Chapter 63 - ch 12, ch 13

Chapter 12: Evac with an ESummary:Jemma needs an evac. The whole building is on lock down. Bobbi is having a hard time getting her teammate out of the lion's den.

Skye is... stealing?

Notes:(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter TextJemma drinks her tea. Taking deliberate takes to enjoy the hot beverage. Although no matter how much tea usually calms her down, she finds out that this time, it doesn't.

Skye left in the morning. With no message or note left behind. Jemma chalks it up to wanting some space and she realizes that it's normal.

But that was two months ago. 

She hadn't seen the brunette since. 

It's disheartening; in the days following the party, she earned the trust of more colleagues within the company. However, the only person she genuinely considered a friend seemed to be absent. Deep down, she acknowledges her own dramatic tendencies.

How can someone become close enough to be considered a friend after just three meetings? The brevity of those interactions adds an extra layer of skepticism. Additionally, the unsettling notion that Skye might fall into the category of individuals with homicidal tendencies should logically steer Jemma away from the brunette. However, against reason, she couldn't.

The brunette didn't seem like one of them. At least, that's her initial and current assessment of Skye.

She sighed as she continued writing down formulas on her paper before their head researcher came into her room to give her more work. 

"Ahh, Jemma. This is the new batch. Later on, I'll have you observe the new test subjects for the centipede soldiers, okay? Don't be late." 

"I won't." With that, she found herself alone in her recently acquired office. Thanks to advancing to level 3, she now enjoys the convenience of having her own office, and her newly assigned lab is conveniently just two rooms away.

Rising from her chair, she exits her office and descends to the underground floors. Her mission: is to submit a data analysis report on the molecular structure of a freezing agent produced naturally by a subject, without any machine assistance. The identity of the subject remains confidential, but the mere awareness of this information provides her with a significant advantage.

Of course, now that she knows some of her reports were very much valued, she does make some mistakes here and there. Not enough to get her fire but also not enough to give them leaps and bounds over their research progress. Jemma really doesn't want to help them at all.

When she got to her floor. She pushed her ID pass to the scanner and entered a dark passage into a grey corridor before seeing what seemed to be the Death Lab. She knows she should have a better name for it but it perfectly encapsulation what the room depicts. The lab is known for producing poisons, serums, and sad mutated abominations, and where most people either lose a limb or their minds. 

She was given a tour here a month ago by Dr. Elmond, who she'd been getting closer to, and wouldn't you know it? It was the first time Jemma wanted to vomit after seeing blood. Fitz usually is the one who gets queasy with anything related to cadavers but seeing organs moving and crawling also made her want to turn around and never visit again. Of course, she can't do that though. 

The metallic clanks and the sound of a saw echoed in Jemma's ears as she navigated the dimly lit lab. Despite HYDRA's status as a multi-million dollar evil corporation, they seemed incapable of fixing a persistently blinking light fixture, rendering the atmosphere akin to a medieval dungeon. The acrid and unsettling scent enveloping her comprised a cocktail of blood, antiseptic, and lingering chemical residues. Despite several attempts to repaint the walls, uneven patches persisted. In one corner, a reddish scatter hinted at a potential bloodstain that appeared neglected, a detail she couldn't confirm with certainty.

The death lab was compartmentalized into three distinct rooms, each designated for its specific purpose. There was the testing room, the containment chamber, and the observation room, each dedicated to its unique function.

Yet they all conversed in one setting. 

Jemma saw five guards, and even more on each lab corner. 

Jemma hands her report to a taciturn man named Rod. His identity and role remain a mystery to her; all she knows is that he mechanically extends his hands to receive whatever is given to him before returning to his incessant typing. There are no greetings, no acknowledgment—nothing. His eyes seem more lifeless than a zombie's. However, this lack of social interaction suits Jemma just fine, and she doesn't linger for a chat. The individuals in that environment always seem a cut above typical HYDRA personnel, and she's encountered enough of them to draw comparisons.

As she ascended, she unexpectedly came across a commotion—an altercation involving two men and three women, all clad in gear, in pursuit of a man confined in a straight jacket... or was supposed to be confined.

She stood motionless as the man brandished a knife, his jacket torn as if he had forcibly escaped it. His bloodshot eyes were glazed with a sense of desperation.

The crazy man saw Jemma and went straight for her. She couldn't react in time before he grabbed her shoulder and twirled her body until something cold and sharp was under her throat.

"Stop! Or I'll kill this woman!" 

"I'd like to see you try." One of the guards smirked their guns still aimed at them. If anything it was right at Jemma's eye level and she wasn't surprised at all. 

Jemma felt her heart lurch at her throat. A madman had taken her hostage and the ones who can help her are none other than HYDRA agents. She might as well sign her will. 

"You think I won't do it! Huh?!"

Jemma felt a slight sting as the knife cut through, drawing a trickle of blood. In that moment, the thought crossed her mind that today might be her last.

"Sorry! Coming through! Runaway cart!" All of them looked at the source of the noise and saw a fully stacked cleaning cart running at high speed directly at the Jemma and the madman. 

Out of nowhere the cart came and hit the crazy man's sidearm and pushed them to the ground in a heap of force. Jemma rolled, colliding with the wall, while the guards swiftly approached to secure the knife and restrain the man.

Amid the background rustling and her head buzzing with adrenaline, Jemma slowly became aware of someone holding her forearm and peering into her face.

"Hey, doc. You okay?" Skye's concerned face came into focus, her purple eyes retaining their softness and warmth. Of all the unexpected turns the day had taken, encountering Skye again was the most surprising. Overwhelmed, Jemma hugged her, a gesture-driven by her own selfish need for reassurance.

"Thank you." She offered the words as gratitude for saving her but knew that she was thankful the brunette didn't hate her at all for overstepping boundaries with her.

"Don't mention it, doc."

"Daisy?" Their little reunion was abruptly halted as they turned to the madman, who looked at them in surprise before morphing into excitement. His frazzled brown hair sticking up from all sides seemed indicative of his unstable mentality, but there was an unsettling clarity in his eyes as he gazed at Skye. "Daisy!"

Before he could act, a decisive blow to the head rendered him unconscious.

One of the guards, still supporting him, stared suspiciously at Skye. "You know this man?"

"Never seen him in my life and I've been around." 

Another guard glanced at their leader and muttered, "This guy did call Miss Morse a mole bitch just a few weeks ago so I don't think he's sane anymore."

"With what he's been through, I don't think he would be," another guard interjected.

That seemed to calm their leader and ignored the two without a second more, dragging along their target. 

Skye snide at the retreating guards, not even a single glance back before she assisted Jemma back on her feet and was looking at her neck. 

"You got nicked but it's not hallow." 

"Yeah. Can you help me clean it in my office? I can't see it very well." 

Jemma would be lying if she claimed she couldn't handle something as minor as a nick. She had tended to more severe injuries before; this was essentially a scratch. However, the desire to apologize to Skye lingered, and she wished to do so in a more suitable setting than a dimly lit hallway, though expressing it directly to her face proved challenging.

And just like the magic show ending, Skye was now pulling away and looking anywhere but at her.

"Umm... I'm a bit busy at the moment, Jemma. You should have that check from someone more suitable."

"Wait, Skye! I'm sorry."

"What exactly are you sorry for?" Skye asked steadily.

Jemma didn't know what to say to that. "I'm... not sure. I-I didn't mean to do it— I mean I shouldn't have overstepped my boundaries. It was too much for me to see—"

"Jemma, you didn't see anything, okay?" The brunette averted her gaze, reluctance evident in her demeanor, and her lips strained to form a forced smile. The facade momentarily softened, her lips still tight, but now a tinge of guilt appeared. "Let's talk another time."

Skye left after getting all of her stuff back in place and disappeared from view after turning a corner. Jemma was keeping pressure on her neck as she went back to her office with a sigh and a stinging throat.

Nice going, you scared her away again.

~oOo~

On her fifth iteration of the report and validation, Jemma had a visitor enter her office an hour after the commotion. Anticipating the arrival of the chief head of her new team, she was taken aback to find a familiar yet formidable figure—the hunting hound.

"Agent Simmons. I heard there was a problem recently?" The woman's tone consistently oscillated between annoyance and inquiry, impressing Jemma with her ability to stay abreast of all her actions within an hour.

Jemma had even more reason to take precautions seriously when the raven woman was around.

"Agent Morse, good to see you. No, it was just a small... situation. It's all handled now." Jemma was surprised to see the Amazon woman staying in her domain at such a time instead of scurrying off. 

Isn't she inspecting the production department today?

Agent Morse was looking her over, trying to see if she had anything to hide. Jemma could feel her glare and wanted to squirm but her self-preservation not to be found out, made her sit still enough that the raven woman nodded and gestured to her neck. "Is it deep?"

