The next hour or so the adults stayed at in the dining room, talking more things out, and writing a lot of things down. They looked over all of Skye's notes as well as Thomas's – many disgusted with what the two had to go through in their young lives. Vic and Jeri and Jessica eventually moved into Phil's office to go legality issues, while Akela called Nick Fury to update him on her case and explain what was going on. Skye left to go back to the family room with the other kids.

Skye entered the family room and saw the other four huddled on the couch face timing with Leo and Will.

"Hey guys. Um..."

"No worries Skye. Miss May said we could. She said Leo and Will were part of the investigation too, even though they couldn't be here." Jemma interrupted.

Donnie jumped up and ran over to Skye. "So how did it go? Did they figure anything out yet?"

She shook her head. "Not much, no. Just that there are probably dirty cops in the police department, and we already know that Malick, and Quinn and company are up to no good, and that the Unity Center is weird as crap."

"They're still out there though? Working on it?"

"Yeah. They plan to work on it till they have answers. I mean obviously not tonight cause I heard Vic say they were only staying another hour or so cause you guys needed to get home to bed. So how is Will?"

"See for yourself." Thomas turned the screen toward Skye. Will waved."

She smiled back and waved too. "How are you doing?"

"Pretty good. I miss school though. Never thought I'd say that out loud." He laughed.

"I know that sentiment." She laughed back. "So any word on when you might be allowed to return?"

"Nah not yet. My mom's hovering, you know. My dad and her are actually talking though. And I talked to Officer Hunter and he said the investigation into my attack is proceeding. Hey, I heard Raina tried to get to you?"

"She tried. She got shut down."

"Just be careful Skye. They aren't kidding around. You know that right. They'll do to you what they did to me without blinking. Maybe even worse."

"I'm being super- duper careful Will. We all are."

"You need to listen though Skye. He's right. They aren't kiddin' aroun'" Leo's face appeared next to Will's on the screen.

"Hey Leo." Skye grinned at him. "How you doing?"

"I'm alright, I guess. Me Mum's on a rampage though. I think I'm grounded for life. Either that or until I go to college."

"She'll calm down Fitz. Just give her some time." Jemma leaned over Skye's shoulder.

"Yah. I guess. Anyway, I have a ton of homework. So I need to go. Goodnight everyone."

They all said goodnight to both him and Will. Skye sat down on the arm of the chair Jemma was sitting in. Skye looked over at Thomas and Ryan who were sitting on the couch engaged in a quiet conversation.

Donnie spoke then, "I'm gonna grab a shower, then finish an English assignment and then get to bed. I'm kinda tired. Goodnight everyone."

Everyone bid Donnie a goodnight. Jemma spoke quietly to Skye. "How are you doing?"

Skye nodded. "I'm okay. It's a little nerve wracking. You know – that now that everyone knows what happened. What happened to me at the Hamilton's."

"I think it's amazingly brave. I think both you and Thomas are incredibly fearsome."

Skye gave her a sheepish smile. "Thanks. Melinda says that being brave is not the absence of fear but rather facing the fear. That fear is not a weakness in itself unless you allow it to consume you."

"Melinda's a very wise person." Thomas spoke. He and Ryan were looking at her obviously hearing what she said.

"Yeah, that's what we were doing. Letting the fear dictate our actions. Our lives." Ryan added. He looked over at Thomas. "I'm sorry. I should have fought back sooner. I should have spoken up. I thought by not saying anything that I was protecting you."

"I know. It's okay Ryan. We are all fighting back now. Of course, it would be great to have an idea of what all that means. Any ideas on how my family connects to you yet Skye?"

"Nah. But I think the focus should be on how you and me connect to that place, the Unity Center."

"Any guesses?"

"Not really. But I have this wild theory. About me."

Jemma looked over at her and grinned. "Tell us."

"I don't know. Maybe I'll sit on it for a while. It's a bit crazy the more I think about it."

"Oh hell Skye – we are in the middle of crazy. Just say it." Ryan's interest was piqued.

"Well first I have to tell you about a case Melinda and others were working on. Before her son was killed, they were investigating a cult group."

"The Unity Center?"

"No. This was something different. Melinda said that a snitch – an informant told them about some weird group that was doing experiments on runaways and homeless people."

"Wait, Bobbi and Hunter investigated that didn't they?"

