Thank you to Harliquinn for beta reading and editing

/\/\/\

It had been a week since Skye had left her room, and Steve was getting more worried by the day. It was unlike Skye to let herself rot. Everyone had tried to talk to her and got nowhere. Steve had a gut feeling there was only one person who could get her out of her funk, so he made the call.

About an hour later there was a knock on Skye's bedroom door.

"Yeah?" Skye said.

Tucker went in. "So, what's going on?"

Skye looked up at him. "What are you doing here?"

"Your dad called me. He says you've barely moved from your bed in the last week," Tucker said.

"I see," Skye said. "I'm just not feeling well."

"Bullshit," Tucker said.

Skye sighed.

Tucker closed her door most of the way and sat on her bed next to her. "So, what's going on?"

"My dad thinks I'm more likely to talk to you than everyone else?" Skye asked.

Tucker shrugged. "It's more that he thinks I can get you out of bed."

"I'm good here," Skye said.

"Well, why don't we go for a walk?" Tucker asked.

"No," Skye said.

"We can go and sit outside in your favorite spot," he said.

"I'm not moving," Skye said.

"Okay, no. The Skye I know would not let herself rot in her bed, get up," Tucker said.

"I'm not the same person I was even six months ago," Skye said. "So maybe I'm not the Skye you know anymore."

"Wow," he said chuckling, "that is such a cop-out. And I don't care how much you have changed. I will not let you rot. So get up, and let's go outside." He said as he stood up.

Skye pulled her blanket over her head, "no."

Tucker sighed. "Do you remember the promise we made each other when we were in the foster home together?"

"Yeah, we would always have each other's back," Skye said.

"And part of having your back means I will get you through whatever it is you're going through any way I know how. So, please don't make me have to physically drag you out of this bed," Tucker said.

Skye chuckled, "You think you actually could? I mean, yeah, you're pretty strong, but I am stronger. And if I wanted to, I could hurt you."

"Yeah, I know. But I know you wouldn't," Tucker said. "I have a feeling whatever is going on is in your head. The tipping point was what happened with Carly. I heard it in your voice. You were devastated that you had to resort to violence. So I know you would never hurt me."

Skye sighed. "I hate that you know me so well."

Tucker pulled the blanket off her. "Come on. Get up."

Skye groaned. "I don't want to."

"Too bad, you are going to. We are going to go for a walk.

Skye tried to pull the blanket back up, but Tucker stopped her and picked her up throwing her over his shoulder.

"Hey!" Skye said.

"I told you I'd do it," Tucker said.

"God, when did you get a fucking six-pack," she asked, feeling it through his shirt.

Tucker chuckled. "Will you come willingly if I put you down?"

"Yes," she conceded.

Tucker put her down, and she grabbed a sweater and went outside with him for a walk around the area.

"Talk to me. What's going on?" Tucker asked.

"Everything is hitting me, everything I have been through. And the hits just keep on coming," Skye said.

"It's not just Carly that put you over the edge is it?" Tucker asked.

"I'm thrilled that the Dyers are getting the charges. But part of me wanted to face them in court, show them I know what they did to me wasn't okay. Wasn't a normal thing that dads do," Skye said.

"He used that line?" Tucker asked surprised

Skye nodded.

"You told the police that?" Tucker asked.

"Yes, I gave the police every detail," Skye said.

Tucker nodded. "Is there a way you could get that closure outside a courtroom?"

Skye shrugged. "Yeah, but, having to tell my story over and over again. Having everything coming out, including the fact that Ruth knew."

"What?" Tucker asked.

"Three other girls in that home told her he abused them. She told them it wasn't true and that they were remembering wrong. It's the same thing she said to me. While she wasn't my favorite person in the world, and I know we had our differences, I never thought she was a social worker who would look the other way," Skye said.

"She is being held accountable?" Tucker asked.

Skye nodded. "But I think I'm most pissed that I found out from someone who wasn't my dad, or my lawyer."

"Damn," Tucker said. "You sure they knew?"

"I know my dad does," Skye said.

"Have you talked to him about it?" Tucker asked.

Skye shook her head.

"I think you should," Tucker said.

"He promised me early on that he would not keep me in the dark about things that involve me. He has been keeping me in the dark about this, and it hurts," Skye said.

"Maybe he has a reason?" Tucker asked.

