Chapter 2
“Ha ha!” Fitz exclaimed and jumped up looking at the portal in front of him. “We get to go home and I didn’t even have to see that damn Nasa bloke.” Fitz said proudly.
Ward and Coulson stayed looking at each other in astonishment at the engineer’s happiness. “Fitz, if you didn’t want the guy in the way, why are you here?” Ward asked, shaking his head as Coulson stood up and brushed off his clothes of dust.
“I had to be better and try to make Jemma happy. If she can’t be happy with me, she should still be happy.” Fitz said as it was the obvious truth, Ward stood up concealing a wince under his breath.
Coulson started walking towards the portal and went to take a step through as Fitz put his hand out. “Wait, we don’t know if it’s completely stable or where it will let out, sir. We could be walking straight into a hydra trap or another reality.” Fitz said, causing himself and Coulson to look at Ward who immediately raised his hands.
“I don’t know about any Hydra trap, I say we go through now, ask questions later.” Ward said walking next to Coulson leaving Fitz a few yards away.
“I say it’s better we all go through together, none of us should be trapped here for any longer. Get over here Fitz so we can go.” Coulson said sounding like an annoyed dad at a rest station.
“Wait one second, do you hear something sir?” Fitz asked and almost instantly he was mauled by another figure.
“Fitz!” Coulson yelled and went to go after him.
“Oh no you don’t-” Ward said and kicked Coulson through the portal. “Sorry Coulson, no way you would be able to help.” Ward mumbled to himself before running after Fitz.
Choked noises were coming from the ground where Fitz was being choked by a man. A man with similar space outfits on to Fitz and Ward.
“D-D-D-Dan-niels.” Fitz choked out reading the name tag on the uniform ong and connecting that it was Simmons’ Will.
Within the next second, Will was off of Fitz and Ward was on top of him. “Don’t kill him! Don’t kill him!” Fitz yelled to Ward who had a knife against Will’s throat.
“This isn’t Simmons little friend. I’m here to take care of the problem.” Ward said beginning to push the knife into Will’s throat.
“Ward, no!” Fitz yelled pushing Ward off of Will. That caused Will to get on top of Ward and start strangling him and pushing on his chest for the second time of the day.
Ward groaned at the contact trying to wiggle his way out but he was weaker, Coulson had broken a couple of his ribs, he couldn’t breathe that well, he was tired. But everything changed when Ward looked up and saw a slug-like creature moving on Will’s hairline.
Ward lifted his hand to Will’s forehead, “Fitz.” He said weakly pointing at figure on Will’s forehead.
“Bloody Hell!” Fitz yelled and grabbed the gun out of his back pocket and shot the figure in the side of the head. It only seemed to knock whatever it was unconscious but it was enough time for Fitz to pick Ward off of the ground.
“I’m sor-” Fitz started as Ward grabbed Fitz’s hand and started walking towards the portal.
“I don’t care.” Ward wheezed. “Home.” Ward grumbled before stopping at the portal.
“Together on 3.” Fitz said. “1… 2… 3…” And then the two jumped.
On the other end of the portal
Coulson started yelling as he fell through the portal and landed on the floor. He let out an oof and looked up around him. May. Simmons. Mack. Bobbi. Lincoln. Skye. Daisy. He was at the playground.
Mack ran over to help the older man up. “Where’s Fitz?” Mack barked out quickly.
“I don’t know, the figure attacked him- Ward kicked my back. I lost my hand.” Coulson said looking at his missing hand.
“Sir, Fitz? Daisy can’t keep this portal open all day.” Mack said as Coulson shrugged himself off before starting to walk back towards the portal.
“He got attacked, I was trying to help him but… I’m going back in.” Coulson said, going to walk into the portal.
Before May or anyone else could yell in protest, Fitz and Ward came crashing through the portal. Ward fell on top of Coulson and Fitz on top of Ward.
“Close the damn portal.” Ward said looking towards Daisy who was trying to keep the portal open. She shot him an excuse me, you don’t run the show look, but Fitz quickly pipped up.
“Close it, Close it, Close it!” Fitz yelled and in an instant later the portal was closed. The younger man let out a sigh of relief and patted Ward’s shoulder.
“Thank god.” Ward mumbled still not moving off of Coulson, he felt a wave of exhaustion but he could ignore Fitz’s weight on top of him.
“Well I’m glad you two are safe but can you get off of me?” Coulson asked underneath Ward. Ward was big enough on his own but Fitz too was going to crush him.
“Oh sorry sir.” Fitz said getting up on to his Fitz and Ward moving on the floor next to Coulson. As soon as Fitz’s feet were on the ground, he felt himself hit with a force. Simmons. In his arms.
