Kiss Me Hard Before You Go Summertime Sadness
Skye balances two cups of coffee, her laptop and cellphone in one hand, while attempting to unlock the apartment door with her other. Suddenly the door opens and Grant is smiling down at her, taking the items from her palms and setting them on the counter. ''Thanks''. She hands him a cup of coffee and he leans down to kiss her.
She's about to tell him how much she missed him today, when she notices the all too familiar black duffel bag resting on the couch. He meets her disappointed stare and frowns. ''Skye I didn't think''- ''You know you can't just keep disappearing on me Grant, it's not fair''. ''I know''. ''And you can't expect me to just be okay with you leaving and not telling me where the hell you're going or who you're with''-
He swoops down to kiss her, lingering over her lips for a second longer before pulling away. ''I know, I'm sorry. But I have to go. I'll be back soon''. Ward grabs his bag and gives her one last look before exiting the apartment, leaving her alone again. She lets out a frustrated sigh, taking his coffee and pouring down the drain.
''Sure Skye move in with him, it'll be fun. He'll never leave you alone for days at a time and not tell you where he's going, that's a healthy relationship''. She mutters to herself, shaking her head. In the beginnning of their relationship Grant was around all the time, always punctual, excited about whatever she wanted to do. He told her he worked for a oil rig company and that he was currently on a break.
Up until two months ago he rarely left her side. Now he's gone more often that not, more secretive, and he tries to hide brusies and fresh stitches on his body, and she doesn't understand why. If he's involved with something dangerous, why bring her into his life in the first place? The next scenario she thinks of makes her sick to her stomach.
If he's with someone else so short in their time together, why even bother with her at all? At first Skye was alright with it, sort of. She didn't suspect anything else was going on the first or second time he went away. But since his trips are happening so often, she's starting to question it. Does he really care about her? Or is she just a woman on the side for him whenever he comes back from work?
Thoughts like that race around in her mind the rest of the day and well into the night. She sleeps on the couch because she can't stand going into their bedroom, there's anger building up inside. The conversation he's going to walk into when he returns, is not going to be one he enjoys. And honestly? It should have happened a lot sooner.
A week later she's coming back home from having drinks with Kebo, it's late, the moon high in the night sky. She unlocks the door after telling Kebo thanks for walking her home, turns on the kitchen light and sets the alarm. Puts on a pot of coffee and ties her hair back, when she hears a shift in the fabric of the couch, making her jump. It's Grant. He's sitting there in all black (which makes him look even sexier and even more dangerous.)
The side of his handsome face is sporting a bruise but he looks otherwise unharned. ''Skye''. No one has ever said her name like he does, almost a sigh, a prayer, like she's some kind of salvation, religion for him. ''Are you okay?'' He glances at her legs that are leaning against the counter before responding. ''I'm fine''. ''You've been gone a week''. ''I know and''-
She cuts him off by holding her hand up. ''Look I've been thinking about a lot since you've been away. Grant we haven't been together very long and we already live together. If this is too much for you I can leave, if you don't want this like you thought that's okay. You don't have to keep making up business trips or whatever the hell you're doing''.
He gets up and slowly saunters across the room to her. ''Is that what you think this is?'' He doesn't understand why her eyes suddenly fill with tears or why she looks away from him when she says what she does next. ''And if I'm just some game to you, if you're with someone else than I refuse to be apart of that. I can't do this Grant, I can't take you telling me how much you want to be with me and then leaving''.
She wipes her face, her eyes still not meeting his. So she doesn't see the sheer painc that crosses his face, the fear in his skin. How can she not see that she is all he's ever wanted? All he's ever needed? Grant has never had anyone important to him in his life, so it takes him a moment to think of it from her point of view. It's not fair to her, he realizes.
If he was in her position, he would have ended things a long time ago. He's about to open his mouth and apologize, but she takes his silence for an answer and moves away from him. ''Guess that answers that question''. He stands there not having a clue how to proceed, his skills are in bombs and bullets, not in emotions. Emotions get Specialists in danger.
So he's frozen in the kitchen, watching Skye take out her bags and shove clothes into them. Not making a sound, the silence is the loudest he's ever heard. He finally breaks when he hears a zipper, and he knows that he doesn't want her to leave. Ward hasn't had anyone or anything to himself for years, John has been the only one in his life that mattered.
