A/N: I've probably re-written this chapter ten times and I think this is the best version of it. Still not perfect, but no chapter ever really is.
I had planned from the beginning that Skye would have a disorder/ disability of some kind to add to her character. The panic/anxiety attacks are fairly common, so I wanted to go a little deeper than that since it is used quite often. In this universe she is dyslexic and a mild case of ADHD, though could be more prominent in later chapters.
For any Percy Jackson fans out there, Skye is now a demigod.
Warning: a word that has been used to describe/ insult people with disabilities will make an appearance as Skye has been on the receiving end of such a word. I don't like that word, I would have rathered leaving it out, but I think by using it shows the effect it can have on someone like Skye. I apologize if it offends someone, I mean no disrespect in using it to make a point.
Summary: Agents Melinda May and Phil Coulson are put on a new assignment to look after an object of unknown origin, an 0-8-4. The only catch is this 0-8-4 is a person. A fourteen year old girl who's spent her life in the foster system is now in more danger than ever. A man beast is hunting her and SHIELD has to make sure that it doesn't get close to her. AU
Chapter Eight
Friday September 2nd continued.
When May and Skye were gone, Coulson filed away the reports that Fury sent him before he made contact with Agent Morse to make sure that Skye was enrolled without an issue. Out of all the missions that Coulson had ever been on, looking after a child or teen had never been one of them. It was a bit exciting. Something new.
However he wouldn't be one hundred percent undercover because the company he worked at had ties with SHIELD. If he was going to be called out to a mission, he would get the assignment while at 'work'. While Skye would think he worked at the college and in Insurance and had to travel around quite a bit, he actually did work with SHIELD.
Coulson would still go to the college he would lecture at for the sake of show, but he would only go to do work for SHIELD there. Discovering that from Hill had been disappointing, but he wouldn't let it bring him down. At least he would be able to speak with the prospective agents there from time to time.
Coulson was pulled out of his thoughts when Agent Morse spoke to him, "Everything is in order sir. Next is to address her classes and previous performance."
Initially Coulson wasn't going to look into her classes or what she would be doing at school, but he just couldn't help himself. After spending an afternoon with her, he really wanted to be involved with her life while she was here. Once this Rogue experiment was captured and she was safe, he hoped he would be able to stay close to her.
She needed at least one person to remain in her life. He wanted to be the one to stay with her, regardless of protocols and rules. Coulson's focus returned on the blonde woman, who was looking at another screen he couldn't see.
The computer screen in the office across from Skye's room allowed for 'video conferences' without the use of Skype or FaceTime. Rather the camera was built into the computer for this specific purpose. From what Coulson could tell, Agent Morse was sitting at a desk in a SHIELD office. The symbol behind her gave that away.
"Alright, what do you have so far," Coulson asked with a nod.
The woman typed as she spoke, "Her grades were pretty good from second to seventh grade. Despite how often she moved, she did a good job keeping up with work along with her possible learning disorders. This past year they fell through the floor and appeared more like how you would expect a struggling students work to be."
"Her performance fell through and she only had possible learning disorders," Coulson questioned with a raised brow, "Was she never tested?"
The Agent nodded, "Her grades fell far throughout her eighth grade year, this past one. It looks like various teachers thought she was struggling beyond what they would say an average student would and no one ever tested her to see if the work was just harder for her or if something was going on."
"Any idea why her grades suffered or why she was never tested," Coulson decided to ask, even though he figured the answer would be no.
"No clear reason. Only thing it says here is that she was in California from June of 2010 to March of 2011. September through March she maintained a solid C- average overall," Agent Morse replies shaking her head, "And my guess is with how often she moved they must never have brought her in for an evaluation."
Coulson made a mental note of that, "What do you recommend? You've been in the school and overlooking the courses for the other students I'm sure."
"I have," Agent Morse acknowledged, she took her undercover work very seriously, "I think she would do well here. It had a more individualized approach which will benefit her. The past year looks more like behavioral issue rather than academic."
Coulson nodded, prompting Agent Morse to continue.
Agent Morse went on, "Judging from these files and reports that seems to be logical reason… I did check her past files from teachers and it says she struggled to focus in class, had trouble in reading and writing as a whole mostly with spelling. Authoritative issues didn't make an appearance until fourth grade. I shouldn't have, but I sent you her reports so you could see for yourself."
