Daisy crossed her eyes and wagged her tongue causing the little girl to giggle shortly.

Skye sniffled and looked down at her fingers. "But, you won't see me…" she spoke in a small, shaky voice.

"I've always seen you, Skye. You're me, remember. And you gave me great memories with your mom and dad and all the things we did. You let me share all of that. You're part of that." She leaned over closer to the little girl and spoke softly. "And you know that little voice you get in your head that tells you things or answers when you talk to yourself?" She waited for Skye to give a little nod. "It's always going to be your voice."

Skye looked up as if to question, really?

Daisy crossed her hand over her heart. "Really, kid. When I'm wondering about anything, anything at all, it will be you talking right here." She tapped her temple. "And sometimes I'll laugh and other times I'll say 'you weirdo' just like I do now. I'll have you just like you'll have me."

Skye looked into Daisy's eyes for the first time and squeezed the tears out of her own. They rolled over her cheeks as she let her head drop against Daisy's shoulder. "You never taught me to hack and you promised."

Daisy chuckled. "You're a smart kid. You're gonna figure it out and you'll be the best."

"When I grow up I wanna be just like Fitz and invent a machine to find you." Now the tears fell freely. "I'll fix everything so it won't snow and the world won't shake apart and you won't have to hide in that broken place. I'll fix everything, Daisy. I'll find you again."

Daisy wrapped her arms around the little girl. "You're gonna be great, kid. You'll change the world."

Skye sat back and ran her sleeve under her nose with a grand sniffle. "Maybe I'll go to you being a little kid and I'll be big and rescue you. I'll take you to your mom and dad and tell them the truth and they'll love you forever and ever. You won't have to be all by yourself. I'll take care of you."

Daisy hugged the little girl tighter.

"I always knew Daisy, but you didn't want me to so I made it a secret. I'm sorry you didn't have mommy and daddy. I'm sorry you were in that place without them."

"Hey," Daisy shushed her. She thought for a moment then smiled. "You know not to long ago Coul…my dad told me that you're always exactly where you're supposed to be and that things happen the way they do for a reason. Only sometimes we don't know what that reason is for a while. Sometimes it takes time for us to figure it out. She drew a shaky breath and brushed away her own tears. "Maybe things are the way they're supposed to be. Maybe we're right where we're supposed to be and all this was supposed to happen like this, just so we could have this time."

"But I always had you, Daisy, my whole life." Skye stuttered. "What am I gonna do?"

Daisy smiled through her tears. "You are going to go back to school and have a great time with your friends and grow up and do fantastic stuff."

Skye sniffed deeply. "And learn howda hack, just like you."

"And that," Daisy grinned.

"But who's gonna help me?" Skye sighed.

Daisy pointed across the room at Phil and Melinda. "They are. They'll be there for you just like always and they will love you more than anything and you'll love them back. Just like it's supposed to be. Just like you'll do it for me, just like it was me doing it for you."

"Cuz I am you." Skye swallowed.

"And I'm you." Daisy smiled as their foreheads touched.

Skye wrapped her arms around the older girl and squeezed tightly. "I love you, Daisy. I'll never forget you."

Daisy squeezed back. "You have to make me one promise." Skye looked up. Her eyes agreed. "Please stay out of trouble and don't go hacking stuff you need to keep your nose out of," she tapped the tip of the little girl's nose causing her to blink. "Because I'm not sure how this whole thing is gonna work and if I just might, maybe can still feel your feels…well, your mom really drives home her opinion on adjusting attitude." She grit her teeth and turned down her mouth causing Skye to giggle into a tighter hug.

The tap at the door stopped everyone. Once again the young man poked his head inside.

"Dr. Liu is ready for you."

xx

It took only a few minutes for the doctor to prepare Coulson and May for their 'journey'. He explained they would feel very little but since he had never experienced the event, he could not say much more. There were no measures for their vitals, no leads or monitors, only the copper tubes that now somehow reminded Coulson of those Iron Maiden torture devices of the Middle Ages. He shuddered at the thought.

The doctor had rushed all of the interns and lab assistants out of the room claiming it had to be done by one and only one. They had jobs to do outside. He moved from place to place checking switches and plugs, flipping levers and pressing buttons while the hum in the room increased and a myriad of tiny lights illuminated around the tubes. They resembled some weird deco Christmas decorations. He ran the lines from the back of the helmet into an outlet on one wall then checked and rechecked the lines from that to the back of the large switchboard on the main table. Daisy figured that was what drove the entire shebang.

