For You I Know I'd Even Try To Turn the Tide
Kebo looks at the scene before him with a frown on his face. He's standing in Vault D, watching Daisy who hasn't left Ward's bedside since Shield brought him in forty eigtht hours ago. They look terrible, Kebo who knows none of this was Ward's fault, had a hard time biting his tongue when he first laid eyes on Daisy. She'd called him a few hours ago in tears, telling him Ward was alive and breathing, that he was alright. He didn't believe it, but looking at the man now, no signs of demonic activity in him, Kebo is trying to get answers. But Ward isn't talking.
Kebo walks down the stairs, leans against the barrier that has Ward and Daisy separated from the rest of the world. Daisy doesn't even glance his way, her main focus is on Grant. Like any second now he's going to vanish right in front of her, he can't exactly blame her. She shifts in her chair, exposing her neck, and Kebo clenches his fist to his side. Daisy has bruises on every inch of her skin, but her neck is by far the worst. Large purple splotches cover the area, she claims it isn't as bad as it looks, but he doesn't buy it.
Daisy notices him out of the corner of her eye, lowers the barrier. Ward's eyes are sealed shut, more than likely so he doesn't have to look at Daisy. Or more accurately the pain he's caused her. Physically and emotionally. ''When was the last time you slept?'' Kebo asks her, not liking the shade of violet under her eyes. ''I'm fine''. ''I didn't ask if you were fine, which we both know you're not by the way. You need to sleep Quake''. She's afraid to shut her eyes. Because all she sees is Ward bleeding out somewhere dark and alone Ward with those black eyes and that dark smile and his hands curling around her throat it's a nightmare.
And she feels terrible about it. He has been through so much pain and torture, if she should have any sympathy here it should be for him. ''I'll sleep when he does''. Is her response to Kebo and it makes him want to spit. ''Oh yeah that'll show him, do you realize how stupid your plan is?'' Daisy removes her eyes from Ward to glare at Kebo, before turning them back. ''Ward I know you're awake. Please say something''. She's been repeating this to him over and over for the past two days, and each time she gets the same answer. Silence.
''Quake when he's ready to talk I'm sure he will''. ''Not to me''. ''We both know his reasons for not wanting to speak to you''. Daisy sighs before lifting her hand to cradle his in her palm. He hasn't pulled away since she started doing this last night, so that has to be a good sign. The steel door opens and they both turn to see Dr. Garner coming down, a comforting smile on his face. ''Good morning''. He says when Daisy reveals them to Andrew. ''Morning''. He puts a hand on Daisy's shoulder. ''How are you doing this morning?'' ''Great''.
Dr. Garner observes her carefully. ''We'll talk later alright? Oh and you must be Kebo correct?'' He asks, turning to the other man and shaking his hand. ''Quake you talk to your therapist about me? I'm touched''. Dasiy rolls her eyes and he helps her out of the chair. ''Dr. Garner how long will you be?'' Andrew takes her place by Ward's bed and opens his folder. ''As long as Ward needs. It'll be alright Daisy. Go get some food and rest, I promise I'll let you know if anything happens''. She's been having a lot of seperation anxiety since Ward came back to her. If she's away from him longer than twenty minutes, she starts getting antsy.
''Come on Quake I'll make you some breakfast and then you can nap. I swear if I don't see your head on a pillow I'm going to shoot someone''. ''If you do make sure it's Coulson''. Kebo helps her up the stairs and out of the room. Shield still has guards posted around the door, like Ward is in any shape to try and escape. She wouldn't underestimate him though, but still. Ridiculous. Kebo's version of making her breakfast since he can't cook to save his life, is dry cereal and an orange he stole from the fridge in the kitchen. She washes it down with a bottle of tequila.
''That's healthy''. He observes as he spreads himself out on her bed. She doesn't comment and slowly lowers herself down on the mattress. Her ribs are improving, but she's still sore and sometimes it's hard to breathe. ''Is it so horrible for me to just want to talk to him? We can't get anywhere if he refuses to speak to me''. ''Just give him time. It was only two days ago that his body was overrun by an alien. Ward's a machine but that's gotta mess up even him''. ''You're right''. ''I usually am''.
