Chapter 5
Disclaimer: I do not own anything. Everything belongs to their rightful owners and I am not making any profit from this.
AN: Thank you to all who have added to alerts, read, reviewed or any combination of the three. It means a lot to me.
AN2 IMPORTANT EXPLINATION PLEASE READ: So I was struggling to write baby scenes so I decided to jump to when Skye is a bit older and able to contribute more, hope you don't mind. I am also updating this earlier than usual because I want to watch episode 6 and on of SHIELD before tomorrow (I watched the first five last night)
A little over a month later and Skye is approximately three years old. She has moved back down into her bunk, which has been set up to suit a three year old while her grownup stuff has been put away to be given back to her when she is older, or when she remembers. It is clear that she doesn't remember her other life but she does seem to know things and it's hard to tell whether it is because of her abilities or because she remembers in some form what has happened to her.
The team is in Los Angeles finishing their latest mission. Melinda is getting them into the air while Clint, Natasha and Ward are downstairs putting thing away, Simmons and Fitz are down in the lab and Skye and Coulson are buckled into the seats while Melinda get them in the air.
"So what did you and Ward do today?" Coulson asks Skye as while they are on missions they rotate who is with Skye, making sure to always have a field agent with her when the others are on a mission.
"We drew." Skye answers, "I put a picture on your desk." Skye tells her father.
"Did you?" Coulson asks and Skye nods.
"Can I go see Jem? She is going to teach me how to read." Skye reveals looking excited at the prospect, Skye having taken to call Simmons Jem as it was what was easier for her to say when she was younger and it stuck.
"Not quite yet." Coulson tells his daughter, knowing about Simmons teaching Skye to read because she brought it up with him and Melinda before she talked to the toddler about it, "We can't go anywhere until Mommy has gotten us in the air correctly." Coulson tells her.
"Okay." Skye responds and a couple minutes later a call comes into the command centre.
"Wait here." Coulson tells Skye as he un buckles his seatbelt as it was decided that unless they knew for sure would was calling they would make sure that Skye isn't in the command centre when a call comes in.
About a minute after her father leaves Skye unbuckles her own seatbelt and heads to the door that leads downstairs but because of the gate that Fitz and Tony put in she can't go downstairs.
"What do you think you're doing Kid?" Clint asks opening the gate after Skye has been trying for a couple of minutes to open it.
"Going to see Jem, she's going to teach me to read." Skye tells Clint as she tries to step around him but he picks her up.
"And you were going to go downstairs by yourself were you?" Clint asks her.
"Um, yeah." Skye says now knowing that she is likely in trouble.
"Even though you know you're not allowed to go downstairs by yourself." Clint says to his niece as there was an incident when Skye was about two where she fell down the stairs and would have hurt herself if Ward didn't catch her, so ever since they have introduced the rule where Skye isn't allowed to go downstairs by herself.
"Daddy got a call and I didn't want to wait." Skye tells Clint, "I'm sorry." She says attempting to give Clint her best puppy dog eyes to try and get herself out of trouble.
"We have these rules to keep you safe, do you understand that?" Clint asks Skye, doing his best to ignore Skye's puppy dog eyes, which she is very good at.
"Yes Uncle Clint." Skye tells him, "But you're here now. Can you take me downstairs?"
"Can everyone please report to the command centre." Coulson's voice says over the PA system.
"Looks like reading's going to have to wait." Clint tells his niece and he carries her into the command centre.
"Put me down." Skye asks as she and Clint entre the command centre.
"What do you have to add to that?" Clint asks his niece.
"Please." Skye says and Clint puts her down.
"Nicky." Skye says when she sees who is on the screen.
"Hello Skye." Fury responds.
"What's going on?' Clint asks Coulson being amused that Skye calls director Fury Nicky but also positive that she is the only person who could get away with it.
"I'll explain when everyone's here." Coulson tells his friend.
"Nicky can you come visit like Uncle Tony does?" Skye asks Fury, as Tony has made an effort to regularly visit.
"I'll try." Fury tells the young girl as the others entre.
"What's going on Phil?" Melinda asks.
"We've got a lead on where Ian Quinn is." Fury reveals.
"Who's that?" Skye asks as everyone has a worried look on their face.
"He's a bad guy." Melinda tells her daughter.
