Skye spun around when she heard a very feminine screech. Jemma.
Skye charged back down the hall where she heard Jemma's voice, determined not to let her get shot. No matter what Jemma did, Skye always had this nagging feeling when she thought about Jemma, one that wouldn't go away. It was unconditional. She wanted to protect her so badly.
Every memory she had of Jemma seemed to flash through her mind as she ran down the hallway clumsily in the over sized shoes.
She remembered the way Jemma looked at her and the way Jemma touched her, like she was loved and she was wanted. That was a feeling Skye treasured more than anything in the world and she would do anything to get it back.
She remembered all the times she had spent laughing with Jemma before and after the eight months, the eight months that so changed her life.
"Jemma!" Skye screamed as she charged at a pair of soldiers harassing her. Just the sight of her was like a plunger full of adrenaline that just emptied itself into her heart. The second Jemma caught sight of Skye her eyes lit up and hope shone in them.
Skye's call grabbed the attention of the two soldiers. They were some of the soldiers that were in the cell with her when Garret punched her, which only made her even more furious. She shot one of them, dropping him instantly. The other one dropped Jemma to the floor hastily and took a shot at Skye. Skye winced as she felt the fire slice open her side, but she was almost sure it was just a graze. Jemma wasn't so sure.
"Skye!" She called. Everything moved so fast, The soldier grabbed Jemma and held her up as a human shield before Skye could fire. Skye's eyes widened and she dropped the gun when he pressed his against Jemma's jaw.
The soldier could have shot Skye right there, but he was crueler than that. He forced Jemma's fingers to wrap around the gun and he stuck one of her fingers through the loop that held the trigger.
"No, no, no." Jemma cried, resisting him and squeezing her eyes shut.
"Kill her." He whispered into Jemma's ear. She shook her head furiously as she sobbed. Skye's hands shook above her head in anger, angry that the soldier was holding Jemma too tightly and forcing her to do something so horrible.
"Kill her or I'll kill both of you." He told her wickedly. Skye opened her mouth to tell her to do it, but Jemma cut her off.
"I love you Skye." Jemma mouthed the words, but it was clear to Skye what Jemma meant. Skye walked closer to the gun until her own forehead was a few feet from the barrel.
"No..." Jemma cried. The soldier gave a small laugh, he clearly thought he had control of the situation. Skye remembered one of the first things Ward taught her, the move she used to gain control at Ian Quinn's mansion.
In one swift movement Skye stole the gun and shot him in the shoulder, forcing him to let go of Jemma. Skye took aim again and finished him off with a deafening bang. Jemma screamed, clearly not sure who had been shot and looked to Skye in concern.
When Jemma realized that Skye was the one who took the shot and that she truly was alive, standing right in front of her, Jemma tackled her into a hug, wrapping her arms around Skye's middle so tightly she made it difficult for Skye to breathe and buried her face in Skye's hair and neck. Skye stood there, shocked, for a few seconds. Jemma wasn't sure Skye would even return the gesture. Skye seemed pretty angry last time they saw each other.
Skye dropped the gun from her hand while it hung limp at her side. It took Skye a moment to battle her emotions, but she wrapped her arms around Jemma's shaking body and hugged her close. It was unconditional. No matter what Jemma did, she couldn't shake the warm feeling that came over her when Jemma was near.
"I love you too, Jemma Simmons." Skye whispered into her ear, finally giving Jemma the response she wanted on the bus.
"As sweet as this little reunion is, I'm still bleeding out on the floor." Ashley's sarcastic voice broke into their little bubble. Skye and Jemma laughed a little. Jemma hiccuped and knelt next to Ashley.
"We've, uh, we've got to get her back to the bus." Jemma informed Skye while wiping away a few happy tears.
"Skye, Skye behind you!" Ashley suddenly shouted. Jemma whipped her head around to see what Ashley saw behind Skye. One of the soldiers got up and was holding the usb Jemma remembered making.