Coulson nodded, he raised an eyebrow in question, "I'll look into it. She was just slow in school, but still managed to do well. That's a good sign then."
"Yeah," Agent Morse replied simply, "Most of the files were about discipline and her problems with authority which makes sense given her background. Regular school system is probably too draining for her so I placed her on the career path here for now."
"You think it will go over better," Coulson asked curiously, he knew the school operated with two types of school. One was standard, the other was a career starter.
Agent Morse nodded, "I think so. On Monday I'll show her and she can decide then. In the meantime you can look over her previous files."
Coulson nodded, that sounded fine to him, "I'll speak with her later on it. Thank you for your time."
"It was no trouble sir," Agent Morse assured him, "This has been the most interesting part of my assignment."
"Teenagers not your thing," Coulson remarked.
Agent Morse shook her head, "Not at all. Big guys with bigger guns I can handle. Awkward teens raging with hormones." The woman made a face and inhaled sharply.
Coulson chuckled, "I can definitely understand that."
"There is one thing I wanted to ask about sir," Agent Morse started, a bit hesitant she continued, "Why did you want to know this?"
Coulson frowned, "What do you mean?"
Agent Morse paused, unsure of how to phrase it and instead backed out, "It doesn't matter. Morse out."
Coulson would have asked her more about she meant, but she was already gone before he could speak. He had a feeling he knew what she was getting at. Why was he so interested in this girl? In all honesty, he wasn't all too sure himself. He just knew he had to help her.
He hummed over the new-ish information about Skye. While he had read in her files before she came here days ago, he recalled her longest stay had been in California with a Mr Gavin Hyde and two other unnamed boys, he hadn't paid much attention to it. Not to mention, her profile didn't reveal any school related information.
Coulson glanced at the computer, Agent Morse had just sent him all of Skye's previous school records. Part of him felt like he was invading her privacy, but he was her guardian now and he did want to help her as best he could. Looking at her past would be a good place to start.
He started in first grade to see she struggled with reading and tended to be inattentive. He clicked on a footnote, it marked her for possible dyslexia, ODD and ADHD, but she was never tested for any. He would look into those more later on, for now he moved onto the next folders.
Agent Morse hadn't been lying when she said her grades from second to seventh grade were good. Her overall average was an 'A-' which was really good, especially considering how often to she moved and how much the footnotes claimed she struggled.
Coulson noticed several times in footnotes that the teachers said she caused too much trouble, she wasn't mature enough and lacked discipline. One note suggested she was ODD, Coulson didn't get those vibes, but he didn't have much experience in that arena.
A lot of notes said that despite her grades, she was always struggling in class or was simply not paying any attention at all. Her grades held up though which he took as a positive and victory for her. When Coulson got to her eighth grade year, he saw that her grades didn't just lower, they fell completely through the floor.
Judging from all the Missings and zeroes, he realized she never turned anything in. There were so many zeroes in the first three quarters. Coulson knew that it wasn't because she didn't know any information. She hardly turned in homework, projects or labs if the class called for it.
Her quizzes were poor, but not awful and the test were the only good thing she had. The tests were always 100's while everything else was either a zero because she didn't turn it in or a fifty because she did half the work. Coulson wondered why.
Coulson wanted to talk to her about this, but wasn't sure how well she would react to him asking. Though he doubted any other foster parents took an interest, that could have been for her benefit rather than theirs. He wanted her to enjoy her stay and didn't want to cause unnecessary strife.
Of course he knew they would be at odds, he just hoped it wouldn't be too terrible. He would have continued his search, but the faint sound of the garage door opening stopped him. May and Skye were back.
Coulson closed all the tabs and all but bolted out of his seat. In the back of his mind, he cheered that his girls were home.
"You think we got enough stuff," Melinda asked as the garage door closed.
It took Skye a moment to realize the woman was teasing her, "I don't know. You can still see out the back window."
Melinda tsked, "Knew we should have gotten the medium suitcase."
Skye chuckled as she climbed out of the car. After Skye's quick break down, Melinda had bought Skye a phone of her choice and put Phil and her own number in it. Once that was done, Melinda and Skye had a quick lunch at Subway in the mall food court before heading out to get Skye's uniform.
