Ch. 7

The next morning, around five forty, I was awoken by a knock at the door. "Come in," I said blearily. I must have had less than five hours of sleep.

"Up and at 'em. We're training today. Defensive techniques."

"I thought Ward was in charge of my operative training. He's my S.O.," I said, my voice whining more than a little.

"Generally, yes. But, you need to learn different techniques," May said.

"I don't understand," I asked.

"You'll be able to use a lot of what Ward can teach you about hand to hand combat. But there's a flaw in his training method," she said.

"A flaw? He's doing a great job," I said, maybe a bit too defensively. I didn't want May or Coulson to disparage Ward just because I was a lousy recruit.

"He outweighs you by what, at least sixty pounds of muscle? He's also a good eight inches taller. You need to know how to defend yourself without relying on strength and height."

"How am I going to do that?"

"I'll show you," and she actually smiled for a moment, but then it faded ever so quickly. "Okay, get dressed, get some food in you and meet me in the hanger in twenty minutes."

"Okay," I said, mentally preparing myself for a hard morning.

00000

Two hours later, I was shaking, drenched in sweat.

May took a deep breath. "Okay, go towel off. We'll pick up again tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?" I asked. Ward and I barely trained together once a week, given his hectic schedule.

"Yes, tomorrow, same time, six a.m.," May said.

"Haven't I learned enough for like at least a week or so?" I asked, dreading a repeat of this morning. When I fantasized about bonding with my would-be mother, it was over pedicures and cappuccinos, not having her pound me into the floor.

May rolled her eyes. "Come at me," she ordered, standing in the middle of the room, arms crossed.

"What?"

"Come at me. Try to take me to the mat. If you can knock me down, you can have the week off."

Determined for a break, I roared at her at full speed. She easily sidestepped me, tripping me and causing me to land on my face.

"Now, get up," she said harshly.

I lied there for a moment, feeling stupid and foolish. What was I thinking, trying to take down Melinda May, the Calvary? She walked over to me and bent down on her haunches to look me in my face. "We all make mistakes, Skye. Every single one of us. What matters most is what we do afterwards," she said gently.

I wanted to ask her if she regretted any of the mistakes she made, what she would have done differently. But the moment passed and she stood up and grabbed a few towels. She threw one at me and it landed on my face. I took it and bounced up, although most of my muscles screamed in protest.

"Ward, Coulson and I . . . . We're all doing the best we can to protect you and to teach you to protect yourself. It's for your own good," May said as I began to dry my face. "See you tomorrow morning," she said as she left.

It wasn't a latte and a manicure, but I guess combat training was going to have to do.