Setting Fire To Our Insides For Fun
''All I'm saying is it's ridiculous that Grant thinks I need a baby sitter''. Skye tells Kebo, lifting a steaming mug of coffee to her face. ''I am not baby sitting you, despite my witty comments about you, I actually like spending time with you''. Skye rolls her eyes, ''be careful there your emotions are starting to show Popeye''.
Kebo sips his own coffee, looks around the small shop with mild interest. ''Look you know how dangerous the world can be, if the wrong person found out about you''- ''Yeah I know, I'd wind up in a basement probably and Grant would get parts of my body in the mail''. ''Exactly. While I'm your friend I'm also your body guard''.
Skye laughs out loud, covering her mouth when people turn to glare at her. ''I was almost convinced there Popeye, almost. I can protect myself just fine''. He raises an eyebrow at that. ''With what? Your laptop? You're like a defenseless puppy Skye, you'd probably pee yourself the second anything bad happened. Why do you think Ward worries about you so much?''
''Because he's an overprotective robot''. ''I'll give you that one''. They finish their morning coffee in silence and head back to Ward's apartment. Skye unlocks the door, sets the alarm and drags a blanket and her laptop to the couch. Usually when she starts her work with the Rising Tide she does it outside the apartment, she knows how Grant feels about an organization like her's.
If he's caught on to what she's doing, which he more than likely has, he never says anything. Kebo there could not care less, this is the part of the day where he usually naps. So she spends the rest of the afternoon with her fingertips on the keyboard. When dusk sets in, Kebo hands her a beer and turns on the TV, the news on full blast.
Skye's phone beeps and it's an incoming message from a fellow Rising Tide member, full of information on Shield that she asked for a few hours ago. ''Hey Popeye?'' ''What?'' He turns away from the TV to look at her. ''How do you feel about a road trip?'' ''Anything to get me out of this damned apartment. Where to?'' She smiles up at him, ''L.A.''.
*
Ward stews silently outside of Maria Hill's office, his posture stiff and annoyed. He knows how important this mission is for John and he won't let him down, Ward's purpose his drive has always been to save Garrett, and that's not going to change. But he longs to be back with Skye in the apartment they share, feel her warm skin tangle with his.
And now that he has Skye, he understands what Garrett meant when he told Grant he couldn't ever get attatched to anyone or anything. It doesn't cloud his judgement in the slightest, but it still makes me want to abandon Shield and be with her. That's a problem, and he knows it. He hasn't been able to get a hold of Skye to tell her that his mission is more long term than he originally thought.
He can handle days without Skye, but months? Months to gather intel from Coulson and his Team, it's almost unbearable. Grant knows he can't afford to have both, love and saving Garrett, so he can reflect on how being separated from Skye right now could be a good thing. For John, not for him. He already misses her, her laugh her smile.
On his way to gather his bag he tries her cell phone again, no answer. Kebo finallly answers though and Grant can taste the relief on his tongue. ''How's Paris?'' ''Put Skye on''. ''Well hello to you too, I'm fine by the way I''- ''Kebo, let me talk to her'''. ''She's currently in the shower''. Ward isn't there to look at his friend's face, but he has a tell in his voice that alerts Ward when he lies.
''Where is she really?'' Kebo sighs. ''I really hate your Specialist skills sometimes mate. I'm not with her in this specific moment in time-'' ''What? Kebo that's''- ''Look calm down, deep breath. Skye is fully capable of getting a cup of coffee without me. She's fine, I'll have her call you when she gets back''. Ward sighs, pinches the bridge of his nose. ''Just tell her that I'm going to be gone longer than I thought and she needs to contact me as soon as possible''.
''How long?'' Ward exits the Shield vehicle, hands the keys to a man in a suit. Glances up at the massive plane in front of him. ''Long''. He hangs up and adjusts his sunglasses, boards the plane and comes face to face with who must be Fitz and Simmons. After a few minutes Ward remembers exactly why he does mission on his own, working with this Team is going to test his patience.
He does realize that if Skye were here, that she'd get along well with Fitz and Simmons. Maybe even Coulson too, he has that father aura about him that Skye has always been chasing. He's settling in his bunk when his phone beeps, it's a message from Skye. More accurately it's a picture of her saying how much she misses him and Ward finds himself smiling like an idiot.
