Someone Will Love You, But Someone Isn't Me

Ward opens the front door with a sigh, he's been away for what feels like a very long time. Undercover ops never used to bother him, but now that he has Skye, they weigh heavy. He loathes being away from her, of this life they've built together. It's dangerous and stupid but he can't help it, Skye loves him and he loves her. Still lying to himself that everything is going to work out in the end? Probably.

All the lights are off in his apartment except for the one above the stove there's an unwashed coffee mug in the sink. A blanket tossed carelessly onto the couch, the TV remote is lying on the recliner when it should be on the table. Ward is too tired to fix Skye's mess right now, he goes to the bedroom to find her fast asleep. Curled into his side of the bed, face pressed into his pillows.

For a moment he just stands there and watches her, this beautiful woman who loves him scars and all. Knows that he does not deserve her yet she sticks around anyway. He had a plan you see, take her out to a nice dinner somewhere in Italy maybe. But the ring in his pocket feels like it weighs a ton and he just knows without any shred of doubt, he's going to ask her right now. They've been together for a few years now, she finally moved in.

As soon as he met her Ward was head over heels, loved her at first sight. She's the one. It's four in the morning and he can't think of a better time to ask her to marry him. He knows Skye wouldn't want some grand dramatic gesture at a restaurant, but they could go to Italy on their honeymoon. Right now it just feels right, besides he hasn't seen her in three months. Being away from her is unsettling, Grant doesn't feel right, like his being is off balanced.

Kebo would kill him for asking her this way, Skye does after all deserve the world he can't give her that, but he can do romance. For her he can do anything. He's dead tired every body part aches the pain medicine hasn't kicked in yet, he still quietly gathers every candle Skye has stocked inside the apartment. She doesn't even wake, not when he spreads them around the bedroom or lights them.

The room is bathed in soft light the curtains sealed, the warm orange glow across Skye's skin has Ward nearly tripping over the dresser. She's so beautiful. The smell must do her in because a few seconds later he's perched beside her, her brown eyes look into his. Skye smiles widely and sits up, cranes her head to kiss him. ''You're home, what time is it?'' She looks at the clock but doesn't even care about the hour.

Her hands are cupping his face thumbs running across the stubble he's required in his haste to get back to her. ''I missed you''. He says nervous suddenly as she notices the candles. Skye yawns and stretches loudly, she's wearing one of his dark Henley's. Ward finds it hard to concentrate suddenly and it has nothing to do with the ring in his pocket. ''What's with the candles babe? Did the power go out?''

She starts rising from the bed but he stops her, kisses her forehead. ''It's okay, I lit them''. She looks around for a second time, wonder on her face. ''Why?'' Grant takes her hands in his, rubbing circles onto her fingers a nervous habit perhaps? He doesn't have any, but he finds this gesture calms him. ''Ward what's going on?'' Ward looks up to the woman he's come to love so much more than anyone, even himself.

She believes in him trusts him with her life, given her heart to him. He doesn't deserve it but she's always telling him otherwise. He loves her so much. ''I love you Skye''. She smiles again and kisses his jaw. ''Still doesn't answer my question, are you part of some cult I don't know about?'' Ward rolls his eyes and strokes her hand again. ''I've loved you from the moment I first saw you Skye. I love everything about you, your laugh your smile.

How you see the good in everyone, you made me see that I'm much more than a Shield agent''. ''That's because you are''. She whispers, hands on his cheeks again. ''You made me realize that there's much more to life than missions, than guns. And I'm so grateful for that''. Is he crying? Damn he really didn't want to do that. But it's true, Skye has saved him in all the ways a person can be saved. Rescued him from himself.

Skye wipes away his tears, let's him continue. ''I love you Skye more than anything, will you marry me?'' He leaves the bed to get down on one knee, watches her every single move every breath each expression across her face. She gasps as he holds the ring out in front of him, it was his grandmothers she left it to him just before she died. ''Grant I''- For just a moment doubt sets in and then Skye leaps in his arms knocking them over.

He can hardly feel any of his wounds when Skye is on top of him crying too, kissing his face. ''Yes, yes of course I'll marry you, I love you Grant Ward''. He slides the ring on her finger where it will be always, and Skye looks at it then back at him, her eyes wet. ''It's beautiful''. ''You're beautiful''. Ward sits up so she's leaning against his chest, Skye turns to kiss him again. ''I love you Skye''. ''Hell yeah you do''. She gestures to the ring and he takes her left hand.

Kisses her fingers then her nose, her eyelids her lips. They stay sitting on the floor for an hour talking about their lives together how much they love each other, when Grant suddenly scoops her up lays her down on the bed. ''Someone is eager''. Skye says as he takes off his shoes and shirt. ''It has been three months''. Skye drags him by the shoulders and kisses him, breathes against his skin how much she loves him.

