You Make Me Feel So Weak
''I'm amazed Coulson is letting us share a bunk''. Skye comments, watching Ward as he puts her bags on the bed. She unpacks her clothes and smiles slightly at the picture she snagged from their apartment before leaving for L.A. with Kebo. It's a framed photograph of her and Grant, the sun is setting and he's looking down at her face, smiling, his eyes crinkled at the edges. Skye's own lips are half on his cheek, a smile gracing her face as well, her hands resting on his shoulders.
Grant hands her a pamphlet, ''this isn't like other planes''. He leans against the doorway, watches her stretch across the bed as she reads, the dress she's wearing shows off her long tan legs. ''Stop looking at me like that''. She comments, lifting her eyes to him. He grins at her, caught. ''Did you get everything you needed off of your van?'' ''Yeah''. She tosses the pamphlet onto the floor and winks at him.
''Close the door and come here''. He does, leaning down to kiss her before hovering over her, his hands drifting up the hem of her dress. ''Does this mean you've forgiven me for the Rising Tide thing?'' ''I've known you were in the Rising Tide for a long time''. He whsipers in her ear. ''But you told Coul''- ''To protect you and me. If the Team doesn't trust me then we have a another set of problems''.
She's lifting his shirt over his head, her fingers tracing every plain and valley on his skin, when a knock on the door pulls them apart. Ward sighs heavily into her neck, removes his palms from her thighs. Puts on his shirt and opens the door. ''Yes Sir?'' ''We have a possible 0-8-4''. ''Where?'' ''Peru. We land shortly''. Grant closes the door and turns back to Skye.
''What's an 0-8-4?'' ''Object of unknown origin''. She stops slipping her boots over her feet, leans back on her elbows and raising her eyebrow at Ward. ''And how long until we land?'' He smothers her smile with his teeth against her lips.
Fitz and Simmons meet them in the hallway, they are still blown away by the fact that Ward has someone in his life that he cares about. ''So how long have you two been seeing each other?'' Simmons asks as her and Skye go into the lab and Fitz and Ward speak to Coulson. ''Almost a year''. The scientist smiles at her. ''He seemed so locked down when I first met him, but with you it's different''.
Skye knows all of the reasons why Ward is the way he is. And her mind flashes back to when she first met John Garrett, the man to blame for every piece of Ward he's taken.
*
Skye wakes tangled up in Grant's shirt. He's been away on a mission for a week now, she will never get used to sleeping alone again. Rubbing her eyes she takes a warm shower, has a hot cup of coffee in her hands as she enters the living room. Wrapping the blanket across her shoulders she turns on her laptop, and becomes lost in her work.
It's around five in the evening before Skye returns to reality, her stomach informing her that she hasn't eaten since that morning. She's ordering thai food when the door opens suddenly, and she jumps with excitement thinking that Grant came home early and is surprising her. She isn't so lucky. A man walks into the apartment with grace like he's done so a million times before.
He's older maybe late forties, and there's a dangerous edge to his profile that has her walls up immediately, alarms ringing loudly in her mind. He looks at her in shock before studying her intently, a slow slimy smile spreading over his lips. ''Well, hello there''. Skye then remembers the way she's dressed, in Ward's shirt and nothing else and she feels very uncomfortable, fighting the urge to hide herself.
''Who the hell are you?'' There was no indication in the way he touched the door handle that he forced it to unlock, Skye knows enough about picking locks to recogize if he did. So he must of had a key, which begs another question. Why in the hell does he have a key to their apartment? And why didn't Grant tell her this, so she'd be prepared for exactly this situation?
The man doesn't drop his smile, instead looking around the small apartment with distaste. ''Better question is who the hell are you? It isn't like Ward to leave a whore around his apartment while he's away, let alone even tell you where he lives. Does my boy have a girlfriend and didn't tell me about it?'' Skye goes on the defense, crossing her arms over her chest.
''Look I don't know why you're here but you need to leave, I'm not above calling the cops. If you're looking for Grant he should be back any second''. She lies, hoping this stranger at least knows her boyfriend's line of work and is scared off. The man's smile evaporates, ''we both know that's not true sweetheart''. He walks further into the room and shuts the door.
Skye is seriously freaked out at this point and is slowly inching her way to where Ward keeps one of the hidden guns across the apartment. ''No need to be afraid honey. My name is John Garrett, Ward never mentioned me to you?'' She shakes her head and John nods in approval which she doesn't understand. ''Smart man''. He sets what looks like is a grocery bag on top of the counter.
''I thought he'd be back by now but oh well. Looks like we'll just have to have dinner without him''. Dinner? What the hell is wrong with this man? He clearly came here for Ward and since he's not here there's no need for John to be here. So why is he taking his jacket off and draping it across the chair, rolling up the sleeves of his shirt like he's prepared to stay?
