Tell My Love to Wreck It All
Skye knocks on Kebo's apartment door too loudly, too hard. She knows at this early hour he's more than likely asleep but she needs him. Finally after two minutes of ramming her fist into said door, he answers. Rubbing his eyes against the sunrise, the light splashing across the tattoo on his chest. ''Do you have any idea what time it is?'' ''Ward's on a mission''. She shoves herself into his apartment and takes a sit on the worn leather couch.
''I know he is, that doesn't explan why you're here at such an ungodly hour. What's wrong are you alright?'' In an unconscious gesture she catches him doing often, he runs his fingers along the name permanently inked into his skin, like somewhere out there Lauren is going to know he needs her support and she will willingly give it him. Kebo takes in Skye's appearance after a moment.
Bags under her eyes like she hasn't slept all night, she has one of Ward's Henleys on and a pair of yoga pants. He isn't as skilled as Grant at reading people, but he knows Skye well enough to tell she's stressed out. ''Come on cupcake you come running to me with everything, spit it out''. He sits next to her, holds out a blanket and she wraps it around herself. Chews on her lip, her hands are shaking.
''I'm late''. He raises an eyebrow, ''late for what? Why the bloody hell would you come here if you're late for''- ''No you moron, I'm late, my period is late''. His face goes pale, his body tenses for a second. ''Oh, don't you have any women friends you could''- ''Popeye I don't have anyone but you and Grant, okay? Just please, what if I'm pregnant?'' A sad look passes over him and she can tell his mind drifts to a different time, another place and world. One where him and his true love are together again.
Kebo paces to and fro for a moment. ''Lets not jump to conclusions okay? Have you been to a doctor?'' ''No health insurance''. ''Who doesn't have health insurance?'' ''Someone with no way to afford it''. ''Have you taken a test?'' She puts her hair up and bites her thumb nail. ''I'm too scared. I'm two weeks late''. He rushes into his bedroom and pulls on a shirt, slips on a pair of shoes.
''Let's go''. ''Kebo I''- ''No buts, I'm driving your ass to the store''. She doesn't move or blink. He sighs softly, joins her back on the couch. ''Lauren went through this once, she miscarried''. Skye places her hand over his as he tears up ever so slightly. ''I'm so sorry''. ''I've been through this before, I can help. There's nothing to be scared of, sort of. Just hold the dramatics until we know for sure alright?'' He helps her off the couch and out the door.
Skye shakes her leg in the car from nerves, the sunglasses on her face hiding her expressions from Kebo. She awoke that morning and as she was making coffee the date on her phone caught her eye, and it took her a moment to register how late she was. After that she ran straight to Kebo because she couldn't exactly tell Grant, she has no idea where he is in the first place. And Kebo always helps her, whatever she needs.
Skye has never been in this situation, she has no idea how to handle what's going on inside. Maybe she's just late, but she's never been irregular in all her years. There's too many thoughts racing around in her head to catch them all. Is she pregnant? Does she want to be? Does she want this? Her and Grant have not been together long, would he want this? Probably not.
''What did I say about freaking out? You can cry when you take the test. Stress isn't going to help you right now''. In an attempt to calm her he turns on her favorite radio station and she flashes him a greatful smile. He parks in front of a local grocery store, turns off the car. Turns to her and waits for her to exit the vehicle, she doesn't. ''In order to walk into the store, you need to get out of the car''. No movement on her part.
He slams his door shut, goes around to her side and opens the passenger door, holds out his hand. ''Come on cupcake, we need to go see if Ward jr is in there''. She punches him in the ribs but takes his hand, holds onto it as they walk inside. The cool air does nothing to calm her sweating palms, the hairs on the back of her neck stand up and she's having a hard time breathing. Her legs feel like jelly when she picks up the pregnancy test.
''Is this a good one?'' Kebo shrugs, ''do you really expect me to know? You're the woman here. But I think Lauren got that one''. With his free hand he points to a blue box and Skye grabs it, pays for it with a cold sweat down her back. Neither of them speak on the ride back to the apartment, Skye clutches the paper bag like it's about to fly out the open window.
''Alright go pee on the stick I'll be out here. By the way have you called Ward?'' Panic springs into her cheeks and he knows she hasn't. ''Don't call him, I want to be sure. Please?'' He nods just to get that look off her face. Skye walks into Kebo's bathroom and grimaces, diirty clothes are strewn across the floor, wet towels hang on the towel rack and inside the shower.
''You're such a slob!'' She hears him chuckle. Slowly and with numb hands she unwraps the package, reads the directions twice on the back of the box before taking it. Three minutes. She has to wait three minutes to see if she's carrying Ward's child. She exits the bathroom and Kebo looks up at her. ''It's three minutes right?'' She nods, stands against the kitchen counter next to him.
