Day 126 – Daisy's nightmare-scape

I like it when you call me that…

Whoa…come on Daisy…WAKE UP!

Geez I'm big now…grown up…adult…real me…I can't be liking that kind of stuff, hell, I'm not a baby

What the hell was that?

Thump? Was it a thump? Bump?

Oh geez is someone…some thing in here with me?

Yeah, well you just come on then…I've got a couple thumps of my own up my sleeve…

Crap, I got no sleeves…but I still got moves whoever…er…whatever you are…

Hey! It works! Take that Thump Monster…ya like that quake? Yeah that's what they call me…

Day 126 – ICU – Daisy's bedside – 0100 hours

"I'm sorry but that's all the time I can give you." Jemma informed the worried parents. "You both need some rest." She attempted to turn them toward the door.

"No," May shook her head. "I'm not leaving. I know as much about this as you do. You said it yourself."

"For your own good, you need…" Jemma started.

"I need to stay right here." May replied through her teeth.

"I am going to have to insist, Agent May." Jemma held her ground.

"And I am going to not give a damn, Agent Simmons." May shot back, wrapping her hand around the edge of the mattress.

May pulled back immediately. The look on her face alarmed Jemma as well as Coulson. Both moved closer. May looked at her hands then back at the bed and at Daisy.

"Did you feel that?" She breathed still staring at her hands.

Jemma grabbed May's hands examining them quickly before she yanked them away. "Don't be alarmed, May. It's merely the residual electricity. It gives quite a bite but amazingly does no damage." She explained, wondering why after all this time there would be such a shock. There had been no electrical activity in hours.

"What? Electricity hell! That was Daisy. I know that power." May barked, laying her hands on the mattress again.

Coulson joined her laying both his hands as Jemma died the same. Fitz watched, hoping for any response. After a few moments of nothing Jemma let out a soft breath.

"Just as I thought," she said softly, then looked to May. "Sometimes we want something so much we imag…"

"Stop," May hissed through her teeth. "Don't stand there and tell me I'm imagining things. I know what I felt." She pulled her hands away, glaring at both the doctor and Coulson.

He reached out, rubbing a hand on her bicep. "I know." He swallowed. "I wanted it too, but we have to accept…"

"Accept what? That this is it? This is all after everything she's been through?" May voice cracked with emotion and she did little to pull it back. She stared into Coulson's eyes, knowing he felt the same. "She has suffered through how many lifetimes with your ridiculous computer frames…" she spat at Fitz. "And survived being stolen from me…from us though another lifetime of loneliness and doubt." She drew a deep breath and turned back to Daisy. "Just to end up in some almost state where we don't even know if she's dead or alive."

The woman could take no more. Her body shook with the tears that would not come. Coulson motioned for the younger couple to give them the room then turned and wrapped her in his arms. She did not resist but released her anguish against his chest. Coulson felt his own hot tears escape and run over his cheeks. He did nothing to stop them.

Here he was the head of the most advanced agency with the most intelligent people on the planet and nothing could be done to help his daughter. Snippets of memory flashed through his mind…finding her in that ally, falling from the sky in Lola, leaving her in that cabin, seeing her in that fireworks factory…and more…good and bad…but every one a stake in his breaking heart. May was right. What if this was all they had? What if everything that was Daisy was lost?

Simmons insisted she wasn't dead but she was not alive…not in the sense of being alive. Damn, she wasn't even breathing. He'd noticed that on the monitors moments ago. There was no heartbeat, no blood pressure, no sign that she was alive. No matter how Fitz spun this, Daisy was not alive. But she was warm… He'd seen plenty of lifeless bodies in this job…cold and stiff, pale and expressionless. Daisy was none of those things. He wanted to believe his most intelligent scientist…hell, he'd seen stranger things. Just a few months ago a guy with a flaming skull saved all of them from a Pinocchio-maniac-hell-beast. If you took that into account, this wasn't really too much of a stretch.

