19
The Quinn Jet set down in a clearing a little more than a mile from the location beacons. Aside from the fact that the thick growth of trees left little room for the plane, the danger of collapsing the cavern where the team had fallen was determined to be too great. The extraction team was able to pave, or rather blaze, a path through the waist deep snow drifts, infuriating May. She intended to rip a new one for Fury demanding that all teams sent into snow flooded wastelands be granted the same technology. Having it could not only have saved them time but more than likely kept Cooper from crashing through the rotted seal of that damn cave. Of course it also would have made finding the damn 0-84 more difficult…that and the fact that the castle they'd been sent to find no longer existed.
Once on the ground the new team accessed the cavern and concentrated their initial efforts on stabilizing the injured Coulson then getting him to the larger plane more than five miles above. The sled-like stretcher they placed him on was another amazing bit of tech. It floated across the snow without leaving a trace. May followed close behind, leaving Bradshaw in charge of the flood of science geeks that arrived in hazmat suits armed with a plethora of containment canisters. Between him and Saez they'd be sure everything was catalogued and transported on the next flight. That left her and the rest of the team to endure debriefing and the mandatory med check before she could finally commandeer a jet to take her home. Of course that also meant making sure that damn nerd was okay before she left.
For now she'd wait outside the medical bay, wearing a hole in the carpet waiting for word on Coulson's surgery. The agent stared at the clock calculating the hours it would take her to get back to Skye.
xx
William paused for a moment wondering what could have occurred to bring such a smile to Celia. He let out a soft breath and shook his head. "I do not believe anything will stop that woman from doing what she has determined to be the best for Skye."
Celia shook her head and smiled wider. "No, no, William," she took his hand in hers and squeezed gently. "There is no way she can take a little girl from her sick-bed."
"Sick?" William was alarmed. He gently slid his hand from hers and started toward Skye's room. "How could this be…"
The woman grabbed his arm, stopping him. "There is no need to worry, William. Right now she's relaxing in a nice warm jasmine scented bath. I'm sure when she's finished my suspicions will be confirmed. The warmth will intensify the rash."
"Rash?" William repeated. "I am sure you stated it was but a small cold."
Celia smiled. "I did. I did." She nodded. "It starts the same way and these days children are immunized but I remember May saying Skye was a bit behind on the inoculations required. Dr. Collins was hoping to correct that. I will call his office to see just what shots Skye received last Thursday and what if any she still needs."
William let out a relieved and frustrated breath. "Celia, please tell me. How can I help my granddaughter? I must go to her." He gently slid his arm from her grip.
"In my day I would send you out for a very large bottle of Calamine lotion, but these days I believe Benadryl works wonders." She sounded almost giddy. She wrapped her arm around his and walked toward the foyer. "You make a quick trip to the drug store and I will get the little one out of the tub and into fresh clothing. You'd best pick up both the liquid and the ointment. We'll probably need both."
William nodded as he reached for his coat. Celia patted his chest as he slid his arms into it. "Chicken pox, William, the little dear has Chicken Pox. Such an ugly illness and I have never been so happy to see it."
William smiled for the first time, remembering eight year old Melinda miserable with the same virus. She had waited all week to wear her Girl Scout uniform to school, complete with a sash full of badges and medals only to wake up covered with the tell tale rash. She cried bitterly and he spoiled her for two weeks of convalescence. He pictured her pouting as he applied the pink liquid that turned chalk white and left her covered with crackly patches dotted over her body. He warned her about scratching and spent hours reading, playing games and cuddling her back to health.
"Go, William." She walked him to the door. "Everything is going to be fine." The man gave a nod and left. Celia closed the door slowly then leaned against it. "I hope." She crossed her fingers and headed toward her patient.
xx
"Agent May?" A woman who looked much too young to be a surgeon, pulled the scrub cap from her head and waited for a reply.
May turned and gave a curt nod.
The young doctor grinned. "Agent Coulson is in recovery. There was some muscle damage and a small puncture of the right lung but he should make a complete recovery." The woman shook her head and chuckled. "I never removed so many splinters from inside a wound but I am sure we got all of them." She waited for May's reaction but received only a blank stare. The doctor regained her own serious expression and cleared her throat. "You can see him for few minutes. We're heading for the medical station in Switzerland. He'll make his recovery there."