Simmons comes in a few minutes later, dresses and cleans her wounds, demands she takes a hot shower and a nap. ''I'll go get May so she can help you''. Daisy's protests are ignored, her hands are beginning to shake, longing to be in Ward's warm touch. Kebo slips his palm on her knee. ''Relax. He's not going anywhere, I'll watch the camera feed while you're away''. He takes the phone from her, which has been programmed to show her the cameras in Vault D the second she steps away from the room. She starts hesitating until May knocks on the door.
After a quick shower and a few Advil, May tells her she's not leaving this room until she's had at least an hour of sleep. ''May I-'' Daisy shuts her mouth when she sees the look on her SO's face. ''I will ICE you myself''. Kebo tells her when May finally leaves after Daisy promised her she'd take a nap. ''Fine, I'll get a few minutes in. If anything changes''- ''I'll wake you up. I give you my word''. As soon as her hair covers the pillow case, she's out like a light. Kebo breathes a sigh of relief when Daisy finally falls asleep. She'd been going far too long and the crash would have been ugly.
Something wakes her. Panic. A bad dream she can't remember. Either way Daisy opens her eyes with a gasp, her elbow swinging back in her haste to throw off the covers. ''Ow! Bloody hell woman calm down!'' Kebo complains, cupping his cheek. ''How long have I been out?'' ''Two hours''. ''Two hours?'' She gets up in a rush, grabs a hold of the edge of the bed as gravity tries to push her down. ''Quake everything is fine! Ward is fine, he's still with Dr. Garner''. Daisy pauses at this, tries to slow her heart rate. ''Is he talking to him?'' ''I can't tell. Maybe''. ''Maybe? You moron''. Daisy yanks the phone from his grasp.
Andrew is sitting there, his back to the camera. While Ward is sitting up in his bed, talking. Opening his mouth and words are coming out. To a complete stranger. She can't help but feel angry, and a little jealous. Normally Ward would never speak to someone he didn't know unless it involved a misson. And she had a hard enough time to get him to speak about his emotions to her, and now he's just giving it all away to Dr. Garner? Okay yes he's a therapist, but that's not the point. She snaps. Lack of sleep and everything that's happened in between has her shoving open her bunk door and heading straight for Vault D.
''Woah love, where's the fire?'' Hunter asks her, offering his arm to help quicken her pace. Her ribs are starting to bite but she keeps on. ''I'm fine''. Her teeth are clenched, her anger rolling off her skin. Hunter lets her go, taking note of the anger in her eyes. It's the most emotion he's seen out of her in weeks. Blinded by love loss and pain she rips open the door, pauses when Dr. Garner is exiting the room. ''Everything alright?'' ''Yeah''. She makes a move to step around him but he blocks her path. ''Would you like to speak now, or later?'' ''Later''. After telling her to be strong he lets her walk down the stairs.
''What the hell is wrong with you?'' She demands at Ward, who is still sitting up, eyes open. ''You can talk to May's ex-husband but not me?'' There's no change in his face, the building begins to shake. ''I'm not going to sit here and pretend like I know what you're going through because I don't. But I can help you if you just''- ''I don't want your help''. The sound of his voice is like honey dripping slowly over her skin. And she'd cry right now if she wasn't so angry. ''Why not?'' She knows, she just needs him to say the words. He looks at her and he's so sad and his eyes are cloudy his jaw is clenched and she has to fight her arms who want to hold him.
''Skye''. Tears. Tears roll down her cheeks, taking them both by surprise. ''I can't, I can't talk to you about this''. ''So don't''. She takes a seat and he doesn't try to stop her. ''We don't have to talk about what happened, you can tell me anything you want''. She's desperate to keep having his voice in her ears, covering her from head to toe. She's missed it so much it's hard to breathe. Daisy notices his eyes lingering on her neck, sees the hatred and pain pass over him, she wishes for once she still had long hair so she could cover it for him.
