There's A Bad Moon on the Rise
''Where are we going exactly?'' Skye asks, watching the sunrise over the clouds. ''Garrett's base in Cuba''. The Bus takes a smooth turn left and Skye smiles slightly at her boyfriend. ''Didn't know you could pilot a plane''. He shrugs, ''one of the many skills a Specialist has to pick up''. He glances at her, sees how nervous she's become. He takes her hand and squeezes lightly, and for once ever since he's known her, his touch does not make her relax.
''Skye I'm sorry you had to see me like that, but he was going to expose us I had no other options''. ''I know''. She's placating him, he had another option. Instead of killing Koeing he could of ICED him and put him back in his bunk. It's not like the team was never going to find out he was Hydra. The flash drive in her pocket feels like it weighs a hundred pounds.
Garrett means everything to Ward, and she's letting him die. Skye suposes she should feel guilty about that. But she doesn't. All she feels is hate, because Grant deserves better than this. All of it. John is a monster that needs to be put down, slowly and painfully. She's here to ensure that. It's why she stayed at Providence and didn't follow Coulson, she wants revenge. For Grant for herself, John doesn't get to get away with having her shot.
Does Grant know that? Did he have any part in that? She looks at him, her mind drifting off to their lives before Shield. Warm sunday mornings curled in his sheets, cold walks in the park she used as an excuse to hold him close, those small intimate moments that seemed so innocent at the time but now seem so important. He's a spy, it's his job to turn into someone he's not at the drop of a hat.
To lie to cheat, to do whatever he can to get the job done. He told her in her first days aboard the Bus that he knew she was a Rising Tide member, how long did he know? Did he know from the moment he met her? Was she right in her suspicions that he was stalking her in the beginning? Questions like these travel around and around until she's forced to calm herself down.
Closes her eyes. Breathe. None of it was a lie, it couldn't have been. Grant loves her, he loves her so much. No one not even Grant Ward can fake something like that. She tells herself this until she believes it. ''Skye, are you okay?'' She runs a hand through her hair. ''I'm just, Ward I'm freaking out over here''. ''About what? Garrett? Skye once you give him the flash drive it'll be fine''.
''Not about that''. She lies to him, and because this question has been on her mind since Hydra's reveal. ''What will happen to you, when the team finds out?'' Grant sighs lightly, takes her hand in his again. ''They'll try to kill me, and if I'm caught which I highly doubt will happen but I've looked at this from every angle, they'll arrest me. I commited treason, I'm a traitor Skye and so is Garrett''. She blinks back tears. ''And so am I''.
Grant takes just a few seconds to admire her, fresh in the morning sunlight. How beautiful she is, how he doesn't deserve everything she's done for him. And he keeps flashing back to the look in her eyes when she found him in the kitchen. The blood on him. Like she didn't know him, like she was afraid. He understands, he never wanted her to see him for what he is.
A traitor? If anyone on this plane is a traitor, it's him not her. She's far from it. ''Skye no you aren't. You're innocent in all this''. ''No I'm not, I knew who you were and I didn't say anything because I wanted to protect you, I still do. Ward they'll arrest me too''. He's already shaking his head, his grip on her hand tightening. ''No they won't, I won't let them''. He looks at her, leans over quickly to kiss her forehead.
''Skye I need you to do something for me''. He tells her when they land, stands in the cargo bay and takes her in his strong arms. She clings to him, rests her face against his chest, because she knows how angry he will be with her when she denies Garrett what he needs most. ''What?'' He lifts her chin to meet his eyes, kisses her nose. ''I need you to lie''. ''About?''
His hands drift farther down her back. ''If something happens to me and Shield questions you, I need you to tell them you had no idea about me, about John and Hydra. Tell them I played you, that I manipulated you into getting the flash drive. They can't know''. She shakes her head, blinks away tears that fall anyway. ''No, Grant I'm not going to let you suffer alone, I'm not going to let them think you're a monster''.
