Let Me Help You
It was only a little past 11 o’clock in the evening and May sat in front of the window of the cockpit with a cup of tea in her hand. Her back faced the door. When the door opened, she didn’t turn her head.
She just continued to stare, deep in thought about what Coulson told had told her to do. Her mind was racing a million miles away.
“FitzSimmons are asleep.” Coulson’s voice pulled her back to reality. “Ward?” She asked, still not looking at him. “He’s getting there.” She turned to face him.
“Make sure he-“ May’s eyes softened. “I know.” Coulson walked over towards the door and turned to face May who was standing behind him.
She followed him to the medical-bay and hesitates before she opens the door to let herself in. She stands far away from Skye’s bed. She watches the heart rate monitor for a minute before leaving to get out of uniform.
When she returns, she is surprised to see that Skye isn’t in her bed. May panics only for a second until her ears catch heavy breathing coming from the side of the bed. “Skye...”May whispers before rushing over to help her.
Skye’s tired eyes meets May’s eyes. She fights to stay awake as May lifts her back onto the bed. “What happened?” She asks.
Skye looked around the room thinking she was in a dream. May. Talking. To her? ‘This gotta be some sick cosmic joke right?’ She thought to herself.
“I-I was trying to get to bathroom to shower without waking anyone up. But, I guess I got tangled in the wires and...” Skye could feel her eyes grow heavy but fought to stay awake once again.
“And...I think that’s how I ended up on the floor.” She finished and stopped to catch her breath while May stood there in front of her.
“What time did I fall asleep?” Skye asks as she repositions herself. “Around 8:30 pm.” May answers. Skye begins to move to grab a pair of clean clothes before May beats her to it.
“Let me help you.” May spoke quietly, offering her hand to help Skye off the bed. Skye was left wondering if she should be weirded out or if this was May being, May.
The one Coulson told her existed once upon a time ago.
The warm and gentle one.
May held Skye’s waist while her arm was wrapped around her shoulder. She could feel some of Skye’s weight being put on her side but May wondered what happened to the rest.
The two made their way past the bunks and to the bathroom where May leaned Skye against the wall and turned on the water. Skye began taking off all of her clothing and realized how weird it was. Getting naked in front of May. But she had no other choice.
Skye was taken aback by how much empathy May was showing towards her. She didn’t know what to do or say to her.
May turned on the water before helping Skye into the tub. She made sure the water was just right before beginning to help her get her hair wet. Skye felt May’s hand move through her long and tangled hair under the water.
“Do you want to use soap?” May asked quietly, drying her hands. Skye shook her head and May handed her a dry towel and helped her out.
The two left the bathroom quietly and made their way back to the med-bay. May helped Skye back onto the bed and helped her get herself hooked back onto the machines.
While May headed for the door to retreat back to her bunk for the night. She took note on how fast Skye fell asleep. She must’ve been exhausted from her short journey to the bathroom.
Her job was done, everyone was asleep and everything was going well.
Just as May turned to leave the room, her ears catch Skye talking, but it can’t possibly be to her. She hesitates one more moment before making the decision to walk over.
What May doesn’t realize is that Skye is having a nightmare right in front of her.
“I got you. It’s gonna be okay. You’re going to be okay. I’m right here.” May gently rubs her hand on Skye’s arm hoping the girl would wake up.
May bittes her lip, trying to resist the urge to cry. She quickly pulls away from her arm and freezes. For the first time, she feels something, new. Something, almost motherly.
It scares her at first but she realizes that she was always able to protect Skye from things that would physically hurt her like people and things.
But now, she couldn’t because the problem wasn’t a person or thing. The problem was inside Skye’s mind.
May reaches out to stroke Skye’s hair. “Shhh, it’s okay now, I’m here.” Skye moves around as if trying to get comfortable.
May doesn’t move her hand. Suddenly Skye stopped moving causing May to freeze.
Skye slowly turns her head to face May and watches as a single tear rolls down her cheek.
“Please don’t cry, I’m so sorry.” Skye whispers but May doesn’t respond to her statement directly.
“How often?” May asks, whispering. “Not often but it was worse when I was younger.” Skye answers. “Was anyone there?” Skye shook her head ‘no’.
“If anyone was there, they would be there to tell me to be quiet because I was waking their kids who needed their sleep. Then in the morning, they would scold me for causing so much trouble at night and send me back a week later.” Skye explained.
“What were they about?” May didn’t want to sound invasive, sticking her nose in business that wasn’t her’s but she wanted to help.
Skye didn’t answer. Instead she just stared into space. “Skye?” She asked quietly. “They were, dark and sometimes...sorry I-I don’t usually talk about them.” Skye whispered turning her attention back to May.
“That’s fine. Whenever your ready.”
Skye gave a small nod and understood that May wanted to help her. She stared at the floor until her eyes grew heavy and eventually gave in.
May moved a chair next the girl as quietly as she could without waking her. She wasn’t sure if Skye was a light sleeper like she was but something felt good about this moment in particular.
Her and Skye.
Together, in the same room for more than 5 minutes. With the exception of whole team gatherings in command.
Somehow this girl who she had come to know and eventually love, had stolen a piece of her heart. And she wouldn’t want to have it any other way.