Someone Will Love You, But Someone Isn't Me

Ward walks into Garrett's base already irritated with how this day has gone. He hasn't slept in forty nine hours he was shot again in the shoulder three days ago and it still hurts something awful. He hasn't been able to get in touch with Skye at all these past couple weeks and that is what he's really stressing over, why he's on edge. Kebo can't either which is odd, Skye always wants to talk to him.

Upon further investigation Shield is not in any danger, Hydra hasn't attacked the Playground yet like John was planning. That's another thing Ward can't figure out, what does Garrett want with Shield? They found the cure he's no longer dying, Shield has served it's purpose. Unless it's about Skye but what would John want with her? Kebo is waiting for him beside the weapons room looking grim, he's playing with his fingers a sure sign he's worried.

''What's wrong with you?''

Kebo shrugs and follows him into the room, remains silent as Ward takes out every weapon in his jacket, jeans, and begins to take them apart and clean them. This relaxes him, keeps his mind steady and focused. He's always felt better with a gun in his hands. However he can feel the anxiety Kebo is currently drenched in and Ward can't stand it, looks up from the rifle in his fingers and scowls.

''What the hell is wrong with you? Just spit it out already. Is Skye alright?''

Kebo wrings his hands together and chuckles, it's more nervous than it is amusing.

''Define alright''. At this Ward puts the gun on the table and straightens, worry clouding him.

''Wait wait before you do anything crazy, just calm down. When I tell you this, don't freak out''.

Ward grits his teeth, ''I won't''.

''See I don't believe you''.

''Kebo for the love of god''-

''She's here''.

This makes Ward's blood turn cold. ''What?''

Kebo races after him as Ward leaves the room and heads straight for the command center, where he knows John is at.

''Boss don't freak out''.

''What the hell is she doing here?''

''Yeah I don't really know. Just that I walked in and those morons were talking about it. I think Garrett gave someone an order to take her last night''.

Ward sees red. That's it just all this rage and hate as he enters the command center swinging the door open so hard it crashes against the wall. He doesn't hear the loud bang it makes, doesn't care. Just focuses on John who gives him a knowing smile. ''There he is! How was your mission son?''

''Where is she John?'' Ward puts his hands on his hips and attempts to calm himself, can't have Garrett seeing how unraveled he is.

''Who?'' Ward wants to spit.

''Don't. You know who I'm talking about. Skye, where is she?''

Garrett claps his hands together almost as if he forgot, and gestures over to a cluster of agents a few feet away, staring at them. ''Right. Agent Phillips brought her in last night''.

Ward looks over to the agent in question who sends him a cocky smirk. ''It wasn't that hard really, she was easy. Hell she was pretty drunk though''.

In the back of his mind Ward registers Kebo's hand on his shoulder, how he says his name as a warning. But that red haze decends on him once again and he just reacts. Shuts it all down on the outside he looks so calm as he walks over to Agent Phillips.

''She was drunk?''

''Hell yeah''. The other man answers, a bright smile on his face.

''Picked her up at this club late last night, I think she thought I was you a few times.

Anyway she was wasted out of her mind, all I had to do was get her alone and the rest was easy''.

Grant takes a step closer to the other man who it seems all of a sudden remembers exactly who he's talking to. ''You took advantage of my wife while she was drunk''.

There's this edge this dark bit to Ward's tone that has every agent in the room taking a step back. Phillip tries to laugh it off but Ward presses closer.

''Look Ward if anything she took advantage of me man. Your wife is pretty hot, you know she does this thing with her mouth''- Grant doesn't even feel bad for breaking the other man's jaw half a second later. Doesn't care about the stinging in his knuckles, takes Phillip's now bleeding face and slams it onto the table across from them. He's out cold on the floor, Ward feels nothing as he turns back to other men in the room.

