NIGHT 85 Screaming, screaming, screaming…so much screaming, so loud. I put my hands over my ears and scrunched my eyes closed as tight as I could but it just got louder. It was just coming from everywhere and I wanted to run but I was frozen stuck right where I was…and then I wasn't. Someone grabbed me and pulled me right out of bed and held me so tight I thought my breath would stop. Then I felt that little stubbly beard on my cheek and smelled the cologne and my breath just said 'Coulson'…and the screaming stopped. Then there was May close to my ear shushing me and brushing my soaking wet hair off my face, but I was anchored to Coulson and I wasn't letting go. I could breath but my voice didn't work. I wasn't crying just taking big gulps of air. I could hear them talking to each other but I didn't understand a word, it was just mumbling or like hearing through a thick wall or like if your ears are under water. And then he was pushing me away and I was grabbing his shirt and his arms and anything I could to hold on. I know he was talking to me but my sobbing and squeaking was blocking it out until I felt May's arms around me, pulling me close and whispering close to me. She helped me into new pajamas and then back into Coulson's arms. He carried me to the big ugly couch and held me until May came back. I don't remember what happened after I stopped shaking.

DAY 86 I woke up in my own bed with Ling-a-ling right there next to me. I sat up and looked around but everything looked just like always. Everything was just like always. I patted my mattress and let out a puff of relief…that was one of the worst nightmares ever. I was glad it wasn't bad enough to wake May and Coulson. I kicked off the covers and yanked off my PJ's…hmmm, I really thought I put on those dopey owl design ones but heck cats, owls they looked the same. I threw them across the floor and pulled on my clothes and headed for the door. Then I went back and picked them up cuz May is real funny about keeping things neat. I rolled them around my hands and shoved them under my pillow then threw the covers over the bed as neat as my little nine year old arms could.

May was sipping tea. I didn't see Coulson but I told her I had a really weird dream and she was in it. She just looked at me funny. I asked where Coulson was. She said he was in command with Mack. I just gulped down some cereal and told her I was going to see Fitz. Then I got out before she could stop me.

The day was pretty okay. Fitz let me help with rewiring the hub I kinda took apart and I got to sit in command and track that dumb Hale lady for about an hour. I watched May and Yoyo spar for a bit then they let me join but they were all careful and going easy so it wasn't much fun. I told them about it and May said they'd think about a program for me if and only if I agreed to Tai Chi every morning. I jumped on that one.

Everything was going good until it got time to go to bed. That damn dream was really bothering me and I really started to be afraid it would just play over if I went to sleep. Dumb, huh? Like dreams are on some kind of loop. I stalled as long as I could, begging Coulson to read more of that story about the kid traveling through the universe to find her father. I got about twenty extra minutes before May put her foot down and pointed to the door. So I dragged myself into the room and climbed into the bed when she pulled back the blanket. We went through the whole bedtime thing with all the tucking in and kissing and hugging and then singing and humming and I fell asleep even though I tried to hold my eyes opened as long as I could.

I don't know how long it was until the screaming started again. It was exactly the same as last night. Everything went just the same and no matter what I couldn't stop the screaming but I figured out where it was coming from. It was me. I was screaming and screaming and screaming until Coulson was there…and May and we went to the couch and they were shushing me and telling me it was just a dream and saying I was safe. But I didn't feel safe and everything in me was shaking, not like quakes, like just shaking cuz you're so scared it won't stop. I was breathing way too fast and I could feel the tears dripping on my face. I know I didn't go back to sleep. I don't think they did either.

DAY 87 I was curled up in the corner of that old couch. They thought I was sleeping, laid me there and tucked a blanket around me when they got up. I could smell the coffee brewing. It didn't smell good like usual. It kinda made me feel sick. They were talking real low but I could hear them. They were really upset about my nightmare and that it was the second time it happened.

It wasn't a dream the first night. Well, not the part I thought was a dream. All that part with Coulson hugging me and both of them telling me it was okay…that part was real just like last night. I heard the tea kettle scream and knew May was pouring two cups. I could hear the water trickling into them. She knew I wasn't sleeping so there was no use pretending. I sat up and rubbed my eyes then dragged myself to the table and plopped into my chair.

