You Knew What It Was He Is In Love
Prepare himself. That's never been a problem for Ward. He doesn't have to think about it anymore, his body is so accustomed to change he could do it in his sleep. But not this time. No. No Ward can't prepare himself to lose Skye, it shouldn't even be possible. None of this should have happened. The mission should have gone smoothly, the woman he loves should not be dying in the hospital because he wasn't fast enough. Ward hates himself, this is his fault.
He had a gun in his hands, he knew Jiayang did nothing to stop the Inhuman when he was about to attack Daisy, that was a red flag. But he didn't honestly think Jiayang would do something like that again. Granted he didn't trust her, but this is all beside the point. Ward wasn't fast enough, he should have seen all of this coming. And now he's paying for it. His entire world is going to crumble and he's powerless to stop it. ''Ward how do you want us to proceed? I know you're all Daisy has''- Grant gets up from his position on the wall. Glares at Coulson.
''We're not having this conversation''. Ward ignores every agent crying in the small waiting room, ignores that each person here Daisy has touched their lives somehow, none of this is fair. But he learned a long time ago that life is a bitch and all it does is take and take and take. Fitz approaches him, puts a hand on his shoulder. They've been through a lot him and Fitz, but there's no comfort here. Coulson wipes his eyes, glances at May. ''Did you see what happened? You had a better view than any of us''. ''Jiayang stabbed her. That's what happend''. There's white hot rage building in his skin. He would shoot her again if he had to.
''Why would she do that?'' Bobbi wonders aloud. ''Doesn't matter anymore''. Mack who has been silent since he saw his partner bleeding out in Ward's arms, speaks up. ''I don't believe the doctors, this is Daisy. She'll make it''. But Mack wasn't there the last time her life hung in the balance, he can't possibly imagine what's going through the orginal six team member's minds right now. He's lucky. The thoughts are dark and filled with blood. The turn their heads when Simmons opens the doors, she doesn't have to say a word. Ward can tell by the look on her face.
''She isn't doing well, the wound is deep but the doctors are doing everything they can''. She doesn't look at Ward when she says this, just takes a seat beside Fitz and lays her head on his shoulder. Grant can't do this. He can't stand here and do nothing. He leaves the room, blindly walking until he finds himself in the hospital chapel. It's small, nothing fancy. A few pews, a podium, a few candles are lit. Grant can't remember the last time he's been in a place of worship. Maybe when he was a kid and his mother dressed him and his brothers up in stiff shirts and tight khaki pants.
Grant intended on going outside, punch a few cars maybe. Channel his rage somehow. He doesn't deserve to be in a church. Doesn't deserve to sit in one of the pews and fold his hands. He's not a good man, a murderer shouldn't be able to pray to God. But he does. Something inside of him aches and presses down onto his ribs and he can't breathe. He can cry, he's never cried this much in all his years. Ward isn't the kind to cry, Garrett said it didn't make him a man, it made him a coward. So Ward prays, and prays and prays.
Holds his knuckles so hard together they feel as if they are going to burst. He's asked God the same thing over and over until he's sure his lips are going to bleed. Please let her be okay. Please let her be okay. Take me instead. She deserves to live I don't. Please let her be okay. Please let her be okay. Take me instead. She deserves to live I don't. Please let her be okay. Please let her be okay. Take me instead. She deserves to live I don't. Please let her be okay. Please let her be okay. Take me instead. She deserves to live I don't.
A hand on his shoulder makes him jump for the first time in a long time. He's never caught off guard. ''It's me. Sorry I didn't mean to interrupt''. May whispers and takes a seat behind him. Grant says nothing, just lays his forehead in his hands on the pew. ''You know when Daisy joined Hydra I thought it was because you tricked her into somehow, that you preyed on her feelings for you and exploited them. I never thought in the slightest that she went looking for you because on some level she missed you. It wasn't all about revenge, she loved you, even then''.
''If you're trying to help it isn't working''. ''The point that I'm trying to make is Daisy is strong, she's one of the good ones and Mack was right, I don't believe the doctors. There's a possibility she'll make it through this''. Ward clears his throat, glances at a cross on the wall. ''Do you believe in God?'' May doesn't answer for a long moment. ''I don't know. But if he saves Daisy from death again, I just might''. Together they wait for another hour. Not moving or speaking, just listening to each other breathe, both hoping for the same thing.
