Chapter Text
May piloted the Bus when they got to it. Coulson was forced to leave to make the calls for the agents. Skye drifted in as soon as Coulson had left. Taking the seat Coulson had sat in then just stared at her for a few minutes. She smiled affectionately to herself.
“It hasn’t changed much.” May said, looking about the cockpit.
“No one liked to stay in here.” Skye answered. “Coulson had your bunk locked up so no one went into it.”
May frowned but there was a sense of relief that her clothes were still there, she should change into something dry.
“My clothes are probably there.” She said aloud.
“Maybe you need a shower too, it’s starting to smell like the sea side in here.” Skye commented. May smiled, chuckling as well. She was right. Setting the coordinates towards Stark’s tower, she stood up. The hacker mirroring her.
“What’s it like? Underwater?” Skye asked interestedly as they headed out.
“Weird but peaceful and quiet.” May answered. “I need to Simmons and Stark to run tests, see how I can breath underwater.”
“What’s that like?”
“Fine, once the water’s filled up my lungs, it’s a bit painful switching from one to the other. I’ve gotten use to it.”
Skye stayed silent. They headed towards her bunk to she saw the lock. Then she saw Simmons scuffy towards her with the Key.
“Simmons,” She greeted. “Could you take a few blood and tissue samples. I want to know how I can breathe underwater.” She said, taking them and unlocked the door. Everything was how she left it, deodorant, bits of make-up even her clothes were still in it’s neat pile.
“Of course. I’ll get the data form Stark too.” She said, disappearing. She sighed and pulled out a clean set, dry and non-sea socked version of her current attire. Though her boots would need to be replaced.
“Skye, could you fetch a few sealing bags and a box?” She asked. Skye hurried off. She headed to the shower and shredded off her old clothes. Folding them into a neat pile and put them on the side.
The warmth of the water felt like bliss on her skin, dislodging and cleaning away the dryness from the salt. Her skin felt so much more softer and smooth. Her hair that had dried together was soon back to silky smooth before she even put shampoo or conditioner on.
It was a shame to get out the shower. She dressed into her newer dry set of clothes and headed out. Skye was waiting with her requested things. Thanking her, she put the damp sea clothes into the bags, pressing the air out and put them in the box. She fingered the bullet before heading down to the Lab.
She saw Stark on the monitor and what looked like scan results. Both Simmons and Fitz were talking science stuff when she came in.
“May.” Simmons squeaked as she came in.
“Stark out.” Then Starks monitor blacked out. Fitz minimised the chat screen and grabbed a few objects.
“A few blood samples and tissue samples but I’m afraid we’ll need a few more scans.” He said looking apologetic.
May nodded, putting the box to the side and sat on top of the table surface.
“I want you to drill this through and add a chain, please” She said handing him the bullet. He reluctantly took it and headed away. Simmons Began to set up the science equipment around her, asking Skye to hold up something behind her back, even fitting that felt like a bodice around her chest.
“I’m going to have to ask you to breathe water for more accurate scans. This mask and tank is filled with water.”
“I get what to do. My body will panic because it’s water. I’ll be fine after so please don’t pull the mask away.” May answered, looking to Skye.
She took the mask from Simmons which filled with water. She took a small breath and fixed it onto her face and put her thumbs up. They turned on their equipment, in the corner of her eyes she saw the monitor which what looked like a x-ray of her chest. There were many other variations of her chest too.
She breathed out all the air and let the Water flood down her mouth and nose. There was a panic through her body again which she expected, her heart rated spiked and she swiftly kicked Skye away who was panicking. She took a few deeps breaths of the clean water. She could noticed that this water had no salt in, making it easier to breath.
“Wh-“ She heard a startled voice. She looked carefully round so not to dislodge anything to see Coulson and Ward standing in. She waved so they didn’t panic straight off.
“Oh, Sir!” Simmons said, looking to May then back to him.
“What are you doing?” Ward asked. Looking straight to her then to the things around her, settling on the mask.
“Running a few tests on how May’s body is adapting to the water in her lungs.”
“She requested the tests.” Skye added.
Coulson looked to her at which she nodded. She couldn’t speak with the mask on.
“And?” Ward asked, moving to look at the screen.
“Her lungs are a lot different than to what a normal set of lung should do. The Heart rate slows and the movement of her lungs speeds up. The cells in the bronchi and alveoli tighten to allow all the water to be pushed out in each breath.”
“Humans can breathe a type of water called Perfluorochemical , This liquids carry more oxygen and carbon dioxide than blood but the human lungs haven’t adapted to breath liquid, there for can’t get the liquid out the lungs fast enough. A human could probably breathe this water for a few minutes before their lungs collapse.” Fitz explained.
“May’s lungs however changes enough not to disrupt air breathing but enough for her to survive underwater for the time she’s under there. We’re just filtering clean non salted water through the mask with a blue colouring so it shows up on the scans and pictures.”
“What caused her Lungs to change?” Ward asked, frowning. Both Fitz and Simmons looked at each other.
“We don’t know.” Simmons admitted, “But these changes to the lungs, I have to say they’re permanent.”
May sighed and nodded. Breathing water probably wasn’t the worse thing but she wanted to know how she was asleep for all this time. She waved for Simmons attention and tapped the mask.
“Okay, let me just get a few towels and stuff before we take the mask off.”
She went and got the stuff.
“It’s fascinating to see how it works.” Trip said the corner, looking at the monitor. May rolled her eyes, yawning slightly. Simmons slipped the towels over the machinery over her torso, holding one under her head as Fitz cut the water supply. She took a deep breath of water and pulled the mask off, snatching a bucket and emptied the content of her lungs into the bowl. Wiping her face with a spare towel.
“Ugh, I hate that feeling.” She commented.
“You alright?” Coulson asked.
“Fine. It’s uncomfortable switching from water to air. Is there any indications how I survived a year with no food or water.”
“Ah, no. But I have a theory, that caused your lungs to changed caused your body to compensate. It stopped internal bleeding, infections and put your body into a hibernation state. What do you last remember after falling from the plane?”
May’s mind sprung to the cryptic possible creature.
“Sinking. Everything was getting darker, I couldn’t breathe. I passed out but I did feel something touch my head and hand.” Simmons was suddenly pulling up her sleeves, turning her hands over till she saw the strange marking on her wrist. She ran her finger over it.
“Fitz, come look at this. It’s not a scar is it?”
“No.” May answered, She’d know if she had a scar like it.
“Looks strange, something people write in calligraphy. Rune?”
“I’ll look into it.” Skye answered. May pulled her hand back as soon as a photo was taken. Fitz turned off the machines and deconstructed the machines from her body, allowing her to jump off the side.
“It doesn’t matter if nothing comes up with the scar. Something’s can’t be explained.” May said, picking up her box.
She saw a small black box in addition to her things. She knew it was her new necklace. She pulled it out and fixed it around her neck. She could feel Coulson’s flinch at the sight of the bullet but she zipped up her leather vest so it was out of sight.
“We have a lot of work to do.” She smiled, a small reserved one. But she felt surprised as she felt a body hit her. She knew it was Skye by the tightness. But they were quickly joined by Coulson. She patted the girls hair and Coulson’s arm. They must have been holding back.
“I’m so glad you’re back.” Skye muttered.
“Me too.” May agreed, allowing her to hug her.