It was two days later when Skye found herself in Coulson's office, feeling like she was in the principal's office being told off. She looked between the two of them. "Okay seriously, are you guys gonna tell me what this is about? Cos I'm getting worried here."
May pressed her lips together and Coulson sighed. "Skye, please sit down."
Skye swallowed nervously. "First you've gotta promise you're not kicking me out." She tried to make it sound like a joke, but she was pretty sure it ended up more like a plead against the inevitable.
May softened. "I told you." She said gently.
"Okay." Skye mumbled, sitting. "Just- hit me with it."
Coulson sighed. "Well, I agreed to help you find your parents..."
-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-
Fitz and Jemma sat on opposite sides of Skye, each with an arm wrapped around her. Skye had her face buried in Fitz's chest, tears creeping from her eyes one by one. How many people had died for her? What was after her? "What am I?"
Jemma leaned closer to her. "You're Skye." She said softly.
"Yeah." Fitz agreed. "You're our friend. And we love you."
Skye sniffled. "Thanks guys." She muttered, "But I was actually thinking about the science this time."
Fitz smiled and Jemma gently stroked her fingers through Skye's hair. "The science won't change that we love you."
The tears came back and Skye squeezed them both tightly. "I love you too." She mumbled. "I-I this isn't the end. Everything I am... it started here."
Jemma wove their fingers together. "If you decide you want to try to find out more, whenever that is... well, you know where we are."
Skye sniffed. "Right here."
"Always."
-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-
Skye was proud that she'd gotten them such a solid lead. She knew that she was useful to her team. She just liked to be able to prove it. She watched May glare at them in her big fur coat, the coachman dragging her multiple bags and tried not to grin. It was like Coulson was trying to placate her into doing undercover by giving her a role that suited her. Glaring at everyone before ninja jumping onto a moving train. Exactly May's style.
"Focus Skye." She appeared beside her.
Skye rolled her eyes. "Please. I'll be fine."
"Only if you focus."
Skye shook her head. May was such a mother hen sometimes, but she knew that she had her reasons. Skye took it as a sign that she cared. She went back to Fitz, letting him borrow her accent for their cover. This was almost fun.
She easily pickpocketed the guard's keys, and a few minutes later the two tumbled into the side room they had deemed best for surveillance. "You guys good?"
"Yeah." Coulson said, "Everyone's in position." He looked to Jemma. "Remember, our target is Carlo-"
"Mancini, yes, I know." Jemma completed. "Skye's got his file on her computer, I can see it."
Coulson raised an eyebrow. "Impressive."
Jemma smiled. "We've been working on our teamwork."
"Seems like it's paying off." He said, but frowned when she pulled out the urn and closed her eyes. "What are you doing?"
"Oh, I'm getting into character." Jemma said politely. "I'm not a very good actress, but I'll do my best."
Skye smirked, "This is gonna be so sweet." She sniggered.
"Oh hush," Fitz muttered, setting up his computer, "She's trying her best."
"I know, I know." Skye said, somewhat mollified. "May, you doing okay?"
"Great." She said sarcastically, "Glad I have the goggles." Dust blew up in her face, sticking to her lips.
Skye grimaced. "It won't be for long." She promised, eyeing the surveillance. "Jemma, he's coming your way."
Despite Fitz telling her not to laugh at Jemma, Skye couldn't help but giggle when she started shrieking hysterically at Coulson about his prostitutes. She saw Fitz grinning despite everything, and decided that she didn't need to feel too bad about it.
Skye swallowed her laughter when she saw the security guy's footsteps moving. "May, he's heading your way."
"Copy that." May said, tapping the side of her goggles. "Following him to the package."
"Great." Skye said, letting herself see through her eyes. "It'll show as black."
May's eyes caught sight of it. "Got it. Fourth seat from the back. Coulson, you ready?"
"Already on it." He muttered, heading to the back of the car.
As Coulson entered the back car, he felt the hair on the back of his neck start to stand up. It was too empty. Too quiet. Something was wrong. "Jemma." He said softly, ducking back to visit her. "Go find Skye and Fitz. Lock yourselves in until one of us comes to get you." He jumped violently when he heard the gunshots. "May?"
Melinda pulled the rip cord on her parachute, flying backwards off the train roof.
Coulson's eyes widened when he saw the guards hurrying into the train car. He ran for the back door and dove when he saw the grenade aimed squarely at him. He tumbled out onto the hot dirt, and things suddenly felt a lot more complicated.
-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-
"May? What the hell is going on?"
May groaned, pushing herself up. She felt groggy. Stilted. "I don't know." She said, silencing Skye. "Just stay there until we tell you otherwise, okay?"
Skye looked down at Jemma's prone body. "I don't know what to do."
"Do as I say." May said firmly. "It's what I'm here for."
Skye swallowed. "Okay."
May caught sight of Coulson lying on the ground and felt her heart stop for a moment. She ran to him, immediately checking his pulse, and breathed a sigh of relief. His face was tinted blue around his eyes, and he was totally stunned, but he was alive.