Until Skye. He'd die for her, which is why when she passes him for the door he catches her wrist. ''Skye, stop''. She looks at him, her eyes swimming in tears. ''I can't do it Grant, not if this continues. Not if you're just going to keep leaving me''. Something, he can't identify what aches in his chest at the expression on her face. ''Skye, I hate leaving you''.
She doesn't believe him. He sighs softly, takes her face in his hands and she lets him. ''There's not another woman, I only want you, I'm all yours, I promise''. ''Then where do you keep going? It's not fair to me Grant. Do you just expect me to wait around for you the rest of my life? I don't even know who I'm waiting for''. He catches the tears that fall. He's hurt her, and he hates himself for it.
Skye who took a chance on him, who's the most guarded person he knows besides himself is just trying to protect herself from getting hurt. And he understands that. He doesn't want to hurt her, but Garrett needs him, and she won't know that if he doesn't let her in. But that's dangerous, the world he's involved in could take her and break her into pieces.
Ward believes he is damned, and he won't allow the same thing to happen to her. But she tries to leave again, to end the best thing he's ever had in his entire life. So he stops her, begs her not to go. Her hand on the door knob she turns back, her eyes wide and wet. ''Then tell me what's going on''. He does. He sets her down on the couch and tells her.
Everything. His childhood horrors, Garrett, Hydra, Shield. It all comes out of him and he knows in that instant he can trust her. Trust that she'll keep his secrets. Because when he's finished she wipes her face, kisses him until he can't keep his hands off her, opens her eyes and searches his face. Which he allows his emotions to be known, and she smiles.
''You don't have to do this alone Grant, I'm here. Whatever you need''. She then offers her comfort about John, her support in what he does. She understands, like he always hoped she would one day. He's no longer alone in the world. He loves her, and he's never been more afraid in his life.
*
Skye stands quietly at the command center next to Fitz, the Bus is dark and feels empty. Grant is still in the interrogation room, May is in there with him and Coulson has just saved Garrett from a Shield attack, who is about to walk in any second. If Skye could scoff, she would. The man has Coulson eating out of his hand, it's disgusting. But Garrett was right, she won't breathe a word because Grant could be hurt.
How can Coulson not see the monster in front of him? That the whole attack was staged? Garrett is good, but is he really that good? Apparently because Coulson believes every word that comes out of his mouth when he comes onto the Bus. Skye is on her laptop looking into what happened to John and why the Bus is headed in a different direction.
She already knows but continues to work anyway.
Grant really does consider, for half a moment anyway, taking May out while she lies on the floor, still out cold. But there are cameras in the room and he has no way of telling Skye to shut them off. There's a time and place to reaveal all, and he hasn't gotten word to do so yet. She stirs awake and Ward pretends like he's angry at her for reporting to Fury on them.
Even though he's known the entire time. ''Coulson said you're in informant. Want to elaborate on that?'' ''No I don't''. ''I deserve to know''. He tells her, crossing his arms. ''Don't start with that, we do our jobs end of story , I can't tell you anymore until Fury gives the go ahead''. They argue for a few moments until Ward, feeling like a hypocrite until the bitter end says, ''you always said to keep my emotions in check but this is some next level''-
''And you should have listened. You killed a man in cold blood, let your emotions get the best of you''. ''It was to protect our team from a monster!'' ''It was to protect her! You're first mistake agent Ward was letting Skye on this plane, she wasn't here to be a Shield agent. Not at first, she was only here for you, because she couldn't handle being away from you''.
''You don't know anything about Skye''- ''And now what Ward? Is she going to follow you, hold your hand while you stand in front of a review board for killing Nash? You killed for her, and now you're going to pay for it, lets hope she's worth it''. There's a look in his eye that makes even the Calvary lean back, just a little. ''She is''.
Coulson enters the room in a frenzy, releasing Ward and telling him they need him, that Garrett has been attacked. He heads up to the command center to find Skye away at her laptop, John and Fitz beside the video monitor. Skye and Garrett both meet his eye, and he knows. It's time. He takes Skye's hand, kisses her cheek lightly, as she decrypts the code.
Out of the Shadows into the Light. Hydra.
It appears on the screen in bright white letters, sending the Shield agents in shock. While Garrett, Ward and Skye act like they are taken by surprise as well. But they all know, the end is here. For Skye who thought she was prepared for it, still feels a small amount of crushing pressure to her chest. She was an agent for less than twenty four hours and it's already gone.
