Chapter 26
Beep. Beep.
It was all she could hear and it was driving her insane. It was somewhere nearby and seemed to be coming from all around her. Slowly blinking her eyes she glared around the room trying to find the offending object. Unfortunately everything was blurry. She’d have resorted to smacking her hand around in the hope it would shut up the infernal beeping but they felt way to heavy. Taking a few deep breaths she kept blinking hoping it would clear her vision. As the room came into focus she couldn’t help the groan that escaped her. The room was so plain and boring that it could only be a hospital room. A fact that was confirmed when she rotated her head and found a heart monitor hooked up to her, the source of the annoying beeping noise. Huffing in frustration she decided that she couldn’t switch it off, angry nurses were too much to deal with at the moment. The only thing that brightened up the room was a sleeping Ward, scrunched uncomfortably in a plastic chair. He truly was adorable when asleep. Though this time he had a slightly worried look on his face, one arm carefully wrapped around a sleeping Phil cradling him to his chest.
What the hell had happened?
The last thing she remembered she was telling Phil a story to try and get him to settle back down again. Then nothing.
“How are you feeling?” Looking up at the quiet voice she found Bruce smiling down at her from the bottom of the bed.
“Groggy. What happened?” She mirrored his quiet tone as not to wake her sleeping boys.
“You had a bad reaction to a sedative.”
“Sedative?”
“Somebody broke into the house and stole Phil. You got hit with a sedative in the process which you had a bad reaction to hence the hospital.”
“Phil? The kids?” Her voice rose slightly as she tried to process what she’d been told.
“Relax they’re fine. The only person I’m concerned about other than you is Ward. The rest of the kids are with Nat and Clint. Fury retrieved Phil and I checked him over myself. Other than being tired he’s fine. As soon as he was back with Ward he fell asleep.”
“Ward?”
“He didn’t do well when he found out what had happened-blamed himself. Not that he could have done much.”
“Stupid robot. We have alarms!”
“I know but he believes he should have heard them. The fact he isn’t at full strength and is on strong painkillers seems to mean nothing to him.”
“I’ll talk to the idiot!”
“I have every faith in you getting through to him.” Bruce smiled at her and not for the first time did Skye wonder what Ward had told Bruce about her. He seemed to know something that he wasn’t telling.
“Anyway I’ll let you wake him up and tell him your fine. He wouldn’t hear it from me. I’m sure Nat will be along with the rest of the kids soon.”
“Thanks Bruce.”
“Anytime.”
She turned back to glare at her idiot. Of course he would take all the blame. What was the point of having alarms? The man was an idiot, she wanted to slap him around the head but that would take too much energy. Instead she shuffled carefully to the edge of the bed so she could lean down and press a kiss against his hand that rested on the edge of the bed. As she expected it woke him immediately blinking slightly as he sifted Phil closer to his chest.
“Hey. How’re you feeling?”
“Groggy but fine. Bruce has just been in. He told me what happened. He says both Phil and I are fine.”
“I know.” He seemed to hesitate before continuing. “I’m sorry Skye.”
“For what?” Oh the idiot was going to actually do this.
“I should have protected you. I failed.” He hung his head in shame and it took all of her strength not to get out of bed and shake him.
“Idiot.”
“What?”
“You’re an idiot. I know I call you a robot but you’re not.”
“Skye…”
“No listen to me. There was nothing you could do. We have alarms. Besides which you are injured. You are not a robot Grant. You are allowed to rest and recover. I don’t blame you and I’m sure if Coulson was an adult and here he would say the same. So stop blaming yourself. If you want to blame anyone have a go and the person who designed the alarm.”
“Fury’s already done that.”
“Did Fury blame you?’
“No but he should’ve done.”
“Grant do not make me get out of this bed.” She warned. “You are not to blame. Understand?”
He nodded slightly before looking sheepishly at her.
“That’s better. Now if you want to blame someone go and talk to those who made the alarm.”
“I think Fury terrified them.”