"I'm sure he does. That doesn't mean it's fair," Skye said.

Tucker nodded.

"I've been trying so hard to do everything he has asked, to follow all the rules. And to be fair, the rules are far less than foster care rules. But I have done everything he has asked, and the only thing I have asked him to do is not keep me in the dark about things to do with me," Skye said, her eyes welling with tears.

Tucker gently took her arm and pulled her into a tight hug.

Skye wrapped her arms around him and hugged him.

"The Skye I know doesn't hold back her feelings. Why don't you just tell him how you feel?" Tucker asked.

"The Skye who used to speak her mind had nothing to lose. I have everything to lose now," Skye said.

"I know I'm not much, but you're not going to lose me," Tucker said.

"Tucker you are the only person who has been there for me basically my entire life, so you are plenty," Skye said.

"Thank you," he said as she broke the hug. "And I don't think you are going to lose your dad by telling him how you feel."

"Maybe not, but that doesn't mean he won't be disappointed in me," Skye said.

"Well, I can't promise that won't happen," Tucker said. "But I also know that if you don't tell him how you're feeling, you will likely do something that will get you in trouble."

Skye chuckled. "Yeah, that's likely."

"And in the future, if you are feeling like this, you can call me," Tucker said.

"I know," Skye said. "Is it wrong that I just wanted to wallow for a little?"

"No," Tucker said. "But if you continue to wallow, you will never get out of it."

Skye nodded and rubbed at her arms as the temperature dropped.

Tucker took off his coat and put it around her shoulders. "Come on, let's get you home."

Skye smiled and nodded. The two started to walk back towards the compound.

"How have you been?" Skye asked.

"I've been working a lot of hours. Between that and school I have virtually no life," Tucker said.

"You're doing okay, though?" Skye asked.

"Yeah, just busy. Which is preferable," Tucker said.

"Oh?" Skye asked.

"Just need to keep busy," Tucker said. "When I'm not, I tend to. . . go down paths I don't want to be on."

"Tell me you're not going down old paths," Skye said.

Tucker let out a breath. "I came pretty close a couple of months ago."

"Shit, Tuck, what did you do?" Skye asked.

"I connected with someone from our past. I was going to start running with the crew again. He found out we are still friends and, well, flipped. I was told to take a hike. You were not to be trusted, and I had to pick you or them," Tucker said.

"Why the hell would you take that risk and go back with them? Is this what your aunt and uncle knew about? When they thought you were getting in trouble," Skye asked.

"No, it was after that. And I don't know what I was thinking," he admitted. "It was unbelievably stupid. I know."

Skye smacked him upside the head and shook her head.

"You're disappointed," Tucker said as he cringed slightly.

"Yeah. I am. You told me you would never go back to that, that you had changed. You lied to me," Skye said.

"It was a moment of weakness. Skye, you have all this support that helps keep you out of trouble. I don't have that," Tucker said.

"You have me," Skye said.

"I know," Tucker said. "And you are the reason I was pulled out of my mind. It was like some karmic shock to my brain. I had to pick you or them. And I pick you. It wasn't a hard decision. I'm sorry it led to that."

Skye nodded. "But you still decided to lie to me."

"Yes," Tucker said. "Because I knew you'd be pissed."

"Tucker, you made one bad choice and in the end did the right thing. You slipped. You're human. I'm not disappointed you screwed up. I've screwed up too many times to count," Skye said.

Tucker nodded.

"But I'm pissed you lied to me," Skye said. "We don't lie to each other. Ever."

"I know. Does it help I came clean?" Tucker asked.

"Yes," Skye said as they got back to the compound and got on the elevator to head back upstairs.

"And I won't lie to you again," Tucker said.

"Okay," Skye said. "I forgive you."

"Good. Now, I have to go. I have work in an hour," Tucker said.

Skye nodded and took his coat from around her shoulders, handing it back to him. "Thank you for coming and pulling me out of my funk."

"Call me next time," Tucker said.

Skye nodded "Okay."

Skye got off the elevator, and Tucker went back down.

She went into the kitchen.

"Dinner will be ready in a few minutes," Pepper said when she saw her.

"Okay," Skye said.

When dinner was ready everyone came and sat down to eat. Steve was watching Skye, who was silent during the whole meal. When it was done Skye went back to her room.

