Sorry it's later than I'd like...

Happy Thanksgiving! I am thankful for many things, but one is all of you wonderful readers and reviewers :)

Sorry this is shorter than usual - life got crazy crazy and I lost inspiration :/

As always, send me prompts!

Disclaimer: I do not own Agents of SHEILD

Duh. If I did, there would be so many more Skye-May and Skye-Jemma moments.

"Looks like the poor dear fell asleep."

Simmons' comment caused May to reexamine the girl in her arms.

The young doctor was correct; Skye had fallen fast asleep on her shoulder.

"I'll put her in bed," May decided. She had sought out Simmons to look at the five-year-old, but apparently Skye had fallen asleep during even that very small amount of time.

Once again, she made her way back to Skye's bedroom, Simmons trailing behind her.

However the moment May went to put the limp girl down onto her bed, Skye became an instant monkey. May couldn't help but be impressed by the strength of the tiny girl – trying to put her down was like trying to detach an octopus.

"Don't leave me," Skye whimpered.

May felt as if her heart was breaking.

"I'm not going to leave you."

With a feverish five-year-old that refused to let go of her but desperately needed rest, May did the only thing she could think of. She got into the bed with Skye.

"Let's let Dr. Simmons look you over, okay?" May sat up and pulled Skye onto her lap.

By the time Jemma was done looking over Skye, the little girl was practically asleep again.

"Strep throat, I believe," Jemma finally put away her tools. "Of course, I'm not exactly fully trained in pediatrics."

"We should get her some medication, right?" May helped ease the sleepy Skye under the covers.

"Yes, although I'm not sure if SHEILD has any children's medicine on hand…" Jemma mused.

"I'll talk to Phil," May moved to get off the bed.

"NO!"

May spun around to see that Skye was sitting up in the bed, dark eyes wild.

"Don't leave me here! I want my mommy!" Skye began crying hysterically. "Please, don't hurt me!"

"Skye, I'm right here." Melinda rushed to her daughter's side, instantly alarmed when Skye continued sobbing and refused to look at her. "What is happening?

"She might be having a fever induced hallucination," Jemma said worriedly.

"Hey, Skye, look at me." May carefully touched the girl's arm.

Skye jumped, looking straight at Melinda with large confused eyes.

"Mommy."

When Skye reattached herself, May instantly got back into the bed with the five-year old.

As she held her daughter close, stroking her hair as the sobs slowly abated, Melinda got comfortable and prepared to stay as long as necessary.

3 days later

Phil carefully turned the knob of Skye's room, trying to be as quiet as possible in case Skye was asleep.
The little girl had been falling in and out of consciousness for the past two days, many times waking up hallucinating and screaming. After the first incident, May hadn't left her side, rocking the five-year-old as she relived her time in the lab and events in past foster homes.

Slowly moving into the room, Phil stepped closer to the bed, peering into the pile of blankets and stuffed animals that he presumed to be his daughter.

Skye's face was peaceful, her long eyelashes resting against her cheeks. She looked

Curled around the small girl was the slender form of Melinda May, fast asleep.

Phil smiled, gazing down on his two girls and admired how beautiful they both were.

Not that Melinda would appreciate that – she would kick his butt if he ever shared that thought. Her motherly side, that nobody had known she had, was exclusively for Skye and Skye alone.

Phil couldn't care less. He had his girls, and his girls had each other and him.

Gently he pulled the blanket up further over Skye and May.

He would be back later to check on them again.
For now, they would be just fine.

"May?"

Melinda blinked groggily, Phil's face coming into focus in front of her.

Hold on.

She sat up quickly, turning to find that Skye was still asleep next to her. May realized she must have fallen asleep while with her daughter.

Skye had been sick for a couple days and in those days, had next to refused to let May out of her sight, falling into hysterics. So May had simply accepted the fact that this was where Skye needed her, so she would be there.

"You fell asleep." Phil whispered.

Melinda was caught off guard. She never took naps and she usually didn't even need much sleep during the night, even though she had been staying with Skye all hours lately. When she felt tired, she usually did tai chi and felt refreshed.

As she moved slightly, she realized that her body felt heavier than usual.

Oh shit.

Slowly May swallowed and her heart sank at the gravelly pain that accompanied the action.

"I'm sick."

As soon as she said it, she knew it was true, because her voice sounded like sandpaper.

Phil's mouth fell open.

"You're sick?"

May felt an irrational urge to smack his dumbfounded face. So she had never been sick in his presence before and they had known each other for a long time, but that didn't mean she wasn't human…

"Shut your mouth and don't look so surprised," she growled.

"Are you sure?" Phil still looked like he had seen a ghost.

"Yes."

Beside her, Skye stirred.

"Mommy," she murmured, a small hand finding Melinda's hair.

"How are you feeling, sweetie?" May ignored the slight rasp that caught in her throat.

"Better." Skye sat up and Melinda reached to smooth the little girl's hair, noting that Skye's skin felt cooler than usual. Tilting her daughter's face towards her, she was satisfied that the unhealthy flush that had been residing in Skye's cheeks had left.

It looked like the antibiotics were finally flushing out the last of the sickness.
"Looks like you're getting better just in time for your mommy to get sick," Phil noted, sitting on the bed.

"Mommy?" Skye turned towards May with a questioning look. "You're sick?"

May shot Phil a dirty look then reluctantly nodded.

"Yep, I think I am, Skye," she cracked a smile. "Guess that's what happens, huh?"

Skye looked at her solemnly for a moment, before grabbing Melinda's hand.

"Don't worry Mommy. I'll take care of you, just like you take care of me."

May couldn't stop the smile that broke across her face as Skye cuddled close.

"I'll be here."

Happy Thanksgiving!

Send me a review and tell me what you thought, any prompts, or what you're thankful for :)