"No. Barely any blood. It's almost like I was shaving and didn't properly do it. That's about it." Jemma explained relatively normal.

"Okay. Once you're done with that, you can end for today." The other woman was looking over her desk when she said this.

"But I have a sit-in with the new batch of subjects for the centipede project. I was told not to miss it." She frowned at the statement. This was another chance to grab Intel. It'd be a waste to miss it.

"You didn't receive the memo?" The taller woman raised an eyebrow while Jemma was lost.

"About what?" Jemma watches Agent Morse sit on the chair poised in front of her desk and plop down with a cross of her legs. 

"All current projects are going to be postponed until further notice." 

Jemma waited for her to explain but Agent Morse only kept looking at her with that cold strict gaze of hers that put her in a more confusing state than reassurance. "Why exactly? Wouldn't that delay phase five?"

The other woman rolled her eyes and stood up. "Let's just say it is a necessary action. I hope you have your affairs in line, Agent Simmons. Tomorrow is going to be a rough day." 

When the sound of the door slammed, Jemma couldn't figure out what she meant. What's happening tomorrow? A cookout? A seminar? A party? Jemma scratches her head and she should ask Dr. Elmond. He should probably know it. The man has the ear of an elephant.

"I don't know." 

Jemma sighed. "Well, whatever it is, they're not letting any of us know about it. I mean, I'm not happy about it either. Do you know I was really excited to start harvesting subject 424 again only for this to show up on my desk?" 

Jemma drowned out Dr. Elmond's complaints about not being able to torture a human being and opted to look like she was listening. Her mind was still trying to figure out what Agent Morse was trying to say in her office. If none of the level 5 researchers know then it must be a big event. Then she shouldn't miss it.

"See you tomorrow. Dr. Elmond. Hopefully, it'll be cleared out soon."

Jemma left the building a bit early, she took her time buying ingredients to cook later when she received an anonymous text on her phone. 

Don't come in the office tomorrow.

Jemma thought it was another prank message from Ernie. The guy has been trying to sabotage her lately. After gaining a level above his, the jerk has been tripping her as of late. Tricking her to make mistakes so she could get demoted. She figured out from the tapes that he was also the reason the beaker from months ago got broken. It was fortunate that it hadn't been the beaker beside it. 

After that fiasco, he tried once to steal the report she submitted about anti-coagulant processing that also has an 80% chance of inducing heavy internal bleeding with less chance of survival. He might have hoped she'd get in trouble not knowing she had a second copy of it. He kept glaring the whole week.

He also tried running a rumor mill to her name saying she was sleeping with multiple people to get ahead. But that one was funny because she got congratulated rather than being talked about. She had no idea why. Although she did clear up that she wasn't a cheating scoundrel and paid back the rumor with a nasty lie of her own, circling photos of Ernie around the company of him being barebacked fucked behind a gas station wearing skimpy lingerie. Of course, it was all photoshopped but it was near impossible to disprove.

He'd been silent since but she didn't though, he'd come back now. 

Of course. I won't.

She rolled her eyes while replying and ignored the text afterward. Jemma enjoyed her evening... her quiet evening.

Unfortunately, she should have listened to the text.

"We will have all personnel line up to be interrogated. No one is to mess with their belongings and directly go to their assigned interrogation room. No one is exempted." 

Bakshi's voice boomed across the speakers while soldiers in black gear began to direct the staff towards the interrogation floor while Agent Morse along with a few fellow helpers were looking over things in their desks and offices. 

Jemma could feel all the blood leave her face. Why now?! She was doing so well. Why the complete floodgates?

Jemma maintained her calm demeanor as she followed her team yet her hands were clammy and her eyes erratically moving from many angles. Peering over the completely disorganized papers and files being toppled over by men in masks and helmets. The lower departments were treated worse.

Jemma spotted Agent Morse's eyes on her and could feel the glare digging yet again. She looks away in fright. Did they figure her out?! She needs to leave. 

As Jemma lined up with the other colleagues, she felt someone whistled to her. She cranks her head to see Dr. Hall in the same interrogation group.

"Hey, Jemma. Good to see a familiar face." He greeted calmly but his body wasn't as calm as his face was. She understood since she was in the same boat. "Now we know it's not a seminar."

Jemma tried to laugh with him but her over panicked mind was twisting her face to a grimace. "Yeah. Now I wish it was."

"It's fine. It's a mandatory thing to do when information is leaked or something more dire happens. That means it's either someone has been stealing classified information or someone has stolen valuable artifacts from HYDRA." 

"Oh." She's been had. Jemma needs to leave now. 

"Would they mind if I go to the bathroom real quick? I mean it's a long line, they wouldn't mind it, would they?"

Dr. Hall stared at the guard assigned to them and walked up to him. Jemma saw the older colleague talking to the guard before his eyes landed on her. His head moved to the direction of the bathroom, planning to escort her. 

"Thank you, Dr. Hall."

The old man smiled with his bushy beard and waved it off. He was one of the people she could tolerate once in a while. But she hopes he wouldn't take it as a grudge once he finds out he aided in a double agent's escape. 

Jemma was escorted to the woman's loo and when the guard had some decency to wait outside, she began to take the the flex screen she hid in the lining of her coat. She sent a quick message to Coulson and quickly dumped it in the trash bin making sure to add a roll of toilet paper to hide the offending thing deeper. 

She has no idea how to get out of the building though. 

"Dr. Simmons. You're almost up." The guard came in the bathroom looking impatient while Jemma was exuding all the vibe of a chicken being cornered. 

"Okay. I'll be there. Just need to clean my hands." She excused herself before going to the sink to clean her hands while thinking of ways to get past him. 

"On second thought, I think I need to go number 2 if you don't mind."

Suddenly the guard raised his gun at her as she squeaked. "Please comply or I will be subjected to notify our head for suspicious behavior."

"Okay. Okay. Put that down. I'll go." Jemma's hands were up but the moment she got in range with him. She pulled out a small electric chip and attached it to his neck. Within a few seconds current rakes up his body as he trembles. Having 17,000 volts running through your entire body is not ideal for a peaceful day but she was panicking. When the current died down, he also fell on his back. 

Jemma grimaced and quickly reached for his gun and headed outside to see if anyone was patrolling. When the coast was clear she quickly went to the stairs.

The last thing she wanted to do was shoot someone in the chest or be shot. So she was careful with each route she was taking.

As Jemma was descending down, the blare of an alarm shook the whole building. She cursed and ran faster. Midway down, the sound of the door opened and several footsteps were heading up to where she was. Jemma couldn't stay in the stairwell and took a risk going back into the hallway. She wasn't even sure which floor she was at the moment.

The only good thing was that it was deserted and she scampered, in hopes of finding another way down. 

She was turning into a corner when she bumped into three agents and Morse. She doesn't believe in any deity. She was an atheist but if there are, then they were not being fair with her at the moment. 

She wanted to cry but as the agents raised their guns at her, she returned the treatment in kind but with less gusto. As much as her fingers trembled on the holder she needed to focus or she'll die horribly. 

"What do we do now, Madam Morse?" One of them snarled at Jemma while she tried her best to look menacing back.

Agent Morse's stature was intimidating. Seething glare and clenched fist. She walked in front and commanded her. "Put it down Agent Simmons, or..." 

Before Morse could finish that sentence. The taller woman had employed her nunchucks out of nowhere and attacked the guard with swift blows.

She gaped as they were battered in the head and sides of their rib, taking more than five hits each before crumpling on the floor unconscious with cuts and bruises on their faces.

"What's going on?" Jemma said warily as her gun was still trained on her. 

"Really, Agent Simmons. I gave you a lot of hints yesterday and you still came in!" Jemma has seen Morse looking pissed and in a bad mood but this wasn't that. She still frowns but gone is the hostility she usually sees the woman undergo throughout the day. 

A slight sway and a more serene appearance of a still intimidating person. "What? You did not give me hints! If it were. What kind of hint was that? It's too cryptic!"

"That's the point!" Morse hissed before grabbing Jemma's wrist and pulling her along. "We need to get now!"

"Wait just a minute. How can I know this isn't some ploy to get me to trust you and then present me to Whitehall as a measly prize." Jemma pulls back, not compromising with the raven woman. 

She expected her to get angry but she got a nod instead, which was better than to get hit with a stick, really. 

"Coulson sent me as your protection and if things go sideways, I'm your shield." The way her voice placated the shorter woman was evident that she meant it. Couple with the fact that it's not an odd thing that Coulson would do for her. 

At least now she understood the many times Morse had seemed odd in how she talked to her. She just hadn't thought it was to look after her. 

