Awakening Quake
By Misha

Disclaimer and Notes in Chapter One.

Chapter Nineteen: Old Bonds and New Ones Too

"Skye!" Jemma said in disbelief. She couldn't believe that it was Skye! After months of silence it was so good to hear her friend's voice.

"I know it's been a while." The familiar voice said on the other end.

"How are you?" Jemma asked, "Are you all right? Is something wrong?"

There had been no word from Skye since she'd left, but Agent Coulson had warned them to expect that. The Avengers had made it clear that they'd take over Skye's training, but they didn't want any collaboration with S.H.I.E.L.D.

"Everything's good." Skye assured her. "I'm settling in."

"I saw you on the news." Jemma told her. "We all did. You looked great and it seems you have your powers under control."

There was a moment of silence. "Was it obvious that it was me?" Skye asked quietly.

Jemma was confused and then it hit her. Skye was worried about Cal and Ward knowing where she was. "No," she assured her friend, "not obvious at all. We only knew it was you, because we knew you were with the Avengers, otherwise we wouldn't have had a clue."

Skye let out a sigh of relief on the other end. "Good."

"How come you're calling now?" Jemma asked curiously. "I mean, I'm thrilled to hear from you, but…"

"Tony actually suggested I call you," Skye said with a laugh, "Well, it was Steve's idea, but Tony likes to take credit and it's his tower. I didn't… Well, I wanted to respect their rules, but he said he never meant to cut me off from my friends."

It was strange to hear Skye refer to Iron Man and Captain America by their first names.

"What are they like?" Jemma asked. "The Avengers, I mean?"

She, Skye and Fitz had spent hours speculating about the Avengers and what they would be like in person and she couldn't believe that Skye was actually living amongst them.

"Tony is exactly like we thought he would be." Skye said with a laugh. "Arrogant, loud, abrasive, but at the same time he's also really charming and generous and brilliant and thankfully he has Pepper to keep him in line. She's amazing. All the women are. Jane Foster reminds me a lot of you, actually, brilliant and sharp and sweet. Darcy Lewis is sweet and funny and has a very refreshing outlook on life."

"What about Black Widow?" Jemma asked, intrigued to hear this new insight on the famed Avengers and their companions.

"Tash?" Skye asked and Jemma could tell she was smiling. "She's nothing like I thought. She's even more deadly than May, but when she's not in the field, she's funny and sassy and loves girl talk and shopping and margaritas."

There was a lot of fondness in Skye's voice and Jemma found herself feeling a little jealous of the Black Widow. She and Skye had become instant friends and other than Fitz, Skye was the best friend she'd ever had and it bothered her little that Skye seemed to have bond so fast with Natasha Romanoff. It was like she was being replaced.

"Sounds like you've made friends." Jemma said softly.

"Yeah." Skye agreed. "I have. I miss you though. All of you, but you especially, Jemma."

"I miss you too." Jemma told her. "But more about the Avengers! What's Captain America really like?"

"Steve?" Skye asked and there was an odd note in her voice. "He's… It's hard to put into words. He's so good and kind and patient. He might be the best person I've ever met."

Jemma grinned, realizing that it didn't sound like Skye was describing someone who was just a friend and colleague.

"It sounds like you've gotten to know him very well," she commented slyly.

There was a pause. "We're… Well, I guess we might be dating." Skye admitted.

"That is amazing!" Jemma said, happy for her friend. Skye deserved the best, especially after what she had been through with that snake Ward.

"I'm scared, Jemma," Skye said softly, "I mean… I've made so many mistakes in the romantic department that I don't know how to trust my feelings."

"Skye, you're talking about Captain America," Jemma pointed out, "As you just said, he's the nicest guy in the whole world. He'd never betray you like Ward."

"I know." Skye told her. "I guess I still can't believe it will work out for me. I really thought Ward was going to be my Prince Charming."

