Sacrifice
Apparently there's a speech you give when you become an Agent officially- a nice short one after a big grandiose speech given to you by the person who has trained you to this point. I say apparently because naturally as a fake Agent I've never been privy to it, but from the intel I've gathered, by that I mean what was taught to me by Hill and pestering Ward later for details, it happens and you get up in front of a whole bunch of important people and recite the speech. Now it used to be that you had to stick to the script, recite it word for word.
But then one Agent had decided to have an individual streak, or be a smart ass, and add their own little flare onto the end. Slipped it right in. What the sentence was can't be repeated exactly and who they are has been buried as well. I suspect Fury but that's just me. It was a sentence that made an additional vow, a vow of a more personal nature to that person. Word spread and naturally the idea gathered some steam. Since then, every Agent had added their own phrase to the end of their oath. And it was now treated and respected to the point that it was now officially documented and when the Agent did pass it was the quote placed on the plaque for them at The Hub.
Hawkeye had apparently vowed to 'always shoot straight'. Black Widow's had involved 'the sins of the past'. Fitz-Simmons had been the only one who volunteered theirs, and of course it was a statement that only made sense when you put them together. Fitz had said 'To always get to the bottom' and Simmons had then offered 'Of every scientific discovery'. They had flipped a coin over who got the short end of the stick on that one and then decided afterwards that it would be Fitz since men have a shorter lifespan on average than women. Can't have that quote being backwards now. Skye joked that her and I should do the same thing one day.
So for a while I had been contemplating what my own would be. Not that I even knew I would get one- I technically had already been sworn in according to my story. The fake Agent had to have a fake quote logged somewhere. But maybe by the time I met my demise I will have earned the right to change it to something I had picked myself. Call it Hill's last gift to me.
Not that I obsessed over it or anything- clearly I had bigger things to worry about. It was just a thought that would sometimes flit through my brain at odd moments- an idea here of there I would squirrel away. Nothing had stuck though. Nothing had quite encapsulated what I wanted to say of my time on this team. Hell, nothing even came close. I just couldn't boil myself down to a few words, maybe because I was still figuring out who I was.
As I stepped into the lab, walking past where Simmons was patching up a now conscious Mike Peterson without paying her a glance and made my way over to Fitz, Skye, and Coulson by one of the lab's screens, I couldn't stop the idea that crashed into me like a baseball. It was almost like the cold, sterile air of the lab had triggered it somehow as the familiar chill ran along my spine.
'And apparently bend time and space.'
I was from the freaking future. I had told myself I wasn't going to think about this, that I was going to focus on whatever was on the television right now. But how could you not. It was almost like everything… like everything looked different somehow. It all seemed more foreign, sharper, less welcoming when this was literally the only home I had. No one was paying attention to me but now it was making my heart beat faster because I worried it might be on purpose. That they all knew and were consciously rejecting me. I was the freak from the future. And it was completely ridiculous but the room felt like it was almost closing in. I had vowed to stay calm and now I was practically having a panic attack in the middle of the mission. The more I tried to shake this whole attitude off the darker I seemed to descend- shaking hand going to my forehead.
And then I found my anchor to pull me back to reality… or rather heard my anchor. "Crawford," Coulson's voice cut through everything. His back was still to me but it was clear he had her my sneakers approach. "Come over here."
It was enough to shake my head clear for the moment. I wrapped my other hand around the tattoo at my wrist, remembering what was important right now. I took those deep breaths May and I had worked on, schooling my features and burying my personal feelings as deep as they could go. I could still feel the fringe of them, but I forced my attention away from it. People were dead. No one else was dying. Put yourself back in the moment.
I did as I came up beside them, crossing my arms as I looked at what appeared to be identical x-rays of skulls beside one another. Coulson glanced my way, clearly waiting for me to say something. So I stated the obvious. "They're the same." But then I faltered a bit at the intensity of the two of them. "Right?"
Fitz shook his head, coming beside me and pointing to each as he spoke, tablet in hand. "The one on the left is Akela Amador's. Hayward's is on the right." I nodded, understanding instantly… and also trying to ignore how close he was to me right now. It became easier as he continued, playing with the tablet. "Now, his prosthetic was slightly damaged, but based on digital reconstruction, we can now confirm the technology is virtually identical." An image came up of what must have been his recreation of the eye implant. He sure worked fast. "Hayward's prosthetic has the same internal power source, backscatter capabilities, and biomechanics as Amador."
It sunk it for a moment before I beat Coulson to speaking, pacing around the table. "So… now only is Centipede the organization that is turning people into their version of explosive super soldiers through methods that include kidnapping, but now you're telling me they're also behind the eyes that control people and bind them to their will?" My voice had a sharp edge to it. I could tell by how Fitz looked a little ashen when he nodded. "Everything is their fault… their doing?" He nodded again. Clearly I was giving off that I meant serious business. If I was any tougher I would slam my hand down on the table, but I knew I'd just break my hand so I refrained. I tried to let my anger be drive rather than distraction, swallowing most of it up. Instead I let out a sarcastic laugh. "Well… shit."
"These guys are serious multitaskers," Skye agreed. Coulson was still just examining the images, gears working clearly in his mind.
"Who's Akela Amador?" Mike Peterson asked from behind us. Simmons has wrapped a bandage around his middle and had him hooked up to two or three IV's to get some nutrients back in his body. He looked a lot better than when he had emerged, so she was clearly doing her job right. Not that I doubted her ability to do her job, just her ability to tell people when she had done it.
"Former S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent," Coulson answered. "The first person we encountered with this eye technology."
"They forced her to do some pretty bad things, including hurting us," I glanced at Skye, remembering the cast that used to be on her arm. I could see Mike school his features, so I put a hand out. "She wasn't a bad person though. It was all Centipede apparently. She was actually really good and she's safe now."
"We helped her," Simmons reassured him from his side as well.
He looked us over with a smile. "Kind of a pattern with you guys." I waved my hand at him fondly.
"We're just doing our job."
"So then," he groaned as he shifted a bit, "Those soldiers at the warehouse were forced to attack us through that eye thing?" I nodded as Coulson started towards him.
"They were getting orders. When the tide turned in our favor- "
"Thanks to your help," I added the encouragement with a thumbs up, happy to boost Mike's confidence in his ability to be a hero. Anyone who protected my team was alright in my book. "We would have been screwed without you."
