Chapter 5
When Skye wakes up the following morning, she at first doesn’t remember the events of the previous day. Rolling over so that her face is against Grant’s, very firm mind you, chest, the wave of memories hit her. Realizing that this will be the last time that she will get the simple pleasure of sleeping in his arms, she finds herself burrowing deeper into him. She feels his arms tightening themselves around her waist and she releases a deep sigh of contentment.
Five more minutes, she stares at the digital clock, five more minutes until Grant wakes up, five more minutes until reality takes its toll.
She looks at his face and drinks in the sight of him, stowing the image away into her memory. He looks younger, she observes, less stressed when he’s asleep. You could hardly tell that he was a super spy trying to save the world. It’s a pity that he has to hold the world upon his shoulders. Pretty soon that will be me.
Four more minutes.
How am I going to do this? Skye asks for the millionth time. I can’t mess this up.
Three more minutes.
Christian is involved in this. He’s already a monster without Hydra’s help so imagine what he is like now. How did he even find out Hydra is still around? How did he even join?
Two more minutes.
What is Hydra planning to do? What have they been doing all these years inside SHIELD? Did no one not notice? Can I trust anyone?
One more minute.
What will happen when I’m gone? Will the team replace me, will they move on? Will Grant move on? How much will change? How much will I change?
Almost like clockwork, Grant begins to stir. His arms tighten further around her waist and he nuzzles his face into her neck, planting a kiss. Her hands slide underneath his shirt and begin to draw patterns along his spine.
“Morning.” He says into her skin.
“Morning.” Skye says quietly. “The rest of the team will be up soon.” Their upcoming arrival at the Triskelion goes underneath her words. Grant pulls away to face her.
“You don’t have to go.” He says seriously. “We can get away. You and I could go on the run together. SHIELD would never find us.”
“You know we can’t do that.” Oh God, he’s willing to give up SHIELD for her. “They’d find us eventually. Besides, it would cause even more trouble for all of us if we did that.”
“Not if I can help it.”
“Grant,” Skye begins to get out of the bed. “We can’t. I can’t let you do that for me. SHIELD is your life and it’s become mine as well. If everything goes well, we’ll be able to see each other again and everything will go back to normal.”
“But you’re my life.” He reaches out to cup her face. Warmth seeps from his hands and migrates its way through her entire body.
“And you’re mine.” It’s the closest that they’ve come to saying “I love you” and that’s okay. She knows Grant isn’t that kind of guy, he’s a specialist. And in a way, she isn’t either. She spent her whole life without any love and the Miles incident didn’t really help her views. But with Grant its different and it scares her. She’s heard what love does to people, there’s a reason why they say that love is for children. And yet here I am, she thinks ironically, about to sacrifice everything for someone I might just love.
“I should start getting ready.” Skye breaks their gaze and looks around their bunk at all her packed up belongings (they still only take up a single bag and small box). “We’ll be there in two hours.” I’ll be leaving in two hours.
Skye gets out of the bed and retrieves a bundle of clothes to change into.
“Skye, I’m serious.” He sits up. “We could leave and not be found.”
“I said we can’t. The fallout wouldn’t be worth it.”
His mouth sets into a firm line. “Alright. I just thought that we were.”
“We are, it’s just,” It’s just that I have to do this! “There is a lot at stake for us and the whole team! Imagine the amount of trouble everyone would be in if I don’t cooperate.”
Giving on last look towards him, she walks out of the bunk and toward the shower.
Xx Linebreaker xX
Breakfast is a quiet affair. Fitzsimmons mutter together while glancing in her direction every so often. May stares down at her tea mug determinedly and grips its handle until her knuckles are white while Coulson looks down at his untouched plate. And Grant, oh Grant, just stares at her like she is his whole universe.
As the click of utensils slowly dies down, the team make their way into the lounge to wait for their arrival at the Triskelion.
“Oh Skye,” Simmons pull her into a hug. “Stay safe won’t you?”
“And make sure to avoid Sitwell.” Fitz says while giving a pointed look towards Simmons.
“Never crossed my mind to do otherwise.” Skye says with a small laugh.
