They'll Never Take My Body From Your Side
''You ready for this Quake?'' Kebo is staring at Daisy, he's dressed himself in all black, out of the two of them he's the most dramatic. ''I'm ready let's go''. In the past few hours they've put their plan into motion, which means getting Mack, Fitz, Simmons and a few other Shield agents out of the Playground before the fireworks start. Coulson is truly the only one she's after if she's being honest. This 'prison break' is going to be tricky though, what if Ward doesn't agree to come? And if his sessions with Dr. Garner are really helping him, who is she to take that away?
''Stop thinking so hard, I'll do this with or without you Quake''. She elbows Kebo in the ribs and shoves past him, walking quietly down the hallway. ''Meet us at the exit in five minutes''. ''I know the plan, shut up and go''. Kebo abandons her and sneaks down the Vault D. Daisy takes a deep breath. Showtime. It's all so simple really. A flick of her wrist and the building starts crumbling beneath her, a massive alarm is triggered, loud and shrill in her ears. Daisy walks and turns down different hallways, leaving chaos behind her. The Shield agents that try and stop her? Join the rubble on the ground.
She learns after a short insepection that Coulson is nowhere to be found. Either he left earlier without breathing a word, or he got out in time. Either way she's left with a ton of adrenaline racing in her blood, and she's running on time she doesn't have. Daisy gets to the exit with thirty seconds to spare, glancing around Kebo and Ward have yet to make an appearance, and the Playground is going under fast. None of the debris or lose ends harm her, they fall around her, brushing her skin without harm. She's in control here. She's the master. She decides who lives and dies here.
Kebo comes running down the hall to her left, Ward right behind him. Dodging falling ceiling tiles and coughing up dust that is clouding around them. Without looking back they exit the Playground, leaving Shield to their fate. ''Popeye where's the car?'' Daisy asks him when the smoke clears and they are far enough away from Shield's headquaters. Daisy glances at Ward to make sure he's alright. No blood no marks on him, still handsome as ever. If he looks her over for injuries as well, she doesn't notice. ''Few miles from here''. They walk in silence, the air cool and quiet. ''Skye''. Her feet jerk to a hault, she looks back at Ward, who is surveying the area around them.
''What?'' ''Did you get Fitz out?'' She nods, and something like a hint of a smile appears on his lips. That's the only time they exchange words until they make it to the get away car Kebo arranged. ''A mini van?'' Daisy crosses her arms, looks at the vehicle with distaste like it did something to personally offened her. ''It was all I could get, shut up and get in''. Without looking at either of them, Ward situates himself in the back seat. ''You didn't think to get him a change of clothes?'' Daisy asks Kebo after he starts the car. ''I'm sorry I was trying not to die from the natural disaster you made back there''. ''Shield deserved that and you know it''. ''Was Coulson there?'' ''Don't think so''.
Kebo glances in the rear view mirror at Ward, who is looking out the window as they start to drive. ''Don't worry about it mate. I think the fresh out of prison look looks great on you''. Daisy rolls her eyes, Ward doesn't respond. It takes a moment for reality to catch up with her. Ward is here with her, and it's surprisingly easy. She doesn't feel like she's going to burst into tears or break something, her powers for the most part are under control. It still hurts her chest to look at him, and when he asked her about Fitz her throat tightened, but otherwise she's okay. Not really okay, but stable. For now.
''So this is the first family road trip we've taken in a while. You know before Ward got infected with an alien parasite and stopped talking to us''. Kebo says, smirking at Daisy. She doesn't smile back and neither does Ward. ''Are you two going to be like this the whole time? I will tuck and roll out of this bloody mini van if that's the case and leave you. You've been apart for months and are now trapped in a moving vehicle together. Talk. Make noises at each other, do something before I shoot one of you in the foot for being so stubborn''. Daisy turns the radio on, slips off her shoes and waits for Ward to say something. She's met with silence.
''I need a drink''. She tells Kebo an hour later, Ward has fallen asleep, or he hasn't. She doesn't know. ''Glove compartment''. She pulls out three mini liquor bottles and grins at him. ''I think you have a problem''. ''You're probably right''. Daisy finishes the first two bottles quickly, asks when they can make a pit stop. ''We won't reach a town for hours, did the Playground have to be so secluded? Jesus. I'm amazed we've made it this far without getting lost. If you have to pee, pick a tree and I'll pull over''. She turns her nose up at him, he winks. ''So what did you say to convince Ward to come with us?'' Kebo checks his phone before responding.