"Centipede flipped Hayward's kill switch, told the other guys to run." I felt my blood boil and my fists clench. I felt the warmth of something covering my wrist though, and it nearly sent a jolt of electricity up my arm as I turned to see Fitz had wrapped a comforting hand around me. He looked right at me, encouraging me silently that everything was going to be alright. I gave a slight nod, unfurling my fist slowly but still staring right into those brown eyes. He kept his hand there, the two of us connected and passing energy and thoughts to one another without any movement. If I just leaned in an inch, I could-
"Can you track the eye feed like before, find their location?' Coulson broke the moment as he turned his attention to Skye. I stepped back, the two of us focusing on what was being said rather than each other. I swear I was turning a slight shade of pink. I had to be judging how this ice cold room had suddenly become unbelievably hot.
"Nope," Skye shook her head. "They've upgraded since Amador. Their feed's untraceable now." Coulson turned from her and the look she briefly shot me made it perfectly clear she saw what had just happened. And now I think I was just completely red.
"Their technology keeps advancing at a disturbingly rapid pace," Coulson noted. "They must have endless manpower, resources."
"Just more asses for us to kick," I smiled, trying to crack my knuckles but failing miserably. Everyone was looking at me now with slightly amused expressions. "What? Apparently May hasn't taught me how to be a badass yet. It'll come with time."
"They also need someone with a fat wallet," Skye said after a fond eye roll at my antics. It looked like I was back in my usual form and everyone was quite alright with that.
"Po's the strategist," Simmons spoke.
"Raina's the recruiter," I followed her thinking.
"Perhaps then this Clairvoyant's the money," she finished.
Fitz nodded from beside me. "That makes sense. If I could see the future, I'd go straight to Las Vegas."
"We don't know he can see the future," I reminded him, for my sake as much as mine. "I don't even want to consider the possibility really. Because then we don't stand a chance even with Mike here." I put a hand up. "So no to the psychic thing. It's too much for the organization with both super soldiers and eye control devices."
"Whoever's behind this may or may not be psychic, but they're one step ahead of us every time," Coulson examined everything on the screens with a grave expression. "I need to update HQ. This is bigger than we thought." With that, he headed out the larger lab doors with a swoosh of them opening a closing. We all lounged around for a moment, unsure what to say clearly. Centipede was behind everything. We knew that now, and it was kind of terrifying. Simmons continued working on Mike while Fitz and Skye returned their attention to their tablets.
I clearly needed to break the mood as only I in my prime could, so I elbowed Fitz in the side to get his attention. "So, Lee, you're telling me that Vegas is the first thing you'd do if you could see the future?"
"Probably," he admitted, and I playfully rolled my eyes. "What's the matter with that, Ash?"
I shrugged. "I just expected… more creative of you."
He raised an eyebrow, seeing what I was doing and playing right along as I knew he would. "Why? What is your grand plan when you get splashed with some form of radioactive chemical and suddenly can see the future?"
I thought about it grandly for a moment, tapping my chin. Everyone had some of their attention focused on me now, waiting for my answer. "I would use it… to know how to do something right the first time or see where someone is so we can go right for them and skip the middle man. Be more efficient, save time, and keep people from getting hurt."
Fitz couldn't help but look almost in awe of my answer, though I for the life of me didn't have a clue why. I had been planning on him firing right back, and quite frankly this silence was making me a bit out of sorts. I didn't like it when I couldn't read his emotions easily. They were often in a way my stability in navigating situations, and right now the one crossing his face was one I was painfully unfamiliar with. I put one of my hands on the table, tapping my fingers on the cold metal as I stared at them instead of him. Anywhere but looking at him.
My fingers tapping echoed through the lab for a moment before Skye bailed me out as any friend does, earning my relieved attention the minute she spoke. "And what would you do with all that time you saved?"
Okay, now we were back into our regularly scheduled programming. She had given me the pitch, now I had to knock it out of the park. I gave her the biggest grin I could muster. "Why, get a few more hours of sleep of course! Everything happens way too early around here."
I could hear the audible and inaudible groans all hit at once, music to my ears really. It had been exactly the fences I was swinging for. Skye was rolling her eyes with fondness, making me smile even wider at her. "And here I thought you were going to say something profound."
I pretended to weigh my options. "I think I'd pick sleep over profound any day." I took another beat. "Yep. Positive."
"No, you wouldn't," Fitz challenged, whatever expression he had before vanished as he joined in the game as well. "If it came between having our backs while we went on another mission with the spare time or spending it tucked away in your bed… you'd pick the latter without hesitation."
"Lee, I'm sorry but you're just going to have to accept that my bed comes before you in this relationship. We just have too much history together."
"That's a bold-faced lie, Ash," he parried, eyes drifting back to his tablet. "You know you'd be lost without me." He spoke again before I opened my mouth. "And I see no point in arguing the matter any further." I couldn't help but be impressed. Usually I was the one who left stuff like that to make sure I was then one ending our observations.
"You're learning and that worries me."
"Learned from the best."
Suddenly, there was the sound of someone hitting the table. Everyone turned to see Skye whose eyes were practically the size of her face right now. "Guys, hear me out. I just had the craziest idea. What is we were wrong about the future thing? What if Ashleigh has the ability to see the future and that's how she knew to get the tattoo! We might have been led down the wrong track this whole time by Fury!"
I didn't have to look at Simmons to guess her reaction. I'm pretty sure I had frozen myself, perhaps going a shade paler than I was previously. "I don't- I can't- I couldn't possibly have powers," I settled with. "I've never seen even a hint of the future since I've been here."
"Maybe that's the memory loss blocking your ability," Fitz posited, unfortunately now going down this same train of thought.
"I can't see the future," I made clear, perhaps a little harsher than I intended.
"What's going on?" Mike asked Simmons, who couldn't quite seem to find an appropriate answer to concisely wrap up the saga that was my backstory. He turned his attention to the rest of us. "What's this about the future?"
The two of their minds seemed to be going too fast to register him though and I knew I needed to put a lid on this before it got out of hand. "What if she is meant to be our counterpoint to the Clairvoyant," Skye speculated. "She's the only one who can match him and he knows that."
"So he erased her memories!" Fitz shouted.
I got between them. "Guys, seriously- "
"But she got the tattoo so she could still get herself where she needed to be and lead us into saving the world." Skye gasped. "Maybe the Clairvoyant is like her brother or something. Scientific experiments that vanished off the map together."
"And that's why we can't find anything." Fitz thought for a second before turning to Simmons. "Would we be able to pull up her brain scans and check for anything out of the ordinary of the most miniscule levels?"
She glanced at me briefly but quickly focused on him. "Fitz, this is ridiculous. We can't endlessly speculate and run tests when we have no proof that any of this… fantasy is possible."
"What's the harm in looking?" Skye shrugged. "If there's nothing there, then no harm done. But if there is… we may be able to solve who exactly Ashleigh is." They were both staring at her quite intensely now as she seemed to fumble for an answer. I gave her more than enough time before I cut in with what we had no choice but to put out in the open now.