“I’m sure you could think of something else.”
“I’ll work on it.” He smiled slightly at her.
“Idiot.” She replied again squeezing his hand. This dork was becoming more adorable by the moment. Leaning in he pressed a gentle kiss against her lips, shifting Phil so he wasn’t squished.
“Now get some more sleep.” He ordered.
“You should go home.”
“I’m fine here.”
“You look it.” She snarked back.
“Just go to sleep Skye.” He shifted back into the chair, closing his eyes cutting off the discussion.
It seemed like no time at all when she felt a small thump on the bed. Turning in the direction it came from she found herself face to face with Leo.
“Mummy!” He yelled waking Phil who started crying. A further three thumps came as the rest of the kids scrambled onto the bed, all-trying to hug her at the same time.
“Guys. I’m fine. Guys.”
“Don’t do that again.” Tripp pleaded as he clung to her.
“I don’t intend to.” She promised kissing him on the head.
“We were worried.” Mel announced sniffing.
“I’m sorry but I have something to make it up to you. Do you know what time it nearly is?”
“Bonfire night!” Cheered Jemma and Leo.
“What’s bonfire night?” Tripp asked.
“It’s a British thing. Celebrated with fireworks.” Ward informed him while he bounced Phil gently.
“Oh. No not that.” Skye made a mental note to bring it up with Ward though. It sounded like fun.
“Halloween.” Tripp commented.
“Exactly. So I thought we might want to dress up and go out.” She was nearly deafened by the cheers from the kids. “I take it that’s a yes then?”
Ward looked at her, which she ignored. The kids would love it plus it gave her an excuse to dress him up.
“Are you and Dad going to dress up?” Jemma frowned.
“Of course.” Skye replied before Ward could deny anything.
Bending to place a now happy Phil on the bed he leant in so only she could hear his whisper.
“You are so going to pay for this!”
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For all that Ward was slightly annoyed, Skye had to admit that Halloween was a success. They’d spent the day baking various spooky treats, including zombie cupcakes and mummy biscuits. Even Mr Grumpy had enjoyed himself. She’d caught him grinning from time to time when he thought she wasn’t watching. All the kids had eaten so much cake she was sure they were going to be sick. But now was the part she’d been really looking forward to. They were all dressing up and getting ready to go out.
Phil had been easy dressing as the cookie monster in a blue fluffy onesie that was completely adorable. His favourite thing at the moment was to yell out cookie every five minutes so it fit well. Jemma had decided she wanted to be a skeleton, as she knew all the bones of the body. The most difficult part of her costume was finding one that was anatomically correct, as Jemma had refused to wear anything else. Mel was being a dragon, the spectacular suit made by Tony, as they hadn’t managed to find a costume anywhere. Leo was dressed as Merlin, in long robe he kept tripping over but Skye had to admit suited him. Tripp had been one of the hardest to get a costume for as he kept changing his mind. Eventually he had settled on being Eva from WALL.E as she was cool apparently. The kids had also chosen their outfits, leading to Skye being dressed as Flynn Rider from Tangled. Ward was the best though. The kids had decided to keep with the Tangled theme, eventually persuading him to dress as Rapunzel. When he’d objected they’d informed him he could only be her as he could do the transformation with her short hair after Flynn had cut it.
“I might just kill you!” He muttered as he slunk out from their bedroom.
“It’s a good look on you.” She stifled her giggles as he glared at her. “You should wear dresses more often.”
“You so owe me.”
“The kids are happy.”
“I’m not on about that! Don’t think I don’t know that you encouraged them to make me Rapunzel.”
“What can I say, it’s a good for you.”
“Dad you look good.” Mel announced as she lifted her tail to stop it dragging on the floor.
“You guys look amazing!” Ward announced taking in the grinning children. “Shall we go and get some candy?” He led the cheering children to the door, ushering them all past him.
“Wanting to get this over with?” Skye teased as she passed.
“You so owe me.”
“I’m sure I can think of something.”
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