I Hate You, I Love You
Ward can tell the second she leaves the room. The feel of Skye's body pressed against his vanishes, he hears her shuffle around the room quietly. The door shuts softly, he sees her silhouette against the sun of the curtains as she walks by. He rolls to the side to check the clock, it's seven in the morning. He's been awake since five but had no desire to get out of bed. He just laid there with the blanket and Skye's body wrapped around him like it used to be. Like she trusted him.
He didn't expect a goodbye, not from her. She awoke during the night from a nightmare, jumping out of bed, breathing hard. It was only after he managed to calm her down that she confessed what Whitehall told her about her mother. He murdered her, Ward can only assume she was a Gifted. If that's the case does that mean Skye could be too? He hasn't forgotten what Raina said about Skye, about the darkness that lies inside her. Is that what she meant?
Could Skye become like her mother? He promised her that he'd find out everything possible concerning her parents and he will, he just has to be discreet about it. Ward gets out of bed and strips the sheets, pillows and blanket off, tossing all of it in the closet. They smell of Skye and it's driving him mad. He's out of the shower and drying his hair when the lock of the door clicks, and Kebo walks in. ''Morning robot''. He hands Ward a cup of coffee and sits on the bed.
Kebo and Ward have been friends for a very long time, a little over a decade. They met when Kebo was trying to rescue his girlfriend from the hands of Shield, with the help of Garrett they saved her. She was gifted and they ran tests on her, wanted to see what she was capable of. His girlfriend was put on the Index, Kebo was able to save her from whatever Shield did to her, but not from herself. In the end she endured too much and couldn't handle it, took her own life.
Ever since then Kebo has never been the same. If anyone in the world has the right to hate Shield, he's more than earned it. He joined Hydra simply because they wanted the same thing, to destroy Shield. And because he too wanted to save Garrett, even if he hated the man he was Ward's only parental figure. No matter how messed up that relationship was, Kebo couldn't just stand by and watch the one of the only people Ward cared about die.
But it happened anyway and Ward lost everything. His mentor, his girl, his freedom. Kebo never actually met Skye but on more than one occasion he saw what she did to his best friend. The light she brought into his life, how she was able to bring something out in Ward no one ever had before. He told Ward to tell her who he really was more than once, that if he didn't the lies would destroy them. But Grant didn't listen and here they are. Two men who have loved and lost, come out on the other side damaged and broken.
''Where's Kara?'' ''Went to go see her mom''. ''Isn't that a little dangerous all things considered?'' ''She can take care of herself, besides Kara wants to thank her in person for the picture''. Kebo shivers, thankful that Melinda May's face is finally gone from Kara's face and she's her own person again. Ward finishes his coffee and glances out the window, hoping that Skye just might return but knows she won't. ''What's wrong with you?''
Ward begins to clean up the room, ''what are you talking about?'' ''Robot I've known you a long time and you might be creepy good at masking your emotions but I know you. Something happened last night, what was it? Come on, spill. Are you going to make me guess? It's too early in the morning for that''. Ward rolls his eyes, hesitant to speak of Skye. Ever since she shot him Kebo hasn't exactly been her number one fan. If given the opportunity he'd return the gesture.
''Nothing happened last night''. ''Not buying it''. Ward doesn't respond, just makes the bed with fresh sheets and starts packing up. ''Are we going somewhere?'' Kebo asks as the door opens and Kara walks in. ''We're going to visit an old friend''. ''Boss you don't have friends''. ''Fine, John's old friend''. Both Kara and Kebo frown at the mention of Garrett. ''He has answers that I'm looking for''. ''Answers about what?'' ''That's classified''. Ward glances at Kara and they smile at each other. ''How was your mom?'' ''Good, thanks''.
