I am so so sorry! I know this chapter isn't long but I wanted to update something... I will update Battle Scars next but I have been so busy with Uni work and my job and it was my birthday Saturday so lifes been crazy. I was working about 30 hours a week when my contracted hours is 12 hours a week and I was so stressed! I have now said that I can't handle that much with Uni as well so from now on I am just working weekends this means I do have more time to write now so hopefully I will update more!
"You don't have to act like everything's okay" Phil consoled.
Skye scowled "I can handle it. I know I made a mistake, Ward was manipulating me and my mind was numb at the time, I was stupid and I deserve to be punished. But Lincoln… Ward has something on him I know it! That's why Lincolns been so hurt and distant lately, he felt guilty. I don't think he meant what he said. Ward obviously wrote the script and made him read it. I know what blackmails like and besides everyone at school already hates me so why does it matter?" Skye could hear her voice betraying that point as it shook with emotion.
"Skye, no one deserves this. The amount of videos and rumours which have circulated about you. Goddamn you don't deserve this!" Coulson smacked his fist against the table and Skye automatically flinched away, hands coming up to protect her face, frozen. "Skye, I am so sorry. I won't hurt you, ever. Please forgive me."
Skye slowly let her guard down seeming to breathe again "it's okay just a reaction, forget it" she mumbled.
"Skye" May leaned forward across the table but the girl didn't meet her eyes, "the people who are the most important to you will know that everything Ward said was a lie. But we weren't born yesterday. Despite you keeping out details about yesterday, we know what happened. Now, part of me blames Lincoln. He obviously caused you enough distress that you weren't thinking clearly but to endanger your life? What do you think that does to your father and I? If we lost you… Bobbi said any more could have killed you. Do you really want to do that to us, to yourself?"
Skye looked down and shook her head.
"Good. You're in serious trouble but I'm sure Hunter has explained that to you. He will come by later to let us know what's happening. Luckily, he's managed to deal with this all quickly and without you having to go anywhere. Until then you will stay here, no going out. I am going to call Lincoln's mom and explain what happened but right now, I don't want him anywhere near you. I trust you to make your own judgements when you go back to school and I expect he will be punished just like you are. Now about the video, there's not too much we can do but we will do what we can until then don't worry too much, your friends won't care, Okay?"
Skye nodded.
May sighed "We do have another question to ask you though. What happened at the Reynold's?"
"Nothing" Skye replied sharply, trying to keep a straight face.
Disappointment flickering in May's eyes "I want you to trust us but we know you are still keeping things from us. Today proves this! Andrew told us everything. If you felt so guilty about our mission and Natasha then you should've told us. If you wanted to see your mom so badly then we would have helped you in a second. If you still want that then we will stand by your side, Hunter will search for your sister if you asked. Skye, we want you to be happy."
"But I don't want to hurt you anymore than I already do" Skye whispered. "I'm damaged goods May, I can't seem to make the right choices and when I do, something bad happens. What if I end up crazy like Cal? I'm a ticking time bomb."
"No your not. Your are your own person Skye, our daughter and all we want us for you to be happy." May replied.
Coulson cleared his throat "Now I think we've talked enough, you need to understand how serious this is though Skye. You could go to jail."
"Good" Skye replied, standing up quickly.
"Where do you think your going?" Phil asked.
Skye shrugged "out."
"Didn't you just hear the part of your grounded?" May countered.
Skye carried on walking towards the door "didn't you hear the part where I'm basically off my rocker?" Skye sighed, "Mom, dad I need to have closure. I need to do something to make sure that I do. Otherwise…"
"Otherwise?" Coulson asked standing up as well.
But Skye shook her head "You can lock me in my bedroom if you want but I'll still get out. If I wait for Hunter then I may never have this opportunity again." Without another word Skye grabbed her bag and rushed out the door.
"Do you have the list with you?" Ruby asked.
They had met at the park near Skye's house per Skye's request, and were now heading towards the bus stop. "Yeah, thanks for meeting with me" Skye replied.
"Anything. I owe you" Ruby replied.
"Owed" Skye corrected. The pair climbed onto the bus and took a seat at the back handing the list of names and addresses over to Ruby.
Ruby glanced over them before handing them back "that's quite a list".
"I've lived quite a life" Skye replied.