Agent Morse tried pulling her again and Jemma followed after establishing her own mindset that she means well.

"Were you the one who sent the text?"

"What text?"

Jemma fell silent, her attention drawn to the nearing clamor of numerous voices. Both of them raced towards the stairs, propelled by the persistent blare of the alarm echoing through the entire building, making them both tense. 

The two reached another hallway before Jemma scoffed at a thought that came to mind. "Couldn't Coulson tell me you were with SHIELD? I've been tiptoeing myself to you because I thought you were Whitehall's sniffing hound."

"First of all, please don't compare me to a dog. Secondly, you're not that good at being subtle. You'd expose us in just a week if it were possible"

Now Jemma really feels offended. "Of course not! I'm a level 3 scientist now, aren't I?"

"It took you four months to get there. Also, did you know I have to clean up after you the first month just so they wouldn't suspect anything" Morse rolls her eyes at the still frowning woman. They carefully navigated the building til they were almost at the rooftops. 

"Okay. I admit it wasn't a good start but I've improved."

They stopped abruptly leading to the elevator as firing started to launch on two sides. HYDRA agents had stumbled across them unfortunately. The two fired back in equal conviction trying their best not to get shot while they did so.

"While that may be so. You've still got a lot to learn." Morse let out a chuckle as Jemma frowned even more than before.

When the elevator dings open, all HYDRA agents have been taken care of. The two panted before going to the lift. 

The taller woman pushed a button and it moved with a tremble. 

"Okay. So how was I compromised? I was really careful not to get caught." Jemma asked a bit stressed at how fast things were going. 

"To be honest, I'm not sure. They didn't give me enough information. But Bakshi was suspecting that someone was tampering with the artifacts they acquired on a mission. It was heavily guarded. Then we've been getting breaches on the system and someone was accessing files that weren't made aware of until recently."

"That wasn't me. I haven't been accessing anything at all. Just relaying what I can get from the projects given to me." She began to think of what prompted the security breach. 

"Could there be another agent that was sent in?" She proposed. The raven woman cocks her eyebrow but shakes her head. 

"Not that I know of. But I also got word that someone emailed your info an hour before the alarm went off. So you'd been found out either way. It's good you got away before they could take you in." 

The elevator stopped, shaking the small claustrophobic cube before the door opened with a seemingly innocent ding. When it did, sounds of multiple bullets raged inside the back walls. Morse pulled her to the side so as not to get hit by any of the stray bullets after which the raven woman began pushing the buttons to get it to close. 

Outside the elevator, shouting could be heard. Bakshi was close and so was another person.

"GET BACK HERE! AFTER HER!"

"Try and catch me, you fools!" 

Just as the elevator doors were closing, someone squeezed in at the last millisecond, and it started moving again.

Morse had her gun ready while Jemma was taken by surprise towards who was being shot at. "Skye!?"

"Wha?— oh hi Jemm— uhhhh." Skye stops speaking when the gun Morse has pointed at her head has gone incredibly closer to the middle of her forehead. 

There was a standoff. Morse still looks impeccably poised and deadly with a gun in her hand. While Skye looked worse for wear in her regular uniform but was carrying someone on her shoulders and a box on her other arm. 

"Jemma. Can you please tell your friend not to shoot me, please?" Skye nervously looks at Jemma over the taller woman's body but Morse moves to hide her. 

Skye moved again but Morse was persistent not to let the brunette sway her. As for Jemma, she knows this was a difficult thing to decide but not wanting another round of Ward-incident she schooled her features and tried to seem undisturbed. 

"Skye, what are you doing? Who is that man you're carrying and what did you steal?"

Skye frowned at her and Jemma wanted to retract her words. But it was changed to a sigh a second after. 

"This guy? Is an asset I've been looking for months... or at least my source of information. I needed him and this one," she shakes the box on her right arm. "came with him and is now my responsibility so I took it as well."

"Wait a minute. So you're the one meddling in the system?" Morse's eyes scanned the woman up and down while Skye didn't care and even leaned on the wall to rest. The gun was forgotten. 

"Wasn't hard. They've got bird poop as a firewall." She yawns. 

Jemma stepped past Morse and came closer to Skye. Over the times Jemma had interacted with Skye, she'd never felt alarmed. Of course, the drunk incident was an exception but right now wasn't one of those instances. Yet a big part of her couldn't be a hundred percent sure. She really doesn't want Skye to end up being an enemy she's going to fight in the future. She already lost a friend, she didn't want Skye to be the next Ward. "Skye, I know I don't deserve an answer but I wanted to make sure... are you here to kill us?"

"Why would I want to kill you? If you guys haven't noticed it's those guys who's been shooting at my back and Diana Prince over there threatening to put lead in my head. So I should be the one to ask that question." Skye huffed before adjusting the body on her shoulder. "Also, why are you here you said you wouldn't come in."

She paused at that. Skye's features were genuine curiosity and Jemma didn't need to elaborate on what she was talking about. 

Jemma smiled. She turned to Morse. "Do you think we can take her with us?"

"No."

"But..."

"No buts.... She's a risk and we don't know if we can trust her."

"I trust her."

"And if she turns out to be another HYDRA head's spy, what then?"

"Wait... I don't get it. Why would Hydra put a spy in their own organization?" Skye asked, obviously curious. 

"Because apparently, HYDRA's many heads are greedy. They can't even work together without stomping on another turf. There's one throne and all of them want it." Morse puts down her gun after looking over Skye's confused face. It was like looking at a pigeon trying to understand math. 

"Huh. I wouldn't put it past them if that were the case but you don't need to worry. You guys go your way. I go mine."

"Sure but that thing is coming with us," Morse said as she eyed the box on Skye's arm. Who now had a different expression. 

"I'm sorry but this thing is coming with me." Jemma was a bit surprised Skye could sound so serious and far-reaching. A little bit cold as well. "You don't know what this thing is and I won't hand it to you. Not even to someone like SHIELD." 

"You knew?" Jemma sounded hurt for some reason. 

Skye's face softens and shakes her head. "Not at the beginning. Well, I did know about Goldilocks there." She pointed at Morse who scoffs at her. "but I didn't know you were SHIELD. Not until I saw that little hologram guy in your room. It wasn't hard to piece out really." 

"Goldilocks?" Jemma turns back to Morse.

She was glaring at Skye. "I'm blonde. This is a wig. And no one is supposed to know that. You know what... you know too much. You're coming with us." 

Jemma cheered and Skye groaned.

"Me and my big mouth," The brunette muttered under her breath. 

~oOo~

The door of the rooftop opened and Morse grabbed both the cuffs of their clothes and dragged them out like a mother would to her two troublemaker children. 

Suddenly the door of the stairwell slammed outwards and dozens of gunmen started shooting. Morse pushes them to hide as she covers for them. 

"Shit."

"Tell me why are we on the rooftop where we can't run anywhere," Skye asked as she covered behind a concert wall. Jemma shrugs. 

"I don't know. I just knew about Agent Morse being a SHIELD agent a few minutes ago." 

"Wow, really? That must be some revelation." Skye jokes as another bullet hits the edge of the wall. 

"Not as much as seeing you carrying a body on your shoulder as if it was some any other Tuesday. For a second, I thought that's a dead body." Jemma retorted as more bullet grazed their hiding spot. 

"That reminds me. Can you check him for me? I'm not sure if he got shot or something."

"Sure. Turn around for me."

"Why the hell are you two just talking like it's some afternoon tea time?!" Morse joined them in huddling behind the wall as both women shrugged at her. 

"I'm out of bullets," Jemma said lightly. 

"I got no gun on me and if you haven't noticed there's nowhere to go!" Skye hissed at the taller woman glaring at her. Beeping sounds suddenly ring on the raven woman's belt before looking relieved. "Finally." 

"Okay, you two. When I say jump. You jump."

"Where?"

She pointed at the edge of the building. The two had different expressions. Skye wanted to huff as if she was watching a badly written movie and Jemma was looking like someone told her the Queen of England was dead. 

"You know. If I hadn't known you were SHIELD, I would have said you were crazy."

"Skye! She's asking us to kill ourselves."

"Wouldn't be the first time someone asked me that." As Skye started running to the edge of the building. 

"Hey, Skye! Are you out of your mind?! Get back here!" she shouted, chasing after her. A yelp escaped her as a bullet struck a metal panel, narrowly missing her. From then on, she proceeded with extra caution as she pursued the delusional brunette.

Morse was right behind them. Once they were a few meters away, she yelled at them to jump. She grabbed hold of Jemma as Skye didn't hesitate to step on their last spec of solid ground and fell off the edge. As for Jemma, she tried to stop her momentum but the taller woman's grip was hard to pull away as she as well came barreling off the building. 

