Night 78 Nobody came to see if I wanted lunch and they didn't check on dinner either. I don't care. They said they wouldn't send me back, said they couldn't and I guess really they can't but it sure feels that way. I looked for Ling-a-ling in every drawer but he's nowhere to be found.

When they sent me back when I was a kid, a real kid outside and inside, I never cried, not once. I wasn't gonna let them see how bad I felt. I didn't want them to think I cared. Hell, they didn't well except that one time Sr. Emily came and sat with me. She didn't say anything, just sat there with her arm around my shoulders for a long time. She helped me put my dumb stuff away and hugged me a little before she left. But I didn't cry, not one tear. It didn't matter cuz crying never helped anything and I just didn't let myself want anything or need anything or hope it would work because then it didn't hurt. Every time I shipped out to the next foster home I just told myself it was a little side trip and I'd be back…except for the Brody's, I really liked that one…but it just ended the same way.

But now none of that mattered and no matter how much I tried to think like I did back then it didn't help and I cried until I was pretty sure I wouldn't be able to breathe anymore. I think I just cried til I fell asleep but when I woke up I cried more. I snuck out to the bathroom three times and one time I had to stay in there until two others got done with what they were in there to do. I pulled up my feet and kept real quiet so they wouldn't know I was in there too. Somebody told me once the more you cry, the less you pee but I don't think that's true cuz I still had to go. My head hurt and my eyes burned and it felt like my head was stuffed with fuzz. I kept thinking they'd come back and tell me it was just to teach me a lesson but nobody came.

It felt like night when some other med-tech knocked on the door and said Simmons thought I should eat. He said he was leaving a tray and I could decide what I wanted to do. I wanted to open the door and throw the whole thing down the hall then jump up and down on it but…then again I didn't care.

If they didn't want me it didn't matter. I'd just leave. I did it before. I'll pack my bag and leave… I don't really know where I'd go. I can't go back to my van. I'm pretty sure it would be physically impossible to drive. I'm sure I could get out of here but it's about thirty miles around the lake to the main road and then another twenty into town. I guess I could use that tunnel thing Yoyo used when we went to River's End but it's really long and kinda dark and I could probably drive one of those golf cart things but they said there's lots of tunnels and I don't know which is the right one or where I'd end up. Even if I got to town the police would probably get me cuz who lets a kid just wander around and they'd know I wasn't from around there. I wouldn't tell them anything and they'd ship me off to some foster home where they'd just kick me out in a couple days and I'd be right back. Maybe I could just live in the woods like a hermit until I got my self back, then I could go wherever I wanted.

I thought about it for a long time but it just made me cry more and then I really had to run to the bathroom cuz it made my stomach wretch too. It's weird you can throw up that much when you don't even eat anything.

I didn't even put on pajamas. I didn't want to see them and think about getting tucked in and good night kisses. I just scrunched up on the bunk and cried until I went back to sleep.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Meanwhile…

"DAMN IT!" May slammed both hands on the table causing Fitz to jump and Coulson to let out a long exasperated breath. She stormed across the room as both men watched then marched back and drew a deep breath. "This is ridiculous." She growled through her teeth. "I don't know how I let…"

"May," Coulson's voice was calm but shaky as he rested both hands on her shoulders. He drew a breath but before he could form a word she shook him off and stormed away a second time, stopping at the opposite wall and staring at it while drawing deep breaths. She let them out slowly and deliberately.

Coulson stared at the small screen on Fitz's laptop. He shook his head and tried to calm the tremor in his voice. "This is a bad idea, Fitz. We can't just watch while…"

The young scientist held up a hand. "You don't need to be here, Director. I will keep monitoring the situation but we all agreed this is the only way and Jemma claims…"

"Simmons has never been a mother." May growled again, turning toward the men. "She doesn't have any idea what this does to either of us. Damn it!" She slammed her hand again, evoking the same reaction from Fitz.

He grabbed the laptop that shook with both their actions and looked away from the screen for the first time. "It is a proven fact that giving a person what they want will result in them seeing it is not in their best interest. Daisy thinks…"

"Look at her!" May interrupted spinning the small screen to face her. "She thinks we've abandoned her. Damn it, Fitz, we're doing everything we promised we would never do."

"She's been crying for hours." Coulson remarked slightly above a whisper.

