Work Text:
REASSURANCE
DISCLAIMER
All familiar things belong to Marvel and anyone else associated with the creation of Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. I own nothing. AU end of Season 1.
Sky couldn’t sleep. She was restless. She tossed and turned, punching her pillow with a scowl. Ugh, I need to get back to sleep! she fumed. But she couldn’t. As her scowl deepened, she quickly shifted into a black wolf, left her bunk, and padded to the part of the Bus that was almost like the van she had lived in for two years, hunkering down with a huff. Maybe now I can get some sleep, she thought to herself. She was restless. And she wasn’t sure why. Which she hated. She just wanted to get some sleep. Was that really too much to ask for? Why couldn’t she sleep? Was it because of what they had just gone through with the Rising Tide? Her shoulders bunched together as the memory.
Skye’s eyes widened when she saw the message.
“What is it?” Melinda asked.
“The Rising Tide,” she responded. “They’ve discovered a way to access S.H.I.E.L.D.’s files and say that unless we release Miles Lydon from Japan and Ian Quinn from his prison, they’ll dump everything they find on the internet,” she continued. This is my fault. I agreed with Alpha Coulson’s punishment for them. They’re doing this to punish me, she thought to herself. To be honest, that was one of the things that she didn’t miss about the Rising Tide: how judgmental some of the members could be.
“We need to get this to Director Fury,” Melinda declared and Skye nodded as she saved the information onto a jump drive and then gave it to Melinda who went to make a call.
The younger wolf shoved the memory away and huffed silently. Would she be sent away now? She wouldn’t be able to blame them if that was what they decided to do. She had after all, screwed up pretty majorly. But she hadn’t meant to. She had figured once Miles been trapped in Japan, that’d be the end of things. She hadn’t known that he was connected with Ian Quinn and that the other man would retaliate.
From the other side of the Bus, Melinda May and Phil Coulson awoke with a start. There was a…..bad stench. As one, the two got up from their bunks and started to explore, finding the rest of their Pack also awake.
“What are you doing up?” Melinda wondered, her voice not quite Alpha, but firm.
“Couldn’t sleep,” Grant admitted. Worried about Sky, he thought.
“That smell,” Jemma responded. “It woke me up,” she continued. And I hate it. I hate that she feels so out of sorts, she mused.
“It smells like Grant did after the Lorelai situation,” Leo added. At this, Melinda and Phil glanced at each other. Skye. She was the only one not here.
“I’ll talk to her,” Phil murmured and Melinda nodded. Good. He’ll take care of her, she thought to herself as the man followed Skye’s scent, his brows furrowing in confusion when he saw how small she was trying to make herself. Skye? he asked, his mental voice concerned. At the sound of his mental voice in her head, Skye scrambled to her feet. Yes, Alpha? she queried. Are you all right? Phil queried. It’s my fault. Rising Tide attacked us because of me. I’m so sorry, Alpha, came the response and Phil watched as she curled up tighter as she answered him. Phil shifted, his wolf’s color only semi-lighter than Skye’s wolf and he went up to her, chuffing and scenting her. You’re not in trouble. No one blames you for what they did, he assured her. They should! They were trying to get me back. I put everyone in danger! she responded. Phil shook his head. If it wasn’t for you, we wouldn’t have been able to keep our agents safe. You did very well. So proud of you, he told her and the younger wolf looked at him, relaxing when she saw the nod. She then got up, went to him, and nuzzled him, relishing in the feel of the reciprocated actions. She hadn’t lost this. She hadn’t lost her family. And suddenly, everything just felt….lighter.
THE END
AUTHOR’S NOTE
Instead of the HYDRA Uprising, S.H.I.E.L.D. had to deal with the Rising Tide making a nuisance of themselves and Skye’s blaming herself for her past involvement. But of course, Coulson wouldn’t let that stand for long.