"Simmons ran the sample," I spoke up. The room suddenly seemed to grow silent, but maybe it was just me as all the blood went rushing to my ears. Simmons wasn't able to come clean, so that meant I had to step up and admit the truth to everyone- including a random Mike Peterson. My heart started beating faster and I tried to keep from looking at anyone directly as I took a breath and continued. "Simmons ran the sample and has found that the… stuff on my shoes when they found me… it's… testing shows it's a hundred years older than it should be."
It was only a second before they reacted, but I swear it felt like an eternity as I admired and pondered the chrome table my hands were currently resting on. That and trying to focus on my breathing. It was important to keep breathing. There was silence and then a wall of sound as everyone, including a still puzzled Mike and even Simmons, started talking over one another as a rate that left no one able to understand anyone else. Our little moment of fun had passed, and now I was being forced to confront thing right here and now. Maybe one day things would be able to go according to some sort of plan. Maybe one day I would only have to say things once rather than going from person to person as I would have to do now to tell May, Coulson, and Ward. Maybe one day I wouldn't be scared of what people were going to say to me when they found out- if my memories could be erased maybe months of goodwill and friendship could do the same.
But it certainly wasn't today. Which meant I had to buckle in and take care of this despite being nowhere near prepared to.
Please don't let them all think like Simmons.
They were still all talking when I finally lifted my head up, knowing only one person could stop this cacophony in its tracks. "I'm from the future," I finally said it out loud, locking eyes with everyone as they all came to a halt. I tried to sound confident, but my voice had decided to crack on the last word. "I arrived in Nick Fury's office that day from a time at least one hundred years into the future with no memories and a tattoo telling me to join Coulson's team." That last fact had been more for Mike Peterson, but also just because I needed to get it all out. My mind needed to process while I was talking.
"I do not exist anywhere because I literally do not exist yet."
Fitz was the first to react. "Well, did it tell us anything else? Did you run it a second time to maybe get a more exact date? Do we know where she came from or maybe the quality of the soil? That might be able to tell us-"
"I just ran the one test so far Fitz. I haven't had time to mess with anything else with Mr. Peterson being here as well as the mission at hand."
Skye was focused on me as I took a seat on a nearby stool. She was by my side in an instant, rubbing her hand up and down my back. "Are you okay?"
"It's a lot," I admitted, holding back what for some absurd reason seemed to be tears. I didn't have the slightest idea why I would be crying about this, so I tried to hold them back and wipe furiously with my sweater before anyone noticed. I was shaking, physically trembling. The things I had been trying to push back against were suddenly overwhelming me now. It wasn't the time or the place, but my emotions were clearly getting the better of me. "I mean, it's one thing to think and speculate... but now I know. I know that everything I do here wasn't meant to happen. That I'm changing history and events with every action I take- that I might be sending all of you down paths you're not supposed to be on. This team was supposed to exist without me on it."
"Well, you're here now," Skye batted away my worries as if they were nothing. As if she didn't have the slightest concern about messing with time as Simmons and Randolph had. "And I for one wouldn't have things any other way. I don't want to picture how things would have ended up without you, because I honestly think that version of myself is a lot worse off." She wrapped an arm around me now, pulling me in for a side hug. It somehow only made me want to cry more, hands trembling in my lap.
"You don't know that." The negativity, the fear of what I had done that I didn't understand, was still haunting me. Despite Skye's assurances Simmons's word about consequences still echoed through my head again and again. The trembling got worse and my breathing quickened to a pace that was making my chest hurt. There was no hope in stopping the tears now as I let out a gasp, strength leaving me all at once. I always had to be strong and take care of everyone, but I just couldn't hold it together anymore. Despite my training, my emotions were now figuratively tearing me apart piece by piece as my defense of optimism and purpose gave way for a moment. And that was just enough time to knock off my center of balance.
I had nothing without them, but I was hurting the people I had vowed to protect just by being around them. There was no way to justify that I realized now. "You don't know that. No one will ever know that now... because of me. And I can't take it back or change anything about it. I'm stuck somewhere I don't belong."
And then two hands slid into view and covered both of mine, warmth spreading through them. "Ash." I couldn't do it. I couldn't see the expression my best friend was wearing right now. He was a scientist and knew what I was. I couldn't look up and lose him all over again. "Ash, I need you to look at me."
I did, watery eyes rising slowly to meet the warmth of his brown ones. He was crouched in front of me, expression showing nothing but deep concern that seemed to go down to his very soul. I looked for it, any hint of the coldness that had come with his anger last time, but I was unable to find even a trace. His lips lifted in the smallest hint of a smile as I removed one hand to wipe my eyes and then my nose after a moment of deciding to screw appearances.
"Hey," he offered me once I was done, voice perfectly calm and composed. Part of me realized he was doing his best to keep this from becoming the last time I had freaked out.
"Hey," I offered back, softly. Skye's hand was still on my back, but she seemed content in remaining silent and letting Fitz take the lead.
"I know you're scared, Ash."
Instantly, I felt guilt shoot through me. I was being ridiculous. I was wasting everyone's time and effort. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I shouldn't be-"
"Ash," he gently cut me off, voice still incredibly patient. "You're fine. There's nothing you need to apologize for."
"I'm not supposed to be like this though." I wiped my eyes again, pretty sure they were a glaring red by this point. "I have to be the one that everyone else relies on. I'm the babysitter. I'm supposed to be the one taking care of all of you. Not the other way around."
"Ash- "
"I'm the coward after all, I suppose."
"Ashleigh, you're still a human being," Skye cut in a little harshly. "Even if you are from the future. So you need to stop going on like this." She took a beat to settle, continuing a little softer. "You don't always have to be the toughest person in the room. You don't have to feel like you need to be strong for us because destiny says so. You just need to be yourself, because that is the Ashleigh Crawford we care about. And we care so much that we're willing to be the ones who be strong for you when you need it. As a member of our team."
I let the words sink in, calming down enough to get my breathing under control. I just kept looking at Fitz, and slowly I felt like my word was righting again. These were my best friends. If I could believe anyone in this whole world it would be them.
"I can't, uh, I can't imagine what's going through your head right now really. It must be suffocating up there." It was enough to get my lips to quirk upward for a moment. "But Skye's right. I know I choose to believe that if somehow you are here and the universe has remained stable, then obviously there is some reason for your being here. Somehow it was allowed, and I don't know how. But I do know that I'm very glad you're here to be my Girl Talk Companion." His hands gave mine a brief squeeze. Oh, how I hoped everything he said was true. "We can't stop you from being scared, Ash. But there's no reason to be. We are right here and there's no way you're, uh, you're getting rid of us." He looked at me for a long beat, searching. "Alright?"