He replies, asking if Kebo told her the news. She responds with another picture, this time it's of her frowning and he knows she got the message. He tells her that he's sorry, waits for her to comment but she never does. They have their first mission and it involves the Rising Tide, Ward feels himself go rigid. He's had dealings in the past with them and they've never gone well.
Skye is in her element, her laptop hot in her hands. The van her and Kebo rented for the trip is parked in an alley behind a shop in L.A. They made it here in less than a day, thank god because if she had to spend one more minute with him in a small confined space, she was going to lose it. She's gotten a big hit on the video she released of Mike Peterson, the man she recorded literally jumping out of a burning building.
Kebo is on a coffee run so she's using this time alone to record her audio, every piece of her longing to get under Shield's skin. Skye is aware that Ward is a member of that organization, but also knows that he doesn't always agree with their methods. As long as he never finds out, no harm done. ''How will you come at us, from the air? From the ground? How will you silence us this time, how can you? The truth is in the wind, it's everywhere, you cannot stop the Rising Tide''.
''You will not find us you will never see our faces but rest assured we will rise against those who shield us from the truth and nothing, nothing stops us in the''- The van doors slide open and for half a second she thinks it's Kebo so she doesn't look up. Until she recognizes that face behind a pair of sunglasses. Oh god. ''Grant?''
And then Ward who doesn't freeze or blink or form any kind of reaction at the shock of seeing her there, throws a bag over her head and pulls her from the van. His hold gentle but very firm, not in a way she's ever experienced with him before. This is not going to end well.
She screwed up. She screwed up big time. Skye blinks as soon as the bag is removed from her head. Grant is standing there stone faced, arms crossed. ''Don't look at me like that, if either of us deserves to be mad right now it's me. You put a bag over my head and kidnapped me!'' The other agent in the room looks between them. ''I'm sorry, do you two know each other?''
Skye hesitates, letting Grant decide how he wants this to go since this is his area of expertise, not her's. He clears his throat awkwardly. ''Sir I need to make something clear that I had no idea she was even in L.A. let alone a Rising Tide member. Yes we know each other, this is Skye, my girlfriend''. The other agent glares at Grant, ''outside Agent Ward, now''.
They both glance at her before leaving her alone in the room. Ward braces himself, he could have just screwed up this entire thing. And he hasn't even been on this plane for twenty four hours. But what in the hell is she even doing here? He lied to Coulson about not knowing she was a memeber of the Rising Tide, of course he knew. They've been living together for months.
''Agent Ward you and I both know that it's not against Shield policy for an agent to have a relationship and I'm not condeming you for it. However our first mission as a team and it's already effecting what we do. She's a member of the Rising Tide, an organization against everything we stand for. And you're telling me as her boyfriend you had no idea?''
''Sir I promise you I didn't know. I would have never guessed that about her''. Being a Specialist you have to be a good liar, part of the job. And so Coulson has no doubts, believes Ward like it's nothing. Ward takes note of that, it'll come to good use later. ''Coulson let me talk to her first, she trusts me. She'll cooperate once I ask, it won't be hard to find out what she knows''. Phil nods and Grant sighs before walking into the interrogation room.
Skye sits up straighter when Grant walks in, his face unreadable. He sits down across from her, folds his hands atop the table. ''How did you get to L.A.? Please tell me you did not rent that van and drive down here by yourself''. Skye bites her lip and he knows that's exactly what happened. ''I didn't come by myself''. Ward briefly closes his eyes.
''Where was Kebo when we picked you up?'' ''You mean when you violated my rights as an american citizen and kidnapped me? He was getting coffee, he's probably worried sick about me, but he's too afraid to call and tell you that, so he's going to make a scene and freak out''. ''I'll handle it''. Skye looks nervously around the room.
''What are you even doing in L.A.? I thought you were in Paris''. ''Plans changed''. ''Kebo said you were going to be gone for possibly a long time. How long?'' ''I don't know''. ''And what about me? What is Shield going to do to me?'' A dark look comes into his face. ''Nothing, no one is going to hurt you Skye. We just need information''. ''Information on what?''
''The video you took on Mike Peterson. Shield is looking for him, have you been in contact with him at all?'' She doesn't answer him. ''Skye''. He takes her hand, draws small circles on her knuckles, knowing how his touch effects her. She grips his hand fiercely and he can see in her eyes that she's nervous. But she trusts him. ''I talked to him at a diner the other day, tried to get through to him but he didn't listen''.
