Chapter 16
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: Thanks for your support. So I know a lot of you have been wanting the talk between Skye and her Parents so I hope you like it.
When Melinda and Coulson enter Skye's bunk they find her getting ready for bed.
"Hey Skye." Coulson says to his daughter.
"Yeah?' Skye asks confused turning around to face her parents.
"Can you sit down we've got to talk to you about something." Coulson tells his daughter.
"I'm not in trouble am I?" Skye asks.
"No." Melinda and Coulson respond.
"Okay." Skye responds glad for that, "Then what do you want to talk about?" She asks interested.
"Skye you are a very special person." Coulson tells his daughter.
"You are always telling me that." Skye tells her father.
"That's because it's true." Melinda tells her daughter, "When you're all grown up this is what you are going to look like." Melinda says showing a picture of grown up Skye to Skye.
"I don't understand, how do you know that?" Skye asks confused.
"Because, that's you." Coulson tells his daughter.
"No, it can't be." Skye tells her father, "I'm seven year and eight months old, that's a grown up." Skye says confused, "Why are you lying to me?" Skye says becoming upset.
"We're not lying Baby Girl." Coulson tells his daughter, "You were dying and to save you Uncle Tony, Jem and Fitzy made you a child again, you knew that it was going to happen and you accepted that." Coulson tells his daughter not saying that she was okay with it because he doesn't believe that grown Skye was.
"That doesn't make sense." Skye tells her parents, "I don't believe you." Skye tells her parents.
"May." Melinda begins to say but Skye cuts her off.
"NO. GO AWAY, YOU'RE LYING, GO AWAY." Skye yells upset and angry.
"Okay, we'll be upstairs." Coulson tells his daughter.
"We love you Skye, no matter what, we love you." Melinda tells her daughter and her and Coulson head upstairs deciding to give Skye some time alone.
After leaving Skye's bunk Coulson and Melinda go back up to Coulson's office where Clint and Natasha are waiting.
"How'd it go?" Clint asks curious.
"Not good, she didn't believe us." Melinda says sitting down.
"You told her that's something." Clint comments, "Maybe she'll be willing to talk to more tomorrow." He comments not sure what else he could say
"I hope so." Coulson comments and the group drift into silence.
"Are we going to talk about the elephant in the room?" Clint asks after several minutes of silence.
"We have to." Natasha comments, "If they could have gotten to Sitwell and Blake then they could get to anyone, we can't trust anyone." She comments.
"We've got to protect Skye, and we've got to assume that Quinn knows about her being a child again." Melinda comments.
"As well as looking for the mole we should double and triple check the people who we have trusted." Coulson tells the others.
"I think we can trust Tony, Bruce, Steve and Pepper." Clint comments.
"I think so too." Coulson says agreeing.
"We've got to be careful, Quinn has proven that he's got people everywhere, people that we trust." Melinda says.
"We've got each other, that's something." Coulson says.
"It's the one good thing." Melinda says.
"Who do we start with?" Natasha asks curious.
"The team." Coulson says, "They're the ones around Skye the most, the ones who know the most." He comments and the others nod.
"We'll start tomorrow, I think we could all do with some sleep now." Natasha comments and the others nod.
"We're going to sleep up here tonight if you don't mind." Clint says as Melinda and Coulson stand up.
"Knock yourselves out." Coulson says as he and Melinda walk over to their room and Clint and Natasha pull out the fold away bed.
The following morning Skye has aged another couple of months and she is happily talking to her parents as Simmons runs her tests. None of the three bring up what was discussed the night before, Skye because she doesn't want to and Melinda and Coulson because they don't want to bring it up and upset her.
"Is тетя Наташа up yet?" Skye asks her parents curious.
"Yes, she's helping Uncle Clint with breakfast." Melinda tells her daughter.
"Cool, I want to see if we can do our dance lesson right after breakfast." Skye says happily and she goes upstairs.
"Phil, Mels, Fury's on the line." Clint says.
"We'll be right up." Coulson response and the pair head upstairs.
When Coulson and Melinda get upstairs they go straight to the command centre where Fury is on the big screen.
"We've got another energy source that has shown similarities to the Cyber-Tec sources." Fury explains.
"Where?' Melinda asks.
"Already sent through the coordinates." Fury reveals and he ends the call.
"One of us are going to have to stay with Skye." Coulson tells the others.
"I will." Natasha comments, "You three can handle this mission with the rest of the team." She tells them.
"Sounds good, Skye wants another dance lesson too." Melinda tells her friend who has a hint of a smile on her face at that, "You really like teaching her don't you." Melinda says to her.
"I really do." Natasha confirms.
