Okay guys. Next chapter. Probably boring and short, and not what you wanted at all. I'll explain why at the end. Here's for those who wanted Coulson and Skye lovin' as well as some protective May and awkward and chastised Grant. Aw. Enjoy.

Skye almost choked. "Excuse me? Did Mr tough guy just say the word love?" she stammered, her knuckles white from clutching too hard on his hands.

Ward had the good grace to look faintly embarrassed, "well I did say think." he muttered, glancing down.

A touch on his cheek forced him to look up. Skye's lips were pursed, her cheeks flushed.

"That's the first time I've ever heard those words. From anyone. Not any of my foster families, and I don't exactly have a good track record with men." she cringed. "So I don't care if you just think, thank you." she said softly, shaking her head and slowly pulling her hands from his, reclining back.

Grant hated himself for saying think, but he was not ready to jump in and say yeah, okay, I do love you. The mere thought of it set him on edge. But Skye looked so happy at just that, the he felt like he didn't have to say it.

"You're welcome." he muttered and cleared his throat. "Oh, um, Coulson wanted to see you in his office as soon as you were done." he stood fluidly, looking all around embarrassed.

He left without so much as a goodbye, leaving behind a very confused Skye.

"I love you too." she whispered after him before burying her face in her hands.

Grant was angry, furious with himself. Skye was sick, she was going through a lot and Ward had stuck the knife in and twisted. He'd surely just made things even worse than they had been. He shouldn't have said anything, and he definitely shouldn't have left her on her own.

He slammed his fist into the punching bag, hitting until a stern voice behind him cut across his thoughts.

"Ward." May said flatly, raising an eyebrow and simply staring at him until he moved away, gulping from a bottle of water.

"What is it? I sent Skye to Coulson's office like he wanted."

May continued to watch him, arms crossed over her chest. From what he'd picked up of her facial expressions, she was pissed. Very pissed.

Shit.

Okay, so someone would have to be VERY stupid to not be scared of Melinda May, and as badass as Ward liked to believe he was, the woman scared the living hell out of him. He thought he could kill someone with a flick of his wrist? This woman could probably cut his neck with the nail on her pinky finger.

"Oh yes, I know that. Do you want to know why Agent Ward? Because she came in crying. Now I'm just dying for you to tell me what the hell is going on, before I get angry." her voice was deceptively calm.

Ward started to unwrap his hands. No beating around the bush, really, May was like a hound; could smell the lies from miles away.

"I told Skye that I thought I loved her."

If May looked taken aback, she didn't show it, but there was definitely a dangerous glint in her eyes.

"Agent Ward, I'd like you to take into consideration right now how Skye is feeling and what she's going through. Did you never once think that saying 'you might' love her and then leaving might have an adverse effect? She's convinced you're only saying it so she won't, and I believe her exact words were 'take my own life like Grant thinks I will'. May's voice was low, the tiniest hitch in her breath telling him that she was distressed at the thought of Skye perhaps killing herself. However inadvertently.

"Now, I suggest you wait until Coulson's finished and go and tell her how you real feel, without screwing it up. Believe me, if you don't do it now, you'll regret it. Not to mention, upset Skye further." May brushed past him, as silent as ever. "Just remember what happened in Russia. That will be you if you upset her further. Understood?"

Grant barely suppressed a shudder at the memory, nodding. "Yes, of course." he said quietly, well and truly chastised. God, he felt like a teenager again, or what he imagined a teenager without an arsehole of an older brother to feel. Like he'd upset some parent's darling little girl. Oh Christ, May was getting all parental and motherly.

Jeesh.

In Coulson's office, Skye and Phil currently cradled cups of tea, Skye not really drinking, more just holding it for warmth.

They'd been sitting in somewhat comfortable silence for the last ten minutes, for the ten minutes prior, Skye had been unable to stop crying.

She'd apologised profusely but Coulson had bushed her concerns away with a soft 'Skye, there's no reason to be sorry. If anything, I'm the one who should be sorry.'

At first, she was sure she hadn't heard right, what on earth should Coulson have to apologise for?

"I'm the leader of this team." he'd said, voice wracked with guilt. "I should have noticed that something was wrong, that you weren't okay, if only I'd known and spoke to you, maybe you wouldn't feel like you do now."

And really, that had just fuelled her tears even more.

Now though, Coulson was silent, watching Skye, lips pursed. She wasn't drinking the tea, much to his dismay. He'd loaded the cup with sugar and milk, knowing she'd need the calories or something.

"Skye, drink up." he prodded, nodding to the cup and when Skye took a few absent sips, it was almost like a triumph for Phil.

She pulled a face at the taste but said nothing, knowing what he was trying to do. And so she kept drinking, forcing the disgustingly sweet drink down her throat, if only to make someone on this goddamn Bus a little happier.

Coulson cleared his throat, fiddling with his tie. Before his death, he'd never been one for heart to heart talks, and if he had had them, they'd been with one of two people.

Now, with five new people in his life and Natasha and Clint out of it, things had changed. His death had changed him.

"I know you're probably sick of hearing this, but what you're doing…you don't need to do it. I know one day you'll make an excellent agent. Why do you think I let you stay? You're the best hacker I know, even better than Tony Stark, and he seems to think he's God's gift." his voice was…well, it hinted at proud.

"But past that, you're determined and strong and brave and you will make one of the best agents SHIELD has ever seen. Without this, without the losing weight and making yourself ill."

Skye just bobbed her head at the appropriate times. "Look, AC, I…I'm not saying that I don't want to lose weight still, because I do. But you and the others have all seemed to get to me, get under my skin and into my mind. Trying to convince me to do the right thing. I'm trying, Phil, you have to believe me, I'm trying. I hate feeling sick and dizzy and faint, but it was the only solution I could think of to make myself better."

"You don't need to be any better. You're amazing, Skye, you just have to see that."

The hacker swallowed the last of her tea, holding her cup out to Coulson to see. She was trying, she was. All those calories and the amount of sugar, made Skye shudder a little. But she wasn't healthy.

Conflicted, she put the cup down and just took comfort in the warm silence. What needed to be said had been said and Skye was left feeling a little happier. When Phil picked up a book but didn't dismiss her, she moved to the small sofa in his office, curling up under a blanket and slowly falling asleep.

She didn't hear Phil's soft 'I'll make sure you're okay, daughter.'

Okay guys, not sure when I'll be able to upload next. Congrats to the 100th reviewer, you know who you are! If by any chance, this fic gets to 150, I'll be offering another one-shot. (Not that it will.)

Anyway, things aren't good for me right now and I'm having trouble handling stuff, also I got some real bad news today. So, sorry if you hate me or are angry but I cannot help it. I have to work all weekend and I feel like shit and I don't know when I'll upload next. I'll try for Saturday or Sunday. Sorry guys, thank you so much for sticking with me. Also, sorry for OOCness and mistakes. Keep sending little ideas if you want, next chapter will be more angsty, most likely, Until next time-Sophie.