I could only nod, throwing my arms around him for a tight hug. "At least I didn't swear at you this time," I whispered making him give a small laugh. "Thank you." I then felt another set of arms around my back and realized Skye had joined our group hug as well. I settled into the warmth it created. "Thank you both."
"I'm glad you stopped bottling everything up and talked to us," Skye commented as she pulled away. "Sometimes it's like pulling teeth with you. Is this why you've been weird all day?" She then turned to Simmons, eyebrow quirked. The scientist had observed all of this passively it seemed, neutral expression on her face. "Simmons, why didn't you tell us you told her? We could have avoided all this." She gestured to me with a sweep of her arm. Fitz turned to her, expression questioning as well.
And I don't know why I did it, but I instantly went to defend her. "She told me in private so I could process," I told something that was somewhere between the truth and a lie. "I asked her not to tell any of you. I wanted to be the one who did it. I wanted to prepare and figure out what exactly to say to all of you. It's a pretty big reveal after all- over a hundred years big."
This seemed to be enough for the two of them. I didn't look to see how Simmons had reacted as I rose and pushed the stool back towards the table with a squeak. "I'm going to freshen up a bit. We should get back into the mission."
Fitz grabbed my arm before I could walk off, grip tight. "Only if you're alright now."
I patted the hand. "I am. Promise." He let go then, taking me at my word. I started out the back doors and made my way to the bathroom, heart feeling a lot lighter than when I had walked in. Maybe they were right. Maybe I was allowed my moments like that. I would try to keep myself under control from here on out though. I still had Centipede ass to kick after all.
Ward was at the bar, glass in hand as I started to pass him. He noticed my state immediately and put the glass down. "Crawford, what's wrong?"
"Just… grappling with the fact that I am over a hundred years from being born at this point in time." His expression didn't change, but I was pretty sure his mind has short circuited. "I'm from the future. Surprise!" And then I just kept going, closing the bathroom door a little harder than I probably should have.
I scrubbed my face, removing any trace of tears and snot until my skin was a satisfying shade of clean pink. I was wiping my face with my towel- our names were on the tags- and considering changing into a new sweater that was free of snot when there was a knock on the wooden door. "I'll be out in a minute," I shouted.
There was no response, so I wiped my face one last time before throwing the towel back on the hanger. I went to open the door when I heard the voice from the other side. "You didn't have to do that."
Simmons.
My hand still on the handle, I leaned against the wood with a sigh. I could tell she was doing the same thing on the other side. "I know," I agreed. She wasn't wrong. I could have left her exposed and made her answer for the fact that she had been lying to me just as much as everyone else. I could have forced her to out the way she felt about me and possibly alienate herself from everyone.
"But that's just not who I am," I continued. "I guess… even though you lied to me… I still protect the people I care about. Even if it risks changing everything. And maybe… maybe that's how it's meant to be." I put my head back on the door.
I heard the creak as she moved away and knew she had left. She was probably back in the lab working away like this conversation hadn't happened. And I was somehow okay with that. I wasn't expecting her to change her opinion and feelings about me overnight. She had a belief on what my being here meant and she was entitled it. I just knew now I couldn't believe it myself or I would fall apart in a way I couldn't afford. I had to keep moving forward and hoping eventually she would be willing to do the same with me.
I stepped out of the bathroom and made my way for the bunks, only to come to a halt at the sound I heard coming from one. I quickly pinpointed the location as Skye's and then a moment later realized it was the sound of someone sobbing. I instantly changed course and started for it, pausing when I noticed a figure in the corner of my eye.
It was Coulson. He was just standing at the bottom of the stairs from his office, staring at the door Skye was behind. He showed no signs of moving toward it though, hovering lost in thought. It was kind of puzzling really. Coulson and Skye usually had quite the bond, especially when she had just joined us.
Our eyes met briefly and I could tell he wasn't going in there. Whatever Skye was crying about- it somehow involved him. I could see the guilt clear as day. Well, I wasn't going to just stand around wasting time when my friend was hurting. I broke off eye contact and disappeared behind the door without looking back.
She was face down on her bed, crying even louder now that I was in the room. Papers and files were scattered about the room and in the trash- most of them ripped in pieces. I bent down and grabbed one, realizing it was all the data that she had been gathering to find her moth- the agent who had left her. It had finally happened. She had been getting more desperate recently and someone must have said just the right thing at the wrong time. Skye was giving up.
"Skye," I tried to comfort her as she just had me, perching at the end of the bed and placing a hand on her thigh. She didn't even act like she knew I was there. "Skye, what happened?"
I heard some kind of strangled whisper from under her pillow and couldn't help but sigh. "Skye, you're going to have to talk to me in a language I understand so I can help you." There was a long beat of silence. "Skye, you can't give up on this. This is everything you've been looking for. Now you need me to tell you who did this so I can kick their ass."
She finally sat up, leaning back against the wall. "Good luck with that."
"She speaks!" My attempt to lighten the mood didn't work though. But rather than fill the silence I just let it hang there, waiting patiently for her to fill the silence that was over us like a fog.
She finally did after a deep breath. "It was May. She said- she said I needed to stop bothering her about the flash drive." The disdain in her voice was clear. It seemed like the work to grow the relationship between May and Skye had suddenly been pushed back to where we had started. "That the mission at hand here isn't my parents and that is I couldn't put my personal attachments aside… then I should leave."
"Wow," was all I could say to that, leaning back against the wall so I was directly to her right. "I don't- tensions are high right now." She gave me a glare and I decided defending May wasn't what to do here. "You can't listen to her Skye. This is important. This is your past. Some people would give a lot to have one of those. You know I know that. And I know that's not the only reason you're here… or at least that's what I choose to believe. Just like you do with me. You're important to this team and doing so much work to help so many people. Like Mike Peterson. He wouldn't be here right now if it wasn't for you." I let this sink in before pulling out my final step with an elbow into her arm. "I personally think it was just a heat of the moment thing, but even if it wasn't… are you about to let Melinda May win? Come on now. Things haven't changed that much around here."
There was a flash of a watery smile and then all of a sudden the headache was back. I leaned forward with both hands flying to my head. This one was much quicker than the other two- just a brief image. I was in a situation much similar to this one but someone who wasn't Skye was by my side. Another girl with hair of a similar color but much sharper. I knew her. I knew that I knew her. I needed to tell her something. She had to understand.
"I'm expendable," I tried to get through to her. "That's why I'm here."
And then it was gone. She was gone and a very worried Skye was back in her place. She was shouting my name again and again, piercing through the fog that had momentarily clouded my brain. "Ashleigh!" she shouted loud enough to make me flinch, right next to my ear.
"I'm here. I'm back. It's me," I spoke quickly, hand going to my now throbbing ear. Her hand was on my shoulder, grip uncomfortable. Had it always been there? I hadn't felt it before. "Whoa."
