The Worst of the Worst

Things you said when I was crying

She feels numb, empty – her body, her soul, everywhere.

The world stopped making sense several hours ago.

And there is something tragically ironic about the whole thing – legally speaking, at nineteen weeks, it is still considered a miscarriage. Only it doesn't feel like that. She went through labor, she gave birth, and they even let her hold the tiny, lifeless body of her baby for a little while.

For all intents and purposes, she had a child.

Only she didn't have him for a moment.

Him. It would have been a boy.

And it just doesn't make fucking sense because just days ago everything seemed fine, and everybody told her that everything was fine, and she could feel him moving, and then this morning…

There are fresh tears flowing down her face. She thought she was done crying…

She is vaguely aware of Grant by her side, his head buried in her hair. He doesn't say a word, doesn't rage or weep, but she has never seen him this helpless, this powerless.

It wasn't an enemy he could have battled.

At some point Jemma appears by her bedside, taking her hand and talking to her in hushed tones. Her words barely register in her mind.

"I talked to your doctor, and she has no idea what could have caused the… this. But they are going to look into things, and I will, too, but Skye, I honestly think it was a one-time thing, nothing to do with you being Inhuman. I'm sure if you try again, you can have a healthy baby."

She wants to lash out, but she has just no energy left. She knows Jemma means well, but how could she make her understand that the possibility of having another baby won't bring her son back? But she just nods in the end, not even trusting her voice. She more like feels than sees Jemma giving her a sad, sympathetic look before she stands up, presses a kiss against the top of her head, gently touches Grant's shoulder, then leaves without saying anything else.

They discharge her the next morning, saying that she's alright – physically, she might be. Emotionally? She doesn't believe she'll ever be okay.

(Coulson eventually pulls some strings, and gets the hospital give out their baby's body, so they can properly bury him. It helps – not much, but it does.)