Previously: After Skye was rescue she was supposed to tell her story to the team. She only got through about half of it before having a slight freak out, causing May to help her out of the room.

PS: If you don't really like comfort scenes that's really all this. You wouldn't really miss plot if you skip but obviously a tiny bit of character development.

Chapter Twelve

"I can't believe I just went off like that."

"It's understandable."

Skye had been crying for exactly six minutes and thirteen seconds and she finally seemed to be calming down. Either she had simply gotten it all out or she realized she had emptied the last box of tissues on the BUS.

May was not the sentimental type. Anyone who'd met her for more than a few moments could realize this. But she wasn't without compassion, or realizing when someone was in real pain.

"I guess so…" Skye said, shaking her head with annoyance, trying to clear the remnants of her tears. "I bet they're all talking about me right now; probably trying to justify it: 'whatever Skye must have gone through just pushed her passed the breaking point'… or something." She scoffed. "Nothing even happened that was that bad."

"You were dragged along with a man you thought you could trust for over a day after being held at a facility against your will, and everyone knows you were attacked at least twice," May told her calmly as she handed out the facts. "That in it of itself is enough to elicit some kind of radical behavior."

"I just… probably seem to pathetic to them," Skye admitted. "To you."

May then decided that Skye was waiting for the seasoned agent to tell her that she did seem pathetic, to confirm her fears as a weak person. Or perhaps she was hoping May would reassure her that she was in fact the opposite. Though Skye would have known May well enough to recognize that she was not the person to come to for such assurances.

No, Skye didn't need to be told what she was. Skye needed to decide what she was.

"Then show us you're not," May stated, and Skye looked up at her with interest in her eyes. "Pitying or berating yourself for past actions is pointless. Take a moment to compose, then go back in there and tell us what really happened."

Skye seemed to think about what had taken place then, her face screwing up with anger. "Not much did happen," she repeated. "He barely hurt me." She shook her head incredulously. "Actually, Wolfe never even touched me."

"Not all torture is physical."

"I wish he tortured me," she growled out, resentment ringing through the statement. "I wish he beat the crap out of me. Anything would be better than falling for all those lies, again."

This was about Ward, that much was becoming clearer every moment. Not completely, of course. Skye had still gone through a rough time, what with learning her lineage perhaps being a dangerous creature and being attacked multiple times. But it was also her pride that was getting to her, as Skye was blaming herself for her own stupidity and trusting attitude. Not for the mere fact that these things happened to her, but she seemed to think she'd allowed them to happen to her.

"So he lied to you," stated May plainly. "An agent that's been in SHIELD for twenty-five years tricked the ex-level one hacker. It's really not surprising or that unprecedented. It's a fact and it just makes sense."

"Wow, thanks…"

"If you continue to mope around and complain about how he got one up on you, you'll never improve. You have to take your losses and failures and use them. Don't scold yourself for your mistakes. Learn from them and do better."

Skye cocked her head. "Ok, so say I learn from my mistakes. I've deeply meditated, decided how idiotic certain actions were and have grown as a person. What do I do then?"

"One would think you'd want to talk to him. Get the answers as to why he felt the need to betray you."

Skye snorted. "Like Coulson's going to let me anywhere near Wolfe after that display."

"Wolfe isn't the one I was talking about," May said pointedly.

Skye stared, before her eyes grew large. "Wait, you mean Ward?"

May nodded.

Skye scoffed again. "Trust me, we've had plenty of time to talk. Did some good old chin-wagging back at the Hydra base he locked me up in. I don't really think there's much else to say."

"Obviously, there is. The fact that you're dwelling so much on Wolfe's betrayal shows you're not quite over the other betrayal in your life."

"Well, what do you expect? That was all of like, what, a few weeks ago? Of course I'm not over it! And it's not just Ward. Hydra infiltrated SHIELD. Ruined our lives, if you remember correctly."

"I take it that asking if I remember is sarcasm."