“I was so scared something happened to you, when I saw Coulson come back through the portal and you weren’t with him.” Simmons said quietly towards Fitz.
“Don’t worry, I’ll always come back to you, Jem. You’re my best…” Fitz stopped himself after feeling a disappointed glance from Ward who was laying on the floor. “You’re everything to me.” Fitz said confidently.
And with that the moment was over with the sound of cocked guns as everyone seemed to remember Ward on the floor. Simmons grabbed Fitz’s arm tightly after acknowledging Ward’s presence.
“I’m not here to kill any of you but I’m honored by the gesture.” Ward said sitting up with his hands up.
“Ward, don’t be a dick.” Coulson said to the man to his right.
“You literally broke my chest and you have the audacity to tell me not to be a dick.” Ward asked in astonishment. “Tell them to put their guns down or else I’m staying on the floor.”
“You broke my hand… May, Mack, guns down.” Coulson said waving off dismissively towards his team.
“You’re joking, Coulson. He’s literally hydra.” May said not lowering her gun yet.
“He’s not going to hurt anyone, May. Ward and I have some business to attend to but…” Coulson looked around, he knew that he himself had broken bones in Ward’s chest, he felt it. Coulson knew that needed medical treatment but then he made the connection Lincoln was probably the only one qualified to help. Oh Skye was going to have his head. “Lincoln, can you wrap up Ward’s chest, he seems to have a few broken ribs.” Coulson said as Ward gave him an incredulous look.
Lincoln slowly nodded before walking off to go get supplies. Fitz broke away from his embrace with Simmons to help Ward stand up. Ward wrapped his arm around Fitz’s shoulder and leaned some of his weight into the smaller man.
“Who the fuck is Lincoln?” Ward whispered into Fitz’s ear.
“Your ex girlfriend’s possible new boyfriend.” Fitz whispered causing Ward to chuckle immediately followed by a wince. Bad call, bad call.
“I’ll be back, May, Mack, my office. I don’t want anybody dead when I come back.” Coulson paused and looked at Daisy then Simmons and Ward. “Fitz, you’re in charge.” Coulson spoke to the group.
“Sir.” Daisy started to follow Coulson as he began walking away. Coulson paused for a minute. “Later, Sk-Daisy.” Coulson said in a calm voice that sounded like the bus.
Bobbi had snuck out with Mack, May and Coulson leaving the four ex teammates standing alone in a room.
“Fitz, what are you doing?” Simmons blurted out disrupting the silence.
“What do you mean what am I doing? I’m helping somebody who needs it.” Fitz said with a little attitude.
“He’s not somebody that needs or deserves our help. Look at everything he’s done to us over the years. He feels nothing.” Daisy said glaring at Ward. There was residual emotion in her voice that showed it wasn’t pure hate.
“You don’t know anything-” Fitz started as Ward shook his head. “Fitz, don’t, they don’t want to know, they don’t care to know and they sure as hell don’t deserve to know a thing about me. It’s okay, you don’t have to defend me.” Ward said taking his arm off of Fitz and standing on his feet.
“What's that supposed to mean?” Simmons sneered angrily, folding her arms over her chest.
“As someone who fucked an astronaut, you do not get to judge me right now.” Ward shot back and then gasped and brought his hands to his mouth when he realized what he said.
“You told him?” Simmons asked Fitz incredulously. It was seeming to Fitz like they would never have a real relationship if something kept messing them up. Ward looked over towards Daisy who had a smirk of amusement on her face.
“Don’t you smirk, Skye, I know you slept with Ward.” Fitz shot towards the ex hacker who’s smirk turned into anger.
“You told him!” Daisy yelled at Ward as Simmons gasped “Why didn’t you tell me!”
Ward brought his hands up in surrender but Daisy still opened her hand towards Ward and sent him flying into the wall. After making contact with the wall, Ward groaned. “So that’s how you want to play.” Ward murmured sitting up and getting up shakily.
Daisy started to get into an attack position again but Ward was faster. Before Fitz or Simmons could blink, Ward sent a fireball towards Daisy. She dived onto the floor to avoid getting hit and looked at Ward in shock. That bastard was one of them.
“What’s going on here?” Lincoln’s voice boomed as he walked into the room with his first aid kit.
“He’s inhuman.” Simmons said, backing away from Ward.
“I don’t care who’s what species, I’m fixing somebody’s broken ribs.” Lincoln said and motioned towards the little well that was almost high enough for a seat. “Ward- right, sit down.” Lincoln said as Ward rolled his eyes and walked towards the well. Lincoln helped Daisy back onto her feet but she didn’t cling to the touch.
