Awakening Quake
By Misha

Disclaimer and Notes in Chapter One.

Chapter Eighteen: The Past and the Future

"What do you know about Skye's past?" Steve asked Natasha the next morning.

Breakfast at the Tower wasn't formal, instead it was 'eat when you feel like it'. Clint was already seated and was talking to Bruce as they ate, but they were the only other ones up, so Steve decided to take the opportunity to talk to Natasha about Skye.

"Don't you think you should be asking her?" Natasha replied, raising one perfect eyebrow at him as she snagged a croissant from the breakfast bar.

Steve knew she was right, but… "Something's holding her back." He said quietly. "She's been hurt, badly, I can tell."

"She has to be the one to tell you." Natasha said softly. "Besides, I don't know the full story and I think that's the problem. Skye's been holding it all in and its eating her apart."

It wasn't the answer that Steve wanted, though deep down, he had known that Natasha wouldn't betray Skye's secrets.

"Did last night not go well?" Natasha asked in concern.

"No, it went well." Steve said, thinking how nice it had been to watch the movie with Skye nestled in his arms. "It was going great, right up until the end and then something spooked her."

"She'll tell you when she's ready." Natasha cautioned.

Steve just nodded, knowing she was right.

"How's Bucky?" Natasha asked, changing the subject.

"Good." Steve told her. "I think he gets out of the medical ward today." Bruce had wanted to keep another night, just to make sure he was sleeping okay. "Have you seen him yet?"

He knew Natasha and Bucky had a bit of a past, though not the details.

"No." Natasha said, "But I was going to go up there after breakfast. Say hi. Hopefully, it doesn't dredge up too many bad memories."

"He might like knowing that you were able to put all that behind you," Steve pointed out.

"It's not easy to let go of the past," Natasha agreed and Steve knew she wasn't just talking about herself and Bucky, but Skye as well.

"No." Steve agreed, then he remembered something else he'd wanted to mention to Natasha. "Skye mentioned that she hasn't been in touch with her old team at all, because we made it clear she'd have to cut ties with S.H.I.E.L.D."

"There were some concerns she was joining this team to spy for S.H.I.E.L.D." Natasha said, casting a look over at Clint. "But I think no contact might have been a little too harsh."

"I'll mention it to Tony." Steve said, glad to have Natasha's support. "I think knowing that she didn't have to walk away from her past completely might help her feel a little more comfortable here."

He had the feeling that part of Skye still wanted to go back to S.H.I.E.L.D and that was why she was resisting fully joining the Avengers. He didn't blame her, but he wanted her to feel comfortable where she was and maybe the best way to do that was to make it clear she didn't have to her past entirely.

"Figuring out more ways to give HYDRA Hell?" Tony asked, peering over Skye's shoulder.

"Trying to." Skye said with a smile. She was used to Tony barging in on her in the lab. First of all, it was his building, but of the inhabitants of the tower, he was also the most interested in her work.

"I found something we may want to look into." She told him, showing him the information she was trying to decode.

"As soon as you know for sure we'll go into the field and check it out." Tony promised her. "Wouldn't want you to think we just hang out at the Tower all day and do nothing."

Skye laughed. "Believe me, I have a full appreciation for the field work." It had felt good to be back in the field and she was looking forward to doing it again, though a little apprehensive about being recognized.
Perhaps it was cowardly, but she felt safer as long as Cal and Ward had no idea where she was. She knew the moment they discovered her whereabouts they would come for and she wasn't ready for that.

"And we have a full appreciation for your powers." Tony told her. "Steve and Natasha were very clear that things wouldn't have gone as smoothly the other day without you."

"I just want to be useful." Skye said quietly.

"You are." Tony told her. "I know I speak for everyone when I say you are a very welcome addition to the team. It has pointed out to me though, that we've been a little unfair to you."

"How so?" Skye asked. "You've been incredibly generous and everyone has been very welcoming."

"But we made you turn your back on your old team." Tony pointed out. "I still feel like S.H.I.E.L.D and the Avengers are not on the same page and I prefer for us to work as a solo operation, however the intention was never to isolate you from your friends."

Skye smiled. Steve had obviously talked to Tony like he'd said he would. But then, she couldn't imagine Steve not following through on a promise.

"So, if you'd like to give them a call, go ahead." Tony told her. "For me, your adjustment has gone so smoothly and it feels like you were always part of the team, but as Pepper constantly points out, I'm not always very sensitive and may have overlooked that you had to leave everything behind. I'm sure they're worried about you too."

"I don't want to cause problems with S.H.I.E.L.D and the Avengers." Skye said softly.

"You won't." Tony assured her. "I know you well enough to know that you won't say anything you shouldn't and honestly, it's a line of communication that probably should be open at some point."

She nodded and Tony turned to go.

"Skye, we want you to feel comfortable here." He said, pausing at the doorstep. "That doesn't just mean buying whatever you want, though you are welcome to do that and I was glad to hear that the shopping trip was a success, but anything else you need to feel comfortable and if that includes communicating with your friends, then we want you to do that."

With that he was gone. Skye pondered his words. It hadn't occurred to her to mention how much she'd missed her friends, because she'd just assumed she'd had to completely leave her S.H.I.E.L.D life behind and even though she hadn't really wanted to do that, she wanted to belong somewhere. But maybe the fact that her feelings did matter to the Avengers was a sign that she might have finally found her place.

She picked up her phone and dialled a familiar number.

"Hello?"

"Hi, Jemma, it's me."