You Know the Good Die Young But So Did This
''You son of bitch''. Kebo walks out of the bathroom to find Ward sitting on the couch with a small silver device in his hands. Grant doesn't look sheepish at being caught, in fact he's wearing his Specialist mask, void of emotion. ''Don't start Kebo I really don't want to hear it''. Grant is pale and still shaking but he seems otherwise fine, not at all like he was posioned a few hours ago. It takes a second for Kebo to move closer and see the flash drive in Ward's hands.
The one that was in Skye's back pocket, the one both Coulson and Garrett want. ''How in the hell did you get that?'' Kebo really shouldn't be surprised but he is. Ward just smirks at him then winces at the movement. ''Boss how did you get that from her? When? I thought you were dead half the time after you were shot''. ''Kebo you're always doubting my skills''. ''It's not funny Grant''.
Ward glances around the house for Skye once more like she's going to appear out of thin air. He's been awake for a few minutes but she's gone. Of course she is. Why did he expect her to stay? Because of the fear he saw in her eyes after he was shot? The rest is hazy but he recalls her hands smooth on his face, can remember bits and pieces of her and Kebo's conversation in this room when they thought he was still passed out.
''Oh my god please tell me you did not get shot on purpose just to get that drive? Tell me you didn't nearly die for John again? He's not worth it''. ''Kebo shut up''. Ward pinches the bridge of his nose, a headache starting to form. ''You did, didn't you? Bloody moron''. Grant watches his friend pace the room hands on his hips, glaring at him. ''I did not get shot on purpose. That guard was going to kill Skye I did what I had to''.
''So getting the drive was just a bonus''. Grant looks at the flash drive in his hands, ''yeah''. ''Idiot''. ''John sent me to get this, I can't let him down again''. The thought of disappointing his mentor again makes Grant sick to his stomach. Kebo doesn't respond just pulls out his phone. ''Did John call?'' ''Yeah''. ''What did you tell him?'' ''That you were shot and we're laying low for a while''.
Grant knows better than to assume John was worried about him, not that he has to be. Ward has survived worse. ''Those men in the''- ''Have already been taken care of''. Kebo mutters not looking away from the screen. ''I sent in a team after the doctor said you'd be fine. It's all worked out, all you have to do is keep your ass on that couch for the next ten hours''. That's not going to happen and they both know it.
''She's going to be pissed at you''. Ward puts the drive in the pocket of his leather jacket. ''Lately Skye is always mad at me''. ''Becauase you're an idiot who makes the wrong choices''. Kebo pulls up a chair on the opposite side of Ward, switches on the TV. ''How are you feeling boss?'' Ward flexes his shoulders, ''like I got shot''. Kebo rolls his eyes, ''I'm so happy you pursued a career in the spy business and not comedy''.
Ward smiles and sits farther up the couch he's sore but it's not terrible. There's a bottle of pain pills on the night stand and he downs a few. They are quiet for a moment until Kebo grabs a bottle of scotch and rests it by Ward's foot. ''You had no right to tell Skye any of those things''. ''Ah, there it is''. Kebo mutters while taking a large sip from the bottle. ''I thought you were over here dying, my bad''.
John didn't brain wash him, he saved him. Everything he's done for these long years is help the man who saved him from a hell. If it weren't for John Ward would be locked up still or dead. Like he told Raina, he owes John everything. Kebo told Skye his version of the story, not what really happened. Grant is fully aware how his friend views his only father figure, but he just doesn't understand no one does.
''Boss you can sit there and be mad at me all you want but Skye for once actually listened when it came to you this time. With this new information who knows she might come around sooner than you think. Feel free to say you're welcome at any time''. Quicker than he should be able to, Ward shoves Kebo's shoulder who falls out of the chair but does manage to keep a steady hold on the scotch.
''I'm going to let that pass because you're hurt. God you're such an ass sometimes''. Kebo straightens his shirt, huffs and looks at Grant who's frowning. ''Skye doesn't care about anything Kebo, I'm not going to beg for her forgiveness, I don't want it. She hates me''. But Kebo is shaking his head again and Ward wants to hit him all over again. ''You don't see what I do boss. Skye doesn't hate you, she's still in love with you''.
''No she's not''. ''You didn't see how terrified the poor lamb was when you were shot. She thought you were going to die, you didn't see how she looked at you. I told her about your twisted past with Garrett because she deserved to know that not everything you've done was your fault. That John is a monster but you aren't''. 'You don't know what you're talking about''. ''You should of told her Grant, a long time ago''.
Kebo knows that he and Ward share a difference of opinion when it comes to Johh, Grant doesn't believe he was brain washed. Like he told Skye, Ward thinks his relationship with the older man is normal. That it's not twisted or toxic, but it is it so is. Kebo has been slowly trying to make Ward see that but he can't. Maybe now that Skye knows she can convince him otherwise. John isn't a good man, that he's bad news and doesn't deserve Ward.
