-10 Days Earlier-

" Ok they've got 2 hours, 36 minutes and 15 seconds, before I'm flying a plane to extract them myself! " Skye fumed to herself while typing away on her laptop. It had almost been 48 hours of silence from the team for a mission that was supposed to only take 36 hours tops. The wait was killing her and her overactive imagination was getting the best of her. She knew the mission was tricky but the worst thing was that if she had been able to go with them she could have cut the mission time down significantly. But no, here she was sitting at her desk staring at her laptop, accomplishing nothing but just watching the clock!

Her mind had started to imagine worst case scenarios, or maybe it was her training of team that wasn't good enough. She thought they understood enough to get into the database and inject her virus into the network but maybe she missed a step with them, something she just doesn't even think about. Yes, it was her fault that the mission wasn't competed yet and maybe the worst had happened, they were either compromised or hurt. She was going crazy and hadn't really eaten or slept since they left. She hated being out of the loop! As more wild and vivid images of her imagination flashed through her mind she felt a hand on your shoulder.

"Whoa, AC almost gave you an elbow to the nose," Skye smirked as she had leaped up from her chair.

"Yeah didn't realize you were in such deep thought, next time I'll make more noise!" Coulson laughed as he sat down next to her. He knew she was worried about the team and honestly he was too, but he couldn't let her see that; instead he was on a mission of his own get Skye to relax, eat and then sleep.

"How about we grab some dinner, I know you're hungry, and I promise I won't make you eat anything too healthy!" Coulson smirked as he noticed the uneaten food just sitting on her desk. "Look I know you're worried but I bet as soon as we head out we will get the call that the extraction has begun." He sees her look up and he can tell she's not convinced by his optimism.

"You're trying too hard AC, you're worried too aren't you?" Skye interrupts before he can continue with his paternal-like monologue of how everything will be ok. So he reluctantly admits, "Ok so I might be a just a little concerned and I'd hoped we would have heard from them much sooner. But that doesn't mean anything is wrong," adding with a forced smile.

"Can't imagine it's anything good either," snarked Skye. "You know it's my fault this is taking so long, if I'd been with the team it would have been a quick in and out in no time! But no here I sit staring at my laptop, accomplishing nothing while I should be out there helping them, " huffing as she laid her head on her hands in defeat. She knows he's going to try to comfort her, that's what he's always done, he's been there for her just like a father would. But she just doesn't feel like being comforted now, maybe she doesn't even deserve it.

Coulson gently placed his hand on her shoulder giving it a gentle squeeze, "Hey you know why you can't be on this mission but the team was ready for this because of you... it was your step by step instructions and training that enabled them to do this without you. Even though you aren't actually on this mission, you are there with them, you taught them everything they needed to accomplish this task."

Finally Skye looks back up at Coulson trying to hide the tears that have been forming in her eyes. At that moment he pulls her into a hug, and even though she doesn't believe what he's trying to "sell" her, his hugs always somehow make her feel better, but she's not sure it's going to be enough this time. She's full of so much guilt and regret.

Skye pulls back, "I feel like all of this is my fault again... things had been so much simpler before and now after my incident, everything is a wreck and we've got crazies coming out from every rock they've been hiding under for years and a lot of them are looking for me! So let's think about this... we have our usual keeping the world safe from 'the bad guys' but let's add, most inhumans are pissed at us or should I say me AND someone wants we as their own private earthquake machine!"

At that moment Coulson feels the slightest rumble and grabs Skye's hands, "Come on Skye look at me, that's not how I see it and neither does the team. Take a breath for me ok, I'm feeling a bit shaky," he smiles at her and she knows he's trying to get her to laugh.

See looks right at him unable to hold back anymore, "See that's evidence right there, I couldn't control myself in that moment. I'm a liability to the team. Maybe if I just went away for awhile things would calm down and 'they' would forget about me," she can't believe she just said that but there it is and she feels like it's her only choice. Could she really go through with it? Of course she knows there is one major road block that would prevent that from happening.

Coulson just starts laughing and she's confused this isn't funny! "Skye sorry I can't help but laugh, because you know there's no way you're going to be able to leave, have you forgotten about a very important person on this team, namely your husband? I'm picturing you saying that to him and it's comical, well to me it is, he's NOT going to think it's funny at all." Coulson bursts with a smile and Skye knows he's right, she couldn't just leave even if she thought it was best for the team. She's not the lone orphan now that can just make a quick exit at any time, she has a husband and finally a real family. She'd never leave him that's not what she meant, she just thought they'd go together.