The school she was going to was a private one that required the students to wear a selection of different clothing. That hadn't taken long at all allowing the two of them to stop at Target and Walmart. Melinda had bought Skye so much stuff, it was unbelievable to both of them. Melinda had never been a huge spender, but today she had made an exception.
Why? On the one hand she knew that Skye did need this stuff and on the other she felt guilty for earlier. Since Melinda wasn't very good at expressing how she felt, she tried to make it up through actions. Getting Skye all this stuff, even though she told herself she shouldn't, had been her way of apologizing for upsetting her or worrying the teen.
Phil opened the door to find both Skye and Melinda standing outside the car. The garage door had just closed.
"Do not tell me you were waiting there for us," Melinda asked with thinly veiled amusement.
"Okay, I won't tell you I was here waiting," Phil answered with a half smile. "I was filing papers after the video conference when I heard the garage door. I wanted to see if you guys needed any help with bags and such."
Skye's shoulders sagged a little at the reminder of all the stuff she got. The feeling of guilt started to gnaw at her stomach. Sometimes it was just easier if foster parents were mean because then she wouldn't have to be blindsided.
Phil and Melinda were nice to her, had been nothing but nice to her and she was was still waiting for that moment when they would snap. Yet after what happened with Melinda today, Skye wasn't sure if they would snap soon. Maybe the two of them were just patient. Skye had to remind herself that all patience does eventually run out.
Melinda opening the trunk door pulled Skye from her thoughts. She moved back to help Melinda with Phil on her right. Phil's eyes widened at the amount of bags. He saw an assortment of grocery bags versus store bags. He gave a questioning glance to Melinda that had not gone unnoticed by Skye who felt the guilt gnaw at her some more.
Phil's questioning glance turned into a full on smile, "And you say you aren't much of a shopper."
Melinda rolled her eyes and made no verbal comment, yet Skye could see the amusement on her face.
Skye found Phil and Melinda as very odd, not that she would admit that to them out loud. Phil seemed to be a cross between a child in an adult body versus just a childish adult. Melinda was definitely the more serious of the two of them.
Skye could easily tell that Melinda liked to keep her emotions in check, but she hadn't been doing a good job of it. The teen wondered if it was because Melinda was simply not good at hiding her emotions, which Skye doubted, or that if it was because she was here.
One of Skye's former foster mothers never showed any emotion towards her at all. Skye had taken it as a blessing because the woman never got angry with her, though she was never pleased with anything about Skye. Skye was pulled from her thoughts as she helped Phil and Melinda with the bags and answered Phil's questions about the trip to the mall leaving out her almost breakdown. So far his favorite shirt had been the Captain America one.
Dinner came around all too quickly. Phil and Melinda had a thing for eating together at breakfast and dinner, though Melinda said it wouldn't be everyday. Most days, but some days people liked to eat alone which Skye was grateful for. Tonight they would eat together and Skye figured maybe tomorrow she could go eat by herself if she wanted to.
She was a little defensive about food since people liked to steal it off her plate if she wasn't paying attention. While Phil and Melinda hadn't shown any signs they would do such a thing, as could never be too careful. However something different happened.
At dinner, Phil brought a topic Skye wasn't prepared for.
"I spoke with the school counselor today," Phil started while they were eating dinner.
Skye raised an eyebrow, "How come?"
"Mostly to make sure you were enrolled and in the right classes, but there was a concern she brought up," Phil explained.
Melinda frowned, "What concern did she have?"
Phil hesitated for a moment. He glanced at Skye, an almost silent way of asking her permission to tell what they both knew. Skye didn't give an answer.
Instead she spoke, "My behavior is less than desired as far as I'm concerned. Not to mention my grades suck ass."
Phil frowned and told her, "She showed me that you were doing well until this last year all things considered."
Skye froze in her seat, suddenly her appetite was gone despite the hunger she still felt. Her grip around her fork tightened as cold fear and hot anger went through her. The fear was from her secret about her grades being discovered. It was incredibly doubtful that she or any counselor would know she hacked her grades, but it definitely concerned her.
Another concern was one she had tried to bury since her seventh foster home, but that was something she forced away from her mind. It couldn't be what he was talking about, though deep down she had a feeling it was exactly what he was getting at.