One moment lasts about three seconds. The average person experiences around eight hundred fifty-one million, four hundred seventy-two thousand moments. Isn't it peculiar that just one of those eight hundred fifty-one million, four hundred seventy-two thousand moments can change the rest of your life, change the rest of your moments? Why is it that one moment has the power to stop you from having the rest of them?
You would think the moments that threaten your entire existence would seem to last more than three seconds. But they don't. They are just one moment.
Skye was frozen. Jemma recognized the blank look in her eyes, the look she had when they kissed that night. Skye wasn't moving, she was frozen in place, staring down the hall with an expressionless face and posture.
The soldier stuck the flash drive into Skye's device and took off running down the hall before Jemma could slaughter him for it.
"Skye!" Jemma screamed. Skye's body began to convulse before Skye's normal expression returned and she unfroze. Jemma grabbed her shoulders and Skye's eyes focused on Jemma once before everything went to hell.
It all happened in less than a few seconds. The first thing Skye lost was her sight. Everything blurred and soon turned to black. It was terrifying. Next went her sense of smell. She could no longer pick up on the metallic scent of the hallway or the faint lingering smell of Jemma. Her hearing faded and she collapsed, the last thing she heard was Jemma calling her name. She was in Jemma's arms on the floor for what felt like the millionth time. She was comfortable there. She was ok with dying here, Skye realized. She felt Jemma's hands on her face. When her sense of touch disappeared, Skye thought she had been forced into oblivion. Skye relaxed and let herself disappear. It was time. She had saved Jemma, her work here was finished.
"Skye! Skye!" Jemma cried as she pulled out the flash drive and pushed Skye's hair out of her face, cupping it with both hands as she lay in her lap. She was so close. She was so close to getting Skye back, and the soldier ruined it.
"Jemma, turn her over." Ashley grunted, pulling herself closer. Jemma would do what she was told if there was any hope of saving the girl she loved, so she obeyed Ashley, gently turning Skye inward so Skye's forehead was pressed against Jemma's stomach and her centipede device was exposed.
Ashley put one finger on the glowing orange section and it appeared to read her fingerprint.
"Code 48273. Clean System." Ashley said as clearly as she could manage. Jemma was freaking out. Skye appeared near death in her arms and Ashley was paling by the second.
For several long seconds they both held their breath until Skye took one of her own. Skye's eyelids fluttered open and Jemma smiled.
"Hey there." She said. Skye smiled and reached up with one hand and placed it on the back of Jemma's neck, pulling her face closer until their lips could touch. Skye only brushed them together for a moment before claiming Jemma her own.
"You ok?" Skye asked when they parted from their chaste kiss for air. Jemma couldn't help but laugh. Here Skye was, after almost dying in her arms, asking if any of the soldiers hurt her.
"I'm not. Now if you two wouldn't mind...?" Ashley butted in. Skye had an extreme look of confusion and anger on her face when she finally realized it was Ashley that Jemma was with instead of some other SHIELD agent.
"Down, girl. I'm on your side." Ashley joked, patting Skye's leg and wincing at her own action.
"Simmons? Ashley? Skye!" Ward exclaimed when he came into view.
"Hurry! Get Ashley back to the bus!" Jemma yelled. Ward wasted no time in scooping Ashley into his arms, but he couldn't stop himself from staring at Skye in Jemma's arms. They both tried to get up, but they found that neither of them really had it in them. Skye's head was spinning and Jemma was sure she had a cracked rib or two.
Coulson and May ran closer when Ward called them on the earpiece, and each moved to help one of the girls up. Jemma cried out in pain and Skye insisted on wrapping Jemma's arm over her shoulders even though she herself needed to be steadied by May as Coulson supported Jemma's other side.
"Garret and Hydra are still here, we need to get out fast." Coulson ordered as they rushed back to the bus.
Their team looked lopsided, broken, and awkward, but they were all happy. Even though catastrophe had hit and SHIELD had been destroyed, they all at least had the little happiness that came with having their entire team back in place. Agent May would never admit it, but she was overjoyed to have Skye back.