"Another case. Same type of scenario I guess but a couple years later. And not runaways – Bobbi said homeless and drug addicts and prostitutes. Anyway, this case was about seven years ago. Melinda said the investigation led them to a large ranch north of Kingston, like 10 miles north. She said when they got there the place was pretty deserted. Before that, they'd found a couple runaways in town just hanging downtown but really out of it. They reunited them with their families and then had a tip about the ranch. At the ranch they had found signs of a lot of people living there at one time but evidence no crimes of anything. But Melinda said a tip form one of the runaways led them to the Momentum Lab. Then it blew up." Skye paused in deep thought.

Skye jumped up. "Wait, I wonder who owns that ranch?"

"They didn't know?" Jemma asked.

"Melinda didn't mention it. We should probably look that up."

"Yeah maybe there's a Malick connection." Ryan nodded. "But what's your wild theory? Cause I need to know now."

"My wild theory is that what if one of those runaways at that ranch was my mother? Like she was in a cult and stuff, and they were doing shady stuff, and she got pregnant, and to protect me – dropped me off at St Agnes?"

Everyone thought for a couple moments and then Ryan spoke. "But Malick and company through Insight Corporation own St. Agnes. Why would she have thought it was safe?"

"Not back then." Skye answered. "Back when I was dropped off it was owned publicly by Ulster County. Before that owned exclusively by the Catholic Diocese. I was dropped off in 2004. In 2005, Insight Corporation bought the home, which was apparently going to be shut down by the county and run it now as a private business. They allowed the name to stay and the nuns to continue to run it – at least the day- to- day childcare part."

"And that note from your mum about keeping you safe, and that she couldn't, plus your files being erased after the Hamilton's." Jemma looked at her with concern. "Do you think Malick and them bought the place to keep tabs on you?"

"I don't know. It seems kind of far- fetched. I'm not that important."

"Unless you are." Thomas declared.

"Thomas, how would I be important though?"

"I don't know. But there are many possibilities. Maybe you birth father was someone important? Or your mother had big secrets. Or your father did. Or maybe they are using you as collateral to keep your real parents inline. Like control them." Ryan answered.

"That's pretty out there, Ryan. Like serious spy shit crazy out there."

"Yeah. But it's possible."

"The most logical one is that your parental heritage could be involved. As Ryan said – maybe some out of wedlock love child?" Jemma added.

"But that's not conspiracy laden Jems. That's just pathetic."

"Unless it has a bunch more stuff to it." Thomas interjected. "Let's run with it. Okay so suppose like you said that your mom was a runaway. And that she was involved in the cult at that ranch and that the ranch is connected to the Unity Center and purple preacher guy. Let's go with she was also underage and some powerful bigwig got her pregnant."

"On purpose or accidently?" Ryan asked.

"Hmmm... let's say on accident. He didn't want anyone to find out so he demanded she get an abortion – but she couldn't or wouldn't and she ran away, had Skye and left her at the orphanage for Skye's safety. Somehow the guy found out."

"And what? Erased my files, and had St Agnes bought? I was already unknown to everyone so that makes no sense. Bringing attention to me would not be a good plan to keep me unknown."

"She has a point." Jemma nodded. "That kind of seems like it would have the opposite effect."

"Yeah, I guess. So what do you think Skye?"

"I think it's possible that somehow my birth parents are connected to everything. To Unity Center, the cult, Malick somehow, and maybe even one or both my parents were in danger. Redacted files, missing files, hiding files, people dropping out of sight."

"Yeah. Like now my mom is nowhere to be found either." "Donnie said from the doorway.

"What do you mean?" Ryan asked.

"She hasn't left any messages for me anywhere. She always left messages. Even when she was at her worst. The most she ever went without leaving one was a week. It's been close to three. I checked again. Mr. C said I could."

"Even the insta I set up for her and you?"

"Yeah. Nothing."

"You left a message, right?"

"I did. Several. Disguised as always. In case anyone was monitoring her."

"That's not good." Skye stated the obvious, getting an eyeroll from Donnie.

"No it's not." Melinda entered behind Donnie. "I asked Bobbi to check on her location. Maybe we'll know something tomorrow. But for now, it's rather late. Jemma and Ryan, grab your stuff, Izzy and Vic are leaving shortly. And the rest of you should head to your rooms and get ready for bed."

