Chapter 6
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Before either Fitz or Simmons can react Skye has opened her door and has run out. Seconds after she does Simmons does the same and Fitz follows them both not long after.
When Skye reaches Coulson she finds him unconscious with what looks like a bit of rock that has acted like shrapnel sticking out of the side of his stomach, a cut to the back of his head and several little scraps all over him.
"No, come on, wake up." Skye tells him tears coming to her eyes "Come on wake up, please." Skye says shaking his shoulders.
"Skye move." Simmons voice tells her "Let me look at him." She requests kneeling on the opposite side of him but as Skye is covering his body with hers she can't look at his injuries. "Skye, I can't help him if I can't look at his injuries." Jemma tells her.
"Skye, just stand back a little, let Jemma do her thing." Fitz says kneeling next to Skye, putting his arms around her and pulling her up so that Jemma can have a look.
"I just… I can't." Skye says not being able to get many words out between her tears.
"I know." Fitz tells her just holding, knowing that it is up to Jemma, that there is nothing he can do.
"Skye, give me your shirt." Simmons tells Skye as like she tends to do Skye is wearing a flannel shirt over a tank top and she needs the flannel shirt to slow the bleeding until she can get Coulson back to the plane.
"What?" Skye asks confused.
"I need your shirt to slow the bleeding, quickly." Simmons instructs.
"Right." Skye says removing her top and handing it to Simmons, it vaguely registers with her that there is someone talking in her ear and that Fitz is talking to someone but she can't make out a single word that is being said, all she can do is stare at Coulson. "How bad is it?" She asks Simmons.
"We need to get him back to the bus as quickly as possible, I can't do much for him now but I can there." Simmons says to Skye. "The three of us need to carry him to the car." Simmons tells Skye. "May and Ward are closer to the bus than here, it would take them to long to get here. We've got to get there." She explains.
"Okay, what do we do?" Skye asks, pulling herself together as she realises now isn't the time to fall apart, Coulson, her father who she hasn't even had a chance to get to know yet, needs her to be strong.
"You carry him by his shoulders, Fitz you take his legs, while I continue to hold pressure." Simmons explains "It's very important that we work as a team." Simmons says.
"Okay, on the count of three we stand." Simmons says once Skye is at Coulson's head and Fitz is at his feet. "1, 2, 3," Simmons says and in perfect unison the three lift Coulson.
Together Skye and Fitz manage to carry Coulson to the Car, Simmons holding pressure as they do.
"What do we do now?' Skye asks when they get to the car.
"We've got to put him in the boot." Simons explains "He can be laid down there." Simmons explains "This has to be done very quickly and carefully. I am going to let go of the pressure for a few seconds so that I can open the boot and climb in the back. As soon as I'm in Skye I will help you to get him into the boot and once he is in Fitz you've got to shut the boot and drive us out of here." Simmons says and both Fitz and Skye nod in response "Okay, now." Simmons says and quickly without incident the three manage to do exactly what Simmons instructed them to do.
"How bad is it?" Skye asks sitting next to Coulson holding his hand as Simmons continues to hold pressure.
"Thankfully the piece of rock seems to be doing a good job at restricting blood loss but it will eventually have to be removed and there is no way to know just how much damage has been done until I can have an actual look." Simmons explains.
"Why isn't he awake?" Skye asks looking at her father's face concerned.
"He knocked his head when he fell due to the force of the blast." Simmons explains "Which under the circumstances is completely normal. I will check the wound when we are back at the plane just to make sure but I don't think it is anything to worry about." Simmons assures her.
"Jemma, is he going to be okay?" Skye asks looking away from her father to look at her friend, the person she has begun to see as a sister, directly.
"His recovery is dependent on a lot of factors…" Simmons begins to say but Skye cuts her off. "Please Jemma don't talk Science to me, just tell me, will he be okay?" Skye repeats.
"I don't know until I discover how much damage has been done." Simmons answers. "But I know we need to get him back to the plane." Simmons admits, "I will do everything I can Skye, I promise you that."
"Fitz can you make this thing go any faster?" Skye asks.
"I'm going as fast as I can." Fitz tells her "We are almost back at the plane." He adds.
"Hold on please, just for me, hold on, please don't die." Skye whispers into Coulson's ear.
"We're back." Fitz says and just a as he does the boot opens and May and Ward are standing there both looking extremely worried "You two grab his head, May and I will grab his legs." Ward instructs.
"I'm going to need some help getting that rock out and repairing the damage." Simmons says as she, May, Ward and Skye get Coulson out of the car.
