Someone Will Love You, But Someone Isn't Me

The bullet was laced with posion. Skye hears the words clearly as they come out of the doctor's mouth, she also hears Kebo curse and kick something nearby. A chair maybe, or the crappy TV stand in the middle of the living room. She can still feel the weight of Ward against her like she had so many times before, see his face when he leaned back after taking the bullet for her. His eyes were impassive, didn't even flinch.

Which she supposes getting shot probably doesn't faze him anymore. Grant could be dead right now, that's the only thought that keeps pushing and crashing inside her brain over and over again. A few months ago she would have said she wanted that, but now she realizes that's just the anger talking. After everything he's done Skye can't honestly say she wants him dead. Should he pay for his crimes? Yes.

But should he die for them? No. If Kebo's safe house was farther away and the doctor couldn't get here when he did, Ward would most definitely be gone. No longer breathing or smiling, his heart long cold. It puts a lump in Skye's throat that she can't shake off. Seeing him lying there in a bed that's too small, an old faded quilt covering him from the waist down. Sweat trickling down his face, his bare chest flushed.

She's never seen him like this. In the past if he came home with an injury it was always cleaned and wrapped because Simmons would patch him up. The doctor is telling Kebo he's provided an antidote and Grant should be fully recovered in a few days. Kebo pays him and then it's just the three of them. The quiet is very very loud, Skye feels like the walls are staring to close in when Kebo speaks up. ''You hungry?''

Skye shakes her head, she couldn't eat anything if she tried. Nausea is creeping into the back of her throat, her stomach is a tight bundle of nerves. ''Are you going to cry? If you do can you do it outside? Because if you start crying so will I and I have no desire to do that today''. Her legs won't obey they won't move. They won't carry her to the kitchen where Kebo is, instead they are rooted to the spot a few feet away from Ward's bedside.

''You're right you shouldn't trust me. But Skye I swear I'm going to get you out of here alive, if you don't believe me that's fine. I'm not going to let anything happen to you''.

His words seem heavy now. They sink into her chest, she remembers the honest look in his eyes. God where was that attitude when Shield fell? Not for the first time Skye wonders why he didn't pick her in the end, it's still unsettling. ''It's okay to be afraid Skye. I'm not Phil Coulson or Melinda May, I'm not going to punish you for not wanting Ward to die''. Kebo says softly, she glances over to find him pouring tequila in a shot glass.

Seems like that unspoken rule of never talking about Grant is gone now. Skye licks her lips, crosses her arms and tries to move again but nothing happens. ''If you're going to ask why he took that shot for you I''- ''I wasn't going to, I know why''. Because he loves her. She's always believed that, that his love wasn't a lie even if so many other things were. Maybe because he failed to protect her when Shield fell he thought he could start now.

''Damn fool''. Kebo mutter after taking the shot, shakes his head in Ward's direction. ''What I want to know is how a team of hackers got their security detail bullets like that. It's odd''. It's then Skye remembers she's a Shield agent and searches frantically for her phone but it's nowwhere to be found. She might have dropped it helping Kebo drag Ward to the car earlier. ''Let me see your phone''.

Kebo tosses it to her and Skye quickly dials Coulson's number but there's no answer. She tries May next and the other woman's calm cool tone has Skye relaxing just a tad. ''Skye where are you? Are you alright?'' ''Yeah I'm fine, ran into a little problem but I'm handling it''. ''Did you get the drive?'' ''Yes''. ''Good, get back here when you can''. ''Roger that''. May hangs up and Skye gives the phone back to Kebo who is raising an eyebrow.

''Are you just going to ignore the fact that your beloved Director of Shield didn't send an extraction team for you?'' There's a moan from Ward that has them snapping to attention, the other man shifts on his back and then is still again. Skye waits a few seconds, questioning again why she's still here, and then turns to Kebo. ''I would have been just fine without an extraction team, Coulson knows that''.

''Skye honey I love you but no you would not have been fine. You'd either of been shot and killed if Ward wasn't there or captured. Those hackers are not too fond of Shield agents. Look I get that you're on the way to becoming the next Melinda May or whatever but those bullets are no joke''. He gestures to Grant who's eyes flutter but stay closed. Skye finds herself moving closer, an old habit of worry to see if he needs anything.

She's aware of Kebo's phone ringing but doesn't pay attention to the conversation. Just watches Grant's chest rise and fall, still can't give a reason why she's here. Skye has no reason to linger she shouldn't care if Ward lives or dies. She should actually call May back and tell her Ward is weak, if they want to arrest him they need to do it now. But she doesn't move. Just stands there fighting the hands that long to hold his.

Grant's hair is a little longer in the front, his dark stubble more prominent. She's standing there transfixed by his arms that held her so many times, he's bigger than she's used to. Skye didn't think that was possible, he's always been in excellent shape but in their time apart he's grown even more muscular. His arms and shoulders are bulkier those abs- Kebo throwing the phone onto the counter has Skye coming back to reality.

Kebo pours two more shots before looking up at her. ''Something wrong?'' Just by the look on his face Skye knows that it had to of been John Garrett on the phone. Wondering where his Golden Boy went no doubt. ''You know Skye that's one of the reasons I like you so much, you wear your emotions all over that pretty face. Yeah that was the devil himself calling for Ward, we've been gone too long''.

''What did you tell him?'' There's a bitterness in the back of her throat, Garrett is always going to be a touchy subject. ''The truth, just omitted the part about you''. Skye glances over to Ward who turns over onto his shoulder, winces and the rests on his back again. ''How long is he going to be out?'' ''Doc said a few hours at most. If you're thinking true love's kiss is going to wake him up by all means try it out''.