''I don't think that's a good idea, you should come back when Grant is here''. John waves his hand, completely ignoring how scared he is making her. ''He'll be fine with it. Ward is like a son to me, I practically raised the bastard. He'll be glad we finally met, he has to be serious about you since you're staying in his apartment while he's gone''. Skye doesn't get the way John says this, like he's trying to convince her he wants Grant to be happy, but she can tell he doesn't.
Like the idea of him even entertaining the idea of having a girlfriend is a horrible thing, but John is smiling like he is very proud of Ward. ''Relax, take a seat''. Skye remains where she is, when he looks away she makes a move for the gun underneath the entertainment center. ''Not a smart move there''. She looks back up to see John holding a knife in his hand, but instead of using it as a weapon he starts pulling vegetables out of the bag and chopping them up.
The gun is cool and light against her hands, and Skye honestly has no idea how to use it but it shouldn't be too hard, right? Pull the trigger. She doesn't. She only got it out to hopefully intimidate him enough to know that she's serious about her not wanting him here. It was in vain. He seems calm just like Grant with a bullet to his face.
Skye reaches into the pocket of the shirt to pull out her phone and call Grant, but it's actually on the couch and she curses silently to herself. ''Why don't you put that down? I promise I'm not going to hurt you. Ward trusts me with his life, and you should too. Did he tell you what he does for a living?'' Skye nods, doesn't relax her hold on the gun. ''Good, I'm with Shield too''.
''Really? Show me your badge''. He does, the silver gleam of Shield clashing against the kitchen lights. She relaxes then, slightly and he can tell when she does. His attitude changes suddenly as does the atmosphere in the apartment. ''Why don't you go change out of his shirt? I'll cook you his favorite meal''. She raises her eyebrow at that, ''those don't look like the ingredients for pumpkin pancakes and scrambled eggs''.
John hesitates for a moment, and Skye won't know why until later. Because he thought Ward was playing her, which in a plan she won't be aware of until after the fact, was exactly what Grant wanted him to think. ''Right, must have gotten confused with someone else''. So she has the most awkward dinner of her entire life, barely eating whatever meal is supposedly Grant's favorite.
He leaves just as quickly as he came, monsters underneath his face. Skye makes sure to lock the door and turn the alarm off, and her hands are shaking so badly as she reaches for her phone. Grant doesn't answer. Throughout Garrett's time with her he asked her questions about her life, not impressed with her answers, and poked and prodded at her and Grant's relationship.
Skye stays up all night, the gun close at her side as she sits on the couch and jumps at every small sound. At around ten in the morning a knock on the door startles her. ''Skye?'' It's Kebo and she runs to the door, yanking it open and rushes him in. Looks around the hallway in fear that Garrett is still around somewhere. When she doesn't spot him she locks the door, sets the alarm again.
''Woah where's the fire? You good?'' She shakes her head and Kebo notices the bags under her eyes. ''When was the last time you slept? You look scared shitless love''. Skye takes a deep breath. ''Who's John Garrett?'' Kebo's face falls and he finally understands why she looks as if she's seen the monster underneath the bed. ''Why?'' ''He came here last night''. ''Are you alright?'' ''No. Kebo he knows Grant, but he was, I don't know, creepy''.
''Did he hurt you?'' ''No, he's with Shield Popeye, he just freaked me out is all''. Kebo puts a firm hand on her shoulder. ''I'm calling Ward''. ''Already tried that, he didn't pick up''. ''He will after I leave this voicemail''. Kebo pulls out his phone and as he's listening to the other line ring, he walks around the apartment, checking the perimeter just like Grant does.
''Ward you need to call me as soon as you can, Skye is fine but I need to talk to you''. Kebo spends the next few hours sitting on the couch with her, going over each detail of the conversation she and John had. ''There was just something about him, he was creepy''. ''He's a nice guy don't get me wrong, but he has a dark side. He's seen too much, a little messed up in the head''. Kebo's phone rings, it's Grant.
''Hey mate''. Kebo puts the call on speakerphone. ''What's going on? I'm on my way back''. Skye sighs in relief, thank god. ''Skye got a visitor last night''. ''Who? Is she okay? Is she there with you?'' ''I'm fine Grant''. She answers him, longing for his hand in her's. ''Garrett came to your apartment last night''. Kebo tells him, and the Ward goes quiet for a long time. ''Skye, are you alright?'' His tone is clipped, measured. Barely concealed fear into the edges.
''I'm fine. He was just, weird. Grant why didn't you tell me he had a key to our apartment?'' She hears him sigh. ''We'll talk about it when I get home''. He hangs up. It's another six hours before he's unlocking the door, drops his bags on the counter. He's ambushed by Skye in a tangle of limbs and long hair. He holds her tightly to him, running his fingers through her scalp, crushing her protectively to his chest.