Kara tucks a piece of hair behind her ear and grabs her own bag from the closet. ''So where are we headed?'' ''California''. Kebo groans and grabs his bag, ''why?'' ''You'll find out when we get there''. ''Boss what are you up to?'' Ward says nothing and the three of them file out of the room, leaving no trace that they were there at all. They're driving on the highway a few hours later, Kebo in the back seat when he finally grasps at a hunch. How could he be so blind? There's only one thing that Ward would keep a secret about, one thing he'd protect.
''Skye''. He says, just her name, watches Ward's reaction. Grant's hands clench on the steering wheel. Bingo. ''Whatever you're planning has something to do with Skye''. Kara puts a hand on Ward's arm and he relaxes slightly. ''Yes''. Ward's voice is tight, controlled. Giving nothing away. Kebo groans and kicks the back of Ward's seat, hard. ''What the hell is wrong with you? Skye hates you, do you not remember her trying to kill you? Or did you just brush that off?''
''Kebo I''- ''She shot you! Kara and I had to pick up your bloody body and drag you out of the alley she left you in! She wanted you to die just like the rest of them, why in the world would you ever consider involving yourself in anything Skye related?'' Ward switches lanes three times before giving an answer. ''She needs my help''. ''And how do you know that? Skye wouldn't ask you for help if she was bleeding out and you were the only one around''. ''She came to me last night''. Kebo lays his forehead against the back of Kara's seat. ''What? What did you say?''
Ward tells them about how Skye came to his door last night, what Whitehall said. ''Wait so you captured the Director of Hydra for Shield? Or I'm sorry let's just be honest here, you did it for Skye. Because she asked you to''. ''Ask is a loose term''. Ward replies and Kebo grits his teeth. ''So we're off to California so your ex-girlfriend can get some kind of closure with her parents? The same ex-girlfriend who allowed you to be thrown in Vault D, kept encouraging you to attempt suicide and didn't stop Coulson when he tried to send you back to Christian?
What in the bloody hell is wrong with you? Get it through your thick head Ward, she doesn't love you anymore. She hates you, she's a Shield agent and wants you to die''. ''Kebo lay off''. Kara says, observing Ward who looks as if he's about to throw Kebo out of the window. ''This isn't about love, I owe her''. Kebo shakes his head at Grant, ''no you don't. You don't owe her or Shield anything. They don't deserve your help and neither does Skye''.
For a while Kebo and Ward bicker back and forth until Kebo finally throws his hands up and pouts the rest of the drive in silence. ''When she shoots you again boss, don't come crying to me''. Kebo says when they reach their destination and get out of the car. ''I'll keep that in mind''. Kara just shakes her head at the two of them, she hasn't really had a family in a long time. But the three of them work nicely together, and she couldn't ask for a better life.
Skye slips back into the Playground unnoticed, hurries into her bunk to shower. She can still smell Ward on her clothes and it's driving her insane. Skye isn't entirely sure what led her to him last night. Just that she was so sad and she wanted someone to hold her. Comfort her. In a way that only Ward could, quiet in that way of his. Not asking her any questions or pressuring her for asnwers. Just accepting her into his life like it used to be. Before. When they were still in love.
She shakes off the feeling of his arms, clears her head. It didn't mean anything. She was just desperate, for information for personal contact she wouldn't get at Shield. Plus she knows Ward is still involved in Hydra somehow or another, he can get answers she can't. That is how she is justifying last night. It was a momentary lapse in judgement that will never happen ever again. The last thing Skye wants it to reopen the flood gates.
Skye hits the gym and goes a few rounds with the punching bag, by the time May finds her she's drenched in sweat and her knuckles are bruised. ''Whitehall could be lying''. ''You and I both know he wasn't''. May hands her a water bottle and sits on the bench beside Skye. ''You know that I joined Shield to find my parents, my mom maybe dead but there's a chance my father is still alive. I want to find him May''. ''How are you planning to do that?''