"Switzerland!" May was incensed. There was no way she was going to Switzerland. That meant at least another two, maybe three days before she could transport back to DC. "What the hell is wrong with Bethesda?" She growled, ready to take the doctor's head.
The woman stepped back, suddenly fearful of the older agent. "Well, Switzerland is much closer and the possibility of a set back…"
"Damn," May drove her fist into the nearest table causing the doctor to jump. "Maybe if they didn't have teenagers manning the medical system we'd…." She grumbled more to herself than the other woman.
"Stand down, Agent May. Doctor MacKenzie is one of our best." A gravelly, commanding, but otherwise calm voice interrupted her tirade.
"Fury," May hissed through her teeth. She turned and headed for him as the doctor quickly exited the way she had entered. May raised a finger and stormed across the room coming face to chest with the Director. "I told you I was finished with this shit and you march Coulson right into my home? You have him drag me to this winter wonderland for what? For a damn clock that turns people into dust? We had a deal." She drove her finger into his chest with the last of her words.
The dark skinned man wrapped his hand around her finger and lowered her arm. "Little respect, Agent May." He warned.
She opened her mouth to elaborate but instead narrowed her brows and let out a disgusted huff.
"You and," he jutted his head toward the recovery room. "You're the best I've got. Can't let either of you go that easily, May. I think you know that. And I will make every allowance I can for you and that…" he hesitated in an effort to find the right words. "Arrangement," he settled on a kinder euphemism with an invisible smile. "That arrangement, that very questionable arrangement you've made." May's eyes narrowed even further. Fury nodded. "I'm still not comfortable with this whole thing Melinda but far be it from me to talk you out of it."
"I dare you to try." May snarled through her teeth, curling her hands into tight fists. For several tense moments they glared at each other…dared each other to step over an invisible line drawn in the just as invisible sand.
Fury drew a deep breath and planted his fists on his hips. He stared into the corner of the room then glared back at her. "Quinn jet…on deck," he barked. "Wheels up in five, twelve hours we refuel in Australia, fifteen more to DC," he matched her glare.
May raised one brow, matching his stance. "You're math's about ten hours off." She growled.
Fury turned and headed for the exit. "Not on my jet," he growled back. Stopping at the door he spoke without looking back. "Three minutes…" he snarled and continued on his way.
May let out a fierce growl and stormed after him.
She caught up to him as they crossed the tarmac of the Helicarrier. The sound of the jet's revving engines roared, almost drowning their voices. They hunched their bodies to buffer the wind.
"If you're expecting a thank you…" May's shouted over the noise, pulling the hair back from whipping around her face
Fury grabbed a hand-hold on the jet. "Got a distress call," he yelled. "Your arrangement's got some trouble." He pulled himself into the plane unable to hear the string of Mandarin swearing in her reply.
xx
"Chicken pots?" Skye scrunched up her nose as she examined the bumps on her belly. They now spread around her middle, across her hips and up to her neck in a star field pattern of various sized blisters and tiny red specks. She held out one arm then the other and pulled down both sides of her mouth at the sight of more blots on both. "I ain't never even been near no real live chickens."
Mrs. Gibbons shook her head. "Chickens don't cause this, dollie. It's a virus just like catching a cold. You get it from someone else who has it."
Skye stared at her feet and wriggled her speckled toes. "Somebuddy wit chickens?" She looked up at Mrs. Gibbons, the look of confusion evident on her face. "I dint go by nobuddy wit no chickens."
Celia smiled as she motioned for the little girl to turn around and gently applied the ointment William had gotten to the blisters on her back. "It is actually called Varicella Zoster Virus."
Skye wrinkled her nose and shrugged. "I think Chicken pots is better. Who put 'em on me?"
It was Celia's turn to shrug. "Maybe someone in your class at school or at Dr. Collins office…I am going to call him and ask what he thinks."