How she can't wait to be his wife, that they will be happy together. ''Who knew you had feelings?'' She teases him a few hours later, traces his bare shoulder. Ward looks down at her and smiles, ''you did. You always knew''. ''I love you Ward''. ''I love you too''. He's so tired but he can't stop the grin that spreads when Skye holds out her left had in front of them. ''I love it''. ''I'm glad''. She looks over at him and kisses him.

He prays to whoever might be listening that he will always feel this way, that Skye's love could be enough if it all comes crashing down around them.

Whoever was out there never gave him an answer.

*

''She's going to hate you for this''. ''Can you not?'' Ward and Kebo enter the building Skye and a few other Shield agents just entered. ''I'm just saying boss this won't end well''. ''Kebo lately things never end well''. ''Huh wonder why that is? Oh I know because you continue to follow Garrett a crazy man''. ''Not now Kebo''. Ward leans his head around when the gun fire begins, it wasn't that hard to track down Skye.

Coulson really needs to get better at protecting his mission details. Grant takes a breath when he sees Skye go out the back door, there are more agents out there did she see them? All he has to do is get the drive. Get the drive and John will be fine, he can keep trying to talk to Skye. It's all going to work out he can do this. ''She's still going to be mad at you''. ''Kebo shut the hell up, go inside and help Shield''.

Kebo gapes at him, ''I'm sorry did you just say help Shield? Are you bloody mad? I would rather eat my own foot''. ''Skye might need back up and she can't get it if all her friends are dead''. Kebo sighs dramatically, steps around him to walk inside. ''Fine but you owe me one''. Ward hears a few gun shots go off in the back and he races there, his eyes see nothing but targets, a threat and he open fires.

What he doesn't count on when the smoke clears however, is Skye. He expects her to be scowling at him saying she didn't need him to save the day. He'd make a sarcastic remark back ask if she's alright, and maybe just maybe there would be a moment. Where maybe she didn't regret the night before at all. But that's not at all what happens. When the bodies hit the concrete he doesn't see Skye anywhere.

At first he's confused but then it turns to blood freezing panic. He hears a wet choking sound, a small tiny cry for help and he just knows deep in his gut that it's Skye. She's hurt. He runs farther into the alley and nearly loses it. Skye is lying on the ground one hand pressed over her stomach she's covered in blood, there's no much blood everywhere it's all he can see just the red haze, everything is bright crimson. No no no no no no no this isn't happening it can't.

He runs over to her pale form, assesses the wound. Two shots clean, if she doesn't get medical attention soon she will die. The thought nearly makes him vomit. ''Skye? Skye hey look at me you're going to fine, you're going to be okay. Just hang on''. His free hand cups the back of her neck and Skye opens her eyes, they are glassy, filled with tears. ''Ward''. Her voice is so quiet it's all quiet like she took all the noise out of the air.

Grant starts yelling for help, for Simmons for anyone. ''Ward''. More blood seeps out of the wound covering his hand he can't breathe or think she has to be okay she can't, she has to be alright there is no other option. He can't feel the tears pouring down his face, feel his own breath as he begins to hyperventilate from the panic. ''Grant, Grant''. He looks at her, the blood in her mouth in her teeth, her face the palest he's ever seen.

''Grant I'm dying''. Those words only existed in his nightmares they aren't real here they can't be, he won't allow it. If anyone in this place deserves to die it's him not her. ''What? No you're not, you're going to be fine I promise''. He hears people behind him but doesn't pay them any mind. His fingers drift along her neck, her pulse is there but very very weak. ''Don't talk like that Skye, it's going to be okay you're going to be okay''.

She smiles and starts to cough, he's cleared her air ways but the blood just keeps coming. His wife looks at him and he just knows, knows what she's going to say. Her small hand comes to cover his on her stomach. ''Skye''- ''I wish I, I wish I could understand''. And then her eyes close, her head rolls to the side. ''No no no Skye look at me''. His hand holds her face, ''look at me baby look at me. You are not dying today''.

Kebo rounds the corner the Shield agents in front of him, and he hears something he's never heard before. It takes him by surprise. At first he thinks it's some kind of dying animal that was caught in the cross fire, but when he gets closer he can see Ward's leather jacket form hunched over a body. And everything inside Kebo fills with sorrow. There's only one person Ward would be sobbing over, he's crying over the body of the person he loves most.

He knows exactly how that feels.

