Disclaimer: I do not own Marvel Agents of SHIELD. I only own Alex and any other character I may come up with in the writing of this.
A/N: Hello, a proper update this time, as promised. I hope you like this one, a bit of feels in this, at least in my opinion there are. Now to get to a few things on my mind before you read the chapter. You don't have to read it, just a few things I noticed when I reviewed past chapters.
I feel that in the last couple of chapters, and especially with this one, that all of sudden things are happening between Skye, Jemma, and Alex. Spoiler a little for this chapter; I mention a little about Jemma and Skye just starting out in a relationship but have made no mention about them being that close in previous chapters. I tried to explain as best I could about it and I hope you don't feel like it all came out of no where. With the mention of relationships, I would like to briefly talk about the future Skye/Jemma/Alex relationship. It will be a slow burn. Alex has, clearly, somethings to work through and where would the fun be if they got together so fast. It's going to a long and tough road for our girls but they will get there. I promise fluffy bonding moments until they get together.
There is something else on my mind about the story but it's hard to explain with out rambling to much, so I will spare you that until I get piece it together. It's just a feeling I'm having about certain parts of the story and I feel I should fix them but I worry that it will change the whole thing. I don't want that to happen. God, I need something ramble too.
A question for all of you and I hope one of you can answer this. How long after the Avengers movie does the show take place? I have tried to find out but haven't been able to find the answer. It's not important for the story or anything, I just want to know.
Anyway, the cover image contest is still on. I mentioned that in the A/N chapter. Here it is again:
The cover image for this story has been bugging me for awhile and I want to change it to something that represents the story. I have thought of creating something myself, but I'm not that good and really I have no idea what I want. So, I thought why don't I get all of you involved. If everyone is up for it, I'll make it into a little contest. The winner gets a preview of a chapter. I have a tumblr account, its skwriting dot tumblr dot com. I'll open the submit thing for the account and anyone who wants to can submit an image for the cover. A few guidelines for the image: it must have both Skye and Jemma in it. If Alex were a real character on the show her too but she is my own creation, so I'm not sure what to do to add her in there. I guess me creative with that part. Thats all really.
Now on to the new chapter, enjoy!
The Hacker, Biochemist and The Beast
Chapter 9
Patched up and a Needed Conversation
Skye's POV
Jemma, Fitz and I wait in the lab for Coulson, Ward and Alex to return from the warehouse. Fitz is sitting at his part of the lab with some sort of gadget to pass the time. Jemma has cleared a part of a table and has medical supplies laid out on it for when Alex returns. She keeps fiddling with them every few minutes, even though they are already neatly arranged. I look over to make sure Fitz is focused on the gadget before moving over to stand near Jemma. I put my hand on the middle of her back, catching her attention. She gives me a small smile and leans into the touch, stopping her fiddling.
After nearly being shot at Quinn's place in Malta, Jemma and I have grown closer. It wasn't an instantaneous thing, but happened over time, to the point that we are almost inseparable like her and FItz are. I rather enjoyed being close with Jemma, never having a close female friend before, and I thought she felt the same. Two weeks ago, I noticed Jemma was slowly distancing herself from me. My first thought was that maybe I did something and I asked her if I had, but Jemma said I didn't. When she still continued to distance herself from me, I had enough and confronted her about it. Jemma reluctantly admitted that her feelings had changed from friendly to something more and that was why she decided to distance herself. She didn't want me to find out and end our friendship, because she liked being my friend. I was stunned at her admission about her changing feelings, because mine had also been changing. I blurted out that I also felt more then friendship for her, ending the rambling she had been doing. We stood in the lab, looking at each other with surprise on our faces for a few minutes. Jemma broke the silence by asking where we go from there. I asked her on a date with me the next time we were on the ground for more then one day. Our date was planned for the evening we got this mission to Denver, but obviously it's postponed for a little while. Maybe we will have a few days at the Hub after this mission. I think, starting to think of ideas.
"Their back!" Fitz exclaims, breaking me from my thoughts and Jemma to step away from me. We both agreed to keep this between us for a little while, at least until we had our first date, so I'm not hurt by her stepping away form me like that.
Jemma and I follow after Fitz to the cargo bay to meet our returning team members. May is already down there and helping Ward half carry, half drag Yuri in the cuffs Alex came in up to the interrogation room. It was agreed upon that Yuri will be sedated as long as he is on board. My attention is brought away from Yuri and back to the SUV, when a car door is closed. Coulson walking next to Alex, who is walking a bit gingerly. Her right hand is pressing something to her neck and as she comes closer, I see blood is on it.