Coulson asked if I was okay. I just nodded. I didn't really know what to say. May asked if I could tell them what I was dreaming that was so horrible. I just shook my head. Then she asked me again cuz shaking your head is not an answer. I just stared into my tea (cuz apparently kids can have tea but not coffee) and told them I didn't remember. I really didn't. I didn't remember anything except the screaming and I don't' even know why I was screaming. I just knew I was more scared than I ever was ever in any damn nightmare I ever had. I didn't say that. I'm not suicidal. Coulson said he used to have some doozies when he was a kid and his dad told him he needed a big dose of fresh air. May kinda rolled her eyes and said her father had a special tea that she planned on brewing for me tonight. My taste buds started to curl remembering that horrible swill she gave me a while back. Coulson said it wouldn't hurt to try both and it might even work twice as well. After a stack of Coulson's great pancakes I got chased outside.

It was pretty dumb being out there because I was a city kid…the first time. I kinda walked around the lighthouse house for a bit then climbed up to the catwalk. I wasn't a dope. I knew May had people out there watching me. I even saw Davis pretending he was out for a bit of air.

I walked out on the rocks that surround the lighthouse and watched the waves crashing up on them. It was weird because, come on, it was a lake not the ocean. I didn't know lakes could look like oceans but I never did see a great lake…not up close anyway. Hell, we flew over them hundreds of times but I guess I just never paid attention. I guess I started doing things they thought were too stupid like climbing out on the biggest rocks so I got called on it and sent back inside. Funny thing, though none of them told May so maybe it wasn't so stupid or maybe they just gave me a break.

The rest of the day was pretty boring stuff. But then it got to be time to sleep again and I wasn't sure if it was the threat of May's tea or the thought of that dream finding me again. But I wasn't very happy about it. But we went through the motions…the hot bath…the lavender oil (hmmm, never had that before)…the extra story chapter…and then she set that tea in front of me and I wished I could glue my lips shut. May just stood there with her arms folded over her chest and looked at me with those mom eyes. I sniffed it…a little. It didn't smell too bad. Then she told me it would work better if I drank it hot. I shook my head and the stink eye got a lot worse so I picked it up and took the teeniest sip. It wasn't that bad. It was sweet. I could taste the honey. It was almost kinda thicker than regular tea. Before I knew it I drank the whole thing and then it was off to bed time ritual. I didn't even make it to the singing part.

It felt like the dream came faster…and the screams were louder…and longer…it took longer to realize it was Coulson…and it took two of them to get me dry clothes and I fought them like they were the enemy even though they kept telling me I was safe and I'd be fine and it was only a dream. We finally made it to the couch but the crying was worse and I kept trying to get away. I just wanted to run…run from the screaming…and from that damn dream…from the Lighthouse…from them…from whatever it was.

DAY 87 I didn't sleep again…at least I didn't think I did…but I might have…a little. If I did there were no more dreams but I remembered how scared May and Coulson looked. I think they looked that way because I probably looked the same when I was screaming. I didn't even pretend to be sleeping when it was light. I just schlepped to the table and poked at the French Toast on the plate. Before they asked I told them I didn't know what the dream was just that it was scary and I had to get away from it. May said they had a new plan.

I almost didn't eat that breakfast but May said I needed it, so I just did. We went through a whole routine of Tai Chi…just me and May, just like we used to do. Then we actually really and truly sparred. I know she wasn't as May as she usually was but she was tough and I got knocked down a dozen times but I got a few hits in too. It was great. My butt was aching from bouncing it off the mat so many times but that was a lot better than getting it roasted for doing something stupid. We stretched out to cool down then hit the showers. It felt good to just do something normal and I asked May if we could do it every day. I was pretty sure she'd say it was too busy but she just smiled and said she'd like that. May said she had some reports to review and a lot to discuss with Coulson and the others so I went out to the beach with Yoyo and we ran…ran in the sand and in the surf. I never really got to go to a beach the first time I was a kid so it was pretty cool. There aren't many shells but we found some pretty cool rocks. The water is way cold. Yoyo said the water in Mexico is like a hundred times warmer and she wasn't too sure about swimming. Did you know the water in this lake is like 36º all the time? I told Yoyo we might find a couple polar bears. I think I scared her so we decided to head in for something to eat. I was pretty hungry and Yoyo makes a mean burrito.

After lunch May came in and told me I was scheduled for a nap and I almost fell right on the floor. I told her I was not a baby and I did not need a nap. She said I slept about six hours in the last two days and that was it. I didn't get a vote and she didn't care how old I was inside or outside then she just pointed to the lift. I argued all the way down and until she opened the door and waited for me to enter. I told her again I was not taking a nap. She said I could take a nap with or without her handprint on my backside and then she just set her stance and crossed her arms and raised that one eyebrow. I crossed my arms and did the same thing right back at her.

