"May." Coulson searches over the coms. "Please transport the 0-8-4 to sick bay."
"On my way." She approves, making her way to Skye.
"What's this, good cop?" Skye jests, wiping the blood from her brow as May enters.
"You're being transferred to sick bay." May informs, as she unshackles her from the floor and leads her to Simmons.
"Jeez, do I look that bad?" Skye questions sarcastically.
"Unlike Agent Ward, I'd prefer if you kept your mouth shut." May orders, rounding the corner to sick bay. "She's all yours doc."
"Put her on the bed please." Simmons instructs, rubbing at her ear uncomfortably.
May handcuffs Skye to the rails of the bed and leaves as per Coulson's instructions.
"Simmons stop rubbing your ear, you're drawing attention! Just speak to her, draw her out." Comes Wards voice over the comms.
"Hi, I'm Jemma." Simmons introduces, giving a shy little wave.
"I'm Skye, nice to see you again without being punched in the head. Refreshing almost." She flashes her trademark grin.
"I wanted to take a look at your injuries." She informs, unbuttoning Skye's shirt. "Ouch." She appraises, looking at the badly bruised ribcage.
"Ok Simmons, crash course on extracting intel the easy way. Seduce her." States Ward.
"Excuse me?!" Simmons questions.
"Umm, I didn't say anything" Skye smiles curiously.
"Just get close to her Simmons, we already know she likes you so this should be easy. I'll talk you through it. Touch her, eye contact, compliments, smile. Easy."
Simmons runs her hands delicately over Skye's ribs, feeling out the broken ones. She traces the outlines of Skye's bruises, saddened at the condition she has been left in.
"Hey, where's that gorgeous smile red?"
"I'm so sorry this happened to you." Jemma replies, with genuine concern.
"I've endured worse, this is nothing, surface stuff, looks worse than it is, really." Skye shrugs.
"Skye, I should be the one trying to make you feel better." Simmons smiles down at her sweetly. "I'm afraid there's nothing I can do to speed recovery but I can give you something for the pain?"
"That would be delightful." Pipes Skye, whose eyes are already lighting up at the hope of no longer having to suffer with every breath."
Simmons reaches up to the med cupboard to retrieve some Paracetamol. Turning to hand the capsules to Skye she remembers the handcuffs. Uhh, let me get you a cup."
"Put them in her mouth." Instructs Ward.
"Or I could just pop them in for you." She suggests, like it was her idea.
Skye doesn't seem to have any objections, opening her mouth and sticking out her tongue." Simmons slowly places the capsules into her mouth. Feeling Skye's hot tongue beneath her fingers she starts to think of where else she'd like that tongue. She quickly snaps herself out of it; "Let me get you some ice for those ribs."
Jemma places an ice pack over Skye's ribcage and receives a deep sigh of relief from the patient.
"That feels amazing." Appreciates Skye.
"Yes, ice is a great numbing agent. It also causes your blood vessels to constrict; lessening blood flow to the area, decreasing swelling and reducing bruising."
"You're really cute when you science babble."
Simmons laughs; "Where were you when I was sixteen?"
"In the wrong place, obviously." Skye declares.
"Ok, it's going well, give her a compliment." Ward initiates.
"Umm, you certainly have beautiful hair." Simmons gushes.
"Thanks." Replies a flattered Skye.
"It reminds me of our chocolate lab Brownie. Her coat absolutely gleams."
Skye, unsure how to respond, just nods her head.
"Uhh… not that you remind me of a dog."
"Stop. Talking. Simmons." Ward begs.
"Of course technically speaking; she's not a dog, she's a bitch. I mean, you're not a bitch." Simmons begins to laugh nervously, unsure how she could possibly screw this up any worse.
"Concentrate Agent. If the nice guy strategy fails it's back to breaking ribs." Ward threatens.
Simmons shakes her head and moves away from Skye. She isn't good at faking emotions, she's a terrible liar, and when this plan fails it will be her fault that Skye goes back to being beat up.
Skye reaches for Jemmas hand, causing the biochemist to jump and drop the ice pack.
Skye looks mortified; "I was just missing the ice. Sorry."
"No I'm sorry, being locked in a room with a possible killer just makes me kind of jittery." Simmons offers candidly.
"They told you I was a killer?" Probes Skye.
"Well no, they told me you were harmless, but then that's probably the only way they could get me alone with you…" Simmons ponders on the imminent danger she may have placed herself in, quickly scouting possible exit points should things take a down turn.
"Let me put your mind to ease, I have no intention of hurting you. Also, I'm cuffed to the bed." Skye brings her hands up as far as they will go causing the chains to clink off the metal rails.
"That does make me feel much better." Simmons says before realising the selfishness in her words; "Uh, not that it's nice for you, actually quite the opposite." She takes Skyes hand and traces the pink skin on her wrist where the cuffs have been rubbing. "Do they hurt? I'm sure we can have these loosened." She comforts, looking up to the camera in the corner of the room for recognition.
"I don't think anyone's going to loosen my restraints while you're in here princess."
"I thought you said you wouldn't hurt me?"
"Unfortunately, my word isn't worth much amongst your comrades."
"Don't get swept up in it Simmons, just stick to the operation, get her on your side and she'll give up the information. Do not trust her, do not become complacent." Ward warns.
Simmons, having had enough of the devil on her shoulder pulls out the comm and tosses it into the drawer opposite.
She places the ice pack back on Skyes aching ribs and takes her hand, rubbing it comfortingly. "I believe you, and I'm going to take good care of you." If she's going to get any answers out of Skye and save her from a bloody fate she'll have to do it her way. She'll have to let herself fall for the enemy, for real.