Hey, I'm back. So, so sorry for taking so long. I'd tell you why I've not been here but I'm sure it would just sound like excuses. Anyways, here's the next chapter. Featuring some angsty sick!Skye. Fitz makes a bigger appearance in this chap too since I know I haven't done much Skye and Fitz lovin. Feel free to send me ideas for where this story should go. Hope you enjoy.

When Skye woke, Coulson was nowhere to be seen.

Mind you, the hacker didn't look for very long, her limbs weak and head spinning. She stumbled from Coulson's office and to the bathroom, hunching over the toilet, coughing and gasping. After only a few minutes, she was bringing up nothing, each retch sending pain rippling through her torso. She moaned, resting her forehead against the cool porcelain.

Oh Jesus, I feel awful.

It was Fitz who found her, curled forward, quivering weakly. He called for Jemma, accent thick with concern as he knelt beside the hacker, gently pulling her back and getting her to look up at him.

"There we are, hey, what's going on?" he asked softly, one hand cupping her cheek to stop her head drooping.

He hissed, eyes widening. "You're burning." he murmured, reaching the rest the back of his palm against her forehead. She was running a serious fever, shivering and nuzzling against his hand.

Jemma had been in the kitchen when she heard Leo yell. Her heart lurched and she dropped whatever she had been holding, rushing to the bathroom.

She knelt, replacing Fitz's hand with her own. "Oh my." she breathed. "Skye sweetheart? Can you hear me?" she asked gently, tilting her head to Fitz who nodded, slipping his arms under the hacker's body. He wasn't known for his strength, in fact he wasn't very strong at all, but even he managed to lift Skye. He held her gently, following Simmons down to the lab, Ward was working out when they came rushing in. He faltered, the bag knocking into his shoulder as he followed after them.

"What the hell happened?" Grant growled, trying to push past Jemma to get her. He remembered his earlier words about Skye taking her own life and of course, all of his concerns came rushing to the forefront. "Did she take something? Who the hell left her alone?"

He of course forgetting that he had left Skye alone in her bunk just yesterday.

Jemma's glare silenced him. "She's ill. Her immune system is compromised. She must have caught the flu from Coulson when he was sick last week."

"But," Fitz cut in, "her body really can't handle fighting it off on its own."

"So we're going to help her." Jemma finished, already setting work with the IV that seemed like it would become a permanent fixture.

"Ward, if you're just going to stand there, at least make yourself useful! Get me some damp towels, warm water, not cold." Simmons ordered, checking Skye's temperature. She hissed. "Jesus. Okay, that's not going to be good enough. You'll have to run a bath, again, warm water. Get Coulson or May, we're going to need their help."

Leo had disappeared, coming back a minute later with armfuls of blankets.

May followed after him, the senior agent's face calm. However, her hands shook slightly as she lifted the girl, just as easily as Fitz had. Jemma and May made their way to the bathroom. Ward had his hand in the water, turning at the sound of their footsteps. May gestured to the door. "Out."

Ward protested, crossing his arms. "I'm staying."

"Agent Ward, we have to bring Skye's temperature down, which means we have to get rid of her clothing." Jemma raised an eyebrow and it seemed to sink in for Ward, who stammered out a few words and let, closing the door behind him.

Jemma checked the water whilst May started to strip Skye with as much decency as was possible. For the sake of the hacker, they left her underwear on as they manoeuvred her until she was over the water.

"She's going to fight, the water's going to seem freezing to her, but it should help." Jemma swallowed, trying to avert her eyes from too defined ribs and hipbones that stuck out way more than they should. Jemma's eyes filled with tears for the umpteenth time.

May was more composed but how could she not react to that? It was different, seeing how sick she was with clothes on was one thing…this, there was no damn mistaking it. "Let's do this." she said, voice calm but wavering.

The two women gently lowered Skye into the water. They'd just got her lower half under when Skye began to scream, thrashing and kicking, nails sliding over their arms as they gently but firmly held her. "Skye, it's me, it's Jemma. You're ill but we're going to help! You just need to calm down and let us help." Jemma wasn't sure if Skye could even understand her words but something changed.

The hacker started crying, sobbing in earnest, mumbling frantic apologies that just made Simmons' tears spill over. May's eyes watered at every pained 'sorry, I'm so sorry, please.'

"Shhh," Jemma tried to soothe her, fingers combing through black hair and rubbing at her temples. "Relax, we've you. Me and May, you're sae and there's absolutely nothing to be sorry for."

The girl seemed to calm for a few minutes but then she started to struggle again, bucking and shouting, her eyes wide open, glazed over and panicked. "Please, I didn't mean to! It was a mistake, I'm sorry, I'm trying, don't hate me. Don't leave me. Not like them, oh god, please." she choked, tears rapidly falling.

The women lost their grip for a second, Skye slipping. Her head didn't reach the water, Melinda grabbing her around the waist and pulling her up before such a thing could happen.

"I think that's enough." she grunted, gently holding the sobbing girl, uncaring of her soaking wet clothes.

Jemma's hand came to rest on Skye's brow again and she sighed, pursing her lips. "It'll have to do. Here, you get her up and out." she rushed to the cupboard, bringing back a massive black towel, which she draped around Skye's shoulders. They managed to get the girl into some clean clothes and Melinda lifted her again.

Back at the lab, Jemma covered Skye with blankets, re-inserting the IV and placing a mask over her mouth and nose. She and May stepped back only then, surveying the rest of the room.

Ward, Fitz, Coulson. The whole team, eyes worried, faces sad.

Coulson's eyes flitted around the team. Ward, the agent sat, cradling her hand. Leo stood by his side, hands shoved in his pockets. Then to May, her arms crossed over her chest, standing close to Jemma, her expression stricken.

Lastly, he looked to Skye, pale and trembling and weak.

"Okay, I think it's time I called a team meeting."

There we are, sorry it's short, sorry for OOCness, sorry for mistakes, sorry for not being here. My, that's a lot of apologies. Next chapter should be up…Thursday? Hopefully. Please check out my other AoS fic 'Broken', the next chapter of that should hopefully be up tomorrow. Okay guys, thank you so so much, reviews are love!

Stay strong, I love you all.

Until next time-Sophie.