''Anyone else want to talk about Ward's wife?'' Kebo asks, the room is thick with silence until John starts laughing. ''Relax kid I brought her here for you. She's in the holding room across from your bedroom''. John is lying, Ward can easily tell. There's another reason entirely why Skye is here and it makes his stomach turn. Kebo exchanges an uneasy glance with Ward as he leaves the room, John is planning something. He just doesn't know what.

Grant's hands are shaking as he reaches the room, opens the door. The last time he saw Skye she nearly died, is she alright now? Will she think he had something to do with this? He walks in to find his wife leaning against the far wall, arms crossed feet apart. Ready for anything, May taught her well. He can tell she was probably expecting Garrett, she wasn't prepared to see Ward. Her eyes go wide for a moment, then her fists clench.

''Are you alright? Are you hurt?''

There's a smidge of dried blood underneath her nose, like she quickly scraped it away but missed a bit. She looks like she had too much to drink the night before, bags heavy under her brown eyes. If he didn't know her so well he'd have no idea she was afraid right now, but he does, and she is. When was the last time he saw her frightened of anything? When he took a bullet for her? When she came to that safe house thinking he was dead?

That warmth in her voice when he woke up to find her softly sleeping next to him, the adoration the love in her eyes after they slept together, is gone now. That hateful expression is back and it floors him, what is he supposed to do? Is she angry with him because she's here? Skye continues to glare at him as he closes the door, notes the camera in the corner of the wall. Garrett and his men are watching this right now, laughing more than likely.

Grant steps closer to her, hesitant, and she recoils like a snake about to strike. He places his hands out in front of him, showing he means no harm. He would never hurt her, doesn't she know that by now? Not intentionally, not physically. ''Skye, are you hurt?''

She scoffs, relaxes just a bit her muscles shift. ''Am I alright? Are you serious? What you kidnapped me again? When are you going to learn that never works for you?''

''Skye I had nothing to do with this''.

He wants to ask where Shield was when she was taken, they're supposed to protect her because he's not in the picture to do so anymore. She doesn't believe him, takes a deep breath and puts a hand on her stomach.

''Skye I swear to you I didn't even know you were here. I just got back from a mission''.

''You swearing things to me, doesn't mean a damn thing anymore. How can I trust you after what you did?''

There's fresh new anger in her eyes, the damaging kind that wasn't there before. Ward understands she will always hate him for what happened with Shield, which is why he sighs and looks up to the ceiling for a moment, so she can't see the guilt in his eyes.

''Skye when Shield fell I''-

''That's not what I'm talking about''. Skye looks down to her stomach and for a moment he's reminded of hospital visits and the children they will never have.

''What''-

''How could you leave me there Grant? I was dying, I needed you and you just left me in that alley''.

He can't actually believe what he's hearing, it makes him angry for a second, and then sad. So sad in fact that he has the sudden urge to weep, does she honestly think he would do that? She doesn't remember talking to him, covering her bloody fingers over his and telling him she wished she could understand him?

Those words her face, that day, will haunt him forever.

''Grant I'm dying''.

It takes him a moment to recover, she's here next to him, she's not dead. Even if she spends the rest of their lives hating him at least she'll be breathing.

''You love me, yet you left me in that alley to die. I don't trust you I don't need you. Get the hell out''.

Ward can't help it he really can't, he walks over to her, wonders just for a moment what his face looks like because the fire in her eyes dulls for a second. ''You think I had a part in that? That I would let that happen to you?''

Ward isn't even aware of the movement of his hand until he feels her knuckles under his palm, his hand is resting over her's, on her stomach like he had so many times before.

''The man that shot you is dead. I killed him myself, I didn't leave you, did Coulson tell you that? He lied. I brought you back to the Playground I was there when the doctors said there was nothing more they could do for you, that we should just say our goodbyes. I couldn't, Skye I couldn't let you go''.

His free hand cups her face she doesn't push him away. He's nearly in tears he shouldn't let Garrett see him this way but Skye has to know that he would rather be shot a thousand times than haver her think he abandoned her. That if given the chance he would have taken her place.