''Said it wasn't safe at Shield, and no matter what he feels right now he doesn't deserve being held like a criminal. He didn't do anything wrong. I threw in there that you were in danger and he agreed shortly after that''. ''You know he can tell when you're lying right?'' ''I'm aware. But he still came did he not? That says something''. Daisy swears that doesn't effect her, deny deny deny. ''I feel horrible''. She confesses, taking one final sip from the last small bottle. ''Why?'' ''What if Dr. Garner was really helping him?'' ''Quake he only had like three sessions with him, not even you could be fixed that fast''.
''I'm proud of the prison break don't get me wrong. But did we do it for our own selfish reasons? How do we know Grant wanted out of that cell? You know him, he probably thought he deserved it, I wanted him out of there because I know he doesn't. What if this hurts him more than it helps?'' Kebo takes a long moment to answer her. ''You want to go back? I'm sure we'd be welcome with freshly baked cookies and a cold glass of milk''. '''Can you be serious for five minutes?'' ''Quake the Director wouldn't have come with us if he didn't want to. I can't make him do anything''. He's right, but she can't help but feel guilty.
Kebo reaches over and pats her hand. ''Look if you're really worried about it, ask him. I'm sure he won't answer you because apparently he forgot how to work his voice box, but he'd tell you the truth''. They both look back to find the Specialist with his eyes closed, his body relaxed and breathing even. 'You think he's really asleep?'' She shrugs, ''I used to be able to tell''. This makes her sad and she doesn't speak until they finally stop a few hours down the road. Daisy glances at her watch, it's six a.m. The sun is slowly peaking out from the clouds, they're parked in front of a Walmart.
Kebo has run in to use the bathroom and pick up supplies, a change of clothes for all of them. Grant has kept his eyes and mouth shut this entire time. They have given up in trying to include him in conversations. ''We need tacos''. She tells Kebo when he gets back, he hands her a water bottle, puts one in the cup holder beside Ward. ''We need money for which I am running low on. Any ideas?'' ''Ward has cash and passports all over the world. I just don't know where''. ''That's helpful. Way to get my hopes up there Quake. If you hadn't noticed he isn't exactly Team Popeye and Quake right now''.
''We're in Alabama. I have a safety deposit box not too far from here, I'll give you directions to the bank''. Grant mutters behind them, taking the pair by surprise. Daisy could listen to his voice for the rest of her life and never tire of it, she's missed it so much it makes her hands ache. I love you. She longs to say the words, but knows that's the last thing he wants to hear right now. ''Thank you for that Sir. After that we need to stop at a hotel and get some rest, I'm dying over here''. ''Popeye I told you I could drive''. ''Don't listen to her Keob, she's a terrible driver''.
Daisy is so surprised at Ward's attempt at humor that when she turns back to glare at him, her response is caught in her throat. His eyes crack open a tad to look at her, before closing again. ''I'm an excellent driver''. They wait for Ward to tell her she isn't, but it never comes. They have to stop again so Ward can change and take a restroom break, he gets back in the car after stretching his legs and gives Kebo directions in a clipped detatched tone. Daisy takes a second to observe him. He hasn't shaved in a while, there's darkness pooling under his eyes, he looks tired. But still beautiful. It takes everything in her to not climb in the back seat with him and hold him.
She could, the worst he could do is push her away. But she desides against it, knowing he wouldn't want comfort of any kind. They make it to the bank in a few short hours, when Kebo parks he turns to Grant, slips something in his hand. It's his cell phone. ''Push the green button and the bank will be in pieces. We don't know if Coulson made it out, if he did he's probably hunting us''. Ward nods in approval, gets out of the car without looking at Daisy. ''I seriously doubt DC has Shield agents in the very bank we just stopped at''. Kebo shrugs, ''better safe than sorry. Besides you know as well as I that Ward feels better when all his ends are covered''.
