Skye got herself under Fitz arm once again and began running as fast as she could to the tree line. Halfway there she saw a figure dart out of the woods, it was May. She quickly got under Fitz other arm and ran with Skye to the tree line. When they reached it, Phil appeared and helped them to move further into the woods. They finally reached a clearing and stopped. They lay Fitz down and took a moment to catch their breath.
"Skye. How did you get out?" Coulson asked, placing his arm on Skye's comfortingly.
"Ward." Coulson and May looked shocked, "He couldn't deal with us getting hurt. He couldn't watch Jemma die and Fitz get beaten to a pulp." Skye saw the shock and grief in their eyes and realized they didn't know about the torture. "They were trying to get me to give them a hack to our systems. When I didn't give them what they wanted, they took it out on Fitz and Jemma." She cast down her eyes, as she recounted how she thought she killed Jemma. "But she's alive and she's still down there, and so is Ward. We need to save them." She could see the wheels turn in Coulson's head as he thought about what to do next. It was several moments before any one spoke. Finally Coulson spoke, his voice soft,
"First thing we need to do is get out of here. We can't help Simmons," he paused and glanced over at May for a moment, "and Ward, with only ourselves and an incapacitated Fitz. We need to regroup and get back-up." He turned his attention back to Skye, placing his hands on her shoulders comfortingly, "We're not leaving them behind. We're just waiting for the right moment. We're going to need all of our strength. You understand that right?" Skye nodded. She avoided Coulson's eyes and focused on her friend lying on the floor. Coulson squeezed her shoulders reassuringly and then turned to discuss plans with May. Skye went to go check on Fitz.
His breath was ragged but he was still breathing. She sat down and carefully placed his head on her lap, stroking his curls. She studied the bruises that covered his face, and ran her fingers gently over the scabs of his cuts.
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry Fitz. It's all my fault." She whispered into his ear, "You are so strong, you didn't even scream. You're my hero." Fitz stirred for a moment, adjusting himself so he was more comfortable on Skye's lap and drifted off to sleep. Skye was comforted by the rhythm of his breath on her legs. Fitz was alive. The silver lining in the whole situation was that he was alive. She continued to stroke his hair as she listened to Phil and Melinda discuss strategy.
"...if I can make it to the road I can hitchhike to the nearest town, call Maria and tell them our location. Get a rescue team." May offered
"No, for all we know Hydra could be searching the roads for us, and I don't think splitting up is the best idea right now. I think the safest thing right now would be to set up camp for the night and move as a team in the morning." May agreed with his logic adding only,
"We need to keep an eye out incase they try to comb the woods for us." Phil nodded and offered the first watch, "I'll start a small fire, only dry wood. We can't risk them seeing our smoke." With that, Coulson and May split off, searching for materials to start a fire. Skye continued to monitor Fitz, checking his pulse and his breathing. She offered to help with the fire but Coulson did not hear of it.
"You've been through quite enough. Just sit back and watch Fitz. We'll take care of it." Skye agreed on the condition that Coulson would wake her when it was her turn to take watch. Darkness fell and the cold set in. They were all grateful when May was able to start the fire and provide warmth. Skye pulled Fitz closer to the fire and lay down next to him. She didn't want Fitz to leave her sight. She stared the the orange shadows that danced around the clearing as she waited for sleep to come to her. Finally she felt her eyelids grow heavy and she succumbed to the sleep that had been evading her for days.
"Skye? You said you wanted me to wake you for your shift." Phil shook her gently. Skye felt as though she slept for days. For the first time since their capture, Skye didn't have any dreams. She sat up and rubbed her eyes. May had taken a spot on the far side of the fire, facing outwards. Fitz had woken up sometime in the night and nudged himself closer the dying fire. Phil took a spot next to May and gave Skye a smile as he closed his eyes.
Soon Phil's began to snore slightly and Skye was left alone with her thoughts. She imagined Simmons in a hospital bed, attached to wires, monitoring her heartbeat. All she could think was that it was her fault Simmons was there. Granted she wasn't dead, but it still hurt Skye to think that her friends were in any sort of pain or danger because of her. She looked around at the sleeping figured of her friends and made a silent promise to herself. If they got out of there alive, and were able to rescue Simmons, and maybe Grant, she would make it her mission to never put them in that situation again. She sat warming herself next to the fire, listening to the even breaths of her team and kept vigil until dawn broke.
I know this chapter is a little slower and shorter than the others but I figured Skye needed a little break. Plus I like that she considers Fitz her hero and Coulson being such a dad!
Thanks Belle97, Salkri Kachemench, annavale23, and LadyMorganaPendragon for continually supporting me with such awesome feedback! You guys are the greatest!