I Gave You Something But You Gave Me Nothing
Skye rarely screws up on a mission. In her years with Garrett she can count on one hand all the times he gave her an assignment, they were few and far between. He liked to do the dirty work himself, but sometimes he needed her to be on sight for a certain hack, a certain money transfer things like that. Always eager to please him Skye did whatever he wanted whenever he wanted, made it her number one priority to make him proud.
It's a year before her days on the Bus and Skye is sitting in a warehouse in Brooklyn, laptop in front of her, a team of mercenaries behind her. It's a simple hack she could of easily done it in her sleep but she had to be in the building in order for it to work. It was supposed to go off without a hitch, no one had any intel of the owner of this company being at work that day, it was a Saturday after all. There was no trace or file of any personal security.
So of course that's exactly what happens. Skye warns John's men about the owner coming inside with a group of guys, all looked heavily armed. She's used to this, them getting in position her curled in a corner finishing her job, waiting until the gun fire stops to sprint to a car and get the hell out. It doesn't faze her anymore. Until there are more of the other guys standing, than John's. It's a blood bath. This wasn't part of the plan.
Skye listens to bodies hit the floor, men crying out, bullets hitting concrete over and over again like it's never going to end. Then it does and Skye is too afraid to see who won. Heavy foot steps come towards her, Skye's hand inches for a fallen gun to her left until it's rudely kicked out of reach. ''Well well well boys what do you we have here?'' There's a man in front of her with his hands in his pockets, cigarette hanging out of his mouth.
''You're the bitch who was trying to steal all my money weren't you?'' It's the owner with his rich suit and twenty thousand dollar watch smiling at her, the end of his cigarette glowing. She says nothing her hands frozen on the keyboard, it takes two men to pry it away from her. Fear is settling in her blood, what are they going to do to her? ''I don't know what you're talking about''. Laughter and a hard slap across her face.
Skye doesn't even flinch, much to this guy's annoyance. ''So who are you with? Who hired you?'' She's not going to break, if John can't count on anything else where Skye's concerned, he can count on that. Besides her laptop is encrypted if anyone uses it besides her all data is wiped. Which is exactly what happens, two of the owner's security men grab her while another takes her laptop. ''Take her up to my office and get someone to clean this up''.
They hold her hard enough to bruise, basically dragging her up nice polished stairs she trips once and is met with cold hard stares, she doesn't trip again. Skye didn't notice before all the glass walls or marble floors, how nice this building is but what else could she expect from a millionare? John has more than enough money thanks to her and his job with Shield, but sometimes he gets greedy and wants more, always more.
It isn't until they throw her into a leather chair in front of a huge desk and bind her hands, that the fear starts to set in. This guy is dirty, no wonder John sent a team with her. Who are all dead now and Skye has to take deep breaths so she doesn't lose her breakfast. She looks around the office and sees no personal items, nothing she can use to her advantage to try and talk her way out of this.
There's a small fountain to her left by the window and she focuses on that just for something to do, the sound of the water flowing is somewhat soothing. She isn't sure how long she sits there until the owner (who's name she learned is Russell) comes inside. He's early fourties with graying hair and crows feet, John hated him the second Skye pulled up his picture last week. Russell says nothing as he sits across from her at his vast desk.
''What's a small pretty girl like you doing here with those men?'' Skye just looks into his light brown eyes and doesn't respond. ''Why were you trying to steal from me, who hired you? Who do you work for?'' Nothing. Another slap and this one stings, Russell smiles when he sees her wince. ''All you have to do is tell me who hired you sweetheart and I won't touch you again''. Not going to happen.
This goes on for a few hours until his knuckles are red, Skye is sweating her lips bleeding, her cheeks swollen, her right eye is nearly shut from his fists. She can taste her own blood in her mouth coopper and warm as it runs down her throat, there's nothing but pain bruises line her face. ''Boss she's not going to talk''. One of the men finally realizes and Skye nearly laughs, could of told them that herself hours ago and saved all this trouble.
There's a gun in her face which is nothing new. She's not afraid. ''Last chance to tell me honey''. Skye spits in his face satisfied when he wipes her blood from his face, ''go to hell''. Russell shrugs his finger on the trigger, Skye has flashes of John in front of her, his smile his laugh his warm embrace. Kebo makes an apperance as well, laughing at one of his own dumb jokes, the smell of his leather jacket as he held her.
The parents she never met and never will. A shot goes off but Skye doesn't feel any pain. More bullets sound throughout the room, glass breaks, she hears the sounds of breaking bones and cries of pain. It takes her a moment to realize that she's not dead, that John must of sent back up for her. He saved her. There's a small amount of relief in her, not much. Because she knows she failed him, and he doesn't like it when things don't go his way.