"What the hell just happened?! It was like before… when we were watching Thor. You just went somewhere else on me- like you were someone else."
"I think I was," I admitted, looking at her. She looked terrified. "I think… Lee and I think they're memories. It's the old me when I talk during these- the one who hadn't lost her memories yet." Her fear didn't seem to be abating at my rambling. "I need my book. There's a book in my drawer that I'm writing everything down in. I need to… there was a girl. There was a girl I knew."
Skye was off like a shot and I heard the sound of her tearing through the bunk a few away. She then took off at a run as I nursed my still pounding head. Why did I have to tell her that? I couldn't remember anymore once again and it was infuriating. Why did she need to know that?
Her footsteps returned a minute later with another pair following. There was the sound of a drawer opening and closing before they made their way over, whispering lowly. Skye entered and hopped onto her bed as Fitz followed behind her with my notebook and pen. "I brought reinforcements."
"You forgot to tell her it was in the secret side drawer of the dresser. Your clothes are in a bit of disarray at the moment." He extended the book and I snatched it, flipping to the third page and writing frantically how the girl looked before she slipped away. "What was it this time?"
"I was talking with someone. She was upset and I was talking to her."
"How often does this happen?" Skye questioned, still a little out of the loop and clearly freaking out about it.
"This is only the third time," Fitz explained. "But it's happening more frequently. The first one took her months, now they're coming a few days apart." I finished the description to my satisfaction and now scribbled my words. Where had I been? I couldn't remember now. But I knew I had followed her there.
"Why?" Skye asked as I came to a screeching finish, closing the book with a deep breath. I had managed to capture most of it.
"I have a working theory actually." Fitz took a seat on the floor, the attention of the both of us now locked on him. The headache was fading to the point it was a dull throb now. Whatever it was had passed. "So imagine Ash's memories are locked behind a door. A big thick door that nothing is able to get behind."
"Got it," Skye nodded.
"Lived it," I couldn't help but add. Looks like I was back to normal.
He gave me a quick flustered look before continuing. "So nothing is able to open the door. But then… we watch something so familiar and it pounds into the door so hard it makes a crack. A very specific item that was a one in a million chance, but her brain managed to pull of the impossible and key into the right… key really."
"That key being Thor fighting," I deduced.
"Exactly. A memory so specific it managed to let one memory slip through- the one that made you realize you had fought alongside Thor also."
"Excuse me?!" Skye cut in. "You did what now?!"
"He's a God. I'm sure he's kicking around in the future," I shrugged. "Please continue."
"But we're coming back to that right?" Skye objected. Fitz just glanced her way before deciding to keep moving forward.
"So now there's a crack in the door- it's not as solid as it once was. It's easier for things to slip out than it once was now that a critical blow has been dealt."
"I get more memories because my brain is now able to link things easier," I followed along. "It keeps getting easier for things to get through every time it happens."
"Exactly." He rose again. "But that's not the big question."
"Is this where we finally round back on the Thor thing? Because I've been unable to concentrate on anything else."
"What's the question?" I asked, ignoring her.
He pointed at the top of my head. "Who shut the door and put the lock on in the first place? And why did they do it?"
"Maybe whoever sent me here," I breathed, mind reeling a bit. I had always held fast to the belief that I had lost my memories voluntarily, but what if that wasn't the case? So many questions suddenly sprung to my mind. What if there was something I needed erased if they were going to send me here? Was there something I had known that was too dangerous for this time? Or even worse, what if there was something I needed to remember that someone was keeping me from? What if I had been intercepted someone to keep me from doing my job?
"What if someone got to me before Fury did?" I said just loud enough for the two of them to hear me. "Someone who needed the door closed." That was followed by something even worse. "And what if Fury knows and that's what he's protecting me from?"
Fitz and Skye were clearly deep in thought about this. I hadn't really had a chance to register that Skye now was in on this memory situation, but I was kind of relieved she knew now too. It was good to have people in my corner as things just seemed to keep spiraling. I had told her I was expendable. Is that- is that why this had happened to me? Because I was worth sending back and losing from my own time?
But I realized something else and rose, book under my arm. "We need to get back to the mission." They both looked at me like I was crazy, but I persisted. I would show them expendable. "We can focus and obsess on this when we don't have a million other things to worry about. There will be time. It's just not now. Myself and my head aren't going anywhere. But we need to stop Centipede before it's too late."
They seemed to reluctantly agree with me, Skye rising as well with a groan. She looked at the bin of ripped papers for a long moment before looking at myself. I gave her a nod and the two of us quickly deposited everything back on her bed as Fitz left for the lab with a wave. It looks like our pasts were pretty tangled now as we both searched together for some truths buried deep in the Agency we were surrounded by, both of them on the backburner for now though.
I left her bunk, remembering my desire to change sweaters, when I nearly ran into Mike Peterson. He was wearing some normal clothes at the moment, relieved of his battle gear for now it appeared. He seemed to be looking a lot better now judging by his color and the way he held himself, towering over me with a serious expression on his face. "Can I borrow you for a minute?"
"Sure." He left without another word and I followed him through the Bus to the Cage which had been temporarily refurbished to look more homey. It failed, still as cold and unwelcoming as ever. He took a seat on the bed that had been brought in while I pulled over a chair from the other side of the room. "What can I do for you?"
"Coulson told me I should find you," he explained. "He said that if I was looking for someone to just be supportive when you make a tough choice that you were the person to go to. That you always seemed to know the right thing to say to keep people going."
I felt myself blush. "Coulson's exaggerating… a lot."
He shook his head. "I don't think so. He's not the type. He means it… and I could really use that right now." He held his hand up, clutching a cell phone perhaps a little too tightly. "I haven't talked to or seen my son since…since…"
"Since you nearly went nuclear?" He nodded, almost looking ashamed. He hated that he had left his kid with that image of a man on the brink, driven by rage. "I've learned a thing or two about keeping things bottled in from people today," I reminded him. "And I suggest we avoid that here. So let's arrange a reunion."
"What if he hates me?" he let out what was probably his darkest fear on this whole matter. "What if I'm not the type of dad he can be proud of… and he know it."
"That's ridiculous," was all the answer I gave to that, complete with eye roll. Mike just stared at me, almost shocked at my easy dismissal of his worries. "Heroes see the good in people. And that kid… he's a hero. Especially if he's your son." There was a long pause as he just continued staring at me, almost making me worry I was completely falling down on the job here. But I continued my confidence and merely nodded towards the phone. "Well then, what are you waiting for? I think he's waited long enough!"
