Coulson was in the living area with Quinn. He watched as she wrote on the paper he got for her. He was amazing at just how smart she is. She was going on two and already blew him away. He wasn't sure what math she was doing now, it was difficult, even for him. Suddenly there was a knock on the door. He looked over and saw Skye, looking in. "Hey, you called?" He nodded, standing, going to her. " I need you to watch The Starks daughter for a little bit. I have paper work that needs done along with a debriefing." She smiled. " No problem Coulson." "Thank you." He patted her shoulder before walking out of the room.
She sighed, putting a strand of hair behind her ear before kneeling to Quinn. "Hi. Whats your name?" Quinn looked up but looked away. Skye smiled, realizing she was shy. "Will you tell me your name if I tell you mine?" Quinn was still quiet. Skye continued. "I'm Skye. Ok, now whats your name?" She thought she wanst going to talk but she spoke so quietly she almost didn't catch it. "Quinn." "Thats a lovely name Quinn. What are you doing on your paper here? Drawing pictures?" Quinn shook her head. "I'm going over the flight ratio and differentials for my suit. I need to make sure it dosnt fall apart when it reaches mach speeds." Skye was taken aback by that, blinking. "You're what?..." Quinn looked up. "I'm building an Iron Man suit." Skye smiled nervously. "But your so little sweetie, won't that be dangerous?" "Yes but I want to help people and help save the world with Uncle Steve and daddy." Skye was in awe. "Your one brave little girl. Did you want to get something eat or drink?" She shook her head. "No. I'm ok." Skye sighed with a smile before sitting on the floor. "Whatever you say kiddo, you just let me know."
It had been eight hours and Tony still hasn't woken and Kim never left his side. It was dark outside the hellicarrer. Her eyes were red from the crying and tear stains were on her face. She just watched him, rubbing his hand or petting his hair. She jumped when he coughed, the tube in his throat obviously uncomfortable. "Oh God, Tony!" She pressed he call nurse button, not wanting to touch any of the wires. She felt the tears return as he coughed, feeling helpless. The doctor rushed in, going to Tony. He signaled for Tony to stay still as he took the tube out carefully. "there we go, thats better." Tony cough more easily now. "Ow..God, where am I?" The Doctor and Kim both looked to him. The doctor spoke. "You don't remember?" Tony paused, thinking. "Not much. We were taking care of this drug-lord in Tahiti then it's just a blur." The Doctor nodded. Writing it on a clipboard. "Now do you know where you are?" "I'm assuming the S.H.I.E.L.D hellicarrer or some hospital." The Doctor nods and Kim stood by Tony, holding his hand still, waiting for the doctor to leave. "Do you remember your wife?" Tony smiled weakly up at Kim. "Shes not technically my wife but..Of corse I remember her."
The doctor smiled. "Seems like your mind came thru just fine. If there are anymore issues, call me." He walked out. It took a few moments of everything sinking in when he felt Kims hand trembling in his. He looked up, reaching to hold her other hand. "Angel.. I'm ok. " Kim's shoulders started to tremble, a few tears falling as she turns, hugging him gently at first, speaking into the nape of his neck, her voice wavering. "I'm sorry.." He tried to push her away gently., to look in her eyes, to ask why but she held tighter, starting to sob, he continued to hold her as she kept mumbling "I'm sorry" into his neck. "Shh angel, it's ok.. I love you, ok? I love you no matter what."
She cried into his neck, now laying on the bed with him. "I love you to..I'm sorry." It's moments like these that make Kim regret every minute of her affair with Clint. She nearly lost her husband today and it would have been her fault. He was drinking because of her, about what he knew she was doing. He didn't care about how much his injures hurt (which wasn't many, the suit protected him from the worst.) he continued to hold her, ignoring his aching body, kissing her head.
