Here's the second part of what could've been a really long chapter. I've been writing like crazy lately, so expect the next chapter pretty soon! :) If you have been waiting for more Fitzsimmons scenes...they are coming, I promise!

Thank you to those who have been reviewing...your comments make my day! And are great motivation to keep writing!

"Coulson, pull us up!" May yelled. "We've got an injured person with us, so you're going to have to do this slowly and carefully".

"Not a problem. I also have Fitz, Mack, Bobbi, and Hunter here…do you need me to send one of them down to help you out?" Coulson and Mack began lowering down the harnesses to lift the other agents.

"Phil", May hissed, "get Fitz out of here…now. I don't want him anywhere near this."

"Hey! What's the problem, May?" Fitz shouted, clearly offended. He tried peering into the pit to see what they were hiding from him. "Think I can't handle the sight of a little blood?"

"Phil!" Coulson heard the panic in May's voice, and grew even more concerned for his agents…what had they gotten themselves into?

"Alright!" Coulson yelled at her. "Hunter, Bobbi, take Fitz back to the Bus, okay?" The two agents each grabbed Fitz by an arm, and steered him out of the room. "Okay, May, head on up. The explanation for all this had better be good."

As the weary and bloodied agents came into view, Ward in their arms, Coulson's face darkened. "May", he said with a forced calmness, "what I just said about your explanation being good...it had better be one hell of an explanation."

"We'll have time for an explanation later." May said unflinchingly as Coulson glared at her. "Mack, can you carry him? Go with Simmons, and do what she says." Mack nodded, taking Ward from May and Skye.

"Lead the way" he told Simmons.

The second they had left the room, Coulson turned on May and Skye. "What were you thinking?" he roared. "Do you know how dangerous he is? What are we supposed to do now? God, Skye, why do you have to be so damn soft-hearted? And May! What's gotten into you? How could you let her bring him back? I'm supposed to be able to trust you!"

Skye gasped and burst into tears. May marched over to Coulson and slapped him across the face. "Don't you dare speak to her like that!" she hissed. He stepped back, speechless.

Without another word to Coulson, May turned around and embraced Skye. "Are you still sure about this?" Skye took a quavering breath and nodded. May brushed a strand of hair out of Skye's eyes, then stood on tiptoe and gently kissed her trainee on the forehead. "Good luck." May glared at Coulson as she squeezed Skye's hand protectively. "When you're ready to have a civilized conversation, I'll be in my room." May turned on her heel and stomped out of the room.

Coulson was still fuming, but softened when he saw Skye leaning against the wall, tears streaming down her face. He walked over to her and hugged her tightly. His eyes filled with tears of sympathy as he felt her trembling against him. The poor child.

"I'm so sorry" she whispered tearfully, "this is my fault. If I wasn't so naïve or selfish…if I had just stayed here with you…or told you what was going on…then we wouldn't be in this situation."

"Hush, Skye" Coulson said gently, rubbing her back as she sobbed into his shirt. "I'm sorry for yelling; I didn't mean what I said. I'm just so worried. I don't want him to hurt anyone else. Ward being here now just complicates everything for us."

When Skye began to cry even harder, Coulson took a deep breath. It was time to be honest with the girl. "Skye. I'm not mad at you, I promise. It's just…you're like a daughter to me, Skye. And I would never be able to forgive myself if anything happened to you. That's why I'm so upset about Ward being here…about being so close to you. That's all…I swear. I don't want you to ever believe that anything you do, any mistake you make, can stop me from loving you, understand?"

Coulson felt Skye freeze. He cursed himself as she unwrapped his arms from around his neck and stepped back, staring at him. Damnit, he thought, May was wrong, Skye doesn't look at me like a father! I'm only her boss! I probably sound as creepy as Cal…or Ward! "Skye? Umm…I'm sorry…I didn't…didn't mean to…" Then her arms encircled him so tightly that he was struggling for breath. "Skye? I'm choking here, kid". Skye released him, half-laughing, half-sobbing.

"Thank you," she whispered, sounding happier than she had in ages. She grinned at him, a touch of the old carefree Skye back in her smile, "You know, of all the guys who have told me they love me lately, you're the only one that really matters." Coulson returned her smile, and took her hand to lead her out of the temple.

"Wait", she said. "There's something I've got to do. I'll be out in a minute." As he started to protest, she held up her hand. "It's okay, May knows what I'm going to do. And speaking of May…you two should probably straighten some things out."

Coulson laughed softly. After hugging Skye once more, he left the room to go find May. Skye watched him leave, waiting until he was a safe distance away. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes.

Skye let her emotions overwhelm her: the fear and anger she felt looking at Ward and Cal; the love she felt for Coulson, May, and the rest of the team; and the sadness over losing a friend. She let them boil up inside her until she couldn't contain them any longer. She felt the ground tremble, a hundred times more violently then when she faced Ward a few hours ago, the floor cracked, and she jumped back just as the floor collapsed, and ran for her life as the temple of nightmares crumbled to dust.