Chapter 10
Skye was afraid. She didn’t like to admit it but she was. And she was in pain. Fun fact - she didn’t like admitting that too. Her punch had done its job. Ward had been forced to let go of Leo. He was even bleeding. And Leo had been fine. Skye reached for his and he clutched hers. He was scared too. Some of the things Ward had said must have hit nerves. Trip was standing with them and Jemma was sitting on the other side of Leo, holding his other hand.
“Okay, Mr. Fitz, you are lucky. There doesn’t seem to be any damage done but I would still like to talk to your parents,” the school nurse, Mrs. Patel, said. Leo nodded at her and let go of Skye’s hand to take the cold compress, she was offering him. He put it on his neck and sighed in relief. The nurse turned her attention to Skye. “It looks like you may have fractured your thumb,” Mrs. Patel said with concern. “We need to get this x-rayed to confirm.”
Great. Another thing to worry about. It wasn’t the first time Skye had got into a fight at school. The consequences were never good. The principal here had listened to her and Leo and Trip. Jemma had got Ms. Harington - their English teacher - just in time, which meant she had seen what happened. So, Ward was the one who was facing the consequences. His parents had arrived while his nose was being patched up and Skye hadn’t really liked them or how weirdly Ward had looked at them.
What Skye was afraid of was Phil and Melinda’s reaction. They never got angry - true - but she had just punched a boy who had been strangling their son because of Skye, and she had also broken her thumb in the process. And it hurt really bad. Mrs. Patel had put it in a temporary splint but it still hurt.
“You should go to your class, Jemma,” Ms. Harington said, handing Jemma a note. Jemma accepted it with a heartfelt thank you and left after squeezing their shoulders. Leo switched the cold compression to his left hand and grasped Skye’s hand again.
“Is it hurting?” he asked. Skye nodded. At the same time, the door opened with a swing and Phil walked in. His tie was askew and he looked nothing like the calm person Skye was used to seeing. He ignored everyone in the room and just walked to them - more like ran to them.
“Are you both alright?” Phil asked, kneeling down in front of them. His eyes scanned them up to down, stopping at the visible injuries. He was worried, Skye thought guiltily. She hadn’t meant for this to happen.
“A bit sore,” Leo answered. “Skye’s hurting.” Phil’s attention was immediately on her. He asked numerous questions - what was hurting, how bad, somewhere else too. Skye answered them, feeling overwhelmed. By the time she was done, Melinda was there and so was Mrs. Carter - Trip’s grandmother - and they had to repeat the process.
“And how did all of this happen?” Mrs. Carter asked. Skye took turns with Leo and Trip to explain all of that. She was still afraid but Melinda’s arm around her shoulders and Phil’s presence were doing wonders against that fear.
“Mr. Triplett has not been injured though it would be my recommendation that he goes home and gets some time to calm himself. What he has seen today was traumatic. Skye is going to need x-rays. And while Mr. Fitz says that he is not hurting, some scans will be a good idea.”
“Why? I am alright,” Leo protested. Skye was really worried now. Why were the scans needed? Phil and Melinda thanked Ms. Harington and Mrs. Patel, and led them out of the school. They got into Melinda’s car. Phil took the steering wheel while Melinda climbed into the back seat with Skye and Leo. She sat between them and held their hands.
“I am sorry,” Skye said. “He was saying all that stuff and I was so angry. I shouldn’t have complained. And I shouldn’t have punched him. I was so angry. I couldn’t hear or see anything else.”
Melinda rubbed circles on her palm. “You didn’t do anything wrong. Complaining against him wasn’t wrong. And maybe you shouldn’t have punched him but I am not going to say that.” Skye looked at her foster mother surprised. “Starting a fight is wrong, but that is not what you did. Punching him was probably not the ideal choice but in that situation, I don’t know what other choice was there. You both could have been injured more if you hadn’t interfered and I am never going to tell you that you did the wrong thing by protecting yourself.”