Kebo comes into view, frowning as he takes her in. ''God they really did a number on you''. With gentle hands he gets her hands free and cups her face, ''you alright?'' Skye shakes her head and he helps her stand. ''Do you need me to carry you?'' ''Relax Popeye they didn't break my legs''. She heads to the door only for it to be blocked by John himself, he looks down at her in rage. At her or the people that did this? Perhaps both.
''John''. She breathes tears prick her eyes, she thought for a split second she'd never see him again. His large hand on her arm offers comfort and then she grows limp, out cold.
When she wakes the pain is so intense it nearly brings tears to her eyes as she struggles to sit up. It takes a moment to recognizes their safe house in Montana, it must of been the nearest one and she slides out of bed. Her hand is on the door when it swings open and she automatically tenses, but it's only Kebo. ''The hell are you doing out of bed? Get back in there''. ''Popeye I'm''- ''If you say the word fine I'm going to break something. Bed, now''.
The smirk she gives him would be humorous if her lip wasn't split open. ''So eager to get me in bed, didn't think we were at that stage of our relationship''. ''Now is not the time for jokes, do I have to throw you over my shoulder or are you going to listen to me?'' Skye limps back into the sheets, ''happy to comply''. ''Not even remotely funny Cupcake''. Kebo sits in the arm chair he must of dragged in earlier and put by the bed.
Hands her three pain pills and a glass of water which she takes gladly. ''How are you feeling?'' ''Like I got thrown down twenty flights of stairs and got hit by a tank afterwards''. ''Ouch. Those pills will help''. They talk quietly for a while about nonsense, anything to take her mind off what happened. Kebo is about to aplogize she can tell, he's growing very emotional when the door flies open. Kebo blindly catches the ice packs thrown at him, hands them to Skye.
Places on on her eye and the other on the side of her jaw. ''How are you doing kid?'' Garrett asks, crossing his arms and leaning against the doorway. ''I'm alright''. ''You've been out for hours''. Nerves spark in her belly, she knows that tone he's using. ''We need to talk. Kebo give us a moment''. Kebo looks nervous to leave her, squeezes her hand. ''That wasn't a question, out''. You don't disobey John Garrett.
Honestly the only reason Kebo hasn't put a bullet in the son of a bitch is because it would destroy Skye.
Skye watches Kebo leave the room, John shuts the door and sighs heavily. ''Did they get anything?'' ''No. You know I wouldn't let that happen''. John laughs and it is without humor, he puts his hands on her hips and walks until he's at her side. Skye immediately straightens ignores the pain in her ribs. ''If that's true then why can't I see the fifty million dollars in my account?'' That stumps her, he should of gotten the money.
''John I''- Pressure on her chin his fingers grip her skin tightly, enough to get his point across. ''I trusted you to get the job done like I always do, yet my team is dead and I'm fifty million dollars short. Why?'' He jerks his hand so she's forced to look in his face, sees the anger there. ''There was no intel that Russell had any security, no one knew he was going to be in the office''. With his free hand he pulls her hair, Skye doesn't make a sound.
''It's your job to know things like that honey. Now that prick is all over the news you're lucky you took out all the cameras beforehand. Otherwise what he did to you is nothing compared to what I would of done''. His hand curls harder into her hair and Skye has to bite her lip to keep her mouth shut. ''Is something like this going to happen again?'' ''No sir''. ''It better not. I'm so disappointed in you Skye''. That brings tears to her eyes.
Garrett frowns at the tears pooling in her eyes, tightens each grip he has on her. ''You've never failed me before''. ''It won't ever happen again sir I promise''. ''Good to know. You're going to get me that money do you understand?'' She nods and he releases her only to take one hand and grab her by the jaw. Skye tenses as he increases the pressure on her already bruised face. ''There's no room for error. If you can't do the job anymore I will find someone to replace you''.
It's that ice cold fear in her bones that does it. When Kebo comes back in the room John leaves with a warning glance, her laptop already open and ready in her lap. ''What the hell are you doing?'' ''John needs his money''. ''You need to rest''. ''I will when he gets what he wants''. ''Skye''- She waves him off and throws herself into her work, John has his money within the hour and Skye falls asleep soon after.
It's normal behavior for John, something she's grown used to. So of course after all these years she just accepts it, deems it normal. But it's not and it isn't until a couple of years later that she'll finally start to realize how twisted her relationship with John really was.
*
Ward watches Skye as she paces Vault D, back and forth across the floor her hands in her hair. If he didn't feel guilty before the mission with Austin Peters, he does now. Did Garrett really used to hit her? Is that why she followed him blindly, afraid she was going to be punished if she didn't? Peters called her an abuse victim, it makes sense. Not for the first time he wishes he could of saved her, protected her somehow.