That managed to get a smile. "Looks like Coulson was right." And I felt a swell in my chest as he dialed, putting the phone to his ear. He answered after just a few rings and it was enough to make Mike's entire face light up. "Hey, Ace." He waited a beat before speaking again, tears almost coming to his eyes. I felt I had done my job and slowly stood up to creep out unnoticed. "It is so good to hear your voice, buddy. And I got some good news… I'm gonna get to come home and see you for a bit."
Just as I went to open the door, Mike spoke again in a completely different tone. "Ace, who's there with you? Where's your Aunt Mindy?" I turned back to him, watching as his look became one of horror. My hair suddenly stood on end, sensing this situation wasn't good in the slightest. "Raina, what have you done to him?!"
Shit. I was running towards him now, mind going a thousand miles per hour. Raina had Ace. She had kidnapped his son. "Raina, I'm not playing games! You'd better not have hurt him!" His desperation was bleeding right into me and I found myself nearly panicking as well. She could kill him with one wrong move. She had stopped us right in our tracks because I was not about to do anything that could hurt Ace. I had promised myself that Centipede wasn't hurting anyone else if there was anything I could do about it. "What do you want Raina? I'll do anything just so long as you don't touch him." He waited, pacing now in anger and frustration. She had said something that had made him very upset, almost put him at war with himself. "Raina, I don't- I can't just trade you someone else. There has to be something else. Anything else." She clearly wasn't having it through and his internal battle increased.
She wanted him I deduced there. She needed him for some sort of test or experiment for these new soldiers. She was going to keep father and son separated by reversing the situation. Mike would become her personal lab rat and Centipede would have everything it needed.
I reacted before I even thought, snatching the phone from him and holding it up. "Raina, this is Agent Ashleigh Crawford. I know you have no idea who I am, but I am a member of Coulson's team. A very valuable member. One that he would do anything to keep. Now I say Mike and his family have suffered enough at the hands of you. You have torn their lives apart enough. So I am going to offer you something and I'm only going to offer it to you once. You want Coulson off your back? For your soldiers to stop dying unnecessarily?" I kept going, leaving no room to change my mind. "There's a way to do that. And it's to take me instead of Mike."
He stepped towards me, but I held my hand out. "Take me and all the trouble stops. I won't fight or struggle. Everyone leaves you alone and in turn you leave them alone- especially Mike and Ace. That's the deal. Take it or leave it."
I felt like I was going to throw up at the silence on the other hand, so I gave the phone back to Mike as I nearly fell onto the bed. I forced my stomach to keep it together as Mike listened to Raina for a long time, nodding and agreeing to whatever she was saying before finally hanging up. "You didn't have to do that!" he snapped.
I couldn't help my sadistic smile. "She took the deal?"
"She gave me a time and place. You for Ace." I nodded, forcing myself to my feet. We needed to tell Coulson and get ready. He was right at my heels, still questioning. "Why did you do that?!"
I whirled so we were face-to-face, eyes narrowing. "I did it because you are a good person Mike. And I am not handing you over to be tortured or mutilated by her again!" I took a step back, forcing my fists to open. "I also did it because I was bluffing if they do take me. I have nothing to offer about S.H.I.E.L.D. I have no codes or secrets to offer them which makes me the perfect choice. I'm a fake Agent. And her taking me isn't nearly enough to stop Coulson. It will just make him fight harder."
"Even if get you killed because of it?"
I paused at the bottom of the stairs to Coulson's office, taking a deep breath. The words that came to me somehow made me want to laugh and cry at the same time. "I'm expendable." And then I started up, ready to make a plan that would hopefully save everyone. Maybe including myself if we got lucky.
XXX
The conversation with Coulson went about as well as expected. He had taken me a little bit to task for my act of sacrifice without consulting anyone on the matter. But he couldn't argue my points about why I was the safest option. And he was more than committed to finding a way to get us all out of this situation without losing me to Centipede for good. There was no way around them taking me it seemed with the instructions that had been given, but they might be able to save me in record time if everything worked out. And Coulson wasn't going to let any part of this not work out. It was the personal drive he needed to send him into high gear. I was doing something pretty unprecedented. I was going to let the team protect me this time and he seemed determined to not let me down.
Everyone was gathered in our living room area a short time later at his call, knowing it was serious as he launched into the plan he had decided upon without hesitation. "Raina, and thus Centipede, has Ace." Everyone reacted with the appropriate horror, which for May meant a slight hardening expression and Ward nothing at all. Simmons and Skye seemed to reel the most. "They want a trade. They've set a time and place."
"For Mike?" Fitz questioned, clearly disgusted. "Bloody savages."
"No." Coulson took a deep breath before continuing. "Crawford took it upon herself to offer up as the trade instead." This seemed to get an even bigger rise out of everyone. Mya even uncrossed her arms. "And they accepted."
"What were you thinking Crawford?" Ward questioned harshly, but I remained resolute at Coulson's side. Mike kept glancing at me as if expecting me to give in at any moment- hoping I would too. But I wasn't changing my mind. This was what needed to happen.
"Seriously?!" Skye agreed. "We're not letting her do it right? We're not letting them take her."
"Of course we're bloody not." Fitz was staring daggers into me. I knew he was pissed at me for doing this, but he also in a way sounded like he wasn't surprised this had happened. I'm sure he had been expecting this at one time or another. I knew we would be having a long talk about my sense of heroism later… if there was one. No. I couldn't think like that. We had a plan. It was going to be fine.
"What other options are there?" May questioned, surprising everyone. "We can't give them Mike and we can't let them keep Ace."
"I'm the least valuable here," I spoke up. "They will get literally nothing out of me."
"That's not the point," Fitz argued. "We are not giving you over to them and that's final."
"I don't think you get to make that call," Coulson challenged, still calm though.
"May I remind all of you she is from the future?" Simmons cut in. "Giving her over to them… it could be catastrophic for everyone. However, this happened in her past… she wasn't here to take Mike's place. This is not how it was meant to happen."
"Well, it's happening," Skye disagreed. "But, no, she's not going."
"And then they kill Ace," May reminded her.
Ward shook his head, plans already going through it rapidly. "We've fought these guys before. We could do it again. Make sure they don't even get a hand on her."
"We don't have a choice," Coulson disagreed. It clearly wasn't the answer anyone wanted but he continued. "The instructions they gave Mr. Peterson were very specific. I called HQ- told them to stand down."
"Stand down?" May questioned, flipping tracks quickly. She had been playing Devil's Advocate before, but now that it seemed Coulson was giving in she was quick to change her attack. This wasn't how things were done and she knew it. Or maybe it was that she actually cared about me enough not to risk my skin for a long shot.
"So we take them alone," Ward shrugged as if it was nothing.