Whatever this was it was certainly heartbreaking…to him and to May. This couldn't go on and yet he had no idea what to do. Simmons was doing her best despite May taking all of her anger…anxiety and every other emotion…out on the young doctor. But Simmons was tough, a lot tougher than most of them believed. Coulson had always seen it in her and now with all of this insanity Simmons had kept her wits about her. Through everything Daisy had been through, Simmons had been right there. Poor kid didn't even know what she was doing half the time.

Coulson drew a breath and tightened his embrace on May.

Day 126 – ICU – Outside Daisy's room – 0130 hours

"One more sample, Jemma…just one more…" Fitz held out both hands in supplication. "It's the only way to see the progress…to show you…them." He was beginning to sound desperate.

Jemma shook her head. "I don't see what good it will do, Fitz. I believe all you've said but enough is enough. You…" she poked a finger into his chest. "You said we needed to wait…to let all of whatever this is run its course…however long that may take."

"But…" he began.

"But nothing, Fitz…Daisy is not a test subject or some kind of experiment. Whatever this is we cannot…will not ever attempt to duplicate it. Never." Jemma commanded.

Fitz paused for a moment then stepped back, pursed his lips and nodded.

Day 126 – inside Daisy's mind – where time does not exist

Guess I showed that Thump monster. Ha! Not a peep out of it in…in…well since the last time.

Where the hell did that chair come from?

Looks like one of those super uncomfortable chairs from sick bay.

Sick bay?

What the hell, Daisy? You aren't on some damn Star Trekkie ship.

Or am I?

Shit…what if…what if I've been kidnapped by aliens. Yeah…aliens…

Wait…wait…wait…I'M an alien…well, half alien.

I kidnapped myself?

And now there's a table…to go with the chair…I guess you got a chair you need a table

I think this place is getting smaller…and greener?

Maybe I can…nope, legs are not working…no walking around I guess…good thing I s'pose since I ain't got no clothes

S'gettin kinda stuffy in here too…could really use some fresh air…

Day 126 – ICU – Daisy's room – 0200 hours

Jemma stepped quietly back into the room. Coulson glanced at her and gave a slight nod. She offered a small smile. There was no way she could convince either of them to leave Daisy's side, no matter how exhausted they seemed.

"I'll have a few more comfortable chairs brought in for you." She said quietly. "Perhaps you can rest a bit while you…wait."

May pulled away from Coulson, unwilling to be caught in this position. She quickly brushed away tears and gave a nod before turning her back on the doctor. "Thank you," she said softly.

A soft beep gained all their attention. All eyes went to the vitals monitor above Daisy's bed. The top line lit up with tiny points at regular intervals a few moments before the second line did the same. The group's focus changed when Daisy drew a deep ragged breath, rising slightly from the mattress in doing so. Immediately the third and fourth line on the monitor did the same as the first.

"Daisy," May gasped stepping to her side.

Coulson pulled her back as Jemma quickly put a stethoscope to the girl's chest. She listened for a moment before turning with a smile as the monitor's continued to beep and blip into normal rhythms.

"Simmons?" Coulson asked everything with one word.

Jemma nodded, unable to give a verbal answer at this point. She was thrilled as much as perplexed by the development.

"Simmons!" May demanded.

Jemma opened her mouth then snapped it shut in an effort to find the right words. She wasn't even sure. Was this a good sign? Was Daisy reviving? Was there any thing to revive? The doctor part of her knew a patient would definitely have massive neurological damage after so long without oxygen or blood flow. The brain could not possibly survive being starved for close to forty-eight hours. Heartbeat and respiration were definitely signs of life…but what kind of life.

But the S.H.I.E.L.D. agent part of her knew there were stranger things that could and did happen…over and over. Androids came to life and threatened theirs…damn, that thing even thought it was in love with her Fitz. A human skull burst into flame and then extinguished leaving not even a singe. Her brain raced through the impossibilities she had experiences…impossibilities that had become routine after all this time.

"Simmons!" May called her from her reverie.

Jemma looked to the monitors. "Yes…" she hissed, at the end of her patience. "She is breathing and…" she looked to the monitor again. "It appears she has a heartbeat but that is all I can tell you."