She pretends not to notice the tears he's blinking back. ''Grant told me once that Lauren was one of the best people he knew''. He lets out a choked sob, tries to pull it together. Grant also told Skye that Kebo didn't use to be so messy, so emotional. He's different now, his life has been a wreck ever since the woman he loved most was killed. Which is understandable and Skye feels for him.
''She was. Sometimes I still think I see her in crowds, hear her calling my name. Anyway enough about me, how are you doing?'' Skye shakes her head, ''I can't tell you. I'm so scared''. ''About being pregnant, or Ward's reaction?'' ''Both''. ''You want my opinion?'' ''I always do''. He smiles slightly, drapes an arm over her shoulder. ''Ward will be the happiest man on the planet, he's so in love with you''. ''Kebo we haven't even been together a year''.
''I know, but he does''. ''What if he thinks I trapped him to stay with me? That I'm one of those crazy women who''- ''You're not, and he would never think like that''. She sighs loudly, puts her head in her hands. ''What will Garrett think?'' At the mention of Ward's father figure, they both tense slightly. ''John should be the last thing on your mind, who the hell cares what he thinks?'' ''Grant does''.
Skye checks her watch, it's been three minutes. ''You ready?'' ''Not at all''. ''Want me to come with you?'' She nods and laces her arm through his, every inch of her body feels as if it's crawling, like a thousand bees are stinging her over and over. She's never been this afraid in her life. They walk into the bathroom, and Skye appraoches the counter top like it's going to turn and bite her.
''You can do this love''. She's going to vomit. Her palms are clammy, and as she meets her fate she gasps. The test is negative. ''What does it say?'' She's relieved, she'd be lying if she said she wasn't. But there's a part, some small tiny part that is disappointed. ''I'm not pregnant''. Kebo watches her face carefully, there's sadness deep in her eyes. Wordlessly he pulls her to him, and she cries.
From relief, and from that voice in her head that says she wanted this. If only a little bit. Grant comes back a week later, notices the shift in Skye's and Kebo's relationship. He doesn't ask them about it, takes note to how clingy Skye grows over the next few days. Skye doesn't tell him, not right away anyway. One day she will, but not then. And that piece of her that wanted a small baby Ward? It's still there.
*
Skye leans against the couch in the lounge, not bothering to hide her loud grimace at Garrett. Who is smiling at whatever Grant is telling him, checks his phone a few times. They landed to get supplies and weapons an hour ago, and Skye has a plan of her own. Before her and Ward left for Cuba he must have hid whatever guns they had left on the Bus because she cannot find them anywhere. It's not a problem really, she trusts Grant enough to keep her safe.
His response to her question earlier still digs into her ribs, he doesn't know if he'd shoot John if he killed her? What the hell is wrong with him? He knows how angry she is with him, they haven't spoken a word since they landed. Raina is on board as well, her dark eyes lingering on Skye every now and again. Skye can't help but wonder if the information Raina gave her was true.
If she ever makes it back to Shield, she'll look it up. ''What about her?'' She hears Garrett ask Ward, and they both look at her. Grant walks over to her and she lets him take her hand. ''She wants to stay until this is all over''. John smiles at her, ''good. Can't have her running back to Shield now can we?'' While Garrett goes over a few things with Raina Grant looks at her, turns away from John.
''I'm sorry Skye''. ''You've been saying that a lot lately''. ''Because I am, I keep hurting you and I don't mean to. We're so close to saving him Skye, that's all I've been looking for for years''. ''I know''. He bends low so only she can hear him. ''Before you Garrett was all that mattered to me, and I'm sorry if it makes you feel like I'm choosing him over you''. Ward runs his hands softly through her hair.
She remembers how awfully Garrett treats Ward, how he's been brain washing him for half his life, and while Skye has all the sympathy in the world for her boyfriend, at some point he's going to have to start making his own choices. ''I love you, I don't want to lose you''. ''You won't''. He kisses her and she lets him, and does not feel one ounce of guilt as she recalls her plan.
They're about to take off, waiting for the last few Hydra agents to climb on board, when Garrett tells Ward to go outside. He obeys like always and John turns to Skye. She's always hated being alone with him. ''Thank you for the flash drive, I know that wasn't easy for you''. She raises an eyebrow, ''you know what is easy for me? Reading between the lines. There's no need for false modesty Garrett. I hate you and you hate me''.
His response is cut off by Grant and Hydra agents walking in, they aren't alone. Fitz and Simmons are with them. ''Here they are''. Ward tells Garrett, Skye freezes up. ''Simmons?'' At the sound of her voice the two scientist perk up, search for her. Relief is plain on thier faces when they spot her, give her warm smiles that makes Skye believe everything is going to be alright.