"Well, maybe not. Nothing seems to faze you. I mean the guy manipulated you to sleep with him and then beat the crap out of you afterwards, despite all that stuff you said about 'harnessing your anger'. And now you just let him waltz around the BUS like he belongs here? You're supposed to be this kick-ass field agent and you're letting him walk all over you!"

May tried to hold in her disdain for her comment, but her signature glare seemed to make an appearance.

Skye was lashing out. The kid had been through a lot and the older agent could understand that, though that didn't mean she should get a free pass. Skye seemed to realize this before May had to set her straight.

"Sorry," she told May's ice-cold stare. "I just don't know how you can handle him being here without going ninja crazy."

"I handle him being here because I have to. He's made up for what he's done enough that he can be used as an asset. He helped us find you and he especially showed some true gall when he killed Garrett."

"He killed Garrett?" Skye asked, shock in her voice.

May shook her head, staring at the girl's wide eyes. They really needed to work on circulating information better around here.

"Yes. And along with obviously being somewhat worked over by the man, taking him out also meant betraying his allegiance to Hydra. After betraying SHIELD, that leaves him with no where to go."

"He's still a murderer," Skye pointed out sulkily, but May cut in before she could rant further.

"I'm not saying what he did makes him trustworthy by any means, though I do think it proved he's capable of some individual thought." May didn't voice it, but that was something she honestly wasn't sure if he was able to do before. "I'm guessing it would be beneficial to talk to him now that he doesn't have his former SO or Hydra's shadow looming over him. See if you can find reasoning behind these actions."

Skye seemed to be processing this, as she took a few moments of silence. May took the chance to change the subject.

"And if you really want to be the one to talk to Wolfe, you should actually try to show a little more of the self-worth you have than the self-pity you've been displaying. Coulson may be slightly more inclined to let you help interrogate."

Skye sighed, obviously finding truth in the words. She looked up at Melinda and grinned gratefully.

"Thank you."

May shifted slightly, acknowledging the comment with a nod. A few moments later Skye spoke again.

"So… is that invite still out there?"

May wasn't sure what she was referring to.

"For training at five in the mornings." Skye continued with a hesitant smile. "I'd like to learn some of your secret agent know-how, if you still wouldn't mind me crashing."

May cocked her head, before turning away from Skye and standing up. She saw the young woman's eyes fall disappointed from the corner of her vision.

"We'll start tomorrow," she stated as she headed out the door, a small smirk ghosting its way onto Melinda May's lips.

"Coulson?" asked Skye, after knocking on his office door thrice.

"Come in," he called, and after taking a deep breath, she entered the room.

It was a welcoming sight, just another one to add to the checklist of familiarity. Coulson's office always seemed to be a place of scolding or praise. Now it was time for a debriefing.

"You wanted to see me?" she asked expectantly as she walked up to the desk. "Well, I was actually on my way up here when Fitz said you wanted to see me so… I guess I have something to say as well."

Coulson nodded, in that sagely yet interested way that was totally him. "Good. But if you don't mind, I'd like to start."

She motioned in front of herself. "Shoot."

Coulson took a deep breath, pursing his lips nervously before beginning.

"I wanted to apologize for the position I put you in earlier. It was wrong of me to ask you to explain what happened in front of everyone without knowing any of the specifics first. And completely wrong of me to think you wouldn't be adverse to having Ward there."

Skye was shaking her head frantically. Had been doing so pretty much from the word "apologize."

"You have nothing to be sorry for AC. I wanted to tell everyone and you knew that. It's me who should be sorry for acting so crazy," she said all this excitedly, trying to convey her words were the truth. But then she got quieter. "About Ward: technically, you're right. He could fill in the gaps that I couldn't and it's smart to have him on here. I was just surprised to see him. Well, not just surprised. I guess kind of like rage-filled too."

"I know, it was stupid of me. After what he's done to you-" Coulson started.

"That's the thing. Ward did do terrible things. Things that probably should be unforgivable! But he tried to help me at the Hydra facility and he's been helping you guys. So with not too many people lining up to be SHIELD agents nowadays… it totally makes sense. I just don't think we should be buddy-buddy with him."