Dumb, dumb, dumb move. I got one smack to lose the attitude, one to escort me across the room and one to help me into bed. So then I just curled up with Ling-a-ling and growled about the three handprints on my ass. They weren't the kind that make you cry and get all sobby, just the kind that let you know mom's not kidding. I was damn mad. She could make me lay on that bed all afternoon but there was no damn way she could make me take a nap. I intended to show her just that. An hour later May was waking me up.

The rest of the afternoon was great. I got to help Fitz rewire and redirect the lights in the tunnel then he showed me how the little carts could be computerized and we could make them go much faster. We checked out the door that went to the warehouse and figured out a way to reconnect it to the hard drive in command. I did get to spend time there too. I helped one of the new techs set up a way to track Hale with the bug I planted in her computers.

Supper was late and I was so tired I feel asleep right there in the galley. I guess Coulson carried me to my room and I soooooo hope it was May that got me into my PJ's but it didn't matter. It also didn't matter how tired I was or how much I did or how deep I was sleeping because when the screaming started it was the absolute worse, worse than ever and louder and positively screamier. When Coulson grabbed me up out of bed, like he did all those nights, I didn't wrap around him and hug him. I screamed and shrieked and kicked and punched and yelled no matter what they said or did. I was hitting him and he was trying to grab my arms and May was trying to hold me too but I just kept yanking away from them and kicking at them. I think I hit May a couple times too, but poor Coulson got the worst. I just hit him wherever I could. Then he grabbed my wrists and wrapped my own arms around me and held me in a kind of lock grip. Things in the room started shaking and falling over and May was telling me to control myself and breathe but I didn't want to breathe I just wanted to get away from everyone. I wanted to make it all stop and at the same time I knew I couldn't. Then I heard someone yell for Simmons and I just kept screaming louder and louder and shrieking and kicking. But Coulson held on tight and they just kept trying to make me stop and convince me I was okay and safe and just having a real bad dream. Simmons came rushing in and they were all shouting over me screaming and kicking and shrieking. Somebody yanked my drawers lower and…I kicked even harder until she jabbed me with one of her damn no good dirty rotten poison butt darts.

Damn those things work fast

LIGHTHOUSE – MED LAB – 0800 HRS – 88 DAYS AFTER INCIDENT – Four hours after nightmare episode

Jemma drew a deep breath then smiled and brushed a stray hair from her young patient's brow. She turned to the anxious bedraggled parents standing behind her. "She's fine now…blood pressure and heartbeat back to normal. She'll be out for a few more hours" She stepped aside as May moved to the side of the bed. Jemma continued speaking softly to Coulson. "I'd like to keep her for some tests." He nodded as he grasped her forearm for a moment and stepped around her.

"You think something that damn doctor did is causing this?" May hissed without turning toward the young woman.

"Maybe that helmet thing rattled her brain. She wasn't protected in one of those oversized test tubes like we were." Coulson added, nervously.

Jemma hesitated, thankful that neither senior agent was looking at her. She drew a quick breath and did her best to provide an answer. "I am not certain and it is a possibility…" Both parents turned toward the young doctor. She managed a weak smile. "That's the reason for the tests. I'd like to rule out anything physical before…"

Coulson felt the subtle flinch in May's posture. He desperately tried to push away all of the scenarios of brain tumors and terminal conditions that may plague his now very small daughter. "Are you saying that trip through whatever the hell we crashed through could have done something to her brain or…or…"

Jemma wanted to lie. She wanted to tell them there was nothing to worry about and all of this would just blow over. Kids had nightmares and Daisy…well, she never did anything small. They'd survived Daisy's nightmares before, especially the ones right after her terragenesis. Those were wicked scary days. Maybe her body or psyche or inhumanity was just readjusting. On the other hand, Coulson and May and even Daisy had given a full report on what happened in Dr. Liu's laboratory. It certainly did not sound safe and he actually told them the technology was untested. Jemma had run numerous tests and scans on all of them upon their return, especially on Daisy due to the…well, practically insane circumstance. She'd even run several more tests on the very young agent twice and again since then. Everything had always come back perfectly normal…well, not including the de-aging nonsense. Could something have changed that rapidly? Hell, why not? It took only seconds from Daisy to go from a grown woman to a small child with a promise from some daffy doctor that it would be temporary but no prediction of how temporary. Damn, being a child in itself was temporary and that fix would take years to accomplish.

