Someone Will Love You, But Someone Isn't Me

When Kebo makes it back to the base Ward and Garrett are currently at, he finds Grant pacing the floor. His expression blank but Kebo isn't stupid, there's worry there's fear in his eyes. At first Kebo assumes it's Garrett related and a small part of him is hoping the older man finally kicked it. But then he deicides if that were the case Ward would be more distraught than this. ''Why are you looking at me like I just ran over your cat?''

See Kebo knows that somehow Ward finds out everything, he's always one step ahead. Which means he is probably fully aware of the time Kebo just spent with Skye, whom he regrets leaving injured but she was in safe hands. He couldn't risk being exposed by Shield and the last thing Ward needs is to break him out of the whatever secret base they're hiding in these days. ''Where were you?''

Ah, he's going with the ignorance is bliss thing. Maybe Grant is just afraid of the truth, that Kebo was with Skye when he never will be again. ''Considering the fact I told you were I was going before I left''- ''you do remember I can tell when you're lying right?'' Kebo grits his teeth and walks over to chair, falls in it and stretches to reach the lukewarm beer on the table beside him. ''Of course not, one of your many annoying talents''.

''Kebo''- ''Ward I'm too tired to play games with you. You know where I was, just come out and ask me already''. There's a pained expression clouding over Grant's face, he hides the shaking of his hands well but there isn't a lot he can keep from Kebo these days. ''Shield raided on of our bases''. ''Yes they did''. Grant swallows and glances behind him, checking for Garrett. Who Ward will never let him see the weakness inside that's currently make him sweat.

''Which agents were there?'' There's a pause, a brief one causing a wave of longing so intense to press into Ward's ribs he can't breathe. Kebo answers,''your wife''. Her name falls off Ward's lips effortlessly as it always has, he remembers in this moment her face when he used to say it. Like she never believed her name was anything beautiful until it came from his mouth. ''Skye''. Grant has to fight off the scent of her hair and the sound of her laughter.

''Do you have another wife I don't know about? You lie to her for six years too?'' Kebo asks his words suddenly sharp causing Ward to duck his head. Kebo didn't really intend for that last bit to come out, he knows how much all of this has hurt Grant. Losing Skye was something he always knew was going to happen, but the man didn't exactly prepare himself well for the fall out.

But the pain he saw in Skye's eyes a few hours ago has left him haunted. He's only seen her three times since everything happened and each visit reminds him of a lost girl searching for a home, the same girl Ward and Shield found, put back together only to ruin her again. He hates the world he hates Garrett and Hydra to for destroying everything. ''Sorry mate. I didn't mean that''. ''Yes you did''.

Okay yeah he did, Kebo isn't picking sides here. It's not he and Skye against Ward or vice versa, there's so much pain and sadness in both his friends he's trying his best to be there for the two of them. Comfort them when he can, yell at them for being so stupid from time to time. ''How is she?'' Grant doesn't ask but he knows this isn't the first time Kebo has seen his wife, knowing he can do that so freely puts a bitterness in Ward's mouth.

''You really want to know?'' Kebo cracks the beer open, takes a long sip and watches Ward pace the room again like a caged lion. ''Yes''. He can't tell if Grant is lying or not, come to think of it he never can really, unless Ward wants him to. ''She's fine''. Ward whips his head around his eyes narrowing, they both know how much he hates that word. This causes Kebo to sigh, ''what do you want me to say? How do you think she's doing?

Anything I tell you is going to hurt and you've had enough of that for one lifetime''. Grant closes his eyes briefly, ''just please tell me she's okay''. ''She's okay''. A sigh of relief is short lived when Ward notices the hesitant tone in his friends voice, Kebo grits his teeth when he realizes that was caught. ''What?'' ''Nothing nothing your estranged dearly beloved is totally safe''. ''Kebo''- ''Okay okay so maybe she was shot a little bit''- ''Shot?''

Before the overwhelming panic can set in and Ward goes guns blazing into Shield's base, Kebo stands and puts a hand on his arm. ''Hey I said she was okay didn't I? It was just a graze boss, I'm sure she's patched up and in bed right now. Don't worry''. But how can he not? Grant spends his life worrying about Skye even though she's no longer next to him. And probably never will be. The thought of her being hurt well it's hard to think clearly.

He clears his mind and asks Kebo evey small detail of what happened, like Kebo knew he would. He does not mention the flashdrive however, let Skye have that small little victory. When it's over Ward sits down and puts his head in his hands. Hating himself all over again for the pain he's caused Skye, he never wanted this to happen. ''Don't do that to yourself. What happened happened and there isn't anything you can do to change it.

You just have to foucs on how to get Skye back''. There's a loud laugh that fills the small room but it doesn't belong to either of them. The two men turn to find Garrett starting to walk into the room and Ward immediately stands, spine straight ready to take on anything the whole world for John. Kebo hates that. ''Kebo did you forget to remind Ward that Skye hates him just like the rest of Shield?

No way in hell she'd ever trust him again. If their last meeting was anything to go on, she'll shoot him next time they see each other''. Grant doesn't react to Jonh's words, instead just slips into solider mode. It's easier this way. Shove all his feelings into a box and focus on whatever John needs him to do. It's always been this way. ''You know John you shouldn't put ideas like that in Ward's head. You don't know Skye like I do''.

Garrett rolls his eyes, ''as much as I enjoy talking about Ward's love life and trust me I do, it's the highlight of my day really. I have a mission for you boy''. John tells Grant who nods, he'll do anything for Garrett. Ward lets the water flow into his brain dragging Skye down with the current that are his thoughts to drown in later, right now John needs him and that is more important than anything.

