Cold as Ice

Chapter Twelve

Season One, Episode Sixteen: End of the Beginning

I had managed to avoid Ward for a few days following what May had said to me. I knew that he wanted to talk about what May had said, and from what Skye had said it was irritating him that I was avoiding him at all costs, going so far as to be training with May instead of him. As much as I wanted to talk to him, to hear his side about the fact I was the one he truly desired, I wasn't ready for that conversation yet. From what Ward had previously told me, specialists like him didn't get involved with others in a romantic sense. They never let feelings get in the way.

I was scared of what he would say if I brought it up. There was no way to guarantee that the outcome of the conversation would be in my favor, and I wasn't sure if I wanted to open myself up to the possibility of getting hurt or making things awkward with the rest of the team. Not to mention that I wasn't sure how long Skye and I would be part of the team. After what happened with Skye, I wasn't sure if I wanted either of us to be in the line of danger ever again.

"Guys, I swear, I am fine." I heard Skye speak from beside me, causing me to look over to her, doubt written on my face. "How much blood are you going to draw before you believe me?"

"Do we need to remind you that you're only alive due to a medical miracle, which we know nothing about," I spoke, shifting so I was facing her more.

"Your recovery, it's honestly quite unbelievable," Simmons spoke. "We know Coulson had a very different recovery experience, so we understand why he's hesitant about sharing our findings with others."

"Yeah." Fitz agreed with his fellow scientist. "But something like this drug, it needs to be studied. Has the potential to save so many lives."

I could see where the duo was going with this, and I could see a look of reluctance growing on Skye's face, even I had tensed up at the thought of this being sent to some lab where Skye would be looked at like a test subject. Although Skye didn't give me all the details of what Coulson had told her of the drug, I knew that it came from an alien source, something that she and Coulson didn't want everyone else to know about. At least not yet.

"We'd like to send a blood sample of yours to some colleagues to do a molecular breakdown. Maybe if you spoke to Agent Coulson-"

"Yeah, I don't think that's a good idea." Skye interrupted Simmons, shaking her head at the suggestion. "If Coulson thinks it's important that this stays between us, then we should trust him." She paused for a moment. "Right? He's the boss."

"So you're saying we should obey the rules."

There was a look of disbelief on Fitz's face as he spoke. "Who are you and what have you done with Skye?"

"Guys," I spoke up, keeping my expression serious. "She's still recovering and we don't need her becoming a lab rat. So let it go." The duo looked between Skye and I with disbelief, suspicion clear in their faces.

Just as Skye was about to make another comment on the situation, Ward walked in. My entire body tensed up as I looked over to him. "Melanie, Skye. Upstairs. Top brass wants to see you two."

Skye and I shot each other a glance, unsure about what was happening. The last time Victoria Hand had spoken to us, she kicked us off the bus, tagging us like dogs so we were restricted in our abilities to help find Coulson. Ultimately we had proven our worth, but that didn't stop the worry from edging into my body.

"Pairing off makes total sense. Just one thought though, what if we make it a double-blind?" Skye commented on the plan that they had created to capture the Clairvoyant.