Her heart jumped, thinking she was about to bite the dust. The idea of getting squished into a paste on a hard floor flashed in her mind. Then, bam, there was something solid where there was nothing.

"Fuck me. That was exhilarating." Jemma pushed herself up to see Skye grinning from ear to ear. Someone pulled her up and steady and found Morse giving her a small smile. Jemma wanted to reciprocate but her heart was still in chaos after the fright she was out through.

Later, they ascended gradually, distancing themselves from the building. Jemma observed the HYDRA agents below, frantically trying to catch up. Bakshi's enraged expression suggested he was likely instructing everyone to pursue, but their pursuit became increasingly futile as the distance turned them into tiny specks.

As they settled into the jet, Jemma exhaled with relief. "Give me a heads-up next time you're planning something wild. I can't handle another heart attack like that."

"Not gonna lie. I thought Blondie was going to leave me hanging."

She could feel Morse rolling her eyes at Skye. "You're just fussy because I made you clean a whole lab." The taller woman looked thrilled to see a riled-up Skye.

"I still can't believe you made me do that. I mean one person cleaning a mite-infested lab with guts on the wall— like come on!"

"Ahem." It was then they noticed that it wasn't just then in the jet. It's finally registered to Jemma that Tripp was the one who was piloting. 

"Tripp! I'm so happy to see you!"

"I feel the same, Jemma. I miss your science talk. You too, Bobbi."

"Tripplet" Morse acknowledges Tripp with a wave before sitting on a chair to relax. "My back hurts." 

"Mine too," Skye said before putting down the guy she'd been carrying to one side and plopping on the floor. 

"Who's she?" Tripp asked while Skye turned to him and waved with a smile. 

"Um... That's Skye. Skye this is Tripp." 

"Hello. Thanks for catching us. I didn't know where the plane was actually. So kudos to not dying."

"Thanks for the reminder," Morse said as she stood up, displaying the cuff. She approached Skye, who shot her a glare and prepared for a potential confrontation.

Jemma thinks she should interfere before one of them loses an eye. "Agent Morse..."

"Bobbi. I think we're past last names."

"...Bobbi, It's okay. Skye is not going to cause any problems. Right?" She eyed the brunette, warning her to behave. The brunette only pouted and looked away.

"Skye..." She warned again.

"Fine but no one touches the box. It stays with me."

"That's not for you to decide." Bobbie was now getting more frustrated. 

"Well, it's not for you to decide either." Skye counters. 

"How about we wait for Coulson's orders and talk it out by then? Is that a good compromise?" Jemma offered.

"If you want me to talk to your boss, then sure. But until then. This one stays with me."

"For now." Bobbi walks away and sits back down. 

The two women glared at one another with Jemma slowly getting headaches. 

Who thought this was how the day was going to end? But between staying in HYDRA and getting shot, Jemma thinks she can handle two stubborn women. 

Internally, Skye felt the stress building up. The urge to bolt and make a quick exit surged within her, but she knew it would only complicate matters. Leaving abruptly would put her on SHIELD's radar, though she suspected she might end up there anyway. She preferred to have a conversation with the higher-ups before being left with limited options. Another factor causing hesitation was Jemma.

The girl gazed at her with such trust that Skye couldn't bear the thought of letting down the biochemist. Back at her apartment, Skye hadn't meant to scare her or create distance between them, but there was something unsettling.

The way Jemma looked at Skye—it mirrored the gaze Killian had before his demise. It resembled the stares of the Saak creatures she had dominated and the haunting look Genevieve had on the eve of their 7th Anniversary.

Perhaps it was the alcohol or sheer fatigue that led her mind to blend past memories with the present. Skye found herself advancing toward Jemma with an intensity born from fear, and she felt ashamed for putting Jemma through it.

To avoid any more mistakes, she chose to keep her distance from Jemma.

Now, that's not really an option. All that's left is to wait and have a conversation—with whoever's in charge around here.

She opens her eyes and finds the now blonde woman still keeping a watchful eye on her. Skye responds with a raised eyebrow and a playful smirk. "Now. Now, Miss Morse. I'd stop that if I were you. It's hard not to fall in love with me."

The blonde glares even more, her hands inching towards her gun. Jemma sighs and firmly keeps her hand in place. "Bobbi, don't. Skye, you're not helping. Stop provoking her."

"What? She won't stop staring at me."

"If I look away, who knows what you'll do."

"What can I possibly do? Parkour my way out? Seriously, I thought you were smarter than this," Skye retorted.

Bobbi reached for her gun again.

"Bobbi! I said no!"

"Fine!" The taller blonde growled, crossing her arms with a frown.

Skye's smirk widened, and Jemma seemed to shake her head. "Skye, wipe that smirk off your face and turn around."

Skye looked appalled at the suggestion. "Are you serious?"

"Turn to face the wall. If you two keep eyeing each other, I know it won't end well," Jemma reasoned.

"But why me? Why can't she turn around?"

"Skye, it's easier for you; you're sitting on the floor. Our seat is bolted in place," Jemma added. Skye wanted to argue but couldn't find a valid point.

So, she shot one last glare at Bobbi and turned to face the wall while clutching the box on her lap. Skye could feel the other woman snickering behind her but chose not to comment, acknowledging that Jemma was right—they would end up fighting if she didn't stop.

As the jet shuddered one final time before coming to a complete stop, Skye sensed the solid ground beneath. She hoisted the unconscious man onto her shoulders again, ensuring the box was securely cradled in her hand.

Upon being escorted out, she felt the gaze of four pairs of eyes fixated on her. In the center stood a man in a suit, with thin hair, a NPC smile, and an average appearance. Skye observed the chaotic swirl in his eyes, hoping it wasn't a forewarning of trouble ahead. Flanking him were two men and a woman.

The woman was Chinese, with an unreadable expression— was she bored or something? Her expression was set in what she could assume was a resting bitch face. 

Skye shifted her gaze toward the two men. One loomed large, with a dark and almost teddy bear-like appearance, marked by oil smudges on his shirt and eyes as cautious as Bobbi's. She dismissed her initial dislike for him. The other was a slender, curly-haired man nervously fidgeting with his hands, his gaze fixated on Jemma.

Must be the boyfriend.

Skye was painfully aware that she was the odd one out. Carrying a full-grown adult on her shoulders and a sketchy-looking box under her arm while her clothes were more cut than a full set

All eyes were on her but she wouldn't verbalize her irritation.

"Ahh. You must be Jemma's friend. Welcome to our base." It was the dad man that spoke to welcome Skye. Appreciative that he at least didn't look at her weirdly. 

"Hello, Hologram man. I was told to tag along so we could talk about some things. Make some things straight with each other."

"Of course, if you could follow me we can give you a room to put your...." He eyes the man she were carrying before he was back to smiling at SKye. "... baggage to rest for a bit."

"Thanks. He's quite docile when asleep. They administer a lot of sleeping agents, so he won't be awake for another day or so," Skye explained, trailing behind the man in the suit.

"Great. Do you need cuffs just in case?" The man smiled as they offered her a room with a hexagonal panel. Skye smiled knowingly. A room with enhanced proprieties to absorb enormous exponential kinetic energy. 

She didn't say it though but the man could probably discern that Skye knew the purpose for it. 

"If I could borrow one and a chain that'd be nice." 

He gave her a black-colored one while the man three full heads taller than her, gave her the chains. She gave her thanks and fastened both hands and feet of his target to the bed. 

When the NPC man moved to grab the box, Skye took his wrist in hers and gave him a pointed look. "That's not a wise idea." She warned. 

The woman who was with him. The short and menacing-looking Asian had stepped once before his boss told him to stand down. 

"I wasn't going to take it. I was going to offer to hold it since you need both hands to cuff him." Skye wanted to laugh but his tonality was genuine and his eyes flashed a strong sense of loyalty. 

She let him go and slowly gave him the box. "Whatever you do. Don't open it and don't touch what's inside." She didn't wait for a reply and quickly did the cuff and secured him with a chain to his body. 

"Is that necessary?" Jemma asked curiously at her. 

Apparently, the whole team was looking at her, intent on understanding her motive. "You remember the guy that held you at knifepoint? This is him." The brunette grabbed his face and showed Jemma who gasped as she remembered. 

"It is him."

"What?!" Three exclamations reverberated through the small room as Tripp and the two other guys stared at Jemma in disbelief. "What do you mean at knifepoint?!"

Tripp's voice was loud and all Jemma could do was look sheepishly at them. "Um.. you see I was going back to my office. He came out of nowhere and held a knife to my throat. Some Hydra agents tried to resolve the situation but Skye knocked him out with her cart. I only got scratched."