He feels sorry for her that she was trapped in that situation with Garrett since she was a kid. Ward had no idea she'd been with him that long, but what Peters said checks out. There's record of Skye leaving the orphanage one day when she was fifteen and never returning, there's also old files of Garrett taking extended trips to certain places when he wasn't on a mission. He covered his tracks so well that Shield never caught it.
''Skye was with him for ten years, she must of been so afraid. It's obvious he brain washed her''. Bobbi is saying as she stands beside Ward in Coulson's office. He agrees. ''That doesn't excuse her actions Agent Morse''. May responds. ''No but there's a reason for them. Guys this wasn't all her fault, Garrett abused her of course she didn't want to disobey him. Of course she did anything he asked so he wouldn't hurt her. Any one of us would of done the same''.
''She had an opportunity to come clean, she was safe with us on the Bus, away from him''. Bobbi scoffs and turns to May, ''and you think a few months with your team was going to undo a decade of abuse? That the second you or Agent Ward smiled at her Skye was just going to start singing like a bird and betray Garrett? It doesn't work like that May. She was his own personal slave and too afraid to fight back''.
''He was her only family, Bobbi is right a few months with us couldn't of changed that''. Ward speaks up, glacing at Coulson. They all fall silent when Skye starts crying into her hands, sitting on the bed her feet bare once more. Ward wants nothing more than to go down there and hold her but he can't. She hates him and he deserves it, he's disgusted with himself too. ''It's irrelevant''. Coulson says, muting the screen.
''Sir?'' ''Agent Morse Skye has done terrible things, she's an enemy of Shield. She had a choice and she made the wrong one. Yes John Garrett was a monster and yes maybe he did hurt that girl down there more than we'll ever know. But we can't excuse all of her crimes, she still did them. She still betrayed Shield, nearly killed Fitzsimmons, who knows how many people she's responsible for Garrett killing''.
''Hold up if we're going to blame someone here I think it should be Garrett. Sure Skye was the gun but he loaded it, told her when to pull the trigger. Did you hear what she said back there? That John loves her that she owes him everything, he made her think that way. Peters was right she's a victim here, it doesn't justify all her actions but it explains them. I know how Garrett operated he wanted what he wanted and didn't care who was in his way.
I can't even imagine the hell he put that girl through, I was with him for a coulpe of years but she was with him through her teenage years and most of her adult life. Of course she did whatever he said, Skye thought of him as a savior. It's wrong man, all of this is wrong''. Trip says, shaking his head and walking out of the office. ''He has a point''. Bobbi mutters. ''So what do you three want me to do? Let her go?''
''Of course not sir''. Ward says earning a glare from Bobbi. ''Good glad we're on the same page. Agent Ward I expect a briefing on my desk within the hour. You're dismissed''. Bobbi and Ward leave the room amd Grant can tell she's angry. ''You know I'm right about this''. ''It's not about that Agent Morse. Skye has hurt a lot of people, she needs to pay for that''. ''You don't really believe that''. ''I do''. Does he? Does he really anymore?
''So you're willing to lock her up? She was abused Ward this isn't right''. He turns on her, ''what do you want from me? Even if I agreed with you there's nothing I can do about it''. Bobbi raises a brow, ''you could break her out''. ''Not happening. Just leave it Agent Morse this isn't your fight''. He leaves her in the halllway to fill out paperwork in the lab. ''What crawled up his ass and died?''
Hunter asks, drinking a cup of coffee and walking up to her. ''Skye. I'm pretty sure he's in love with her but he can't save her''. ''Pity''.
Ward is keeping a close watch on Fitz and Simmons, who have stayed in the lab since Skye was brought in. They haven't mentioned it and probably won't, he won't either unless they bring it up. He listens to them ramble on, happy to see that they have gotten back into the swing of things, the months apart didn't cause permanent damage. He refuses to think about Skye, how Bobbi was right.
Garrett abused her, maybe he's been wrong all this time. Maybe it wasn't all her fault. Fitz curses suddenly, his words breaking into tiny pieces as he struggles his hands flying out in front of him. Simmons puts a comforting hand on his shoulder but it does little to soothe him. ''It's not right I can't, Simmons I can't think with her here!'' They both know who he's referring to. ''Fitz she's locked away she can't hurt you''.
Anxiety is plain on his face and Ward is quick to reassure him. ''Fitz she's not going to hurt you or Simmons alright? I wouldn't let that happen''. Fitz calms as Ward pats his shoulder, it's awkward but it's what he needs. ''I'll protect you, okay?'' ''You always do''. Simmons comments, sending Ward a quick smile which he returns. He stays in the lab for another hour before heading to the kitchen.
Just in case he has the camera feed to Vault D up on his phone, it seems Skye has finally cried herself to sleep. He's making a fresh pot of coffee when screaming startles him, at first he thinks they're being attacked, a hand on his gun, when he realizes the noise is coming from Vault D. Skye is thrashing around on the bed, a look of anguish on her face tears on her cheeks. She's having a nightmare.
