Hi there! This chapter is a little bit angstier than previous chapters, but I think you'll enjoy it. Don't forget to comment!
(As usual, I do not own anything in relation to Agents of SHIELD)
"Phil, you are not going in there after her. You can barely stand up, much less get in a fight with whoever is messing with Skye! Let me go down after her. I can handle it."
Coulson took a deep breath as he looked at May. She was right, as always. As much as he hated to admit it, he was in no shape to be chasing after Skye.
May saw the concerned and frustrated expression in Phil's face. She reached out and put a hand on his shoulder. "It's okay, Phil. I'll make sure nothing happens to her. Don't you trust me?"
Coulson looked up at her in surprise. "Of course I trust you, May. There's no one I trust more in the world." He saw a rare smile, soft but lovely, creep onto May's face. "But I don't want anyone else to get hurt. Not Skye…or you. You have no idea all the guilt I feel for what happened to Tripp. I'm supposed to protect all of you, I need to protect all of you."
"I know", May whispered, the smile gone. "And how could you even say that I don't know what it's like? Do you have any idea of what it is like to hear people call me the Cavalry? I screwed up that mission, Phil, and nearly cost innocent people their lives! So don't ever tell me I don't know what it's like to feel guilty!" May took a deep breath, trying not to lose her temper.
"May, I'm sorry", Coulson said. "I shouldn't have said that. I wasn't trying to upset you. Please. I'm just worried about Skye. What if she wants to be with her father, and that's why she told us not to follow? Why would she ever want to be with that monster?"
May raised her eyebrows. "Yes, she wants to be with her father, that's why she left in tears. It couldn't possibly be the fact that she wants to protect you from him," May said dryly. "Oh don't look so surprised", she snapped at Coulson, "it's obvious the girl adores you. In our training sessions it's always 'Coulson this' and 'Coulson that'. Don't ever think that she would rather spend any part of her life with Cal rather than you".
Coulson smiled at May. "Thank you". As May nodded, he could sense an unusual emotion coming from her. Jealousy? "May," Coulson began carefully, "you know that Skye loves you too, right? You're her mentor, her friend. The closest thing she's ever had to a mother."
May laughed ironically. "Don't be ridiculous, Phil. No one loves me." As soon as she said it, her bravado disappeared. Tears filled her eyes, and she cleared her throat loudly, turning her face from Coulson so she wouldn't have to see his pitying look. Still looking the other way, she flinched when she felt Coulson wrap his arms around her. She froze for a moment, then relaxed and embraced him tightly, closing her eyes and letting her tears fall.
Too soon, Coulson let go of her. "Good luck", he whispered. "Please be careful". May nodded, wiping her eyes, and began to lower herself into the pit. On her way down, she laughed at herself. She hadn't cried as much in years as she had in the past 24 hours. She had to admit, it felt nice to be embraced, to feel like someone cared. Her thoughts were interrupted as her feet touched dirt. "Alright, Cavalry," she muttered to herself, "time to save the day".
Skye led Kara down the tunnel behind her. "I'll explain everything to them once we make it back to the entrance, don't worry, everything will be fine. Then, as soon as we get everything settled, I'll –" Skye gasped as Kara collapsed right behind her, unconscious. She whirled around, terrified to see her father, but relaxed when she saw May running towards her.
"Are you alright?" May asked urgently. "She didn't try to hurt you did she? God, I knew we should've taken her out ages ago." Skye looked at May, perplexed. There was something in the older agent's gaze that she couldn't quite figure out. It was like May was searching her eyes for some hidden information. "Well?" May asked again, "Are you okay?"
Skye nodded. "Yes, May, I'm fine. But there was no reason to shoot Kara", she said, indicating the agent at her feet. "She's said she's not under Whitehall's control anymore. I was taking her back to you guys. But, May, what are you doing down here? It's way too dangerous…if Cal finds out you followed me–".
"It's a trap, Skye". May interrupted harshly. "This Kara is probably the one who set it. You're too damn trusting, Skye," May scolded. She began searching Kara's pockets and pulled out the form for the mask. May pulled it over her face, and she transformed into Cal. Skye gasped, and began to weep. May quickly pulled off the mask. She reached over to squeeze Skye's hand reassuringly. "C'mon, Skye", she said gently, "We should get back to the rest of the team. I'm sure Kara wasn't working alone".
Skye felt so stupid for being tricked by Kara. Thank goodness May had been there for her. Skye smiled; May was always there for her. Skye opened her mouth to thank her, when there was a gunshot from behind her, and May collapsed on the ground. Skye screamed, dropping to her knees to see if May was alive, when she heard a deep, familiar voice behind her say "She's fine, Skye…it was only an ICEr". Skye closed her eyes tightly, wishing, praying that this was just a terrible dream, when suddenly, right next to her, Ward said "I think we need to talk".