Skye didn't want to take too long in their facility so before they could bombard Jemma in the room, Skye went back to take the black box from their boss.

"I know you guys need time to talk to Jemma and I think she misses you as well. She has a lot of stories, I could assume. But I need to talk to him." She faced the still calm demure man. "... privately."

Bobbi steps in not liking the proposal. "Sir, she may be hiding something. It could be more effective if I were the one to interrogate her."

"I'll agree on one condition. I'll share what I know to the best of my ability, but it's only for him to hear, and no recording. Do you get it?" Skye remained steadfast. No glare, no anger, but both Bobbi and their boss understood she meant every word.

"Okay." He nodded. "Then let's talk in my office. No one is allowed near it until my talk with...."

NPC man tried to peer at her and she shrugged.

"Skye?"

"...Skye is finished. Do every one of you, understand?"

Despite their discontent, all the SHIELD members acquiesced and exited. As Skye trailed the man to another room, she noticed a smile on his face, though his eyes betrayed a profound weariness.

"You seem stressed, hologram man?" She kept her tone light although not half-heartedly.

"I am. Please call me Coulson. New Director of SHIELD. I was debriefed that you knew about us."

"New management, huh?"

"Not how I would like my title to be handed but we roll with the punches."

"It's more like you didn't have a choice on the matter." She commented. "I don't know everything about SHIELD but I do know enough. I actually had a few run-ins with ex-shield agents before. Pretty memorable stuff." 

"Well, if you have the time maybe you can tell me about it."

"All in due time and if I don't find you disagreeable then maybe." 

Stepping into Coulson's office, the visitor was greeted by a space that seamlessly blended history and purpose. Adorned walls showcased framed accolades and superhero action figures, a testament to past triumphs. The desk, once imposing, now held a mix of vintage Captain America comics and classified files—a balance between duty and a love for the extraordinary.

A model of the Helicarrier stood ready on the desk, while a framed photo captured a moment of camaraderie among Coulson and his team. The window framed a cityscape, casting light on the SHIELD insignia with a subtle optimism.

Despite the weariness in Coulson's eyes, the room radiated determination and resilience. It was more than an office; it was a reflection of a leader navigating SHIELD through challenges, where every artifact whispered a story of battles fought and victories earned.

Skye could see who Coulson was beneath the stacks of papers, folders, and duties. She hopes she can forge some understanding between each other.

He offered the sofa as the two sat. "So where would you like to start talking?" 

"Before I talk. I want all nine hidden mics in the room to be deactivated. I warn you. I'm not a nice person even if I consider Jemma a friend."

Coulson sighed but nodded. He waved his hand and an AI sounded on his wristwatch. 

"Is that better?"

"Yes. At any point are they turned on? I will walk out."

"Understandable. So, care to start us off."

"Fine. This here..." Skye took the box she had been especially guarding and settled it on the table with a steady hand. ".... is the most valuable asset Whitehall has in his possession."

"What is it?"

Skye opened the box and Coulson's eyes widened.

"Whitehall calls it the Obelisk. I call it a pain in the ass."

Notes:Merry Christmas everybody! Whether it be spent with families, friends, a stranger or just by yourself, I wish you all a happy holiday.

Chapter 13: FrictionSummary:Skye reached an understanding with Coulson.

Notes:Okay, so story time. I was going to post this on Dec 31. Just a day before New Year. Everything was set. I have edited it twice and then I mistakenly pressed deleted it. So yeah. that was the hold-up. I deleted more than 7k words down the drain. I blame it solely on myself. I got depressed and now this was the second attempt. I'll just edit out the final chinks I didn't see.

I'll sleep on it. Not much I can do now.

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text"What does it do?" 

Coulson asked with intrigue mixed with slight hesitation. Over the last months of trying to man an organization that had recently fallen, coupled with stress over Hydra and the insatiable itch he has been having over mysterious runes invading his mind, it has been quite a mess. 

The new guest, though, is a surprising factor. One he would hope would be an advantage rather than a misfortune.

He stared at the obelisk mere inches from him. Its shape was not just a block of metal. It had a weird angular stand, a deep silver and black tone and weird buzzing to it that he couldn't figure out how it was producing them. One thing he can quickly conclude without Fitz or Jemma helping, it was that it's from alien origins or at least he thinks so. 

He could feel a slight connection to it that was terrifyingly uncontrollable, so much like GH135. His itch intensified even more as he continued to gaze at it.

However, Coulson assumed the one who carried it was even odder.

He did his background check after Bobbi gave him an initial report of bringing another person back to the Playground. 

Usually, he would have singed it off but the subject matter was a mystery of her own. When he tried searching, there was nothing he could find on her. No records. No birth certificates. No affiliations. Her resume in HYDRA was highly private but those as well were nothing more but ten paragraphs. 

Stark has more on her and he has an AI that's built to keep terrorists out of its system. Then again, Tony patrols his life like a celebrity so that can't be an appropriate comparison.

A person who is not supposed to exist is not normal, at all. If she has had a hand in deleting it though, that would mean she's a highly sought-after hacker or she knew someone who is. Bypassing not just the government, but SHIELD and HYDRA as well.

That's the main reason why he did not pass up the chance to meet the person who had brought an artifact that Whitehall seemed to take importance.

Coulson tried to regard the mysterious woman. 

Skye was leaning on the couch, all pretense of uncertainty leaving her body. Back hunched. Feet crossed and arms draped on the soft texture of his sofa. Truly making herself at home. Coulson was the opposite and was wary of why she was so relaxed in such an unknown environment. People like that aren't calm for no reason. He had learned that the hard way. 

"Well, if the majority of people touch it, it turns them into stone." She said with a carefree attitude.

Coulson's hand which was mere inches from the obelisk paused and stared at Skye asking if she was serious. 

The brunette cocked an eyebrow. "Considering the many people Whitehall has turned to stone, I can estimate about 30 people already and that's just for controlled experiments and nothing for the accidental part of it. Let's say he lost a lot of resources trying to get it. That's the reason why I didn't want your agents meddling." Skye grumbled under her breath. 

She must have been talking about Agent Morse.

He internalized her words before slowly edging his hands to the container instead to take a better look at it.

"What else can you tell me about it?" Coulson's eyes narrowed. She equally met his eyes in a guarded way. Both stare each other down. 

"What do you know about individuals with abilities, Director Coulson?" She asked before standing up to take in the room some more. She trifled through the folders on his desk but she wasn't interested in them then proceeded to walk up to one of his shelves to appreciate the displays instead.

Coulson deliberated what to say. Skye was truly not part of SHIELD and would be basically offering information to a stranger who's not just a risk but with an undisclosed area of where her loyalty lies. But considering how she is with Jemma, Coulson knew she wasn't as bad as everyone in the base would probably think so.

So to earn her trust, he has to break a few rules. 

"We have a few people in The index that are considered Enhanced people. They're individuals who had been assessed to have abilities beyond any average human capability. People with incredible strength that can bend metals, handle jumps from tall places, have innate controls with computers that would consider it second nature, and even one who can kill with just their voice. We keep an eye on them and if it's necessary we also try to neutralize them. We know humans aren't the only thing on Earth that has intelligence and capacity for destruction."

She hums in a daze. "Yeah. Not just humans," She trailed off. "I think you're the authentic version of Men in Black. Protect the world from the very existence of extraterrestrials and beyond-human creatures under secrecy. That kind of jig." 

"Seems so."

Skye eyed the Captain America collectibles he had and turned to him with wonder. "May I?" 

"I don't mind." 

She nodded before handling the action figure with care, eyes softening as she did so and chuckled. "You know he's much bulkier than this."

"You've met him?" 

"Seen him a few times." She put it back and stared at nothing again.

Coulson waited for her to respond but she kept on looking everywhere but at him. She was also debating her words as well. Two sides of the coin withholding information, he wanted to laugh.

Suddenly after a while, he heard her sigh.

"I know that I can't tell you everything. I don't trust you yet nor do I trust people generally. But as my proof of goodwill and my attempt to meet you halfway, I can reveal a little bit about that thing." Her voice held no mirth.

Skye paused then scratched the side of her face, eyes screwed back to the obelisk. "It's not a weapon as Whitehall might think. Although it depends on how you look at it. But it's mostly a key."

"A key to what?"

"To awaken a gene. A potential leap of evolution. Unfortunately, it's not for the majority's sake. I don't know if you've found them but there are people out there who are gifted with abilities, Director Coulson. Abilities that are innate to them and only to their kind. That thing is what transforms them into their real selves. But make no mistake, they aren't more subjectively moral than the rest. If possible they don't need to even know they have these gifts. They'll be subjected by society as a menace if word gets out of their existence."

