Chapter 18
Disclaimer: I do not own anything. Everything belongs to their rightful owners and I am not making any profit from this.
AN: Thank you to all who have added to alerts, read, reviewed or any combination of the three. It means a lot to me.
AN2: OVER THREE HUNDRED REVIEWS, THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU.
May and Coulson have been by Skye's side for about two hours when she starts to show signs of waking.
"Skye?" Coulson asks as both he and May stand up. "Skye can you hear me?" Coulson asks.
"Dad?" Skye asks as she opens her eyes and looking up at her father "Mom?" she asks turning to look at May.
"Yeah it's us. Hey Baby Girl." Coulson tells her.
"I'm sorry, I should have listened to you I shouldn't have gone, I'm so sorry." Skye says becoming upset.
"Hey, it's okay." May says brushing Skye's hair out of her face, "That's not important now. All that matters is that you are okay." Melinda tells her daughter.
"I was stupid and Miles is dead because of me." Skye says beginning to cry as apart from her initial reaction to seeing Miles's dead body she hasn't let herself feel what she is feeling in regards to his death.
"Miles is dead because of Lard, Quinn and The Clairvoyant, not you." Coulson tells his daughter as he sits down on the edge of her bed. "That's not on you, that's on them." He tells her.
"If they didn't want me then he wouldn't have been killed." Skye points out.
"Miles's death is tragic and it shouldn't have happened but it was Lard's decision to kill him, your friend Anna was there when it happened and she said that Quinn said killing Miles was never part of the plan. Miles's death happened because of Lard, not you. Lard was a bad guy. The blame for Miles's death rests with him, no one else." Melinda tells Skye.
Skye just nods, not saying anymore because it doesn't matter what her parents tell her she will still blame herself for Miles's death.
"Are you in pain?" Coulson asks concerned as he notices Skye wince when she tries to sit up a bit more a few minutes later.
"A little, but it's nothing much." Skye assures her parents "Guess I won't be able to have a decent shower for a while." Skye comments looking down at her S.H.I.E.L.D blue cast.
"You don't have to worry about that. Your cast is waterproof." May tells her daughter.
"Really?" Skye asks surprised and also glad.
"Really, still itches like a normal one though, but you don't have to worry about getting it wet." Coulson explains.
"Guess that's one good thing." Skye comments. "Do you know how long I have to have it on for?" Skye asks curious.
"Dr Streiten said about eight weeks, but I'm sure he'll come and talk to you at some point." Coulson explains.
"Great." Skye says sarcastically. "But I guess that's what I get for swinging on a pipe when I knew my arm was hurt." She comments and Melinda and Coulson exchange a look debating without words if they should question Skye about what happened when she was taken.
"Do you want to talk about what happened?" Coulson asks hesitantly not sure if he should ask or not.
"Um, yeah okay." Skye says uncertainly.
"You don't have to if you don't want to." Melinda tells her daughter.
"No it's fine, I'm going to have to recount what happened more than once, I know the protocol. I'd prefer telling you guys first." Skye tells her parents.
"Okay, if that's what you want." Coulson tells her.
"It is." Skye says, "When I entered the warehouse Sam was there and he told me that the rising tide didn't want me and I asked who did but before there was the sound of a silence gunshot, Sam collapsed and Quinn walked out from where he was hiding. Before I could do anything two Centipede soldiers had grabbed my arms and were dragging me to Quinn. I still have no idea where they came from. I tried to get free and I guess I tried to twist my arm just as the solider tightened his hold. That's when I broke my arm, the crack echoed throughout the warehouse and hurt like hell." Skye explains, "They got me to Quinn who injected me with, I'm guessing a sedative and next thing I know I woke up in a room with no windows and only one door tied to a chair." Skye says and then beings to explain the whole story about what happened with Quinn and her escape. Neither May nor Coulson stop her to ask a question because they both know the easiest way to get through a story like that is with no question.
"So you think that Quinn told you more than the Clairvoyant wanted him to." Coulson comments when Skye finishes explaining.
"Definitely. I think he was meant to tell me some of it but not everything that he said." Skye explains "I wouldn't be surprised if Quinn has lost favour with the Clairvoyant." Skye explains.
"Skye what you did today was incredible." May tells her daughter "I wish that you didn't have to do any of it but the way you handled yourself the way you managed to get out of that situation was incredible, I'm so proud of you sweetheart." May tells her daughter.
Skye is shocked by her mother's words, in her life she has never been told that she made someone proud. "Thank you." Skye says quietly a tear coming to her eye. "I couldn't have done it if it wasn't for you. The whole time I was escaping it was your voice in my head telling me what to do. I wouldn't have gotten out of there if it wasn't for you." Skye tells her mother.
Not sure what to say to that May just stands up and hugs her daughter. Once May and Skye break apart Skye sits up a bit more and puts her arms around Coulson giving him a hug as well.
"So any idea when I can get out of here? I really don't like hospitals, even S.H.E.I.L.D medical bays." Skye comments.
"She gets that form you." May and Coulson say at the same time causing all three of them to laugh.