''He's powered, do you realize how dangerous that is?'' ''Kebo was with me, besides Mike wouldn't have hurt me. He's a good man who just got caught up in a bad situaiton''. He asks her a few more questions about her work in the Rising Tide and like expected, she's honest with him. When she mentions the Centipede Program he has to act like he doesn't know what she's talking about.
But of course he does, he's put much of his time in the project, anything it takes to save Garrett. ''Is that all Shield wanted to know?'' Grant releases her hand. ''Yeah''. ''So what happens now?'' Coulson comes into the room, ''now you get to witness just how good your friend is Skye''. Ward leads her to the center of what turns out to be a plane, there are three other people standing around a video monitor.
One of the women has dark hair and eyes, looks like she's seen the darkness of the world and it swallowed her up, before spitting her back out. The other is more than likely Skye's age, with an english accent and Skye likes her immediately. There's a younger man amoung them with an accent as well that Skye can't place, he's awkward but soft and Skye can't help but smile at him.
''You're Agent Ward's girlfriend?'' Simmons asks her, glancing between the couple. ''Um yeah. Why is that against the rules or something?'' ''No, we just can't picture him emotionally involved with someone''. Fitz answers her, Skye feels Ward's hand brush across her elbow. ''We can make intriductions later. Skye, this the damage Mike has done so far''.
Coulson pulls up a news feed and Skye tenses. That is not anything like the man she met before. He's angry now, violent. ''This is wrong this is not the guy I met. He was, he just needs a break''. ''Then give him one. What have you got?'' She glances at Grant before handing over Mike's I.D. to Coulson.
They don't find much that Skye hasn't already told Ward, all they have is a crappy video and it's not anything to go on. ''What if you had the audio? I was running surveillance on the lab, the digital file is in my van. There's too much background noise for me but you can probably''- Ward gives her a look, like she's a stranger that's been sleeping in his bed.
''Get my van back to that alley and then I'm in business''. Ward doesn't like this plan at all. Skye being involved in Shield is not sitting well with him. This is a dangerous game he's playing, people could or are going to get hurt and Skye under no circumstances can be one of them. He won't allow it. And if John finds out she's here, it isn't going to smooth over well.
''Coulson I can take her back to her van''. Grant tells him, noticing how tightly Skye is clinging to his side, her arms crossed over her chest. ''No, May go with her. Ward I need you here with me''. He's about to protest but catches himself, he can't allow his relationship with Skye to effect anything Shield related. If the Team had trust issues before, this isn't doing anything to help them. He can't afford that.
Skye looks up at him and Ward puts his hands soothingly on her shoulders. ''Relax, May doesn't bite. Much. Just be careful alright? May is one of the best she'll keep you safe''. She nods, trusting him. Skye gives his fingers a squeeze before following May out, Ward watching her until she disappears.
On the way back to her van Skye keeps a look out for Kebo, who is more than likely having a nervous breakdown right about now. Agent May is silent as she walks down the sidewalk. ''So is me being here going to get Grant in trouble?'' No answer. After a few minutes Skye let's the sounds of the city absorb the awkward tension she feels radiating off the other woman.
There's a shuffle from inside her van and Skye freezes. She's about to tell May it's more than likely Kebo, but May pushes her behind a trash can and rips the door open. A man is pulled out and thrown onto the ground with one hand, May's gun pointed at his back. ''Woah woah it's alright! This is my van. Jesus christ''- ''Kebo? May it's alright he's with me, he's my friend''.
May relaxes her grip and Kebo stands, spots Skye and grabs her, hugging her hard. ''Thank god. Where in the hell have you been? Ward is going to kill me when he finds out''- ''Popeye breathe. It's okay, I'm fine. And Grant already knows''. ''He does?'' That's when May pulls out her badge and Kebo's mouth drops open. And then he starts laughing.
''You got picked up by Shield? Oh my god that is too good. Please tell me Ward is the one who found you, I bet he was so pissed. Leave it to you Skye to do something against the man, and it's your boyfriend who busts you for it''. Kebo hunches over from laughter, clutching his stomach with tears running down his face. May clears her throat and he sobers up.