The anger she felt was directed at her foster parent named Hyde who made her life and her foster brothers a living nightmare. He was the reason she could hardly try in school or even hack to make her grades better. Her older foster brother said she fell in the category of depression there, but she firmly denied it. Nothing was wrong with her besides being an unwanted orphan.
Phil and Melinda watched this change in demeanor, how her entire face showed nothing, but barely restrained anger and a lot of pain. The Mayson's exchanged a concerned look, wondering what Skye would say next.
"All things considered," Skye asked struggling not to hiss, "Considering what? What else did she even say? That I have other reasons for concerns for their school?"
Phil and Melinda could sense the challenge in Skye then, the subject was a sore spot and they would have to tread carefully. While Phil was worried about her exploding, Melinda was worried about any signs she might display of being gifted. The girl was still an 084 and as far as everyone knew, she had no abilities. Perhaps she knew something and was growing concerned with their pushes.
Melinda doubted this, but she studied the girl with a more keen eye for anything unusual.
Phil shook his head, panic gripped him as he went on, "Just considering how often you moved and managed to keep up with your work."
Skye frowned, she didn't believe him, "What else did she say?"
"It was about your past school records, she gave me access to your school records and showed me what her concerns were," Phil said in what he hoped was an assuring tone, "When I looked at your files I saw footnotes that it was believed you have dyslexia, ADHD, ODD or a combination of either. Only you were never tested."
"Why bother looking at those records at all," Skye learned back in her chair, clearly aggravated, "Plus they don't know what they're talking about. I was rebellious and slow in school, who cares. There's nothing wrong with me."
"Of course nothing's wrong with you," Phil said, his tone even and calm despite the growing tension, "There were just some signs to indicate you were struggling. It came up often enough in the notes and reports, but you were never tested."
"Wait. You want me to be tested, is that it," Skye asked incredulously as she realized where the conversation was headed.
Skye felt like her heart was going to explode it was pounding so hard and fast. She could live with her mild to severe panic attacks she had from time to time, but this was something she couldn't stand. Who cares if she had trouble reading or paying attention? It didn't mean anything.
A word echoed in her mind that a few people had called her while in elementary school. It was a word she hated with every fiber of her being and it pierced her heart at the very thought of it. A short sentence, but it rocked her core.
You're such a retard.
Skye forced herself to breathe normal.
"It wouldn't be a bad idea," Melinda said coming to Phil's aid, "If the notes were made repeatedly throughout your school career, then it was noticeable enough for concern. However if you are truly opposed, Phil and I won't force you to be tested. Though, I think it could help you."
Skye narrowed her eyes, "Help me? How the hell would that help me?"
"So you can get further help if you need it. There's nothing wrong with having them if you do and you may not and they misread it," Phil told her, his tone patient as ever, "We aren't trying to go against you Skye. We just want to help in whatever way we can."
Phil and Melinda could practically feel the anger radiating off of the teen, both were wondering when she would explode. However, when her eyes began to shimmer their concern grew.
She shook her head, said a quick 'I'm going upstairs' then disappeared leaving the Maysons alone to the unfinished meal. A door slam came a few moments later.
Phil put his face in his hand, he made a noise that was a mix between a sigh and groan as far as Melinda could tell. From observing Skye she wouldn't have pegged either ADHD or ODD, but the Dyslexia was the most plausible considering the few times Skye did actually read the prices, she had to start over each time.
"You probably should have had a strategy to go about that instead saying the counselor had a concern," Melinda scolded lightly.
Phil sighed heavily as he lowered his hands, "I didn't think that through well enough. We have to go after her."
"We should give her a minute to calm down, then we'll go up together," was Melinda's simple reply.
Phil reluctantly nodded at her words. Let the teenager upstairs calm down a bit while the two adults came up with a game plan of how to approach her.
Skye hid in her closet, she sat with her knees to her chest and buried in her arms as she cried. Years ago she had been tested for the disorders Phil had said minutes ago. She could remembered finding out and not being bothered by it, who cared if she couldn't read all that well or had problems with being impulsive?
However foster parents didn't want a child who misbehaved, Skye was just a rebel though. It wasn't because something was actually wrong with her. She just did things her own way, that wasn't bad. She could sit still, especially in front of a computer and she could focus if she really tried, so clearly she didn't have ADHD.