She looks up at him as he checks her over, his thumbs tracing her cheeks. There are lines in his face that she tries to smooth out with her lips but they don't budge. He takes her face in his hands like she is the most precious thing to him. ''What happened?'' She tells him, watches the very raw fear he tries to hide illuminate his face. ''You don't have to worry about him baby, believe me''.
She does, and when she asks him about his history with Garrett, she isn't prepared for the story he throws at her.
*
''I guess with what he does he can't be too careful you know? He's emotionless with me sometimes too''. She answers Simmons, and the two talk for a bit until they land in Peru. The mission does not go the way Ward expected. Not only is the 0-8-4 dangerous on many accounts, Shield has to bring it aboard the plane along with members of the police force in Peru.
In between dodging bullets (which is a normal thing and didn't bother him too much) making sure Skye was out of the line of fire, and getting shot himself, he's pissed. Because today on their first mission proved just how incompatiable they are, Fitz Simmons and himself. And Skye just like the two scientists is not field ready. They had no idea how to react when the rebels opened fired on them.
Ward immediately sought out Skye, making damn sure she was in his sight at all times and covering her body with his. When he enters the lab he loses it, raises his voice at Fitz until he doesn't even care what their arguing about. He just needs to yell at someone. Which is when Coulson jumps in, and Skye is trying to pull Ward back because there's just something so wrong about him yelling at Fitz.
''Do we have a problem in here?'' ''No Sir''. Skye removes her hand from Ward's arm, he looks down at her. ''Just working on our communication. Not everyone was prepared for fire fight''. ''We got out, didn't lose anyone saved a few of theirs. I say we did alright. Anything else?'' Skye raises her hand, bites her lip. ''Yeah I have a small question. What the hell is wrong with you?''
She asks Ward, and he gives her a confused look. ''No one in this lab knows how to act when we're getting shot at besides you and Coulson. It's not our fault that we aren't teriffied when bullets are aiming for our heads, so you have no right to be pissed off at Fitz for that''. He gives her an angry look before walking out, and Coulson tells them to work out their problems quickly.
Skye finds Ward in the lounge with a book she recognizes, he must have swiped it off of his night stand before he left. She grabbed a bottle of whiskey on her way up, it's his favorite kind and she knows she needs to smooth over her comment from earlier. ''Can I buy you a drink?'' He smiles slightly at her and she goes to sit next to him. They drink in silence for a while and she apologizes for what she said.
''No need you were right. I was just afraid something was going to happen to you, it put me on edge that's all''. She takes a small sip from her glass. Her hand catches his side and she notices the blood on his shirt. ''Did you get shot?'' ''Skin deep nothing to worry about''. ''Nothing to worry about? Did that happen protecting us?'' She's seen him with injuries before, even patched a few up, but him being hurt scares her more than anything ever has.
''It's fine Skye. I'm fine''. He puts his hand on her knee. ''Skye, hand me the bottle''. He says suddenly and she looks up from her phone. ''Okay Turbo but you're still nursing the one you got''. ''I'm not the only one''. That's when the hand on her knee becomes more possessive, protective. She notices what he's talking about and he shifts so she's a fair distance away from what he's about to do.
He pushes her out of the way and starts his attack, only pausing and freezing up when he sees Skye, being held by one of the men, a gun to her head. They're tied up in the cargo bay and Ward is already forming a plan to get them out of here. May finally comes to and together they find a way to rescue Coulson, save the Bus and get the 0-8-4 under control. The entire day has set Ward so overcome with worry that when it's finally over he feels every single piece of him relax.
As him and the Team are watching the 0-8-4 be sent off into space, Skye appraoches him from behind and hands him a beer, kisses his cheek. He's so wrapped up into thinking of how much these people are starting to grow on him, that he might actually get what Garrett needs without hurting anyone, that he doesn't notice Skye reaching into her back pocket for her phone.
''What is your status?'' The message reads, and Skye looks to make sure Grant isn't focused on her when she replies, ''I'm in''.
''You know I've never seen you in action like that before. It was pretty hot''. Skye tells Ward when he's climbing into bed next to her, his laugh a warm brush against her cheek. ''Really?'' He adjusts their positions so she's draped across his chest, her mouth inches from his. ''Really''. She tries not to think about the guilt that is clinging to her spine as she kisses him and runs her hands through his hair.
But it's no use. If he finds out why she's really here he's going to hate her. This trust they have in one other could quite possibly be broken, and Skye can't stand the thought of that happening. It doesn't make her stop the search for her parents though, Shield has information on her parents she just knows it. And as Ward skates his finger tips up her back, she realizes that she's going to have to tell him soon.
And he is not going to be happy with her, at all. They both have secrets, and he isn't going to react well to her's.