Hey Inkdrops,

I am back with another chapter, slightly longer to make up for the long wait.
Get ready for some scientists fighting and some cryptic foreshadowing.
I hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: I still don't own Marvel or Disney, but Alexandra.

Chapter 22: Revelations

The next day - Alexandra could only tell it was the next day because of the clock ticking in her aquarium, she had already lost all sense of time - crept in slowly. Xandra was a patient woman, usually, just like the snow leopard Hunter had compared her to, calculating, planning the long con, looking at the big picture. Like playing chess, like hunting prey. And then the thrill of the chase, the kill. But now she felt bored, useless, antsy and most of all, worried for the team. Most of all for May and Hunter, probably, but also about Fitz who seemed to be lost in is head from what she could tell from their brief last interaction, and worried about Skye and whether there could be any more side effects. Talking to her, or just having a look at the other woman and making sure she was safe would have helped, but alas, that was not possible. And it sucked.

Breakfast came and went, lunch came and went. Then, when Xandra was just in the middle of a "private" yoga session (May had told her to improve her shoulder strength after all), she heard Fitz talking outside in the hallway. The answers came in a clipped, familiar Britih accent - Simmons had come home. It didn't come as a surprise that she went to visit Skye first and it took a couple of hours until she finally walked into Xandra's lab. While the two had come to an arrangement of sorts, they were really far away from being friends. Which was kind of a shame, actually. When she scanned the biochemist from head to toe, the code cracker saw that Puerto Rico also had taken a toll on the other woman. Even though she was impeccably dressed and make-up covered the worst traces, she could detect signs of fatigue and sadness under the chipper facade.

"Well hello Ms Edwardson, they have told me you still haven't regained your ability to speak and your bloodwork still shows some abnormalities," she cut straight to the chase, for some reason sounding slightly ...disgusted maybe? Xandra decided she didn't like that tone AT ALL. She nodded nevertheles..

"Anyway, I am glad you look like ... well," Simmons stopped, seemingly unsure what to say about the silvery hair, "well at least mostly like before. Not like Reina."

The other woman gave her a loopsides smile, sort of understanding the uneasiness there.

That bad?

Simmons nodded.

"It was horrible. Scales and claws - I didn't even recognize her at first. She was fast, and she just slit their necks open with these claws."

Xandra frowned.

Weaponized? Animalistic?

"You could say so," Simmons agreed, "probably both. We extracted her DNA - and it is horrific. I have never seen anything like it, it contains extramacro molecules. This is my fault, this plague could lead to an epidemic, we need to terminate it! Whatever happens - "

Stop right there! Yes, it is unusual and had horrible consequences on Reina. But how do you know it is contagious?

"Well, I believe I am the expert here and experience tells that -," Simmons started, raising her voice.

Xandra lifted her hand, her look making the other woman go quiet in an instant.

You are the expert. But you have never dealt with anything like that. And you are aware that by the looks of it I am very likely also affected. I didn't choose this, it wasn't my fault and it is your job to fix it or at least not be totally rude and unsensitive about it. It is NOT your fault BUT you are behaving like a judgemental bitch right now and THAT is your fault.

Simmons went on stalking in front of the cage, apparently not even really noticing the other woman anymore.

"But it is my fault, I was so curious! I should have tried to terminate alien biology. These powered people, that's a plague and,"

A bang echoed through the lab making, the British scientist finally stop. Just at the height of her head Xandra had hit the glass so hard that it was still vibrating. Both women looked at each other in shock, Xandra because of how little effort it had taken her and Simmons partly of surprise and partly because she saw her thesis confirmed - she was dangerous. At least Xandra supposed that Simmons was thinking that, she wasn't quite certain.

WILL YOU LISTEN NOW? you are being cruel Simmons

Emotions seemed to conflict in the other woman's mind, making her finally flee the lab without another word. When Xandra sat back on the bed, exhausted. She was well aware that one of the main reason for the outburst had been Skye. She knew, for some reason she couldn't quite fathom, she just knew that Skye had been affected, just as her. Not that she had really mentioned it by now. Maybe to protect her? Or to talk to her first? Was that actually protecting her or making things more complicated? She didn't know. All she knew was that a gut feeling, a very insitent, logical (could gut feelings be logical? It certainly felt that way) told her not to tell the team.
Slowly, the burning passion she had felt for defending powers or abnormalies against the untrue and unfair statements subsided. The now familiar calm washed over her again, and suddenly, Simmons point didn't seem so foreign at all. It didn't seem pleasant, but rather pragmatic, maybe even sensible. Reducing risks, also if it would take lifes, maybe innocent lifes. She shook her head, pushing these thoughts away. What was this and where was it coming from? She didn't like it.

Nobody was coming.
Nobody.
Had Simmons told them? Told them to stay away?

"Hey kid," suddenly May said from the doorway, "you gave Simmons quite a fright, I believe."

Her voice gave nothing away.

She was cruel. I felt it was necessary

"She just picked up what remained of Tripp, and she isn't like you. She is stronger than you might think, but she hasn't fought the battles that you have, she doesn't have your scars. Loosing someone is foreign to her, letting go harder. It is shaking her up so she is compensating. Let her cool down first."