She looked around. "I've gotta get you somewhere safe." She muttered, running towards the nearby farm.
Skye popped up again as she approached the truck. "Need a hand getting that thing going?"
May gave her a look. "I've been hot-wiring cars since before you were born."
Skye grinned nervously, "Okay, sorry."
May took a moment to ease their connection. "Calm down."
"May behind you-"
Melinda turned and was promptly knocked unconscious.
-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-
May woke suddenly.
The first thing she noticed was that she was soaking wet.
The second thing she noticed was that her arms were tied to the ceiling.
The third thing she noticed was that she was totally blocked off from the others. Tori, Izzy, Phil, Skye, even Fitz and Jemma. It was like they were just gone.
She glared at Russo. He was spewing some bullshit about how Cybertek would reward her if she sold out her team. It was almost funny how he thought that would happen.
It was actually funny that he left the knife in her shoulder. How lax could they be?
Lax enough not to have any extra security. The only one who escaped her was Russo. The only one she really wanted to get. She ran after him, managing to jump onto his car just before he left. May debated killing him now and stealing the car to find the others, but begrudgingly realised that he could very well lead her to them.
It turned out that she was right, not that she would have driven anywhere else. Phil was off his guard, and Russo had almost drawn his gun when she landed the knife in his back.
Their eyes met, and something felt wrong. Nostalgic, almost. Melinda swallowed. "Get the plane ready." She said sharply, "I need a shower."
"Melinda," Damnit. "What happened? Russo was- explain, please!"
God, how long had it been since he'd had to ask her to explain? May stopped. "Russo sold us out, the train didn't vanish. Get the plane ready."
He let her go. Neither of them realised that Coulson didn't know how to fly the plane.
May went to the cockpit five minutes later. "Why aren't we flying?"
Coulson grimaced. "Because you're the pilot." He murmured. "Not me."
She winced. "God damnit."
"It's okay. The kids will be fine."
"You don't know that." She said sharply, sliding painfully into the pilot's seat. She would stitch herself up after she got them in the air and on autopilot.
She jumped when Phil put his hand on her shoulder. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine." She muttered. "Strap in."
He sat in the co-pilot's seat, doing as instructed.
He was staring at her. May could feel it the whole time they were taking off, getting to a safe altitude, receiving SHIELD's information on the train's location. After a few minutes she sighed, flicking on autopilot. "What?"
Phil's eyes were wide. "What?"
May tried not to look too annoyed. "You're staring."
"Sorry." He muttered, looking to the window. "I just- this is really weird. I- kind of forgot how lonely it was."
Melinda swallowed. "It'll wear off." She muttered, then stood, failing to be careful of the knife wound. "I need to stitch this up."
Coulson also got to his feet. "Let me help." She glared. "Please. I don't need you self flagellating. And you know you will. You're a terrible nurse."
He was teasing her, like he always did, and it made her feel a little better. May was starting to feel claustrophobic in her own head. No other thoughts or voices chiming in, no nothing. "Fine." She said. "But only because you're being clingy."
-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-
It didn't take long for the two of them to see the window that had been rubbed clean from the inside, as if someone were looking at something outside. Cybertek leaving, perhaps.
May jumped up the ladder to the carriage car, grunting at the strain on her knife wound. Coulson followed, the two of them slowly entering the room where Fitz and Skye had been holed up.
It didn't look good. Bullet holes in the computers, and a deathly silence.
May caught his eye and Coulson moved further forwards, gun drawn.
Suddenly there was a noise from up ahead, and a figure stood, shooting wildly. "EVERYONE GET DOWN!" Jemma.
"Simmons stop!" Coulson shouted, making himself visible.
Jemma stopped, lowering the gun. She looked between them, confused. "Where are Fitz and Skye?" She stopped. "Oh God- I can't feel them- tell me they're alive, please."
"It's okay," Coulson said, approaching her, "Let me see-" He reached for her face, looking around her eyes. "You got hit by Cybertek's new weapon. It blocks us for some reason." He gestured to May. "We're the same."
Jemma sagged in relief. "Oh thank God."
May stepped forwards. "Do you have any idea where they might have gone?"
She shook her head. "No, I'm sorry."
"It's okay." Coulson said, "We can find them. We're glad you're safe."
Jemma followed them out of the train, looking around at all the people. She seemed very jumpy. May could understand that. She had effectively had all her senses cut down to less than half what they had been for the last few months.
Her and Coulson's phones buzzed in their pockets. Suddenly there was a sick feeling in the back of Melinda's throat. "The tracker's been activated."
Jemma moved towards her. She seemed scared. Of course she was. "What does that mean?"
May grimaced. "That they've probably done something really stupid."
-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-
Bobbi crouched beside Fitz and Skye, watching the events through their eyes. "Okay, activate your tracker." She said, "Let them know you're here."
"Done." Fitz muttered. "Now what?" He caught the thought in Skye's head, the look in her eye, and swallowed nervously. "You want to go in."
"We can't let Quinn go again." Skye said. "If Coulson were here he wouldn't let that happen."
