Out Of Time

ninety-two

"What's happening, Coulson?" Skye asked.

"I see the writing ...for the first time," He replied. "Something's happening to them."

As seconds passed, Coulson began to have trouble breathing, the heart rate monitor going off rapidly.

"Vital signs elevating," Simmons stated.

"Tell me what's going on, Coulson," Skye urged.

"Degenerative effects," Coulson responded. "They're unstable."

"That's why Fury wanted us to watch you," Y/N whispered.

"They're getting worse every day. We're losing them. We need to shut down the program.... This isn't life. We need to shut it down and destroy the host... These are human beings, not lab rats! I'm contacting Fury... Erase their minds? That's hope...? Let me die!" That's when the tears formed in Y/N's eyes as she watched her friend struggle. "No, stop! Please! No! Please, will you make it stop? Please, make it stop! Please, somebody! Somebody, stop it! Stop doing this please... What have we done? What have we done? What have we done?"

Coulson looked over to Y/N. But it wasn't clear if he was actually seeing her.

"What did you do?" Y/N asked. "Tell me."

"We erased them," he answered. "All of them. New names, new memories. It was the only way."

"You did the right thing," Skye said. "Can you find their new names?"

"Uh, how much more can he take?" Fitz questioned.

"I don't know," Simmons replied.

Coulson's breathing was still heavy and it still like his body was seizing.

"Whatever you're doing to him, you need to stop!" Mack yelled.

"Coulson, we need their names! Find their names so we can pull you out!" Skye urged.

"Lewis Seaver," Coulson answered, still having breathing issues.

"That's one. That's-that's one. That's - k-keep them coming. Keep them coming." Skye began typing on her tablet.

"We shouldn't have done this," Y/N said quietly, shaking her head.

"The body of Lewis Seaver was found in the remains of the Santa Maria church fire in Miami."

"The fire was this guy, too," Coulson replied.

"Three of the others died of unnatural causes in the last six weeks. This guy is definitely targeting TAHITI patients."

"Is there's till a chance?"

"Two of them are alive. We need to find out which one is the killer. Do you remember anything, any clues?"

Coulson began to shake worse.

"We have to get him out of there!" Y/N cried.

"Not until we have everything!" Skye retorted.

"Roll up your sleeves," Coulson said, clearly talking to himself again. "You're not okay, and it's only gonna get worse. But I can help you... It wants me to know! I need to know! I need to know! I need to know! I need to know! No! No! I need to know! I need to know!"

"Get him the hell out of there!" Mack shouted.

"Phil!" Y/N cried, grabbing onto his hand.

"Shut it down!" Skye ordered. "Shut it down!"

"I need to know!" Coulson yelled.

"Sedate him."

"I'm calling May," Y/N said, moving out of the room.