"Come on, lets get you patched up." Jemma says when Alex is close enough. She steps to Alex's other side, prepared to guide her to the lab.
"Actually, can that wait for a bit." Alex says a bit hoarsely, stopping her slow walk to the lab. "I would very much like to take a shower before you patch me up. I have dirt and dust in my hair and I feel gross." Looking to Jemma with pleading eyes.
"Yes, that's fine. As soon as you are done, come straight to the lab." Jemma says sternly and giving Alex a look. Alex nods her head with a small smile.
"Come on, Alex. I'll show you where the shower is." Coulson says, placing his hand on her elbow.
We watch in silence as the two make there way up the stairs slowly. It makes me wonder if the bleeding from Alex's neck is not the only thing wrong with her. Guess we'll find out. I think, about to follow Fitz back into the lab to wait for Alex. A gentle hand on my arm stops me and I turn to face Jemma, who is looking at me with a worried expression.
"Skye, I want you to wait for Alex and bring her down here after she is done." Jemma tells me in a serious voice. "I trust to her to come down, but I also want to make sure she eats something before I give her pain medication." She explains further before motioning for me to follow her into the lab. "Take this to put on her neck until I can probably patch it up." Handing me a large bandage.
"Yeah, I can do all that." I say as I take the bandage from her. I give her smile before turning and heading up to the second floor.
Everything is quiet as I pass through the lounge. I notice Ward still in the clothing he wore to the warehouse, in the kitchen making a sandwich. He turns his head to look at me over his shoulder and I see the corner of his mouth turn up a little.
"Hey." He greets me, turning back to making his sandwich. "Would you like me to make you one too?" He asks, pulling some lettuce leaves off the head and putting them on his sandwich. I'm a bit surprised at his offer to make me something to eat, never doing so before. Must be in a good mood from capturing Yuri. I think, walking up next to him to grab some slices of bread for what I'm going to make Alex.
"No, but thanks." I say, taking the slices of bread over to where we keep the peanut butter. I set the peanut butter on the counter with the slices of bread on top, so I can grab plates, bananas and a knife. Alex's comment about not being able to eat chocolate got me thinking, so that night I did some research. I looked up everything I could about what canines can eat and can't eat, chocolate being one of them. I guess with the Wolf DNA added, it effects her the same. I'm not sure what else effects her, so I'm keeping it safe with peanut butter and banana sandwiches.
"What are you making?" Ward asks with curiosity from behind me.
"Peanut butter and banana sandwiches." I answer as I start spread a good amount of peanut butter on one of the slice of bread. I can feel his eyes on me as I move on to the next slice.
"Why are you making three?" He asks, voicing sound closer. I look up and see him at the refrigerator, putting things he used away.
"One for me and two for Alex." I say, starting on the slice of bread. "Jemma asked me to make her something to eat after her shower to have something in her stomach before she gave her some pain medication." I explain, though I don't feel I really have too.
I'm still a little upset at Ward for what he did to Alex and the way he has been acting around her. She as done nothing to warrant the behaviour and I believe it's uncalled for. Alex seems like a nice person, but closed off from everyone. Probably because of how people react around her, which is why I decided I would be friendly with her.
Ward doesn't say anything but I see him walk away out the corner of my eye, as I slice pieces of banana onto one side of the bread. I continue what I'm doing in silence until three slice of bread are covered with banana pieces. I munch on the rest of the banana that wasn't used as I finish putting the sandwiches together. Placing them on the two plates I retrieved and clean up everything that I used. I grab the two plates and walk over to the table to wait for Alex.
I'm not waiting long when I see Alex come from where the shower is. Her short hair is still wet, making her auburn hair slightly darker. I notice her arms are full with her dirty clothes and the jacket Fitz gave her. The bag Coulson carried for her hanging around right elbow. She stops in her tracks and turns her head towards me with her eyes slightly wide with surprise.
"Want some help with that?" I ask, getting up from the table and making my over to her. As I get closer to her, I notice the bruising starting around her neck and red nail marks that blood is slowly leaking from. "I have a bandage for that." I say pointing to her neck and reaching into my jacket pocket to retrieve the bandage I put in there.
"It's fine, I'll be in the lab in a few anyway." Alex says dismissively.