Steve Brought Katie to the living area where Quinn was sitting on Skye's lap, eating a banana and peanut butter sandwich, telling her about her suit, Skye looking very confused but went along with it. Katie smiled weakly before whispering to Steve, turning to him. "Do I have to stay in here? I'd rather be alone right now." Steve give her a sympathetic look. "I know but I'd rather you stay protected. If something happens to the helliercarier, this turns into an escape pod/panic room, I want you in here until this is all sorted out." Katie frowned softly. "Alright." Steve smiled weakly, kissing her head. "I love you, I'll be back soon." She nodded. "Ok. I love you to. Try not to let Fury rip you a new one." She smirked weakly. He smiled before walking away. "I'll certainly try." He walked down the hall, still in his red,white and blue, spangly uniform. She smiled before walking in. Skye saw her but Quinn was still talking. Katie smiled. "Sis, why don't you give her a chance to talk?" Quinn looked up at Katie with a smile. "Big sister!"
Katie saw that Skye looked relived. Skye smiled. "Hi, I'm Skye." Katie smiled. "Katie, Quinns older sister." Skye smiled. "Nice to meet you. So what excatly happened? " Katie sighed,sitting down next to them. "A whole lot of shi-crap." remembering her little sister was here. Censoring herself. Skye chuckled. "I got that much." Katie shook her head at it all. "Just can't believe it. I almost lost my dad today. Our dad." She gently ruffled Quinns hair. Skye frowned. "I'm sorry to hear that, least he's ok now...He is ok now, isn he?" Katie sighed. "I don't know, I haven't been told anything. Probably in his room snuggling now, unknowing." She glared to the floor. Skye frowned. "Whoa, this is more then what happened to your dad." Katie frowned. "Yeah. A lot more. Try having your mom having an affair with our bodyguard. I caught them and far as I know dad dosnt know." "Oh I'm sorry, that's awful." Skye frowned softly. Katie sighed. "Yeah then dad goes and almost get's himself killed." Least you have a mom and dad. I was in foster care all my life." Katie frowned softly. "Sorry."Skye smiled. "Don't be, it's not like it's your fault."
A few moments later, Kim came into the room, her eyes red and tear stained. Katie thought the worst, her eyes watering. "Is he. ?" Skye put a hand on her shoulder for support. Kim sighed, "He's gonna be fine." Katie breathed a sigh of relief. "Can we see him?" Kim nodded, looking to Skye. Coulson had told her about her. Wanted permission before he left Quinn alone with her. "Thank you Skye, for watching Quinn." Skye smiled, handing Quinn over to Kim. Quinn yawned, still holding part of her nearly eaten sand which. Kim smiled sadly, holding Quinn closer. "Com'on girls, lets go see your dad."
Katie got up, almost reluctantly. She waned to see her dad, she was worried sick. She was still pissed at her mom. She walked past her mom, into the hall. Not bothering to hide her feelings toward her. Km frowned, feeling hurt by her daughters new hatred toward her. She lead the way down the hall to the medical bay, to Tony's room.
Kim opened the door, letting Katie in. Katie saw her dad, running over to him. Forgetting her hatred and anger toward her mom, eyes welling up with relief. "Oh Dad...we thought we lost you." He smiled, hugging her tightly, ignoring the pain all over his body. "Oh you'l never lose me." Katie smiled, chuckling softly, sniffling before moving and wiping a few tears away. Tony saw Quinn. Smiled softer. "Theres my princess."
Kim smiled as Quinn woke. Quinn whined, seeing her daddy ok. "Daddies ok?" Kim walked over, gently handing Quinn over to Tony. Quinn clung to her father as he hugged her, a few tears of his own falling.. "I'm ok princess. I'm ok." Katie watched as her mom walked over, hugging both Tony and Quinn and for a moment she ignoring the lingering hatred and anger for her moment, and joined in the hug. Her eyes welling up. This was her family. A real family. Clint was walking past, ready to face Tony , to see if he was ok. He stopped dead in his tracks. He hated how he felt his eyes water. He turned sharply, ignoring the ache in his chest. At least until he got to his private quarters, shutting the door quickly before taking a heaving breath, a hand covering his eyes as two tears escaped down his face. He was in too deep. Too fucking deep and it hurt.
AN: Please review :)