"I'm glad, I know how much it means to you." Melinda tells her friend.
"If we interrupt this moment are we going to find ourselves hanging from the stairs?" Clint asks curious and Melinda and Natasha both roll their eyes.
"What is it?" Natasha asks him.
"I've just looked at the coordinates Fury sent us, we could be there in an hour." Clint reveals.
"I'll get us in the air." Melinda comments and she heads to the cockpit.
An hour later Skye is down dancing in the cargo bay with Natasha and the plane is just about to touch down at the coordinates.
"Skye I need to talk to тетя Наташа for a minute." Coulson says to his daughter.
"Okay, I'll go see Jem and Fitzy." Skye says to her father and heads into the Lab.
"What's up?" Natasha asks Coulson.
"Mel, Clint and I are going in with the team to investigate the energy and see what Cyber-Tec is up to now." Coulson explains.
"Any speculation on what you'll find?" Natasha asks curious.
"No. It could be Deathlok for all I know." Coulson comments.
"Hopefully it's Quinn." Natasha responds.
"We're not that lucky."
"Don't I know it." Natasha tells him, "Don't worry I'll look after Skye." Natasha tells her friend.
"I'm a father, all I do is worry." Coulson tells Natasha and she smiles at that.
Far away from the plane Ian Quinn is sitting on a computer waiting for the annoyance that he calls his little sister to show up, but as they have recently lost two of their spies in SHIELD she is running late, something that she never is, but considering the circumstances he isn't surprised by that, but he does intend to give her crap about it.
Finally after what feels like a long time he hears the door open and Victoria walks in.
"Finally. What took you so long?" Quinn asks his sister.
"Don't even start." Victoria tells him.
"Do you have the so called proof or were you lying?" Quinn asks his baby sister.
"I have the proof, see for yourself." Victoria says putting the photo in front of Ian.
"How do we know that this is Skye?" Quinn asks looking at a picture of a young girl standing on Coulson's plane's cargo bay at the Hub with Agents Fitz, Simmons and Ward, clearly trying to get her to go back inside.
"Because I heard them call her Skye." Victoria tells her brother.
"Are you sure you weren't mistaken?" Quinn asks his sister, "It doesn't make sense, how could she be a kid again?" He asks.
"I don't know, that is why we need her to find out." Victoria tells her brother, "If this child really is her then we can do what Father always wanted, we can train her to be a weapon, seeing as how you're failing to figure out a way to get that power into me." Victoria tells her brother.
"I'm working on it, but it's a bit more complicated than you would expect. Father's notes aren't exactly clear." Quinn tells his sister, "I think in a few weeks I'll have an idea of a way that could work." He admits.
"Good, the sooner the better Ian." Victoria requests, "Is he in place?" she asks.
"Yes, just waiting on final orders." Quinn informs her, "You would have thought by now they wouldn't make it so obvious to predict their actions by following every single lead on Cyber-Tec energy." Quinn tells his sister.
"You would think, but they're not that smart." Victoria tells him, "What are the orders you're going to send?" she asks curious.
"This." Quinn says showing her the piece of paper.
"Get the girl, do not harm her, and kill whoever is with her, perfect." Victoria tells him, "I've got to get back. Can you do this without screwing up?"
"Of course I can." Quinn tells his sister with a roll of his eyes, "Go. After what happened with Sitwell and Blake we can't have you be under suspicion." He tells her.
"That almost sounds like you're worried about me." Victoria tells her brother.
"You're my little sister Tori, you might annoy the crap out of me but I still worry." Quinn admits.
"Are you dying?" Victoria asks surprised by what he is saying.
"No." Quinn says once more rolling his eyes at his sister.
"Good, see you later." Victoria says walking to the door, "Hey, Ian." She says causing him to look up at her, "Don't worry about me. I'm always careful." Victoria tells her brother before she walks out of the front door.
Back at the plane Coulson, Melinda, Ward, Fitz, Simmons and Clint have just left and Skye and Natasha are still in the cargo bay.
"What do you want to do now?" Natasha asks her niece curious.
"Dance." Skye says happily.
"I think we can do that." Natasha says and she turns to look out of the cargo bay something she has been doing ever few minutes but this time when she does she sees a figure coming towards her and Skye, from about fifty meters outside the cargo bay and the second she sees him she recognizes him as Mike Peterson, or Deathlok as he is now known as.
"Skye grab onto me." Natasha request.
'Why?" Skye asks confused.
"Just do it." Natasha requests and as soon as she is holding onto Skye she uses the hook that goes out of her bracelet to get them onto the cargo bay platform, narrowly avoiding a missile that was sent by Deathlok.
