Baby Girl Don't Get Cut On My Edges
Skye and Ward stare at each other for a full twenty seconds before anyone moves. Grant gets that cocky smirk of his (which she still isn't used to because Agent Grant Ward was anything but smug when it came to women, especially Skye.) She has to remind herself once again that the man she knew wasn't real. Just a cover for him to save Garrett. This is the real Grant, right here and now. And she doesn't like him. ''Hey baby''. He tells her, his voice smooth like bourbon.
''Don't talk to her''. May growls, stepping in front of Skye so Grant can no longer see her. The rest of the Shield agents crowd around her in a similiar fashion, creating a barrier, a wall between her and Ward. Protecting her from him. Guns are trained onto his chest but Ward acts like he couldn't care less, pacing up and down a small path as they watch him. ''What do you want Ward? Why are you here?'' Ward doesn't even bother to be subtle, his eyes on Skye again telling everyone exactly why he's on the Bus.
''I'm just here to keep a promise Coulson, hand over Skye and no one gets hurt''. So he did find something out about her parents. But why go to all this trouble? Why put himself in the hands of the people who want to kill him just to tell her about her mother and father? Why not just keep sending messages and meeting at random places like they agreed upon all those months ago? What's he got up his sleeve? ''No chance in hell Ward''. Coulson growls, raising his gun. Ward smiles again, ''thought you might say that. I'll make it easier for you, give me Skye and I won't blow this plane to pieces''. ''You don't have that kind of power''.
And because these days Ward is nothng if not dramatic, Mack yells from across the plane that missiles have been locked onto the Bus. Ward spreads his arms out in front of him, ''you were saying?'' Bobbi twirls her batons and May takes a step closer to Ward. ''You want her? Come get her''. The Bus is filled with Ward's small chuckle. ''Oh I think she's going to come willingly, aren't you Skye?'' He looks at her again and she grits her teeth, shares a look with May. ''Don't listen to him, you're not going anywhere''. ''Skye look at me''. Ward's voice is soft, rich.
Skye meets his eyes and his expression is open, perhaps even honest. Reminding her of the night in his hotel room last week, his warm arms around her once again. Comforting her, holding her close almost as if he was sheltering her from the truth. Like he wanted to save her. Grant can tell the second she falters, just a tad. A small crack in the armor she's built to keep him out, the taste of this small victory is flowing across his lips. ''I promised you I'd help you with your parents. That's all I'm trying to do''.
''Don't listen to him Skye, he's lying''. Ward rolls his eyes, ''Skye you know me''. She could laugh at this. ''I told you I would never lie to you''. ''That's all you ever do Ward, Skye isn't going anywhere with you. And you won't blow up this plane, especially if she's on it''. The air is thick with tension as Grant and Coulson stare each other down. Skye's choice is obvious, he has information on her parents that she's been so desperate for. ''Fine. I'll go with you''.
May turns to galre at her and Coulson takes her wrist in his hand as she moves to walk up to Grant. ''Coulson I don't have a choice''. He frowns at her but let's her go. ''This isn't over Ward, we'll find her and I'll kill you''. ''Good luck with that Coulson''. Grant looks down at her and holds out his hand. She clenches her jaw and gives him her gun. ''Skye''. Bobbi calls as they are halfway up the stairs. ''Next time you shoot him, aim for his face''. She nods, Ward winces.
Grant has a firm grip on her arm as they board a small jet. Once the ramp is closed he releases her. ''Wait here''. He mutters before disappearing behind a corner. The jet is cold, nearly empty save for a few bags on the floor. She half wonders if someone else is flying as they take off, Ward wouldn't of left her alone if he was going to be gone for long. What the hell is his plan? Why didn't he stick to what they originally agreed upon? ''Ward?'' No answer.
Without warning a man ambushes her. He's fast and has an arm wrapped around her torso before she can blink. But the Calvary taught her well. At first he has the upper hand but she strikes back with a kick to the ribs and her fingers crushing his wind pipe. She slams him into one of the steel walls and breaks his nose, nearly shattering his jaw as well. After a few minutes she has him on the floor in a headlock, cutting off his air ways. Nails biting into the skin of his neck. He starts gasping Ward's name.
Just as his body is starting to relax into her Ward is behind her ripping her away. She breaks out of his hold as the man struggles for air below them. Skye lands a few swift kicks to his kidney before Ward is grabbing for her again. She spots a gun holstered to the man's thigh and goes for it, but with the last of his energy he manages to shove her off, his fist meeting her chin. ''Skye enough!'' Ward's hold is steel this time, strong and hard. She can't fight her way out of it.
