Day 125 – Treatment room
Jemma stepped into the room and froze until Elena crashed into her. She stumbled ahead a few inches then righted herself as Elena stepped next to her. Both stared wide-eyed at the sight before them. May and Coulson stood shoulder to shoulder, still in the 'safety zone' staring at the bed six feet away. There was no need to ask for explanations or updates. That was perfectly clear.
Snapping her jaw shut, Jemma looked to a just as shocked Elena.
The blue haze that had surrounded the figure on the bed for the last several hours had ceased casting out tiny electrical charges. It jiggled for a few seconds like an oversized Jello-mold then slowly turned to liquid and dripped off the bed like a melting Popsicle. Jemma stepped closer, careful not to place her foot in the blue puddles that might have formed on the floor. She carefully placed her hand at the bottom of the mattress, prepared to pull back quickly, having already been bitten by the stinging sparks. The only sensation she felt was the cool surface of the sheet. After hours of sparks and electric arcs, that surprised her more than not receiving another sharp shock.
The cerulean goo ran from beneath the blanket that covered the form on the bed without leaving a trace. It remained soft and dry. As it did the figure on the bed took on a more familiar shape and color. Jemma slowly reached out a hand and softly touched the girl's cheek. It was soft, warm and surprisingly dry. The strange blue liquid cascaded to the floor but left nothing in its wake. It neither splashed nor pooled, simply evaporating as it hit the tile below the bed. It left no residual stickiness or stain. The bedding was as clean as it had been when first placed on the mattress. The body that now lay on its side, hands tucked under one cheek, looked as if it were in blissful sleep. It was just as unblemished…just as dry.
For a moment Jemma was amazed…amazed that such a thing could be possible. This blazing blue blob had indeed transformed into Daisy…adult Daisy…full grown Daisy (albeit naked Daisy)…their Daisy. Not that that innocent little earth shaker wasn't theirs…but…but…HELL, it was Daisy. Daisy was back…almost.
The young doctor stifled her urge to scream with gleeful excitement. Realizing she stood between those behind her and the view of the now fully visible, and thank goodness covered, form of her friend…team mate…sister…she took slow steps to the side of the bed. It was important to check for any after effects before allowing May and Coulson to rush into a heartfelt welcome. The past twenty-four hours had been heartbreaking as well as breath-taking. The doctor in Jemma suddenly quashed her excitement with the realization that all those hours without a heartbeat or a breath would have certainly caused irreparable damage to the young woman. Now instead of biting back a scream, Jemma held back a tear.
She tugged the stethoscope from her neck then gently laid it on Daisy's chest. Jemma smiled for a second before realizing that despite Daisy's color and warmth, she was not drawing breath. Daisy had not reacted to her touch. Quickly the young doctor moved to the foot of the bed and tossed the blanket back to reveal the patient's feet. Pulling a pen from her pocket, she ran it over the bottom of Daisy's foot…no reaction. Jemma drew a small pointed instrument from another pocket and gently poked the top of one of Daisy's toes. Again the girl did not react. The young woman looked perfectly normal as well as healthy…but something was definitely not right. Jemma drew a breath and turned to the group silent, but anxiously waiting behind her.
May took a step but was stopped by Coulson's hand on her arm. Something in Jemma's look told him the news was not what they hoped. He could not fully see the form on the bed, still blocked by Jemma, but it was not moving…not responding to Jemma or to merely being in the room.
Jemma drew a deep breath and pulled her doctor mask back into place. "I need all of you out right now."
Not missing a beat or waiting for their response, she tapped her communication device and ordered her medical team into action. Elena jumped aside as that team rushed into the room then actually pushed the still astonished May and Coulson to the side as they wheeled the bed out of the door. Coulson grabbed Jemma's arm as she followed.
"I'm moving her to intensive care." She explained before he asked. "As soon as I know…"
He released her with a nod of understanding. He'd only had a glimpse of the girl, but knew it was Daisy.
"I'm coming with you." May snapped.
Jemma turned back, but kept walking in reverse. "I'm sorry May, what Daisy needs right now you cannot give her. The best thing you can do is stay out of the way so my team and I can do what needs to be done." She turned to hurry after them but looked over her shoulder and sighed, "and hope for the best."
xxxx
Fitz rushed past the few people in the outer area without taking notice of who they were. His focus was on something more. He slammed through the double doors that lead to intensive care ignoring the nurse who ran after him with a gown and mask. At the end of the hall he smashed into the room took one look and shouted "STOP!" at the same time Jemma yelled "CLEAR!"
He took a giant step forward and grabbed her wrist yanking back one AED pad before she could make contact with Daisy's chest.
"Fitz!"
"Jemma," he breathed with relief.