Before Ward can make the decision to go down there or not he watches as Trip goes down the stairs and cuts off the barrier. Walks into Skye's cell and kneels next to the cot. It takes a few minutes for him to shake her awake and when she does she nearly jumps off the cot with a gasp. ''Hey you're okay, you're okay it was just a dream''. Skye wipes the sweat from her brow and glances at the camera in the corner. Ward can't look away.
''Trip?'' ''Yeah it's me. You good?'' ''What are you, why are you down here?'' Skye runs her fingers down her cheeks to catch any stray tears. ''Wanted to make sure you were okay''. She laughs though nothing about this situaion is funny. ''You're probably the only one''. Skye holds back a jump when Trip puts a hand over her's. ''I never realized how close we were to Garrett I mean, we're the only ones on this base who knew him''.
''I can't, I really don't want to talk about him''. ''That's cool. I'll just sit here''. He does, right by the cot with his legs crossed. ''What are you doing?'' ''I'm here to listen, whenever you're ready''. ''Why? Don't you hate me like everyone else?'' ''It's about what Peters said, Skye I don't think all of this was your fault''. She looks puzzled by this. ''What do you mean?'' ''I knew Garrett not as well as you, but I knew how he was, epsecially when he didn't get what he wanted''.
Skye rolls her eyes, ''you have no idea what he was really like''. ''Then tell me. I want to understand how the man who was my SO turned out to be such a monster''. ''He was always a monster Trip, Shield just never saw that side of him''. ''I believe that, what kind of man takes a teenage girl off the streets and uses her as his own personal weapon?'' Skye closes her eyes briefly, rests her head against the hard wall.
''He could be kind when he wanted''. ''I remember''. A look passes between them, two people mourning someone that no one else will. ''You know I was always jealous of you''. Skye isn't the only one surprised by this, Ward is taken back. Is Trip saying he knew about Skye? ''What?'' ''I didn't know it was you exactly. Garrett just always used to talk about this recruit he used to have, how amazing she was at computers.
I didn't put two and two together until after Shield fell. He talked about you a lot, when I wasn't fast enough at something he'd say his old rookie could do it in half the time. Things like that, I hated you. And I shouldn't have, from where I'm standing you had the short end of the stick. Garrett was a cruel bastard''. ''Don't act like you know me Trip''. He puts his hands up to soothe her. ''I'm not. I'm just saying I understand is all''.
This makes her pause, ''you do?'' ''Garrett was so smooth, everything he said was just easy to agree to. Didn't matter what it was, he could talk me into some pretty crazy things. And I did them without question, you probably did too''. Skye nods. His face suddenly turns serious as he takes both of her hands in his. Ward is surprised to feel jealously hot in his veins, quickly pushes it down. Now is not the time for that.
''Skye I want to apologize to you. If I knew what he was doing to you, if I knew how he treated you I would of saved you. I want you to know that, I'm so sorry I wasn't there for you, that you suffered all those years with him alone''. It seems like Skye doesn't know how to take that, tears fill her eyes once again and taking Trip by surprise she hugs him. Her face is buried in his shirt so Ward doesn't hear her thank Trip over and over again.
They stay like that for a while, until Coulson comes down and orders Trip to leave. He also has May put Skye in hand cuffs and follow them to Phil's office. On cue Ward is also called into the office, he gets there before the rest of them. What's Couslon planning? Is he going to lock her up here or somewhere else? Kebo's words come back to him, would Phil turn her over to General Talbot? The fear shoots ice down his spine at the thought of who Talbot answers to.
Skye doesn't even look at Ward when she enters, her back is turned as she's forced to face Coulson. ''It's come to my attention that Vault D might not be the place for you''. He says. No one notices how Ward tenses. Trip meets his eyes, they have no idea where Phil is going with this. ''So after a few phone calls I've made a decision''. Coulson squares his shoulders looks straight at Skye's face when he says, ''General Talbot is very interested in Hydra agents''.
''It seems Senator Christian Ward has also made it his personal mission to give Hydra agents a trial, so we're sending you to them''. Skye turns her head to look at Ward and she's not the only one with dread in her eyes. He can't breathe. No no she doesn't deserve this. Christian is just like their father he twists things, twists words and people until they're a shell of who they used to be. No she can't, she can't be in the same room as his brother.
He'll hurt her. Christian is doing this on purpose somehow he learned that his younger brother cares about Skye and he finally found another way to punish him all these long years later. It's a never ending cycle. Grant joined Shield to escape his demons but it seems they have clawed their way out of the shadows to drag him back, and this time they're trying to take Skye with them. He won't let that happen.