"Oh, you'll stop him." Skye tells everyone, "Stopping bad guys is what you do." She tells everyone in a matter of fact tone.
"Skye do you want to go downstairs and read with me?" Simmons asks the three year old, kneeling down in front of her so that she is the same height, having a feeling that Skye not being around when they talk about Quinn would be best.
"Okay." Skye responds and she and Simmons leave the command centre Coulson and Melinda mouthing thank you at Simmons as they do.
"What do we know?" Natasha asks as soon as Skye and Simmons are out of hearing range.
"Agent Garrett and his team has been working on trying to find him for weeks. He has gotten a lead which has lead him to believe that Quinn is in Phuket." Fury reveals, "I have ordered Garrett await further instructions before he does anymore." He explains, "Do you want to go in or do I gave the order for Garrett?"
"We will." Coulson answers.
"We can't take Skye with us for this." Ward tells everyone, "Not when it's Quinn we're after." He tells them.
"He's right. It's too risky." Melinda realises.
"I can send in Garrett and his team." Fury tells them, "And brief Agent Hand and have her team provide back up." He offers.
"No, Quinn is ours." Coulson says, "Have Garrett and his team on standby in case we need them but finding and capturing Quinn is us." Coulson says, "I'll call Tony ask if Skye can stay at the tower for a couple of days." Coulson says.
"He'll love that." Clint comments, "I swear Skye's got him wrapped around her little figure."
"And the rest of us aren't?" Fitz asks.
"Good point." Clint admits.
"What do you think?" Coulson asks Melinda, "Do you think getting Skye to stay with Tony and Pepper, likely Steve and Bruce is a good idea?" he asks.
"I do." Melinda confirms, "With us going after Quinn it is too dangerous for her to be with us." She tells him. "Setting a course for New York." Melinda says picking up a tablet and changing the course."
"I'll have Garrett send you everything he's got." Fury says before ending the video conference.
"We should call Tony and then talk to Skye." Coulson says to Melinda who nods in agreement and the pair leave the command centre.
"Going up against Quinn, has this gone well for us at all?" Fitz asks.
"No." Ward answers, "It has resulted in torture, death, broken bones, or de ageing, never once has it ended well." He says.
"Maybe this time will be different." Clint comments.
"You do know what the definition of insanity is right?" Ward asks curious.
"It's not the same thing." Natasha tells him, "Garrett was your SO that means you know how good and detailed he is when it comes to getting intel. It will be more than we've had in the past." Natasha tells him.
"You're right about that." Ward admits though he is still more than slightly worried.
Fifteen minutes after they left the command centre to call Tony Melinda and Coulson walk into the lab, where they find Skye sitting in Simmons lap as Simmons reads to her.
"Mommy, Daddy." Skye says when she sees her parents so she gets off Simmons lap and runs towards them even though it wasn't that long ago that she saw them it feels like it to her.
"Everyone's up in the command centre, they'll fill you in with what is going on." Melinda tells Simmons who nods and heads back upstairs.
"What's going on?" Skye asks and Coulson picks her up and sits her on the table.
"Skye you're going to go and stay with Uncle Tony and Aunt Pepper for a little while." Coulson tells his daughter.
"Why?" Skye asks frowning.
"Because we've got to go stop a really bad man." Melinda tells her daughter, "And if you are with us then you could get hurt." She tells him.
"But, you go after bad people all the time." Skye says, "And I'm always here." She says.
"We know, but you can't be here this time." Coulson tells her.
"Why not?" Skye asks confused.
"Because this person is worse than the others." Melinda tells her daughter, "You need to be safe and the only way to be sure of that is for you to stay with Uncle Tony."
"Will you come back?" Skye asks.
"Of course we will." Coulson says without thinking about it, not realising to after he said it that he may not be able to make a promise like that.
"Will Uncle Steve and Uncle Bruce be there?" Skye asks curious.
"Uncle Tony said they were." Melinda tells her.
"If I promise to be good can I stay?" Skye asks, and it's when she says things like that that whoever she says them to think that maybe she remembers something form her other life.
"Skye this isn't because of anything you've done." Melinda tells her daughter, "The bad man we are after would hurt you if he got a chance and he would do a lot to make sure that he would get a chance. You're not staying with Uncle Tony because we don't want you around but because we just want to do what we can to make sure you stay safe." Melinda explains to her daughter, "We love you so much Skye, and none of us want something to happen to you." Melinda explains.