''You need to leave''. ''I'm not going anywhere''. ''I want you to leave''. ''Too bad''. He glares at her and she crosses her arms. ''Guess you'll just have to make me''. Panic hits him so hard, she sees his pulse jump. Like a horrible dream, behind her eyelids she sees Ward's hands around her throat, can feel her lungs screaming for air. That cruel grin he'd given her as he watched the life drain out of her like water. He sees the same thing and her hands reach out to him. Ward jumps back like she's burned him. Daisy withdraws herself, sinks farther down into the chair.
''It wasn't your fault Grant''. She tells him when he's calm again. There are bags upon bags under his eyes, and he looks so tired, Daisy wants to curl up beside him and sleep for days on end. ''Drop it''. She doesn't. ''Grant Ward none of this was your fault, do you hear me? Everything that thing did with your body is on Coulson. He killed you, he caused all of this. So if you're looking to blame someone blame him. God knows I do''. ''Skye''- There's a warning in his tone, and it isn't acknowledged. ''No one blames you''.
''They should. You of all people should''. Daisy gets up from the chair, sits on the edge of the bed. When this doesn't spook him she scoots closer. ''I don't. I don't hate you or blame you for any of this''. Against her instincts she makes a move for his hand. He's quick to jerk back, remove his eyes from her face and focus on something else. ''Get out''. ''No''. ''Dammit Skye''. In a rush he's off the bed and standing over her. It's so unexpected, she can't hide her flinch. ''I don't want you here''. ''Don't say that''- He cuts her off and starts to pace.
There isn't a trace of discomfort on him, no sign that he's in pain. He's hiding it, or she didn't hurt him near as badly as she thought. ''Do I have to have the doctors remove you?'' ''Grant why are you acting this way-'' He spins around, towers over her. ''Because I hurt you! Skye I hurt hundreds and hundreds of people! I tried to kill you! And for that I don't deserve forgiveness, I don't deserve anything''. She's shaking her head, ''It wasn't you''. ''It was my body''. ''You had no control over what you were doing''. ''That doesn't matter''.
''Yes it does''. Her fingers brush his cheek, he pushes her away. His gaze wonders over to her neck, and she can tell he's struggling with himself. ''I did that''. ''No you didn't. It was that creature, not you''. ''I wanted to hurt you, to watch you suffer and I''- He runs his hands over his face, down his beard. ''How did you stop?'' This makes him think, cock his head to the side. ''Do you remember? You told me to run, that it was you and you wanted me to run. After that you were gone again, did you stop him from killing me?''
Grant shakes his head. ''I don't know. All I know is you. All I saw was you looking up at me, I was hurting you. Next thing I know I'm back here''. All I know is you. This makes her edges soften, relax against the sheets. ''It doesn't matter Grant. You're okay and so am I''- ''It doesn't matter? Yes it does! I could have killed you! You want to know why I can't look at you? Because when I do I see every horrible thing I've done, and I can't stand myself''. Daisy wipes her face.
''You think I don't know how that feels? I shot you! And I was myself, nothing made me do it. I wanted to see you die. I wanted to see you bleed out right in front of me, so I understand. I understand that you can't look at me without flashing back to when you hurt me because I used to do the same damn thing. But you, your forgivness helped me through it. I can help you Grant, you just have to let me. Please. Please don't shut me out. I've gone six months without you and I can't bear another second''.
That mask he's perfected slips onto his face, he's stone, cold standing in front of her. ''Just leave. Please Skye. Please just go''. ''I won't''. She notices a few doctors come into the room, Mack and Coulson have also made an appearance, Coulson takes down the barrier. ''Daisy I'm sorry. But I need you to step away from him''. She doesn't move. ''Grant don't do this. You were dead, I thought you were gone do you have any idea what I went through?'' Selfish selfish selfish. He doesn't respond. Just sits back down and doesn't meet her stare.
''Tremors''. Mack takes her arm, with a sigh of defeat she lets him pull her away. Right as she's walking out she hears Ward call out to her. She turns her heart in her throat. ''I'm sorry we fell in love''. Her entire world drops and crumbles at her feet.