Fitz slowly turned the laptop back, easing it from May's grip. "You haven't abandoned her. She's got a home and food and enough people to rely on if she chooses. We've just got to wait until she realizes it."

"If she survives the heartbreak," again Coulson's soft voice quietly added his opinion.

"She doesn't even understand what the hell is going on." May slammed the table again.

Fitz flinched but remained calm. "Neither of you need to watch this." He repeated.

"She's our daughter, Fitz. Where else do you think we would be?" Coulson was louder, accusing without using those exact words.

Fitz smiled a small smile. "And she's an adult despite her appearance. It's what she's been telling us for weeks and we all chose to ignore it." He turned to face them. "Maybe that's what's keeping her stuck in a child's form. Maybe we are the problem. If we treat her like an adult perhaps she will relax and…and nature will take its course."

"Right now the only thing taking its course is her misery." May snarled. "She's hurt and she…"

May stopped, considering her words and where they had come from. In that moment she felt the same feelings she had felt in that other reality where she was Melinda and would do anything to comfort her bao bao…anything for Skye and Skye was Daisy and Daisy was her child. No matter what age or size she currently held.

Coulson waited, his brows reaching to his hair line. She stared into the depths of his eyes fully conscious of their unspoken communication. She gave an almost imperceptible nod.

"She needs me. She needs us, both of us." She spoke in a hushed calm voice that almost broke with the same heartache Daisy was experiencing a floor below.

.

Fitz let out a soft breath. "We are not trying to hurt her or you, just do what may be the best for everyone. Either Daisy will learn she truly does need you to care for her as you would a child or she will adjust to being a rather small adult." He gave a weak smile, "at least for the time it takes for this after affect to wear off and she returns to normal."

May shook her head at stared at the small form curled into a ball atop the blanket on the bunk. "Well it took a heartbreaking turn.

Coulson stood next to her and laid one hand on her shoulder. "I hope Daisy realizes the lesson we're trying to teach her."

Fitz looked at the screen for a moment. He tapped a few keys and a read out appeared on the side of the screen. Daisy's vitals showed within normal levels. The 'magic fever reading watch' did a lot more than that. "Look, she is sound asleep and probably will be for the night. Maybe you two should do the same."

May sneered at the younger man, exhaling heavily through flared nostrils. "Like hell," she snarled. "I'm going in there." She nodded at the screen. "There is no damn way I am leaving her alone all night." She turned and stormed toward the door.

"But…" Fitz attempted to keep her in the room.

May turned and glared at him. "You want to try to stop me?" She threatened.

"Us," Coulson corrected as he opened the door.

May followed then turned back and huffed, "at least you could have let her keep the damn stuffed dog."

Day 79 I hoped it was a nightmare but I was still in that room…my bunk, I guess and I was still alone. My eyes really hurt, almost like I couldn't open them and they were all sticky. I rubbed them until they burned. I sat on the bed and looked at the chair that I was pretty sure was not there before but I didn't care. I needed the bathroom so I just opened the door and dragged myself to it. I didn't even care if somebody saw me. Some guy passed me in the hall and just nodded. I guess being so small I didn't notice all the new agents in the base. I wondered where they came from or how they knew we were here but it didn't matter. I did what I needed and put cold water on my face. It woulda been nice if I coulda looked in the mirror but it was too high and anyway there was probably one on the back of m…my bunk door. There was one in pretty much every bunk I ever had, even on the Bus. I wished I was back on the Bus. I wished I was still Skye and the only crazy thing that happened was some agent showed up with a crazy computer eye.

This really sucked…more than being grounded and way more than getting my backside warmed.

When I got back to the room there was a tray with breakfast and a note from Simmons that three days was too long without eating. It was just some toast and a cup of luke warm tea…with a honey packet. Great something else to open with one hand. I decided to curl up on the bed instead. I wasn't hungry or thirsty.