“I know you know my name so let’s not play games.” Ward said as Lincoln walked next to him with Daisy a few feet behind him.
“Shirt off.” Lincoln said with his turn to roll his eyes.
“At least buy me dinner first.” Ward said going to take off his vest but wincing. “I don’t think I can do it.” Ward mumbled to himself.
“Ward, take off the damn-” Daisy started as Ward’s eyes snapped at her.
“What do you think I’m trying to do, Skye. Jesus Christ can you remove that stick from your ass.” Ward snapped back at her.
“Cool it, both of you.” Lincoln stepped in between them. The tension between the two of them was making the atmosphere of the room uncomfortable. “Fitz, a hand?” Lincoln asked taking a step towards Ward and helping the ex-agent shed the vest.
“This is embarrassing.” Ward mumbled to himself as Fitz and Lincoln helped him strip off his shirt layers. When the t-shirt finally came off, Ward’s chest was already black and blue, it looked to be indent, pushed in by Coulson’s bionic hand.
“Oh bloody hell.” Simmons said taking a step further towards Ward. She may hate the man’s guts but whatever was going on with his chest looked too painful to bear. Daisy also took a step in to see.
“Nothing a little wrap and bourbon can’t fix, right doc?” Ward joked light heartedly looking at Lincoln after seeing the look of concern on his face. Ward switched his gaze towards Simmons who shared a similar expression. “Simmons?”
“Why didn’t you tell me it was that bad?” Fitz asked Ward who failed to shrug his shoulders.
“I can take a beating, Fitz. I didn’t think it was this bad. Garrett would’ve done worse, he once ripped out his guy’s rib because he was mad at him. I was just lucky it wasn’t me.” Ward started tangenting.
“You need an x-ray to see if it’s bad enough to need surgery.” Simmons said as Ward crossed his arms over his chest.
“First of all you don’t like me, Second of all I don’t need surgery, Lincoln give me the bandages, I’ll wrap myself up.” Ward said in a tone that was almost desperate.
“Your chest is caved in, you need surgery.” Daisy blurted out looking at how painful Ward’s chest looked. She was starting to feel a little guilty about blasting him into a wall.
“Here, Ward, why don’t we take a quick trip around the base, I’ll show you my lab.” Fitz said helping his friend stand up.
“I don’t have a shirt.” Ward said to Fitz who waved it off.
“Don’t worry, nobody's going to notice, let’s go on a walk.” Fitz said slowly, starting to drag Ward out towards the med bay.
That left Lincoln, Daisy and Simmons alone in the room. Lincoln went to touch Daisy’s shoulder but she leaned away from his touch. “Why don’t you go help Fitz.” Daisy whispered towards Lincoln who just nodded and walked off.
It left the two girls alone in the room together. Simmons just opened her arms towards her friend and let her walk in. Simmons felt her shoulder damped as Daisy buried her face into it.
“I really want to kill him but not just for me. I want to kill him for hurting you the way he did and now for whatever he did for Fitz and Coulson to treat him normally..” Simmons said rubbed her hand down her friends back.
“He says my name and it makes me feel like I’m losing control, I should be past that. He can't make me feel anymore. Not like this.” Daisy choked into her friend’s shoulder.
“You still love him, after all of this time?” Simmons asked, doing her best to keep the disgust out of her tone. She may hate the man but it was her best friend’s feelings.
“I never stopped.” Daisy said, pulling away from her best friend before giving a smile that was so Skye. “Anyways you fucked an astronaut.”
Simmons groaned before laughing. “Fair is fair, Daisy.” Simmons said as the girl in front of her paused.
“You can call me, Skye.” She said causing Simmons to shake her head.
“Right after I got used to Daisy, Ward comes in and says Skye once and we’re back to Skye.” Simmons said, imitating the Skye in her old Ward voice impression.
“It doesn’t sound natural when you call me Daisy, I think I’m just trying so hard to be somebody that I’m not.” Skye said toying with her fingers.
“I want to talk about this with you and I want to talk about everything but I think I should make sure that your boyfriends don’t kill each other.” Simmons said as Skye looked at her in confusion before realizing Lincoln was the one looking after Ward.
“We should probably go.” Skye said wrapping her arm around Simmons with Simmons doing the same back.
“You said we were going on a walk.” Ward said standing while Fitz and Lincoln conducted a chest x-ray.
“And you believed me. See we’re even, you betrayed us and I’m betraying you.” Fitz said, causing Ward to chuckle and immediately wince.
“Stay still, Ward.” Lincoln said taking one more x-ray before removing Ward from the machine. “You two stay here, I’ll be back in 15.” Lincoln said before walking away.
