"I miss my hand." Coulson was sitting behind his desk, studying the stump that held his left appendage only a few weeks before. "They wouldn't even let me keep it." He was pouting like a little kid now, resting his chin against his other hand with a face of discontentment.

"What? Like in a jar on your desk?" Skye looked up, her face cringing at the thought. She took a second look at the snack that was resting on her lap; she paused for just a moment before she shook her head slightly and pushed the plate away, her appetite now completely gone. "That's kinda morbid, Coulson, even for you."

"Hey man, if you're pissed about that whole exchange of a hand for being alive thing again, I'm more than happy to help you try out the other option." Mack pulled himself out from beneath Lola, and it was clear that this conversation was bothering him. "But if you want to pull yourself together, I could probably fix up a new one for you. I'm sure Turbo has some ideas."

"Thanks, but Fury's putting a call in to Stark. Hopefully he doesn't ask too many questions about why he might want just a hand with no explanation." Phil contemplated the thought and what that conversation might entail. "Maybe Stark wasn't the best choice. Oh hell, I'm gonna end up with some ridiculous hand that was a reject from that damn suit, I just know it."

"Hey guys, take a look at this," Skye said as she jumped down from her perch on the computer console. "Someone destroyed a small town in Arizona, right neaer the border." As she read further into the story, the pictures and words creating a colorful glow across her face, she gasped and cupped her hand over her mouth in shock. She spun he computer around for the group to see, locking her gaze with Phil when he looked from the screen back to her.

"I know her." Her expression was confused, not knowing how or why you would have done something so explosive, and how you did it on your own. "Well, I used to know her. Something's happened."

~~~

Dust swirled around the plane as it landed in the open desert, only a half mile from the site that was believed to be destroyed by you. Once the engines stopped, the dust settled and the air was stagnant and hot enough to feel a burn in their lungs with each breath. The team stepped from the door, surveying the land with eyes that stung from the harsh light of the desert sun.

"Alright, let's split this up. May, take Mack and Fitz and head west, I'll take Skye and Hunter and head east." Coulson looked at Skye, who was visibly nervous about what finding you could mean. "Let's try to convince (Y/N) to come with us willingly, no force unless absolutely necessary, got it?"

May gave him a nod and without saying anything, took her team and walked away. Phil spun in place to look around him, grabbing his infrared binoculars and searching the horizon for any sign of life. "There," he stopped and pointed to an area just about as far out as he could see. "I think I see a few buildings, let's check them out."

The threesome grew tired quickly, the heat taking its toll on them as they continued on. When they finally reached the cluster of run-down buildings, they searched until they found an old shopkeeper, still minding his store of expired goods and dust-covered shelves. Coulson approached him slowly, as to not startle him; it was very likely that visitors were very rarely seen here.

"Good day, sir. We're from out of town, and we would appreciate some help finding our friend." Phil slid the picture of you across the counter cautiously, lining it up with the man's line of vision, but not releasing it from his grasp. "Do you recognize her at all?"

The man perked up at the sight of you in the hazy surveillance picture, lifting it up to have a closer look. "She is a miracle."

"Excuse me?" Phil looked at Skye and Hunter and turned back towards him, "we have information that this person destroyed a small town near here. Is that not correct?"

"There's no way in hell that this lovely girl could do that." The man became incensed at the thought, his actions suddenly more animated and purposeful in defending you from the strangers in front of him. "She saved everyone in that town. And if you think otherwise, then I think it would be best if you be on your way."

"Do you know where we can find her?" Skye jumped forward in front of Phil, hoping to calm the man enough to get the information they needed from him. "She's a friend of mine from a long time ago. I'm just worried about her and I need to know that she's okay. That's all."

"Fine," he said, giving her a skeptical look, still unsure if he should be giving any information away, "she was here about a day ago, heading to the town about 3 miles west of here. Said she didn't want any attention, and we promised not to give her any."

"Thank you," Coulson gave him a nod and pulled Skye's arm to follow him towards the exit. Before reaching the door he paused and turned back, one final question playing on his mind. "Excuse me, you said she saved everyone. Can you tell me how?"

The gentleman pulled up his pant leg and raised it up for the group to see. "Y'all see that line right there?" He pointed out a scar that ran from the back of his calf, spiraling around the front of his leg and ending just below his hip. "Damn near lost my leg, but this girl put her hands on me and healed it. Most amazing thing I ever saw." He put his leg down and allowed the material to slide down on it's own.

"Like I said, she's a miracle."

~~~

"This doesn't make any sense, I didn't know anything about her abilities back then." Skye walked next to Coulson, her arms folded and her head down, searching her mind for any details that might have been a missed clue. "We were just a couple of hackers trying to..." her voice faded before she could finish.

"Trying to take down SHIELD?" Phil laughed, "yeah, I remember."

"Still sorry about that, by the way," she mumbled.

Hunter jogged to catch up to the two, his phone open to information that Simmons had sent to him from the plane. "You guys, I think we have a new problem." Skye and Phil stopped to look at the screen that showed a picture of you in a split screen with information on your skills, age, location, and affiliations. At the top of the screen was an all-too-familiar symbol that turned Phil's stomach.

"Well, if Hydra's on her trail, then we need to move."

Skye put her hand on his arm, her eyes alight with a new idea. "You two go on ahead, I'll be back in just a bit."

Phil didn't even ask where she was going, already understanding within the seconds it took for Gordon to appear. Once she had disappeared, Phil sighed and looked at Hunter with a tired expression. "You know, right now, I could really get on board with teleportation. Normally it freaks me out, but this heat is ridiculous."