“We’ve packed you a little something.” Simmons holds up a plastic baggie. “Prosciutto and buffalo mozzarella with—“
“A hint of pesto aioli.” Skye finishes.
“Yes, well we’ve seen what they serve at the Triskelion cafeteria and believe me it will not support a nutritious diet.”
“Thank you.” Skye pulls them into another hug.
“We’ll miss you.” Simmons whispers.
“Yeah, especially since you were the only one that agrees with me about getting a monkey.” Fitz says.
After a while, they finally break apart and Simmons moves over to the other side of the lounge.
“Skye,” Fitz remains standing in front of her, “I just need you to know that Simmons and I aren’t mad about you keeping your being an 0-8-4 a secret from us.”
“No, I should be the one who’s sorry. Like you said, we don’t keep secrets from each other.”
“Everyone is full of secrets, there’s no avoiding them.” Skye winces.
“Are you not scared of me?” She asks timidly. “I don’t know what I am, I don’t even know what being an 0-8-4 means for me.”
“You’re just a little different is all.” Fitz says reassuringly. “And whatever it is that makes you different I’m sure will make you magnificent.”
Fitz gives another smile and starts to walk away.
“Wait,” Skye grabs his arm. “Tell Simmons how you feel.”
“I-I-I don’t think this is hardly the time t—“
“Please, for me. If any good is going to come out of this it has to be you and her.”
With a shy nod Fitz goes on toward Simmons to which Skye gives a quick wink. To Skye’s surprise, May is the next person to walk up to her. She quickly averts her gaze from Fitzsimmons to face her.
“I know that we didn’t have the best start,” May begins.
“It’s alright. We’re fine now and that’s all that matters.”
“Even so, I need you to know that you will always belong here on this team with us.” May continues. “You’ve grown on me, Skye, and I’ll miss you.” That was a lot coming from May.
“Me, too.” And for the thousandth time that day Skye gives a sad smile at the family she is leaving behind.
“Just promise me one thing.”
“What?”
“Give them hell.”
“Count on it.”
“That’s my girl.” May says with a rare smile before pulling her into a loose hug.
“Keep them safe.” Skye whispers into May’s hair. Grant’s name goes silently unspoken but somehow the message gets across.
“I will.” May promises.
The moment between them is broken when the plane starts its descent toward the landing site at the Triskelion. May is pulled to the cockpit and soon her voice van be heard over the intercom.
“Belt up, touch down in ten.”
“Sit with me?” Ward appears at her side.
“Sure.”
After they sit down and Ward makes sure that Skye did indeed put on her seat belt (once she had forgotten to put it on resulting in a sprained ankle. From that day forward Ward always made sure that she was belted up when landing)
“I’m sorry about this morning.” Ward says after a minute of silence. “It’s just I hate that Fury is doing this. I keep wondering what I could have done so that he wouldn’t have found out about you.”
“Hey,” Ignoring the turbulence, Skye reaches across her seat to grasp his hand. “None of this is your fault. Fury would have found out eventually and we would be in the same position as we are now.”
“I don’t like any of this.” Ward says seriously. “He is relocating you without any us with you. Not to mention, we are not allowed to stay in communication with one another.”
“I don’t either but it’s the only option we have.” It’s necessary.
“God, how are we supposed to know if you’re okay? What is something happens and—“
“Grant, nothing is going to happen to me. I’ll be okay.” When did lying to him get so easy?
Ward carefully gets out of his seat to sit next to her. Knowing that this will be one of the last times he will get to indulge in the simple pleasure of her presence, he puts his arm around her shoulders and presses a kiss to her temple. Skye sighs contentedly and presses herself up to his side, inhaling his scent. They stay in that position for what seems like hours (it’s still not long enough) until they feel the plane land onto solid ground.
“We should get up.” Skye whispers, not wanting to face reality. She can feel Ward’s lips mouthing something against her temple. Maybe he’s praying? None of them had ever been very religious, their childhoods had banished any thoughts of miracles. Shrugging if off for a later thought, she slowly extracts herself from Ward’s arms and they both head to the cargo hold.
Before she knows it, the rest of the team are gathering around her giving her last minute hugs and what she thinks are attempts at encouraging smiles. They come out as grimaces. I feel the same.