The little girl stepped back almost slipping on the wet floor. "Do they need shots?" Her eyes went wide.
Celia shook her head. "No dollie, once you have them it's a little too late for a shot." She tugged the little girl closer and applied more ointment to her arms.
"Ya git the spots stedda the shot?" Skye wondered.
"Yep," Celia nodded. "That's about it. You've already got them so you won't need a shot."
Skye squinted one eye and tilted her head at the woman, wordlessly claiming her disbelief.
"Cross my heart," Mrs. Gibbons smiled, making an 'X' across her chest. "If you really get Chicken Pox you will really not need a shot. The shot is so you won't get the virus." She held up the palms of her hands. "I guess it's too late for you."
"Yeah," Skye grinned, once again examining the dots across her torso and down both legs. "But why they call 'em Chicken? They doun look like chicken." She shook her head and raised her brows.
"Well," Celia continued as she turned the little girl to face her and dabbed a bit on the few spots on her cheeks and nose. "I think maybe people were saying itching pox and someone just misheard."
"Skye looked at the palms of her hands, squinting at the fine pink blotches just under her skin. "Do I get 'em errywhere?"
"Mm hmm," Mrs. Gibbons nodded.
The little girl leaned closer and whispered, "even on my bum?"
Mrs. Gibbons pursed her lips and nodded again.
Skye thought for a moment. "Do it hurt?" She asked just as quietly.
Mrs. Gibbons shook her head. "No, just makes you a little grouchy because you can't scratch all those itchy little bumps. That's what the medicine is for." She tapped the little girl's nose.
Skye watched the last of the water swirl down the tub's drain. "Did the water make 'em come on me?"
"Well, yes and no, sweetie," Mrs. Gibbons explained as she held out a pair of panties and helped Skye step into them. "The water was nice and warm. It just helped them come out instead of staying inside your body."
Skye stepped back quickly. "They's insyda me? How they git in there?" She stared at Celia with wide eyes? "Did I eat 'em?"
Mrs. Gibbons wrapped her arms around the little girl and gently hugged. "Oh, dollie, let's not worry about how you got them. Let's just keep you warm and comfortable and safe right here with your Yéyé."
"What about the case lady?" Skye mumbled from within the hug.
Just the question ruined the moment as the cloud of that horrid woman once again fell over them. "We are not even going to think about her." Celia tried to smile.
For a few minutes the child was quiet, then moved back from Celia and slipped into her clean camisole. The animation that had overtaken her with the discovery of her condition had vanished as if the light had been switched off. The little girl wriggled into the oversized T-shirt and sweatpants Celia had selected. She dropped to the floor and pulled fuzzy pink slippers on her feet. Even with her head down and her hair falling around her face, Celia knew the child was crying again.
"Skye? Honey?" Celia urged her to stand.
"Is May gonna be mad?" She sniffled. "Maybe she won't like me being Chicken Pots all over me."
Celia pulled the child into her arms and stood. Even with a few extra pounds, Skye was still feather light. "Oh baby, May would never be angry because you are sick." She felt the little girl sobbing against her. She kissed the back of her head and held her tightly. "I think your Yéyé has some special tea and a little bit of soup for you. How about if we get something in your belly and you can both teach me about that mahjong game you like so much?" She spoke as she headed toward the kitchen.
xx
May listened to Fury's explanation of William's distress call. She cursed herself and Fury and Coulson and every other incident that lead to this fiasco. Fury simply replied that they were flying light and had caught a tailwind. With any luck they might cut another hour or two off their flight. A call to home base let Piper know that she was headed home but there was no way to contact her father directly. Protocol did not allow for that.
She paced. She growled and cursed under her breath until she cursed over her breath.
Fury flicked the jet into auto pilot and relaxed in the pilot's seat. "Sit down, May." He stuck a nubby unlit cigar in his teeth. "It's ten hours til we refuel. Save your breath."
She let out a frustrated breath and dropped into the copilot's place. She hadn't slept in…she couldn't remember and although she felt the exhaustion she would not give in to it. If that damn case worker got to Skye before she got back she would tear the District apart to find her. No one was putting her kid back in that hell hole, even with Sr. Daniel there to protect her. Damn that woman and damn the system that gave her the power to terrorize a little kid. She felt the leather of the seat's arm rest snap under her nails and didn't give two shits if Fury's precious plane was defaced.