"We should at least have a hostage-rescue unit in support of this," May reminded Coulson of protocol. Ah, of course it was that rather than me. We had been growing as a team, but not enough if a child was at stake and I was willing. May knew better than to challenge me when I had my mind on something and she knew it. It was how this was being done where she had the issues.
"They said they would murder my son," Mike interrupted everything from where he had sat down. "If we make one wrong move."
"Any electronics, any comms, any sign of surveillance and they'll terminate the arrangement," Coulson informed them all of what Raina had spent so long discussing with Mike.
"So it's easy really," I spoke up, knowing I was the only hope of getting the team together on this. "We let them take me. And then we hope the plan works."
"Plan? What plan?" Skye asked, everyone turning to look at Coulson.
"Fitz-Simmons have a non-electric method of tracking him."
Fitz instantly caught on. "Simmons fabricated an odorless scent and I have the instrument that can detect it. Work like a bloodhound, can track someone from over 50 kilometers."
"After we make the trade, we follow Crawford," Coulson laid out what we had settled on. "We find her as soon as she's been driven away and we take all of S.H.I.E.L.D. with us to get to Centipede once and for all…and get her back home."
I looked at Mike Peterson, who had so much guilt hanging on his shoulders. "I will be fine. I'm strong. I can do this. They will get nothing useful out of me and I can promise you they won't break me either." I held up the arm with the tattoo. "Especially if it saves someone else." I looked and met everyone's eyes. "You'll find me. I know you all will." I turned to Mike again, resting a hand on his shoulder. "And we will get your son back. I promise."
"Let's get ready to head out," Coulson announced. "We need to be ready in an hour if we're going to get to the location in time. I would also like a word with Ward and May in my office." The two of them followed him out, leaving me with a very upset group of people.
"I can't believe we're doing this," Skye spoke first.
"It's for Ace," I reminded her, nodding towards where Mike was still sitting. "It's what needs to be done and there's no way around that."
She came at me and I half expected her to punch me, but instead she pulled me into a bear hug that nearly left me struggling to breathe. "You'd better not die."
"I'll do my best." I looked at Fitz over her shoulder as he scratched the back of his head.
"Come on Simmons," he started for the lab. "We need to run a test on that scent. It needs to be perfect before we even consider using it on her." Simmons instantly followed, looking back at me over her shoulder as Skye pulled away. I remembered something and unclipped the hamster ball from my belt, getting to Fitz just as he entered the lab.
I extended it towards him. "Take care of him while I'm gone."
He hesitated for a long moment, but finally took it gently as if it might break. "He won't even realize you were ever gone," he vowed. I nodded, knowing this was his sign of support at my decision. Or as close as I ever was going to get to one.
"Fair enough then."
XXX
The drive out was mostly silent. Skye was driving the van while Simmons and Fitz hovered in the back with myself. I was trying to keep my mind on anything but what was about to happen once Centipede had me, instead taking to tracing the lines of my tattoo again and again for an extra resolve. It held fast as we came to a stop on an abandoned bridge. I climbed out of the van to get a look at it. The whole sky was dark and created an air of isolation as pockets of light only cropped up from the flashing construction sign light at the entrance. Otherwise the place was completely silent and it made things infinitely eerie. Goosebumps ran up my arms despite my sweater which I realized I had never changed. The snot was still crusted on my sleeve. I picked at it absently as Fitz grabbed the equipment, realizing a few hours ago that being from the future was my biggest concern.
Simmons cleared her throat and I looked up see she was holding the swab they had tested in the little time they had. It had worked perfectly. I extended the hand without the tattoo and she did lay some plastic over it as Fitz and Skye observed.
"Once the swap happens, I'll fire up my equipment," Fitz instructed me. "We'll be able to track you wherever they take you and get you out before anything happens to you."
"Just make sure Ace is alright first." Simmons removed the strip and I took a deep breath. "It's going to be fine." I don't know if that was for myself of for them.
Coulson and Mike approached then. "Time to go." I nodded as they started away, looking over the trio one last time. I hadn't really seen May or Ward since the pow-wow, but maybe that was for the best. These three though… these were the especially hard ones.
I hugged Simmons first, quickly but affectionately. And then was Skye, who rocked me back and forth a few times before she let go. And last was Fitz as I wrapped my arms tightly around his neck, not really ever wanting to let go. "Remember, Lee, we still have that Girl Talk when all this was done." It was the one thing I was giving myself. It was my one shred of hope that waited at the end of this tunnel.
"The moment we are back on the Bus I am all yours," he vowed, pulling back just enough to rest his forehead against mine. "I will find you."
"I know you will." I had every faith in him. "You're my brilliant genius after all." And with that, I pulled away and went with Coulson and Mike. Mike had said that Coulson was supposed to come with to act as our moderator for the exchange- another request of Raina's it seemed.
We weaved our way through the cars and flashing orange construction equipment to where two people had just climbed out of a black car on the other side. I was between the two gentleman and doing my best to stand as tall as possible.
"We won't let you down," Coulson said so only I could hear as we walked through the darkness to meet them.
"It wasn't supposed to go down like this," Mike sighed from next to me. "I'm gonna make this right, I swear."
"It's fine, Mike. It was my choice," I reminded him as we stopped at the halfway point to meet another one of the soldiers and a girl in shining stain dress who was smiling with a sparkle in her eye.
"Hello, Mike," she greeted our tall compatriot warmly, sending a shiver down my spine. "It's been awhile. Your son is adorable and he looks just like you."
I could feel him tense next to me and narrowed my eyes at the one who must be Raina. "That's enough," I warned her. She turned her attention to myself and Coulson as if noticing us for the first time.
"I don't believe I've had the pleasure."
"Lucky for you." Coulson wasn't playing any of her games it seemed.
She gave a sigh of disappointment it almost seemed and smiled back at Mike, who looked ready to throttle her. "I have to thank you, Mike, for holding up you end of the deal."
I took a step forward. "Let's just cut to the chase. I'm Ashleigh Crawford. You give us Ace and then you get me."
Raina had that sparkle again. "Oh, that wasn't the deal."
Excuse me?
Coulson looked just as put off as I felt. "What's happening here, Mike?"
Raina smiled at us. "You see, we thought Ace was more valuable than just the life of a common blonde Agent. So we made this exchange two for the price of one. We would give Mike his son if he delivered the both of you."
No. I went to object, but Mike had already sprung forward and now held Raina by her throat as the soldier as her side merely observed. I grabbed his arm, but it was of no use as he simply batted me back on my butt. "I'm not at full strength, but I can still crush your throat. New deal!" he declared loudly. "My son for your life!"
I hoisted myself back to my feet as Raina didn't seem unnerved in the slightest at this threat. "Sadly, my employer cares no more for my life than your son's." She almost somehow seemed businesslike over the prospect of her dying and it was very disconcerting. "If I die, so does he, and his death will be much worse."