“Melinda is absolutely right,” Phil said from the front seat. “You stuck together, didn’t throw the first punch, tried to avoid fighting and when it started you defended yourself. Maybe punching wasn’t the perfect idea but you are a human. No one is perfect.”
“I wanted to,” Skye said. “I wanted to throw the first punch. Someone stopped me.” She looked at Leo questioningly.
“Trip,” he answered her. “Do you guys really think something is wrong with me?”
“This is just a precaution, Leo,” Phil answered.
They arrived at the hospital and walked in through the emergency entrance. Skye clutched Melinda’s hand. She was scared, even if she was pretending not to be. Hospitals weren’t really a friendly place. Melinda pulled her closer and wrapped an arm around her shoulder. “Soon you’ll be even taller than me,” she whispered. Skye giggled. They sat in the waiting room, while Phil filled the form. Melinda called Izzy and asked her to pick Bobbi and Tasha after school. She also sent a text to Bobbi and Tasha.
The waiting room was weird. Everyone was suffering from something or the other. Skye felt nauseous by just being there. What if something bad had happened to Leo? “Melinda,” Skye said, pulling at the woman’s hand a little. Melinda looked at her and cupped her face. “I don’t feel so good.” Melinda reached out and took Skye’s left hand and put it on her chest.
“Can you feel that?” she asked. “Can you feel my breathing, baby girl?” Skye nodded. “Good. Now, try to match it. Come on, take a deep breath.” Melinda took one and Skye followed her. “And hold it. One. Two. Now let it go through your mouth.” They did that for a few times. Melinda’s hand was rubbing small circles on her back. Her face was calm. Skye felt an overwhelming urge to hug her and just hide from the world. Before she could give in, they were called in.
“Phil. Melinda. What are you two…and Fitz. What the hell is going on?”
Skye looked at the woman doctor who asked these questions. Her name tag said she was Dr. Simmons. Oh! Jemma’s mother. Phil and Melinda greeted her and quickly filled her in. “Alright. Hello Skye, good to see you, even if the circumstances are not ideal.” Skye smiled stiffly. “I will be asking a few questions and I want you both to answer them. Can you do that?”
She asked Leo to remove the ice pack and begun with the questions. “Did you lose consciousness at any point?”
“No, but I felt dizzy and my vision got blurry,” Leo replied.
“Are you experiencing any difficulty breathing or swallowing now?” Dr. Simmons continued.
“It’s sore, and swallowing is a bit hard,” Leo admitted, wincing.
“Do you feel any neck pain or stiffness?”
“Yeah, it's sore all around,” Leo said, pointing to the sides of his neck.
After the initial examination, Dr. Simmons turned to Phil and Melinda. “Given Fitz’s symptoms, we need to conduct a few tests to ensure there's no internal damage. We'll start with a CT scan of his neck to check for any injuries to his airway, blood vessels, and cervical spine.”
“Woah! Really? I didn’t think it was bad,” Leo spoke. Skye could tell he was worried. Phil reached and put a hand on his shoulder.
“This is just a precaution, sweetheart,” Dr. Simmons said. “I would also suggest talking to someone,” she addressed Phil and Melinda. “This can be traumatic.” They shared a look and nodded, assuring that they would make an appointment.
“Let’s take a look at that thumb,” Dr. Simmons said, turning to Skye. Melinda moved a little closer and placed a hand on Skye’s shoulder. Skye was grateful for that. Dr. Simmons gently unwrapped the temporary splint and examined her thumb. It looked swollen to Skye. “We'll need an X-ray to confirm if it's broken. I’ll arrange that right away.”
A nurse walked in with a wheelchair for Leo. Phil went with him while Melinda accompanied Skye. She was a bit disappointed to know Melinda couldn’t come in with her. Melinda squeezed her shoulder. "You're strong, Skye. You'll be okay."
Skye nodded and followed the nurse down a sterile hallway to the radiology department. The X-ray room was cold, and the hum of machinery filled the air. The radiologic technologist greeted her warmly.