She runs over to them only to be held back by a Hydra agent, Ward doesn't even blink in her direction. She realizes that he wants Fitz and Simmons to believe she's been held here against her will, he wants them to think he's a monster to keep her safe. ''Are you alright?'' ''Skye did they hurt you?'' ''I'm fine, you guys okay?'' They nod and all heads turn to Garrett.
''This is our plane, we want it back. And Skye, we want Skye back as well''. Fitz tells him. ''Really? Just like that kid? Did Coulson send you two as a rescue attempt for her?'' Garrett laughs and Ward cracks a smile that makes Skye uncomfortable. ''That's pathetic even for him, he at least could have sent the Calvary, made my day a little more interesting''. Skye scoffs, ''May would destroy you''.
Out of the corner of her eye Skye sees Fitz fish something out of his pocket, and Grant of course notices too. ''What's he got there?'' ''One of those prank joy buzzers''. ''Yeah you know me, always kidding around''. Simmons gives Skye a look and she braces herself. The lights flicker suddenly and Garrett goes down, the machine inside of him shorting out.
While Grant scrambles to help, Skye draws her elbow back and nails the Hydra agent in the jaw, uses what small fighting skills she has to take down the agents holding Fitz and Simmons. It doesn't do much but she gets them free. ''Run!'' She galnces back to see Garrett has stabilized and Ward is now turning to them. She tells Fitz and Simmons to run again when they hear Garrett tell Ward to take care of them.
They do and she blocks Ward's path to get to them. ''What are you doing?'' She looks into Ward's eyes, blinks back the emotions on her face. ''Don't listen to him. Grant for once in your life please don't do this, they are my friends and they're yours too. I know you don't want to hurt them''. ''Do it Ward or I'll put a bullet in her head too''. Garrett calls, and she sees Raina leaning over him.
Skye can see Grant struggling with himself, hoping to convince him not to go, she places her hands on his face so he can look at her. ''Focus on me. not him. He doesn't care about you Grant, but I do. I love you, Fitz and Simmons care about you, don't do this''. She begs and begs but he doesn't change his tune. She can see when the decision has been made.
He calls over a Hydra agent to restrain her, and Skye is screaming after him, telling him not to, that don't deserve this. She screams until he's long out of sight and Garrett is all but yelling at her to shut the hell up. There are tears streaming down her face, she fighs the hold the Hydra agent has on her until her skin aches and she's sure she'll have bruises later. There's a kind of anger in her that's almost suffocating.
Grant comes back, ''Are they dead?'' Garrett asks and he nods. The Hydra agent lets her go per Ward's demand, and when she steps up to him there's a look, a fire in her veins he's never witnessed before. ''Skye''- ''What the hell did you do?'' Her tone is foreign and frightening to them both. ''What did you do to them Grant?'' He hangs his head slightly and she cracks.
''You son of a bitch''. She shoves him, once, twice, three tims until he wraps her arms into his chest. ''Stop it''. She struggles in his hold, ''how could you?'' With full clarity she knows now without a doubt he'd do anything Garrett asked, even kill their friends. ''You lying bastard, son of a bitch!'' Through her tears she manages to head butt him and get free. ''How could you?''
Grant stumbles and before he can react, John is in front of her, punches her across the face. ''John!'' Ward lunges for Skye, knocking Garrett out of the way. Ward attempts to gather her into him protectively, but she pushes him away. Wipes the blood off her mouth. ''Don't touch me''. Skye is reeling, backs away from them. Runs to her bunk and locks the door.
She can't breathe. Dead. Fitz and Simmons are dead. She hurt Ward, Garrett hurt her. This was bad blood from the beginning, why did she think everything would be fine? Because she never thought she'd get attatched to the team like she did, she thought she'd only found a family in Grant. But Shield has been her family all along, they tried to save her. And for nothing.
After a while there's a soft knock against her door. She knows it's Ward. ''Go away''. ''Skye we need to talk''. His voice is hoarse and very very broken. ''I don't want to talk to you''. All she can think about is Simmons and her sweet smile, Fitz and his adorable laugh. She couldn't save them, they rescued her when she didn't even need it. Part of this is her fault.
If she had told Coulson, none of this would of happened. ''They're alive''. He whispers against the door, half of her doesn't want to believe him. But she does, she does because he's Grant. She unlocks the door to find him gone, no trace like he was never there. They land a few hours later, back at Garrett's base in Cuba. Why he left in the first place, she doesn't know.