He just didn't expect the mission to be in a place so familiar it's dangerous, but Ward shakes that off. He's Grant Ward, he can handle anything.

*

Skye takes a deep breath and pretends she can't feel the tears pricking her eyes. She shouldn't be here she really shouldn't be here. It's not smart it's only going to cause so much pain, this isn't safe why is she even here to begin with? The bandage on her arm smarts and Skye pulls the jacket so it isn't so tight around her shoulders. The cold wind tickles her nose it's starting to makes her hands go numb, the sky is gray it's supposed to snow later this afternoon.

The house sits in front of her like nothing has changed. She's done this before too many times to count, just stood on the sidewalk and gazed up at the perfect place she called a home for so long. She remembers now being blindfolded Ward's hands warm on her shoulders as he whispered not to peek, to trust him and she did she did oh how she did. The house was a surprise right before they got married.

They were engaged three weeks before Ward decided to bring her here and have something to look forward to when they got back from their honeymoon. He bought the house a year after they started dating, the poor sap, and in that moment when he took the blindfold off Skye swore she'd never been happier. That of course changed when she walked down the aisle of the church and saw Grant standing at the alter.

A smile on his handsome clean face, crying when his eyes met hers the shaking of his hands when he took her in his arms. How when the priest announced they were finally husband and wife and he kissed her, Skye could taste tears on her tongue but he probably could too. Sometimes at night she can still feel that, the water on her lips and Ward's hands through the fabric of the dress she only wore once.

Before all of that can choke her and the bitterness drags her down down down she closes her eyes, squares her shoulders and walks up the steps to the porch. The mailbox is slightly unsteady but stil the same bright silver Grant painted it three days after they moved in. If she squints hard enough she can see him standing there the bright sunlight behind him, bent over a paint can, dragging the brush across the mailbox with scary accurate straight lines.

The porch is small but still holds two chairs she and Ward used to sit in and watch the sunset, his slightly bigger than her small yellow one. The plant she bought a few days before everything went bad is long dead, wilted no sign of life anywhere on this porch. That makes her so sad brings that all too familiar pain to her chest. What is she doing here again? Why did May and Simmons insist this was a good idea?

She woke up earlier from a nap to do some training when May suddenly stopped in the middle and asked what her problem was. Skye responded nothing but soon was crying onto Jemma's shoulder and May was there rubbing her back and Skye hated feeling weak in front of them. They need her to be strong not sobbing over a man who will never return. That part of her life is over and done with, Ward burned all of it down.

Their solution? Exercise the demons inside, go back and home and try to get Grant out of her head. The last time she was here was when Shield fell and Ward called her to get somewhere safely. He was so scared, she remembers that now. The panic the ice cold fear in his tone. Back then she thought it was because he didn't want her to be hurt but now she knows it's because he didn't want her to find out who he really was.

May thinks spending a few hours here Skye will finally get closure. But right now all Skye can feel is crushing sadness maybe the neighbors won't judge her if she collapses on the sidewalk and cries. The door is locked, the red front door that she doesn't recall the last time she locked it. Skye doesn't have a key, they're probably still hanging on the hook on the kitchen wall right by Ward's set, above the collection of winter scarves and hats.

A few minutes later she's standing in the middle of the living room thanking her lock picking skills, and trying not to suffocate at all the memories that assault her just now. It all looks the same. Which is stupid because this house shouldn't even be here, in fact it should be bare and burned down with all the memories and ghosts of the people who used to live here. They're long gone with all their happiness. It was all false anyway.

The living room with the wide brown couch she and Ward spend hours laying on when days were slow, the kitchen where Ward cooked because she can't. Evenings when his back would be turned to her, the radio on and Skye sometimes would just sit at the kitchen island on the bar stools and just watch him. Her perfect husband who loved her so much with his stupidly handsome face and the look in his eyes when she told him she loved him too.

The wood floors they had to mop at least twice a week, the stairs leading up to the bedroom Skye fell down once. Resulting in a rather unpleasant thing she'd rather not think about. But she does remember the fear in Ward's face after she fell and how he cried into her hair hours later. She won't go up the stairs she won't go into their old bedroom she can't. The pictures are gone, it takes Skye longer than it should to realize that.

Their wedding pictures on the mantle above the fireplace aren't there, neither are the ones on the coffee table or in the hallway leading to one of the spare bathrooms. Skye takes comfort in that even knowing it was probably Ward that did it, took away all those pieces of their life together. She wonders if he did this as well, stood in the living room and let the past wash over him. Does he hate himself like she hates him?

Does he wish things were different? For a moment she's terrified that he could be staying here, the lack of evidence supporting that theory does not make her calm. Ward always was a neat freak, he'd complain of her socks on the floor or finding her clothes in various places around the house. She'd yell back that it was his fault mostly because he had a habit of ripping off her shirt or pants and blindly throwing them. Not caring where they landed, she was right.

There's this cold feeling sweeping through her legs as she nears the back door. Freezes in her step, hands touching the glass. Is this really such a good idea after all? Skye doesn't know. She just knows that right now in this second she'd rather die than leave this place, does not want to reflect on why that is. Maybe it's because this place is filled with mostly happy memories and she misses that.

Even if it is all tainted now here in this house was once filled with so much love. She'd do anything to get that feeling back, but knows deep in her bones she never will.