''We found the serum used to bring Coulson back to life, I went on the mission to go get it. You're alive because I helped Coulson save you. I love you, Skye I would never ever let something like that happen to you''.

''I''-

''It's true. And so will be every word I say to you for the rest of my life''.

Skye's face falls and her hand comes to rest on his hip, he probably stops breathing. ''You don't know, do you?''

Skye looks sad, he doesn't understand why. ''Know what?''

Her fingers twitch against his shirt, does she believe him? If she never gave a crap about anything he ever said that's fine, but this, dear god he wants her to know he had nothing to do with her being shot. That he would have gone to hell and back just to save her, she has to know that.

''Kebo was right''. She mutters mostly to herself.

Right about what? Him? John? Who?

The door opens then and Ward takes a step back, knowing it's Garrett, knowing he has to slip back into the role of perfect solider instead of worried husband. He does however stick as close to Skye as he can, he trusts John with his life, but not with her's. ''See you two had a chance to catch up. That's good, now the real work can begin''. Raina steps out from behind John, they both look excited about something and that puts Ward on edge.

He knows exactly what kind of work Raina does, he also knows Skye in an 0-8-4 is that why she's here? Does Garrett want her? The GH-325 serum also runs in her veins, does he want that too? Is he going to have Raina pick her apart until there's nothing left? Over Ward's dead body. He doesn't even recognize his own voice when it fills the room, it's calm but there's a threat there. He will kill Raina if she even thinks about touching Skye.

''If you think I'm going to let you experiment on my wife John''-

''Calm down son that's not why she's here''.

Ward doesn't even bother to catch himself when he takes a protective stance in front of Skye, it's instinct it's what he promised he always would do. He didn't do it when it counted, when Shield fell, but he can do it now. He just can't disobey Garrett. That's against everything he knows, but how is he going to get Skye out unscathed? God where is Kebo when he needs him?

Garrett smiles the kind that always makes Ward weary. ''I took your wife here because she's going to help me with something''.

''If you think I'm going to help you with anything after what you did to me''. Skye spits back.

Grant has known John for nearly twenty years, so he can see when he becomes nervous for a moment, flicking his gaze over to Ward.

There's a whisper that sounds a lot like Kebo in his ear, all these weeks of suspicion clawing back to Ward's brain.

''You didn't tell your Golden Boy did you? About what you did. I guess it makes sense, you didn't want him turning on you''.

Ward feels like he's in the room with Skye and John but also not. Like he's watching this conversation unfold from afar and he's powerless to stop it, just stands there frozen waiting for all this to implode in front of his face.

''Sweetheart I have no idea what you're talking about''. Garrett says, he's lying.

Skye feels light headed and sick, her stomach is aching her head hurts. She's thrown off as she always is with Ward around, but after seeing the fear the desperation in his eyes, she believes him. About not leaving her to die, but why did Coulson lie about it? It's obvious she supposes, wanted her to hate Grant, to keep seeing the darkness inside him like the rest of them do. But standing here now, Skye can't see it.

She just sees Ward looking like a confused lost puppy, eyes jumping back and forth between her and Garrett. Does he really not know John was the one who had her shot? Doesn't look like, and then Skye wonders when she started trusting Grant again, at least where her safety and well being is concerned. She has enough faith in him to see that he wouldn't stand by and let her be hurt, nearly killed.

She doesn't have time to dwell or cry over the fact that he's part of the reason why she's standing here, her heart is beating. He really found the serum that saved her life, he carried her to the Playground, endangering his own life to save her's? Why is she surprised? It sounds like something he would do.

She moves to stand beside Ward, hoping to unfreeze the apparent block of ice he's become, brushes her fingers against his own. If she wants to get out of here in one piece she's going to need his help.

''Just admit it John, tell Grant what you did''.

''I''-

''Tell him that you were the one who gave the order to shoot me''.

The silence is so heavy in the room so loud it's the only thing she can hear. Grant takes in a sharp breath, Skye glances up to him and wants to cry. He looks so vulnerable so shocked, there's no way he could fake that. He had no idea that John did this.