She remembers trying to have a similar conversation with him right before he left for the mission;

-flashback-

She was pacing in their bunk, she knew he was leaving soon. This wasn't the time for this kind of conversation but she couldn't hold it back any longer, "Maybe it's time for me... or us... to go away for awhile?"

"For a vacation?" he asked, trying to draw out what she really meant. She knew he was baiting her, but she played along anyway, "you know what I mean, it's my fault that we're in this mess and maybe it would be better for everyone if I was out of the picture for awhile. "

He gave her his 'here comes a lecture' look she knew all too well and pulled her close, "Better for who Skye? We can't just run away, I know you're scared, but I promise you we are going to take them down one by one and NO ONE is going to get to you or anyone on the team. I'm not going to stop until they are neutralized and no longer a threat to our family," pulling her to his chest and holding her tight.

She could feel the tears running down her checks, she knew they symbolized her fears and especially how worried she was about this mission and but her biggest fear was the thought of him not returning to her.

Feeling her eyes starting to tear again, Skye refocuses on Coulson sitting with her, "Ok so maybe you're right, I wasn't really thinking it through and of course I'd never leave without him, but I just want to do what's best for the team."

Coulson gave her hands another gentle squeeze, "I know Skye, you're just worried and upset. But please listen to me, this isn't your fault and we are all in this together, just like any family. I'm glad that you're opening up, we've all been worried about you lately. You've been too quiet around here and I know what that means- something is brewing inside."

Coulson was right she was a mess and overwhelmed emotions, more than she ever knew she had. She'd been through so much in the years since being 'kidnapped' by Shield but now had finally found some peace and happiness and she was going to fight with all her might to keep that!

At that moment she sees Coulson pick up his phone, smile and step out into the hall. She's filled with giddiness and starts to pace back and forth, it's got to the be the team right? She can't hear what he's saying either, why didn't he just take the call in here? She starts to panic and starts to head out to find him and instead almost runs into him, "it's for you," he smirks as he hands his phone to her.

"Hi?" she says unsure who's on the other line. Then she hears his voice, "Hey, can't talk long but just wanted to you to know everything is ok, it just took longer than we projected," she can't speak at first because she knows she has a goofy grin on her face but she doesn't care, he's ok, what a relief! "Skye are you there?" he sounds worried now.

"Yes sorry... I'm just happy to hear your voice... are you ok?" she just needs to make sure since he doesn't have the ability to correctly assess his injuries, maybe she should get Simmons on the line instead. She can tell from his hesitation that he's deliberating what to say which isn't a good thing, "Yes... fine.. don't worry, look the line isn't secure I've got to go, but our ETA is 3 hours, ok? So you go and get something to eat with Coulson and by then we will be home." Crap, obviously Coulson ratted her out and told him about her state the last few days.

"Ok... , " she sighed, she knew he needed to end the call soon just in case his line wasn't secure, but before he could hang up she whispered, "I love you" and of course he whispered back , "I love you too and... be good ok?" and even though he had hung up, she could tell he was smiling.

Filled with relief Skye handed the phone back to a super content Coulson, "Ready to get something to eat now?" While she wanted to give it to him for "tattling on her" she was feeling the best she had in days and just wanted to keep her merriment, so he got a pass this time.

"Yep, as long as we can take Lola," she bumped his shoulder trying to give him her best sad puppy eyes too. "Alright, since it is a nice night, "Coulson grinned and she looped her arm in his and headed to the cargo bay, filled with hope that maybe things are headed in the right direction now.

The bus was parked in a deserted rocky clearing near a forest, with plenty of room to land but also enough vegetation and trees surrounding to hide it and the closet town was 20 miles away. While Coulson was backing out Lola, Skye closed the cargo doors and headed toward the car but instantly felt a vibration that didn't belong. Feeling on edge and remembering her training, she surveyed the area around them and while nothing seemed out of place, she still felt this out of place vibration and the more she focused on it the more she could sense it... it was familiar and that's when she heard the rocks shuffling, and out from the edge of the tree-lined shadows walks Lincoln.