It all happened two months ago when her life changed forever. The day in which hydra was dealt a serious blow. Garrett was killed, Grant Ward was imprisoned, and Mike Peterson went into hiding trying to build a new life for himself. All the while Agent Coulson became director of the new SHIELD.
Though most of the team went on as if nothing had happened, there was one that could not move on. Skye, the incredible hacker and level one field agent had become closed off to all those around her. Most days she would setup SHIELD's firewalls, eat, and then hide in her room till sleep eventually claimed her. Fitz waking up a week after his near neath incident even with temporary memory loss had brought relief to the team.
The biggest dilemma for the team is that Skye avoids anything that reminds her of Ward. The punching bag, the gym, the Game Center, even the kitchen somehow ends up bringing her to tears. Now there she sits, upon her plain bed in a daze. Anyone who knew her from before Hydra could tell that she had lost weight. Fifteen to twenty pounds easily, making her cheeks hallow and her eyes dull as she slinks farther and farther into depressions hold.
The team was beginning to worry that Skye would wither away and die if they couldn't pull her out of this dark hole of depression. So later this summer day they met to discuss the situation with the hope that they could find a remedy to the situation. "She has lost that spark and the cunning whit behind it," stated Coulson looking between May and Triplett with concern etched upon his face.
May was impassive as she replied "Not only that... But she has lost the will to fight. Even her will to live is in question here." Triplett sighed crossing his arms and stating "She needs someone that can repair that heartbreak while pushing her and giving her a purpose to live for. Someone that can coax that bright, caring, and witty person out of her." Coulson was silent as he tried to think of someone that fit the bill when his eyes landed on the poster behind May. "I think I know just the man for the job."
Four Days later
Skye was walking down the hall from her office with her earbuds in as Justin Bieber songs played on shuffle. She was just coming around the corner when she came in contact with a hard chest sending her a few steps back from the impact. She yanks her earbuds out and instinctively moves to apologize. "I am so sorry, I wasn't watching where I was going and well... I am really sorry." she says in a rush, her eyes downcast in humiliation. The man chuckles as he instantly replies "No, it was my fault. I have to admit I am a little lost. Forgive me, Miss..?"
Skye looked up with a perplexed expression before she observed the soldier standing before her. There was something familiar about him but she just couldn't put her finger on it. She was about to respond when it dawned on her just who stood before her "I.. I am Skye...You're Captain Rogers... Thee Captain America... The First Avenger." Steve smiled at the giddy expression of the women before him making him thrust out his hand as he replied "That I am... It's a pleasure to meet you. Could you perhaps be so kind as to show me to the Director's office?"
The young hacker smirked turning on her heels back in the direction of wence she came and said: "Right this way Soldier." He followed her and decided to get to know the woman guiding him "So Miss Skye, what is your job here in SHIELD?" Skye raised an eyebrow before replying "Before the fall of SHIELD I had just become a level one field Agent. However, right now I currently run the Cyber Security Division and pretty much handle anything that has to do with Computers of any kind. This may be random given our current topic, but are you aware that the Director is a huge fan of yours?"
The Captain chuckled "Yes, the first time I met him he asked me to sign his limited edition Captain America trading cards. It is nice to know that someone had my back even if everyone thought I was dead for seventy or so years." Skye smiled "Coulson is a great guy to have in your corner." she said casually making Steve speak up "So if I understand you correctly... You are a Computer Specialist that specializing in hacking. You are an agent but haven't pursued further training to advance. Why? Field agents are in such short supply and you remind me of Romanoff. You could be an even greater asset to this fight against what remains of hydra and any other evil organization."
Skye visibly stiffened, her teeth beginning to nibble on her bottom lip as she quietly answered "I have had enough near-death experiences tied in with bad partners. That I don't believe I could ever pursue that field." Steve opened his mouth to respond when they came to a stop in front of two steel doors. "Here we are, it was nice meeting you Soldier," said Skye before turning on her heels and walking away. Steve frowned before knocking briefly on the door before entering.
Director Coulson greeted him enthusiastically bringing a smile to the Avengers' face. "Captain Rogers... It's good to see that you made it in one piece." He said before gesturing for him to take a seat. Steve impassively complied before asking "What can I do for you, Director Coulson?" Coulson leaned forward before replying "I need you to take on Agent Skye as your trainee and eventually your partner."
Steve stared at him with a befuddled expression before replying "From the conversation I just had with her... I don't believe that she would be supportive of the idea. She looks underweight... What caused all of this?" you could see the concern pooling within the soldier's eyes making Coulson reply "A broken heart for one, Hydra for the other. Skye had been assigned to my tactical specialist Agent Grant Ward for training. They grew very close and Skye moved through her training quickly because of it. Then, one day she was shot twice... It was at this point that we realized just how close the two had become. Then Hydra emerged and it was Skye who discovered Ward's true affiliation and it broke her. Bringing down Garett and Ward was the last time she ever went into the field."