"You can't…" they scolded each other. "Are you trying to kill her?"
"What?" Again they spoke in one voice.
Jemma let out an exasperated breath and yanked her wrist free. "Her heart is not beating. This," she held up both pads, "is the only way we can start it."
Fitz stepped in front of her and held up both hands. "No, Jemma, no. That is how you will stop whatever it is that Dr. Liu put into motion."
He looked over his shoulder at Daisy. It had been more than a day since Jemma had pronounced the little version of their friend dead and yet there she was. Maybe she wasn't breathing and maybe there was no trace of a heartbeat but she looked perfectly normal.
"Look, Jemma, whatever is happening or has happened is part of this…this…" Fitz had no words to describe the recent events.
"Insanity, that's the term you're searching for." Jemma growled. Fitz shook his head. "Do you realize the damage she's probably undergone without oxygen?" She slammed the pads on the counter next to the bed as the other medical techs turned away, clearly uncomfortable with the argument they were forced to witness. Jemma let out a frustrated breath and motioned for them to exit the room.
Fitz placed a gentle hand on Daisy's ankle. Even through the light blanket he could feel her warmth. He reached for Jemma's hand and laid it on the same spot. "Here," he spoke softly. "Does this feel like someone who's been dead for almost two days?"
Jemma pulled her hand back and shook her head. "It doesn't matter, Fitz. She has no heartbeat and no respiration. We have to do something or we will lose her for good." He could hear the desperation in her voice.
"Let me take a sample and just test a theory." He almost begged.
"Don't be ridiculous, Fitz!" Jemma was frustrated, tired and at a loss with the entire situation. "There is no blood flow when there is no heartbeat." Her voice was high pitched and anxious.
"Please, Jemma," he urged her. "Humor me…please."
Reaching for a phlebotomy kit, she let out a hard breath. "There is nothing humorous about any of this. Daisy is dying…damn…if she's not already….already gone…." Her voice shook with emotion as she tied the band on her friends bicep and felt for a vein. Jemma let out another breath as she inserted the needle sure it would produce nothing then immediately startled at the deep blue liquid that filled the syringe. Her hands shook as she gently removed it and stared at its contents.
Fitz was just as astonished but gently took the sample from her then wrapped his fingers around her hands. "Something is happening, Jemma. We only need to figure out exactly what it is."
She looked at his hand encompassing hers and squeezed back with a small nod. Fitz did the same then hurried back to his lab to examine what they had found.
Day 125 – Still a very confused Daisy
This is the worse damn dream ever. Why can't I just wake up?
Whoa! Wait a minute. I have hands…and arms…legs…feet…holy shit, my body's back! And it's…it's my body! My real me body…all of it…me…real me…
'Cept…I'm dreaming some damn dopey dream…
At least I have a…I guess it's a blanket…this time.
Geez…you think I'd dream clothes
Is that Fitz? What's he carrying on about? Are they arguing…
Dead!?
Someone's dead?
I gotta wake up. Damn, what if something happened? What if May…Coulson?
Hey guys! I'm big…er…I'm grown again…
Oh damn, where the hell am I and why can't they hear me.
"Relax said the night man…we are programmed to receive…you can check out anytime you want…but you can never leave…"
Nice…the Eagles…I'm dreaming to the oldies…
Yeah, I've been wondering if this is Heaven or Hell…..AM I DEAD!?
Am I who they're arguing about?
Hey, hey guys…I'm not…I can hear you…
Wait a minute…I know where this is…..the Nowhere Place….
"He's a real nowhere man. Sittin' in his nowhere land…"
Shut! IT! Enough of the musical comments!
There's no way I'm back from here. That Liu guy said it would be gone. He said there was no way back.
No way back…
Day 126 – Science Lab – Lighthouse Base – 0025 hours
Fitz sat back from the microscope lens, rubbed his eyes, quickly typed a few notes into the tablet next to him then leaned back. He had observed three slides…this was the fourth and last of the sample Jemma had agreed to take. Every slide had provided the same result. Gone were the snowflake like crystals he had observed for the past few days, replaced by what could only be red blood cells. He suspected that was the reason for the dark blue liquid…or could it be blood. It had been years since he carried that blue filled vial from the bowels of the Guest House, rushing to save Daisy from the damage Quinn had done. There was no time to examine that liquid and nothing left of it after but he could not help thinking it was somehow related.
It wasn't until months later that they learned the source of GH-325 and the effects it had on Coulson…effects Daisy never experienced. Fitz wondered, now, if Liu's experimental slide into another dimension somehow involved the same substance. Hell, that Vin-Tak guy said the Kree visited other planets to spread their seed. Who knows? Maybe they crossed dimensions as well. Was it possible Liu used Kree blood to develop his whacky experiments?