''Now Skye''-

''Did you do it?'' There's a razor sharp edge to Ward's voice that even has her afraid.

''Son''-

''Did you give the order to have her killed?'' Ward's jaw in clenched, his hands are shaking.

''Of course I didn't. The bitch is crazy''.

Skye places her hand on Ward's back and says, ''he told me himself, before you came in. Just stood there and bragged about it''.

Skye isn't entirely sure what she's attempting to do here, make her husband finally see the monster that is John Garrett? Manipulate him with her words so he can get her out of here? Also why did John even tell her that? He had to of known she would tell Ward, or did he have so much faith in his boy that he didn't think it mattered? Or maybe he was going to kill her anyway and didn't think about it.

''Can I talk to you, outside sir?'' Ward asks, not looking at her.

''Sure son''.

They head to the door and Raina looks as if she's going to stay, until Ward stops in front of her and must give her a look because she's following the two men out the door. It shuts and Skye can't really make out much, but there's yelling. From John she thinks, Ward's tone is low and chilling, that she can recognize.

''Shooting Skye wasn't part of the plan''.

Then there's nothing at all, more than likely they walked out of ear shot.

How is she going to get out of here? Will Ward help her? The better question is, where is Kebo?

Everything about Ward right here and now is being held together by a tight string. It feels as though he's just waiting for someone to come with a giant pair of scissors and cut it all to pieces. He's filled with so many emotions he can't name them all, betrayal, hurt, angry, scared for his wife, angry that John was the reason she almost died in his arms. Kebo was right. Grant can't understand it, John knows how much Skye means to Ward.

His mentor tried to take her from him to save himself, that he gets. But this is Ward's wife this is Skye, the only woman he will ever love. And a man he trusts a man he would die for, this man who saved Ward from a hell gave him a purpose, tried to kill his wife. What is Grant supposed to do with that? For the first time in a long time, probably when he was a teenager and John left him in the woods, Grant finds himself despising John.

At first he tries to reject this feeling because it's wrong, Garrett deserves everything Ward can give him, all the loyalty in the world. But then he sees Skye flash before his eyes, gasping for breath choking on her own blood, lying there in that dirty alley thinking she was going to die. And all Ward did the entire time was deny John had something to do with it, he even stole the same serum used to save Skye, for John. What kind of man does that?

It's there standing in the middle of the room watching while John walks away, Grant wipes the blood from his lip (Garrett didn't like him speaking out in front of Raina or Skye back there) that he realizes Kebo was right this whole time. Which Ward groans at because one, Kebo is never going to let him live this down nor shut up about it, and two, isn't Kebo usually right on most occasions? Even after fifteen plus years of friendship Ward still doesn't listen.

''The hell happened to your face? Wait, don't answer that I already know. Is Skye alright?''

Kebo asks, walking up to Ward, beer in hand, acting as if his ear wasn't pressed up to the door listening to their conversation all this time.

''Why do you look like that? Are you alright mate? Look like you've seen a ghost''.

Ward can't feel Kebo's hand on his arm, can't feel the temperature in the room.

Can't feel anything but he can hear himself breathing, can hear John laughing a few feet away.

''Kebo I need you to get Skye out of here. I don't care how you do it, you just need to get her as far away from John as you can''.

''Are you going to help me with that or''-

''I can't''.

''Yes you can. Ward get her out of this place, go with her protect her. Screw Garrett''.

''I can't''.

''Yes you can''.

''I''-

''If you say can't one more time I swear to god''.

Ward turns to his friend who is shaking his head at him, ''it's time Ward. You're going to have to choose. Skye or John? Because I promise you if you don't, if you try and think you can have both just like last time, one of them is going to die here. I can promise you that''.

Kebo chugs the rest of his beer before continuing, ''you get to decide who that's going to be''.

Skye or John? It really shouldn't even be much of a choice, a question.

But it is.

It always has been.