The girl watched her parents prepare, neither seemed really ready for whatever was about to happen. She slowly approached her S.O. "May," Daisy spoke softly as she stood behind her mother.

May was still angry. She roughly shoved her hands into the gloves that damn doctor insisted they wear. She let out a hiss but did not turn.

"I…I just wanted to say that…well…I…" she stumbled over the words. "I'm really sorry for all of this. I was really selfish and stupid and I never…"

"Stop," May ordered, still tugging at the tight fitting gloves. She turned slowly and glared at the girl who shuffled nervously foot to foot. She looked so much like the kid Coulson pulled out of that smelly van how many years ago. The woman swallowed some of her anger. "Never what? Never should have come up with this asinine idea? Never should have brought us here?" She barked and Daisy jumped. "Never should have let me have my beautiful baby, felt her breath, held her in my arms…" May's voice grew soft. Daisy tried to speak but May held up a hand. "You gave that back, Daisy."

Daisy shook her head. "But look at all the trouble I caused for you…for them," she brushed a hand toward the large window above them. "And for the team…we don't even know if they're safe. It's all because of me wanting something I shouldn't have. I don't even deserve a pretend…"

"What makes you think you don't deserve to have people love you and keep you safe?" May growled. "You deserve this as much as anyone else."

"As much as you?" Daisy looked up over her brow with a small smile. "Don't you deserve some of this life?"

May stopped. She stepped toward the girl and shook her head then looked at Coulson. "Look, Daisy, we made a lot of mistakes long before you…" She stopped and drew a breath. "Those mistakes…they…"

"No, May, everything happened because it just happened. Everything got ripped apart and thrown all over and somehow we got it right. It never should have happened and we…I never should have done this." Daisy sighed

"But we did," Coulson interjected as he joined them. "We had all that time we missed and like Fitz said, we lived it just like we lived our lives. We'll remember it the same way. I guess we just choose which memories we want to keep." He put an arm around May's shoulders. "I know which ones I'll keep." She shoved him just enough to knock him to the side, but not to let go.

"And yeah, you did cause some trouble," May smiled. "But you didn't get away with it. I'm pretty sure you paid the price."

Daisy blushed a bit and shook her head. "That's nothing compared to this." She spread out her arms and glanced around the room. "The base falling down around the team and taking this giant risk is a lot worse than a smarting backside."

May elbowed Coulson's ribs. "You think they saved my Wakatta?" He chuckled at the look on Daisy's face.

Daisy looked down at her feet and drew a breath then let it out slowly. "Seriously, guys…" she looked up at them. "If this doesn't work…"

"Not an option," Coulson shook his head.

"No, really," Daisy continued. "If we have to deal with that three percent…I…I just want you to know that even if Simmons didn't find that DNA stuff, I'd still think you were the greatest. I'd still…you…I," she pulled a breath in through 'O' shaped lips and shook her hands at her sides. "I always wished you were my parents…I always loved you like that. I knew I shouldn't but…I just did." She finished in a rush of words.

Coulson pulled her into a hug. "Love you too, kiddo and yeah, we wished too."

May stepped into the hug. "We both love you." She whispered.

"We must hurry," Dr. Liu warned as he pushed Coulson and May toward the tubes.

They reluctantly released their daughter and stepped inside. Daisy brushed away tears and forced a hopeful smile. Coulson gave a thumb's up with his thin lipped grin and May grabbed the door before the doctor could fully close it. She forced one foot out and glared at the girl.

"I don't see your smiling face ten seconds after we land, I will find a way back here and kick your ass across the universe." She narrowed her eyes and gave a short nod before falling back into the tube.

Daisy laughed a sob then quickly pulled it back and wrapped her arms around herself. She struggled to hold back tears.

Dr. Liu pushed the door closed and snapped all of the latches then checked the same on Coulson's tube. He turned to Daisy and nodded a few times. She stepped to the wooden chair he'd set for her and pulled the helmet on her head. The doctor flipped a large lever and the hum in the room rose to a deafening roar.

The tubes vibrated for a moment then shook violently before glowing bright red as if heated to melting point. A blue haze formed over the same as they lifted a foot from the floor and a shattering boom rocked everything. The tubes slammed down with enough force to snap the latches as well as hinges. Both doors fell forward and clanged to the floor revealing the dark inside…covered in ash and spilling gray smoke. An acrid odor filled the room.

"Nooooo!" Daisy screamed a moment before the dark shield of the helmet fell over her face and the room rocked once again.