''What the hell is going on? Kebo what's wrong with you?'' The man, Kebo, shakily gets to his feet and glares at Skye. Wipes the blood from his face. ''Thought she deserved that. Who the hell trained you?'' ''Melinda May''. Kebo visibly pales at this before recovering, getting a rag from the floor and putting it to his nose. ''Grant what is going on? Was this your plan? Get me off the Bus and have your buddy attack me?'' ''No, Kebo wasn't supposed to do this''.
Ward's tone is dark, the edges sharp as razors as he glares at his friend. ''She shot you robot, figured she needed to pay for that''. At this Ward let's her go, but not before checking her face and the rest of her for wounds. He turns to Kebo, towers over him. And hits him square in the jaw, he goes down with a groan. ''Bloody hell super spy she already hit me! That was over kill don't you think?'' ''You touch her again and I will throw you out of this jet''.
Skye watches as Ward then helps Kebo up and throws him a medical kit. ''Get cleaned up and come back''. ''Yes sir''. Kebo doesn't meet her eyes as he leaves them alone. Grant looks back at her, asks if she's alright. ''Just tell me what's going on. What's that guy's problem?'' Skye crosses her arms as Ward moves in a little closer to her. ''Kebo is an old friend''. ''You have friends?'' ''Few. Look I don't know what got into him but I'll deal with it. I'm sorry''. ''It's fine''.
He pulls out a phone and hands it to her. ''I wasn't lying when I said I was keeping my promise. I found your dad''. Skye sucks in a breath, starts to shake. ''I've arranged a meeting, after that Shield will pick you up and we're good''. ''No Ward we're not good. We've played let's kidnap Skye before, and it didn't end well for you''. The small space is filled with that fateful day last year on the Bus, when they lost it all. Each other, their love they fought and bled for.
''I just want to help you. The other night''- ''The other night was a mistake Grant. A momentary lapse in judgement. Something that will never happen again''. He expected as much, he knows for Skye it didn't mean anything. But to him, for those few hours he had her back. Safe and warm in his arms, something he thought he would never have the privilege of doing again. He brushes those emotions off, his hurt at Skye's words. Knows he deserves it.
But there's just something in her eyes right now, it makes him pause. For a second. A breath. She's staring up at him with her brown eyes, struggling to mask her feelings like May taught her. Skye seems almost child like, vulnerable. She must be afraid to meet her father. Or she's scared of him, of what he did today. The lengths he went to get her alone. ''You were really going to blow up the Bus if I didn't go with you?'' She asks, the fact that she even has to proves how far apart they really are.
He doesn't answer. Turns on his heel and walks in the direction Kebo went. Skye runs her fingers lightly over her jaw, she'll have a bruise in the morning. She takes a seat and crosses her legs, closes her eyes. Feels a another body enter the bay. Skye looks to see a woman with dark hair holding out an ice pack to her. She seems familiar but can't put her finger on it. ''Figured you could use it''. The woman says and Skye takes the cool package and puts it to her face.
'Who are you? Why are you with Ward?'' The woman offers up a small almost private smile. ''He saved my life''. ''Wow Ward saving a life instead of taking one, that's new''. ''He's a good man, you believed that once''. Skye raises an eyebrow, ''who are you?'' The woman takes the seat across from her. ''Guess it's hard to recognize me without your SO's face''. ''Oh my god. Agent Thirty Three?'' ''It's Kara''. ''Oh''. ''Yeah, nice to meet you too''.
''What happened to you?'' Skye presses the ice pack harder into her cheek. ''You mean after Shield betrayed me? Turned me over to Hydra and once I escaped tried to kill me? I found Ward in the alley where you shot him, cleaned him up and he helped me. Got me out from the damage Hydra did to me, I've been with him ever since''. Skye detects the depth of emotion in Kara's voice when she talks about Ward. Kara notices how stone Skye is on the subject of her ex-boyfriend. ''That's why Kebo hit you, he wanted you to suffer like Grant did''.
Skye has no response to this. Grant and Kebo never come out the entire flight. Skye and Kara sit in silence. Once they land Ward is at Skye's side once more, gets a pair of cable ties from his back pocket and binds her wrists. ''Don't look at me like that. If I remember correctly you don't mind these''. Ward winks at her and Skye wishes her hands weren't tied so she could punch him in the face. They are at a base, Hydra more than likely and Skye glares at Grant.
''Pick a side Ward''. She mutters as they walk through the building. ''I have''. Is all he says. Ward comments at how well May has trained Skye, the way she checks out the exits, how many men there are. Doesn't mention how he is the one who taught her everything she knows, May just picked up where he left off. When they get to a pair of double doors Skye stops, digs her heels into the floor, she starts shaking in Ward's hands. Knows that her father is right on the other side.