"Jemma actually wants you to eat something before you head down and she gives you pain medicine." I say, motioning towards the table where the sandwiches I made are. Alex looks even more surprised, but the corners of her mouth turn up. "I'll put this stuff in my Pod for now, ok." Holding out my arms for her to pass over her clothes to me. I take the clothes in one arm and her bag in the other. "Go start eating." Motioning with my head to the table. She nods and slowly walks over to the table. I quickly head to my Pod to put her stuff in there and head back to the table, where Alex is slowly eating one of her sandwiches.
"Before you continue, let me put that bandage on you." I say, coming to stand on her left. She puts the sandwich down and twist in on the stool to face me.
I notice for the first time that Alex is wearing a black zip up hoodie without a shirt underneath. Its not zipped up all the way and that's how I can see part of a scar running across her upper chest, disappearing into her hoodie toward her left collar bone. I shake myself out my staring and open the bandage Jemma gave me. I carefully place it over the three bleeding marks on the right of her neck, brushing my fingers against her skin. Alex stops breathing and tenses up. When I look to her face, her eyes are closed.
"Alex, are you alright?" I ask, putting my hand on her shoulder. "Did I hurt you?" I ask, when she doesn't answer straight away.
"I'm fine, you didn't hurt me." She breathes out quietly. Her body relaxes, shoulders slump, and she opens her eyes. I see a mixture of emotions in her eyes, but mostly sadness. "We should finish eating, don't want to keep Jemma waiting to long." Alex says, turning back towards the table and starts eating the sandwich she started. I'm confused by her actions, but don't question it and instead sit on the other side of the table. We eat in silence, Alex chewing and swallowing slowly because of her neck.
"What'd you do?" Alex suddenly asks out of no where after finishing her first sandwich. I look at her confused, not understanding the question. She reaches over the table with her left hand and flicks the bracelet Coulson put on me a few weeks ago. "What'd you do?" She asks again, taking a bite of the sandwich. I hesitate in answering, not because I don't want her to know but because I don't want Alex to think badly of me for some reason. I look up into her eyes and don't see anything but curiosity in them.
"I lied to the team about knowing a hacker we were tracking down a few weeks ago." I finally answer quietly, still ashamed of how I acted and hurt Jemma in the process. "I stupidly thought I could get the information we needed before they figured it out, but it didn't go that way. All it ended up doing was making the team think I joined up to gain access to S.H.I.E.L.D. for the Rising Tide and get me this nice piece of jewelry." I say holding up my right hand that the bracelet is on.
"At least you'll get yours off whenever Coulson believes you have redeemed yourself." Alex says and goes back to eating her sandwich, with nothing else to say about what I just told her.
"Your talking about the chip?" I ask, still surprised she has nothing else to say about how I got the bracelet. Alex just nods her head, her mouth full. "Maybe they'll take it out someday." I tell her hopefully, but she just shakes her head while swallowing the mouth full she had with a small grimace.
"Not likely." She says, setting down the half eaten sandwich. "I can't eat anymore, hurts to much." Pushing the half earn sandwich to the side.
"That's fine, at least you have a something in your stomach." I say, putting the last of my sandwich in my mouth and getting up with both of plates to put in the sink for the time being.
"I'm going to start heading down, ok." Alex says from behind me. I look at over my shoulder and nod my head, mouth still full. I watch her slowly walk towards the cargo bay before turning back to the task I had been doing before.
I throw away Alex's half eaten sandwich before placing the plates in the small dishwasher we have. Quickly grabbing two water bottles out of the refrigerator, forgetting to give one to Alex while she ate but figuring she would like to have one now incase Jemma gives her pain pills. I decide to take the back way down to the lab instead of going through the cargo bay. As I reach the door to the lab, Fitz exits in a slight rush and I notice a small blush on his cheeks as he passes me by. I understand why when I enter the lab. Alex is sitting on a stool, back turned to me, in just a black sports bra and her dark grey sweatpants. I understand why Fitz would be flustered by Alex in just her bra but that is not what draws my attention. No, it's the large claw like scar running down her back. I slowly walk over to where Jemma and Alex are, setting down the water bottles on a table absentmindedly, my focus completely on the scar on her back.
"Don't." Alex's voice sternly says and it's when I realized I had raised my hand to touch the scar on her back.
"Sorry." I mumble, lowering my hand to my side again and stepping away from her. She turns her head to look at me with a tight lipped smile once Jemma is done with her neck.