Coulson looked from the young doctor to his daughter, anxiety etched on his face. He knew enough to understand what Simmons was saying. This small improvement was not enough to bring Daisy back. There was a long way to go and May would not make it easy for any of them.

"All? That's all?" May spoke through her teeth. "Damn it, Simmons. You're a doctor. That's all you have to say?"

Jemma let out a furious breath. "I'm sorry, May, but that is all there is to say. Daisy has been unresponsive for almost two days. She is some sort of state that we have never, ever experienced. There is no precedent for whatever this is, so yes, May, that is all I have to say. I am sorry it is not enough for you." She snapped her stethoscope over once and pushed it into her pocket before storming out of the room.

"Simm…" May bellowed after her a moment before Coulson snagged her arm and pulled her back.

"Let her go, Mel…" he swallowed and gave a small smile as she turned toward him ready for an argument. "She's just as frustrated as we are and…" he hesitated, looking to the floor for a second before continuing. "You've been pretty hard on her."

May stared at his hand on her fore arm, blowing quick breaths through puffed cheeks. She gave him a quick nod as he released her. She took a few steps away from him, placing her hand on her hips and struggling to contain the last of her anger. Exhaling several times she shook her hands out at her sides then brought them back to her hips.

Simmons lack of knowledge through this whole thing had infuriated her despite the fact she knew the girl had just as much experience with it as anyone else. Fitz's constant barrage of out-of-this-world theories only added to it.

May let out a snort that might have been considered an almost laugh. Out-of-this-world was am understatement. It was more like out of the universe or reality or sanity…. This whole thing had been an exercise in insanity or some demonic nightmare from which she could not wake.

Coulson waited, knowing she would come back to him on her own terms in her own time. That was May. That was his May. He rested one hip on Daisy's bed and took her hand in his own. "It's gonna be okay, kiddo." He spoke just above a whisper.

Across the room, May smiled. She closed her eyes and drew a breath before slowly turning and walking back to her family.

Day 126 – ICU – outside Daisy's room

Jemma marched out of the room so quickly and in such blind fury she plowed into Fitz who had been patiently waiting for an update. Grabbing her shoulders, he steadied her for a second before she shook him off with a harsh push.

"I've had it!" She growled, stomping one foot and crossing her arms over her chest. She breathed rapidly, tapping the same foot in tandem.

Fitz raised his brows, his arms still outstretched at his sides. Rarely did Jemma 'lose it' but when she did it was best to give her space. He dropped his arms and stepped back…waiting.

Jemma spun back toward him, pointing a finger in his direction. "I have done everything in my power to deal with this situation right from the start and all she does is bark at me like I am some rookie with not an ounce of intelligence or experience." She spoke rapidly, stepping toward him with each word.

Fitz backed up as she advanced, nodding in agreement with every word. He knew better than to try to get a word of his own in to slow her down.

"How does she expect me to know anything about all of this nonsense when absolutely no one on this…" she stomped once and pointed to the floor. "This earth…has any idea what in the world is going on with age regression and bouncing from one place to another and living through bloody crystal changing blood and surviving without any signs of life for who knows how long."

She stopped nose to nose with Fitz, jabbing that finger into his shoulder as she finished. He reached up and wrapped a hand gently around her finger, smiling at her glaring into his eyes.

"Feel better?" He asked softly.

Jemma exhaled heavily before closing her eyes and drawing a cleansing breath. She gave a short nod and fell forward resting her fore head on his chest. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close and quelling the tremble that still shook her body. She relaxed in his embrace. He gently kissed the top of her head.

"I'm sorry, Fitz." She exhaled. "But May is just so…so frustrating." She spoke through her teeth, tensing once again.

Fitz kissed her again and pulled her closer, shushing her softly. "She's just worried. That's all. She hasn't been a mum very long." He smiled into her hair and felt a small chuckle escape her.

Relaxing in his arms, Jemma wrapped her own around him and breathed in the scent of him…the scent that brought her back and reminded her who she was…who they were together and what they could and would accomplish. For a few moments she simply relished his closeness and the chance to have this…just the two of them and the quiet.

"She's breathing and her heart rate is almost normal." Jemma spoke to Fitz's chest, unwilling to let go just yet. This was her recharging station and she didn't feel one hundred percent.