"Oh, okay." Skye responds, "Can I bring my toys?" she asks.
"Of course you can." Coulson tells her.
"Okay, good." Skye tells her parents.
Two hours later the plane touches down in New York where Tony and Pepper are waiting.
"So Quinn, be careful." Tony tells Coulson.
"We will." Coulson tells him, "Look after her." He tells him.
"Of course." Tony answers, "Where is she anyway?" He asks as no one else is in the cargo bay with Coulson.
"Nat's just helping her to finish pack." Clint reveals walking down the stairs with Ward.
"Here is everything we've got on her ageing. You might need it." Simmons says handing Tony a flashdrive.
"Thanks, but I don't need it. I'm already in your systems." He reveals.
"Of course you are." Fitz comments and Melinda, Skye and Natasha exit onto the platform above the Cargo bay Natasha and Melinda watching her as he walks down the stairs herself.
"You promise to be a good girl for Uncle Tony and Aunt Pepper?" Coulson asks Skye.
"Ah huh." Skye assures as Clint walks over to Tony and Pepper.
"Do you need to borrow the car seat we've got on the plane?" he asks.
"No, we've got one." Tony answers, "I figured it would be easier than taking yours." He tells him.
"Good call." Clint says as after the first time he really wasn't looking forward to having to trying to set it up again in another car.
Once Skye has hugged everyone goodbye she walks over to Tony and Pepper and Pepper picks her up.
"Love you Baby Girl." Coulson tells his daughter.
"Love you more Daddy." Skye tells him.
"Love you May." Melinda says giving Skye a kiss on her head.
"Love you Mommy." Skye responds.
"Good luck." Tony says to them.
"Thanks." Coulson responds and Tony, Skye and Pepper make their way to Tony's car while everyone else watches.
"Are we doing the right thing?" Coulson asks.
"Yes, you are." Natasha tells him, "You're doing what will keep her safest." She tells him.
"I know." Coulson admits, "That doesn't change how bad I feel." Coulson comments.
"The sooner we get Quinn the sooner she'll be back with us, wheels up in five." Melinda says heading back to the cockpit.
"So where we going?" Skye asks from the back of Tony's car where she is sitting in in the car seat he installed.
"My place." Tony answers.
"Is it a plane?" Skye asks.
"No." Tony answers with a small laugh, "It's a really tall building and Uncle Steve and Uncle Bruce will be there too." He reveals.
"Does that mean I won't be able to go downstairs alone like at home?" Skye asks.
"We'll talk about the rules once we are there." Pepper tells her.
"Okay." Skye responds and she looks out the window.
When Skye, Pepper and Tony arrive at the tower Tony takes them into the private elevator and up to the top floor, his private rooms.
"Wow." Skye comments surprised when she sees the place.
"Welcome back Sir." Jarvis says.
"What's that?" Skye asks confused and a hint of fright as while she is used to voices coming out of nowhere on the plane she always recognizes those voices.
"That's Jarvis, don't worry he's nothing to be scared of." Tony tells Skye kneeling down next to her, "Say Hello to him." Tony tells her.
"Hello Jarvis." Skye says nervously.
"Good evening Miss Coulson." Jarvis responds.
"See, nothing to be scared of. Jarvis is a friend." Tony tells her, "Where are Banner and Rogers?" he asks Jarvis.
"Captain Rogers is in his rooms, Dr Banner is in his lab, and I don't recommend taking Miss Coulson there." Jarvis informs Tony.
"Good to know." Tony responds, "You hungry Kiddo?" Tony asks curious.
"Yes." Skye answers.
"Before we eat I think we've got something to talk about first, don't you think so Tony?" Pepper asks.
"What?" Tony asks confused.
"Rules." Pepper reminds him.
"Oh right." Tony comments remember.
"Let go sit down so that we can talk." Pepper tells the other two and all three of them make their way over to the couches.
"Okay, we'll show you around a bit later but on this floor is mine and Uncle Tony's room, Uncle Steve's room, Uncle Bruce's room and what will be yours while you are here." Pepper tells Skye, "You can go anywhere on this floor." She tells her, "Using the elevator you can get to any floor, right below us is where you will find Uncle Tony's and Uncle Bruce's labs, you can go down there if someone is with you, do you understand?" Pepper asks.
