And here's the last of Skye's attempts! I'd like to thank my readers kellz1pt5, firerosedreamer67 and austexfan for their lovely reviews! I'm not going to ramble about this chapter because I know everyone's been waiting for it. This is set during 1x11 "The Magical Place" after Skye rescues Coulson! ^_^
Disclaimer: I own nothing as always.
The fourth time it happened, Skye was already sure of her feelings towards Coulson because the last few hours had served to prove it right. After getting kicked off the Bus by Victoria Hand, impersonating Agent May, using the help of a Police Officer at Loyd Rathman's house with a little bit of persuasion, Skye had managed to gain access to Vanchat's bank records and trace the money to Raina. It had led her to an abandoned facility in the desert where she had regrouped with the team and eventually found Coulson. Seeing him trapped in that machine, forced to endure god-knows what kind of torture, Skye had wasted no time in knocking Raina out and rushing over to help him; the pain on his face and the anguish in his voice as he kept repeating 'Please let me die!' over and over again had nearly knocked the wind out of her as she realized what he was going through. Coulson's screams had led her to him and now she clutched his hands, vaguely noticing that May had turned the machine off.
"Coulson. Coulson... come back, come back." She whispered to him as she felt his hands holding onto hers. "Come back."
"Skye..." His voice was broken but she saw his eyes flickering as he turned his head to see that she was there with him. "Skye..." A wave of relief washed over her as the tears started to well up. "Skye..." Placing her lips to his hands she dared the chance to kiss them, she let the tears fall. He was safe now and she would never lose him again.
Then, back on the Bus, when he was recovered enough to see his team and speak to Agent Hand... they had another moment together without anyone else around them and this time Skye was ready. It was now or never. She kept telling herself that whatever Coulson would say to her, she was prepared for anything; but, given that the last 48 hours had been stressful on him, she knew that maybe saying nothing would be better too. Still, she had to try... get the words out of her... she would tell Coulson that he had no reason to reply back in any way just then. As long as he knew, Skye would wait for whatever came next. However, she had also considered the fact that since her previous three attempts had not worked out, this would be the last time she would try her luck. Maybe this was a sign... from the universe... that maybe this was something which wasn't meant to go any further than the deep connection she shared with him; their bond was strong and perhaps that was all it would ever be... and Skye knew if things came to that, she would believe it to be enough. Someday.
Once he had thanked the team for everything they had done to help rescue him, Coulson dismissed them all to get back to work and she chose to stay behind, knowing he wanted to speak to her alone.
"I heard what you did for me." It was better that he started first, she had waited all this time, a few more minutes were bearable. That wasn't all he had to say to her though. "I think its time that we remove this." Surprising her when he took her right hand in his where her bracelet was. "Disengage bracelet." A quick clink and Skye realized that was all it needed for her to be free of this.
"Are you kidding me?" She couldn't help herself from blurting out, knowing that she sounded really shocked to realize that's all it took.
"Thought you'd like that." He held onto the bracelet as he watched her rub the part of her wrist which had been trapped by it for the last several weeks.
There was something else Skye needed to ask him first, before she could say anything else. Ever since finding him, those thoughts hadn't left her mind and she wanted to know if he would open up about what happened.
"Back in that room..." She began to say, "Did they learn anything?" It was a harmless and innocent question. Better that than mentioning what she had heard; it was one of the possible unspoken things that had already passed between them as they came to an understanding of sorts.
"No." He was quick to answer her but knew that she would believe it was the truth. Raina knew nothing about what he had experienced and he was sure he didn't want anyone else to know either.
"Did you?" Skye asked him, looking hopeful. As if... waiting to see if he would openly acknowledge something to her. A really long minute of silence passed between them before she elaborated, "I heard what you were saying." The knot in her chest was tightening as she watched him realize that this was something that needed to be spoken.
"It wasn't real." He shook his head, "They were just messing with my head." That was all it was and that was all Skye needed to know. "But I appreciate your concern." He knew she was still worried about him and even though he knew she wouldn't stop, there was no need for him to burden her with everything.
Once she heard him say that, Skye knew that this conversation would not go any further and she respected his decision. Whatever he had been through was likely something that would be affecting him, even if she didn't believe that the machine had messed with his mind, what she had witnessed was real and it had to have been caused by something... something that meant more than Coulson would reveal. She wouldn't push him for more details because it wasn't her place to do so. Sensing that he was might leave any second now to get some rest, Skye took a deep breath and decided it was time.
"A.C..." She called out to him. "There... there's something else I wanted... to say... to you." So far so good; maybe this fourth chance would actually be the right one.
"Of course, what is it Skye?" He turned around to face her once again and observed that something had changed in her demeanor over the last few minutes. Whatever she had to say clearly seemed to be important.
"I just... I... umm... the thing is..." Skye rambled as she tried to get the words out. "I... I... L..." She had barely formed the second word on her lips when suddenly, his phone beeped.
"Sorry about this." He quickly fished out his cell from his jacket pocket, "Its from May," he said to her as he read the message, "Something's come up and she needs to see all of us in the briefing room."
And that was that. Skye quickly closed her mouth and nodded quietly as she let the reality sink in, the chance was gone. There was no going back after this. She had tried and failed. While it was something she had anticipated happening the most, Skye tried to see the silver lining to this that maybe by not saying the words, she wouldn't have to hear his answer because it was likely that it would be one she wasn't ready for. Not by a long shot.
"What was it that you wanted to say to me?" Coulson's question brought Skye out of her reverie as she glanced up to see him still there, waiting for her.
"Oh. Nothing... its not important." She said as she began walking a little ahead of him, they were both going to the briefing room together but it wouldn't hurt if she walked a little faster.
"Are you sure? It looked like it was something important to you Skye." Another quick change he had barely managed to notice, but Coulson figured that perhaps she was still slightly shaken up over the events of the last few hours.
This time Skye shook her head, not willing herself to repeat the lie once more. After all that was said and done, after everything she and Coulson had been through, at least he was back with them now and safe. Her feelings were something that she would keep to herself and maybe in time they would fade away... or at least... hurt a lot less than she felt just then. Little did she know that things would change quite drastically in the next few weeks, changing everything for the better.
Well? R&R? Last chapter coming up tomorrow! ^_^
A/N: Just wanted to let everyone know that I'm posting the intro to the next series called 'First Times' and because its going to be a longer drabble fanfic, if anyone wants to help me out, just head over to my profile next!