He's So Devoid of Color He Don't Know What It Means
Skye sits in the Providence Base kitchen, coffee in her hands. The team arrived at Fury's secret base yesterday and she hasn't heard from Grant. There was an attack on the Fridge and normally that would make Skye nervous, except she knows who's behind it. Coulson doesn't. So he's in a frenzy and demands she calls Ward to check on him, and there's guilt all over her when she dials his number.
He doesn't asnwer. ''Try him again''. Skye looks up to see Coulson, worry over taking him and Skye wishes she could tell him to stop, that Ward doesn't need anyone fretting over him. Since her and Grant have been apart she's been anxious, not for her but for him. She knows how toxic Garrett can be and if they were all three together she tries to be a buffer for him. But alone? Grant is easily taken advantage of by John.
When they're together, there's no telling what they'll do. Fitz, Simmons, Coulson, Trip and Eric Koenig all linger around while she pulls out the SAT phone and calls again. Much to her surprise he answers, and just hearing his voice puts her troubles at ease. ''Ward?'' ''Hey baby''. ''Where are you?'' The team watches her closely. ''Had to take a different route to the Fridge, on my way back, are you okay? You sound worried''.
''I'm worried about you''. She knows he has that stupid smirk on his face when he replies, ''you don't have to, I'm fine''. For the team's benefit she asks him where Garrett is and he plays along flawlessly. ''Dead, he tried to escape and I took action. Where are you?'' ''Fury's secret base''. ''Which one?'' ''Providence''. ''Send me the coordinates I'll be there as soon as I can''. ''How long?'' ''A day, maybe two''.
She knows he isn't stopping to refuel or take a breather, it would only take him that long because John needs something. ''Please be careful''. ''You too, I miss you''. She smirks at that. ''It's only been twenty four hours, but I miss you too. I love you''. She also doesn't have to be looking at him to know he's smiling. ''You too, I'll see soon''. She hangs up the phone and looks around.
''Garrett is dead, Grant is on his way back from the Fridge, I'll send him our coordinates''. She watches Coulson absorb this, feels horrible when releif takes over him and the rest of her team. How can she say she's with Shield if she's lying to them? She'll protect Grant always, but just how far is she willing to go? ''So what now Sir?'' Trip asks.
''We lay low and wait for Ward, Garrett is gone so that's one less psychopath we have to worry about. The only problem is we don't know how many Gifted got out of the Fridge, it's our job to find out. Skye see if you can pull up the security feed from the Fridge''. She freezes. She can't do that, they'll see Ward in those cameras.
''Yes Sir''. She can stall for time, and when that runs out, she can always erase the feed entirely. Hopefully. She sits at Koenig's desk and sorts through hours and hours of footage. She's about give up thinking that somehow Grant managed to avoid detection entirely, when she sees his face flash on the tablet in her hands. Frantically she looks around, praying that no one else is seeing this and turns off the device.
The question runs through her mind again, how much longer can she protect Grant before Coulson finds out the truth? And if he does, what will happen to her?
*
Grant watches Raina as her hopes and dreams burn and die, takes in every emotion on her face when she realizes John isn't clairvoyant at all. He's just a man with a Shield badge he never truly believed in, and stuck in dying skin he can't cure. Raina has been with him for a few weeks now but didn't know who she was working for, until Grant brought her into Garrett's favorite barber shop in Cuba.
''So you're a liar, a fraud''. ''An artist, a con artist perhaps but an artist all the same. Had to pull the wool over Shield's eyes somehow to do what we set out to do, remember what that was?'' ''To change the world''. Grant feels his phone vibrate against his leg for the third time, and ignores it once more. He knows it's Skye but can't bring himself to answer her. Not yet.
After Garrett gets Raina situated in her own lab, grants her all the money she could want to further her research for him, Grant finally picks up his phone after glancing at John. Hearing Skye's voice, it's as if every worry he ever bothered with falls down at his feet. He couldn't care about a thing but the sound of her breath in his ear, the affection in her voice when she tells him she's worried.