"I'll help." Ward says "I have experience patching up shrapnel wounds." He reveals.
"I want to stay with him." Skye tells Simmons and Ward.
"I'm sorry Skye, but you can't." Simmons tells her friend "Not while we operate." Skye says as they enter the lab and place Coulson down on the table.
"But.." Skye begins to say but she is cut off by May walking over to her and putting her arm around her shoulder "Skye, we've got to let Ward and Simmons help him, they can't do that with us in here with them." May tells her daughter. "Come on." May says slowly leading Skye out of the lab to behind the glass door where Fitz is already standing, Skye not looking away from Coulson once as she does.
Once they are outside the lab without a single word Skye turns into the mother's chest and once more begins to cry. May doesn't say anything because she doesn't know what to say, she can't tell Skye that Coulson will be okay because she doesn't know that, not having any words that will comfort Skye May just puts both her arms around her and holds her close, fighting not to let her own tears fall as she looks and sees Coulson being operated on by Simmons and Ward.
For over an hour Simmons and Ward work on Coulson to repair the damage that the rock did "What is it?" Ward asks concerned as he notices that look Simmons has on her face as she starts to stich the skin.
"I've fixed the damage that the rock did and he's stable but unless he gets a blood donation and very soon he won't stay that way for very long. He's lost a lot of blood and I don't know his blood type." Simmons explains.
"May will know, right?" Ward asks "They were married, and they have worked together for a very long time, she is bound to know, right?" He realises. "And Skye, she's his daughter, isn't it likely that she will have the same blood type as him?" He asks.
"It's possible." Simmons tells him "I need you to go find out. We need to get blood into him as soon as possible."
Ward nods, and removes his gloves, mask and washes his hand before going out into the cargo bay where Skye, May and Fitz are eagerly waiting news.
"Is he okay?" Skye asks as soon as she sees Ward.
"Simmons says he's stable, but he won't stay that way if he doesn't get some blood. She doesn't know his blood type, do you?" Ward asks May, who is standing right next to Skye.
"A positive" May answers.
"Is anyone here A positive?" Ward asks as he knows that he isn't, Fitz and May both shake their heads no as Skye says "I don't know."
"You are." May tells her.
"Okay then what do I do?" Skye asks, not even having to think about it.
"Come with me, I'll do it." May says leading Skye into the lab.
"Are one of you the same blood type as Agent Coulson?" Simmons asks as May and Skye walk in and she finishes placing the dressing over Coulson's wound.
"Skye is." May answers "How is he?" May asks as Skye just stares at Coulson.
"He's stable, we were able to repair the damage that was done very simply but he has lost quite a lot of blood which is why he needs the transfusion." Simmons explains.
"And the head wound?" May asks.
"Superficial." Simmons answers. "He's also got a few cuts a bruises all of which are very minor and don't require further treatment." She adds.
May nods and sits Sky down in a chair close to Coulson as Simmons walks over to the mother and daughter with a blood drawing kit "I'll do it." May says taking the kit off the scientist who nods in response and grabs another kit to connect to Coulson so that he can receive the blood that Skye is giving him.
"Have you done this before?" Skye asks May curious.
"Multiple times." May answers. "Have you ever had blood taken before?" she asks.
"No." Skye answers and it is clear that she is nervous.
"Well it's quite simple. All I do is tie this around the top of your arm." May explains picking up the tourniquet "It makes the veins in your arms stick out and when I find one I stick the needle into it. It's as simple as that."
"Does it hurt?" Skye asks.
"Only for a few seconds." May answers as she ties the tourniquet around the top of Skye's arm. "There, that's what I'm looking for." Melinda says pointing to the vain that is clearly visible in Skye's arm while she prepares the needle.
"Skye look at me don't look at your arm." May says as it becomes very clear that Skye is scared of the needle. Skye does what her mother said but she still looks scared "Lean forward." She instructs as she wants to tell Skye something that may help her but she doesn't think it would be the best idea for Ward and Simmons to hear. "Your Dad isn't the biggest fan of needle's either." May tells her daughter, only loud enough so that she can hear.
"Really?" Skye asks amused.
"Really." May confirms as she sticks the needle into Skye's arm. Skye being so amused by what May told her that she barely feels it.
"See that wasn't so bad." May says sticking down the needle and connecting the tubing up together.
"Guess not." Skye admits.
"Now don't move your arm until you're disconnected." May instructs and Skye nods.
"When will he wake up?" Skye asks Simmons.