"What's going on?" Skye asks
"Nothing good." Natasha says "Whatever happens do not let go of my hand until I tell you too, come on." Natasha tells her niece and she runs through the door that leads to the main part of the plane closing both the gate and the door hoping that it will hold of Mike.
"Coulson? Melinda? Clint? Anyone? Come in." Natasha requests through the coms but all she gets is static.
"Damn it." Natasha says, pulling out her phone to try that but when she does she sees that she has no signal.
"тетя Наташа, what's going on?" Skye asks confused as Natasha runs pulling her along as she does.
"Nothing good." Natasha says taking Skye to near the cockpit in hopes of getting behind Mike so that she can get them off the plane as she knows that both her and Melinda could barely hold their own against Mike, so with his improvements she's not going to be able to both protect Skye and fight him, "We've got get off the plane." Natasha says grabbing the gun that Melinda keeps in the cockpit before leading Skye down the back stairs, "Run down the stairs, count to thirty and if I'm not there keep running and don't look back." Natasha tells her niece.
"But…" Skye begins to say but Natasha cuts her off.
"Skye, I need you to do this, go." Natasha tells her niece and Skye nods and runs.
Once she sees Skye run down the stairs Natasha turns towards the main part of the plane in time to see Mike brake through the door and gate, doubting the gun will work Natasha fires laser beam out of her bracelet hoping that it will slow him down, which thankfully it does. Once he is down Natasha fires half a clip of bullets at him and then runs
"Skye I'm going to carry you, hold on tight." Natasha requests and she picks up Skye as she runs pasts her.
"What's going on? I don't understand." Skye says to her Aunt.
"I know. I'll explain everything as soon as I can." Natasha tells her niece.
"I want Mommy and Daddy." Skye tell her Aunt.
"I know, they'll find us." Natasha says knowing that she has no choice but to go off the grid with Skye but thankfully both Melinda and Clint will be able to find them.
Once they are out of the plane Natasha spots a motorbike so she runs to it, "Skye don't leave my side, no matter what." Natasha requests as she puts her down knowing she will only have seconds at the most.
"I'm scared." Skye tells her Aunt.
"I know, and if I knew that it would I would tell you that everything is going to be okay, but I don't know that, so I can't tell you that." Natasha says and she manages to hotwire the bike, "Skye I promise you that I will do whatever it takes to keep you safe, okay, I promise. Do you trust me?" Natasha asks her niece and Skye nods, "Good put this on and hold on to me." Natasha says handing her the single helmet as she puts Skye on the back of the bike as she drops her cell and coms devices on the ground "Let's go." Natasha says as she climbs on the front of the bike and spots Mike coming out of the plane, "Hold on tight, do not let go off me." Natasha tells her niece as she speeds off on the bike at top speed.
At the warehouse completely un aware of what is going on at the plane Coulson, Melinda, Clint, Fitz, Simmons and Ward are looking for the source of the energy but the area seems to be empty.
"I'll get Nat to run a scan from the plane" Clint says to the others, "Nat, we need you to do something." Clint says and he receives no answer, "Nat?" he asks once more exchanging a worried look with Melinda and Coulson.
"Natasha come in." Coulson requests and they receive no answer.
"Tasha, you there?" Melinda asks the dread filling her voice, "Something's wrong." She says to the others.
"Let's go." Clint says and the team race back to the cars.
Ten minutes after they leave the plane Natasha realises that the bike that she'll stolen is low on gas.
"Great." Natasha says sarcastically but she realises that this is just the opportunity that she needs to let Coulson and Melinda know that Skye is with her because she can't let them worry for too long.
Pulling into a gas station Natasha knows that she needs to change vehicle soon but considering what else she has to do, now isn't the right time for that.
"тетя Наташа, what's going on?" Skye asks confused as Natasha pulls off to a gas station.
"What's going on is that I need to put gas in the bike, and while I do that do you need to go bathroom?" Natasha asks, Skye hesitates for a second then nods, "Good. Just stand right here while I put the gas in the bike." Natasha tells her niece and Skye nods
Once the gas is in the bike Skye and Natasha entre the gas station, Natasha not taking her eyes off Skye as she does. Before she lets Skye go into the bathroom Natasha checks it herself and is glad to find that there is no window.
"I'll be right outside. Be quick." Natasha tells her niece and grabbing a couple of bottles of water as she passes Natasha makes her way to the counter to put part two of her plan into place.
"Hey." Natasha says to the young man behind the counter with a flirty smile, "Is there any chance I can borrow your cell, mine fell out of my pocket while I was driving and I really need to let my sister know that I'm okay, she'll panic if I don't." Natasha, in a way, lies.