Coulson put a hand on Mike this time. Coulson. It had been Coulson she had commanded he hand over, not himself. I had read that completely wrong! I couldn't let this happen. "You need to let her go," Coulson instructed gently.
"I was going to tell them they could have me," he made clear, desperate. I stood behind Coulson, offering my support as well while trying to figure out how the hell to get us out of this. "But then they wanted you. And then she had to go and offer herself too." He locked eyes with Coulson. "Why do they want you?"
"I don't know," he answered honestly, "But if you kill this woman you'll never see your son again."
"But how will I look him in the eye?" He glanced between the two of us. "How will I explain what I did?"
"We talked about this," Coulson replied. Whatever it was, it seemed to be enough.
"I'm so sorry." And with that, Mike released Raina. She took a gulp of air and quickly regained her composure to meet the two of us staring her down.
"Let's finish this," Coulson declared. "But on the condition you take only me and Agent Crawford goes free."
She seemed to consider this, but I had a say in the matter. "No deal." I stepped up beside him now, nodding. "You heard the deal. It's the both of us or none of us."
Raina seemed delighted by this as I met Coulson with an unwavering gaze. I wasn't letting him do this alone. I had the scent on me. They could find both of us now. This could still work. Raina turned and gave a hand signal to the remaining soldier who opened one of the car doors.
"Dad!" A little boy came out like a shot right for Mike, who hoisted him into his arms. It was enough to make it all worth it. He instantly started to back away from us.
"If there had been any other way…"
"it's okay," I comforted him. "You were his hero… and that's all that matters."
And with that I felt something being shoved into my back, a pinching sensation that made me gasp. A sudden cold spread through me and it was like everything locked up all at once. I fell forward towards the pavement, only to be scooped into the arms of one of the soldiers.
"Crawford!" Coulson cried, but soon it was clear from his grunt that they had got him too. It tried to struggle and fight, but now I felt even my mind slowing down a bit. I was unable to move anything at all, completely helpless as I was hauled towards the car. Even when I tried screaming my lungs made no sound. I was petrified my heart would stop beating soon. I could barely even keep my eyes open.
They drifted closed just at the sound of something exploding echoed around me, sudden rush of heat hitting me like a wave. The soldier remained steady though, as if he had been expecting it. We changed directions moving somewhere else. I couldn't muster the strength to open my eyes and see though.
The team would find us. They would save us.
I was deposited onto to some form a grate floor harshly, falling over so the pattern was digging into my cheek. Someone pulled me upright as someone else landed next to me. It had to be Coulson, who seemed just as out of it as I was.
Another explosion echoed- this one smaller though. And then after a moment came the sound of whirring and the sensation of being lifted off the ground I had become very familiar with. We were in the air. They were flying us out of here. Fitz… Fitz wouldn't be able to trace me. I wouldn't get to tell him. We wouldn't get to have our talk.
I realized now what my plaque would say- what I would add to my speech. I had already written it a long time ago. It was so obvious. I would join Coulson's team and I was going to save whoever I could.
Mine was my tattoo.
I wish I could let them know that somehow. Or at least that they come up with something cool when they make it.
There were voices but I couldn't make them out in the slightest. I merely drifted in and out, helicopter blades the only constant against the darkness beneath my eyelids. I fought like hell though and finally I was able to force them open, vision blurring for a long moment before coming into focus.
We were flying over darkness, impossible to tell where we were. Coulson was next to me and judging by how he turned his head to check on me he had fared a little better under this solution than I had. God, my tongue felt like sandpaper.
"Whatever this is, whatever you think you're doing, it won't work," Coulson remained defiant. "I won't give you what you want. And she can't even if she wanted to."
"Oh, you both will," Raina said slowly, happily. "What we want is simple." She looked skyward as if in disbelief. "I just still can't believe our luck. Not only does he agree to hand you over, but the second target we thought we'd need another op for just offers herself up." She snapped. "Just like that. And then we had you both so quickly. And the sooner we can begin with the two of you, the better after all."
This… this wasn't making sense. I… I was disposable. That's why I had done this. I was completely useless to Centipede as an Agent. She had to be bluffing. "What… what could you possibly need… from us?" I slurred. She seemed to understand me though.
She turned to Coulson first. "We want you to tell us about the day after you died." Well, I hadn't been expecting that. Color me surprised. And then her dark, large orbs of eyes locked on mine, making me feel as if I was property somehow. "And as for you, well we're going to find out the secrets the girl from the future has buried away in her thick, blonde skull."
Shit. Shit, shit, shit. I felt everything go cold as my breathing stopped, like a fresh helping of ice sliding through my veins.
It was so much that everything closed in like a tunnel before going black as I finally lost my foot hold and slid out of consciousness.
XXX
Well, there we are. Buckle up. The next one is going to be very rough. But don't worry- the team is going to stop at nothing to get Ashleigh back on the Bus. Though the state she will be in might be another matter entirely.
Sorry this was so late. First it was sickness, then school, and then life in general. Thank you all so much for your patience and support. I hope it was worth the wait and that I will see you all again much sooner.
Thank you to all those who have put this story on alert for keeping tabs on me: theallureofdarkness, icklebit, mlr96, kadmac, ProperEnglish, .98, Emily'sImagination, crawler123, hlavender234, teenw, emfalcon, Lulalulale, SapphireTrafficker, ElijahJessGodric, Robyn-in-the-air, Vermilion Fire, RiverWinchester, Andysteve1311, novaturient, lovelittleberry, IceQueen204, and Midnight Hikari.
Thank you to all those who have elevated this story to the grand level of among their favorites for the honor: AthenaB, mlr96, 7upvodka, .98, fanfictionfreak221, Emily'sImagination, QueenSuzannaofWesteros, Lanerain, Blackhawk34, Thegirlwhowaited24601, crawler123, hlavender234, Haziebug, XxCupcakeAssassinxX, Lulalulale, SapphireTrafficker, Triggerfinger213, ElijahJessGodric, Robyn-in-the-air, Vermilion Fire, lovelittleberry, Andysteve1311, novaturient, AMV1999, and Ice Queen 204.
And thank you to my lovely reviewers for all the words that keep me going and make me better: Guest, NessieBooEvans, Thegirlwhowaited24601, VioletKane, Emily'sImagination, eckles my dear friend who I hope enjoyed his trip, mlr96, AthenaB, Guest, CharTheMander, XxAmyTheGreatxX, Bruna Santos 30 my foreign reviewer, and yet another Guest. Thank you all.
Thank you all again for everything. This story continues to floor me in how loved it and Ashleigh Crawford have become. I look forward to the second half of Season One with everyone!