''They already will when they learn the truth''. ''I won't do it''. She strokes his face, her fingers ghost over the scar John left. ''Please baby, please I need you to do this for me. I'll go insane if something happens to you because of me''. There's a wild desperate look in his eyes, ''I'm not going to let you pay for my sins too. You deserve better than that and we both know it''.
''Grant I can't I''- ''I love you''. He kisses her, panic and anxiety bleeding into her lips. His mouth is warm and insistant upon hers, her knees give out and he holds her to him, crushing her to his chest like she's going to fly away. When she pulls away for air he drifts over to her neck and she's putty in his hands. Her palms on his shoulders, she'll do whatever he wants. Which was his intention.
''Please Skye, please. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if you were hurt''. Gasping for breath she nods, ''okay. Okay Grant I promise''. His smile stains her skin, the relief in his face so plain and simple. It's not right and she feels horrible, but she'll do it just to put his mind at ease. If Coulson asks, she'll say Ward broke her heart, that he played her the entire time.
They walk into Garrett's base and all of the Hydra agents make her nervous. She makes a note if they make it back onto the Bus to look for a gun. They pause at a heavy metal door and Grant holds his hand out, ''The flash drive''. It makes no difference if he holds it or not, so she takes it out of her jeans and gives it to him. ''You don't have to be nervous, I can read it all over your face. I'll protect you''.
With his free hand he threads their fingers together and shoves open the door. The room has six Hydra agents, Raina is standing off to the side. And Garrett is in the middle of it all, a big fat smile on his stupid face. ''There's my favorite girl!'' He yells when he spots her, and Skye has to clench her fist to keep from taking Ward's gun out and ending it all here and now. ''Got the flash drive''.
Grant tosses it to him and John catches it. ''Thanks for this honey''. The smile he recieves is full of thorns, ''anything for you John''. He winks at her and gives it to Raina. ''There you go flowers''. Raina nods at Skye, ''how's Coulson doing?'' Skye's only repsonse is a glare. Garrett turns to Ward after pacing the room for a few minutes. ''What happened to the rest of the team?''
Grant sits in a spare chair and pulls Skye in his lap, his expression and body totally relaxed. ''Went to find a few Gifted that escaped from the fridge''. Garrett sighs in disappointment. ''And here I thought you would have surprised me and taken them all out, well guess you can't have everything''. There's a sickness in her stomach and Skye has a hard time biting her tongue.
The door opens and Skye lifts her eyes, hope and a small amount of joy rising up in her chest. Kebo walks in the room and immediately spots her, and she can tell whent the closed off expression he was wearing turns to anger. ''Skye, what the hell are you doing here?'' His tone is not directed at her, but at Ward. There's nothing more dangerous than what's going on here.
''Relax Kebo she's here with me''. ''I'm fully aware who brought her here robot, my question is why''. Kebo comes to stand before them, every now and again flicking his eyes to Garrett, who is ignoring the trio. Skye hurridly explains to him the flash drive, how much John needs it. ''But why did you have to tag along?'' The look Kebo gives Ward has him standing back up, Skye at his side.
''What are you getting at Kebo? You think I don't know how dangerous this is? I do''. ''I understand that, but I also don't trust your decision making process when it comes to John, and personally I don't think Skye is very safe with you right now''. Skye is rolling her eyes about to protest because she is not some china doll she is fully capable at handling her own, when Kebo gets punched in the face.
''Grant!'' Skye kneels next to her friend, inspecting his face for damage. His lip is bleeding but otherwise he's unharmed. She helps him to his feet, glares at her boyfriend. ''Knock it off Ward he's just worried''. They bicker back and forth until John's loud voice cracks and strikes across the large room. ''What the hell did you do?'' They all turn to see Raina handing Garrett the flash drive, an enraged frown on his face.
''John what's wrong?'' Grant asks, abandoning her and Kebo and going over to his mentor's side. All eyes are on Skye, and this time her smile is full of sugar and fire. ''You wanted to know why I came here myself instead of just giving Grant the flash drive? Because I wanted to see the look on your face when you realized I will never ever give you what you want you repulsive son of a bitch''.