“He doesn’t like me very much does he?” Ward asked as Fitz shrugged his shoulders.
“I think he’s more confused as to why you have Skye’s attention as much as you.” Fitz said looking at Ward who was looking at himself in a mirror.
“Well he’s got no competition, that’s all.” Ward said as Fitz scoffed.
“The sexual tension was so thick you could’ve cut it with a knife. I thought I was going to suffocate there.” Fitz joked.
Ward just nodded off and kept looking at himself in the mirror until Coulson came in. “Ward why the hell aren’t you bandaged up?” Coulson asked as Ward quickly moved his arms over his chest to hide the bruising.
“Lincoln, didn’t have the right size bandages, my chest is just too big.” Ward said, backing away as Coulson moved in towards Ward.
“Bullshit, Ward let him see.” Fitz said moving closer towards Ward.
“I can’t let him see because there’s nothing to see.” Ward said, still moving away. “I’m fine, I want to leave the base.”
“Ward…” Coulson said in almost a warning voice. “Let me see.” Coulson said as Ward sighed and dropped his arms to the side. Coulson let out a gasp in horror seeing what he did.
“I’m fine, just a little bit broken. Nothing that rest can’t fix.” Ward said, immediately crossing his arms over his chest.
“I was trying to kill you. It almost worked…” Coulson said to himself in a disgusted tone. “Ward, I’m sorry.”
“I want to go home. I don’t want to be here.” Ward said again, bouncing his knee.
“At least let Lincoln come back with the x-rays.” Fitz said as Ward turned towards his friend.
“Fitz, get me out of here, I need to get home.” Ward was almost begging at this point.
In almost perfect timing Lincoln came back. “It’s looking like we have to operate for me.” Lincoln said and in an instant Ward took off running.
“Goddamnit.” Coulson said before looking at Fitz as the two tried to go after him. Coulson knew Ward wouldn’t get far with his chest in the condition it’s in but when Ward was determined, he was off.
Ward had no idea where he was going or what he was doing but he felt his insides crumbling. His chest was closing in on itself and him freaking out was an understatement. Ward just kept running. He saw Skye and Simmons walking in the hallways and almost slammed into Simmons but Skye put her hand out and pushed Ward against the wall. Simmons let out a yelp of surprise and jumped back.
“Trying to escape so soon?” Skye asked while keeping Ward against the wall with her powers. Ward tried to move but the force acting on him was too strong and he was too weak.
“I need to leave. It’s really hot in here. I need to go home.” Ward said his eyes were getting heavy on him.
In almost an instant Coulson and Fitz had caught up both out of breath. “Thank you.” Coulson said patting Skye on the shoulder while he panted. “Ward, you need surgery, stop running so we can talk.” Coulson sounded like the dad Ward never had.
“I’m not getting fucking surgery.” Ward grunted through his teeth annoyed.
“Did he do something to you that you’re scared?” Fitz asked as Ward glared at Fitz.
“Drop it.” Ward said in a dark tone. There was the jackpot.
“Let him go.” Coulson said as Skye put her hand down and Ward fell to the floor.
“Nobody’s going to hurt you or do anything besides fix that.” Fitz said kneeling down to eye level with Ward. “Do you want to tell me what he did to you?” Fitz asked in a quieter tone so nobody heard.
Ward shook his head. “You promise, fix this and that’s it?” Ward asked as Fitz held up his pinky. “I swear I pinky promise.” Fitz said as Ward hesitantly interlocked his pinky with Fitz’s.
“Let’s get you into some pre-op. Maybe if you actually behave during all of this, you’ll get a nice bottle of alcohol from Coulson as a recovery gift.” Fitz said causing Ward to smirk.
“Deal.” Ward said standing up. “Let’s go for surgery.”
“I can take Ward to the lab if you want to shower, Fitz.” Simmons offered hesitantly causing a shock to everyone around. Fitz looked at Ward before he nodded.
“I’ll take you up on that. Is there any of the pesto left in the fridge?” Fitz asked, causing both Simmons and Ward to roll their eyes. Of course food was the first thing on his mind.
“There should be a sandwich for you in the fridge if Hunter didn’t eat it.” Simmons said as Fitz jumped up happily. “Good luck.” Fitz said to his friend heading off towards the bunks.
“Come on, Ward.” Coulson said to Ward who was typing on his phone.
“Busy.” Ward said as Coulson waited a second before pressing the off button on Ward’s phone. “Hey!” Ward said as Coulson held out his hand.
“Phone, hand now.” Coulson said as Ward sighed before putting his phone in Coulson’s hand.