For a moment Fitz was lost in the same bliss until her words hit him. He pushed her back to look in her eyes. "She's awake?"

Jemma frowned and shook her head. "She's showing life signs but I wouldn't call it awake." She stepped away from him. "Fitz, you know there is very little chance of any brain activity after all this time." The emotion in her voice betrayed her professionalism.

"But you can't be sure…" he began then quickly continued before she could object. "She shouldn't have any vital signs at all. Should she?"

Snapping her mouth shut, Jemma shook her head. He was right. He'd been right all along. There was no reason to doubt now. She pursed her lips and gave a quick nod. "I'm ordering a complete neurological workup."

Day 126 – ICU – Daisy's room/base hallway – 0330 hours

Mack burst into the room not expecting to find it empty. He stared at the bare floor and empty chairs for a few moments before turning and almost tackling one of the nurse techs. The woman righted herself then explained that the patient had been taken for tests. May and Coulson had gone to the base commissary to wait. The large man gave a nod, thanked her and exited.

He walked quickly toward the Mess Hall turning over the recent events in his mind. The last time he had checked on his former partner there had been no change. If Simmons felt more tests were needed it could be a good sign…but it could also be a bad sign. Only Coulson and May had been allowed into the ICU room and had shared little with the other members of the team, mostly because they had not left Daisy's side for more than a few minutes. Fitz had been more forthcoming but his explanations were hard to swallow. There was no way the girl had no heartbeat or wasn't breathing. Mack pictured his once vibrant partner attached to tubes and wires keeping her alive. He knew it was hard to let go of someone you love…your child. He had lived that nightmare but he also knew there came a time when you had to let go and let nature take its course.

He hadn't really thought about Hope…well, not since his trip into cyber-land. He purposefully pushed those computer generated memories out of his mind, keeping busy with S.H.I.E.L.D. business every waking moment. Yoyo helped and his heart ached when he thought she might be only a distraction. He knew that wasn't true. His feelings for the woman were real and hers for him were the same. She understood his reawakened grief and had cried with him on more than one occasion.

Hope had been a beautiful baby with large eyes and long dark lashes. She was with them only a brief time but never cried or fussed. She looked at him with such depth that Mack felt she could see into his soul. He remembered that look every time he thought of that day. It still sent a chill through his massive frame, threatening to bring him to his knees. The doctors had tried…tried to keep her with them but no amount of medical or spiritual miracles could make it so. Mack held her…kissed her…rocked her…sang to her until he knew she no longer heard his voice. Then he cried…hugged her tiny form close to his chest until he could no longer hold on to his grief and his anger. He left the hospital that day in a daze, found the nearest bar and drank until he felt nothing. Hours later he woke on the floor of his own living room. His knuckles were bloodied. Large holes decorated the walls. And then he cried again.

So yes, Alphonso Terrance Mackenzie knew exactly what Coulson was feeling. No man…no woman should have to bury their child. Children were meant to outlive their parents, to continue on after that generation had its time. The frigid pain that gripped his heart was familiar. He knew his superior…his friend was feeling the same.

They'd only known Daisy as their child for a few months…not even a whole year. He hadn't known Hope for even a whole day but in that time she filled every bit of every inch of him and he would have moved Heaven and Earth for her in a heartbeat. Like Coulson and May he'd been given the chance to see her spunky, sassy ten-year-old self. She melted his heart, turned him to servant and guardian at the same time. Watching Coulson with the suddenly nine-year-old piss and vinegar Daisy was like watching himself. But it was all surreal. Daisy wasn't a child and Hope had never gotten to be one.

Mack took a deep breath as he slammed the lift button. He shifted his weight from foot to foot and quickly swiped away an escaping tear. He was ready to support Coulson…and May in whatever the outcome was…in whatever decision they were forced to make. Whatever happened he would be there for all of them.