"I know." Jemma said softly. She hated Grant Ward, not for what he had done to her, but for what he had done to Fitz and Skye, her two dearest friends in the whole world. Fitz was starting to recover and be a bit more like his old self, but Skye… The emotional damage Ward had done to her was still obvious and Jemma had a feeling that Steve Rogers had his work cut out for him. "But that's the past Skye. Ward fooled us all into thinking he was a good guy, but you know that's not the case with Steve Rogers. He really is that good and obviously he's very smart, because he's realized how special you are."

Skye laughed. "I miss you."

"I miss you too." Jemma told her again. "Now, I better go find everyone else and let them know you're on the phone or they'll never forgive me."

As if on cue, May walked into the lab and raised a questioning eyebrow at the phone.

Jemma mouthed 'Skye' and May started towards her, hand out reached. "Skye, May wants to talk to you." She told her friend, before handing the phone over.

May started to ask Skye questions and Jemma exited the lab to go find Fitz and Coulson, knowing that they'd want to talk to Skye.

"Yes, I'll try to call more often, it was good to talk to you too AC." Skye said and then she hung up the phone.

It had felt good to talk to everyone again. Jemma, Fitz, May, Coulson. She'd even said hello to Bobbi and Hunter. Mack had been 'busy', but that was fine. The bond wasn't there anyway.

Talking to her old team had put Skye in a good mood. It had been so good to hear their voices and to know that they were safe and to let them know that she was safe and that she was happy.

They'd kept the conversation superficial. Skye hadn't asked about missions and they hadn't asked her, tacitly respecting the fact that she was no longer part of S.H.I.E.L.D.

In a way, the conversation provided closure. As long as Skye had been unable to contact them, she'd also been unable to let them go and move on and accept the fact that she wasn't part of that team anymore.

But talking to them had helped and it had made her realize that she could keep the people she loved in her life while still moving on to the next stage of her journey.

It had felt fantastic to be in the field with the Avengers and as amazing as her S.H.I.E.L.D team was, Skye wasn't sure she would have been able to trust them to have her back in the same extent simply because they were all human. It was just a little easier to concentrate when Captain America was the one covering your back.

Speaking of Captain America… Skye headed in search of him, wanting to thank him for talking to Tony on her behalf.

JARVIS informed her he was in the gym and she wondered if she would wait, but then she remembered that he had interrupted her the day before and turn-about was fair play.

Steve was engrossed in hitting the punching bag when Skye came in and she stood there for a moment, in awe of his strength. She knew the bags were specially designed for Steve and the way he caused it to sway under the force of his punch was impressive.

"What did that bag ever do to you?" She quipped.

Steve whirled around, dropping his hands to his side when he saw who it was.

"Just doing a light work out." He told her.

"I'm not sure I want to see what you'd consider a heavy workout," Skye said lightly, remembering how much she had hated training at first and how she had complained about it. She was used to it now, but she was pretty sure she'd collapse if she ever tried to work out with Steve.

"It's an effect of the serum," Steve told her with a shrug, "my body is in top physical condition, but I have a lot of energy that I have to burn off."

"I can think of better ways to work off energy," Skye quipped before she could stop herself.

"So can I," Steve told her, giving her a heated look, "but I don't think we're quite ready for that."

"No." Skye said softly. She wanted to be, but something held her back.

"I'll wait as long as you need, Skye." Steve told her, obviously reading the indecision on her face. "I won't push you."

"I know." She said softly. "I came here to thank you for talking to Tony. I just got off the phone with my old team."

"Did it help?" Steve asked softly.

"It did." Skye told him. "When does Bucky get out of the medical wing?" She asked, changing the subject.

"This afternoon." Steve told her. "He'll be staying at my place. We're going to eat on our own tonight." Steve told her. "I think Bucky could use some time before adjusting to life in the tower. Would you like to join us?"

"Yes." Skye said instantly. "I'd love to."

She would come and have dinner with Steve and Bucky and then… Well, it might also be the right time to have an honest conversation with Steve and tell him about her past.