Steve took a breath.

"Hey, it's progress. She ate at the table. We didn't have to bring her food into the bedroom," Bucky said.

Steve nodded. "Obviously Tucker said something to help. She talked to him."

"Yeah, that's a good thing," Bucky said.

"Yes, it is," Steve said.

"It's easier for teens to talk to their friends," Nat said from where she was filling the dishwasher.

Steve nodded.

"But you keep trying, keep being there," Nat said.

Steve got up and knocked on Skye's door.

"Yes?" Skye said.

Steve went in and saw Skye sitting at her window seat.

"How is Tucker?" Steve asked.

"He's fine," Skye said.

"And how are you?" Steve asked, sitting with her.

Skye took a breath. "Why didn't you tell me that Ruth was arrested?"

Steve let out a breath. "I didn't know how to tell you without it causing you to spiral."

"Well, I found out, and I spiraled. Yes, in part because of her. But also, in part because of how I found out. I found out from someone who was telling me to hurt me," Skye said.

"Who told you?" Steve asked.

"Kate called me from prison," Skye said.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Steve asked.

"Why didn't you tell me about Ruth?" Skye asked him back.

"I told you why," Steve said.

"You had to know if you didn't tell me I'd find out," Skye said.

"I intended to tell you. Obviously, Kate got to you first. I'm sorry," Steve said.

Skye nodded.

"Now why didn't you tell me when you found out?" Steve asked.

"I was too. . . angry. I didn't think I could talk to you without yelling," Skye said. "And I was so hurt. Ruth wasn't my favorite person. But I trusted her to some degree. I never imagined that she was telling me it wasn't true when she knew it was. She was protecting him."

Steve nodded. "I can't imagine how hurt you are. You have been failed over and over again by people who were supposed to be protecting you."

Skye nodded.

"But I can't help you through this if you don't talk to me and tell me when you're upset with me," Steve said.

"I couldn't have told you before now without yelling and being disrespectful, and I didn't want to do that," Skye said.

"I'm glad you don't want to be disrespectful towards me," Steve said. "But I'd rather you be disrespectful in the moment than you lock yourself in your room and not talk to me."

"You were right. I would have spiraled no matter where I got the information from. The difference was that I didn't think I could come to you because you didn't tell me," Skye said, looking at her hands.

"Skye, I'm so sorry," Steve said. "I should have told you as soon as I found out."

Skye nodded.

Steve opened his arms.

Skye moved over and hugged him.

He wrapped his arms around her tight. "How can I make it up to you?"

Skye took a breath and broke the hug. "I need closure. I thought I'd get that in the courtroom. I need him to see that, despite what he did to me, he didn't break me."

Steve took a breath and nodded slowly. "Are you sure?"

"Yes," Skye said.

"Okay. I can see if I can arrange it," Steve said.

"Okay," Skye said. "Thank you."

"Are we okay?" Steve asked.

"Yeah, it's forgiven," Skye said.

"Good," Steve said. "Now, how are you feeling about all this?"

"Just angry," Skye said. "I don't know how else to feel."

"Hurt?" Steve asked.

Skye nodded, "Yeah. Hurt, too, I guess."]And sad that I was too young to understand that what he was doing was not a 'normal' dad thing," Skye said.

"Peanut, nothing he did to you was normal," Steve said.

"I know that now," Skye said.

Steve nodded.

"Can you set me up with that therapist?" Skye asked.

"Yes, I will call first thing Monday morning," Steve said.

Skye nodded.

"I'm so proud of you," Steve said.

Skye shrugged and looked down.

"Hey, look at me," Steve said.

Skye looked up.

"It takes courage to admit you need help," Steve said.

Skye nodded a little. "Well, I don't want to talk about it anymore, and that pile of homework my friends have been dropping off is getting pretty big. I need to get started on it so I can be caught up by Monday."

"If you don't feel up to it yet that's okay," Steve said.

"I need to get it done, and there is a lot. I don't think I'll ever miss a full week again," Skye said.

"You needed the break, Skye," Steve said. "Mental health days are necessary. And I'm glad you took them. You will get caught up. And you have a family full of people who will help you if you need it."

Skye smiled and nodded.

Steve kissed her head as he stood up. "So ask if you need it."

"I will," Skye said before her dad left the room, and she sat at her desk to start working on it.