If We Go Down Then We Go Down Together
''Don't worry baby, mommy will keep you safe''. Skye whispers as she takes a breather behind a nearby tree, hand over her belly. She's breathing hard sweat is sliding down her back, her neck her legs are burning. Skye has no idea how long she's been running for, just that the feet that were chasing her all this time have stopped. If Grant were here right now he'd scold her for stopping, she has to keep moving.
''If you have your father's dramatic attitude we are having a serious conversation little lady''. Skye mutters to her stomach as she takes off into a run again. She needs to make it to the road again, to safety. Ward will find her later. She has to stop two more times long after the sun has set, once because she lost her way and the other because she felt this sharp pain in her lower back. A spasm that knocked the wind out of her.
She pushes on because there is nothing else she can do, the night has started to close in around her. The snapping of a tree branch is what does it, makes her pause for just a second to hear where it's coming from. There's a low whistle to the left, a crunch of leaves. ''Jesus you're terrible at this, didn't Ward train you for like six months?'' Skye breathes a sigh of relief at the figure that steps out of the trees.
''Popeye how did you get here?'' He shrugs as she runs up to hug him, ''Hydra can be very stupid at times. Besides I've never lied to them before, never given anyone any trouble all these years. I told them I was scouting you out and they believed it. Let me go to continue my mission, morons the lot of them''. Skye wipes the sweat from her brow, ''but how did you find me? How did you know where to go?''
He cocks his head to the side to listen before responding. ''Ward sent me the Playground's location a few hours ago, he needed a backup plan in case something went wrong. There's a car waiting not too far from here''. Skye nearly bursts into tears, everything is going to be okay. ''How's Ward junior doing in there? You two alright? Where's Grant?'' ''We're fine, and last time I saw him he was fighting with May''.
''What? You'll have to tell me the whole story in the car, let's go''. They take off running again, a few minutes later Kebo curses when the sounds of boots crunching against leaves starts behind them. A shot goes off near Kebo's head and he cries out in surprise. ''Stop shooting at me!'' He yells and Skye would roll her eyes if they weren't running for their lives. They are nearly there she can nearly make out the road when it all goes to hell.
She can hear the heavy boots getting closer, can hear panting as they all run and close in around her and Kebo. What she didn't count on was how close Johnson and his men were. One second she's following the sight of Kebo's leather jacket and the next there's this weight crashing into her back bringing her down to the hard ground. Skye is tackled her face pressed into the dirt, she can tell that Kebo has also met the same fate.
''Get the hell off me you apes!'' Skye turns her face to find Kebo meeting her eyes, asking if she's alright. Johnson has her pinned to the ground, it took two of his men to capture Kebo. ''Did you really think it would be that easy honey?'' Skye's response? Damage his already broken nose. Her forehead meets his flesh and he howls out in pain fresh blood spilling from it. ''You bitch''. His arm swings back as if to hit her but he doesn't get the chance.
Trip is there suddenly throwing Johnson off of her, Bobbi takes care of the two men holding Kebo. ''You good?'' He asks Skye and she nods, hand on her belly. All of this running can't be good for the baby. Is it dangerous? Skye has no idea, wishes she would of researched pregnancy like she caught Ward doing the night they found out. Ordering every possible baby book imaginable online, the man was already picking out outfits and strollers. It was adorable.
''Ward is he okay?'' Trip produces a water bottle from somewhere on his person and hands it to her. ''I lost him, last I saw he and May were kicking each other's asses looked like Ward was winning though''. ''And Coulson?'' Her answer is met with the man himself storming through the trees, gun in hand. Much to everyone's surprise May is right behind him. Worry starts to eat at Skye's mind, what does that mean for Grant?
May is bruised and bloody, she's also limping and her right eye is nearly swollen shut. ''Agent Morse, Agent Trip I am going to give you one second to make the right choice here. Step away from Skye''. ''And if we don't? You going to arrest us sir?'' Trip asks, stepping in front of Skye. ''You going to throw us in a cell without a trial too? Or do you reserve that punishment for Skye only?''