The sound of the hold being opened soon breaks them apart.
“Agent Coulson,” A woman says as she steps into the cargo hold, “Fury sent me to pick up Skye.”
“Agent Hill.” Coulson says with ease. “Haven’t seen you since I’ve been on the team. Tell me, how are things going down at HQ?”
“If you’re asking if Captain Rogers has made an appearance, then the answer is no. He is currently off the grid but is expected to come back soon.” Coulson’s face falls with unmasked disappointment while May smirks.
Agent Hill looks to be in her early to mid-thirties. Between the blazing SHIELD emblem on her uniform to the similar way she held herself to Fury, Skye could tell that she was high up in SHIELD’s food chain.
“You must be Skye, the 0-8-4 Fury spoke of.” Hills turns to Skye and holds out her hand.
“Uh, yes, that’s me.” She accepts Hill’s hand shake an
“Well I hate to rush but we are on a tight schedule. Skye, if you could get your things we could be on our way.” Hill says briskly before making her way out to the tarmac where an SUV is waiting.
“I guess this is goodbye.” Skye says while fighting back tears.
They all envelop her into one last final hug where tears are shed by Fitzsimmons. Before Ward can pull her into another lover’s embrace, Coulson interrupts.
“Skye, could I have a word with you.”
“Of course AC.” She flashes everyone a watery smile. Coulson leads her to the far corner of the cargo hold so they are out of everyone’s earshot.
“Skye, I don’t know how Fury got all that information about you.” Coulson starts, “As far as we know, only you, May, Ward, and myself knew about you being an 0-8-4. The only answers are that there is a mole among us—“
“AC—“ Coulson holds up his hand.
“Or Fury has been monitoring us. I suspect, rather I’m hoping, that it’s the latter.”
“Ward thought the same thing. Truth be told, I think he’s being a bit paranoid.” She says to diffuse Coulson’s suspicions. “Can’t say I blame him though, with everything going on.”
“And I don’t either because I agree with him.” There is a short pause in which Coulson just stares at her while she shifts uncomfortably from foot to foot.
“Skye,” He finally says, “I don’t think Fury is relocating you just because you’re an object of unknown origin. He’s already said that it’s to keep an eye on you and that you will continue your training but there is something he isn’t telling us.” Oh God, please tell me he hasn’t figured it out.
“What’s more, we are not even allowed to communicate with one another which just goes to show that our suspicions aren’t all for nothing.” Coulson holds up his hand where a small SAT phone lies nestled in his palm.
“Agent Philip Trust-the-System Coulson!” Skye whispers gleefully despite the current situation. “Are you breaking the rules for little ol’ me?”
“Skye I’m serious.” He says tersely. “It’s for emergencies, just in case. Hopefully you won’t have to use it. It’ll give me some peace of mind.”
Knowing that she cannot and will not use the SAT phone no matter the circumstances, Skye leaps towards him and pulls him into (the millionth of the day) hug. “AC, I-I don’t know what to say.” She is at a loss for words. Here is the closest person she has ever had to a father who she is leaving to fight the dark evil force that is Hydra disobeying the agency he believes in for her.
“Just stay safe and be careful. I don’t know what’s going to happen but I hope for your sake that it will be over soon.” You and me both.
“I should probably go.” The tears that Skye had previously been holding back are slowly dripping down her face. “I don’t want to piss off Hill.”
“We will see you when all of this is over.”
Coulson walks back over to where the team is waiting while Skye gathers her things into her arms.
“I’ll miss you guys.” She addresses the team through the lump in her throat. “You were the first people I ever considered to be my family.” She scans each member through blurry eyes. Her gaze lingers on Grant a few seconds longer than she wants to admit. For a second something flashes in his eyes as if he wants to tell her something but it’s gone the next second.
With one last look, she turns around and walks towards the SUV where Hill is patiently waiting for her. Wiping away the tears, she silently climbs into the vehicle which promptly starts driving along the tarmac.
“It’ll be alright,” Comes out Hill’s surprisingly gentle voice. “Saying goodbye, it will get easier.”
Funny thing that Fury had said the exact same thing about lying.