This was a fun chapter to write - thanks go out to Salkri Kachemench and thatdarncat00 because both of them requested it. Also, I'm loving all of these ideas - I have 5ish more chapters planned so far, and as long as ideas keep coming, I'm happy to keep writing! Enjoy =).

"Skye? Skye - report."

Fitz heard Coulson's concerned voice over the communit. He held his breath. Please respond.

After a long silence, he finally heard her ragged voice whisper, "I'm here."

"Where are you?" Coulson asked before Fitz had the chance to say anything.

More importantly, are you safe? The thought swirled around in Fitz's head, but his mouth was too dry to force the words out. Besides, Coulson wouldn't want him getting involved.

"I...I'm not sure. A forest. They chased me for a while and I got lost."

But are you okay?

As if in response to his wordless question, Skye continued, "I'm okay, though. And I don't see anyone else around."

"Alright. Stay where you are," Coulson ordered, the determination in his voice calming Fitz down slightly. "We'll come find you."

"Roger th..." Skye' sentence trailed off. Fitz felt his heart stop for a brief instant. Then she continued in a whisper. "I hear people and they don't sound friendly. Hurry!" Then she fell silent.

"I'm going in, sir." He said before he realized what he was volunteering to do. Leave the safety of the van and venture into the field, where there would be guns. Lots of guns, from what he had heard over the comm-units. But this is Skye, he told himself.

"Stay where you are, Fitz. I'm sending Ward - it's his job."

"I'm aware of that, sir." The spare gun that he kept around just in case was sitting on the desk; he grabbed it resolutely.

"I'm a little tied up right now," Ward's reply to Coulson's order was punctuated by grunts of exertion. "But I'll get there as soon as I can."

But it will be too late. Fitz didn't know how he knew, but he did. He was absolutely positive that something horrible was going to happen to Skye. Chances were he wouldn't be able to stop it, but he owed it to her to give his life trying.

"This is a bad idea, Fitz." Simmons, who was still undercover at the fancy party up in the mansion proper, hissed.

"Simmons - don't blow your cover." Coulson's rebuke came immediately.

With no one else left to yell at him, Fitz grabbed a bullet-proof jacket that he also had lying around ever since Skye had been shot and donned it, then holstered his gun. "I'll call you when I find her."

...

A couple minutes at a light jog put Fitz at the edge of the forest on the south end of their target's mansion. "Skye?" He whispered into the comm-unit, hoping that she would be safe to talk now. But there was still no answer. Sighing, he ventured into the gloomy underbrush, his steps determined. I will find her, no matter the cost.

As luck would have it, the goons after Skye were hardly subtle - they had left a trail a blind man could follow. It only took Fitz about half an hour to locate their tracks, and from that point he just crept cautiously along, all his senses on alert. He walked for what seemed like forever, but was probably only a quarter of an hour or so before he heard voices ahead.

"Come out," a deep voice rumbled menacingly. "Our employer would really like to have a pleasant conversation with you."

Fitz stopped and pressed himself up against a tree. Skye must be nearby. And she may still be armed if they are being so cautious. Dropping to his knees, Fitz crawled, careful not to make any sound towards the sound of the man's voice. Then the familiar click of a gun sounded in front of him and he froze, hardly even daring to breathe. This is it, he thought, surprisingly calm. This is how it ends. Tensing, he waited. Nothing. Finally, he cautiously raised his head and found himself looking straight into Skye's wide eyes.

"Fitz?" She mouthed silently, looking shocked.

Letting out a relieved breath, he motioned for her to follow him. However, as he started to retrace his steps, he heard a loud crack - a stick under his knee. Glancing back apologetically at Skye behind him, they both froze, hoping that the goons hadn't heard the noise. After a second or two of silence, they resumed their slow pace.

"Fitz!" Skye's sudden gasp alerted Fitz and he immediately jumped to his feet, drawing his gun.

"Are you okay?"

"I saw someone - they know we're here." There was no trace of doubt in her voice, so Fitz trusted her opinion.

There was a flash of movement ahead of them - Fitz cocked the gun. Then he dropped to the ground as a spray of bullets rained down on them. Thank goodness for my bulletproof...oh no. Skye. She's unprotected. Heedless of the danger of rising from his prone position, Fitz crawled over to where Skye was lying and crouched over her, shielding her body from the gunfire. "Coulson," he said quietly into the comm. "I found her. We're in the forest and we really need backup."

"I'm on my way," Ward responded instantly.

"Just follow the sound of gunshots." With that grim statement, Fitz turned his brain back to survival.

"Fitz?" Skye asked weakly from underneath his arms.

"It's okay," he tried to comfort her. "Coulson's sending backup - Ward will be here soon."

"It's not that," she muttered. "I'm bleeding."

Fitz felt his heart sink. He was too late. "Where?"

"My arm. I don't think it's serious, but I'm losing…"

"...lots of blood," Fitz finished. "We have to cover the wound." Outwardly, he was impressed with how well he was taking everything. Inside, he was freaking out. I can't lose her. Not before I even have her. Behind them, Fitz heard the sound of gunshots and shouts of pain. Ward had obviously arrived on the scene. Feeling like it was safe to get up, he sat up and ripped a strip off his pant leg and tied it as tightly as he could around the bullet hole in her arm without hurting her too much. To her credit, she barely groaned when he moved it.

"Thank you," she said, her voice raw after he finished the makeshift tourniquet. "For protecting me."

"Skye, I will always protect you," he swore fervently. "No matter what. That's what I learned today - the thought of losing you is too much."

"Are you saying…?" Her soft gaze met his and her lips curved into a small smile despite the pain she must be experiencing.

Before Fitz could respond, Ward was there, picking up Skye and interrupting their moment. "We have to get her to the bus for medical attention."

Tagging along beside them, Fitz smiled at Skye. "That's exactly what I'm saying."

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