''I love you''. He'll never tire of hearing her say that. ''You too I'll see you soon''. He knows John is watching him, and he can sense Raina is too. ''And how is our woman on the inside?'' ''Fine, Coulson has them at the Providence Base''. ''Did she send you the coordinates?'' ''Not yet''. John gets up from his chair when the sound of a door being opens alerts them. ''Relax, it's just Quinn''.
Ian Quinn. The hell is he doing here? When John and him raided the Fridge he told Grant not to bother, that Quinn was better rotting off underground and suffering, than giving him a quick death by bullet. ''Ward get that look off your face, he's here to help me''. It's an order he can't refuse, but Grant can feel every single inch of his skin on fire.
Quinn shot Skye, almost taking her away from him forever. He deserves to pay for what he's done, and didn't he promise Skye he would? Who does he want to keep his word to more, Skye or Garrett? The answer is as clear as day when Quinn walks through the door, a smile on his face. ''Grant Ward, I have to say you were the last person I ever expected to betray Shield''.
Ward stands there against the wall, barely breathing, and if looks could kill Ian would be a puddle of blood by now. John laughs loudly, claps Quinn on the back. ''Don't mind him he's just a little pissed off that you shot his girlfriend''. Garrett turns to him, ''look Ward Quinn was just doing what I told him to, and she's fine. No harm no foul''. At this new information Grant has a hard time swallowing the truth.
''What?'' The void in his voice sounds strange even to him. Garrett looks to him and pauses. Grant has trusted this man for years, trusts him with his life. Ward has done everything ever asked of him, never taken anything for himself, molded himself into whatever John wanted him to be. And this is how his loyalty is repaid? By almost killing the only person Grant has ever loved?
''You said you had nothing to do with that John''. ''I lied, you were upset and I didn't want to add that. I see now it was a mistake, kind of. My bad''. Grant slowly pushes himself off the wall, walks closer to his mentor. ''You ordered him to shoot Skye''. ''I did that for you too not just for me. Can't you see she's just using you? She doesn't care about you''. ''You don't know her''.
John sighs. ''I'm not doing this with you, I warned you about her the second I walked in on her in your apartment. Forget about the girl because she's probably already forgotton about you, I need you to get your head in the game son''. Ian ignores the Specialist and focuses on John, while they're talking Raina comes up to him, her smooth tone annoying him already.
''You've known him a long time?'' She nods at Garrett. ''Since I was a teenager, he pulled me out of a hell. Saved me from myself''. He shoulders the wall again. ''So now do you know me? Know how to work me?'' ''I'm just curious, if I wanted to work you I'd ask you about Skye''. Ward keeps his emotions buried. ''Did she know you were Hydra the whole time?'' He doesn't give her an answer.
''And what about Coulson and his team? How did you manage to gain their trust?'' ''I jumped out of a plane. Deep cover tactics one oh one, preform selfless acts of barevery, so I jumped to saved the scientist. I had a parachute''. ''They never suspected?'' He gives her his trademark smirk. ''Not a thing''. ''And Skye?'' ''Skye was the unknown variable, I met her long before I joined the team''.
''And tell me Ward, did you break her heart?'' ''No''. His eyes drift over to Quinn, ''but I know someone who did''. All he sees before his eyes is Skye lying there not breathing, pale against the floor of the basement. His darkest days spread about before him when he thought he was going to lose her. And for once since he's known John, he disobeys a direct order.
Sees red, lets his emotions get to him as he grabs Quinn by the back of the neck. Places his hand just right against his throat and slams him onto one of the glass tables. Breaking it under the billionare's weight. ''Grant!'' He ignores John, lifts Ian back up and punches him in the nose. The small amount of blood isn't enough, Ward wants more. ''Look can we just talk about''-
In a movement quick as lightning, Ward has his gun out and puts two bullets in him. In the exact places Skye was shot. There's irony in there somewhere but Quinn doesn't have time to enjoy it. He slips from Grant's gasp onto the floor. Grant, his face stone turns to look at John. Stares directly into his eyes as he fires until his gun is empty.