''Watch your tone''. May growls, surveying the area. For Ward? Coulson is breathing hard as he lowers his gun. Skye suddenly stumbles back that pain hitting her again, Kebo casts her a worried look and she waves him off. Just breathe through it. It goes away after a few seconds, she bites her lip to hold back the painful cries she wants to make. Looking around it seems they are all at a stand still.
Johnson and Shield are on one side, Skye, Kebo, Trip and Bobbi on the other. Who is going to break first? Grant is the one who breaks the stand off, comes right out from behind Skye like he'd been there the whole time, gun raised. He ran here but the man isn't even out of breath, he doesn't even look like he's been in a fight. There are no bruises along his face no blood and if he's injured anywhere else he's doing a hell of a job hiding it.
''I'm going to give you one chance to walk away Coulson''. Ward says, moving so he is completely hiding both Skye and Kebo from view. Phil can't cover up the shocked expression on his face, the confusion. Wondering what in the hell has gotten into his Specialist, the best agent Shield has ever seen since Natasha Romanoff. ''What the hell are you doing Ward? You know the rules you know how this works, Skye is a criminal''.
''By who's standards? Yours? Who gave you the right to act as a judge?'' ''Fury when he made me Director of Shield''. ''Maybe he shouldn't of''. Ward has never spoken out of term like this, it takes everyone by surprise. ''Skye was never loyal to Hydra and deep down you know that don't you? Garrett manipulated her, this isn't all her fault. Did she make mistakes? Yes and I'm not justifying any of it.
But Coulson what Skye did goes beyond Hydra. John Garrett was her only father figure and we killed him''. Coulson's jaw drops and May it seems also has a hard time keeping her expression cool and blank. ''You've been compromised''. Phil mutters through his teeth. ''I'm sorry what are we waiting for? Sure Agent Ward is good but he's not that good. He can't take out all of us at once''. Jonhson says and Kebo chuckles, ''want to bet?''
Skye creeps a little closer and presses her hand to Ward's back, running it down his spine. ''So what now Ward? You're going to betray us, your family for her?'' Grant just shrugs like he isn't about to destroy the life he's known for decades. ''If I have to''. Skye grips his shirt hard in her hands, she never wanted this. She never wanted him to have to choose. ''And you're okay with the Shield agents her and Garrett killed?
That she betrayed all of us, that she dropped Fitz and Simmons into the ocean, that she knew Garrett was going to shoot Jemma and Skye did nothing to stop him? Why are you doing this Ward? It can't just be because you feel sorry for her, or that you think she deserves better''. Skye can't hear the rest because suddenly that pain is back, and it isn't in the same spot. It's lower, this deep stabbing pain that has her clenching her jaw.
It isn't until she feels something warm and wet running down her thigh that she really starts to panic. Her hand grips Ward's shirt hard as she freezes, what's happening? Is it the baby? ''Grant''. Skye watches as the blood reaches her feet she can't breathe. Her eyes are cloudy with sweat and salt water but at the sound of her voice and obvious distress, Ward immediately spins around to face her.
''I think there's something wrong''. Is that her voice? It sounds so calm, light like she's just told him the grass was green. He glances her over, Kebo coming up beside her hand on her arm. ''Is that blood? Are you hurt?'' Ward sees exactly where the blood is coming from and Skye sees him go rigid, his face drains of all color. ''No''. He whispers so quietly she hardly catches it, like he afraid to speak too loud in fear of whatever he's thinking may come true.
While he takes Skye in his arms Kebo stands in front of them, on guard duty. Skye clutches Ward's wrists as he takes her face in his hands, his silent question and her nod of confirmation. ''Grant I don't know what to do''. The pain is back and she grabs his arm, squeezes. Before anyone can react or ask what's going on Ward is carefully swinging her into his arms. Coulson and May call him back as he begins walking away but he pays them no mind.