Skye takes the nearest object which happens to be a large pillow and chunks it at Kebo. Who dodges it easily and laughs. ''I was joking''. ''No you weren't''. ''Alright I cave, no I wasn't. You know he's still in love with you''. ''Can you not''- ''And you love him. It's a tragedy really''. Skye takes a deep breath, having no desire to cry with Kebo and a bottle of alcohol in her hand again. ''I will never forgive him Kebo''.

''And you have every right. But there's a difference, you don't know why he is the way that he is. You don't know what Garrett has done to him''. ''Kebo''- ''You know I wanted to punch Ward in the teeth when he went back to John, left you. But the poor fool doesn't know any better, John brain washed him''. This is new information, surprise is all over Skye's cheeks, ''what?'' She's heard of Hydra brain washing people, is that what happened to her husband?

''Wow okay shit not the in way that you're thinking. Take a seat I'm going to tell you a story''. So she does, isn't expecting everything Kebo tells her. She knew that Ward was sent to a Juvenile Detention center when he was teen for setting his family's home on fire, she never really blamed him for that one, they were monsters after all. What she didn't know is that John Garrett broke him out.

Abandoned him all alone in the woods, left him there for five years with only a dog as company. (Whom he tried to make Grant shoot later on but he couldn't and John pulled the trigger for him.) She didn't know Garrett was using Ward as a spy all these long years to save his life, trained him into being the perfect solider. There's something special about Grant, how he can mold himself into someone else entirely in less than a second. And John saw that.

Apparently the only reason Garrett and Ward were in Hydra was because John was dying, which she already knew. She just didn't know Hydra was a last effort for Garrett, and it makes sense that Ward would only follow. After an hour she realizes Kebo was right, Garrett did brainwash Ward, gaslighted him. Maybe she was wrong maybe Shield is too, maybe not everything Ward did was hia fault.

''Garrett hits him''. The floor falls out from under Skye, ''what?'' ''There are several ways to punish Ward and Garrett uses them all, but yeah if Ward fails which is rare, Garrett doesn't like it. Or if a cover calls for it and Ward has to be injured, John takes pleasure in that, punching him''. Kebo shudders and so does Skye, tastes bile in the back of her throat. Kebo is many things but a liar is not one. He's telling the truth about all of this.

''Don't tell him I told you any of this. He'll kill me''. Kebo nods over to Ward who's still out. Her eyes are heavy she can hardly see, it takes a second for Skye to realize she's crying. Hands are shaking, it's too it's too much all of this everything. Yesterday she still saw Ward as a monster, a sad excuse for a man. But now? It's confusing. ''Did Garrett hurt him after''- ''He found out about you? Do you really want to know?''

Kebo looks distraught, he keeps flinching each time he pins his gaze on Ward. ''Look I should have told you all this sooner, actually Grant should have. But he doesn't understand, he thinks John's behavior is normal that he deserves it. He thinks everything he's done is by his own free will but that's not the case''. If May were here Skye knows what her SO would say, what Coulson would as well.

That Garrett isn't the one who pulled the trigger, that Ward always had a choice. But did he? Did he really? Maybe he was too afriad of Garrett, too loyal to do anything other than what John told him. Maybe he thinks Garrett is some sort of savior, that he owes him. For the first time in months Skye finds herself not agreeing with May or Phil on the subject of Ward. There's doubt now in the corners of her mind.

''I hoped that when it came down to it Grant would finally see John for what he is, but sadly that didn't happen''. Kebo pours her a shot and she downs it quickly. ''Now I can only wait for him to finally die. But a part of me doesn't want that to happen because I know Ward isn't going to take it well. He doesn't know who he is without John, he can't function without orders. It's all he knows. And I'll always hate Garrett for what he's done to that man''.

Skye buries her face in her hands and Kebo puts a hand on her back. ''You should probably go yeah? Don't want Shield to get suspicious. I'll call you when he's awake, if you want''. They both look at the man in bed, breathing evenly. He's no longer sweating, skin is clear. ''I don't know what to do. He lied to me, tried to kill my friends''. ''I'm aware. But you could give him the benefit of the doubt?''

She leaves the table to hover over Ward, he's so different yet the same person she met so many years ago. What does she feel about him now? She can't forgive him and yes she's still angry, but maybe he isn't the monster they all swear he is. She's about to turn to the front door when his eyes open. Cloudy hazel but still breath taking. ''Skye''. His voice is hoarse and cracks a little. ''You're here''.

Her fingers twitch, she wants to reassure him for some reason. She finds herself crying instead, standing in front of someone who's damaged and has no idea. ''I'm okay Skye. You're safe, now I'm okay''. He gives her watery smile and then his eyes close again. ''I'll take care of him. Go''. Kebo adjusts the pillow surrounding Grant, adds other blanket because he has started shaking. ''I'll call you if anything changes''.

Skye squeezes his arm, ''thank you''. Kebo gives her a wink and then she's gone. Later that night after a rather disappointing brief with Coulson, she lost the flashdrive. Which Skye has no idea how because it was secure in her back pocket, maybe it fell out somewhere between the car and Kebo's safe house. Fitz and Simmons had a movie night in the lounge which made her feel a little better but not much.

She's in her bunk laptop on, Skye's fingers hover over her keyboard. Does she really want to do this? Coulson wasn't shy about this file, in fact whoever wanted to read it was more than welcome. But Skye never has. Never had a reason to until now. Grant Ward's file stares back at her it seems like something dangerous. A secret she shouldn't be diving into. After a few minutes of hesitation she does.

Hours later she's sobbing into her sheets wishing she wouldn't have flushed her wedding rings down a toliet.