“If Kara shows up at the base because I didn’t text back fast enough, that’s not my problem.” Ward said trying to avoid Skye and Simmons’s energy next to him.
“Ward, I’m gonna take you back to the lab so Lincoln can get you ready.” Coulson said as Ward nodded but Simmons cleared her throat.
“Actually, sir, I think I’m better suited than Lincoln.” Simmons said.
“Agent Simmons, I appreciate the offer but you don’t have to, I know-” Coulson said as Simmons stopped him.
“Sir, I owe it to Fitz. I promise I won’t kill him. Not intentionally.” Simmons said.
“This might pinch.” Simmons said putting the IV line into Ward’s hand.
“Simmons, what are you doing, I know you hate my guts.” Ward said pulling the hospital gown tight to his chest with his hand that didn’t have the IV in. Skye was sitting in a chair a few feet away from where Ward was sitting in the cot.
“I just want to know what you did to Coulson and Fitz that you have them wrapped around your finger.” Simmons said as Ward sighed.
“I told the truth, Simmons. Is that what you wanted to hear?” Ward said as Skye started laughing to herself. “Something funny.” Ward couldn’t help but say.
“Just you telling the truth is a funny thought.” Skye said as Ward rolled his eyes.
“See that’s why I’m not even trying. Neither one of you care and you both want to see me dead or suffering.” Ward said as Simmons sat at the end of his bedside.
“I’m not going to address that but whatever you said to Fitz seemed to have weight. So I want to know what you said to him.” Simmons said as Ward looked at the lights on the ceiling.
“That’s not an easy question, it’s everything, about everything.” Ward said not looking back down.
“Well, tell me where the story starts.” Simmons said as Skye looked at Simmons with an annoyed look on her face.
“Probably when Thomas was born, that’s my younger brother. Christian, he always hated me but when Thomas was born, it got so much worse. His bullying was mostly just verbal and name calling. But he started picking me on physically. He started hurting Thomas. He would make me hurt Thomas. He used to kick the shit out of me until I got balls to fight back.” Ward said.
“So the well, that was true?” Skye asked as Ward looked over and slowly nodded.
“When I got older, I went to military school, I was doing good, I was set to graduate top of my class. I had a real future. I was… 15… and Thomas called me one night. Something happened. Christian. I don’t want to talk about it.” Ward looked down at the IV. “I drove back home from the middle of the midwest and lit that house up. I thought Christian was inside. He wasn’t. I got my ass thrown in juvie.” Ward felt a hand on his lower leg and looked to see Simmons gently placed her hand on his shin.
“Christian had a petition to get me tried as an adult. I had no money, no lawyers, nothing, I was screwed. That’s when I met Garrett. He offered me a way out.” Ward said as Skye brought her chair closer.
“You met Garrett at 15?” Skye asked as Ward slowly nodded then let out a yawn.
“Yeah, you sedated me when you put the IV in. You’re so smart, Simmons.” Ward said more to himself feeling drained.
“What happened after you met Garrett?” Simmons asked Ward, she was trying to keep him talking until he was asleep.
“He offered me a way out. Said I could either rot in here or become a real man. He promised me Christian would never hurt me again… I said yes. He dumped me in the woods with Buddy. Promised it would be a few weeks and it was 6 months. I miss the 5 years.” Ward mumbled before finally exhaustion took over and he was unconscious.
“Five years, Ward. Ward.” Skye said leaning forward and shaking his leg. “Grant.”
“He’s knocked out, he’s not waking up anytime soon.” Simmons said sitting off of the bed.
“Five years?” Skye asked not to remove her hand from the sleeping man’s leg.
“He was getting tired from the drugs, he could’ve been exaggerating.” Simmons said unconvincingly.
“Exaggerating, what?” Fitz materialised in the doorway before looking at Ward’s body. “Oh my god you killed him.”
“I didn't kill him, I sedated him.” Simmons rolled her eyes at Fitz.
“Fitz, is it true? Garrett took Ward out of juvie?” Skye said looking at her friend in the doorway.
“Oh yeah, he was telling Coulson and I. The poor bloke, his best friend was a dog.” Fitz said, shaking his head slowly.
“A dog?” Skye asked in confusion. “He fell asleep after saying five years a few times.”
“Oh. Well looks like this isn’t my thing to tell. Why are you being so nice to him, both of you? What are you up to?” Fitz asked, wrapping his arms around Simmons’s waist from the behind.
“I figured that if you trust him, there’s gotta be something that makes you feel that way towards him. It’s Ward who tried to kill us.” Simmons said.
“If he wanted us dead, we would’ve been, Jem.” Fitz said leaving a heavy silence in the room.