It's been a slow week. Skye is going to school and it's nice living with Maria for now. Maria is still searching but she feels terrible about the last situation so she is driving herself up a wall trying to find the best family she possibly can. Skye is still working at Mr. C's diner after school which is fun. It's helping her to be more confident. Her, Mr. C and Melinda have spent afternoons together baking the best food. Melinda even showed Skye her martial arts dojo and some of the classes she teaches. Apparently her kids sometimes teach a class or two. It was pretty cool to see.

Jemma, Leo and Trip are spending their afternoon in the diner while Skye's on her break when something goes down. There was no sign beforehand, but all of a sudden the doors fly open and Christian, Ward, and Thomas. They strut in with force and approach Shawn.

"Where's Skye"

"What do you want with her?"

Skye gets up from her seat before Jemma grabs her arm. She pulls away and looks down at Jemma. Jemma looks up urgently whispering, "Skye, what are you doing?".

They shove Shawn against the wall and Skye looks down at the group, "They're going to hurt him"

Trip gapes, "Girl, you're one of the strongest persons I know, but even I wouldn't want to take them on"

"I can't let them hurt Shawn," Skye says, getting up and walking over.

"Let him go"

At this point the whole diner is watching them. Phil and Melinda who are in the back is sprinting to the front.

"You…YOU!" Christian yells pointing at Skye. He immediately lunges for her, grabbing her tightly. He grips her arms as Skye tries to pull away. Her breathing heavily, "P-pl-ease l-l-let go"

"Whoa whoa" Trip yells getting up, "Let go"

"Do you know what you've done?" Christian yells, tightening his grip on Skye,

"I-I" At this point Skye's heart and lungs are in her throat.

"Our dad is in jail" Thomas adds, pushing Trip back. Skye uses what Melinda taught and steps hard on Christian's foot yanking her arms away, wincing as she feels the sudden movement..

Christian was about to grab her again before a woman's cold voice said, "Back away from her now"

Skye looks up and sees Melinda with a hard look on her face, a scary look and Phil has a worried look but a determined look, "I want you three to leave right now. I'm not asking"

Both boys give Skye a dirty look while Ward gives her a disappointed look. They slam the doors walking out. Her shaking doesn't stop. She needs to get out. She needs some air. She curls up in a ball, covering her ears with her hands and pressing her eyes into her legs. In, out, in, out...

"Skye"

"Skye"

But she doesn't hear anything. All she can hear is the pounding in her ears and the shallow breaths she's taking. She needs to get out of here. Too fast she thinks. Her breathing is too fast, coming in short and quiet gasps. Here she is on the floor of her place of employment having a panic attack. Her thoughts are racing. Everyone must be watching this making her feel uncomfortable. Her friends are seeing her like this.

Her mind doesn't register someone lightly stroking her hair. When she does it takes her by surprise. She focuses on trying to breathe instead hearing a calming voice say, "Skye, Skye, try to breathe with me okay." The person speaks again calmly, still stroking her hair. Somehow that makes her feel a little better. Around 20 minutes later just sitting there she finally feels her heart slowing down.

"Do you think you can stand?"

Skye nods lightly. With Melinda's help she is able to stand up while Melinda leads her to the back. Phil checks on the customers, Skye's friends/his students and makes sure that the boys are gone.

In the back Melinda grabs Skye and a chair and guides her to sit down. Melinda gently brushes Skye's hair out of the way and hooks it over her ear. She gets up to grab a glass and straw. She fills up the glass with water before sticking a straw in. She sets it down for Skye who gratefully accepts. She drinks and clears her voice a little, not making eye contact. In truth Skye feels a little embarrassed about the whole thing and Melinda was so nice still.

"Do you have anyone you want to call? You are free to take some time if you need. We just want to make sure you're okay"

"Maria"

"Is that a friend of yours?"

Skye nods not wanting to explain,

"Do you want to call or do you want me to"

Skye points at her so she nods, "Okay can you tell me her number?"

Skye stares at the ground clearly exhausted.

"If I give you my phone, could you put her number in?"

Skye nods so Melinda leaves quickly, grabbing her phone and unlocking it for Skye. She returns, handing over her phone to the teen. Skye timidly grabs it and puts in Maria's number which comes up as Melinda's contact, Maria. She hands the phone over and Melinda's face briefly flashes confusion before hitting the dial button anyway.

"Maria?"

"Mel, what did you do this time?"

"Nothing"

There was a hum on the other end of the line and Melinda playfully rolled her eyes, "Nothing, I swear. I am calling because Skye-"

"Skye? What's wrong?"

"Uh well Garrett's sons came into the diner and there was a little scuffle."

"Is she okay?"

"She's physically fine, she had a panic attack though so she's a little drained."

"Does she want me to pick her up?"

Melinda covers the mic and asks Skye, "Skye, do you want Maria to pick you up?"

Skye nods.

"Yeah, Maria that would be great,"

Skye stands up slowly trying to get her legs to stop shaking. Her arms are sore, and Skye is hoping that Christian didn't make them worse. She checks her phone briefly, seeing messages from Jemma, Leo and Trip. Looking down makes her head swim.

"Skye"

"Skye"

She gets shots of pain up her arms before she gets very light headed. She grabs the chair to try and stabilize her before she collapses onto the ground.

"Maria, I have to call you back Skye collapsed"

She hangs up the phone, and dials 911, yelling for Phil. He rushes in and sees Skye on the ground. They hear the sirens as the ambulance approaches. The medics rush in with a gurney and tells Melinda and Phil the plan.

"Is she your daughter?"

"Uh- no, but her emergency contact is coming" Phil answers.

"Does one of you want to ride with us to Cartview Bay Hospital?"

"Yeah, uh yes, you go" Phil says to Melinda, "I'll stay here"

"Okay" Melinda says, not wanting to spend any time arguing. They rush into the ambulance and they start on their way. They attach all these monitors to Skye and put oxygen on her to help her breathing. The medics notice the braces and ask Melinda, "Do you know what happened?"

"My husband said that she said that she hurt her arms skateboarding"

"Okay, well I have to put an IV in, her blood pressure is a little lower than I would like," The medic explains taking the brace off. Both the medics and Melinda are surprised when the bandages have a good amount of blood on them.

"Did you know about this?"

"No" Melinda answers truthfully.

Maria rushes into the hospital lobby. She pushes through to the reception desk and asks,

"Skye, or Mary Sue Poots, I'm her guardian."

"Yes, um room 224" the man points in the direction.

"Thank you" She says, rushing to see Skye. There sitting outside the room is, "Melinda"