Shield is ready to fall.
Ward is a comforting presense at her side, and when she looks at him the promises he made her still stand. She doesn't have to be afraid, he'll protect her. There's still doubt there, will he protect her from Garrett, if the time comes?
''I thought Hydra was defeated after World Ward Two?'' ''It was, Shield was founded in the wake of that victory''. ''And now they're back?'' ''Hydra always comes back''. John says and Grant responds with, ''cut off one head two more will take it's place''. ''Guys it was sent from a Shield source, it's gotta be some sort of activation signal to Hydra members within Shield''. Skye informs them, earning a secret nod from John.
She's playing along very nicely. The have a plan that Ward agrees with, fly to the Hub and rescue Trip and Simmons. This is a fuzzy part of the plan for Skye, it sounds to her as if Garrett is just making it up as he goes along. Did they have an actual plan once Hydra was revealed? Because if they did, Skye wasn't informed. She has no idea what happens now.
Like expected once they land at the Hub, Shield open fires onto the Bus. Skye is immediately thrown to the ground, Grant shielding her body with his. If this is how Shield acts towards one of it's own, not for the first time she thinks she understands why Garrett joined Hydra. Loyalty can only go so far. Isn't she a Shield agent technically? Skye knows that she will have to make a choice and soon, just like Ward. Shield, or him?
When the gun fire stops Coulson orders them to pack up whatever they need, pulls Skye to the side. ''I need you to take all the data we have on this plane, aboout me and you, the GH-325 serum, all of it and put it on a flash drive. We can't let that information fall into the wrong hands''. ''Yes sir''. Garrett and Ward listen on, and she knows they're going to need that drive.
Only problem? She's going to make damn sure John doesn't get it. According to Ward he hasn't found a way to use the serum, even with Raina's help. He's still dying, and she's going to let him.
''Is there anything on this plane you don't want them to get their hands on?'' Garrett asks Ward, and he looks down at Skye, his expression very vulnerable. ''No one is going to hurt you''. Grant tells her, helping her up from the floor and tucking a stray piece of hair behind her ear. He can't read the sad smile she gives him. ''I know''.
Thanks to Fitz they make it into the Hub undetected, it's quiet and cold inside. ''Alright here's where we split, Skye and Ward disable their systems most importantly their control of our plane''. ''Copy that''. ''Remember these agents are under orders, use ICERs only, we'll find Simmons get her out''.
Which is how Skye finds herself jumping down into a storage closet next to Grant. ''You know storage closets used to be my thing''. She tells him, and he turns to her. ''Your thing?'' He smiles slightly at the look she gives him. ''Yeah you know my thing, in high school before I dropped out. I'd take my boyfriends into a storage closet in between classes''.
She winks at him and he chuckles, kisses her quickly. ''Wish he had time for that''. ''Grant what happens now? What are we even doing here?'' ''Garrett is going to reveal himself to Coulson, he'll be arrested and I'll volunteer myself to transport him to the Fridge''. ''Then what?'' ''Then we'll work on the cure''. ''But why does he need you for that?'' ''Skye my time as a Shield agent was over the minute Hydra came out of the shadows''.
''But what about me?'' He cups her face lightly. ''Wait for me, I'll send you a message and you can meet us''. ''Where?'' ''I don't know yet, wherever John needs to go''. He frowns at the look on her face. ''What's wrong?'' ''I can't believe after all of this you're just going to leave me here when things are going to hell''. ''Skye it's not like that''. ''It is like that Grant. You know it''.
''Baby, John needs me''. ''I know, I know he does. But I need you too''. He studies her, moves his hand from her cheek to her waist. ''If you don't feel safe while I'm gone, I can have Kebo take you back home. I can come get you when this is all over''. ''And then what?'' He rests his forehead against hers and Skye closes her eyes. Breathes him in. ''We can get out, go where you want to''.
He keeps his eyes shut when she kisses him, when she allows herself in the small possibility that they'll both make it out of this alive. ''I'd like that''. When he wraps himself around her, presses her against the door and hitches her leg over his hip, she pretends that it's just the two of them again. Before words like Shield and Hydra didn't mean a thing to her. Reality comes crashing down when they hear voices outside.