Skye doesn't even care about the way Ward is looking at her, like she's betrayed him. All of her energy is focused on Garrett, his fist clenched at his side, his jaw set. ''Skye what did you do?'' It's Raina who answers, ''we had three teams try and hack it but she programmed it to erase all data if anyone other than her attempts to access it''. ''Nice one cupcake''. Kebo whispers in her ear, knocks his hip into hers.
''Ward get your girlfriend under control''. John warns, his hand twitching at his gun. ''Don't bother John, I'm never going to help you. You might as well just kill me''. Ward blanches, returns to her side and puts a hand on her arm. ''Skye if you don't want to help Garrett fine, help me. I'm asking you to do this for me, because I need you to''. She shakes her head, ''I won't. This isn't right Grant, he doesn't deserve to live''.
''Skye please''- She turns to Garrett who has drifted over to them. ''You never should of had me shot, I might have helped you before then but now? Not a chance, rot in hell''. At the mention of her almost dying, Ward's hands shake, and Skye releases the question that has been eating away at her insides for weeks. ''Did you know about that?'' He looks as if he can't believe she would even question that. ''Did you know?'' She yells in his face.
''Did you kick back and watch me bleed? Because Garrett told you to?'' Grant looks down at her, outrage on his face. ''I didn't know that was going to happen. You think I had a part in that? That I would let that happen to you? You know how I feel about you Skye''. His face softens ever so slightly, the hand on her waist curls into her skin. There are tears on her cheeks and when he tries to wipe them away she leans back.
''All I know is that you and Garrett won't get what's on that flash drive, I'd die before that happens''. Garrett cuts in then, sighing dramatically. ''Look sweetheart just listen to your boyfriend, okay? If you don't want to do this for me, I'm fine with that do it for Ward. One way or another I'm going to crack that drive''. Skye spits in his direction, tells him to go screw himself.
''Skye that's enough, just calm down''. The warm hold Grant has on her suddenly becomes a restrain. ''You really know how to pick 'em don't you Ward? Alright Skye we'll play it your way. Besides, I have something you want, something you'll give anything for''. Both Grant and Skye turn to John. ''What's that?'' He smiles darkly at her, gestures to Raina. ''Information about your parents''.
''You're lying''. Raina steps forward. ''No he's not. Skye I can tell you anything you want to know, all you have to do is give Garrett what he wants''. It's like all the fight drains out of her, this is something she do desperately wants and John knows it. ''How do you know I'm even looking for that?'' Garrett laughs. ''Your sweet perfect boyfriend informed me, guess we're not the only ones who betrayed Shield''.
She looks at Grant, sees all of the guilt in his whiskey eyes. She's crying openly now and doesn't even care. ''You told him that?'' He licks his lips nervously. ''Skye I''- ''How could you? I trusted you''. ''I'm sorry''. The words do nothing for her and she turns back to Garrett. She's been chasing after her parents for years, broke laws, lost herself along the way to find them.
Are they even alive still? Why did they give her up in the first place? Everything inside of her is begging to know, she wants it. Bad. She's just as desperate as Garrett is at this point. With defeat she crosses her arms and glares at John. ''Tell me what I want to know and then I'll fix the drive''. ''Music to my ears. Go ahead flowers''. Raina fixes her dark eyes on Skye.
''I heard a story about a baby girl a long time ago, a village in China was destroyed every man woman and child torn apart by monters trying to find that baby. Want to know something very intersting Skye? The baby's parents? Were the monters, Shield took you away from them, protected you your entire life. So your parents wouldn't find you''.
Raina slips her a smile. ''Yet here you are, betraying agents who died for you, all in the name of love''. Skye is shaking so hard her teeth chatter against her lip. It's not true, she doesn't believe it she can't. But what little research she gathered on the Bus supports the theory that Shield was protecting her. ''You're lying''. ''We both know I'm not''.
