DISCLAIMER: None of these characters belong to me. I don't even have an OC in this one.

WARNINGS: This isn't meant to be a linear, coherent story; it'll be more of a collection of fragments in random order, or maybe even just a short, rambling two-shot. No big plans for once; I just had an idea in my head that wanted out onto the page.

HERE'S THE DEAL: Agent Coulson got his team together before the Chitauri/Loki debacle and he has enough faith in them- or perhaps just doesn't believe they'll stay behind if he tells them to- to get them onto the helicarrier. Chaos ensues, as it always seems to.

DURING

Chapter One – In the Way is a Very Bad Place to Be

This was not part of the plan. Well, all right, as far as Skye knew, there wasn't really a plan in place for a situation where a brain-washed SHIELD agent infiltrated the helicarrier with a small army, but if there was a plan, it would certainly not include her more or less blocking the path said agent seemed intent on taking.

She honestly hadn't meant to get in the way; she wasn't trying to be brave or heroic or anything. It was just bad luck that had placed her in particular hall when the shooting started and bodies began dropping. She'd dived for the nearest corridor only to realize she'd effectively put herself in the worst possible place. Skye didn't have clearance for the door behind her, she couldn't hack it without any equipment or at least a little more time, and the intruders were headed straight for her.

Dead end.

The archer rounded the corner, bow in hand. Skye couldn't do anything but press back into the corner. She didn't have any cover; she didn't have a weapon. So she used the only defense she had left: her words.

"Agent Barton- look, I know there's something messing with your head, but you have to be in there somewhere," Skye pleaded, trying to force her shaky, frightened voice into something resembling calm or confidence- something worth listening to. There was ice in his eyes; nothing yielding, nothing human. She knew she wasn't reaching him. Skye held her empty hands up in as much supplication as surrender, but there wasn't so much a hint of faltering in Hawkeye's steps. Or in his hands as he lifted the arrow. "Please. This isn't you. You're one of us. You don't have to do this. You're better than this."

But those too-blue eyes didn't so much as blink when he aimed the arrow at her heart and let it loose.