Author's Note: I was going to wait until tomorrow to update but nearly every single review was someone begging me to update, so here I am. You're welcome. (See reviewing does work).

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Chapter 54 – A Way Out

Simmons was secretly glad that it was Skye that had suggested that she and Fitz go into town for a proper date. It was something the biochemist had wanted to do since arriving in Australia but with everything that had happened Simmons had never felt completely comfortable asking Coulson for the time off, knowing full well he'd probably say no anyway.

The date had been perfect and exactly what both Fitz and Simmons had needed. Even if the best part had just been getting away from the farm for an hour or so.

Fitz was the first to spot the column of smoke rising in the distance. Simmons' blood ran cold when it was pointed out to her. It didn't take their genius level intellect to figure out where all that smoke was coming from and what it probably meant. Simmons wasn't one to speed, in fact when she had to drive she tended to stay just under the limit, but when she saw the smoke Simmons probably broke a dozen road rules to make it back to the farm in record time. Fitz clung to his seat and probably would have complained, loudly, if he too wasn't so worried about Skye. The farm could burn, just as long as Skye and the baby were okay.

Someone had obviously contacted the authorities because there were already fire trucks attempting to put out the blaze when the pair arrived at the farm. If Simmons' blood could have run any colder it would have, not only was the entire house ablaze but the area surrounding it hadn't fared much better. What wasn't still burning was charred a deep black.

Fitz let out a long breath at the sighed, "Skye…"

Hands gripping the steering wheel Simmons turned to the engineer, "She could be alright. She could have hidden in the base below. That's designed to survive a nuclear bomb." The obvious panic in the biochemist's voice was rising as she rambled, "Fitz, tell me she's okay."

Fitz just starred at the burning building infront of the car, watching helplessly as the fire fighters battled the blaze.

"Leo," Simmons cried, interupting the engineer's thoughts, "Tell me Skye's okay."

"Jemma," Fitz breathed, horror slowly spreading across his face, "We locked the base."

The horror spread across to Simmons' face, she shook her head. "No. No. No," Simmons cried, jumping out of the car she ran towards the burning building.

Luckily a fire fighter saw the biochemist and grabbed her before she could reach the house, "Miss, you can't go in there."

Simmons struggled against the man's grip, "You don't understand. My friend's in there. She's eight months pregnant."

Still preventing Simmons from entering the house the fire fighter pulled out his radio, "Sir, I've got a woman here claiming the house was occupied when the blaze broke out. Please advise."

A muffled voice came out of the radio, "Nothing yet. Stand by."

Fitz had caught up with the biochemist at some point, she wasn't entirely sure when. Seeing that the pair obviously knew each other the fire fighter passed Simmons inro the engineer's embrace. Simmons just cried into Fitz's should as he wrapped his arms around her, holding back tears of his own.

It wasn't long before Simmons' sobs began to slow and then cease but with house burning in front of them it seemed like an eternity.

Straighning up Simmons wiped the last of tears away, there was now determination in her eyes, "Okay. First we need to contact Coulson. If Skye got out she would have found a way to contact him."

If Fitz was shocked by the sudden change in Simmons he didn't show it, "And how exactly do you plan to do that. The direct line to the Bus was in the house., it's probably ashes by now." He paused breifly before voicing the words neither of them wanted to hear, "And what makes you think Skye got out because if she did then where the hell is she?"

"I don't know," Simmons cried, "But if anyone could get out it's Skye. Someone just tried to blow her up, maybe she's hiding because she doesn't trust these guys." The biochmist threw her arm out, indicating the fire fighters surrounding the house, "Besides she doesn't have a way to contact us but she has one to contact Coulson."

Fitz was shocked, momentarily forgetting about the fire, "Really? Can you contact Coulson the same way?"

Simmons shook her head, "I need a phone and neither of us has one."

Fitz looked around for a second, "Give me a minute." And hurried away. It wasn't even a minute later that the engineer returned, phone in hand.

Simmons was amazed, "How?"

Fitz smiled weakly, "People are generous. We did just loose all our worldly possentions in a fire, didn't we? And we need to let our family know we're okay."

If it was another day, another place Simmons would have laughed but today wasn't the day. Instead she took the phone from Fitz, giving him a breif kiss on the cheek and quickly dialed the only number she'd taken the time to remember off by heart.

Coulson picked up on the second ring, "Who is this?"

Simmons got straight to the point, "Sir, have you heard from Skye? Something's happened."

Coulson was in his office when his phone rang, having just met a dead end in New Zealand May was flying them back to base. The SHIELD director didn't recognize the number but with spies that didn't mean much, after all burner phones and blocked numbers were the best friends of those who didn't want to get caught.

On the second ring he picked up the phone, "Who is this?" In their line of work there was no time for pleasantries and if it was Hill then even better.

A panicked voice came out of the phone, "Sir, have you heard from Skye? Something's happened."

"Simmons?" Coulson asked, "What's going on?"

"Please tell me you've heard from Skye," The biochemist pleaded over the phone.

"Why would I have heard from Skye?" Coulson asked, sensing the fear in Simmons' voice, "What's going on?"

"Fitz and I were outside and there was an explosion, a fire," Simmons rambled, "And we haven't heard from Skye. Maybe she called you, Fitz and I don't have phones, so she couldn't call us. Maybe she's okay. Maybe… Maybe…" Simmons broke down in sobs over the phone.

Fear crept over Coulson, something had happened to Skye, that much he could tell from Simmons' rambling. Calming himself Coulson spoke, "You and Fitz are fine?"

"Yes, sir," Simmons replied quickly, her voice straining from the crying, "But Skye…"

"Simmons, stay calm. I'm sure Skye is fine, she's a smart girl," Coulson assured, "We'll be back soon. Just stay calm, don't panic and I promise you we'll look for Skye the second we touch down."

"Okay," Simmons replied weakly.

"And tell Fitz not to do anything stupid," Coulson added quickly.

"Yes, sir," Simmons replied, not even a trace of amusement in the biochemist's voice.

"We'll be back soon," Coulson promised, letting Simmons be the one to hang up the phone.

The second the biochemist hung up Coulson ran to the cockpit, ignoring the look from Trip as he ran through the lounge. Although he wasn't timing himself Coulson believed he made it up to May in record time. If May was shocked by Coulson's sudden appearance she didn't show it.

"Can this plane go any faster?" Coulson asked, "Something's happened back at base."

May didn't question Coulson as she drastically increased the Bus' speed. She obviously did so without informing the plane's other occupant because it was only a matter of seconds before Trip stumbled into the cockpit having been thrown around the lounge with the sudden change in speed.

"What the hell's going on?" Trip asked, still trying to retain some measure of dignity despite his appearance.

"There was an attack on the base," Coulson snapped, gripping the top of May's seat so tight his knuckles turned white.

"What?" Trip cried.

Even May couldn't hide her shock at the news, "What happened?" She asked, somehow managing to keep her voice neutral.

If he could have gripped the seat tighter Coulson would have, "Simmons said something about a fire, I don't know much more than that. Hopefully we'll learn more once we're on the ground."

"But you heard from Simmons?" Trip concluded, "That means everyone's okay, right?"

"FitzSimmons are fine, perfectly alright," Coulson assured, "Neither was in the house at the time."

May had known Coulson long enough to read between the lines, "And Skye?"

When Coulson remained silent Trip asked May's question again, "Is Skye okay? The baby?"

"Skye's M.I.A." Coulson replied gravely, "No one's heard from her since before the fire."

Author's Note: Another cliff hanger, deal with it. I warned you long ago that I'm evil.

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