Everyone complied and later after Skye sat on her bed trying to read 'Lord of the Flies', her brain was swirling with thoughts. She set the book down, not being able to concentrate and sighed dramatically. She was tired but not sleepy, if that even made sense. She was about to go downstairs for a bottle of water, when she heard a soft knock on her door.

"Yeah."

The door opened and Melinda swung her head around it. "You okay? I saw your light was still on."

"Yeah I'm okay. I just can't sleep. Thought I'd read a bit but can't concentrate."

Melinda nodded and stepped into the room carrying a couple bottles of water. Skye noted to herself that another superpower of Melinda's was mindreading.

Melinda spoke, "Yeah me neither." She sat on the bed and tossed a bottle at Skye. "Lots of information to digest."

"That's an understatement." She opened the water and took a long swig. "Thanks for the water."

Melinda nodded. "I only caught a bit of the conversation you kids were having. You want to talk about it?"

"You sure your up for another crazy theory."

"Bring it." She smirked at Skye.

Skye laughed. "What if that cult at that ranch was there for a long time? Like long enough in that one of the runaways there was my birth mother?"

Melinda looked at her and shrugged. "From what we saw, that very well may have been the case. It looked like the place was recently lived in, had accommodations for over 30 people and could very well have been in operation for any number of years before our investigation."

"And what if that cult is related to Unity Center, the weird stuff there and the purple man preacher?"

"I'd say..."

"That I have a very overreactive imagination?"

"No. I'd say that you could be dead on."

"Insight Corporation bought St. Agnes about a year after I was dropped off."

Melinda nodded. "Yes. And they started losing money right away. You could very well be connected to why they bought it."

"It's just a theory. I don't have any proof of anything."

Melinda laughed. "Add it to the list. We have no proof of anything yet. We have theories, conspiracies, possibilities, and weirdness as well as impossible connections."

Skye laughed too. "Yeah. But it's coming together more. Now that we have so many pieces of the puzzle."

"It is and we do. Oh, after school tomorrow, I'm going to pick you up and we are going to Vic's Company. Bobbi, Izzy, and Jessica and Jeri are meeting us there."

"They want me to hack files then?"

"Yes. You okay with that. Through all this I never asked if you would be okay with it."

"Sure. Why not? Maybe I can come up with a breakthrough. That would actually be cool."

"We really have to channel your hacking talents into a good direction."

"Was that too eager?" Skye tried to look chagrined. But failed miserably. "I can't help it if I'm amazing at hacking and that I love doing it. If you ever need someone to check your security system at your dojo, I'm your gal."

Melinda laughed. Then she reached over and pulled Skye into a fierce bearhug. "You worry me sometimes." Skye wrapped her own arms tightly around Melinda and laid her head on Melinda's shoulder.

Skye woke up early. After using the bathroom, she slipped downstairs. Seeing Melinda in the family room already stretching for Tai Chi, she started stretching too."

"Good morning Skye. Sleep well?"

"Uhhuh."

"Good. Feel like a run this morning?"

"Sure."

Both finished stretching and then Melinda led Skye in a series of Tai Chi steps. Skye had to run upstairs afterward to change out of her pajamas. Soon they were running along the street at a comfortable pace.

"You're really getting in great shape Skye."

"Thanks. I never thought of myself as any kind of athlete but I'm beginning to love the way my body feels and the fact that I can defend myself if need be."

"Well, hopefully there will not be a need ever. But I was thinking. There's a Hapkido competition for your age bracket in mid- January. How would you feel about registering in the beginning group?"

Skye stopped running and looked at Melinda with her mouth open. She finally formed words. "Seriously? Me?"

"I am very serious. And yes, you. Melinda had also stopped next to her. "The level is for beginners who have no belts and under six months of training. There are two age groups. You'd be in the 13 -16 group. What do you think?"

"I think I'll get my ass whooped."

"I don't. I think you could win."

Skye didn't know what to do what that last sentence. No one, absolutely no one, had ever thought she could win anything before. She looked down at her sneakers. "It might be cool to try." She looked over at Melinda. "You really think I'm skilled enough to even have a chance?"

"Today? No. But in a couple months – a very good chance. You've picked up everything well, you put in the work, you are in really good shape. We'd have to focus more of offensive moves since mostly we've been doing defensive ones. I think with some hard work, if you're willing, you would have an excellent chance to win."