No one moves or blinks as Garrett takes ahold of the situation. ''What the hell did you just do?'' ''Kept a promise. Shooting Skye was not part of the plan. You know how much she means to me John, you never should have given the order''. Garrett sighs loudly, runs his hands over his face. ''You stupid son of a bitch''. Ward doesn't even put up a fight as John's fist come flying towards his face.
*
Skye waits at the door, eagerness spreading through her bones. It's been too long since she's seen Grant and she's missed him. It's been two days and she can't stand sleeping alone. The heavy metal doors slide open, and she looks up. There's Grant smiling down at her, but her expression quickly turns dark. He has a nasty cut on the side og his face, the rest of him she can see without the cover of his heavy coat, is bruised.
''What the hell happend to you?'' He comes in from the cold and swoops her into his arms, she shivers in his embrace. Lightly touches his cheek and he winces, ''it's just a scratch''. ''Grant that is not just a scratch. What did he do to you?'' He surveys the area and tells her they can discuss it later. ''I missed you''. He tells her when they are walking the halls, their arms around each other.
She leans up and kisses his nose lightly. If he has any other injuries, he's hiding them extremely well. ''Your face is on the security footage at the Fridge''. She whispers in his ear right before they enter the kitchen where the team is waiting. ''I can only stall for so long before they find out''. He nods, that all too familiar mask on his face. ''I'll handle it''. ''What does that mean?''
He shoves open the door without answering. As Simmons patches him up, he feeds them all lies. Garrett is dead and they don't have to worry about him anymore. Skye sticks close to his side, runs her hand soothingly through his hair. ''Your body needs time to heal''. Simmons tells him, and Skye gives Grant a sad look before kissing his forehead.
There's a lie detector test, and Ward, the perfect spy he is passes with flying colors. He tells the truth though, why is he really here? For Skye. He came back for her. Because John needs that flash drive Coulson had her create, it holds all the secrets Raina needs to save him. And John really needed Ward to leave after the stunt he pulled with Quinn. He won't be forgiven for that.
The rest of the team takes it upon themselves to go out and find the prisoners that escaped from the Fridge. Once Grant is sure they are all gone and May is the only one left, he loads his gun. Prepares to cross her off, but then decides against it. She deserves better than that, he lets her leave Providence, some part of him hoping she gets out and makes a better life for herself.
''Any luck on that footage?'' Skye jumps at the sound of Grant's voice behind her. She's back in Koenig's office, going over the feed over and over. ''No, babe I can't make this disappear I've been trying for days''. He leans over the back of her chair, his breath warm on her skin when he slides her hair over her shoulder and kisses her neck. ''I can't concentrate when you do that''. His teeth nip her earlobe.
''So don't, forget about it. The team is gone so is May''. ''May's gone?'' She stands up to face him, wraps her arms around him. ''Yeah, it's just you and me''. She smiles, kisses him slowly. ''Garrett let Quinn out of the Fridge''. They're sitting on the couch, drinks between them, Skye curled into his lap. ''Yeah, he did''. ''And?'' ''I killed him, you don't have to be afraid anymore''.
She leans away from him. ''Is that why Garrett did that to you? To punish you for Quinn?'' ''It's not a big deal Skye''- ''Yes it is, he hurt you Grant''. ''Well Quinn shot you, I wasn't going to let him get away with that, I promised you''. She snuggles back into his embrace and he kisses her hair. ''I'm sorry''. She tells him, placing her hand over his heart. ''For what?'' ''Everything''.
''Why are you really here Grant?'' She asks him a little while later. He looks down at her, ''I need that flash drive Coulson gave you''. She sets her jaw, ''not for me?'' He gives her a confused look. ''For you too, I want to spend time with you before''. He trails off, takes a sip of his drink. ''Before what?'' ''Before we have to go out into the real world again''. He plants a small kiss on her nose.
''Skye did you get the feed from the Fridge? Oh sorry am I interrupting something?'' Skye removes herself from Ward, who glances at Koenig and the expression makes her nervous. ''Sorry I was just taking a break, no luck yet''. ''Alright carry on, I'm gonna check some other channels''. Grant stands, ''I can help you with that''. Eric nods at the Specilaist. ''Alright I could use the company''.