Daisy moaned a bit and grew restless only until May's gentle touch settled her once again. She was sleeping peacefully but Coulson and his partner looked exhausted. They'd told Jemma about the last three nights. Apparently they had slept very little even after settling their now young daughter. Coulson remarked that even after settling her down she was restless and would wake desperately clinging to one or both of them. Last night was the worst and most violent episode.

For a few moments Jemma watched the pair as they hovered over Daisy desperately trying to convince themselves their child was now resting comfortably and just as they reassured her that everything would be alright they hoped it truly would be.

Simmons cleared her throat and suggested. "Perhaps both of you should get some sleep as well. I'll stay with Daisy. She'll be fine here and I will let you know the moment..."

May shook her head and spoke quietly, taking Daisy's hand in her own. "No, I won't leave her alone again…if she wakes and we're not here…" The image of Daisy waking a week ago and finding herself alone ate at her brain.

Coulson kept his eyes on Daisy but spoke to Jemma. "It was three times last night and two the night before…"

"The sedative will help her sleep peacefully." Jemma thought for a moment. "Has this been going on since your return?"

"She's had a few nightmares since we've returned but it's only been this bad the last three days." Coulson shook his head and spoke quietly.

Jemma drew a deep breath and made a few notes on a clipboard she retrieved from the table in the small med-tech room.

DAY 88 I woke up with the worst headache in forever…kinda like a hangover with no memory of the fun it took to get there. I didn't want to open my eyes because the light would make it worse but something wasn't right because it smelled all wrong. It didn't smell…or sound like my room. I peeked out a little and I was right. I was back in that damn med room and then I remembered Jemma and her poisoned dart…but couldn't remember why she did it. I started kicking the covers off but somebody grabbed my legs and started telling me to shush and that everything would be okay and I just needed to relax and it was a second or two for me to know it was May.

She held my hand and stayed right there but it was Jemma that was telling me it would be okay and she needed to do some tests but May would stay the whole time. I was shaking my head and telling her no and she was already tying that rubber thing around my arm and getting ready to suck out my blood.

That was just the beginning. I got to spend the whole day getting poked and prodded and x-rayed and slid inside noisy machines and peeing in a little cup that girls are just not made to pee into. She looked in my ears and my eyes and my throat and every way anything could get in or out of me. Then she hooked all these wires to my head and told me I needed to take just a little nap but damn I was not tired so she helped me with another poisoned butt dart and I yelled every unacceptable word I ever heard. I even made up a couple. May didn't tell me to stop or even threaten to provide a reminder. That scared me even more cuz maybe I had some gawd awful disease and she was being nice because I didn't have much time left. She just squeezed my hand tighter and stayed right next to me. Holding my hand did not make it any easier just a lot more embarrassing…but I was glad she was there. I just wanted it to be over and how many the hell tests could they do on a little kid.

They did bring me lunch that I didn't really want but May insisted and anyway Coulson brought it so it had to be good. It wasn't his famous grilled cheese but macaroni and cheese wasn't a bad trade off, especially when Yoyo added some fresh made churros. They were actually still hot! We had lunch together right there in the med room and they both promised I could leave real soon. No naps today thanks to Jemma's little butt zingers. When she said she would come and give me another shot to help me sleep tonight I was really freaked. I was gonna scream but May and Coulson said they didn't think it was necessary. I hugged them both.

Right after that Simmons I'd have to talk to her for just a little bit…without May or Coulson…but right after that it would be okay to go and just do normal…ha, ha, like anything is normal…stuff. She said it would just be a little chat for just a little while. I didn't like the sound of that but everyone seemed to think it would be a great idea. When we were alone she asked me what the dreams were all about and I just shrugged but she smiled and said I must remember something, even if it was just a little thing. I told her I didn't. I only remembered the screaming…but I kinda did remember only I didn't want to. Did you ever have a dream that scared you even when you were awake? That's the kind of dream it was, like you knew there was no such thing as a boogey man but if you looked under the bed you knew his glowy yellow eyes would be looking right back…so you just didn't look under the bed…ever. It was the same thing only with my memory.