"Alright, up on the table like earlier. I want to make sure your ribs aren't broken or anything else." Jemma says, taking off the medical gloves. That draws my attention to her left side which has the begins of a large bruise forming there. Alex slowly walks over to the table and gets up onto it, wincing when lays down on it. With Alex laying on the table as she is, I can see more scars on her torso. The scar on her upper chest I saw earlier, a small scar like the one on her back just under her right breast and a larger one disappearing into her sweatpants. Oh Alex. I think, stuffing my hands into my pocket to prevent myself from reaching out and touching the scars like I had tried to do before.
"Thankfully your ribs are just bruised." Jemma tells Alex, breaking me out of my thoughts. She is helping Alex sit up on the table. "I'm going to wrap you ribs to make it a bit easier for you and then place a ice pack over top. You can take the pack off before you go to bed." Jemma informs Alex as she grabs the wrap for Alex's ribs.
I sit in Fitz's chair and watch Jemma wrap up Alex's ribs. It's not hard to notice Alex's tense posture and I look up at her face to see her head turned to the side, looking anywhere but at Jemma inches away from her. I also take notice that she holding her breath, whether it's because Jemma is wrapping her ribs or something else, I'm not sure. Alex lets her breath when Jemma steps away to grab an ice pack, but holds it again when Jemma places it over her bruised side and wraps it to hold it in place.
"There, all done." Jemma announces happily after secure the wrap tightly in place. "Just have to give you some pain medication and your all set to relax for the rest of the night." She says turn around to where she has all the medical supplies laid out and grabs the pill bottle. I take that as my cue to hand over one of the bottles of water I brought down. "Oh, thank you Skye." Jemma says, giving a grateful smile taking the bottle of water I hand her. She walks over to Alex, who is putting her hoodie back on with a bit of difficultly.
"Thanks." Alex says to Jemma taking the bottle and pills from her once she has the hoodie zipped all the way up this time. She pops both pills in her mouth and down with half the water. "I'm going upstairs, check in with Coulson." She says twisted the cap back on the bottle.
"You should really lay down and rest, Alex." Jemma protests as Alex gets up from leaning on the table, cradling her left arm to her side where the ice pack is.
"I will after, I promise." Alex assures her, place a hand on her shoulder for a second. "Just telling him you patched me up, had something to eat and I will lay down. Don't want to get on your bad side, Doc." She throws over her shoulder as she exits the way I came from earlier. I can't help but chuckle at the last part, earning me a dirty look from Jemma.
"She's a big girl, Jem." I say getting up from the chair and walking over to her. "Coulson probably asked her to come see him after you patched her up. He worries about her and just wants to make she is really ok as she says she is." I say, placing my left hand on her shoulder and start rubbing comforting circles.
"I know, but I can't help worry about her as well." Jemma says quietly, leaning into my touch and letting out a heavy sigh. "It's strange since we have only known her a short time, I can't help feel that way." She says looking to me.
"It's not strange, I feel the same." I reassure her, pulling her closer. "Come on, let's head up and get you something to eat and then find Fitz, play a little Scramble maybe." I suggest and she nods her head with smile, slipping her hand into mine and giving a squeeze before removing it.
We head up to the living area together, walking as close together as we can without raising suspicions, needing that familiarity and closeness at the moment. Fitz is in kitchen making himself something to eat and a cup of tea. We join him and start up a conversation about the possibility of getting a few days off once we reach the Hub. If we do, I know as least one thing I plan on doing. I think, looking over at Jemma making her cup of tea. She looks over shoulder and gives me a shy smile. I smile at her as ideas for our first date go through my mind.
Alex's POV
I stop at the top of the stairs and lean against the door frame. Closing my eyes and start doing the breathing technics Natasha taught me to help calm me. The whole experience in the lab was torture for me, taking everything I am not to do something stupid. Having Jemma as close as she was when she was patching up my neck and wrapping my ribs was driving me nuts. Her scent was all around me and I wanted nothing more then to wrap my arms around her and breath in her calming vanilla scent. Add Skye's citrus scent and I was in my own personal hell. Both of them calm me, but set me on edge at the same time because I can't do what I want most. Be close to them. I'll be back at the Hub soon enough. I think, taking one last deep breath before continue my way to Phil's office.
Quietly and quickly slip past Fitz, who is in the kitchen. I chuckle under my breath remembering how flustered he got when I had to take off my hoodie for Jemma to look at my side. Thought the poor guy was going to faint. I think, stopping at the top of the stairs again. My ribs hurting me more then I thought they would. After the pain fades a little, I make my way to Phil's office door and knock on it.