"You have to stay here at least until Dr Streiten says you are okay to leave." Coulson tells his daughter.
"Fun." Skye says sarcastically.
"Ward and FitzSimmons are outside, think you are up for the company?" May asks thinking that maybe they could help her forget just for a little while where she is.
"Definitely." Skye answers really wanting to see her friends, her family.
"I'll get them." Coulson says getting up and walking out of the room. A minute later he walks back in with FitzSimmons and Ward right behind him.
"You doing okay Rookie?" Ward asks as Simmons gives her a hug.
"Yeah, I'm doing okay." Skye tells him.
"Glad you're okay." Fitz tells her.
"Thanks Fitz." Skye responds. "But I do have eight weeks in this thing." She says referring to her cast "I better still be able to type with it." She comments.
"I'm sure you will." Coulson tells his daughter.
"Hopefully." Skye comments "I'll manage if I can't, I always do. I could always threaten to hit Ward with it to entertain myself." She ponders.
"Don't even think about it." Ward tells her.
"Relax I was kidding." Skye assures him "Mostly." She quietly adds.
"Sir?" Ward asks Coulson.
"Skye no hitting members of the team with your cast." Coulson tells her, and Ward gets a little smug smile on his face, "Unless they deserve it." Coulson adds causing the smug look to disappear from Ward's face.
"That's not fair." Ward comments, sounding almost like a child, as Skye gets a smug smile on her face.
"Permission from Dad, that's all I need." Skye says with a smile.
"Do you realise what you just started?" May asks Coulson, knowing that there is no possible outcome of this ending well.
"What?" Coulson asks confused.
"Skye no hitting Ward with your cast, Ward no provoking Skye to cause her to hit you with cast, Phil, stop encouraging them." Melinda tells the three.
"Yes, May/Mom/Melinda."
"Sounds like now would be a good time for an interruption." Hill's voice says from the doorway.
"Please." Melinda comments "I don't believe you've met Agents Fitz and Simmons, FitzSimmons this is Agent Maria Hill." She introduces.
"Nice to meet you both." Hill says shaking both the hands.
"You too." FitzSimmons both responds.
"What's up?" Coulson asks.
"Fury wanted to speak to you and Melinda when you have a moment." She explains "And Skye I was wondering if you would be okay if we schedule a de-brief for tomorrow." She says to Skye.
"Yeah, that would be fine." Skye tells her.
"Good." Hill says "He's taken over my office whenever you're ready." Hill tells Coulson and May.
"Go now." Skye tells her parents.
"Are you sure?" Melinda asks concerned.
"Yeah, I've got Ward and FitzSimmons to keep me company, and I promise I won't hit anyone with my cast. Go see what the big guy wants." Skye tells them.
May and Coulson exchange a look, neither of them really wanting to leave their daughter at the moment.
"I'll be fine, promise." Skye assures her parents.
"Okay." Melinda says "We'll try not to be too long." She says before her, Coulson and Hill leave the room.
"Honestly how bad was it?" Skye asks once her parents are out of hearing range.
"What do you mean?" Simmons ask confused.
"Mom and Dad, how bad where they when I was gone?" Skye explains "One of the first things that Dad told me after I found out about them was that Mom wouldn't be able to handle loosing me a second time, so how bad was it?" Skye explains.
"So they're Mom and Dad now?" Simmons asks curious and attempting to distract Skye from her question.
"Yeah it feels right, I think it's going to be a little while before it's just naturally what I say, and I know what you're doing." Skye tells Jemma "Was it that bad?" She asks feeling guilty.
"They had their moments." Ward tells Skye "But they stuck together and helped each other through it, but don't even think about scaring any of us like that again." Ward tells her.
"I'll do my best." Skye tells him. "I'm sorry that I made you all worry so much."
"Never apologise for that." Ward tells her "Never. We're a team, we worry about each other it's what we do."
"Yeah I guess we do." Skye comments "So Commander Hill said looking for me was the highest priority, what exactly does that mean?" She asks curious.
"Basically that everyone was working on leads to find you." Ward explains.
"And that if you had have been missing for twelve hours longer your Dad was going to ignore orders and call in the Avengers." Simmons adds.
"Seriously?" Skye asks surprised "I thought that none of them could know that he was alive."
"They're not supposed to." Fitz explains "But Coulson doesn't care about that, he would have done whatever it took to get you back."
"Do you think that's why Director Fury wants to talk them? Punish them for all the protocols they broke?" Skye asks concerned not wanting her parents to be in trouble because of her.
"I doubt it." Ward tells her "Director Fury was breaking protocols to, and Coulson didn't actually call in the Avengers. Fury told him to wait the twenty four hours and that's what he was doing, I have a feeling Coulson really wanted to call them in a lot sooner but didn't want to push Fury too far." Ward explains.
"It's kind of cool, I mean I could have had Iron Man and Thor looking for me." She comments looking impressed.
"What is with Woman and Thor? That guys not that great." Ward comments causing both Simmons and Skye to look at him completely shocked and with a look that Ward can't describe.