''Popeye listen to me. I'm just grabbing a few things and then I'm going back to Shield''. They enter in the van and Skye gets the information she needs. They're about the exit the vehicle when both May and Kebo are thrown against the alley of the wall, out cold. Skye jumps, knows exactly who's behind this. Quickly she gets the most important thing to her and stashes it somewhere safe before Mike Peterson enters the van.
''Mike, what are you doing?'' ''Saving you from the scary men it dark suits. And you're gonna help save us''. ''Us?'' There's fear in the back of her neck when his son climbs aboard, Skye calms herself through the panic. She knows what needs to be done, when he demands she erases who he is, she does so without question. But not before sending her location to Grant. He'll save her, he'll make sure she comes out of this alive.
''He took Skye''. The words chill Grant to the bone, rage travels up his rib cage so fast his hands clench from the weight of it. He should have went with her. If anything happens to her now, Coulson is going to pay. Screw the mission screw anything that ever seemed to matter to him, if she's hurt all bets are off. And he knows right then he's allowed Skye to compromise him.
But he can't find it in himself to regret it. He's going to get her out of this and back home, there is no other option.
''Mr. Peterson good morning we're not a threat, we're here to help but you're in danger and we need to take you in''. On the outside Ward looks calm, his hand on the holster of his gun. But if Mike Peterson makes one wrong move on his girl, Ward's going to put a bullet through his brain. Suddenly the door of her van comes flying towards them and they dive away from it. When he looks up Mike has Skye in his arms.
''Grant!'' Skye sees him on the ground and yells his name again, more panic over if he's alright than her own well being. Grant has his gun out but can't get a clear shot, and he can't risk aiming anywhere else because Skye is in the way. He chases after them, his eyes on Skye at all times. She keeps looking back and finds his eyes locked with hers. She manages to get away from Mike and uses that distraction to run.
Grant catches her in his arms, gripping her tightly to him. ''You okay?'' ''I'm fine''. Her hands cup his face and he very briefly runs his lips across her forehead. ''Get the hell out of here, go outside and wait until I come and get you''. He releases her after she nods in agreement. He looks around for Mike and sees him soar through the air, the man's eyes on Skye who is pulling on the door to make it out.
Mike lands in front of Skye and grabs her, Grant pulls the other man off her, pins him in a head lock that would have cut off his circulation if he wasn't so strong. ''Look the stuff inside you is unstable it'll kill you and everyone in here''. ''Who's gonna miss us?'' Skye watches in horror as Grant is slammed to the ground, her feet carrying her automatically to him, but Mike grabs her again.
''Only take the shot if you have to Ward''. Coulson doesn't trust the look in the Specialist's eyes. ''If I have to''. Coulson has no idea what's clawing inside of Ward's chest, begging for release.
In the end no matter how much Grant wants to, how much he can feel his desire to pull the trigger, he doesn't. Mostly because he doesn't want Skye to see him like that, making a hard call. So he settles for the gun Fitz and Simmons handed him which saves everyone, and when Skye looks up at him from the bottom floor, he smiles at her.
''I did not sign up for this crap''. Skye and Ward look at Kebo and fight smiles. Ward is leaning against a Shield vehicle while Kebo is getting his wounds treated. Skye has her back pressed to Ward's chest, his arms around her waist, chin on her head. ''Skye if you were smart you'd decline Coulson's offer and come back with me''. She threads her fingers through Ward's before responding.
''I don't know Popeye, the bullets and near death experiences could be kinda fun. Plus I have this big guy to protect me, I think I'll be fine''. A look passes between the three of them, the elephant in the room that no one is going to bring up, not here. ''Fine, call if you need me''. ''You know I will''. Skye turns in Ward's arms, his hands tight on her hips.
''So robot, what do you think? Shield could be good for me, besides I can't go months without seeing you''. She pulls out all the stops to convince him this is the right move. Pressing her body against every line of his, running her hands down his chest. Which he rolls his eyes at because he knows exactly what she's doing. ''You really want this?'' Her eyes are deep and serious when she tells him yes.
He kisses her softly. ''Alright then. But I need you to trust me, no matter what. I don't know what's in store for us here, I might have to do things you won't like''. ''I trust you, to keep me and everyone else safe''. Right now he doesn't care about everyone else, just her. So she wraps herself in his leather jacket and kisses him until Coulson calls and tells them to come back to the Bus.
As long as she has Ward, Skye will be fine. But there's guilt ringing in her chest. There's only one person who knows the real reason why she's joining Shield. And it's not Grant.