Ward cuts the ties and she rubs her wrists, feels his thumbs ghost across her skin but doesn't comment. ''You ready?'' ''Don't really have a choice do I? Coulson is going to come for me''. ''Skye I'm not going to make you do this. You came to me for help and I'm giving it to you. Not once have you told me you didn't want this. If you changed your mind, fine. Tell me and I'll get you back to Shield''. She flicks her bangs out of her eyes and runs her hands across her arms.
''You're afraid''. Ward observes, longing to hold her again. To calm her fears. Her father is a dangerous man, which is why Ward is going to be on the other side of this door the entire time. Waiting, listening. Nothing is going to happen to her. But he loves Skye, and Ward can't fault Cal for that. ''Oh now you care about my feelings?'' Slightly, she almost doesn't feel it, his fingers roam across her knuckles. ''Just say the word and we'll leave''.
Skye takes a deep breath. Calls on her training. ''No. I want to do this''. She's waited years to find her parents, she won't give up now. Ward leans around her and opens the door. It feels like she's going to have a heart attack, her stomach clenches. A man sits on the leather couch, rises from it with a hesitant smile. ''I'll be right out here''. Ward promises to Skye, it's a threat to Cal. Who narrows his eyes at Ward as he leaves them alone. ''Look at that, the way you tilt your head. It's just like- is it nature or nurture?'' Skye can't breathe.
In the end she should have known this would all crash and burn. Everything does when Grant is involved. Her Cal and Grant are all taken hostage by Hydra agents, well Skye and Cal are. She really isn't sure what Ward's play is here. It also hasn't escaped Skye that Ward hasn't taken his eyes off her once. They're led down a hallway and stop in front of Whitehall and much to Skye's surprise, Raina. ''Should of known you'd be involved''. Skye tells Whitehall who smiles at her.
''Agent Skye wonderful to see you again. I see you've met your father''. Skye turns her hand to look at Cal, fights off tears again. She knows the horrible things he's done, he's a monster. But she can't help it, there's a part of her that wants to save him. The way she couldn't save her mother from Whitehall. He starts talking about the Diviner which is something Shield has been searching for for ages, the alien writing Coulson has been doing is finally explained.
That's what this is all about. Hydra got their hands on the weapon, that has to be the reason Ward is also here. It wasn't just to lead Skye to Cal, he's still working with Hydra. Whitehall opens a container that holds the obelisk and he tells her to pick it up. ''You first''. Ward tenses, shuffles closer to Skye who shares a look with Cal. Stick to the plan. Until a gun is pointed at her head, which she rolls her eyes. Both at the situation and at Ward who looks like he's about to lose her.
He calls her name as soon as the obelisk hits her skin, fear clawing at him. It glows. Calls to her. Skye feels the rush of something enter her. She only has half a second to be afraid and then she strikes. Jams the weapon into the neck of a Hydra agent, Cal attacks and Ward shoots a few agents next to her. But they're sadly out numbered and Skye tells him to stand down. ''I hope you're as speacial as your mother''. Grant looks at Skye who's shaking, fighting off her emotions.
''You are the piece of the puzzle I can't decipher''. Whitehall tells Ward, who sighs as the gun is taken out of his hands. ''Why are you really here?'' ''Is it really that hard to see?'' Raina asks, knowing full well the relationship between Skye and Ward. ''It's love. Agent Ward believes if he reunites her with her father, she'll see him for who he really is''. Skye bites the inside of her cheek, igores the look Grant is giving her right now. They don't have time for love and broken hearts.
''It's a pity you won't get to see that''. Whitehall tells Skye who hasn't stopped glaring at him. ''Secure him''. He tells his men as they turn to Ward after knocking out Cal. The other men have Skye in a hold and now they know Ward will do whatever they ask if she's in danger. ''Remain alert around Agent Ward he's a trained killer, one of the best. I have a feeling that in time I can make you comply''. Skye fights at this, and Ward gives Whitehall a deadly smirk.
They're tied up to chairs, Cal is still out cold. Ward is on the other side of the room. ''You okay?'' ''I will be as soon as I get out of here''. ''I'm working on it''. ''How are you going to get out of a chair that you're tied in? I can't''. Ward smothers his smile, ''always doubting my skills Skye''. They remain quiet, the only sound is their breathing. ''Whitehall is going to pay for what he's done''. Ward tells her after a while. ''Isn't he your boss?'' ''When are you going to believe that I'm not in Hydra anymore? I told you I was loyal to Garrett, that's it''.