Grant pulls her to his arms, his warm embrace despite her anger at him, offers comfort and support like it always has. She doesn't even have time to process that information before Garrett is demanding her skills. ''Give her some time John''. ''I don't have time! I gave her what she wants now she holds up her end of the deal''. Skye wipes her eyes, clears her head.
''To unlock the drive it's based on a location, I log in and start the hack''. ''And where is this location honey?'' She chews on the inside of her lip, glances at Kebo. ''A diner in L.A.''. Garrett claps his hands together. ''Of course it is. Well Romeo you know what to do, get her to that diner. Bring her back here when you're done''. Grant doesn't even blink before he's saying, ''yes sir''.
Drags her out of the room at an alarming speed, Kebo tries to follow but Garrett pulls him back. Claiming he has another mission that needs his attention. The walk to the Bus is full of foreign silence, there's so many emotions inside Skye that she doesn't know what to feel. Shield had been watching her back since she was a baby and she's been stabbing them this whole time.
She still doesn't know if her parents are alive, but it's a start. They board the Bus and stay silent until they are in the air, Skye's tears long dry. ''Are you okay?'' ''No''. Grant hesitantly puts a hand on her knee and she shoves it off. ''Skye''- ''I'm not talking about this Grant. I just want to go to the diner and get this over with''. She crosses her legs and doesn't speak to him the entire way there.
It's been an hour and Skye can tell Grant is getting antsy. The coffee in his mug has been refilled twice. ''How much longer?'' He keeps surveying the area, on edge. ''An hour tops''. ''You said that an hour ago''. ''Grant it's not as simple as it looks okay? Give me a break''. He runs a hand over his face. ''I'm sorry''. Skye looks back down at her screen and against her better judgement, she finishes the hack.
''It's done''. She can tell when the weight falls off Grant's shoulders, he moves from his side of the booth and slides in next to her. ''Thank you''. Takes her face in his hands and kisses her nose. ''I know it wasn't easy but''- ''I did it for you, not for him''. ''I know''. He holds her close, breathes her in. ''Do you believe Raina about your parents?'' ''Should I?''
Grant looks down at her, ''I don't know''. Suddenly all of her anger at him doesn't matter, she breaks. All of the mess inside her spills out and she's sobbing into his leather jacket. She's in his lap not caring about how very public this is, and everything comes out in a rush. Her parents, Shield, Hydra, Garrett, Grant, pieces of her that have been broken repaired and returned.
Ward whispers warm promies into her ear soothing her, and it works after a few minutes. Skye gathers herself, dries her eyes. Grant searches her face before kissing her forehead. ''I am so sorry Skye, for everything. I never wanted you to get hurt''. ''I know''. ''I didn't know about Quinn until Garrett told me himself, before I came to Providence''. She gazes into his eyes.
''And you didn't think to pull the trigger on John too? He loaded the freaking gun Grant''. ''I know, and I hate him for it. But he needs me''. ''But I need you. I needed you when I was dying on Quinn's floor after your precious John ordered him to shoot me''. There's so much sadness on his face and before he can tell her how sorry he is, his phone beeps.
''It's John, he needs us back''. Skye closes her laptop with a hard hand. ''Of course he does''. Skye lets Ward take her hand and lead her back to where he has a car to take them back to the Bus. Skye waits until they are back onto the plane and in the air before she asks him a question that chills him to the bone. ''If I died, would you have killed John when you found out he was the one who ordered Quinn to do it?''
There's so much hatred and rage in his tone when he responds, ''I don't know''. She scoffs, ''you don't know? I love you and you don't know?'' He never responds to her, and she watches the night through the windows, pass and glide as they always have. After Garrett gets what he wants, then what? What happens? Where do they go from here?
Unknown to the pair the team has returned to Providence, and they know about Ward, that he's been the wolf in the herd the whole time. And Coulson thinks Skye was taken against her will, that she needs him to rescue her. If Coulson were here, she'd tell him exactly that. ''Change of plans, we have to stop for fuel, Garrett will meet us when we land''.
Grant tells her and she knots her fingers in her lap. Also unknown to the pair? There's a rescue attempt already in the works, and no one will be prepared for what happens.