"Step back slowly." Fitz jokes grabbing on the back of Ward's jacket and pulling him backwards.
"Okay, completely ignoring Wards lack of taste because seriously. Thanks guys, for everything you did." She tells them.
"No need for thankyous either." Ward tells her.
"So because this is a special S.H.I.E.L.D cast does that mean that you guys can't sign it?" Skye asks the others "Because I remember when I was a kid and some of the other kids at the orphanage broke bones and I always thought it was so cool when the rest of us would sign there casts."
"Having a cast signed and drawn on is a rite of passage." Fitz says as he reaches into Simmons's bag and pulls out a baggie of markers "We would never deny you that, and even better these can be erased if we cover your arm too quickly." Fitz explains.
"Awesome." Skye says with a huge smile as she attempts to sit up properly with difficultly.
"Here, let me help." Ward says walking over and helping Skye up so that she is sitting up with her legs crossed "That doesn't hurt to bad does it?" He asks concerned.
"No, its fine. Thanks." Skye tells him. "Now all three of you, start drawing." She instructs and Simmons and Fitz do that Fitz sits down on her left side while Simmons sits in front of her, and Skye leans her arm against her legs. "You too Ward."
"No." Ward tells her "I'm quite fine watching the three of you." He comments.
"But I want you too." Skye says attempting to give him her best puppy dog look "Please. You have to."
"Yes, you have Agent Ward." Simmons tells him giving him the same look that Skye is giving him, so Ward looks to Fitz's for help.
"Sorry Mate, but after your Thor comment I would do what they say." He tells him.
"Fine." Ward says and he reluctantly sits down on Skye's right side and picks up a marker.
While the four younger agents are downstairs May and Coulson are up with Director Fury and Commander Hill getting an update on Quinn and what they know.
"So he's still not talking." Coulson comments.
"No, which isn't exactly surprising considering everything we got him on." Fury comments.
"We need to get him or Rania to talk." Coulson comments "They are our only link to the Clairvoyant and I want him found, because going after me is one thing. Going after my daughter is a whole other altogether." Coulson says.
"We'll get one of them to talk Phil, we just have to find the right approach." Hill tells him. "And before either of you suggest it that approach will not be either of you going in there. Not yet anyway." Hill tells Melinda and Coulson. "Clear?"
"Clear." Both May and Coulson says although neither of them like it.
"How's Skye doing?" Hill asks wanting to change the subject.
"Okay, considering." Coulson tells her "She blames herself for Miles's death and for getting captured. I think it will be a little while before she is actually good again." Coulson explains.
"Understandable, let me know if there is anything I can do to help." Maria tells her old friends.
"We will. Thanks." May tells Maria. "If there isn't anything else I would like to get back to her."
"Of course, dismissed." Fury tells the worried parents and Coulson and May leave the room. Fury having an odd look on his face as he watches them go.
"What's with the look Sir?" Maria asks confused.
"For the first time in a very, very long time I'm starting to see tiny bits of the person Melinda was before Bahrain, who she was before May was taken." Fury explains.
"Sir, is it true that Phil and Melinda are the reason that the no fraternization policy was introduced at the academy?" Hill asks curious as she has wondered if there is any truth to the rumour for a very long time, "Because I would have thought that they were the perfect example of being able to have the perfect private and professional relationship." Hill comments.
"Exactly." Fury tells her "Phil and Melinda's relationship is one of a kind. I've never seen another like them, Barton and Romanoff are the only people who have come close and even they aren't like Melinda and Phil. They started out as friends, got married, had a daughter together, grieved and survived their daughter being taken, were divorced and because friends again. That whole time what ever happened in their personal relationship never affected their partnership, you've worked with them you've seen just what they are capable of together and just what their partnership is, but like I said, it's one of a kind. I don't know if there will ever be another partnership like Melinda May and Phil Coulson and I didn't want to risk good ones being ruined by the attempt. So yes the rule was introduced because of them." Fury explains, then leaves Hill alone to her thoughts.
Melinda and Coulson walk back to Skye's room in silence. When the get there Coulson is about to enter when Melinda notices something through the window, "Stop, look." She says pointing to where Skye, Ward, and FitzSimmons are all on the bed talking and laughing.
"They remind me of another four person team I used to know." Coulson comments.
"Let's hope they get in a lot less trouble." Melinda comments knowing exactly who he is talking about.
"Let's." Coulson comments "But I don't think that will be possible." He says as he watches the group with a fond smile on his face.
"Well at least we know for sure that they can't get into more." Melinda comments as she also watches with a found smile.
"I wouldn't be so sure about that. If there was anyone who could it would be them." Coulson comments and the pair drift into silence.
"Skye said to stop standing out here and come join the party." Simmons says opening the door and sticking her head out to talk to May and Coulson.
"We'll be right in." Melinda tells her.
"Melinda, are we going to talk about what happened earlier?" Coulson asks.
"Yeah, we are." Melinda tells him "But not right now." Melinda says entering Skye room, Coulson right behind her.
PLEASE REVIEW
PLEASE REVIEW
PLEASE REVIEW