The doors to the chapel burst open two hours later, Ward and May stand immediately. Simmons is out of breath, tears streaming down her face. But she's smiling. Smiling so big and on the brink of hysterical laughter and a tiny glimmer of hope rests in Ward's chest. ''She's alright. She's stable and breathing on her own. She's alive''. Ward's knees buckle and he grabs the pew for support. Simmons comes up to him and hugs him, he cries into her shoulder. His Skye is okay. His world starts to turn again.
Daisy wakes with a slow numb feeling all over. There are bright lights and beeping and she knows immediately where she is. Hospital. She's alive. The second thing is she remembers Ward carrying her to safety, he's alive he's okay. "Daisy? Daisy can you hear me?" She recognizes that voice. Simmons. "Simmons". "That's right I'm here. Can you open your eyes for me?" The glare of the lights burns but she fights it, she has to see her friend's face when she asks her the next question. "Simmons, Simmons the baby. Is he okay?" Jemma smiles, tears in her eyes. "Yes he's fine. Daisy you lost a lot of blood and your wound was very deep. If Ward hadn't of gotten you to us when he did, you would have been dead in seconds". "He's okay, he's okay". If she's crying she can't feel it, Jemma takes her hand.
"I want Grant". "It would be wise to wait"- The walls shake, "I want him now". Simmons sighs in defeat. "Alright I'll go get him, but he can't stay for long. You need rest". If Daisy could laugh she would, there's no way they're going to be able to move Ward from her side after he sees her. It feels like an eternity that she waits, hand on her belly. Greatful so greatful that they are both alive. Daddy saved us little guy, we're okay because of him. And suddenly Daisy can't remember all of the reasons why she didn't want to tell Grant.
She can hear him running down the hall, she meets his eyes as he comes into the room, the expression on his face makes her cry. He's standing over her, hands cupping her face. "You're okay". "I'm okay". And suddenly he's crying into her chest and she needs to comfort him but her limbs won't move. "I love you, I love you so much". She feels his lips moving across her skin and she's warm all over. Now. Now is the perfect time to tell him. "Grant". He looks up at her and she kisses him slowly, he tastes like salt and blood. That's when she notices his clothes and she swallows down the bile in her throat. "I'm sorry I wasn't there, that I wasn't fast enough Skye"- His voice is tortured, pained, it makes her chest tighten. "Ward it's okay". "No it's not, you're lying in a hospital bed because I didn't"- She covers his mouth with hers, he doesn't relax. "Grant I'm in here because of me, because I made the wrong choice. But I need you to relax for a minute okay?" Her throat is scratchy and he hands her a cup of water, it's shaking.
She wants so much to touch his face, soothe his skin and wipe away the panic and adrenaline that's threatening him. "I need you to be calm and clear headed for a second". He obeys in an instant, looking as if he doesn't have a care in the world. And she would believe it, if tears didn't stain his cheeks and his hands weren't covered in her blood. "You're going to be mad at me and you have every right, I was stupid for not telling you and going out into the field". Daisy takes a deep breath. He takes her hand knowing she needed his support, she smiles. There are stones in her teeth and her veins turn cold, her stomach filled with thousands of butterflies because she's so nervous for reasons she doesn't understand. "Grant, I'm pregnant".
Grant Ward can disable a bomb in a second, fire a gun in less time than that, he can kill a man with a twitch of his thumb. He controls fire from his palms and nothing scares him anymore, his demons are on a leash he now controls. He's terrified of nothing and no one. Until now. He hears the words come out of her mouth and they don't sink in right away, when they do he is filled with so much fear he feels like he's going to vomit. He doesn't know the first thing about being a father, never had one in the first place to look up to. Garrett doesn't count for obvious reasons. He gives into his fear until he sees the expression on Skye's face. She's scared. And she needs him. She needs him to be the rock of support he's always been, so he is. And he's crying again because he never thought he would be a father, doesn't deserve to be one.
But the woman that he loves is carrying part of him and he's petrified and happy all at once. "Ward I need you to tell me everything is going to be okay because I'm freaking out over here". "Everything is going to be okay, I promise". And her worries ease because he never breaks a promise to her. Until she falls asleep he talks to her, about how great of a mother she's going to be, baby names, he doesn't care if it's a boy or a girl as long as they are healthy and happy. He does want them to have Skye's eyes and be just as pure and good as her. It terrifies him to his roots thinking his son or daughter would turn out like him. Daisy tries to tell him it doesn't work like that, but he doesn't believe her. He promises her that he will protect their child no matter what, and he will always be with her, never leave her side again.