"What do you win?"

"A trophy." Melinda smiled. "And a chance to move on to State competition."

"When is that?"

"March. You don't have to give me an answer now. Think about it. Come on, let's finish our run."

They started running, heading back home, quiet the entire way. They got to the back patio door, and before going in, Skye turned to Melinda. "I want to. I want to do it."

Melinda smiled. "Okay then. I'll sign you up today. We have that meeting after school with Vic and then after we get home, we'll work on it. I think if you continue with me teaching you twice a week at home, doing Tai Chi every day, as well as running and some weightlifting along with the group lessons at the dojo – you will be more than ready.

Skye nodded and grinned at her. "Thanks. For you know, believing in me. For helping me. For everything."

Melinda pulled her in for a hug. Skye reciprocated.

"Oh yeah and thanks for those. I've never been hugged so much before. Or felt so safe. Or loved." She ducked her head into Melinda's shoulder.

Melinda squeezed tighter. "You are loved so much."

The patio door slid open. "This is very sweet and all, but the pancakes are getting cold." Phil stated.

Melinda and Skye laughed as they pulled apart and entered the house following Phil to the kitchen.

Skye was sitting at the lunch table with all her friends. She's learned earlier from Phil in his class, that Raina, Alisha and the two boys had been suspended from school. It didn't make her happy, it was just a relief to know that they wouldn't be around to bother her again.

"So you're going to help with this investigation, with the adult's blessing now?" Lincoln asked her.

"Yeah I guess."

'All I know is that Aunt Vic is super impressed with you. Enough to bypass our bad teen shenanigans and realize how talented you are with computers," Jemma said as she traded a blueberry muffin for a piece of caramel apple tart with Skye.

Skye nodded before biting off a piece of the muffin and sighing happily.

Thomas watched her and grinned. "You like that better than Mr. C's apple tart?"

"Mmmmmm..wike bot bum da mubbin if to dwi bor,' she mumbled around the huge piece of muffin she was chewing.

"Huh?"

"She said that she likes both, but the muffin is to die for." Ryan answered. Everyone looked at him. "What? I lived with her for a while. You get to understand mouth full of food mumbles well living with Skye."

"He dot wong." Skye added.

"She said he's not wrong." Ryan interpreted. He'd joined them for lunch because his geometry teacher had called out sick and they had no substitute, so he simply went to lunch early planning on going to the science lab after to work on his project.

"Good to know that for any future dates that involve eating." Lincoln laughed. I guess we need to bring Ryan along."

Everyone at the table laughed. Trip was just making his way to the table and looked around at the bright faces. "What'd I miss?"

Ignoring his question, Lincoln asked him, "Why so late Trip? Lunch is almost over."

"I was on the phone. With Joey Gutierrez."

Everyone stopped what they were doing and looked at him. Thomas got his voice working first. "What? He's in juvie isn't he?"

"Not anymore. That lawyer, what's her name, Jeri something sprung him."

"Jeri Hogarth. My lawyer?" Thomas added.

"Yeah. That's her. He said he's released pending a new trial based on recent information discoveries. He just wanted to let me know. Said he she explained to him everything that is going on and wanted me to let everyone know that he and Lanie have given new statements to the police about the case and that the police were going to arrest JJ today. They might already have."

"Oh shit. It's actually going down." Ryan had paled.

"Yeah. He said that Jeri Hogarth told him that everyone involved in Will's attack and Leo's attacks were also being rounded up and were all going to be taken into custody. Including your brother too Thomas."

"It's about time. Sure hope they got Shockley too. And Lydon and Dormer."

"So it's starting. The adults all said they would take care of this. They are really doing something." Thomas stated.

"I just hope no one else gets hurt." Jemma added.

"I hope I can find something later today that helps. Your aunt is letting me use her state- of the art security set up at her business. And I guess Izzy is going to supply me with passwords so that's less work for me to do."

"Oh I hope so too." Leo jumped in. "I just want all this to be over and to focus on the present without always looking behind my back."

The bell rang and everyone packed up their lunches. Lincoln spoke. "Listen guys, Remember, not to go anywhere alone. Even the restrooms. No teacher should give you a hard time about it. My mom said they all were given instructions."

Skye saluted him. "Aye-eye sir."

Everyone laughed and Lincoln leaned down to kiss her on the cheek. "Stay safe."