''I think he'll be okay Quake''. Kebo tells her a few minutes later. She drinks her water bottle. ''He's got a long road''. ''True. But you've always made him better, you healed him when nothing could'''. ''He doesn't want me to''. Kebo rolls his eyes. ''I think you're seriously underestimating the power you have over him. Despite what he says he loves you, he just hates that he hurt you''. ''Does everyone forget that I shot him? My body wasn't taken over by some Hydra creature, me, Skye, shot him. I wanted him dead. Ward had no control over what he was doing''.
''You're preaching to the choir sister. All we can give him is time. he'll come around eventually''. ''I hope you're right''. Not too long after Ward comes out and walks back over to them. Soundlessly he opens the door, hands Kebo back his phone. ''There's a hotel twenty minutes down the road. We can stop there, get back on the highway tomorrow''. He tells them. ''Okay. Do we have a particular destination in mind Sir?'' ''Just drive. I have a safe house a few states over''. Daisy can act like she's fine all she wants, and a piece of her is, but it's Ward, and he's unraveling her with every breath he takes.
Kebo gets a room with two beds, when they walk inside he throws himself onto the nearest one, face first. ''I'm going to nap for about six hours. Try not to kill each other while I'm sleeping okay?'' Ward walks into the bathroom, locks the door. Daisy hears the shower running, with a tired sigh she joins Kebo on the bed. Throws the blanket back and curls into the sheets. They are both out in minutes, neither notice when Ward gets in his own bed and falls asleep too.
Daisy wakes from a nightmare she can't recall, the taste of blood in her mouth. She gathers herself, stretches before realizing what woke her. There's a noise to her left, small little sounds muffled into the sheets. Ward. She sits up and searches for his form in the darkness of the room. He's on the other bed, his body jerking, he's making painful moans in his sleep. He's having a bad dream. She acts on instinct, not a stranger to his nightmares. Daisy stands, approaches him slowly. ''Grant''. Nothing. He's a light sleeper, it must be one hell of a dream.
Daisy brushes her finger tips against his clothed back, pushes down how this makes her feel. She needs to focus, not get distracted on how warm and familiar he is. ''Grant''. She traces his spine, fights back tears. She hasn't touched him this way in months. He rises with a gasp, covered in sweat. She jumps away from him when he reacts, his arm swinging back. It's a natural reaction for someone like him, she doesn't hold it against him. ''It's me. You're okay, you're okay Grant''. Her hands ache to feel him again, but she refrains. ''Skye?'' ''Yeah it's me. Hey it's alright, everything is alright. It was just a dream''. His whiskey eyes are wide and frantic, checking the room over and over.
She takes a hesitant step to him, hands out like she's afraid he's going to get spooked and run. He might. ''It was a dream''. He runs his hands down his face. ''Yeah, only a dream. It wasn't real, you're safe''. He finally looks at her. Really looks at her. Studies her face until he's calm again. His breathing normal, heart rate under control. Daisy stares right back, doesn't care that she isn't even bothering to hide her emotions that must be spilling out onto her cheeks. Daisy lifts her hand, her intention clear so he has time to tell her to stop. He doesn't. She rests her palm against his shoulder, looking down on him. The contact sends a warm slow feeling up her arm and she blinks back tears.
He's home. She's home again after being away for so long. Ward's expression is neutral, if she didn't know him so well she would say this doesn't effect him at all. But there's something there in his eyes, the way he relaxes under her touch. ''You're okay. It was a nightmare, nothing more''. ''I didn't mean to wake you''. She gives him an encouraging smile. ''I couldn't sleep either, it's okay''. Without warning Ward stands to his full height, looking down on her. Daisy's hand falls from him, she frowns at the loss. ''I'm going for a walk''. ''Want me to come with you?'' He shakes his head.
''Are you sure?'' He doesn't give her an answer, just walks out the door. ''What did you do to ruin that perfect moment Quake?'' Daisy rolls her eyes which are still fixed on the door. ''Were you awake the whole time?'' ''Woke up right after you. Do you think he'll come back?'' ''I don't know''. Every single cell in her body is terrified that he won't. That he'll be gone from her again. And she's shaking from it all. If he walks, if he leaves, she'll fall apart. And Kebo wouldn't even be able to help her then, soothe her sadness. So she stands in that same spot. And waits. Waits. Waits.