Day 126 – Base Commissary

Mack stood in the doorway for a moment. Despite the fact that the base was on alert 24 hours a day, the Mess Hall was empty this time in the early morning. Most of the all night techs had coffee at their stations and made few trips to the common room three levels down. There was something spooky about the base during the wee hours. Even though no one really ever spoke about it, everyone felt it. The clank, clank, clank of anyone's footsteps through those hollow halls was enough to invoke visions of any number of low budget horror flicks. Of course the younger agents, including one Daisy Johnson (big and small), didn't help the fact by playing tricks on each other on numerous occasions. Mack had had a few chuckles at the security feed that showed a number of agents jumping or 'girl-screaming' at those tricks and he was sure Daisy had paid the price for scaring Davis out of a few nights' sleep. He still had no idea how or where she had gotten that Freddy Krueger get-up.

Now the only figure in the place was a worn down Coulson. He sat at a table in the center of the room, staring into a mug. The man held up his head with both hands, his well worn white dress shirt sleeves pushed up past his elbows. It was apparent he had not shaved in days. Mack couldn't help think of that sad faced clown picture of Emmett Kelly although he really couldn't see Coulson's face. Besides it had been so long since the man had any rest it was highly possible he was asleep since he did not move or acknowledge Mack's arrival.

Other than Coulson the place was empty. There was no sign of May, but that was understandable. She had not left Daisy's side and was probably still with her. It was hard to believe Coulson had, but then maybe she had given him a direct order. Mack smiled at the thought. Coulson was the Director, but May was in charge.

He moved one of the chairs out of his path as he made his way across the large room. It let out the telltale screech of metal against concrete almost as if it was protesting being disturbed. Coulson looked up, blinking his cat-nap away guiltily. He pushed himself back against the chair and rubbed both hands across his thighs.

"Mack," his voice was thick, almost groggy.

"Coulson," Mack nodded as he stepped closer.

"Everything okay…" they asked at the same time.

Coulson waved a hand letting him know he should continue. Mack pulled out a chair and slipped into it. He folded his hands on the table in front of him.

"Coffee?" Coulson offered. "It's fresh…hot."

Mack shook his head. "No, no I'm good."

For a moment they sat in silence as Coulson once again stared at the black liquid in the mug before him. He had poured it but had yet to take as much as a sip.

"You okay?" Mack broke the silence.

Coulson nodded, then shook his head, then shrugged. He really had no idea how he felt. Mack nodded his understanding.

"May?" Mack asked softly.

Coulson half-smiled. "She's off punching something." He almost chuckled. He thought for a moment, picturing May's penned up anxiety. "Needs to, before she punches somebody."

Unconsciously, Mack rubbed a hand across his knuckles…remembering. "Guess we all have our way of dealing with it." He nodded.

Coulson nodded back then fell back into silence for a bit before raising his mug to his lips then setting it back without taking a drink. "We've lost agents before." He said to the mug, holding it with both hands.

Mack stared at the table for a beat. "Daisy's not just an agent, Sir." He wasn't sure how much or how little to say.

Shaking his head, Coulson still addressed the mug. "No, she's not. She's never been…not really."

Mack smiled. It was common knowledge, unspoken but common, how Coulson felt about the young girl. Even before Simmons' discovery it was apparent that he thought of Daisy as his daughter. Hell, he'd even said it more than once and she reciprocated. None of this was new.

Coulson tapped a finger on the edge of the mug. "Simmons sent her for tests…neurological stuff…" He let out a small laugh. "I can't even pronounce most of it."

Mack let out a little sniff laugh. He could hear Jemma's words in his mind.

Coulson let out a long breath as he once again sat back against the chair. "It could be a couple hours." He let out another breath. "What's the update on St. Louis?"

Mack paused for a moment, caught off guard by the sudden switch to business. He quickly collected his thoughts. "Piper and Davis are taking a team at first light. We should have word by day's end."

Coulson nodded. "Any news on Talbot?"

Mack crinkled his fore head. Where had that come from? Talbot had been off their radar for more than a year. "Talbot?" He repeated.

Coulson shook his head. "Sorry, Mack…my head is in so many places."

"Not a problem, Sir." Mack nodded. "Maybe you should consider some rest." He knew Coulson would refuse but it was worth suggesting.