''Whitehall said he was going to deal with you after what you did to him, when you captured him for me''. ''I can handle it''. Skye doesn't understand why she suddenly gets the worry for Ward, why she's concerned for his well being all of a sudden. ''Coulson is going to send a team after you''. Why is she telling him this? Why is she warning him? He's the enemy here, he's been the enemy since they found out who he really was. What's wrong with her?
Grant looks over to her, ''you shouldn't tell me that. I'm the enemy, remember?'' ''How can I forget?'' Ward's expression turns sad. ''There was a time when you weren't so hard, bitter''. ''There was also a time when you weren't a lying disgusting back stabbing traitor who lied to me the whole time we were together. Things change Ward''. The feeling is back in her chest, the raw aching one that hasn't gone away since the day she left him.
''I'm sorry Skye''. She winces, screws her eyes shut. ''I don't want to hear your apologies. Why are we talking about this? What happened between us is dead and gone, in the past''. He's about to say it isn't, that there's always going to be something between them they can't escape from. But he doesn't. ''Because you're tied to a chair and can't run from me. I am sorry Skye, I want you to know that. I never wanted you to be hurt''. ''Was that before or after Quinn shot me?'' ''I told you I had nothing to do with that''. ''And I was supposed to believe you?''
''Yes. I would never hurt you''. She laughs, harsh and broken. ''A little too late for that. I trusted you and you took advantage of that''. ''I know''. She drops her gaze and Whitehall comes in. Grant strains against his ties to see him in front of Skye, threatening her and touching her knee. And then the Calvary arrives, Shield is here. Skye could smile in relief as Whitehall leaves them again. ''Told you Coulson would come for me''. She tells Ward who rolls his eyes, ''do you want a gold star?'' ''What happened to your friends?''
Skye hasn't seen Kebo or Kara since they left the jet. ''They're around''. Cal wakes then, knocks out a guard and tells Skye to wait while he takes care of Whitehall. Which is when Ward manages to get a knife off the agent and untie himself. Gets over to Skye and can't help himself, brushes his hand across her knee as he unties her. Walks to the doors prepared to leave when a sea of Hydra agetns approach them. He slams the doors shut and braces it with chairs and the rope from their chairs. ''What's going on?'' Ward gets a gun loads it.
''We're surrounded''. Skye peaks out from a crack in the door and sighs. ''Is there a back way to get out of here?'' Ward nods to the corner of the room where there's a small door. She walks to it alone, turns around to see Grant getting another gun in his hand. ''Aren't you coming?'' ''I'll hold them off while you get out. Go find Coulson''. She gapes at him, ''there's like a hundred guys out there''. ''There's twenty five''. Neither of them thinks about the janitor's closet, the way she kissed him. ''Ward it's suicide''. ''I'll be fine''.
She's next to him once more and the doors begin to shake. ''As long as you're safe I'll be fine. I can handle it Skye''. Fear eats away at her suddenly, she doesn't know why. It shouldn't matter to her if he lives or dies, hell she should do what he wants and leave him here. He's not going to make it out of this. Ward looks down at her to see her eyes filling with tears which she blinks back. ''Skye, don't. Go''. ''You'll die''. ''Guess it's a win win for you''. ''Grant''-
He pulls her back as bullets fly aroud them, presses her into the wall, his body covering hers. Skye opens her eyes to find Ward's whiskey gaze burning into her, everything he can't say swimming in his face. In this moment she forgets about the immediate danger, can't breathe as his breath brushes against her cheek. She can't stop him from doing this, this is his way of making up everything to her. He thinks that dying so she can escape is the right thing to do.
The doors are begininng to be kicked in, the wood cracks under boots. ''Skye go''. ''Grant I''- In a flurry of movement he grabs her face, the guns in his hands cool against her face. ''Skye I love you. Now go''. Then his mouth is warm and smooth against her own. Her hands move of their own accord as she tangles them in his hair, then roam over his back. Crushing him to her. Like she can force him to go with her. He pulls back just as the doors open and shoves her to the way out. The last thing she sees is Ward pull the trigger. Then she's gone.
When Skye woke up this morning she had no idea any of this would happen. She didn't plan on losing Ward, possibly for good. She had no intention of almost killing her father when he nearly killed Coulson, and she had no plans to go down into a temple to stop Raina from destroying the world. But all of it happened. Skye lost herself down there.
Lost Trip. Became someone else entirely, something else. And when the obelisk freezes her bones and she feels her skin harden, her lungs scream for air. The last thought she has is how sorry she is. For everything. That she's going to die here right along with Trip and Ward.