"That's not completely true. People love the Avengers. They consider them heroes. We even have an agent who is Enhance and can do amazing things." He insisted. 

"Yes. Some love the Avengers but let's not try to forget that half of the population is afraid of them. A radioactive man who can punch walls and bring down ships. A billionaire who can make atomic bombs out of someone's garage. Agents who have kill rates more than an average person. A god that can summon thunder and can pulverize human flesh if he wanted. And a human experiment that can precede time. Tell me, do you think everyone will welcome them with open arms?" Her voice steeled and Coulson brisk at the cold air wishing around him. 

"I don't want them to be subjected to that kind of hatred. People already hate people. Add inhuman powers and they're just begging to be pushed back by ignorance and fear. That thing needs to be monitored and stored. That's why as much as possible this thing should be kept safe and guarded, and out of Whitehall's palm. It should stay with me."

"I don't think that's a good idea" Coulson stated. 

He expected the woman to get angry but she only smiled, although it didn't reach her eyes.

"I didn't ask you, Director Coulson. I'm saying that it stays with me." 

"And if I say no?" He tried poking.

The woman turned to walk back to him and sat on the table in front, her eyes alight with mischief. "I told you. I'm not asking." 

"How about I convince you then?"

She contemplated for a bit then crossed her arms. "You guys lost about a hundred alien tech that was supposed to be under SHIELD's protection and now you expect me to believe you can keep this. I'm sorry if it's hard to trust your words, Director. But this thing is personal to me." She said with a slight snap that he didn't mind at all. 

"You said personal. Personal how? Are you one of these gifted you talked about?"

"No... maybe... I'm not sure." She chuckled bitterly, her shoulders tensing up. "Just know that I'm the most suitable person to guard it."

"I'm curious. Not once did you call it the obelisk. Why is that?" Coulson probed again, his demeanor still calm but inside his mind was plagued with question after question. Something this person was discontent to reveal. 

Skye's eyes regarding him. "Because it's more than just an obelisk."

There was silence and her eyes that was searching her own answer through him. This unnerved Coulson as he stood up to get some drink. 

"Rum?" 

"Sure, got a bottle?" He was relieved she didn't say anything else. 

Then Coulson got confused. 

"The whole bottle?"

"Yeah. I could buy it from you if you want?" Skye chuckled at his bewildered look. 

He shakes his head before throwing it to her, a small smile on his lips. Director Fury was a man who also tipped on a few drinks once in a while but a woman half his size and more adept at drinking kind of makes him laugh but he doesn't say it. 

"How about you stay with us for a week? If you think we can keep the obelisk safe then you leave it to us and if you think we can't keep it under lock from HYDRA, you leave and we won't bother you?" He drinks from his glass and the woman chugs the bottle as if it's nothing. 

He finally understood that the incident at Jemma's apartment wasn't a one-time thing if that's how she usually is. 

"And why would I agree to that? I can just get out of here." She closed her eyes, savoring the drink with a content smile.

Coulson believed her words were coming from her heart. He'd met people like her. Real threats, hidden by sarcasm or nonchalance. Threading lightly would be his best choice of action. 

"We both know we won't let you. And between us having to fight until one of us gets bruised and injured, or waiting for a week to decide whether you'll let us take it, which one would be better?" He held his drink but his gaze was anticipating her actions. 

There was a smile but it held some sort of underlying joke she was trying to hide. 

"To be honest, the first one sounds tempting but I would hate for Jemma to take care of all of you while you recover." She cracked her neck and sighed, the smile still there. 

"Fine. I'll take on your condition. Just one week but the box never left my sight. Throughout my stay here no one is to take it from me. You can run tests but it's mandatory that I have to be there. Accept all of that and we won't have a problem."

"Deal. But I do ask you to be civil with Bobbie and towards the others." Coulson has worries if he'll have a ruined facility or blue bruised agents within the week, amid his decision— worst yet if it's both. 

She chuckled. "If they throw a punch my way they better be prepared to receive one back but sure, I'll try to play nice. Provoking them though is my right."

"Now we got that out of the way. What about your friend?"

"I would hardly see him as a friend but he is within my interest. I need something from him— information that only he knows. Since I'm asking a lot to have him detained in one of your holding cells, how about I offer some of my expertise if I can help it, and in exchange information he disclosed stays between the two of us? Although I don't think it will be anything meaningful to you."

"What kind of expertise are you talking about?" Coulson asked a bit interested. Skye grinned back, "The kind that can sniff out a lot of dirt."

The two talked for a while, getting some ground rules checked until they were both satisfied with their arrangement. Skye can help out with the technical side of hacking although Coulson wasn't sure to what extent she could do and they would provide shelter and food for both her and her prisoner until the week was up. Since it was his own idea for her to stay, he wasn't opposed to them staying but information from both the obelisk and Skye's target would remain confidential. 

Anything they find out by themselves is okay since Skye also believes there's nothing she could do if that were to happen but she is not going to help and the man would only have contact with her. He or any SHIELD agents are not to make any attempts.

He expected as much but he smiled back in understanding. 

"Welcome to the team, Skye." 

"I hope I don't regret this."

"Don't worry. They'll like you."

"Yeah, right."

"What?!" Bobbi's indignant hiss was evidently towards the brunette who was smirking right back at her. 

The two are like oil and water. All of them could see the two in opposition to each other.

Coulson reprimanded the blonde with a look. She huffed and walked away til she touched the walls and glared at the ceiling to avoid insubordination. 

"As I was saying, Skye will stay with us for a week. We've agreed. She won't hinder how we operate and will only be a consultant from time to time. The individual in her custody is also hers to handle and no one is to take the artifact from her sight without permission. That is all." Coulson briefed all of the agents under him while Skye was busy playing with her phone. 

"She's a civilian. Why would you let her have something so dangerous?" It was Mack who asked also displeased, his suspicion on her. "She can endanger everyone else in the base."

This time Skye spoke up while still preoccupied with her phone. "Calm down, big man. You don't know me and stop speaking as if you do. I know all of you are worried I'll do something with it and to be honest, that's a rational reason but I assure you, I know what I'm doing. More than any of you do. So stop talking as if SHIELD's the only one who has any right to keep artifacts safe." There was no change to her tone but they all felt a sense of oppression around her. Jemma, as well, didn't feel like it was the usual Skye she knew and that kind of bothered her. 

Mack didn't want to back down though. "Because we have protocols that we follow. We were trained to handle these things. Compared to you, how are you better equipped to handle this?"

Skye smirked. "How am I better equipped?" 

She took the box in her possession, opened it, and offered it to him. She took one step and everyone was on alert. Almost all of them had their guns out except for a tense Coulson and a conflicted Jemma.

"Skye! Stop this instant!" Jemma urged and Coulson also parroted.

Skye ignored them and walked until he was in front of the big and tall guy, whose face knew more how to frown than smile. She stopped just a few distance from him and looked up, her eyes full of undisclosed sophistry and unbridled keenness.

She held up the box and he backed away in instinct. "Do you know why I was courteous enough to tell all of you not to touch it? That I keep it in my protection. It's not for my benefit I'm telling you. It's for yours. Had I been any selfish as I would have been, it'd have taken at least one of you to die before you knew not to come in contact with it. Even now, I'm telling you that this thing should not be handled recklessly because if you do. It'll only take a second for you to stop breathing and die. In the offset that you're lucky then you've got grace's dumb luck." 

She walked away from him and placed the box on the table. She gazed at the others still holding a gun at her which she beheld for only a moment. She took something from her pocket. A small thing that squeaked in her grasp. It was subdued by a rubber band and was biting her fingers aggressively. 

"I got this little guy as food for a stray cat who's been visiting me recently. Unfortunately, he'll have to do." Without warning, she let the small rodent go and it fell on the obelisk inside the box. 

The rodent squeaked before it quickly turned to stone. The brunette purses her lips and delicately takes it back to throw it at the big man. 

The thing was so fragile that after it touched his palm it broke on impact. It's head and body crumbling. 

"But yeah, protocols do exist but give it a whirl on your scanner or whatever else you have and it'd still come up as any other alien tech you have. You'd still be none the wiser." Skye sighed. She stared at Jemma with a knowing glance. "Something tells me. It's not your first time almost dying from an unknown alien tech." 

"Well, it was actually an alien virus." Jemma pipes up. 

"Much worse then." Skye quips before staring at Mack and Bobbie. "I know you two don't think I'm supposed to be here. Heck, I wished I didn't have a conscience about this particular asset. Then I wouldn't have cared at all what you guys do with it. But I do. I also promised your Director to give you guys a chance. If I see that you guys won't have any issue then I will leave it in your care but I also hope you would give me the same courtesy." Skye had enough patience not to overwhelmingly provoke them as Coulson could finally breathe when Mack and Bobbie stood down. Albeit they were still frowning, they were not barking back at Skye.