"Rest," Coulson smiled. "It comes and goes like a leaky faucet. Soon as I realize I'm asleep…I'm awake."

"Sir, if you need to talk." Mack started then paused. "I understand what you're going through."

"She's going to be okay, Mack." Coulson assured him, knowing where this conversation was going. He needed to say it because he needed to believe it. It was true that he didn't understand even a quarter of what Simmons had said before wheeling Daisy out of her ICU room. He did, however, know that a human brain cannot survive without oxygen or blood flow. Simmons hadn't said it but he knew, and he knew May did as well, that these tests could show their child was brain dead. He knew a decision would have to be made. He knew what it would have to be. He did not know if he could make it.

So he sat staring at a mug, avoiding a conversation with the only other man on the base who had lived through the same agony. May was probably beating the hell out of at least two punching bags in the gym one floor below. She wielded anger as her weapon against fear and would exhaust herself using it. He would bandage her bloodied knuckles before they met with Simmons in a few hours. She'd ordered them both out of the med labs until they were needed. There was nothing they could do and while she could not order them to rest, she could insist they clear out and give her room to do what needed to be done.

"You know I'm not a praying man." Coulson commented, breaking the silence. He stared a point across the room then down at his hands resting on his thighs. "After all this time I'm not even sure I remember how." He drew a quick breath. "And after…well, after everything I doubt it would be worth much."

"We've all got crosses to bear." Mack nodded. When Coulson didn't reply he continued. "I believe any prayer is worth it and I don't think there's a right or wrong way to do it."

Coulson pursed his lips and gave a small nod. He wasn't asking for a little favor. He needed a miracle. He wasn't a doctor but he knew there was very little chance that Daisy had not suffered irreparable brain damage after so long. Did he have the right to ask for that miracle? He really couldn't remember the last time he was inside a church…no, no wait…yes he could. It was his father's funeral. It was a distant memory but the recollection of that box before the altar sent a shiver through him.

"Coulson," Mack called him from the thought. "I don't think Simmons would put her through more tests if she didn't have some kind of hope."

"Hope," Coulson smiled and Mack felt the cold pain pierce his heart. "It might be more of her way to prove to May that we've got very little left."

"Stranger things have happened." Mack reminded him. "Maybe it isn't time to give up just yet."

"I haven't given up." Coulson shook his head. "Just trying to be realistic."

That brought a real laugh out of the large man. "It's been a while since anything around here resembled anything realistic."

Coulson huffed a small laugh and pushed the coffee mug away. "Think I'll hit the shower and maybe get rid of this." He scrubbed a hand over his scruffy beard as he rose from the chair. "Let me know as soon as you hear from Piper and Davis." He said over his shoulder as he headed for the door.

Day 126 – Science lab – 0600 hours

"This is impossible!" Jemma scoffed as she flipped through several pages. "It just cannot be right." She scanned a page then quickly flipped to another and did the same.

"Jemma, you ran the tests three times and every time the results came back the same." Fitz reminded her.

"But, Fitz, it makes no sense. There has to be a mistake. This cannot…" She shook the papers at him.

Fitz grabbed the pages and took from her gently. "There is no mistake, Jemma. Every test shows that Daisy's brain is just as healthy as it was before all of this happened. You've compared the tests and seen it for yourself." He held both her hands in his own. "Stop second guessing yourself. Whatever Dr. Liu did and however he accomplished it, it is over and done."

He waited for a moment. She opened her mouth then drew a deep breath and shook her head. None of this made sense, it never would and odds were they would never find an answer or know how any of it worked. She wasn't even sure she wanted to know.

Fitz smiled and pulled her to his chest, wrapping his arms around her. "What do you say we go tell Coulson and May some good news for a change?"

Jemma merely nodded against him. "But we still do a cognitive ability screening when she wakes."

Fitz laughed a small laugh through his nose and nodded. "Of course," he agreed.

Day 126 – ICU – Daisy's room – just after dawn

They'd rolled Daisy back into her room less than thirty minutes ago. Except for the fact that she now wore a plain blue hospital gown there was very little change in her condition. Simmons had paged Coulson and May who appeared within minutes expecting answers which the young doctor did not yet have. She explained it would take a bit to analyze the results of the tests. Jemma said little more before leaving the family alone.