At the end of the school day Skye was waiting in Phil's classroom when Melinda entered the room. Melinda waved to everyone. "Skye give me a moment with Phil, and then we'll head out, okay?"

Skye nodded from the back of the room where she was trying to finish up her biology homework. After about five minutes Melinda called to her and she packed up her stuff and followed Melinda out the door, waving bye to Phil.

"So you do it?" She asked Melinda.

Melinda looked at her blankly.

"Sign me up for that tournament thing?"

Melinda smiled as she walked next to Skye. "I did."

"Cool."

"So how was your day?"

"Pretty good. Oh Trip told us some news about Joey. Do you know what..."

"I do. Izzy called me."

"So they are all in jail? JJ? Everyone?"

"Arrested. Processed probably. Not sure if the judge will grant immediate bond or if they even get in front of one. Izzy should have more information."

"Good. It seemed like Leo and Thomas and Ryan were relieved."

"I'm sure. How about you?"

"Yeah, I guess. But – well – I'm used to that other shoe dropping, you know. Like with anything positive there is a worse thing coming down the road."

Melinda stopped walking. "Skye, I know people treated you terribly in the past. And those scars are not going to heal overnight. But you are not alone in this. Whatever all this is. If the other shoe does drop, we – you and me and Phil and everyone else will deal with it. Together. I will always protect you."

Skye gave her a small nod, and bit her lip trying not to cry.

Melinda brushed her hand over Skye's cheek. "And people tell me I'm scary as hell, so who in their right mind would mess with my kid, huh?"

Skye let out a slight giggle, the tension leaving her body. "You do come across as a mama bear at times."

"See. No messing with the cubs. Or you get the mama's wrath. And claws." Skye laughed. Melinda took Skye's hand pulling her along. Melinda's thoughts were swirling though. A few months ago, she would have bristled at someone referring to her as a mama in any form. Now she was making jokes to her kid. Yes, her kid, Skye was her kid. She'd known it for a while now but affirming it to herself made it ever so much more real. She focused back on the task at hand. "Come on. I have a feeling that Vic has a whole lot for you to do. Wouldn't want to keep her waiting from making my kid into a notorious hacker."

Skye smiled and walked next to Melinda, not pulling her hand away. "I can be a white hat."

"A what now?"

"White hats are what they call an ethical computer hacker." Melinda found herself listening intently to Skye explain that hackers are either white hats, grey hats, or black hats. The conversation continued as they got into the car and headed to Hand's Security firm.

Pulling into the parking lot, the first thing Skye noticed was how huge the lot and building were. The building was on the outskirts of Kingston and situated in what Skye would consider high end stores and houses. She got out of the car and spoke. "This place is huge."

"What were you expecting?"

"I don't know. Not this. Maybe like a rental in a strip mall."

"Don't tell Vic that. Although that's basically how she started out a long time ago." Melinda replied as they walked to the entrance. "Today they provide security personal, and security systems, as well as computer security software. They do home security, office, all types of businesses. My dojo has her security system in place. She employs over two hundred people. She sells the systems all around the east coast and has three other offices – one in New York City, one in Philly, and one in Boston. The FBI uses her systems. She used to work in cyber security for the government."

"Wow. How come she hasn't tried to get the information on the missing files?"

"Why do you think she hasn't?"

"Oh. She has, I guess. Aren't the hospital and St. Agnes records on computers that are protected by her system?"

"They are not. Neither is the police department's computers or the FBI."

"That makes more sense then. I'm guessing none of Malick's holdings or Quinn's are either?"

"You are correct." Melinda pulled the door open, and they both walked in. Melinda walked to the desk and spoke to the new receptionist who buzzed Victoria to let her know they were there.

"Ms. Hand said for you to go on back. She said you know the way."

Melinda gave her a smile. "You must be new. I haven't seen you before."

"Yes. I started a few weeks ago." She smiled at Melinda.

Melinda smiled back and turned to head down the hall with Skye following. After they moved a good distance away, Skye spoke, "that was weird. Something up?"

"No not really. I just – sometimes I get these feelings. Phil said I had good intuition for people that seemed off."

"And she seemed off?"

"I don't know. It's probably nothing. I haven't worked in the spy business for a while. Come on. It's right down this hall." She turned left and they entered the last door on the right.