"What are we going to do exactly? Take a trip down memory lane?"
Skye snatched the list back, rolling her eyes "I have a few things to put right. I don't know what else I can do…"
Ruby sighed and bumped Skye's shoulder sympathetically "no one else understands and that's okay. Us care kids stick together. You might not want to keep being stupid though."
"What?"
"I have my contacts. What you've got going on with your fosters or 'parents' now is something any kid like us would dream of and you're throwing it away"
Skye glared at Ruby "I've done nothing but try to fit in! The others at school want me to suffer, Lincoln is blaming stuff on me. He's basically jumped sides without talking to me. Jemma and Fitz were friends before they let me join them and they've always had something I could never be a part of. My parents are great but they've known me for a couple of months. A couple of months which have drained me. I overthink everything. If I'm being good enough, if they will keep me. Yet I still end up screwing things up, there's something broken inside me and that's why I need to fix it."
"Wake up Skye, everyone's broken! Even your precious May is, you should hear the stories, the things she's done. Your not the only one in that house trying to fix themselves" Ruby replied.
Memories of May's heartbroken eye's over the last week flashed through her mind. The nights where she would wake up before May and see her tossing and turning in her sleep. Guilt wracked through her, she had been selfish. All the time she was trying to stop her own suffering when May was hurting just as much.
When the bus eventually stopped the pair climbed out Skye leading the way. The wind was cold, nipping at the teens ears whilst they walked briskly down the street. The area was quiet, empty as the long winding streets branched off in different directions, tall houses on either side. As the pair walked the houses seemed to space out more until they came across what they were looking for.
"St Agnes" Skye muttered. The last place she saw Natasha happy as she came bounding home from her ballet class. Skye shuddered the memory aside.
"Wow it looks like a creepy mental asylum" Ruby noted "do you want to go inside?"
Skye nibbled on her lip, there was a few things she wanted but did she care that much to go and retrieve them? No, care was the wrong word. Of course she cared, but did she really want to go back inside that hell?
"Wait here, I'll go in through the back" Skye said. Quickly, the girl ran around the side of the building jumping over the back wall nimbly. The garden looked as dull as ever, stray toys scattered about which were all old and used. Memories of Natasha playing by the big Oak tree filled her mind.
"Skye! Watch me climb the tree!" Natasha giggled as her tiny hands gripped the rough bark.
"Be careful!" Skye called back positioning herself under the tree just in case.
The only reply from Natasha was another giggle as the girl pulled herself higher and higher. Eventually she stopped to rest on a branch, swinging her legs over the side and stretching out her sore arms.
"Don't let go!" Skye reminded her but it was too late. Natasha's stretch turned into a wobble and Skye's heart stopped when a flash of red hair began falling from the branch. Without thinking she moved into action, arms braced and the next thing she knew she was on the floor.
"Mary, Natasha!" The nun rushed over pulling Natasha up from the ground.
Skye groaned and turned onto her back, Natasha's face peering worriedly down into her own. "Are you okay?" Skye winced.
Natasha nodded "you saved me!"
Skye shook her head, "you landed perfectly I just helped… a little."
Skye shook her head, smiling at the memory. She had actually broken her finger trying to catch Natasha but it was worth it.
The teen quickly pushed open the heavy wooden doors, relieved that the kids were all at school. She rushed across the entryway trying to be as quite as possible and crept into the basement. Skye felt her heart rate pick up as she descended the old wooden staircase. Several times one of the older kids had pushed and locked her down here after telling her ghost stories but it wasn't just the ghosts she was scared of. Sometimes she had been left in the dark all day. With other kids telling the nuns she had run away and police out searching no one thought to have searched under their own noses.
Skye shuddered as she ran her fingers along the dusty filing cabinets. Her written file used to be down here until she snuck in and hid it. But Natasha's file would still be here and with any luck some of her belongings too. After searching through the most recent dated drawers she finally found the one she was looking for. The file, light brown had Natasha's name on the side and Skye yearned to open it. They would have put her drawings inside and perhaps some photos… before she could give in she stuffed the file gently into her bag. She couldn't look at it here, she needed to be someplace quiet. Quickly she ran back up the stairs and opened the door, however in her haste she forgot to check the coast was clear. As she stepped out she came face to face with Sister Jones…