The others were slowly accepting the situation, at a slow pace but he'd take anything at this point.

"Since we've come to an agreement already, please excuse me. I'll head to my room. I'm too tired to continue talking if you have any other complaints you can send them to your Director." Skye closed the box and took it with her. She waved at them, gave Coulson a look, and left. 

Jemma beelineed to Skye and started talking while offering to show her room. 

The others were left to discuss on their own. May approached Coulson with a look that was a cross between 'I hope you know what you're doing' and 'This is going to be a mess, right?'. 

Coulson just smiled. "It'll be fine. At the very least she knows more than she lets on and we can find out as we go."

"But do we really need to have that artifact? We've got a lot on our plate."

"Whitehall wants it for a reason. He believes it can be used as a weapon and knowing HYDRA I wouldn't be surprised. However, Skye also told me that it's for something else entirely. Her version of it is much more world-changing."

Coulson and May walked back to his office. "I also did some digging. Just found out right now as well."

"About what?" May asked.

"It's actually the first 0-8-4 SHIELD retrieved back in 1945. Ain't that fascinating?"

"Everything is intriguing to you. Let me also guess, you find the woman perplexing?" May rolled her eyes and Coulson just chuckled.

"Honestly, she frightens me."

May smirked. "Now that's interesting."

Skye snores on a flat table while Jemma does her inspection of the Obelisk. 

As per their condition, they can inspect the obelisk as long as Skye is in the room with them. Although Skye had been bored observing Jemma, halfway through, she got sleepy and told her to not touch its surface and slept. 

Jemma wanted to argue that she was so vehemently opposed to not having to monitor it every second of the day and now that she was actually inspecting the artifact the brunette goes to sleep without any worries. 

Jemma hopes it because she trusts her. If it's because of something else she'd smack the brunette on the the arm. 

Jemma noticed the movement not far away and suddenly felt sad as the person she was partnered with to assess the obelisk, had his back to her.

Fitz had also joined them in looking at the Obelisk but was more grumbling than excited.

"Do you need any help, Fitz?" She tried sounding concerned but the stiff way Fitz reacted made her more sad than hopeful.

"I'm... I'm fine, Jemma. I-I need to think." He gritted out a bit dazed and flustered. He was shaking his head and talking to himself, unfortunately it was so low that Jemma couldn't hear properly to jest with him. 

She frowned as the gap between them couldn't be farther away and continued with her work in silence.

About half an hour Jemma needed to run something to Coulson and left the lab. 

Fritz was tampering with the scanner to better determine the effects of the Obelisk when he felt someone behind him. 

"Ahh! What?" Fritz clutches his chest to see Skye curiously looking at his work. She noticed his startled expression and grimace. Her body was positioned in a friendly manner, so as not to offend him. 

"Sorry. I got bored of sleeping and saw you tinkering. I got curious." Skye stared at Fitz with a questioning look when he reached for a wrench and used it as a weapon. His eyes swirling in a panic and his breath ragged. 

"Stay away! I know what you did with Mack. You tried intimidation tactics on him." His swinging it around just made her chuckle inside. It was like watching a jellyfish drift around without a clue, and there wasn't much oomph behind it, so she figured he wasn't really out to cause any harm.

Skye snorted and found him funny. "I'm not going to lie. I was going for intimidation but don't worry, I wouldn't have hurt him. Maybe if he did try anything. So what are you doing exactly?" 

It took Fitz a couple of minutes to believe Skye was really curious before he brought down the wrench and stood awkwardly beside her as he went back to work. Although, he didn't entertain her curiosity. 

"Could you step away a bit? I-I can't work properly with you breathing so close." Fitz said wary as the brunette only took one step but otherwise still there observing the machine. 

She gave him a once over but was composed enough as she backed one step away.

"So, Fitz— can I call you Fitz or do you prefer your last name?"

"Fitz is my last name?"

"Really? Then what's your first name?" She changed position and sat on the table next to Fitz.

"I'm not going to tell you my first name. You might profile me later on." His voice edged deeper in annoyance but still she gave no indication that she minded.

"I mean. I'm going to profile you regardless. Might as well tell me." And shrugged once.

"You tell me your name and I give you mine."

"Okay. My name's Skye." She snorted at his attempt to block her. 

"And I'm Fitz." He frowned at her.

"But I thought you had a first name."

"You didn't tell me your full name."

"My name has always been Skye. I don't have any last name."

"You don't have a last name?"

"No."

"How's that possible?" Fitz's gaze wasn't convinced. 

"If it helps I do have a fake last name. I guess I go by Abeline but I only use it for going over legalities." The way she said it, without a conscience that she forged her documents really cemented in Fitz's mind that she was a ruffian. But then he remembered that SHIELD does the same so he can't judge her so much. If anything, having no last name did bug him. Some cultures do not have any last name for their children. But Fitz believes it's a bit different for Skye. 

"But no last name?" 

"Nope."

Fitz lets Skye stand beside him before he scratches his head. "You're making me feel guilty, aren't you?" 

"Is it working?" Skye asked with a smile. 

"You're not even denying it."

Skye laughed, she reached for a screwdriver and something resembling a laser from his toolbox. "You're prickly but I don't mind. So about your first name?" Playing with his toolbox got her hand slapped but she only chuckled and did it again to annoy him.

"Leo," he said after Skye's fourth attempt at grabbing his things. "Stop that," he grumbled.

"Mighty name there." She teased before finally letting him continue on his tinkering.

He scowled at Skye from time to time but found he didn't outright hate the woman. "So what does this thing do?"

"Are you genuinely curious?" Fitz had initially pegged her as the type to pass quick judgments or deliver sharp insults at first sight. Considering her interactions with Mack, he anticipated a similar treatment for himself.

But Skye just continued to stare with a hint of odd fascination and a restrained manner.

"Yeah. I mean I'm not sure if I can understand whatever this is but I don't mind listening. I knew someone who was also a mechanic. Troublesome fellow but really talented." Fitz noticed the way Skye had a softer smile to her but then a bitter smirk at a memory.

"I feel kind of insulted you compared me to a mechanic."

"He was a brilliant mechanic." She responded.

Fitz scoffs but lets Skye observe him as he fixes the wirings. "Because you're not giving us enough explanation about the obelisk we need a complete diagnostic test on it. I need to know the- the uh— the..." he rubs his hair a few times and Skye notices he is getting agitated.

Skye placed a hand on his shoulders and patted him twice. "It's fine Fitz. I'm too stupid to understand hard words. Can you simplify it for me?"

"Huh? Simplify?"

She nodded. "Yeah. Dumb it down for me."

His eyes looked down at his dirt-covered hands. He clenched it a few times to ground himself and felt Skye still squeezing his shoulders. 

"I wouldn't particularly say it like that but, yeah." He nodded and cleared his throat. "I need... to find out... what kind of metal it is or just the general idea of it and if it contains anything inside it that would need more consideration..." Skye smiled softly as she listened.

Fitz kept on rambling, occasionally losing track of his thoughts. However, Skye exhibited remarkable patience, listening without any specific expectations or the need for him to consistently make sense. She refrained from interrupting, gently guiding him back to reality with a reassuring pat when necessary, helping him acclimate to their conversation. At times, she delved into a barrage of questions, exploring various aspects of the what, why, and how, persisting until Fitz reluctantly acknowledged that ignoring her wouldn't make her disappear.

Not that Skye would comment on the fact that Fitz actually likes to explain stuff.

~oOo~

Skye would talk to Fitz whenever she saw him. The others would be wary of her intentions, but after a while of them just conversing about strange things—Fitz mostly talking Skye's ear off—they let her be. Skye let him ramble about things that motivated his mind, while she rewarded him with stories about her travels to different states or anything that would interest him. Whenever Fitz would have his usual dazedness, she would ask him to talk a bit more slowly and easily, while Skye chalked up this excuse to her inability to understand complicated ones, so he wouldn't feel bad.

She hadn't even noticed it's been two days of this constant back-and-forth session with him.

Skye lacked any preconceived notions about Fitz's identity as a SHIELD agent. Instead, she came to understand him as someone grappling with personal troubles and inner pain, one that kind of made Skye relate closer than she does the others. 

Skye had seen Fitz struggle to communicate, and it seemed like it was consuming him. The distinct fear of messing up his words was comparable to a porcelain doll afraid of being considered a broken product. She didn't like Fitz having that kind of mindset. While she would never pity Fitz because she thinks he's too good to be pitied, it doesn't mean she isn't affected when he frustratingly gets angry at himself for not knowing what to say.