That he took an abused vulnerable boy and made him into a weapon. A kid who didn't know any better and left him out in the woods, no normal good person does that. ''God Kebo for once can you stay out of it?'' Ward runs a hand down his face the headache starting to throb. ''I'm just trying to help''. ''Don't need it''. ''Yes you do. You'd die without me boss''. Ward throws his head back against the pillows and tunes him out, the TV as well.
He's nearly asleep again when Kebo's phone rings. Ward opens his eyes his spine tingling with nerves as Kebo answers. The conversation lasts thirty seconds but he knows without a doubt it's John. Without a word as soon as Kebo hangs up Ward throws the flash drive at him, it'll be faster if Kebo delivers it. Grant still isn't a one hundred percent and John has been waiting long enough.
''If you think I'm going to leave you unprotected and take this to Garrett, those pills were stronger than I thought''. Ward rolls his eyes. ''Can you just do it? I can take care of myself''. For a moment Kebo honestly thinks of just throwing the drive in the lake on his way out. But that would mean he'd have to run away from John and his Hydra forces, plus Ward would most definitely suffer if he did that.
''Dear god I hate you so much sometimes boss''. ''Feeling is mutual''. Kebo flicks him off, puts on a jacket and slips the drive in his pocket. ''I'll be back by tomorrow morning, you need anything while I'm out?'' ''Nope''. Kebo takes a gun and puts it on the night stand, heads to the door. ''Try not to get arrested or anything while I'm gone''. ''No promises''. ''Keep it up with jokes mate, really they're killer''.
Ward is still laughing by the time Kebo shuts the door and is on the way to his car.
Sleep takes it's hold once more by the time Ward wakes it's dark out. With a large amount of effort he manages to take a shower, clean the wound in his shoulder and dress it with fresh gauze. He's nearly sweating by the time he makes it back to bed, his body sore and aching. He's been posioned before and it's never a fun time. Kebo's pantry is stocked full and Ward makes soup and slips bread into the toaster oven.
He's watching an old silent film eating, when a soft knock at the door sounds. Grant takes the gun in one hand just in case, crosses the room and peeks through the curtains. Skye is standing there on the porch in one of his old Shield Academy sweatshirts, he can tell by the hole in the sleeve, her eyes are red like she's been crying. Of course he opens the door. Of course he asks if she's alright and would she like to come in.
''Are you okay?'' Her voice is hoarse and she clears it quickly. The question takes him by surprise since when does she care if he's okay? What is she doing here? He doesn't put down the gun. Skye has her hands in the back pockets of her jeans, closes the front door and looks around the living room. ''Did you need something?'' His wife turns to look at him with sadness so heavy in her eyes it puts a lump in his own throat.
He doesn't need her pity though, and if that's why she's here she can go ahead and walk right back out. They stare at each other for a long moment until Skye walks over to the bottle of scotch Kebo left behind, takes a huge gulp. ''I don't know what I'm doing here. I just, I think I just wanted to be sure you were okay''. She's going to blame it on an old habit, worrying about him. Ward is going to blame it on the fact Kebo told her about his history with Garrett.
That she for some reason feels sorry for him even though she shouldn't. John saved him, made him who he is today. ''So are you okay?'' He can read her well, she's nervous, uncomfortable. Like she isn't sure how to be civil with him, isn't sure what to say if it's not insults or hate coming out of her mouth. ''Yeah''. He isn't entirely sure how to act around her either. ''Okay. Good that's good''.
Skye tucks a piece of hair behind her hair and rocks on her feet. ''Kebo was supposed to call me when you woke up but he didn't. I thought something happened''. Oh. She came all this way because she was worried. Ward is surprised again, it has to be because she thinks he's some kind of victim, that he isn't in control of his own choices. Like he's some sad brain washed sap who can't make decisions for himself.
Ward goes with the ripping off the band-aid technique, ''look what Kebo told you wasn't entirely true''. ''I don't care''. Ward has no time to react to anything because Skye is suddenly standing in front of him. She smells the same as she always has, vanilla warm and soft. Her small hands rest on his arms it's like she's robbed him of speech of any movements. What is she playing at? What's happening?
He doesn't dare tell her to get away, to take her hands off him. He's starved for her touch. ''This doesn't change anything Ward''. Then she's kissing him and every thought every feeling flies out of his brain. Nothing matters but her lips demanding rough against his own, her hands curled into fists against the skin of his biceps. He forgets how to breathe. Skye becomes the center point of everything, his life she's before everything.
Let's be honest, she never really left that position anyway.