"May"

"Mmm"

"Still with me?"

"Just about."

As the sun climbed higher and higher the heat became unbearable inside the pyramid. Both agents were dripping with sweat and Ward had taken his shirt off to try and wring it out. It didn't work, but deciding it would be cooler with it off he threw it to one side. May was starting to drift in and out of consciousness.

Meanwhile outside Skye, Coulson, Fitz and Simmons started working on the runes of the Ancient Egyptians. They worked, tirelessly, for hours.

"It's a puzzle" Skye said.

"No it's not. It's confusing"

"Fitz, is right. These Hieroglyphs don't make any sense."

"Get into the van, NOW!" Coulson ordered, hand reaching for his weapon and concealing it by his side, as a black SUV approached them. The other three did not question this and dove into their van to hide. The SUV came closer and eventually stopped right by them. A man in military uniform got out and spoke to Coulson.

"What are you doing here. This is restricted space."

"My name is Agent Coulson of S.H.I.E.L.D. I am here to investigate and anomalous reading that may have caused a plane to crash 100 miles away from here yesterday."

"Goddamn Americans. Always pushing your noses in where they don't belong."

"I assure you sir this is not about Nations. S.H.I.E.L.D is about protecting, not just America, but the world, from unseen circumstances. This is why we are here."

"Well you had better leave if you don't want to be killed. There are rebel's forty miles out and closing." The mystery man told him, before getting back into his SUV and leaving.

Coulson banged on the side of the van.

"It's safe. You can come out."

"Thank God! What was that about?"

"I'm not sure but we have to move fast. Fitz. I need you to figure out how to fly the 'bus, Skye, Simmons. We are running out of time."

"Me, fly the bus? Are you insane?"

"We have rebels closing in. They will be here within the hour. We don't know what state May will be in when we get to her, if we get to her in time. You're a rocket scientist. Figure it out!"

Fitz ran off to the 'bus and started reading the manual as fast as he could, leaving Simmons, Skye and Coulson to rescue May and Ward.

"It's a puzzle." Skye said again.

"What?"

"These lines and markings aren't hieroglyphs at all." She said pointing out the marking she meant. "They are a map. Look for a stone that sticks out."

Five minutes later Coulson found the stone.

"Move it up four clicks"

Coulson did. He didn't expect the stone to move, but it did, and easily.

"Two to the right" Coulson continued to move the stone following Skye's instructions and when they had finished there was an opening in the side of the pyramid. Simmons and Coulson went in to try and find May and Ward while Skye stayed outside to reopen the door if it closed again.

Coulson noticed the temperature in the pyramid and his concern for the two missing agents grew. They quickly found May and Ward slumped up against the walls of the corridor. Ward was conscious, but weakening by the minute. May was completely out of it.

Simmons picked Ward up and helped him stumble out of there, before they exited through the opening Ward noticed a flash of orange, but being in the state that he was he dismissed it. Coulson picked May off the ground and carried her, fireman style to the plane. Just as Coulson deposited May on the lab table he saw multiple SUV's break the horizon. They were out of time.

"Skye. Call Fitz, tell him to get this thing in the air. NOW!" he told her as he closed the cargo doors.

The plane shook violently and then stopped. Coulson was hoping Fitz had figured it out, or they were all dead.

Simmons was removing May's soaked clothes and Skye was helping Ward drink a bottle of water. He was pale and all of his hidden battle scars were visible. She noticed one on his hand. It was four small squares spaced out evenly in a row.

"Skye, go help Simmons. I'll take care of Ward" Coulson told her.

Skye got into the lab to find May naked on the table and Simmons was trying to get something to cover her pride. When May was covered they started making diagnostic data on her. They noticed her temperature was high. In fact it was that high Skye went to go get all of the ice she could find while Simmons soaked another blanket in the coldest water she could get her hands on. They needed to give her fluids, but until Fitz had the plane in the air they couldn't risk missing the vein with an IV.

Coulson, having assessed Ward and realising he was in no immediate danger, he was just severely dehydrated went to help Fitz get the plane airborne.

Soon the 'bus was back in the air and Simmons had placed and IV drip into May's arm, and for good measure, she placed one into Ward's too.

They had to re-soak the cooling blanket on May multiple times within the first couple of hours to try bring her temperature down, when it was back to normal they removed the cooling blanket and placed a regular one over her. Ward was just sitting reading a book, waiting for the drip Simmons made him have to finish, when he noticed Skye looking at him.

"What?" He asked her.

"Nothing" she replied

"You have the look of someone who wants to ask me something but don't know how."

"The scar on your hand. How did you get it?"

Ward looked at the scar Skye was talking about. It had faded as his skin had regained its colour. Simmons had actually managed to put his IV right in one of the squares.

"Nat stabbed me with a fork."

"Why?"

"Because he stabbed her with a spoon first" came May's voice from behind them.