"He is still currently under sedation and that could take anywhere between six hours and twenty four to where off." Simmons answers.
"And if he doesn't? What does that mean?" Skye asks concerned.
"If he doesn't wake then we will deal with that if and when it becomes an issue." Simmons informs Skye.
"Um, Agent May, Director Fury's on the line. He wants to know what is going on." Fitz says walking into the lab.
"I can talk to him if you want." Ward offers.
"No, I'll do it." May tells him "I'll be back as soon as I can." May tells Skye.
"Make sure she doesn't give him too much." Mays says quietly to Simmons before leaving.
"Agent May, what is going on. Where is Coulson?" Director Fury asks as soon as May walks into the command centre and he sees May though the video feed.
"There was an explosion at the 0-8-4 location Sir, Agent Coulson has been wounded." May informs her boss.
"How badly?"
"A piece of rock was lodged into the side of his stomach and he received a superficial wound to his head, along with some cuts and bruises." May explains "Simmons with the assistance of Agent Ward removed the rock and repaired the damage. According to Simmons he is stable and is likely to wake within the next twenty four hours."
"Where any of your other people hurt?" Fury asks.
"No Sir."
"Status of the 0-8-4?" Fury asks.
"Unclear." Melinda answers "The explosion occurred just as Agent Coulson was making contact with the Israelis."
"I want the status of the 0-8-4 to be established and updates every three hours. Once it is determined whether the 0-8-4 was destroyed, and contained if it wasn't you and your team are to head to the S.H.I.E.L.D base in England." Fury orders.
"Yes Sir." May tells him as Fury ends the video conference.
Exiting the Command Centre May sees Ward walking towards her "What are our orders?" He asks curious.
"Determine the status of the 0-8-4 and once that is done go to the S.H.E.L.D base in England." May explains.
"FitzSimmons and I can do that while you and Skye stay with Coulson." Ward offers knowing that it would be best for everyone if it is done like that.
Melinda nods "Contact the Israeli government before you do anything. Find out if they have classified the location as safe, don't do anything until they have." May instructs Ward who nods as they walk down the stairs into the lower level.
As they enter the lab once more May's eyes are drawn to her daughter. She is no longer connected to tubes giving Coulson blood but she does have an untouched glass of orange juice next to her.
When they see her enter FitzSimmons walk right over to May both of them looking concerned.
"What's wrong?" She asks the pair.
"It's Skye." Simmons answers "She hasn't said anything since you left and she hasn't had a drink of the orange juice, she didn't even react when I told her she needs to drink it." Simmons explains.
"All she has been doing is staring at Agent Coulson." Fitz adds.
"Give us the room." May requests looking at her daughter.
"Of course." Simmons says "I can monitor Agent Coulson on this." Simmons says referring to her tablet.
"Is there any change?" May asks making it clear that she is referring to Coulson and not Skye.
"He is doing a little better after the transfusion but there is no other change." Simmons says and May nods. "Agent Ward will fill you in our latest orders." May tells FitzSimmons as she pulls a chair over so that she is sitting next to Skye.
"Simmons said that he is doing better, the blood you gave him is helping." Melinda tells her daughter a couple of minutes after she sits down, May gives Skye a couple of minutes to respond but when she doesn't she tries something else "It's really important that you drink the orange juice Skye, you need to get your blood sugar up again." May tells her.
Skye doesn't respond to what May said but after a couple of minutes she does says "I've just found you guys, I don't want to lose you now." Skye admits quietly "He's already died once, what if he doesn't come back next time?" Skye asks her mother, her voice barely above a whisper.
"I worry about that every day." May tells her daughter admitting something that she barely admits to herself, something she would never admit to Coulson.
"You do?" Skye asks surprised then realises something "Oh god. After the Battle of New York were you told that he was dead?" She asks not being able to imagine what Melinda went through if she was told that.
"There were rumours around S.H.I.E.L.D about an Agent who died before the battle, an Agent who knew the Avengers and whose death brought them together." May explains "I knew it was Phil, but at the same time I refused to believe it." Melinda explains.
"So you didn't know what happened at all? No one told you?" Skye asks surprised as she would have thought that someone would have thought to tell Coulson's ex-wife what happened to him.
"A few days later Director Fury came to see me." May explains as she does she realise that he must have waiting until he had brought Phil back to life or was in the process of doing it when he came to see her "He told me that Phil was badly hurt in the battle and that his heart stopped beating for a few seconds. He said that he was revived but the Avengers weren't told that and no one below level seven were going to be. I asked if I could see him and Director Fury told me that he had been sent to Tahiti and that it was his physician's recommendation that he not be contacted until he was doing better." Melinda explains.