"You're going to be an amazing father Grant Ward". And her eyes flutter closed, her breathing even. "I love you Skye. Thank you, thank you for giving me this life I never thought I would have". After he kisses her lightly, he turns the chair so the back of it is pressed against the wall. Now he can see the room and everything in it, the doorway which is filled with his original team. They are all crying, everyone except May of course. But there's happiness somewhere in her expression. Ward knows that they have been standing there for the entire conversation. They have seen him at a weak point. Garrett's voice is in his ear now, scolding him for being weak and letting someone see it. And for the first time in his life, he ignores him. Shuts down his dead mentor and let's it go.
He does however stand guard over the love of his life, he doesn't sleep or eat or move until she wakes up. Ten hours later Mack, who has earned Grant's trust walks in. "You're going to kill over you know". "I'm fine". "I'll take a turn okay? You can shower get some food, some sleep and I'll watch her". He's about to refuse when Fitz and Simmons back him up, and honestly Ward is too tired to argue. A few minutes later he's freshly showered, downing a sandwich and is holding Daisy's hand in his own. He falls asleep soon after. Ward wakes with a start when he feels a hand in his hair, he soon realizes it's Daisy and he relaxes. Lifts his head from the side of her hospital bed and smiles. "Hey robot". "Hey. Do you need anything?" "Water". While she's drinking Simmons checks her over, says everything is fine.
May and Coulson enter the room, worry pouring out of them. "How are you feeling?" May asks, putting her hand on Daisy's forehead. "Sore". Daisy looks at Grant, "what happened? I don't, I don't remember". A look passes between Shield and Ward. Coulson takes over as he always does. ''What do you remember?'' Daisy's eyebrows furrow as she concentrates. ''I remember the Afterlife being ambushed, and you were all taken captive. Is everyone okay?'' ''Everyone is fine Skye''. Ward kisses her forehead.
Before she can continue a few doctors walk in and scold May and Coulson, saying only one vistor allowed and they don't care that Phil is the Director of Shield. ''We'll talk later''. ''Okay DC''. He takes Daisy's hand. ''I'm so glad you're okay''. May winks at her and they both leave. Daisy turns to Ward who buries his face in her neck. ''Ms. Johnson we'd like to go over the extent of your injuries when you're ready''. ''I'm ready, hit me''. Daisy realizes that she can't remember how she was injured. Apparently she was stabbed but has no recollection of it.
When the doctors leave after assuring her it's normal for some patients to not remember their accidents, she questions Ward. ''Tell me what happened''. A sad look comes into his eyes. ''I don't think that's the best idea right now''. ''Sir! Sir you can't go in there!'' Daisy hears one of the nurses yell. Ward springs to his feet, tense and ready. Lincoln appears in the doorway, breathes Daisy's name. ''Do not come any closer''. Grant's voice is steel and sharp.
''Daisy I had nothing to do with what happened at the Afterlife, you have to believe me''. Lincoln's clothes are full of sand and he has a nasty gash along his eyebrow.''Ward calm down, let him pass''. Ward doesn't move and Lincoln tries to move past him. Big mistake. In half a second he's pinned to the wall, Ward's hand on his throat. ''Grant! Stop it!'' Daisy yells, Ward doesn't listen to her. ''Did you know?'' He growls in Lincoln's face, ''no I didn't''. Lincoln's left eye twitches when he lies. It doesn't twitch.
With a sigh Grant releases him and stands next to Daisy's bed. ''Are you okay?'' ''Does she look okay Sparky? No she's not, and you don't need to be in here. You have five seconds to go back to where you came from''. May comes jogging in with a nurse behind her, ''Lincoln you can visit later but right now you need to let Daisy rest okay?'' The expression on the other man's face doesn't sit well with Ward. At all. Once everyone is gone Ward relaxes and sits on the edge of her bed.
''I'm tired''. She tells him, her eyes growing heavy. ''You can sleep. I'll be here when you wake up''. She smiles, ''I love you''. ''I love you Skye''. He bends down to kiss her. ''We're going to be parents''. He smiles against her lips. ''I know''. ''I'm scared''. He opens his eyes, brushes his knuckles across her cheek. ''I'm here. You don't have to be scared''. They don't speak for a moment, just stare at each other. Daisy can see the relief pooling and tugging at his features. What would he have done if she didn't make it?
Ward admires the way his shoulders aren't slumped with stress, for the moment anyway. Skye is alive. She's okay. She's going to be a mother and he's going to be a father. Their baby against all odds has survived this, everything is going to be okay now. As soon as Daisy is well enough to leave the hospital he's taking her home, life away from it hasn't treated them well. And as she's falling asleep he promises that she will always be safe, and that he will never fail her again.