''But first, we need to get out of here''. They peek out of the door and Skye's stomach drops. ''Give me your ICER''. ''What are you gonna do?'' ''Pave the way for you''. ''There's like a hundred guys out there''. ''Twelve, level five foot soliders basic armored package and no other way through, the others are depending on us''. ''But it's suicide''. ''Not if I don't die''. ''Now is not the time to be funny Grant''.
He rolls his eyes. ''And if I do''- ''Wait slow down''- ''Maybe I deserve to''. Skye grabs his chin so he can look at her. ''What the hell are you talking about? No you don't, and I am not letting you die for me, for no reason''. His eyes are full of some ancient sorrow she can't decipher. ''You don't know every single part of me Skye, some people would be happy to see me with a bullet in my heart''.
''I wouldn't. Grant listen to me, there has to be another way, okay?'' ''There's not''. Before she can respond he kisses her hard, his hands in her hair. ''I love you, lock the door behind me''. And then he's gone, and it's the longest two mintues of her life. She listens until there's nothing but slience and then there are heavy foot steps coming towards her. She backs away in fear, in tears, thinking that Grant is somewhere very far away from her that something happened-
She meets his eyes, still beautiful even with blood running down his face. She breathes a sigh of relief before walking up and kissing him. ''Don't do that to me again you idiot''. ''Sorry''. She swats him lightly on the chest before following him out to continue with the rest of their mission. Ward expertly sets up the bomb and they're both hiding behind a wall, fingers drifting close to their ears.
The lights flicker and the building rumbles. ''Is that all of them?'' ''It wasn't as big as I''- The explosion rocks and Grant pushes her against the wall, covering her body with his once more. When the smoke clears they go back to where they know Coulson is waiting. Before they round the corner Skye pulls on Grant's arm, stopping his movements.
''Back on the Bus you told me you'd protect me when it all came to an end. I want you to know that goes both ways, I'm not going to let anything happen to you Grant''. He gives her a proud smile, ''I know''. They walk into the hall and see the Team, looking a little worse for wear but still alive. Skye knows Ward is slipping his mask back on when Coulson pulls him to the side and tells him about John.
Let it be known, that Grant Ward is an amazing spy. She almost believes herself the look of disbelief on his face, the pain, the betrayal. How he refuses to accept the truth, and Skye plays her part as well. The sympathetic look she gives him from across the room, wide eyed and not believing it either. She goes up to him and he waves her off. ''Give him some time to process this Skye''.
His and Garrett's plan fits like a glove, Grant is allowed to be present when Garrett is transported to the Fridge. Skye waits for him to finish up with Hand and Coulson. Coulson comes out first and stands with her, Hand gets on the plane first. Grant stops, tells Victoria he needs a moment and faces Skye. Looks into her eyes and cups her face.
''Grant I am so sorry''. Her hands are warm against his chest, he holds her face. ''We can talk about it when I get back''. He's not coming back, not ever. Agent Grant Ward is dead. His goodbye kiss tastes like salt and blood, and she clings to him with all she has. She's got a bad feeling, that this end isn't the only thing waiting to pounce.
That the other force Thomas Nash warned Grant and Coulson about is waiting, for her. Grant plants a kiss on her forehead and shakes Coulson's hand. Gives her a look she knows all too well what it means, and vanishes from their sight. It's then Skye remembers the flash drive heavy in her pocket, Garrett will want that soon.
Grant didn't ask her for it. Which is another question entirely, why not? John needs that to continue his research on how to save his life. Did Ward 'forget' on purpose? Is this part of a plan she doesn't know about? What's next? No one told her what to do after the fall of Shield, and Grant left her alone to figure it out.
The team all assmebles back on the Bus and Skye stares at her badge, the one that was always false that meant nothing. But as she looks around at May, Fitz, Simmons and Coulson, they don't mean nothing. They're important to her, they are her family. Why can't she have both Grant and Shield? Without the flash drive Garrett's got nothing.
When he dies, it'll all be over. Grant will come back to her and she can take a leave from Shield. Blame it on the emotional trauma of this event. And when she's ready she can return, she knows Grant never will, but that doesn't mean she can't. As she hands over the badge knowing that it is no longer safe, she makes a choice.
And it's not Shield or Grant. It's Shield or Garrett.
She chooses Shield.