These and other questions raced across Fitz's mind. Unfortunately there was no way to ever find answers. That door had been shut…all ties severed when his program as well as Liu's were destroyed in the Playground collapse. The whole thing was some kind of fluke that could never be duplicated.
But something about this substance kept taking him back to that point.
Fitz watched the small red dots grow into lozenge shaped red cells then multiply rapidly until the dark blue liquid turned deep purple then morph into magenta and red-violet before becoming the familiar red of hemoglobin. He stared at the substance for a few seconds debating on how to approach Jemma for another sample. Just as it took the crystals hours to completely encompass little Daisy's body, he knew it would take just as long, if not longer, for this process to overtake Daisy's now full grown body. There would be no getting Jemma to leave Daisy's side. For that reason he had recorded the most recent process into his tablet.
It was time to show Jemma what was happening.
Day 126 – Lighthouse Base – ICU waiting area – 0045 hours
Mack stepped into the small area, followed by Elena. His intent was to update Coulson on the St. Louis incident. Elena was more interested in making sure their friends had something to eat and drink. It had been hours since they had anything. She carried a small cooler with sandwiches and a bit of fruit in addition to a thermos of hot tea. Setting both on the table she turned to her friends surprised at the condition of the usually stoic May.
The hours and the stress had taken a toll on both of the senior officers. Coulson's chin bristled with whiskers begging for a shave. He suddenly appeared older, tired and beaten. May seemed to have lost her edginess. The cold set of her jaw drawn into a line of worry as she paced from one side of the room to the other. Elena placed an arm around her shoulders fully expecting to be shrugged off but instead was met with a weak hug in return.
Coulson stood as the couple entered, greeting Mack with only a small nod. The sight of both had Mack changing his mind about the update. They were dealing with enough.
"You should eat." Elena stated simply. "At least have some tea."
"You've been up for almost forty-eight hours," Mack started. He looked toward the door to the Unit then back to Coulson. "Why don't you let Elena and I wait for a while and you two get a couple hours sleep? We'll let…"
Coulson shook his head then pinched the bridge of his nose and let out a soft breath. "Couldn't sleep if I wanted." He patted Mack's shoulder. "Thanks anyway."
Before anything more could be discussed or argued, the doors opened with a soft hiss admitting Jemma into the room. Her expression was blank hinting at neither good nor bad information. She nodded toward the group in a nonverbal greeting.
May stepped toward her, hoping for any kind of news.
"There's been no change." Jemma exhaled, feeling the hope drain from May's stance. "Her temperature is within a normal range but we have no sign of consciousness." The doctor felt it best to leave out the fact they also had no heartbeat or spontaneous breathing. No mater what Fitz was thinking, those things said to anyone would mean only one thing. She tried to force a smile as Coulson approached and put an arm around May.
"Can we see her?" He asked softly.
Jemma drew a breath. She knew it would probably be better if they did not. Surely they would notice her non-existent vital signs and although she believed that somehow Daisy was still with them, she had no idea how to explain her condition. But, looking at their faces…feeling their anguish, she went against her better judgment and gave a slight nod.
"Just a few moments and just you," she told them, motioning for Mack and Elena to stay put. She turned toward the doors with May and Coulson following.
As the doors closed Fitz hurried into the room heading directly for them. Mack held up a hand. "Hold on there, Turbo." He stepped between Fitz and his target.
"I've got to see Jemma." Fitz quickly informed him patting the tablet he held close to his chest.
Mack shook his head. "Not a good time. She's got May and Coulson in there."
"But I need…" Fitz continued.
"Not now, Fitz." Mack shook his head. "Give them some space."
Fitz considered arguing then backed down. Whatever was happening could not be stopped, a few minutes would not make a difference. He gave a quick nod and moved to one of the chairs in the room.
Day 126 – ICU – Daisy's bedside
May argued the point that personal protection wasn't necessary prior to Daisy being moved here but gave in to the nurse/tech holding the gown and mask. If that was what it took to see her child she would do as asked. Coulson did not object.
Jemma lead them into the room but stepped aside as the couple approached the bed. Once again monitors with attached to leads and hummed softly. Neither of them paid much attention to the now familiar machinery. May looked at the blissful face of her now adult daughter before moving a stray hair away from the girl's face. She brushed the back of her fingers across Daisy's cheek.
Coulson moved closer, placing a hand on May's shoulder as he looked around her. He reached down and gently took Daisy's hand, giving it a soft squeeze. "Can she hear us?" He asked without turning toward Jemma.