Skye learns that Raina found a cure for Garrett while she was in her bunk, that he's fully healed. And there's got to be some kind of greater evil at work to let that happen. He deserves to die, no one like John Garrett needs to be alive for another day. She comes to face him as her and Ward are walking off the Bus. John glances at her, ''can you see it?'' ''See what?'' ''The universe''.
The entire time they're walking into the base two things are constant, Ward's firm hand on her arm, and Garrett sounding absolutely insane. She has no idea what Raina injected him with, but he sounds like a mad man. Judging by the look on Ward's face, he feels the same way. They enter the room they were in before, and Skye slumps in relief when she sees Kebo pacing the floor.
His glare on Grant the entire time, he walks up to Skye. Gives her a look that asks if she's alright, to which she shakes her head no. If Ward did tell her the truth, what really happened to Fitz and Simmons? Garrett keeps looking at the ceiling, ''I can see the stars''. Kebo raises an eyebrow at Skye, ''someone boarded the full on crazy train didn't they?'' ''You could say that''. ''He's fine now, that's all that matters''.
Kebo looks to Ward. ''You did it then? Saved him''. ''Yes''. Kebo finally gets a good look at Skye and frowns. ''What happened to your lip?'' She nods at John, ''his fist''. ''Oh honey you need to get over that. We're part of a bigger plan now, a bigger universe. I can taste everything on my tongue''. Skye and Kebo wear matching expressions, John has lost it.
''What the hell did you give him flowers?'' Kebo asks Raina who smiles. ''What he needed''. ''That was very vauge, care to elaborate?'' Raina just continues to smile at him and Skye sees a tremor go down his back. ''So what now John?'' Ward asks, walking up to stand by his mentor. Who focuses his crazy eyes on Skye, ''now I tie up loose ends''. Kebo plants himself in front of her, and Grant drifts closer to John.
''What are you talking about?'' No one lets out a breath, and the building starts to shake. ''It's Shield! They've found us!'' Skye leans around Kebo to flash John the truest smile she's ever given him. ''Game over John''. In a blink Kebo shifts his body so Skye has full access to his gun, which she takes full advantge of. She sent Coulson Garrett's location as soon as she was safe in her bunk.
There's an explosion not too far from them and all the Hydra agents are too focused on Shield to worry about John. Grant ever vigilant sees Skye take aim like he taught her, and fire. Her shot directly for Garrett's head, and Grant pushes him out of the way. From his distance on the floor he can see Skye, the look of terror on her face when she thinks she's hurt Ward. She has, but he hides it.
''Kill her Ward! Now!'' John screams over the roar of the base being attacked. Kebo hearing the words, charges towards Ward, punches him in the mouth. ''Skye, run! I'll hold them off!'' She's torn, loses her footing as the building rocks again. Leave Grant, stay with John? Or run to Shield and hope for the best? With one passing apologetic glance to Ward, she takes off.
Sprints her way through the building, and she hears both Kebo and Ward calling for her. She looks over her shoulder to see Grant running after her, Kebo at his heels. She pushes harder, but Grant is faster, better. His hand grazes his shoulder but somehow she manages to slip through the front doors without him catching her.
''Skye you don't understand! I'm not trying to hurt you!'' He screams after her. His words are cut off suddenly and she turns to see Kebo has caught up with them and is landing a swift kick to Ward's ribs. She stops, looks and sees Coulson heading straight for her. ''Coulson!'' He spots her after taking out a few Hydra agents.
''Skye we need to leave right now! It's only me!'' With a final look to Grant she runs to Coulson, who shelters her in his arms and they make a run for it in the opposite direction. ''What do you mean it's just you?'' She yells, her eyes peeled for Ward, doesn't see him. ''It's just me and Trip, I'll explain everything later''. They run until her lungs are on fire and her legs feel like noodles.
Eventually they stop, catch their breath behind a building. ''You okay?'' He asks her, and the look on her face is all the answer he needs. ''I'm so sorry Skye''. He touches her face in a fatherly gesture and she almost loses it right then and there. He has no need to be sorry, she does. She had just a big a role in this as Grant did. At the thought of Ward her stomach turns.
''Coulson! Let's go!'' Trip is speeding towards them and they follow him into an alley where Lola is wating. Phil jumps into the driver's seat and Trip and Skye follow suit. ''You brought Lola into this?'' ''I had to, Ward stole my plane''. It's quiet as they race away, and eventually Coulson takes his beloved car into the air.
Skye is silent the entire way to wherever they're going. The gravity of the situation hitting her hard. For the first time since she was a teenager she prays. Prays that Fitz and Simmons are alright where they are, that they're safe. That Grant is okay, and that John Garrett dies. Slowly. Painfully.
The battle is over. But the war has just begun.
And Skye and Ward have made it perfectly clear which side they are on.