"And we're not," Coulson stated firmly, seeming to try and reassure her more than be angry with her. "We need to take every precaution with him. I don't know if you noticed, but we gave him something that used to belong to you."

Skye's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Did you go through my room while I was gone to give him a souvenir? Hope it wasn't my arc reactor replica, I'm kind of fond of it."

Coulson grinned. "Not exactly. Remember when SHIELD 'tagged you like a stray dog'?"

Skye smiled at the thought. "Tracking bracelet treatment; nice."

That was actually just what Ward needed. It didn't escape Skye that when she'd betrayed her team to protect her boyfriend, Ward was the one who gave her the most crap about it. Had he been trying to be ironic? Maybe he'd thought it was funny. Or maybe he just decided that's what his "character" would do. Anyway, it felt good that he was getting her same punishment, even if his betrayal was definitely the worse of the two.

"Well, it's needed," Coulson continued. "There's no way we could allow a known Hydra soldier even out of containment without some precautionary measures, despite what he's done to prove himself."

Skye nodded. "Cool. Anyway, I'm ready to tell you in exquisite and exact detail what's gone on the passed couple days. Because, believe me, I really want to figure out what Wolfe's up to too."

"Don't worry, we will figure it out," Coulson assured her. "We've already started, actually."

"You mean he's awake?"

"Not exactly. But Fitzsimmons are working on… a DNA test," said Coulson, somewhat hesitantly.

"Oh." It was all that came to mind when she realized what he meant. They were checking to see if he was really daddy dearest. "Well, when he does actually come back to the living, I'd like to speak with him too."

"Skye..."

"Look I know I freaked out in there but I was just in shock! I'm like, all composed and stuff now. Trust me, I'm good. I can do this."

"I'm not doubting your state of mind, Skye. I'm doubting your lack of training as an interrogator."

"But he was after me. Maybe he'll talk to me."

"Then you will definitely be on the roster for a chat with him. I just think it's a good idea if someone else went in first."

She sighed, rubbing her hand over her face and through her hair before nodding.

"When's the last time you slept?" Coulson asked curiously.

"Oh, um…" Skye thought about it. She'd taken a small rest in the car with Wolfe at some point, but had never gotten to any stages of sleep. "I guess like… three days ago maybe?"

"Ok, new plan," said Coulson quickly. "You get me the information you think is most important about what's happened and then go take a rest. I'll talk to Wolfe. By the time you wake up you can interrogate him yourself."

Skye scowled. "What? No way, I'm not going to go to bed while you talk to him!"

"Well, you're not talking to him without getting some sleep. It will be too easy to let your emotions take over."

"Hydra made me sleep for three days so… doesn't that even it out?" Skye asked. She didn't get an answer, just a pointed stare that was clearly a 'no'. "I thought you said you didn't doubt my state of mind?"

"Changed my mind," said Coulson casually standing up to put a friendly hand on Skye's shoulder. "It's nothing against you. No one, not even the best field agents, can work at one-hundred percent when they're that tired."

'Tired' seem to be almost a trigger word, as Skye suddenly felt her eyelids nagging her to let them drop. She craved her bed. Her warm, cozy, bunk in the one place she truly called home.

She nodded with a truthful understanding.

"Let's get this chat over with, then," Skye mumbled, turning to sit down and tell all. But Coulson's grip remained on her shoulder, so she looked back to him in confusion. She was mildly stunned when he threw his hands around her.

She hugged him back.

"I'm glad you're safe," he told her.

She tried to hide the tears welling in her eyes, but he could probably feel them. Or hear the quiet sniffling. It didn't matter. She may have been over-tired, confused and possibly hunted, but for the moment he was right. She was safe.

She was home.

A/n: Needed fluff.

Thank you soooo much Shadow375. Without her input the May part of this chapter would have been pretty horrid.

Another thank to all of your for the reviews and follows! I really appreciate it :)