The young doctor hesitated, unwilling to lie to him and unsure if, in fact, Daisy could hear anything at this point. "I…I'm not quite sure," she answered taking a few steps toward the foot of the bed. "We've never had anyone in this…state before. I can't be certain of anything right now."
May spun toward Jemma. "What does that mean? You don't know? Then what is all this?" She swept the room with only her eyes.
Coulson stepped away from the bed, keeping his voice calm and hoping to keep May the same. "What's going on, Jemma?" He asked softly. "You've kept her here all this time and can't tell us anything new?"
May let out a disgusted snort and folded her arms over her chest waiting for the young doctor's reply.
Jemma looked from one to the other, swallowed and attempted an explanation. "As I said, we have never seen anything like this. We…I really don't know what to expect." It was feeble at best.
Coulson took in the monitors above the bed, noticing for the first time that each line ran flat across the screen. Even he knew that was not a good sign. He looked back to Jemma with that question written in his expression.
"I assure…" she looked at Daisy for a second… "Believe…I believe she is alive but I cannot say what her condition is or…" At this point she stopped, not sure how to phrase her deepest worries.
"Or?" May scoffed. "Or what, Simmons? We need to know exactly what's going on." She demanded, stepping toward the younger woman.
"I don't know." Jemma almost cried, her voice laden with the anxiety she tried to hide. "She shows every sign of being…of some sort of being…some kind of life…but I don't know how to reach her or what to do. I'm not even sure if I'm helping or hurting her more." She rambled quickly through her words ending on the verge of tears.
"I may have an answer." Fitz spoke as he came through the doors, holding a thumb drive out at them. He'd grown tired of waiting outside and convinced Mack, with a short version of his theory, that it was imperative he see Jemma immediately.
May rolled her eyes. "More nonsense…" she growled.
"No, May, not nonsense. Science, it's science. As convoluted as it may seem and with all of Liu's experimentation messing with all that we know, I believe that this somehow has to run its course." He explained, calmly.
"We all came back through that damn blow hole of Liu's. Why…" May began to argue.
"We've been through this, May." Coulson stopped her. "Those deep diving suits protected us a lot more than that damn helmet did for Daisy."
"It should have been me!" May snarled, poking a finger into his shoulder with each word.
"No," Fitz shook his head. "Daisy is probably the only one that could have survived it. I am almost positive it has to do with her being inhuman. This is somehow linked to that Kree blood cocktail hidden under the mountain like some damn Tolkien treasure."
"More like a curse," May grumbled under her breath.
Fitz paused for a moment staring at her then continued. "Whatever it was it saved her once before and I believe it is doing so again."
"Everything Fitz theorized earlier has happened. Those crystals did exactly what he predicted and somehow put Daisy into some type of transformation." She spread her hands over the form lying on the bed.
Once again Fitz held up the thumb-drive. "And that is what is still happening. Whatever process changed her blood to ice is now reversing itself." He quickly scanned the room stopping on a tablet left on the one small table against the wall. Retrieving it, he plugged in the drive and turned it toward the others then explained in detail what was happening.
Jemma's jaw dropped. She snatched the tablet and replayed the video in slow motion, carefully examining every slide.
Fitz watched for a second then turned to May and Coulson, answering their question before it was asked. "It is taking longer because now…now Daisy is…is full grown. There is just more of her to transform." He smiled hoping they understood. When they both stared waiting for more, he continued. "Think if it as the terragenesis cocoon only instead of encompassing her on the outside its internal. It is rebuilding from the inside out." He smiled again.
May turned back to her daughter, lightly running her fingers over Daisy's arm. "How do we know it isn't hurting her, making it worse?"
Jemma stepped next to her. "I don't really know what is going on inside or how it is happening, but from what I can tell she does not seem to be in any pain." She tried to reassure the worried mother.
"But you don't know for sure…" May looked to Daisy's peaceful expression unable to suppress the small smile on her face.
Jemma shook her head. "No, not for sure…but I do believe Fitz and he believes Daisy will pull through this."
"She's a fighter…a survivor…" Coulson smiled as he stepped behind May and laid a hand on her shoulder.
"And I cannot help her…" May's voice cracked. She drew a quick breath to regain control.
"You've given her everything she needs to fight this. She is your daughter, May…she is everything you are and more. Now we need to trust Fitz-Simmons and let Jemma see this through." Coulson spoke softly and calmly.
May squeezed her eyes shut tightly. Tears dribbled slowly over her cheeks as she nodded in agreement. She let out a breath and quickly swiped them away then leaned down to kiss Daisy's forehead.
"Huí dào wǒ shēnbiān, bǎobèi." She whispered close to Daisy's ear.
Above the bed the monitor blipped one tiny red arc before retuning to a straight line.
No one noticed…