Skye took uneven breaths as she tried to calm down, but to no avail.
Reading was just hard. Skye refuses to accept that one, regardless of it was true or not. The letters would change when she looked at them, one minute it was a P then it turned out to be a B or maybe it was supposed to be a W, but was actually an M. That didn't mean she was dyslexic.
Skye lost controlled and released a sob that could be heard throughout the house. She calmed her mouth shut.
Phil and Melinda heard the cry and raced to action, each with a sense of panic and concern growing within them. Phil made it to Skye's room first, he didn't knock and just opened the door worried to see her hurt or in a panicked state. Melinda was at his side in an instant, both looking for the girl who wasn't in her room.
"Skye," Melinda called out, no answer.
Phil called out next, "Skye, where are you? Are you alright?"
Skye choked back a sob, they were coming to hurt her for running out like that. They were going to yell at her for this, hit her for this or who knows what else they would do. Why did she say anything? Why didn't she just say 'okay' and do whatever they said? Wouldn't it have been easier.
The closet door opened to Phil and Melinda with matching faces of concern. They both got onto their knees, each studying her, but not moving closer. Skye waited with baited breath wondering when they would grab her and drag her out of the closet.
Melinda studied her appearance, curled into a ball in a way to protect herself. Her eyes red rimmed and glossy with tear stained cheeks. Not to mention her red nose and flushed cheeks as she stared somewhat helplessly at Phil and Melinda, a bit of fear in those brown eyes.
"Skye, what's wrong," Melinda spoke first, her tone was soft her firm.
Skye wasn't sure what came over, but she knew she was going to speak.
"I'll be labeled a, a retard," Skye said hoarsely, she released a shuddering breath, "It's not, not true! There's, there's nothing wr-wrong with me."
"Never say that word again," Phil said sharply, "You are not and never were or will be a retard. There is absolutely nothing wrong with you Skye."
Skye wiped her tears away in vain and forced the words out, "That's all anyone says about me! I, I'm fine."
"Skye," Melinda said, her tone left no room for argument or deceit. That much Skye could tell.
Her choices were limited. She could just yell and send them away, but that might lead to them attacking her. She could tell the truth which could result in them also attacking her or calling the social workers to get her.
"Please," Skye begged hopelessly, "I'm, I'm sorry. I'll behave, I won't, I wont say anything else. Just, just please don't, don't send me away yet."
"We aren't going to send you away," Phil told her honestly.
Melinda knew she shouldn't have agreed, but she did anyway to reassure the girl, "Regardless of what happens, we won't send you away. Tell us what's wrong, let us help you."
Skye looked between the two of them, searching for some kind of sign that they were lying. She found none. More tears spilled down her cheeks as her chest ached.
"I was tested," Skye said, her expression more heartbreaking than before, "When, when foster parents found out, they, they almost immediately sent, sent me away." She took a breath, trying to steady herself, "They called me, they called me a retard because I struggled to, to read. They called me a demon, demon child because I never, never behaved. I had to, I had to hide it and, and I hacked, hacked my records."
Skye hadn't realized the Mayson's were moving closer to her until they were practically right in front of her. Not enough to be crowding, but close enough for her to feel trapped and more afraid.
She went on uneasily, "I hacked my records to, to hide the results."
"It's okay Skye," Phil told her gently, his blue eyes staring into hers.
"None, none of this is, is okay," Skye cried desperately, "Why, why aren't you angry?"
Phil answered her gently, "Because we understand where you're coming from. It's okay to be upset, but just because you have these doesn't mean there's something wrong with you. It just means you need a little extra help and that's okay."
"It also means you're the stronger for it," Melinda said with a weak smile, "let us help you Skye. It's our job to help you. Or at the very least find someone who can help you if we can't."
"We know you don't trust us and that's fair, you don't really knows us," Phil said, his tone disappointed, "But we will continue to prove to you that we do care and want the best for you."
Melinda held out her hand, "We can talk more about this tomorrow. Come back downstairs with us, I think a movie night would be good."
Phil nodded, "I hear Bridesmaids was good, really funny. Feel like joining us?"
Skye shrugged her shoulders with a half hearted smile, "I could use a laugh."
"You and me both kid," Phil said grinning, "I'll make the popcorn."