"When did you finally get to see him?" Skye asks curious.
"The night before he started back at work." May answers "Not long before we came to LA."
Skye doesn't say anything else, but to Melinda's relief she does pick up the glass of Orange juice and have a drink.
While Melinda and Skye are down in the Lab, FitzSimmons and Ward are up in the common area. Even though they are meant to be talking about the job they are actually taking about the newly discovered family down in the lab.
"Do you think Skye's going to be okay?" Fitz asks the others.
"Skye's tough, she'll be okay." Ward tells him.
"She won't be until Coulson's is." Simmons informs Ward, positive about that after the talks she has had with Sky during the last couple of days "She just found out that he is her father, she having enough of a hard time dealing with that, but now, adding the fact that he is hurt and almost died isn't going to make dealing with everything any easier." Simmons explains concerned about her friend and worried about the possibility that Skye could have another panic attack at some point, but one worse than the ones that she has had.
"What about Agent May?" Fitz says causing both Simmons and Ward to look at him "She looked scared when she saw Coulson, I don't think I've ever seen Agent May look scared. No matter what may have happened between them in their past I think there is still something there." Fitz says.
Ward can't help but agree with Fitz words. He was with May when the explosion occurred and when they were both told by Fitz through the coms that Coulson was hurt, he saw May's reaction with his own eyes.
"We should do something to help them." Fitz says tearing Ward away from his thoughts.
"The best thing we can do to help them is do our jobs." Ward tells the two scientists "Coulson's down, Skye's down and Agent May has more than enough to deal with. They need us to step up." Ward tells the pair "Director Fury wants the status of the 0-8-4 determined so that's what we can do to help." He tells them. Even though he understands the sentiment behind wanting to help he also knows that for now at least there isn't much they can do. "That's what they need to us to do." He adds and both Fitz and Simmons nod.
Ever since the conversation about how May found out about Coulson's death in the Battle of New York both Skye and May have been silent. The only sounds that are heard is that of the machines' monitoring Coulson and that of their breathing.
Every half an hour Simmons checks on Coulson and gives Skye and Melinda the same report, that he is stable. Simmons reports and Ward coming in to inform them that Director Fury or Agent Hill have called for an update, and him giving his own, are the only times that there is any talking as neither Melinda nor Skye feel much like talking, both of them are just sitting watching Coulson.
When it gets near Dinner time Fitz brings both Skye and Melinda something to eat, which neither of them eat a whole lot of.
As it gets later it becomes clear that Skye is getting quite tired, though it is also clear that she is trying to hide it.
"Why don't you go get some sleep, I'll wake you if there is any change." May suggests.
"No, I'm not leaving." Skye tells May.
"Skye…" Melinda begins to say but Skye cuts her off "I'm not leaving him." Skye tells her mother "I won't." She adds she says her tone of voice and expression showing just how serious she is.
"Okay." Melinda tells her knowing that she has shown in the past to be just as stubborn as both her parents which means there is no point in arguing with her, "Then how about you try and get a little bit of sleep right here." May suggests, "I'll wake you the second he shows any sign of waking up."
"Maybe." Skye says still looking hesitant.
"I promise you Skye, the second he shows any sign of waking I will wake you up." May tells her daughter.
Despite May's promise Skye still looks hesitant, something that May completely understands so she doesn't say anymore on the subject for a little while.
"Can you…?" Skye begins to ask hesitantly more than ten minutes later, but she trails off at the end, losing her confidence.
"Can I what?" May asks gently "Skye, its okay. You can ask whatever you want." May tells her daughter when she didn't respond to her previous question.
"Can you hold me while I sleep?" Skye asks barely able to get the words out.
"If you would like." May says and Skye gives an almost unnoticeable nod.
Realising how big of a step this is for Skye to even ask May slowly stands up and pulls her chair a little closer to Skye, not wanting to push Skye in case she decides that it's not what she wants anymore, that she's not ready. Once the chairs are close enough May sits back down and after an about a minute Skye hesitantly leans into her mother's chest and May puts her arms around her.
After a little while once Skye is sure that she is comfortable she closes her eyes and accepts the comfort that her mother is giving her, realising that for the first time in her life that she is feeling her mother's love and comfort.
As Skye sleeps May just holds her daughter. As she watches Coulson and the gentle rise and fall of his chest May is positive that she never wants to let her daughter out of her arms again.
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