“Hi, Skye. I'm Jake. I'll be taking your X-rays today. Let's get you set up.” Jake guided her to a large machine and positioned her hand carefully on the X-ray plate. “This might feel a bit uncomfortable, but it’ll be over quickly.”
Skye winced as she positioned her thumb, the pain sharper now that the adrenaline had worn off. “Okay, I'm ready.”
Jake adjusted the machine, ensuring everything was in place. “Alright, Skye. I'm going to step behind this shield. Stay still, and we'll be done in a few seconds.” Skye nodded, her heart pounding as she tried to remain as still as possible. The machine clicked and whirred, and a bright light flashed briefly. “Okay, that's one down,” Jake said, returning to adjust her hand for another angle. “Just a couple more.”
Skye took a deep breath, trying to relax. “How long have you been doing this?” she asked, trying to distract herself.
Jake smiled. “About ten years now. I know it can be a bit scary, but you're doing great.”
After a few more clicks and flashes, Jake declared, “All done! You did great, Skye. You can head back while we get these developed. The doctor will come to see you shortly with the results.”
Skye breathed a sigh of relief as she stood up. “Thanks, Jake.”
"You're welcome. Take care of that thumb," Jake replied, giving her a reassuring nod.
Skye walked out of the room, feeling a bit more at ease. When she saw Melinda, she managed a small smile. “How'd it go?” Melinda asked, standing up to meet her.
“It was okay,” Skye replied.
Melinda wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "You're tough, Skye. I am so proud of you.” Skye felt warmth fill her at those words. “Let's wait to see what the next steps are.” Melinda led her back to the emergency room.
After what felt like an eternity, Leo was brought back into the room. Skye immediately went to sit beside him. She was really sorry that he got hurt. Leo had been great. He had shared his friends and family with her. He helped her. He even called her his sister.
A short while later, Dr. Simmons returned with the results. “Fitz, your CT scan looks clear — no major injuries, just some soft tissue swelling. Skye, your thumb is fractured. We’ll need to put it in a cast to ensure it heals properly. You'll need to avoid using that hand for a few weeks.”
Phil and Melinda both expressed their relief. "Thank you, Elizabeth," Melinda said.
Dr. Simmons smiled. "You’re welcome. Fitz, you'll need to take it easy for a few days, and if you experience any new symptoms, come back immediately. Skye, we'll get that thumb taken care of now."
The nurse led them to the casting area, where Skye’s thumb was carefully encased in a protective cast. As the plaster set, Skye felt a mixture of discomfort and relief. “You're all set,” the nurse said with a final pat on Skye’s hand. “Take it easy and follow up with your doctor in a few weeks.”
The journey back to home had a stop in the middle. They dropped Phil at the school and he drove away to pick Bobbi and Natasha in his car. Melinda drove them home. Skye was tired. It had been a long day. It was past nine now. The tests had taken a lot of time. Leo was already slightly snoring beside her. Melinda pulled the car into the driveway and Skye shook him just a little.
“Wake up Leo, we’re home.”
“You know pacing isn’t gonna help.”
Natasha rolled her eyes as Bobbi flicked the finger towards Hunter. It was half past nine and ten minutes since their dad had told them that he was on his way. Bobbi was pacing, Hunter was sprawled on the couch and Natasha was sitting on the recliner. They had eaten and now they were waiting.
“I don’t understand. Leo doesn’t get into a fight,” Bobbi said for the hundredth time. She was not wrong but Natasha was a bit-tired hearing the same thing again and again. She saw Hunter roll his eyes.
“Maybe he was defending Skye. The kid’s loyal,” Hunter said, again for the hundredth time. But Natasha liked this theory. Leo wouldn’t get into a fight but if someone tried to hurt Skye, he would jump in head first.
A car stopped in the driveway and Natasha jumped up. She immediately collected her things, as did Bobbi. Izzy and Vic stepped out of their study. Bobbi hugged them and Hunter while Natasha waited impatiently. She wanted to go home. She watched as her dad entered the house. His tie was a bit askew and his shoulders were slightly slumped.