Xandra nodded, not surprised about how much May actually knew about her. S.H.I.E.L.D. always did checks and while she made sure certain things wouldn't pop up, others, like a missing mother or a distant father, weren't something you could hide from a secret agency.

Yes Ma

She had the impression that May was surpressing a smile.

"I should probably tell you they are testing your blood, too. And I guess we both now what they will find."

She looked at her, contemplating. "You were down there. Do you think Skye's affected, too?"

Lying to May felt horrible, but sharing thoughts about Skye (even though it would come to light sooner or later anyway, probably) would have felt worse.

She was encrusted. I was encrusted. Then I couldn't see. But I think nothing happened.

May hummed. "Would you tell me if you knew something?"

No

She hummed again. "Thought so." Her voice didn't hold any disappointment.

"One thing - they found blue stones and grey ones. Why?"

Blue ones = me, grey = the others. No idea why, pinky promise

"I believe you. We hope to get the test results soon, this will help, hopefully. Hunter and Bobbi are still on the mission," she answered an unasked question.

Thank you

"You're welcome, kid."

With a last look, May stalked out of the room.

It was Fitz who brought her her dinner a couple of hours later, far later than she would have liked (why was she so hungry lately?) but she didn't complain when she saw it wasn't just soup anymore. However, the engineer looked panicked. She put the food aside, looking at him.

What's up?

"I restored Skye's bracelet. And the data it shows for the time of the collaps... the heartrate is impossible. Inhuman. So I thought it was my fault because my brain...," he stopped for a moment, "but no. The way the bracelet was shattered - and she wasn't hurt, you weren't hurt. YOU WEREN'T HURT."

He looked at her, desperate. "And there was destruction all around. It is not possible to easily survive this, even whith stone shielding you. I thought I am crazy but I look at you, and your changed hair and the blood. I wanted to think it was just a simple change, it would be easier if it was just my brain. But it is you. You and Skye, one or both of you caused the destruction. And the DNA-tests will confirm that you were really, deeply changed."

Fitz had tears in his eyes."There is nothing wrong with me but with you!"

I know

Xandra was totally calm, he wasn't telling her anything she didn't already know, nothing that she hadn't contemplated in her mind in a rational way already. She also didn't have much to loose, however this would play out. The only things she feared to loose were her mind and her freedom - the first one would likely not happen, the second one was in immediate danger. But she wouldn't despair but work it out, as she always did.

"You know?"

Look at me, it is kinda obvious. Skye's the problem. With the way Simmons is acting right now

Fitz nodded. "Do you think she is dangerous?"

Skye or Simmons? ;-)

She gave him a wry smile before scribbling on in her notebook.

Skye: Hell yes. I believe she did cause an explosion or something, it wasn't me. I could feel slight tremors some time ago, they could be coming from her. She is like a bomb going off any second. But a bomb that is going off any way, lab or not. And she needs the team, not judgement. It is risky but we need her out of there.

Xandra new this was her compassionate side talking, her calm, rational, pragmatic part would have locked her up, as secure as possible. But that wasn't all that she was, thank God.

Simmons is scared and yes, that makes her dangerous, to Skye and me and everyone who is different
So you need to tell Skye and you need to change the blood samples. Now

Fitz didn't even hesitate.

"Alright. I hate it but alright. But I don't have a blood sample from you before, I can't change it," he added sadly.

I know. I understand

"Ok then," he paused, then he jogged out of the room.

An hour or so later, Xandra suddenly felt the ground vibrating, harder than before - so Skye knew now. A couple of minutes later, the young woman entered Alexandra's lab, eyes still red from crying, the hand bandaged.

The silver-haired woman pointed towards the hand.

"Glass shards."

She raised an eyebrow, clearly asking a question. Xandra only nodded. She knew.

"Your tests are still running," Skye sounded defeated.

Chin up buttercup

She gave her a smile.

deep breaths. Relax. Try not to get hulky ;)

"How are you so calm?" the dark-haired woman asked, clearly frustrated.

More time to get used to the thought

She pointed at her changed hair.

Also you know the team better, you have more people to care for deeply. I don't have that.

"But you do have people who love you! Friends, family! I, uhm, looked all that up!"

Xandra gave her a silent laugh.

I do and I love my friends. But they all also have their own lifes. They could go on without me and I without them, in the worst case. I don't have a family, no matter how it looks.

"What about S.H.I.E.L.D.?"

She pondered for a moment.

You all know how the business works. Really, don't worry about me. Go get some sleep you look horrible.

"Thank you," Skye said quietly, before walking away. At the door, she turned around again, giving a little wave before disappearing.

It was far beyond midnight when the Swedish was ripped out of her slumber by an opening door. Simmons was standing in the lab, looking kind of sad for the first time.

"Your results are back," she stated without the usual elation, "and there has definitely been a change. However, it is far different from Reina's. It doesn't show extramacro molecules as Reina's does, but it looks as if parts of it are different, as if parts have been exchanged with other DNA. And there has been a drastic re-arrangement. Do you know anything at all, has anyone ever talk to you about DNA abnormalities?"

Truthfully, Xandra shook her head.

"Well, I am afraid there is nothing I can do for you at the moment, tomorrow I will try to check whether this is contagious. Please, don't take it too hard. It... it really is nothing against you."

I know.

Thank you so much for reading!