Is Skye dead? His own eyes fill with tears because the sound of Ward crying has to be the saddest thing in the world. Kebo ingores the Shield agents and walks up to his friend, who has now lifted Skye into his arms. She looks so pale, he can tell she's been shot. ''Grant, Grant is she''- Ward ignores Kebo and asks the Shield agents who are criyng as well, if there's a medic nearby. It's Mack who answers, says they can stabilize her in the quin jet.

The Playground isn't very far away, if they can get her to Simmons and to the medical team she should be alright. It doesn't escape Kebo's notice how no one even seems to remember that Ward is a traitor, that they should be arresting him. Not letting him run to the jet with Skye in his arms, Kebo follows and no one asks him any questions. Ward is a mess when they lay Skye onto a steel table and Bobbi tries to get the bleeding to stop.

It's all snappy comments and panic, shaking hands and trying not to cry. ''Her pulse is faint but it's there''. Kebo looks at the blonde agent, her name finally comes to him, Agent Morse. Her ex-husband Lance Hunter, and Mack all stand around Skye's bleeding body. Ward is stone by her head, one hand still holding her's. He's no longer crying and Kebo knows that is a very bad sign.

Kebo can't help but wonder if this was an accident or if her being shot was on purpose. If someone had orders to take her out, he wouldn't put it past Garrett. John has been dying to get rid of Skye since he first found out about her. What did he say to Grant just before they left? To eliminate the weakness, Kebo is curious if that was some kind of warning. ''She's going to be okay, she's going to be fine''. Ward says, taking her hand and kissing her fingers.

''You did this, didn't you?'' Hunter asks and Kebo can see the warning signs long before any of the Shield agents can. Ward snaps, just for a moment. In one careful controlled movement he grabs a hold of Hunter's throat and slams him into the nearest wall, fingers applying pressure, his other hand raising his gun at Bobbi and Mack who also have their weapons pointed. Hell Ward is going to get them both killed, Kebo points his weapon at Bobbi.

''I had nothing to do with this''. Ward says through clenched teeth. ''Why should we believe a word you say?'' ''Because he loves her''. Kebo answers as they all five look at the woman on the table below them. Mack he notices never took his hand off the wound on Skye's stomach, still applying pressure. ''If you've never believed anything he's said that's fine, but believe this, he would never hurt Skye''.

Kebo's words to the trick as guns are lowered, after a beat Ward let's Hunter go who sinks to the floor and tries to catch his breath. The ride to the Playground only takes an hour and the entire time no one says a thing. Ward just stands next to Skye her cold hand in his. Kebo is off to the side gun out just in case, Ward isn't thinking clearly. Under normal circumstances Grant would never think to step foot inside the Playground.

Once Skye is alright they will either arrest him or kill him or both. Neither of those options really work for Kebo. Again, Grant is probably going to get them killed.

The second they land Ward is out of the jet with Skye in his arms screaming for Simmons at the top of his lungs, who comes running out. Kebo recognizes the look on her face and it's not just shocked from seeing Ward. ''She's been shot you have to help her''. Simmons doesn't even move as Ward walks up to her, ''Simmons she's dying Skye is hurt. Jemma, please''. The woman seems to melt, kick back into action.

Kebo also notices several agents following them into the medical wing of the Playground, Ward is still a frantic mess even as Simmons demands he set Skye down on the operating table. ''In order for us to work you have to leave''. A doctor tells Ward who doesn't move from Skye's side, he seems oblivious to the activity going on around him. Doesn't care about any of it all he sees is Skye bleeding below him.

''Sir you need to leave this room immediately''. A hand on his shoulder but he can't bear to leave her. He looks at his wife she could almost pass for sleeping if it weren't for all the blood. Grant doesn't care about the threat he's in, all the danger he caused to himself by even coming to Shield's Head Quarters. They have to save her she can't die, a world without her in it is no world at all.

Quickly he kisses her forehead, ''I love you''. And then Kebo is shoving him out the door.

Three hours later after many heated yelling matches with Coulson, with May, Ward find himself with a heaviness in his bones no amount of time can heal. He's decided to let Shield do whatever they want to him because the doctors have just come and told them there's nothing they can do. That he has to make a choice because he and Skye never divorced and legally it's up to him if he would like to keep her on life support.

Which Coulson doesn't care about he demands they keep Skye alive, not that Ward disagrees. Or maybe he does, if she's suffering of course he doesn't want that. Which is how he finds himself at her bed side again, Skye hooked up to machines and tubes. How the hell did they get here? Hours ago she was in his arms and now she's dying. At that thought Ward can't keep it together, the love of his life is slipping away each minute.

''I love you I love you I love you, I'm sorry I'm so sorry Skye''. He's sobbing into her shoulder feeling everything and nothing at all.