Okay. Skye fights the tears that are threatening to spill over, closes her eyes as Ward takes off in a run. Buries her face in his neck and tries to tune out the thought that's trying to take form. No everything is fine her baby is fine nothing bad is happening. She's fine their baby is going to be fine Skye is not going to lose her, she can't they just found out she was pregnant. Denial. Skye can't she refuses to accept the thought of losing her baby.
Ward is telling her that it's all going to be okay that he has no choice but to take her to the medical wing inside the Playground, there are no hospitals or doctors around. That she shouldn't worry that he isn't going to let anything happen to her or their child. She tries to believe him because the last thing anyone needs is Ward freaking out as well. She has to be in shock, that's why she's not reacting right?
Skye keeps her eyes closed as Ward storms into the Playground, continues running until he's reached the medical wing. It's then he starts yelling for help, that Skye is in pain. She only opens her eyes when Ward begins lowering her onto a cot. Her hands wrap around his shirt and he shushes her, ''Skye it's okay. It's okay they're going to help you I'm not going anywhere''. She can tell by his blank mask he's compartmentalizing again.
A woman comes over in a white lab coat, her hand is warm as she touches Skye's shoulder. Ward explains what's going on in a detached cold tone, standing beside Skye with his arms crossed. At his seemingly calm and collected attitude Skye breaks. While she understands why he's being like this, how? How can he act this way? They could literally be losing their child and he's shoving down all his emotions?
Skye grabs the woman's hand and starts crying. ''I'm pregnant you have to help my baby please please make sure she's okay, I can't lose her please just make sure she's okay''. Fingers wipe away the tears on her cheeks, Ward's hands are shaking. It takes fifteen minutes for Skye to know if her baby is fine. All the while Grant holds her hands, his ice temper earlier seems to finally have cracked.
He's crying and Skye is criyng she can't even hear the words the doctor is telling them after she ran some tests. Skye recites the Lord's prayer the nuns taught her over and over in her head, begging whoever is out there that her baby is alright. ''Everything is just fine Skye. You are nearly six weeks along and your baby is perfectly healthy''. ''What about the pain and bleeding?'' Ward asks.
''It's not uncommon for women to bleed during pregnacy. As for the pain I can say it's from stress, from all the running. I'd like you to rest here for a few days just so we can keep an eye on everything''. She tells Skye who can't really believe it. ''She's really okay? You're not lying?'' The doctor gives her a smile, ''I promise you as of right now, your baby is perfect''. ''She's still in there?'' Skye places her hand over Ward's that's resting on her stomach.
The woman let's out a small chuckle, at Ward's glare she sobers up. ''Your baby is still there yes Skye. He or she is alright''. It's as if a dam breaks. Skye turns into Ward's neck and just sobs. His free hand comes to cup the back of her neck as he cries softly into her hair. He stops before she does. Whispering in her ear that she's okay that their baby is okay, he's not going to let anyone hurt them. They're all going to get out of this in one piece.
When she's calm again and accepted that her child is safe and warm inside, Skye sits up slightly, her and Ward's hands back on her belly. ''Do not ever do that again missy. You nearly gave mommy a heart attack''. Grant leans over her, his face pressing against the skin of her stomach. ''You're a fighter just like your mommy aren't you little one? Do me a favor and not scare us like that ever again yeah?''
Skye runs her hands through his hair as he continues the one sided conversation. Unaware that they have an audience in the doorway behind them. She's too busy smiling at the things Ward is saying, thanking whatever god is out there that all three of them are safe. Grant of course is fully aware of Coulson and the rest of the team standing in the door, listening. But he couldn't care less.
''She's pregnant''. May says, watching Skye and Ward in the small hospital bed. Coulson scowls his arms crossed, all the pieces finally coming together.
''And Ward is the father''.
It all makes sense now.