The familiar beep of the vitals monitors seemed comforting now, unlike the annoying pitch it had been before. Coulson barely had time to spend with his daughter before Mack alerted him to an urgent situation in command. This was something he had to deal with himself. May nodded her understanding as he left, promising to return as soon as possible and making her promise to let him know if anything changed or if Simmons had any news…good or bad.

May sat at the edge of the bed watching the slow rise and fall of Daisy's chest. Simmons had insisted on a canula to increase the girl's oxygen saturation even though it was slowly normalizing itself. Other than that Daisy appeared peacefully asleep. May wrapped her hand around her daughters and gave a light squeeze.

"You're really giving us a run for it." She smiled. "Never do anything small, do you?" She waited for the answer she knew would not come then brushed a stray hair from Daisy's face.

May bit her lip and blinked back tears. She still held Daisy's hand. "You know a while back you asked me…no told me I preferred Skye. That wasn't all true." May paused for a moment remembering the little girl from another universe, a little girl who seemed wise beyond her years. She drew a breath. "I don't know if you can hear me, Daisy…" she began.

"I hear you, May!" Somewhere in Daisy's addled mind she did hear her mother and strained to be heard in return. The clear blue world she'd inhabited for however long was gone, replaced by shades of grey and shadows of pieces of reality. But May's voice was clear…and close. "I hear you." She called again.

"Skye was easy and so were you…little you…so easy to love and to spoil…" May smiled.

"Spoil?" Daisy laughed. "Is that what you call it? Geez, my butt couldn't take much more of your spoiling."

"Oh we had our rough spots," May nodded, pursing her lips. "But you deserved it, always pushing the limits way past my patience."

"There it is." Daisy grinned. "Ya, I guess I just kept testing the waters and failing every time."

"It's harder now." May exhaled. "All that history, I wasn't such a great person when we first met. I treated you pretty bad. Honestly, I wanted you gone and forgotten. I can't forgive myself for the things I did or said to you."

"Well, ya gotta admit, I didn't make it easy for you. I called you a lot of names…well, not to your face, but none of them were very…well they weren't compliments." Daisy sighed, wishing May could hear her.

"I guess I think you can't forgive me either." May breathed.

"No, no…I didn't have to forgive you cuz I never…well, maybe a little…but I never felt like that. You taught me everything. You were the best. I was the screw up. I was the one who messed up everything in Puerto Rico and with Afterlife and Hive and always thinking I knew better than everyone else and not following orders. Damn, you shoulda kicked my ass a hundred times over." Daisy was close to tears.

"I wanted to tell you how much my heart was breaking when you found your mother. I wanted to let you know how losing you was tearing my up…tearing Coulson and I up. I couldn't even understand why. When you knocked me out it almost felt good. I didn't have to feel. I didn't want to feel." May shook her head, feeling silly as well as guilty for releasing all of these skeletons from her well guarded closet.

"I should have known it was all wrong, but I just wanted a mom so bad and…and I wanted it to be you but I knew you didn't want me. I was angry with you for that…for letting me go…for not fighting for me. I wanted to hurt you. I'm sorry." Daisy ached.

May paused for a moment, staring at her hand covering Daisy's. Had she felt a small flinch? Was it real or had she wanted it so badly that she imagined it? No, she'd done the flinching, gripping Daisy's hand just a bit tighter.

"You said we didn't deserve a kid like you, but you're wrong Daisy. You are strong and stubborn and funny and put everything you have into everything you do. I do love you bao bei. I always have." May's voice cracked as she finished. She squeezed Daisy's hand just a little and closed her eyes as a tear ran over one cheek.

Very slowly Daisy's fingers closed around May's. Her grip was weak, but it was a grip. It was not a flinch imagined or otherwise. May's eyes sprang open as she lifted both their hands from the mattress and Daisy managed a tighter grip. May stood.

"I like it when you call me that…" Daisy thought. She swallowed, parted her lips and exhaled one hushed word.

"Mom…"

¹Come back to us, baby.