"Sure no problem." The clerk says handing Natasha a phone, "Thank you." Natasha says taking several steps away from the counter, keeping an eye on the way to the bathroom, Natasha complies a message to Coulson's, Melinda's and Clint's secure Numbers, "We're both good. We received a visit from our friend we've been worried about. Let you know location when safe. I'll look after her to then." Natasha types and presses send and deletes all record, "Thanks." Natasha says handing the phone back.
"I was thinking, if you're going to be around for a while, then maybe you would like to have a drink." The clerk says to Natasha.
"Sorry, I'm from California, just passing through." Natasha tells him as Skye comes out of the bathroom and walks over to her.
"Just gas and this." Natasha says referring to the water.
"Forty dollars.' The clerk tells Natasha and she pays with the cash she has.
"Let's go." Natasha says to her niece and they leave the gas station.
As soon as Coulson, Melinda, Clint, Fitz, Simmons and Ward arrive at the plane they know something horrible must have happened as the glass that leads to the lab is shattered.
"SKYE. NATASHA." Melinda says running upstairs Coulson and Clint right behind her while Fitz, Simmons and Ward look around downstairs.
"Not good." Clint comments as they pass the broken door and gate.
"NATASHA." Coulson yells, as he races upstairs and Melinda runs into the cockpit.
"They're not here." Clint comments as Melinda and Coulson come back to the main part of the plane.
"Apart from the lab doors being smashed there is no damage downstairs." Ward comments, "Can't say the same from up here." He comments, "What the hell happened?" he asks
"I don't know. All we know is Tasha and Skye are missing." Melinda says the worry clear.
"Fitz get the cameras on the plane up and trace Natasha's phone." Coulson orders.
"Yes Sir." Fitz respond and he races into the command centre.
"There looks like there was a fight, I'm betting that Nat dealt with whoever it was that attacked and took Skye somewhere safe just to be on the safe side." Clint tells his friends though it is clear that he is worried.
"If Tasha dealt with whoever it was that attacked then there would be a body." Melinda tells her brother.
"Guys, get in here." Fitz yells and they race into the command centre.
"It was Deathlok." Fitz tells the others and they watch the forage of Natasha attacking Mike and then disappearing with Skye.
"Is there anything else?" Coulson asks worried.
"No the last shot of them we've got is this." Fitz says showing an image of Natasha holding Skye walking out of the plane.
"Tasha knows where the camera were she likely hid them form them. It's what she does." Melinda comments.
"Don't bother tracing her phone, Nat would have ditched it as soon as she could." Clint tells Fitz.
"We've got to find them." Coulson comments as while Natasha is one of the few people he fully trust's to look after Skye it doesn't stop him from worrying.
"Find Nat when she's gone off the grid?" Clint asks shocked, "You and I both know that unless she wants us to find her then that's impossible." Clint tells his friend, "Skye's safe with Nat, we've just go to focus on that." He says and before Coulson or Melinda can respond three phone beeps can be heard and Clint, Coulson and Melinda pull out their secure phones and read the messages that Natasha sent them.
"Upstairs." Coulson says to Clint and Melinda and the three of them head upstairs leaving Ward, Fitz and Simmons confused in the command centre.
Once Clint, Coulson and Melinda walk into the office upstairs they close the door so that no one downstairs can hear them.
"Skye's safe with Natasha but that doesn't mean we are." Coulson says to the others, "The first question we've got to ask is how Quinn and Deathlok knew where we were going to be in the first place."
"And we've got to figure out what Mike's goal was, and do they know about Skye." Melinda comments.
"I don't know if he knows about Skye but I've got a theory about how he knew where we were." Clint comments.
"What?" Coulson asks curious.
"Lately we've been tracking Cyber-Tec signal's, we've been sloppy. We've made it easy to find us." Clint tells the others.
"Crap, you're right." Coulson realises, "We've been so focused on trying to find who the Mole is that we've slipped." He realises.
"We made it too easy for them to find us." Melinda realises, "We've got to make it harder to be found." She comments and the others nod.
"Nat won't contact us for at least seventy two hours. We've got until then to get somewhere safe." Clint tells the others.
"Or we get clues to Tasha for her to find us, instead of the other way around." Coulson suggests.
"That could be a better idea." Melinda comments, "Right now we know that Skye is safe with Tasha and that they're both okay, that's what's most important." She says and Clint and Coulson nod.
"We know Nat better than anyone else, we've got to figure out where she'll go so that we can leave her a way to find us." Clint comments.
"That's not going to be easy." Coulson tells him, "Like you said, if Natasha doesn't want to be found then we're not going to find her." He says to Clint.
"Guess we should get started then." Melinda says and they sit down at Coulson's desk trying to come up with a plan.
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