Bobbi coughed, "Yeah, no, bad idea Skye, you can't just run in there unarmed with no backup. You're gonna get yourself caught, at best."
Skye scowled. "I can do it." She said. "And I'm no unarmed, see?" She held up the night night gun she had silently taken from Fitz's bag. "Can you disable their cars?"
Fitz looked between the two of them. "Yeah, but Skye- Bobbi's right, it could be dangerous."
"Fitz I can do this. You know I can. I'm not going to let Quinn get away."
Izzy appeared. "Kid, look-"
"No!" Skye exclaimed, pushing Bobbi and Izzy back. "I can do this! Let me prove it, damnit!"
Fitz took her hand. "I won't stop you." He said, "But first you have to calm down. You know what May would say." He did his best to ease her mind, but there was still that niggling feeling. Nothing from Coulson or May. No trace of Jemma.
Skye closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "Okay." She murmured, shooting him a smile. "Thanks."
"Good luck. Promise you'll be careful."
"I promise." She murmured, "And you too."
Fitz grinned and ran off towards the Cybertek cars. Skye watched him go, waiting for a moment to help him sneak past the guards before circling the villa to the back entrance. Just the one guard there, who was easily dispatched with the night night gun.
Skye moved quickly and quietly through the house. She heard one of the Cybertek guard chauffeur whatever the hell they were talking about how Quinn's purchase was downstairs. She swallowed. Her throat was dry.
Skye's heart leapt into her throat as she saw the heavily reinforced door that doubtlessly lead to the basement. Every instinct she had said not to go down there, but she was an agent now. Not some scared kid trying to hide from her foster dad, not some helpless baby that needed protecting from the monsters.
The room smelled of dust and alcohol. It felt old, but clean. Skye looked around. Cloths, old wine bottles. The only light came from the small window at the top of the wall, sun creeping past the dust. The case they were tracking sat on the table nearby.
There was an oddly out of place capsule in the corner. Large enough to hold a person. She felt a shiver go down her spine. This felt like some kind of nightmare. Like someone was going to jump out and throw her into this coffin-like prison.
Skye approached it cautiously, and when she saw what was inside, her breathing stopped all together. "Mike." She breathed, gently touching the glass.
"Hello." Skye whipped around at the familiarly smug voice. Before she could shoot the night night gun at either of them, the guard twisted it from her grip.
"Skye." Quinn smiled. "The clairvoyant told me to expect you."
-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-
Fitz watched in horror as Quinn's guard attached the device to Mike's missing leg, as he screamed, watching it grow to fill the purpose of the one he had lost.
He jumped when, a minute later, Mancini was thrown through the window of the villa. Fitz crawled out from under the car. "Skye." He said, hearing the commotion inside.
Fitz could feel her trying to get something out of Quinn, even as he had a gun pointed right at her. Just as he was about to run in after her, there was the familiar sound of a night night gun firing. He turned and saw Coulson, May, and Jemma hurrying towards him.
"Where's Skye?" Coulson asked.
May concentrated, trying to push through the effects of whatever they had done to them. She smelled dust, felt fear and horror.
BANG.
Fitz screamed in pain and fell to the ground. "Downstairs." He rasped, "S-she needs help, go."
He watched them run into the house. "Skye," He whispered, going to her.
She took his hand, blood seeping through her shirt. "Fitz. I-I'm sorry. I should have-"
"No, don't try to speak." He said, hearing the gunshots. "The others are coming, just hang on."
"It hurts though." She had her back against the wall. "It hurts so much. Fitz- I'm scared."
"It's okay." He comforted, trying to ease her thoughts through the pain she was projecting. "They're coming, Jemma will make it better, you know she will."
Skye sniffled, tears filling her eyes. "Fitz- tell the others that I'm sorry, okay? Tell them that- it's not their fault and... I love them and-"
"No, stop it, you're gonna be fine."
"I can't feel my legs." Skye whispered, hearing the heavy footsteps coming down the stairs and Coulson's shout. "Fitz, please, promise-"
Fitz suddenly found himself back outside. "Skye?" He called, but got no reply. "Skye?"
-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-
It was hours later when they found themselves back on the Bus. The effects of the drug had faded, but Skye was still lost to them. "We need to get her to a medical facility as quickly as possible." Jemma said robotically. "We have a few hours at best before she will suffer permanent brain damage. Until then I'll do everything I can to keep her alive."
May couldn't bring herself to look through the glass of the chamber. Skye. Her smart ass kid who always dove in too quickly, always wanted to prove herself. She was bright, she was happy, she was so alive. She had no business being in this state.
"Excuse me." Jemma said in a broken voice, swiftly leaving the room. She couldn't do this. She shouldn't have Skye's life in her hands. She couldn't handle this much responsibility. She couldn't have Skye die and have it be all her fault. She couldn't lose Skye. She just couldn't. They were so few already.
Fitz approached from behind, putting one hand on her shoulder. She trembled, turned, and dove into his arms, sobbing violently. It was too much. She couldn't do this. None of them deserved this, least of all Skye.
It wasn't fair.