"Come in." I hear Phil say on the other side of then door. I open the door and see Phil sitting behind his desk, staring at a computer screen very intently. He looks up and gives a small smile when he sees it's me. "All patched up?" He asks as I close the door. I just nod my head and take a seat on the couch, mindful of my bruised ribs.
"Talk with Maria?" I ask him as he gets from his desk chair and walks over to large black leather chair by the window.
"I did and Natasha as well." He says and I groan, throwing my head back on the couch. "They both are happy we caught Yuri and relieved you weren't hurt that badly." He continues and I lift my head up to look at him, sensing a but in there.
"But?" I ask, bracing myself for whatever I'll be expecting upon my return to the Hub.
"They weren't too happy about your plan." Phil says with a tiny bit of amusement in his voice. "I don't speak Russian, but I don't think they were very nice things Natasha said. Maria was her usual self, which means a lengthy lecture in your future. From both of them." I sigh heavily, already expecting one from Maria. Natasha will most likely wait until I'm 100% and take it out on me in the ring and then talk to me.
"I don't understand why they care so much." I say quietly, hoping that Phil will be able to shed some light on the matter. From what little I know about the three, they have known each other a number of years. Phil sighs and loosen his tie around his neck.
"I'm not sure either, Alex. They haven't told me." Phil says, looking at the floor with a confused look on his face. "I was surprised they took an interest in you, but at the same time I wasn't. With Maria it could be any number of reasons. She is a good judge of character and most likely sees something in you. It's the same with Natasha, but she also probably sees something of herself in you." He explains.
"What do you mean she sees…" My question is cut off by Phil.
"Ask her, it's her story to tell." He says gently and I nod my head. "They are close to Fury and probably are trying to keep you away from what he has planned for you. He has an obsession with using those with 'special' skills. We all know whatever he wants you to do, you will refused and it's goodbye Hub…"
"And hello Fridge." I say, cutting him off. Phil looks at me with shocked expression. "I over heard Fitz and Jemma talking before entering the lab. He said that's where Yuri will end up." I explain and he nods his head, still slightly shocked. "What's the Fridge?" I ask, giving him a look that tells him not to lie to me. He sighs again before answering.
"The Fridge is a detainment and storage facility." He says rather reluctantly. "It's where S.H.I.E.L.D. keeps dangerous prisoners and dangerous technology that can't be destroyed, yet. It's where Yuri will be kept for the rest of his life. It's location is also classified." He explains and I nod my head, looking at the blueprints behind his desk.
"Why wasn't I sent there?" I ask the question that has been on my mind since hearing about the Fridge.
"I told you, Fury wants you for something and that's why you aren't there." Phil says and I see him sitting up in the chair. "Like Maria and Natasha, he sees something in you and wants to use that. Even if you don't, he will probably not send you there but to another smaller detainment facility. We won't let him send you anywhere though." He says with conviction. I turn my head to look and I see that he means it.
"He's the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D., Phil. If he wants to send me somewhere he will." I tell him and I turn my head to look at the blue print again. "I might be better off somewhere else." I say quietly and sadly, voice trailing off a little. I feel my eyes growing heavy and the exhaustion from everything finally taking over. Out the corner of my eye I see Phil frown at my last statement.
"Your not like Yuri. Far from it and we see that." He says with a hint of anger in his voice. "I know you struggle with that, Alex. You can not let yourself be defined by what is in your DNA. Your more then that, your…"
"Special." Cutting him off again, saying it tiredly and not because I'm starting to feel exhausted. "I've been told that a lot and quit frankly, I'm tired of hearing it in relation to me." Rubbing my face with my right hand. "There is nothing special about me, expect what's in my DNA now. I have never wanted to be special, I was always perfectly happy blending in. Whatever Fury wants me for, he can shove it and send me where he wants too. A detainment facility is where I belong, I don't care that you all see something in me. I'm not special." I say tiredly, blackness coming at the edges of my vision. Everything is finally hitting me. I think, fighting to keep my eyes open but I know it's a losing battle with the pain pills and exhaustion from my fight. Phil takes notices, giving me a soft smile and getting up from the chair.
"Lay down, Alex." He says softly, laying a pillow down on the far end of the couch for my head. "We'll talk more in the morning."
I scoot across a bit and lay down on my right side, deciding to keep the ice pack on. I close my eyes, a mixture of exhaustion and the pain pills Jemma gave me kicking in. I barely register the blanket being place on me. The last things I register before sleep claims me are the whispered word of, "You belong with us." and a soft kiss placed on the top of my head before everything fades to black.