Skye had no reason to do this of course. She just wanted to help. As she found out Fitz wasn't a bad guy to befriend. He looked a lot like her younger brother back in her universe. Really dense and sometimes too socially awkward but the guy was too preciously focused on things he valued. 

They also have the same annoyed face whenever she teases them while working.

Unfortunately, though, she does realize that for Fitz... recovery is always done in small steps, never bounds of leaps. 

So she was patient and she was kinder to him than to the others. Even more than Jemma.

Not that they would point it out to her face though.

But she was proven wrong when one day, Mack cornered her out of the blue.

"I know you're dying to pick a fight with me but first let me finish cooking. I don't want to spill hot oil on you. Coulson would scold me." Skye said as she cooked eggs and bacon for breakfast, music playing in the background, while she hummed to the beat with a sway of her head.

While the majority of SHIELD agents were occupied with missions, leaving Skye with the mundane tasks of conversing with her prisoner, guarding the diviner, and handling commission jobs asked by Coulson that didn't demand much of her time, she began taking on additional menial tasks for the entire facility.

No one actually told her to do it, but since she really had nothing to do. She cleaned, fixed, and cooked when she had the time. The first day she did it. No one but Jemma and Fitz would eat her cooking for fear of poisoning. She didn't discourage the thought because she found their faces debating if she had selectively done it was hilarious. 

"I'm not here to make trouble," Mack said a bit low. His body doing awkward steps while his eyes were looking at her and then at something else. 

Skye raised an eyebrow and spared him half of her attention. He looked uncomfortable for some reason. 

"I... wanted to thank you." He cleared his throat unnecessarily. As if thanking her was that hard. 

"For what? For cleaning your undies? Don't worry I won't tell anyone why some of them had holes." She chuckled while flipping one of the slices of bacon. 

She saw him blush. "I don't have holes in my underwear!" He retorted but took three deep breaths to better handle himself. "First of all. Don't go through my stuff, especially my clothes, I know how to clean them."

"Dude you have motor oil on everything and I say everything. I didn't know how you managed that." Skye rebutted and the two heard Hunter snorting at the table drinking his morning coffee while waiting for breakfast. 

Hunter was a member of Coulson's team that was introduced to her a bit later because he was preoccupied with a mission but unlike her reception of cold and wary gazes, she hit it off great with him. The British man was as much of a Sailor's mouth as Skye's formerly was. Crude and really patriotic to his soccer team. If she considers Fitz to be a younger brother, Hunter would be the problematic older brother-in-law and no one would spoil it for her.

The guy was chill.

"How long you've been there, Hunter?" Mack asked. 

"Yeah, I didn't know you were there," Skye added. 

Hunter looked insulted and scoffed. "I've been here for almost half an hour. I even greeted you good morning, Skye." 

"I thought I was hearing things. Sorry." Skye shrugged and went to finish cooking the remaining eggs. 

"Anyways, As I was saying. I wanted to thank you for understanding Fitz. He's usually very distant lately after the incident." Mack explained. 

Hunter agreed. "He's glaring at me for no reason after he can't solve an equation."

"Right. He's not all there, you know. So the fact that he's been opening up more and more I think it's because you make him talk." Mack scratched his neck and looked embarrassed. 

"Also, I'm sorry for what I said about you. You're not half bad." 

"It's fine, Big guy. You were looking out for your team. As any of you would. But let's face it. You're too protective for your own good." Skye placed the last food on the platter and placed it on the table. 

"But the past is the past. I still won't play good with Barbie though if she doesn't apologize to me." Skye's voice turned annoyed remembering Bobbi.

When her charge woke up, Bobbi tried interrogating him without her knowing which caused an argument between them. She had no right to do that when she was already brief that no one spoke with him except for Skye. 

Skye had more reason to throw snarks her way as they would glare whenever the two were in the same room. 

Luckily, Bobbi was out on another mission assigned by Coulson, sparing the base from her presence. Skye couldn't help but roll her eyes as the blonde dramatically flipped her hair over her face while exiting the office after filing a complaint about her to Coulson.

"You two should sit down and discuss the tension between you," Mack suggested, chuckling, while Hunter joined in with laughter.

"Excuse me? Don't make it sound like it's my fault. And don't make it sound weird!"

Mack sat beside Hunter and started eating. His behavior was more lax and calmer.

Skye called for Jemma and Fitz that breakfast was available and sent a message to May since she eats on her own time. Coulson was already entering the kitchen just in time to sit across from Mack. 

"Morning, DC. Didn't expect you to go out of your room?" Skye smiled at him while fixing two plates with eggs and bacon. 

"DC?"

"What? It's short for Director Coulson. It's too mouthful to call you Director Coulson." She reasoned out. 

"Only you, Skye." Hunter shakes his head while smiling.

"It's fine if you call me, Coulson though. You're not obliged to follow anything since you're not actually a SHIELD agent."

"Now that's just rude. DC should be fine."

"If that's what you like. But yeah, I wasn't busy today so thought I could join you guys." He moved to get food as the fork and plate clattered in sync.

Skye peered over Coulson and saw traces of plaster dust on his hands and wrist. She noticed the deep eyebags he had and the way his eyes were a bit red. She averted her eyes and hums back. "The more the merrier. May should be done with her Tai Chi. I think?"

After disturbing her morning routine that one time, she preferred not to do it again. The woman was scary. At this point, it's just a habit to have May do whatever she wants.

"Hello, everyone. Good morning Skye. Thank you for cooking." Jemma came in with a smile and a wave. A few moments later, Fitz appeared with a small device he was tinkering with. 

"Fitz, no device in the table." Skye appeared behind him and snatched the thing away. He looked frazzled and reached for it but Skye was faster. 

"What did I say?" Her tone left no room to complain.

The curly-haired man sighed in annoyance but conceded. "A healthy, well-balanced diet can help me think clearly and feel more alert. It can also improve concentration and attention span." His voice was monotone and robotic as if she'd said it to him multiple times. 

"Yes. Now eat." She pushed him down to sit and adjusted the chair so he had nowhere else to do but face his food head-on. "You'll get this again from Mack after you're done." Skye throws it at Mack who catches it with ease but Fitz's face pales at the action.

"Be careful with it! It has an incomplete miniature-made transformer built in!" He whined and was trying to get up but Skye had her foot on the back of his chair, keeping him in place. 

"I said, eat first." 

Fitz grumbled again but finally started chewing down bread. 

When she finally made him eat, she patted his curly hair. She spotted Jemma frowning at her but didn't have the time to ask when her pager beeped in her pockets.

"Enjoy everyone." She waved at them and took her two plates with her. 

She bumped into May on her way out to the holding containment. They exchange a meek nod and she carries on. 

Upon arriving, as she had done for two consecutive days, she attempted to control her anger by shaking her head, rehearsing words repeatedly until she felt prepared, and then proceeded to open the door.

"Daisy?" A scratchy voice reached her ears.

Skye's smile stayed on but it had no real warmth in it. Still, her shoulders were straight and she approached the man with familiarity.

"Hi, Dad. Got ourselves some breakfast."

The man's eyes light up. His teeth a thousand-watt smile as he moved to greet her with a hug but the chains on his feet reminded him where he could only move. "Uh.. yes. Please daisy. Come in. I— give me a sec."

He cleared his bed. Making it neat and tidy and offered for her to sit down.

Skye nodded and gave him his plate while she sat down on his bed. 

Cal, as she found out days ago, was the man Whitehall had imprisoned after stealing the diviners from his men retrieving it from the government containment center.

He was once a vet doctor but had been rescinded of his duty to heal as he now had a habit of tearing limbs apart from sheer unfiltered fury. 

And as Skye continued to find out...

He's Mary— or in her real birth certificate—Diasy's father. 

"So where were we?" Skye asked seeming innocent. 

As of right now, Cal believes she's Daisy and has gotten amnesia after an incident, erasing a lot of memories for 7 years. He didn't question it as he began recounting and talking about Daisy. 

Skye never wanted to use underhanded methods but when she dug files of him killing more than thousands of men in blind revenge all innocently dragged through the mud, she knew talking rationally would be futile. This was her only other option and she needed it to go smoothly.

"Yeah. I was talking about the first time I met you after being separated for years. I think that was when you were 16."

Skye offered a smile. "Yeah. When we met for the first time. What happened?"

His warm smile stiffened... then it disappeared before he frowned fully. Skye did not touch her food as she waited for his words. 

What really happened to Daisy?

"You see... it was close to midnight when I saw you... over the bridge. It was raining... heavily... and you just killed someone."

Notes:Still, considering I'm late to wishing you all a Happy New Year, the sentiment stays. Love to all and best wishes for 2024.