Beginning of the End

T.A.H.I.T.I.

The flight ,thanks to May's piloting skills, didn't take long and they were able to get Switzerland in less than an hour. Simmons and Coulson rushed Skye to the surgery with Dr. Gillmore while the others were led to a waiting room. 

May, recognizing guilt, made them both sit down. "It wasn't on you, either of you." she said with conviction. 'I wish it was true.' Ward thought, still thinking about Garrett's words.

"Our best doctors are doing everything they can to save her." 

May looked over her shoulder and Ward lifted his head to see Coulson and Simmons back. Seeing Fitz's sorrowful and guilty face, Simmons sat down next to him and held his hand. Coulson took out his phone, the one Stark had given and tried to reach out to Fury who wasn't answering. 

"I need to speak with Fury, Maria. I have an agent dying and there are questions only he can answer." 

"I get it but what we are dealing right now is more important Coulson and the doctors at the trauma center in Zurich are the best. I am sure they will be able to save her." Maria said.

Coulson, realizing that Hill was no help, hanged up the phone to her face  and put it on the table angrily. 

"Why didn't I stop her?" Fitz asked to himself, looking at space as if he couldn't register anything going around him.

"As if you could stop Skye doing anything she set her mind to." Simmons said gently. 

"I shouldn't have let her go after Quinn alone. What was I thinking?" Fitz said. 

"It's not your fault. She shouldn't have been there. I am her SO, that's on me." he said. This was on him more than Fitz.

"The one to blame is the one who shot her. Ian Quinn." May repeated, having enough of their pity party.

The time went on and on as they waited, hoped for good news. May sat down but she had a look which was between murderous, hopeful and dread. Coulson continued pacing. It seemed like he wasn't able to accept that there was nothing he could do to help Skye. And Ward went to get some coffee. He needed to stay awake. If he slept, all he would see was Skye bleeding out on the floor and himself not being able to do anything to stop it, to save her life. When he came back, he saw Simmons reading something on her tablet, probably to get herself back together but it wouldn't happen till Skye was fine.  Fitz's leg had been bouncing, his hands covering his face maybe hiding his tears. Fitz wasn't the one to blame though, Ward was. How could he not see what Garrett had meant? He had known the man for fifteen years. He was used all his metaphors, taunts, clues, everything... 

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Hours later, one of the doctors came with an impassive expression on her face. Everyone stood up and looked at her with expecting and hopeful eyes.

"How is she?" Coulson asked with a calm tone, the tone that Ward didn't think he would be able to use if he were Coulson.

"Not good." she started and continued with the damage the wound caused. He felt his heart stop at the word 'But'. No, Skye couldn't die. She didn't deserve that, she had the right to live her life with people she cared about and who cared for her. Garrett couldn't take that away from her.

"So, what's next?" Coulson asked.

"We can keep her comfortable but you'll need to make a decision about whether or not you want to keep her on life support." she said with an apologitic tone. How could it end like this? Things were getting on the right track. 

"You're saying there's nothing to be done?" Coulson asked in despair and denial.

"I'm saying you need to call her family and get them here as soon as possible." She responded sadly.