"You're the one who had the brilliant idea to park a mile away, let's not forget." Hunter snickered, removing his shirt and tying it to his waist. "Might as well grab a tan while we're at it, eh? If we die out here, at least I want to look good doing it."

~~~

"So she was here. Lincoln, tell me what's going on with her. I used to know her and I never had any idea that she was a healer."

Lincoln sat on a small bench looking out over the mountains and pulled his legs up to cross them as he leaned back to look at her. "She's one of the best I've ever seen. She's powerful. She's fast. But she's reckless with it."

Skye's expression changed to confused as she sat next to him, "what exactly does that mean? We found a destroyed town, but some old guy said that wasn't her."

"Every time she heals, it pulls from her own life force. She needs to pace herself, to recover, after each time. But her desire to help is going to kill her one day, I just know it." He lowered his head and sighed, "that's why she left. She wouldn't hear me."

Skye looked out over the mountains and felt pangs of sadness, missing the view from her stay here. She missed the serenity and the comfort of knowing she was accepted and supported here. Not that Coulson wasn't doing the same, but being with her own kind helped her deal with it herself. Maybe she could be the one to convince you to return.

"I need you to come with me."

Lincoln lifted his head, laughing at the idea. "She won't listen to me, Skye. We didn't part on the best terms." His smile faded and sorrow replaced the momentary emotion, "if loving her wasn't enough, what else can I do?"

"Oh...oh, I'm sorry, Lincoln." She put her hand over his, but he pulled it away, returning his gaze back to the cliff side. "Maybe together we can convince her."

Gordon suddenly appeared at their side, and she knew what Lincoln's answer was. Seconds later, they were gone, being taken back to the team. When Skye regained her clarity and realized where they were, she gasped at the sight of you, standing next to Phil with your hands wrapped around the stump at the end of his arm.

~~~

Lincoln jumped forward to pull your hands away, but you replied with a fierce look that had him immediately backing away, his hands raised in front of himself defensively. "You need to stop, (Y/N). Think of what this is doing to you."

"Mind your own business," you replied. "You're not my...you're not my anything anymore." You turned your attention back to Phil, smiling as you felt his repaired hand begin to form at your touch. "Seeing this happen, and helping him is worth every ounce of my energy."

Upon hearing that this was draining you, Phil tried to pull his arm back but you resisted and strengthened your grip on him. "Phil, this is my choice. Let me do this and just say 'thank you' when it's done."

"But what is the cost to you, exactly?"

"Eventually she won't have anything left to give. It's taking years from her life." Lincoln looked from Phil then to you, "and your stunt healing all of those people probably cost you more than you even realize, (Y/N)."

You sighed, fed up with his attempts to micromanage your power. "If I wanted your opinion, I would have stayed, Lincoln. I was given this for a reason, and I'm going to use it to help people. Please try to understand, and please try to get off my back about it." You looked at Phil as he watched new fingers growing, his expression shocked and awed. "We're almost done. I hope it's a success; I've never done something like this before."

You began to feel a little lightheaded from the drain in your energy, but you pushed through. Lincoln sensed the shift and put his hand on your shoulder, attempting to provide his own to you. Normally you would have shrugged him off, but you had missed his touch so much that you couldn't bring yourself to do it. When you felt the spark of his energy, you closed your eyes and accepted it.

"(Y/N), why didn't you ever tell me about this?" Skye asked, "we worked together for five years and I didn't have a clue."

You released Phil's new hand and smiled at him, your eyes sparkling with excitement over what you had just accomplished. "Try moving it. Can you feel it? Is it okay?"

"Answer her first," Phil said. "Then I'll answer you."

"I didn't say anything because I didn't know what it was or what it meant. I was scared of it. But then Lincoln found me, and now I get it." You looked sharply at Phil, having done what he asked and now expecting your reply from him.

He moved his new hand slowly at first, touching each finger with his other hand gently, taking in the new sensations. He wiggled each finger and made a fist, marveling at what you had done for him. "I can't believe this. It's perfect. Thank you." He stood in front of you and took your hand into his new one, "I would like you to come with us, (Y/N). There's a group called Hydra that's looking for you right now, and your power could be used to their advantage. I want to protect you."

"Oh, I know who they are. And I know who you are." You looked to Skye, whose eyes were pleading with you to believe him. "Let's go, before I change my mind." As you began to walk towards the plane, you glanced back at Phil, who was still examining his new appendage. "Be careful with this one, okay?" You smiled to yourself as he quickly shoved it deep into his pocket and followed behind you.

~~~

Once on the plane, you pulled Lincoln aside to have the inevitable conversation. The one you never wanted to have and thought you would never have to. You stood facing him for what felt like hours, and all he could do was stare at you. His eyes were filled with anger and contempt, but you didn't shy away. You finally broke the silence when you couldn't stand it anymore. "I'm sorry. Okay? I'm sorry I left the way I did, and I'm sorry about...about all of it."

"You can't even say it, can you?"

"I'm sorry that I said I didn't love you," you barked out angrily. After a moment to calm yourself., you hung your head and turned away from him. "I do though. It was just easier to leave if we both believed that I didn't"

He grabbed your arm and spun you back towards him, "I knew it. Dammit, (Y/N), what were you thinking? I only want you to be safe. I want you to be careful with what you have. I just want you. That's all." He pushed you against the wall, pressing his lips firmly against yours. You wanted to push him away, you wanted to refuse these feelings again but you couldn't. You wrapped your arms around his neck and pulled him in until the space between you was gone. His hands were winding through your hair when you jumped at the sound of the door opening.

"Ahem...I don't think that this is what Coulson meant when he wanted you two to work on getting along." May spun on her heel and left the room, shutting the door firmly behind her.

"What?" Lincoln laughed, "I thought we did okay!"