Skye removes herself from the punching bag and catches her breath. ''Don't know. I'll figure something out''. ''I'm here, if you want help''. Skye gives her an SO a tight smile, ''thanks''. They spar for a few hours, Skye let's out all of her emotions into training. Her parents, Ward. Ward with his warm hands holding her close to his side, like he was protecting her from whatever was hurting her. Like he could talk on the entire world if she asked.
''Something else is bothering you''. May comments, reading in between the lines. How ruthless Skye is being today, taking no prisoners in her strikes and kicks. Skye shrugs and aims for the side of May's face and it's easily blocked. ''I'm picturing you as Ward''. ''We'll get him Skye''. ''Counting on that''. If it really happens, if Shield does somehow catch up to Grant, what is she going to do? Will she stand with Shield and let him die?
Or will she protect him, turn her back on her only family for a traitor? For a man who played her, lied to her the entire time they were together? She doesn't have an honest answer. Over the past year she has gone through the motions of grieving for Ward, their lost love. Denial, hurt, anger, hate, what emotion is she going through now? Numb. Maybe she's just tired of dwelling on the past, what could have been. Is she ready to move on?
In the days that follow she hears nothing from Grant. Her phone remains silent. Her and the team, Coulson included are on the Bus (which has finally been repaired after a year of work) going back to the Playground after a mission that went south. They were transporting Whitehall to the Fridge when the convoy was attacked. He got away, thanks to Hydra. Skye can't say she's surprised, Whitehall is a powerful man with powerful friends.
''Skye see if you can find anything on the location of Whitehall, who he's talking to, if he's at a safe house''. ''Yes sir''. She forces herself to concentrate on the task at hand, she does not think about all the memories that the Bus holds. Full of better days, wide smiles and the kind of trust that only comes around once in a lifetime. Coulson, May, Skye, Fitz, Simmons and Ward were a family, they would have died for each other. Skye honestly thought nothing could tear them apart. That the outside world couldn't break the bonds they forged.
That they were stronger than anything the world could throw at them. But all of that is gone now, their house crumbled and burned, Ward can never return. He will always be that peice missing, the one Coulson has tried so hard to replace but just can't. No matter how much no one wants to admit it, it's true. Ward took something from all of them that they won't ever get back. Leaving everyone homesick and sad. ''I've got nothing on Whitehall sir, he's a ghost''. ''Damn it. Keep looking''. ''Yes sir''.
Trip comes to sit next to her, Bobbi and Hunter do the same. They all look at the screen at the same time just an alarm goes off. Skye rises from her seat and Coulson comes over. ''What's wrong?'' May then informs them that there's a jet headed directly for them, over riding their systems so they can board. ''Skye take care of it''. Coulson growls and pulls out his gun. ''May do we know who's on board?'' ''Negative''. ''Hydra?'' ''Possibly, but why? They have Whitehall''.
''Coulson we should let them board''. Bobbi says, twirling her batons. ''Why?'' ''See what they want, besides you have more than enough agents here to take them down''. Skye and Coulson share a glance and he agrees. Trip, Bobbi, Hunter, Skye, May, Coulson, Mack and a few other agents circle around the stair case, waiting. ''If it's Hydra we shoot first, ask questions later''. Coulson says as shoes start to walk down the stairs. ''Oh Phil come on, isn't that a little dramatic even for you?'' Everyone freezes as the voice carries down the floor.
Guns are expertly trained on his chest as the figure comes into view. Ward pauses at the base of the steps, hands lingering at his side. Eyes only for Skye who meets his gaze with nothing but anger. ''Ward? What the hell are you doing here?'' Grant ignores Coulson, his stare telling everyone exactly why he's here. They all look at Skye who doesn't lower her weapon. ''Hey Skye''. And when he smiles at her it's full of all her secrets, everything she's been doing for a year. He wouldn't tell Coulson would he?
He wouldn't expose her like that, right? He's looking at her like he can see all of her ghosts. Has he found something about her parents? If so, why did he come in person to tell her? Why didn't he call? What the hell is Ward up to?