''I'll be right back''. Grant promises her, and when he leaves the room her hands are shaking. John sent Grant to recover the flash drive, and he's going to make damn sure he gets it. Luckily for her even if Garrett does get his disgusting hands on it, Raina won't be able to hack into it, Skye made sure of that. She sits back on the couch and processes the information Grant told her.
He broke a direct order in shooting Quinn. For her. Because he loves her, because maybe Garrett was wrong. Maybe Grant does care more about her than he does about anyone else. It's a long shot, but she'll take it. It takes Grant a long time to return, so she goes looking for him. The base is quiet and it's making her nervous, she can hear the wind howling outside. The water in the sink is running in the kitchen so she goes in. And freezes.
Ward has his back to her, on purpose no doubt as he's leaning over the sink. But she can still see what he's trying to cover up. There's blood on his hands, something she can't identify is sitting on the counter, just scrubbed clean. There's only one person that blood could belong to, and Skye bites back vomit. All this time she's known what Grant has done for a living, accepted it. But to see it first hand? That's something else entirely.
''What did you do?'' He doesn't start at her voice, did he know she was there? She takes a step into the room, the instincts he taught her how to use are on edge. ''Took out someone who was going to expose me, problem solved. The team won't find out about me, not yet anyway''. The way he says it, so calm and collected like it doesn't bother him. ''I had to protect myself and you''.
He turns to face her and she covers her hand with her mouth. There's fresh blood on the side of his face. Grant faulters ever so slightly. She's looking at him as if he's a stranger. ''Skye''- She shakes her head, ''I need a minute''. And bolts out of the room into the nearest bathroom. She dry heaves into the sink, her hands shaking. He's Hydra. She knows this, Garrett is Hydra.
And she's kept this secret so long. And now Eric, an innocent, is dead because of that. Because she's in love with the man who killed him. Somehow she manages to pull it together, splashes water on her face. ''Skye?'' He's still Grant, the same man who holds doors open for her, who buys her chocolate chip and mint icecream and watches romantic comedies with her late at night.
Still the same man who told her he loved her and had tears in his eyes when she repeated it back to him. This is just part of his job, this is what he does. She's known he was a spy for a long time. Eric deserved better, he died for Garrett and the thought makes her shake with anger. She clears her head like Grant taught her, takes something and focuses on it to calm her down.
Hate. She hates John Garrett. So she plays on that, her anger and it works. He wants the flash drive? He's going to have to go through her to get it. With a sound mind she leaves the bathroom to find Grant leaning against the wall opposite of her, his expression full of self loathing. ''Are you alright?'' ''No''. ''Skye I didn't want you to have to see that''. ''I'm fine, I understand''.
He approaches her slowly, runs his hand down her side. ''No you aren't''. He sighs, rests his forehead against hers. ''I am so sorry. You shouldn't of even known about it. Koenig was going to expose us, I didn't have a choice''. She doesn't say, you always have a choice, or Garrett isn't worthy of you. ''I am not a good man Skye''. He says, his lips ghost over her hair. She clutches him so tightly to her his ribs smart but he doesn't dare move.
''Yes you are''. He looks down at her, so much love in his eyes taking her by surprise. How quickly he can change from winter to summer. He kisses her with a fever, like it's the last time he ever will, his hands in her hair. ''I can go in alone, give Garrett the drive Kebo can meet you and take you back home''. She shakes her head, strokes his face. ''We're in this together, always have been. I want this''. He kisses her again.
Garrett is going to pay, and his debt will be due when she sees him. She looks up at Grant, ''and you? What do you want?'' ''What I want is to stay here with you and imagine the world outside doesn't exist''. He takes her hand and together they leave Providence, boarding the Bus.
Ward is unaware of her plans, the trick up her sleeve. He has no idea about her hack on the flash drive, and every part of him thinks she's just going to give it up to Garrett willingly. Because of him, because she loves him.
There's a fine line between love and hate.
And Skye just crossed it.