There was really nothing to do but nobody said I had to stay here. Nobody cared that I went to the bathroom and the door wasn't locked. Maybe I could go find them and tell them again I was sorry about doing such a dumb kid thing. So I just walked out and started for command. Most of the halls were empty but I passed a couple people who just kinda ignored me. Then I saw Davis. I thought he'd think this was all pretty funny and I didn't want to have to listen to him so I ducked into one of the open doors. I figured I'd just stay there and wait until he went by but damn…he stopped right outside the door I was hiding behind. I thought maybe he saw me go in and was just waiting for me but then he started talking to someone. They were talking about the Hale thing and he said it was lucky I got out of there alive. The other person asked what happened and Davis said he really didn't know. I almost laughed because he had to know what happened but then again he didn't actually see me quake the wall apart. The other guy asked if he heard what happened to the kid. Davis didn't say anything but the other guy kinda laughed and said it was a real dumb idea but it was dumb that someone got turned into a kid and he was glad it wasn't him. Davis said I wasn't really a kid and I kinda felt bad for thinking he was a goof cuz now he was kinda stickin' up for me. The other guy said it didn't really matter cuz the gloves were off and from now on everybody had to treat me just like they always did. He said I'd have to pull my own weight and earn my keep instead of being Coulson's pet. I think Davis got mad because he said a couple things I probably shouldn't write just in case anyone ever reads this. He told the guy he better watch his step cuz big or little I was Coulson's kid. The guy just laughed and then they both walked away.

I changed my mind about going to command and waited for a couple minutes to be sure they were gone. I just went back to my room. I needed some time to think. Everything was all mixed up in my head. I just needed to talk to somebody. I really needed my mom…the mom that just didn't want me anymore. Anyway I was crying again and nobody needed to see that.

Day 79½ I was only in my room a couple minutes when Jemma came. She knocked on the door and asked if she could come in. I said I didn't care and she could do what she wanted. She came in anyway with a tray that was probably lunch that I wasn't going to eat. I didn't roll over or look at her or even say hello. She told me she was there to give me a test and I told her to go away. I felt fine. She said it wasn't to see if I was sick but it was important and I needed to turn around and cooperate. She wasn't using her 'how are you today sweetheart' voice. It was her serious doctor agent voice. I told her again to go away but she said it was an order from the director and neither of us had a choice. I could hear her putting stuff on the table but I just didn't care. Then she pulled out the chair and told me we just needed to get this done and she would leave me alone but not until I agreed to eat at least some of the lunch she brought. So I wiped my nose on the sheet, rubbed the tears off my eyes and turned around.

Jemma looked at me funny for just a second then looked at the stuff on the table like she forgot what she wanted to say. In fact she didn't say anything for a couple minutes, just moved the stuff around. When she looked at me again she had the mean doctor eyes again and told me to come sit down and answer some questions. It was kinda dumb stuff she wanted me to do, like put a puzzle together and repeat numbers or places. I asked her what kind of stupid thing this was and she said it was a necessary one. She asked me dumb questions like what's the opposite of grief and what's the same as happy. The she had other things like what comes next if she said 4, 5, 7, 11 and there were blocks to put in order and words all mixed up that needed to be put into sentences that made sense. It was dumb but it was something to do and hell, Jemma was there. I tried to ask her questions but she said I had to just concentrate on what she asked. When it was all done she put all her stuff in her bag and I figured she was leaving.

I told her I was sorry and she looked at me funny again. I asked her if this was being punished and told her I needed to see May. For a minute she looked almost normal and I thought she'd tell me what the hell was going on but she just shook her head and said that it was time everyone gave me what I asked for then she pointed to the food tray and left.

I flipped the tray on the floor and just watched the cola can pop and spray all over the floor. I didn't care about the mess so I kicked the can right into the wall and the soda dripped everywhere.

Then I cried more cuz this was just what it felt like to get sent back but there weren't even nuns there to tell me what I did wrong and how to make things better next time.

Day 80 and one minute I waited until I was sure it was quiet. There would be agents at night but not as many as in the day. I thought about packing a bag but there wasn't anything I needed from here. I just walked out the door and went to the bathroom. It was empty too cuz all the people who had bunks in this hall were probably sleeping or at their posts. I washed my hands and looked at the magic-fever watch on my hand. It was cool, but I didn't want anything from here. I had a plan to get to the tunnel to River's End. I had twenty-seven dollars and fifteen cents and that could buy a bus ticket to somewhere. If anyone asked I'd give them a fake name and tell them I got off at the wrong stop on my way to visit my grandmother. I'd tell them my bags and ticket were on the other bus and add some tears and they'd just send me on my way. Maybe I'd pick a place in Canada. I looked up a bunch of places on my laptop and learned what I could about it, made up a cool grandma too.