Terrorized…Skye would be terrorized. May had seen the child in that state. It was not something her father had ever dealt with. Melinda had been frightened as child. She remembered being afraid of the dark for a little while and of the dentist and that kid that made fun of her everyday until she knocked him on his ass. She almost smiled at the memory then remembered how scared she was when her mother showed up at school instead of her baba. But terrorized? No she'd never been in that place where she felt lost and alone, where there was no one to cling to…no one to save her. But Skye did…her Skye did.
For a moment, May wondered if there was anything she could throw off this jet to make it move faster. She wondered if Fury had a parachute and glanced at him with venom. He smiled back with those large white teeth flashing.
May closed her eyes and let her head thump back against the seat. She drew deep breaths in an effort to calm the anger that would do her no good at this point. She'd save it until she was face to face with the bitch that was threatening…terrorizing her child.
Fury grinned at the slow rise and fall of his agent's chest. He flipped a switch above his head and adjusted his aviators. Soothing music filled the cockpit. If all went well he'd have her home and this dilemma solved by dinner time….tomorrow.
xx
Keeping Skye occupied was not an easy task on a normal day. Keeping a distraught, itchy, feverish, uncomfortable and anxious Skye occupied was exasperating. The child refused the soup William had made and took only a few sips of the chamomile tea. The mahjong game lasted less than fifteen minutes before she lost interest and stared into space. She wasn't interested in William's stories or Mrs. Gibbon's suggestion they start a new chapter book. Board games were out as well. Even a visit from Muffy could not lift the little girl's spirits.
By mid-afternoon Celia insisted on a temperature check and a normally cooperative Skye revealed her kitten claws putting up a fight that stunned both her grandfather and her neighbor. She screamed her objections using words May had warned her about without even realizing she said them. Slapping away Celia's hands she refused comfort seeing it as a trick to force her into compliance. The older woman suggested a dose of the liquid Benadryl but Skye was just as adamant in refusing it, locking her lips closed, shaking her head and knocking it from the woman's hand. Celia's reasoning was that it would more than likely help the little girl calm down and probably fall asleep. She could check her temperature then. Skye had strong objections and was not about to give in, even when William scooped her up and carried her to her bedroom.
She wailed at the idea of and violently refused the reapplication of itch relief ointment, kicking and squirming away from Celia then dropping to the floor and wriggling far under her bed. No amount of coaxing could bring the child out of her refuge. William reasoned he could easily move the bed but Celia felt they had lost the battle and perhaps it was better to let the child calm down on her own. Eventually both adults left the child to her tantrum hoping she would in fact come to her senses on her own.
Skye listened carefully to the two sets of footsteps as they left the room. She lay on her tummy with her head on her folded arms and peeked beneath the dust ruffle watching the door for their return. Her sobby breaths caused her body to shiver. Her eyes and head hurt but she was afraid to tell Yéyé or Mrs. Gibbons just how bad she felt. Being sick was not good and she was so afraid it might mean a trip to the doctor and more shots.
Being petite and skinny, Skye easily rolled over in the small space. She rubbed the tear filled sting out of both eyes and sniffled deeply. Her notebook still rested in the boards beneath the box springs on her bed. She slid it out easily and pulled the crayon she had squeezed into the space between the bed frame and mattress free. Rolling back to her stomach, Skye flipped through her pages of smiles and stopped at the first blank page.
She'd scribbled the word 'Dasembur' on the top of the page but hadn't really been able to do much more since. For a moment she stared at the happy face and green triangle she drew on the page before. It was the day she and May went to the place in the woods where you pick a tree to put in your living room. There were two more days with smiles before that month was done.