"Yep." Skye responds, "So it's like Jem and Fitzy's lab at home." She comments.
"Exactly." Tony answers and for the next five minutes Pepper explains the other rules to the three year old, Tony staying mostly quiet as she does.
"Okay enough with the boring stuff, what do you want for tea?" Tony asks Skye curious.
"Tony, rules are important." Pepper tells him.
"Doesn't mean they aren't boring." Tony comments and Skye laughs, "She Skye agrees." He tells his girlfriend.
"Now look what you've done." Pepper tells Tony.
"Please with how much time she's spent on that plane do you really think she hasn't heard that before?" Tony asks Pepper.
"What do you mean Uncle Tony?" Skye asks.
"Nothing Kiddo, what do you want to eat?" He asks.
"Um, Pizza." Skye answers.
"Okay, Pizza it is." Tony answers.
"Get salad as well." Pepper tells him, "You're not only eating junk food." She tells them.
"Yes Ma'am." Tony responds.
Half an hour later the Pizza has arrived.
"I'll get Banner on my way back up." Tony tells Pepper and Skye as he heads to the elevator, "Why don't you get Steve." He comment.
"Oh, can I, can I?" Skye asks excitedly.
"Of course." Pepper says and Skye goes running in the direction of Steve's room.
"Skye don't run." Pepper yells after her and when she has caught up to the three year old Skye is standing in front of Steve's room, "Knock on the door." Pepper tells her and that's what Skyed does.
"Come in." Steve says.
"Pizza Uncle Steve." Skye tells her Uncle.
"What about it?" Steve asks.
"It's here." Skye says running to Steve and grabbing his arm and trying to pull him up.
"Skye, you don't pull people up." Pepper tells her.
"It's okay Pepper." Steve tells her, "Do you want a piggy back ride?" Steve asks Skye who nods enthusiastically.
"Climb on." Steve says kneeling down on the ground so that Skye can climb on his back.
"Please be careful." Pepper requests.
"Of course." Steve tells her.
Hours later on the plane Melinda is flying the plane herself instead of putting it on autopilot while everyone else is in the command centre going over the information that Garrett sent over.
Melinda is focusing on flying instead of how horrible it felt to leave her daughter with Tony when the door opens and Natasha walks in and sits down in the co-pilots seat.
"The intel looks good." Natasha reveals and Melinda doesn't say anything, "Of course it's Quinn so he could be playing us." She comments and once more Melinda doesn't say anything, "You know you did the right thing." Natasha tells her friend.
"I know." Melinda tells her, "Doesn't change how much it feels like I didn't though." Melinda admits.
"She's safe with Tony, Pepper, Steve and Bruce, much safer than she would be here with us going after Quinn." She tells her.
"I know that it was the safest option but I can't help feeling like I abandoned her." Melinda tells her friend.
"You didn't." Natasha assures her friend, "In a couple of days she'll be back here and you'll forget how miserable you felt." She tells her.
"I know you're right but at the moment I can't see it." Melinda tells her and then all of a sudden they lose power.
"What's going on?" Natasha asks.
"I don't know. We've got no emergency power either." Melinda reveals.
"Can you get us down?" Natasha asks.
"Going down is a guarantee. Whether we're in once piece or not is the question." Melinda tells her, "Give me a hand." She tells Natasha who grabs onto the controls.
"What's going on?" Coulson asks barging into the cockpit with Clint and Ward right behind him.
"We've lost main and emergency power." Melinda tells him, "I have no idea why. Buckle up this isn't going to be pleasant." She tells him.
"Clint take my place, I'll help Coulson." Natasha says and Clint takes over for Natasha while Natasha goes into the main part of the plane to help Coulson and likely Ward make sure everyone else is okay and safely buckled in.
"Were there any warnings?" Clint asks Melinda.
"No, we just lost power." Melinda tells him, "Do a manual release of the wheels." She requests and that's what Clint does.
"Are we going to clear the trees?" Clint asks as there are a group of trees right where they are heading but there is an empty valley right after.
"Maybe." Melinda responds, her voice not giving Clint confidence, and the two experienced pilots do what they can to make sure that they get the plane down safely.
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