X marks the spot

Aftershocks

The scientists ran the tests they needed, taking all the precautions that they needed. Hazmat suits galore as they walked around the pair as if they were toxic. Aaron had always felt that way to some degree, maybe now it was finally coming true.

Just another thing he couldn't get away from.

Just like he couldn't get away from the fact that Trip was dead. He was good, better than Aaron was. Trip was calm, had light inside of himself in bundles and spread it to everyone he came in contact with.

Aaron may not of known him that well, but he knew that much.

"He still not spoken to anyone?" Coulson asked as himself and Rebecca mad their way to the Quarantine room their friends had been placed in to visit.

"Not said a thing. To my knowledge, hasn't really moved either.....This is a completely different ball game." Coulson couldn't help but not in agreement. It was an entirely new way of life for the two SHIELD agents that had come out of that now tomb.

"It is, but we do what we can for them." He consoled.

"Maybe." She said in response.

Skye had woken up from yet another dream of the same nightmare; watching one of her best friends die because of her. Because she had done something. She quickly looked to the Quarantine cell that was almost apart of hers, all be it for the glass. There, laid Aaron. He was still, but alive. That was mattered to her.

It was a constant reminder to herself that she wasn't alone in...well – whatever this was.

She then looked over, seeing Coulson sat in front of her own. While Rebecca was sat in front of Aaron's, both of them in chairs.

"I haven't been able to sleep either." Coulson admitted, as if it would help the girl who was so clearly in pain and in a traumatized state.

To Rebecca, it was clear that Aaron was. However, she had been given clear orders to not enter the cell, as she could be contaminated by whatever had gotten to him.

Skye sighed, before sitting up and facing him fully, "I keep thinking Trip is gonna see me. Make fun of me for being stuck in quarantine. Call me a goldfish or a hamster or something. And every time I wake up...I remember all over again." She took a moment to try and control her trembling voice as the last few words left her.

"I just can't believe he's not coming back. He shouldn't have been down there." She had a bit more control over it now.

"You all went in with a good reason, to prevent HYDRA from starting a cataclysm." Coulson offered as comfort for the pair, but he kept his eyes on the girl.

"He was trying to save us." Was her reply.

Coulson wasn't going to let her spiral into the guilt trip, "He may have saved all of us," He said as he stood up and walked towards the glass door, "The Obelisk triggered a massive earthquake. Imagine how much worse it couldn't been if he hadn't destroyed it. He died a hero."

"He just died. Not a hero, he died because he was an idiot." Was Aaron angry at Trip? A little, he would be here and be safe. But, all parties seemed to know that it wasn't really all the anger directed at the man who had passed.

It was at the boy who had survived.

His voice sounded a bit similar to how it was when they first met him, a bit rough from disuse.

Aaron had finally turned around, eyes filled with heavy emotions; and none of them being the nicest. Rebeca saw the hate, namely of the self. She hated the feeling of recognition she felt at it.