Kayla stood outside the Doctor's office for a few seconds, before cautiously knocking, and opening the door. She hadn't seen the man in question for months and allowed herself a moment to take in his appearance. He was wearing an immaculate suit and tie, his hair shaved to a degree at the sides. But he was still recognizable as the man she used to know.

"Hey Fitz" She smiled, as he gave her a stiff nod.

"Take a seat" He ushered, to the chair on the opposite side of his desk.

"Well this is nice…good, uh, proportions I guess…" Kayla trailed off, looking around his office.

"It's tactically located. Madame Hydra's office isn't far away, and it's in between our biggest arsenal. But yes…the proportions are nice" Fitz explained.

"So…how've you been? I feel like I haven't seen you in years" Kayla chuckled, lightly.

"This isn't a social call, Kayla. I want to talk about Skye. Or the lack of Skye to be precise" Fitz told her.

"She's sick" Kayla shrugged, leaning back in her chair, trying to not show any nervous tells.

"She hasn't been heard from in over 48 hours. And she's not in her apartment-" Fitz started, but Kayla cut him off.

"You've been there?" She questioned.

"I sent a squad there. None of her belongings have been moved, but there's no sign of her. We've looked at the CCTV. She went into her apartment but never left. She just vanished. What do you have to say about that?" Fitz inquired.

"She's a big girl, Fitz. She's allowed to go on an impromptu holiday" Kayla theorized.

"Except she didn't tell anyone where she was going. Why didn't you fill out a missing person's report?" Fitz inquired.

"Like I said…I thought she was sick" Kayla insisted.

"Really?" Fitz asked as he stood up, his hands pressed against his desk.

"I'm not her keeper. She doesn't have to check in with me" Kayla pointed out.

"I remember how close you two were on the Bus. I highly doubt that's changed over the past few years" Fitz retorted, coming to lean against his desk, not far in front of Kayla.

"Except you wouldn't know that, would you? Seeing as I haven't seen you for what…a year now?" Kayla stated.

"I still keep tabs on all Hydra staff-" Fitz started, but Kayla cut him off, standing up.

"Staff?! We used to be friends, once upon a time, Fitz. Or have you already chosen to forget that?" Kayla inquired.

"Of course, I bloody haven't!" Fitz yelled as the two stood in silence for a few seconds.

"…I'm sorry. I shouldn't have shouted" Fitz mumbled.

"Why did you never come to see me? After the…incident? I needed you" Kayla admitted.

"It seemed like the right decision at the time" Fitz answered.

"To abandon me?" Kayla scoffed, as she sat back down in her chair.

"To compartmentalize. I shouldn't have grown so attached to the team. Maybe if I hadn't Jemma…Simmons would haven't been able to betray us" Fitz pointed out.

"No one could have seen it coming, Fitz. Is that what this is all about? That you felt guilty?" Kayla realised.

"It should have been you who took the oxygen" Fitz replied.

"No. It was my choice. I wanted you to live. I'd do the same again" Kayla informed him, seeming to shock him by the expression on his face.

"…I suppose it did push you and Ward closer" Fitz gave her a small smirk, as she rolled her eyes.

"See? It was part of my plan all along" Kayla shrugged, sharing in the dark joke.

"How are things going with him anyway?" Fitz couldn't help but ask.

"They're going nowhere, just like they always have" Kayla admitted.

"He really can't see the empire-sized crush you have on him?" Fitz asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Even if he does, he'd never let it go anywhere. My brother would kill him" Kayla explained.

"Ah, yes. Your brother. I was surprised he never mentioned about Skye's disappearance. They are still friends, are they not?" Fitz went on.

"C'mon, this Skye we're talking about. You can trust her. Besides May trained her, she can take care of herself" Kayla told him.

"You're not as good a liar as you'd like to think, Kayla" Fitz stated.

"Well trust me then" Kayla insisted, as Fitz sighed.

"…Fine. But I won't call off the order to search for her. I'll tell them not to use force to bring her in" Fitz compromised.

"Thank you" Kayla nodded.

"Don't make me regret this" Fitz warned her.

"You won't-" Kayla was cut off as the door swung open to reveal Madame Hydra.

"Ma'am" Kayla announced, standing up immediately.

"I didn't realise you had company" Madame Hydra exclaimed.

"Kayla was just leaving" Fitz stated, as Kayla made her way towards the door.

"Wait! I don't think I ever thanked you for saving Leopold's life. It must have been horrible down there. I can hardly imagine it" Madame Hydra went on, as Kayla began to feel the telltale tremors in her hand begin.

"It was. But uh, I'm much better now" Kayla insisted, her hand balled in a fist.

"Of course," Madame Hydra smiled, coldly.

"Agent Fitz" Kayla nodded, giving her leave before she exited the room.

Unfortunately for Kayla, the pair had noticed the physical after-effects that had begun to show just before she left the room. Fitz tried to push down the overwhelming guilt he felt whenever he saw Kayla. How was he supposed to deal with destroying the life of someone he cared about so much?

"What did the Doctor want?" A voice boomed, as Kayla went to walk away from the office.

Kayla looked behind her to see Ward lounging against the wall, one foot touching it as he used it to push himself up. She was surprised as she realised he must have been waiting outside for her.

"Nothing much" She shrugged, as they began walking together.

"Kayla…" Ward trailed off, as he touched her arm, stopping her movement.

Biting her lip, Kayla weighed out her options. She trusted Ward with her life, but she lying to her superiors and was trying to protect a possible traitor. Deciding she needed all the help she could get, she pulled him into the ladies' toilet's nearby. Ward opened his mouth to speak, but Kayla quickly put her finger to her lips, as she got out her phone. After typing for a few moments, Ward heard something whir and then spark above them, on top of the mirror in the toilets.

"I disabled the camera and the listening device," Kayla told him.

"What's going on?" Ward frowned, knowing it must have been serious.

"Skye's missing, and I think the resistance might have got to her. I don't know if she went willingly or not, hell it might not even be them but-" Kayla blurted out, as Ward placed his hand on her shoulder to stop her rambling.

"I know. Ken's already filled me in with everything" Ward replied.

"Oh…of course he has" Kayla nodded, a slightly bitter tone to her voice.

"Wherever Skye is, we'll get her back. I promise" Ward insisted, squeezing her shoulder, knowing how much Kayla cared about Skye.

"What if it's already too late?" Kayla couldn't help but suggest.

"Hey, don't think like that. If the resistance does have her, they won't hurt her. She'd be too important to them" Ward reasoned.

They both jumped when the door suddenly swung open and an older woman entered, giving the pair a confused look. Kayla vaguely recognized her as one of the lab geeks that used to work with Fitz. Kayla almost groaned as she realised she had forgotten to block the door so no one could enter. The woman's face slowly morphed from confusion to smugness, as she winked at the pair.

"Don't worry your secret is safe with me" She told the pair.

"What secret?" Kayla questioned.

"I was young once too, you know. I'm no stranger to hookups in the bathroom" She smirked, as Kayla felt a blush begin on her cheeks.

"Oh no, that's not…we're not…" Kayla stuttered.

"We were just…" Ward trailed off, just as awkwardly.

The woman placed a finger to her lips, as she laughed a little, as Kayla and Ward tried to calm the blushes that were growing on their faces.

Author's Notes: I hope everyone enjoyed this chapter! I'm really loving writing these characters as their framework selves, it'll be a lot of fun when we add Daisy into the mix. Please leave a review:)

Guest: Aw, thank you! I hope this chapter lives up to your expectations:)