“How are the kids?” Vic asked him.
“Skye has broken a thumb and Leo has some bruising but otherwise they are fine,” he answered.
“Leo got into a fight?” Bobbi asked.
“No actually,” he answered. “Neither of them did. This kid attacked Leo first and Skye was only acting in self-defence.”
Some lousy kid thought he could hurt her brother. Fury rose within her. She wanted a name but she also knew that Phil won’t really answer the questions right now. Somethings stay within the family. She bid goodbye to Hunter, thanked Izzy and Vic for having them and then dragged Bobbi to the car. “Are you alright, dad?” Bobbi asked, once the car started moving.
“Just tired. You two had your dinner?” he asked. Natasha answered in affirmative and asked about him. “We ate in the hospital. The tests took a while. The other kid - Grant Ward - tried to strangle Leo.”
“What the hell!” Bobbi screamed and Natasha fully agreed to her. How dare he!
“He was angry about the complaint, tried bullying Skye as usual and commented on Leo too. When Leo told him that the teacher would be there soon, he reacted. Skye punched him. Her thumb must have been in a wrong position. Must have been a good punch though.” He sounded proud. Phil was weird like that; he had even praised Natasha’s skills after she had punched him.
“Will they be okay?” she asked.
“The scans didn’t show anything wrong with Leo and apart from a broken thumb, Skye has no other injuries. So yes, physically they will be fine. But this was a traumatic incident. So, I won’t be surprised if they need more support.”
“They will have it,” Natasha promised. Leo had always been there for her. She had tried to push him away, to hate him but it had been damn difficult to hate someone who looked at her in such awe, just because she could speak a language other than English. I thought only mum could do it. And Skye. She was fire - Natasha connected with her there. She had a lot of anger in her and while she kept it hidden, it made its appearance, like the time Leo had been talking about his bio dad. Skye was also a damn good listener. God! Natasha loved the two of them.
The car stopped and Natasha jumped out of it with Bobbi, leaving their dad to park it in the garage. They rushed in through the door. Their mom was sitting at the dining table, a cup of tea in front of her. Natasha was sure the tea had gone cold.
“Mom,” Bobbi called as she pulled the older woman in a hug. Natasha joined in. “How are they?”
“A little shaken up and a lot tired. They just went to sleep. Did you two eat?” Natasha nodded, content to be held by her mother.
“Are you alright?” Bobbi asked, sitting on a chair. Their dad walked in too, he was holding his coat and tie in his hand.
“We’ll be fine, Bobbi,” he assured them.
“Please don’t lie to us,” Natasha said.
He sighed. “I have a meeting with the school tomorrow. They will probably want to reprimand Skye but all I can think about is how bad the things could have been if she hadn’t acted when she did.”
“Leo and Skye just want to move forward and not think of it anymore.” He nodded. Natasha was almost shaken up by how tired he looked; how tired both of them looked. It was easy to forget that her parents were human too. They hurt, they cried, they mourned. Natasha hurried to her dad and wrapped her arms around him. He held her, thanking her for the hug. “You both want to talk? I know the day hasn’t been easy for you,” her mom said. Natasha shared a look with Bobbi.
“I think I’ll get some rest,” Bobbi said. Natasha nodded. She wanted to sleep, probably in Bobbi’s room. She picked up her school bag and started walking to her room, when her mom’s voice stopped her.
“Skye called this place home today.”
Natasha smiled and continued up the stairs. Home. This place was definitely home. No matter how tough things got in the world, this was the place she could always relax. She didn’t have to fight in here. Hell! There were people here who would fight for her. Natasha had no doubt about that.
She brushed her teeth and decided to take her books to Bobbi’s room. They had some experience studying together. Bobbi pulled her into a hug. “They’ll be fine,” Natasha whispered to her. Yes, Leo and Skye would be fine. They were home after all.