Steve felt conflicted as he stated "It sounds like she needs a doctor... Not a soldier. Who is to say that she and I are compatible anyway?" he asked, not sure why the Director had singled him out for this particular scenario. Coulson sighed lessening his tie as he leaned back in the chair and replied "She called you Soldier... She trusts you enough to give you a nickname and to be perfectly honest you are our only hope. She refuses to allow any of us to train her and she avoids almost everything here because it reminds her of her former SO. We are afraid that she may fade away if she doesn't get that spark back into her eyes. Who better to get her back to that point then a soldier, a leader, and a gentleman from the forties? If anyone can break through her defenses... It has to be Captain America."
Steve leaned back rubbing his chin in thought as the director continued "This is, of course, your decision. I would never force you to do anything you didn't want to do. But Skye is an amazing individual with fierce loyalty and a hunger for knowledge. She can't beat Stark any day of the week when it comes to computers and you won't have to worry about her in the field. She does have enough experience to stay out of trouble and back you up on missions when needed. It was because of her in the field that we defeated Garett and a huge part of Hydra."
Steve stood up clapping his hands together as he replied "Well then, I look forward to working with Skye. I assume Stark already knew about this?" he questioned with a small smile etching its way upon his face. Coulson didn't reply and just smirked giving him his answer "Well then, I will go give her the good news." Steve walked down the hall and came to a crossroad making him realize that he had no idea where he could find Skye and how to get there. He took a left and rounded another corner to come face to face with two shocked scietlntists.
"Bloody!" "It's Captain America." said Fitz Simmons in unison. Making Steve raise an eyebrow before clearing his throat and responding "Captain Rogers, you must be the famous Fitz Simmons. Biochemistry and Engineering specialists working under Director Coulson, I have heard a lot about the two of you." The scientists stared in awe at the legend before them before Fitz cleared his throat and asked "What are you doing here sir? Are you looking for the director?" Steve scratched the back of his head as he sheepishly asked "Actually, I am looking for Agent Skye... However, I seem to be a little turned around."
Both scientists nodded in understand before Simmons spoke up "That is to be expected. We have been here a couple months and still find ourselves getting lost if we aren't careful. If you continue down this hall you should reach a fork in the road, go left then walk about ten feet and take the first right and then her room is the last door on the left." Steve smiles "Thank you, ma'am, for its a pleasure meeting the two of you." he replies before following Gemma's directions to a T.
He came to a stop in front of a heavy steel door and knocked seconds later Skye yelled through the door "Not now Fitz! We can hack into something later." Steve's brow raised in intrigue before he replied: "As interesting as that sounds I am not into Hacking and I have no clue how to do engineering." There was a squeak from behind the door followed by several sounds of crashing objects and a loud thump. A few seconds later the door flew open with Skye breathing heavily and her hair eskew. "Hey Soldier, what can I do for you?"
Steve smiled sliding his hands into his front jean pockets before casually replying "Well, I need you to pack your bags." The smile slowly slipped from her face as she looked at him with a quizzical expression and asked "Pack my bags? Did the Director send you to tell me that we have a mission?" The blonde locked eyes with the brunette in front of him before stating "No. You are packing your bags because you are coming to live in Avengers tower until further notice. The director believes that it would be beneficial for you to get out of the base for a while. While there I will be continuing your field training and who knows Clint and Natasha might show you a few pointers as well. Plus you would be helping me out because I need a partner to watch my back on missions and with all the other Avengers being busy you are my only hope."
Skye stared at him wide-eyed as she stuttered "Yo... You want me to be your partner on missions. I... I am not qualified for that. Perhaps Agent Triplett would be better suited for this position Sir." Steve could see her brain calculating everything out making him reply "As qualified as this... Agent Triplett may be. I don't want him watching my back... I want you." His statement caught her off guard making her rush to retort "As I said earlier... I have no desire to return to the field as an Agent. The training reminds me too much of..." she looked away before continuing "Training is just too much for me right now."
The Avenger wasn't sure how to react to her sudden display of emotion and made him fidget and reply "We are going to take it one day at a time when it comes to training. Now, we leave in an hour so how can I help you pack?"
An hour later
A jet landed on the base's runway and Skye gulped as Tony Stark sauntered out from within the confines of the aircraft. "Coulson! It was great to hear that you weren't dead. Pepper was ecstatic when I told her." said Stark whipping off his four hundred dollar sunglasses and shaking hands with the director. He looked past the Directors shoulder and made eye contact with Skye "Ah, you must be Capsicle's trainee. Your file says that you are a hacker... I can't wait to test that."
It took Skye a moment to adjust to Starks unique behavior before she replied: "The name is Skye and yes, I am." Less than Ten minutes later Skye was staring out the jet window as she saw her family slowly grow smaller and smaller before they eventually disappeared from her site. Steve watched silently as a few tears escaped the hackers brown eyes before she curled into herself and closed her eyes. "Please let me be helping her," he muttered before settling into his chair and closing his eyes.