Skye looked at the blue crayon in her hand and sniffled a few times before stretching to reach the small can against the wall. She turned and fished through the colors until finding the red crayon instead. She used it to scrawl a frown on the first day of December, the day May went away. She repeated the action each day after, squeezing the tears that blinded her out of her eyes and scrubbed them away with the back of her spotty hand. She really didn't remember what the day was but knew every one of them deserved a sad face. When her hand hurt from the odd position she was in, she dropped the crayon and hugged the notebook to her chest.
This was her best place. This was sposed to be forever. May said it was gonna be forever. May said they fit together. May….
Skye cried until she exhausted herself and fell into a restless slumber.
xx
When Skye awoke she knew it was much later. It was dark in her room. The glow of her nightlight trickled under the dust ruffle. She lay for a few moments listening to the silence before sliding out and hurrying to use the bathroom. Tiptoeing to the door she paused and tried to hear the sounds of voices coming from the kitchen but all she heard was the sound of someone clinking plates or cups. She drew a breath and shuffled to the end of the hallway where she stood watching her grandfather set a bowl on the table. He looked at her, gave a nod and returned to his task. Skye lowered her gaze to the floor.
"Mrs. Gibbons has gone to her home. She will return to care for your needs before bedtime." William informed the child as he continued to work.
"I'm sorry." Skye mumbled without picking up her head.
"Yes," William stopped and looked at the child. "I did not expect such behavior, Skye."
He never called her Skye. She was sunnu or xao houzi and even bao bei, but not Skye. She dug her toe into the space where the kitchen tile met the wooden floor of the hall. "I'm real sorry, Yéyé." She softly repeated, quickly looking up at him over her brows and then back down.
William pulled a chair from the table and sat down. He let out a short breath and rubbed his hands on his thighs. "Come," he motioned to the little girl.
Skye sniffled and walked slowly from her spot to where he sat. She stood in front of her grandfather but still looked at her toes and noticing a new red dot right on top of her big toe. The fluffy slippers were somewhere under the bed. "Ya gonna hit me?" She hung her head and asked just above a whisper.
William shook his head, took her hands and tugged her closer. "I will not lie to you, sunnu." She didn't smile but inside it felt like she did. "You are a little girl deserving a spanking." The invisible smile dissolved.
Skye nodded. She understood punishment. If you acted like a demon (that's what the Sisters called it) you had to expect it. She swallowed hard.
William put a finger under her chin and raised her head, forcing her to look at him. Tears streamed from the corners of her eyes. He shook his head and pulled her into an embrace. "You are a little girl who does not feel well and is covered with angry red bumps. You are a little girl missing her mama so fiercely and I am so afraid I will lose you." He hugged her tighter, pulling her into his lap. "No bao bei, I shall not ever hit you and there will be no spanking." He rocked side to side, holding her tightly, stilling his own tears.
After a few minutes he stopped and looked down into her eyes. "But, you will sit at the table and take some soup and a bit of tea. We will then call Mrs. Gibbons to check your temperature and give you the medicines you need."
Skye wiped a tear from her cheek and nodded several times.
"And you will make an apology to Mrs. Gibbons as well." He added. She nodded again. William smiled and kissed her forehead. "She tells me you may favor the movie of the girl with ruby slippers." Skye gave a small sigh. "Perhaps we can watch this together when we have cleaned after dinner." She nodded and slid off his lap as he stood.
"Can we watch a difernt one, Yéyé? That's me and May's movie ta watch."
William smiled down at her then led her to a chair and motioned for her to sit. He placed a small bowl of soup before her and nodded. "You may choose what you would like, sunnu. I am sure it will be a fine choice." He picked up the spoon and placed it in her hand then waited for her to take a mouthful before sitting down to his own supper.
xx
Veronica Roffman tapped the papers she held in her hands into a neat pile then slammed them together with a stapler. She tucked them into a dark file and shoved them into her satchel. She fingered a form on her desk and smiled at the signature on the bottom.
Tomorrow she'd shove this form in that man's face and take that little brat. She had plans for Mary Sue Poots. Oh yes there was a special place in Northern Maine for difficult to place children…children who didn't fit in anywhere and they just happened to have a opening. And that May woman could look for the rest of eternity but she'd never find the little trouble maker. They'd caused enough trouble.
Now it was her turn.