I took off the watch thing and put it on the sink. Somebody would find it. Maybe they would keep it or maybe give to someone. I didn't care and I started to cry again but I stopped and made it to the lift without bumping into anybody.

There was nobody at the tunnel but it was super dark. I knew those little golf carts had lights so I wasn't too scared. Hell, it's been forever since I was afraid of the dark but this was weird 'I've never been here' dark with a lot of creepy clicks and pops and noises that really sounded like some really big taking snuffly breaths. I tired not to listen but it was hard cuz it was so dark I couldn't see anything. I wasn't like your eyes get used to it even, it just stayed dark. So I got close to the wall and just felt my way along the tunnel. It was kinda wet and cold or maybe just so cold it felt wet. I started to think this was a bad idea until I fell on top of one of the little kinda golf carts and I felt the cut on my knee when I hit it. I couldn't see it but I could feel the blood dribbling down my leg. It wasn't bad. I just wiped it with my hand then wiped my hand on my shorts. Then I felt my way around the little cart and found the steering wheel and the keys were right in it cuz why would they not be. It started and didn't even make noise except for the little hum the battery makes. I took a big breath and wiped my eyes again. I wasn't gonna cry anymore.

xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Meanwhile…

"She's been in that bathroom an awful long time." Coulson pointed out, staring at the laptop screen. "Maybe she's sick."

Jemma shook her head. "She's fine, Director. I spent hours with her this afternoon."

"That was this afternoon, things could change. Maybe it was something she ate." He corrected the doctor.

"Hmph, like she'd eaten anything other than a couple crackers," May snorted.

Jemma flipped through the few forms on the clipboard she held. "The cognitive test results are rather inconclusive. Some of the scores show she's is operating on an advanced level and others…" she paused, scrutinizing her own writing.

"Others?" May snapped.

Shaking her head, Jemma took a breath. "Others aren't so clear." She looked up at the angry mother. "And I am not sure if she was cooperating, giving me honest answers or just humoring me which would prove she is operating on a mature Daisy level. But…"

"But?" May growled, snatching the clipboard and glancing at the charts and numbers before pushing back into Jemma's hands.

"It could also mean that there are times when her reasoning ability is equally matched to her current physical appearance." She breathed.

"So you're saying sometimes she is truly a nine year old?" Coulson wrinkled his brow. Could this crazy situation get any worse?

Jemma flipped through a few pages and nodded. "Yes, definitely operating on an eight to ten year old level but even then I believe she is conscious of her situation." She shook her head. "It's like she's not able to control it…sometimes," the doctor frowned.

Coulson glanced back at the laptop screen. "She is still in there. I think we need to check on her."

Simmons turned the laptop toward her and tapped a few keys bringing up the window that showed Daisy's biometrics. "She is fine and still in the washroom. Perhaps she decided to shower."

"I watched her walk out of that room, Simmons. She took nothing with her so unless she's planning on traipsing back in her birthday suit she's not using the shower. And since this whole thing started she has not once voluntarily made any attempts at showering or bathing."

"Brushing her teeth then," Jemma suggested with a slight shrug.

"One at a time?" Coulson asked.

May shook her head. "This whole this is asinine. All we've managed is making Daisy feel abandoned. Assuming she understands everything that's happening to her is without a doubt the most stupid decision we've ever made and I am putting a stop to it right now." She poked a finger at the air and headed for the door. Coulson stood and followed.

"But we haven't given her a chance to realize…" Jemma was speaking to an empty room. She wrapped an arm around her clipboard and exited the room.

xxx

May slammed open the lavatory door yelling Daisy's name as she did. Coulson ignored the fact it was the woman's room and followed. He called to the girl as well then headed to the shower area, hoping none of the female agents felt the need for a late night rinse. May pushed open every stall door and found each equally empty. She stood staring at the ceiling, drawing deep breaths to calm herself.

"Nothing," Coulson announced returning from the showers.

Jemma stood in the open doorway. "I checked the room. Except for the dreadful mess there is no sign of her."

Coulson turned in a circle throwing his arms up. "Maybe she slipped out while we were arguing and…"

Jemma was shaking her head. "That is not possible. She did not leave this area. Her biometric is still showing she is here."

May let out a huff gaining the attention of both. They turned to see her standing at the sink with the black watch held between her two fingers. She took the few steps she needed to drop it into Jemma's hand.

"Where is my daughter?" She hissed just above a whisper.