So we talked about a lot of things and then a lot more and she asked me a couple times and told me about a dream she had when she was a kid about getting lost in a huge store and not finding her mum…yeah she said mum, not mom. I thought about her dream. Ha, it was no way in hell as scary as mine. It all kinda started falling out of my mind so I figured if I told her we could be done and I could stuff it all back in and get out of there. I didn't make it up. I told her I was in this big house and it wasn't really scary like haunted or anything but I didn't like it and I couldn't get out. No matter how many doors I opened I couldn't find the outside. I could see outside like out the windows but there were just rooms and rooms and rooms and no way to get out there. I just keep opening doors and going into to rooms with lots of old furniture that I have to climb around to get to the next door. Then I heard something and I know there's someone else in there…following me. Next thing I know they're after me and then the screaming starts cuz I can't find the outside door and I know I need to be quiet so it won't find me but I can't stop the screaming. That's when I wake up and mostly Coulson is there but last night it was it. It got me and I couldn't get away. It was pretending to be Coulson and it was but I was hitting him and screaming at him and I probably hurt him and he wouldn't stop me. I tried not to cry when I told her but even talking about it scared the daylights out of me. I couldn't help crying and then I couldn't stop so she gave me a box of tissues and kinda hugged me til it was better.

I made her promise not to tell May or Coulson or anybody…ever.

LIGHTHOUSE – COULSON BUNK – 2100 HRS – 88 DAYS AFTER INCIDENT – 19 hours since last nightmare episode

"All of the tests came back normal. There is nothing at all wrong with her." Jemma smiled and laid a few forms on the table before Coulson. "I've run every test, some of them twice, and there is absolutely nothing physical causing these night terrors." She shook her head. "Actually, Daisy is much too old to even experience such a phenomenon." Jemma paused for a moment then continued. "Even in her present condition it would be very rare for a child of nine or ten to be troubled by such sleep disturbances."

May stood at the open bedroom door watching the little girl asleep. "Then what the hell is the problem?" She growled.

"I am certainly no psychologist or psychiatrist but it is definitely related to the nightmares." Jemma sighed.

"She's had enough traumas in her life to fuel years of damn bad dreams." Coulson shook his head. "I can't imagine all of that in a kid's head."

"She's still operating with the majority of her adult mind, sir." Jemma reminded him.

"And reacting with the part that is still a kid's," May added.

Jemma understood the feeling of helplessness the senior agents felt. She'd discussed this at length with Fitz most of the afternoon. "Some believe that the unconscious mind is freed during deep sleep. If that is so then Daisy cannot control the memories it is bringing to the surface." Both new parents had her attention and turned to listen. Jemma drew a breath then told them what Daisy had shred about the dreams, leaving out the girl's reaction to her telling of the tale.

Coulson massaged his temples with the fingers of one hand. "Old house could be the place she grew up, it was a pretty big old building…probably full of musty old rooms."

Jemma nodded. "It is possible, but dreams are not always so literal. The building could merely represent a situation that may be overwhelming her."

"Like being turned into a kid by a crazy scientist from an identical world punched into by a whacko computer program?" May grumbled.

Before Jemma could answer, Coulson added. "And having a woman claim to be her mother then try to kill her or having to rescue the entire team from some She-devil with a Pinocchio complex. Not the mention the multitude of other tragedies she's been through in the last five years."

"I certainly would not discount our latest debacle with trying to let her be an adult on her own while she's sti…" Jemma shook her head and sighed guiltily.

"Still a child that needs her parents even when she thinks she doesn't…" May finished for her.

"What was her reaction when you told her?" Jemma inquired. It was something they had not discussed.

Coulson shook his head. "She just apologized for causing a problem."

"Always thinks it's all her fault," May agreed.

"And that was it?" Jemma asked, almost as if she was confused. "She wasn't upset or confused."

"She seemed to understand, when we explained it." Coulson shrugged. "We just spent the time telling her it wasn't her doing and that we were trying to help."

"Well that and discussing all the stupid stunts she pulled on her little escapade." May shook her head with a miniscule smile.

"That may be the problem," Jemma announced as if the idea had just come to her.

Coulson furrowed his brow. "She's having nightmares because May laid down the law."

"No," Jemma pointed out. "I don't feel you handled the problem badly but perhaps Daisy has." The young doctor's tone changed as if she was eager to prove a point.

"Jemma, she always thinks it's her fault." Coulson chuckled a bit and shook his head.

"No, sir…well, yes, yes she does but I don't think she is being completely honest with you." Jemma moved to stand next to May in the bedroom doorway. "Or herself," she sighed.