I'm Hoping You Could Save Me Now But You Break & Fold

Skye blinks back against the dust, the moons hanging high almost taunting her. How in the hell is she supposed to get out of here? Why did Marcus send her to an alien planet, let alone the one Simmons was trapped on all that time ago? With a sick feeling in her gut Skye quickly realizes which timeline she's in. This was where she was known as Daisy, and the fued between Shield and Hydra became personal. Ward is the Director in this universe.

Which means Coulson is out for blood. This is the planet where Coulson tries to kill Ward. In Skye's dimension she stopped Phil from hurting him, Ward got off this planet safely with Fitz by his side. She doesn't know what's going to happen here, who's going to live or die. But why is she on this planet specifically? She doubts anyone from Shield or Hydra is even here, what a coincidence that would be. That she's on Maveth the exact moment Coulson and Ward are.

Skye looks around the desert like landscape and sighs, decides to start walking. There isn't a lot to look at, just piles and piles of sand. She's weary, remembering in her day the creature that was on this planet. The threat that loomed over them all if Ward didn't bring back Fitz in one piece. Is it still here? She can't remember what Fitz told her about it's weaknesses, if it had any. Skye wipes the back of her palm across her forehead, how is she going to get off this planet?

''Skye?'' She freezes in her steps, she'd know that voice anywhere. Ward. He's here. She turns to find him a few feet away from her, shock on his face. Skye can tell instantly that it's not her husband. This Ward is slightly younger, more broken. In a very similiar state to when she first came back to him all those years ago. But much like Grant, Ward looks at her like she's the sun. Skye muses on the fact that some things never change, no matter what universe she's in.

Ward takes in the woman before him, and realizes that it's not the Skye he's used to. Granted he hasn't seen Skye in a very long time, but this one is different. He can't exactly pin what it is that makes him question her, but there's something. Plus he takes in the long hair that travels down her back she had bangs the last time they saw each other. He notices her wedding ring and knows that this is the Skye from Grant's world, his wfe. The one who loves him, and his already bitter heart hardens further.

Skye is looking at him like she's overjoyed to see him, it's not an expression he's associated with her in years. It stumps him, another thing she hasn't done to him in ages. And then she flashes that smile of hers, like she knows him. All his demons, those ghosts not even Kara knew about. Which he supposes she does, Grant probably told her all of it. She no longer looks sad or bitter like she did when Coulson recruited him on that mission last year to save her.

She looks happy, no trace of the past hanuts her eyes. There's a relief at this that Ward does not understand. He should be cautious about her, she did shoot him four times. She hates him, would love to see him rot on this god forsaken planet. And then he's the one who is frozen on the spot when her dark eyes meet his. They are so full of love and adoration, so plane on her face that it throws him. He actually for half a second believes that maybe she thinks he is her Grant. Her husband. But quickly dismisses the idea, she's smarter than that.

But the look on her face has him shaking slightly. Skye has only looked at him this way twice. Once in that janitor's closet in what feels like another lifetime, and once at the Providence base. When he told her he wasn't a good man, before he broke her heart. Broke apart the only family they had both ever known. Ward finds himself wanting to fall down at her feet and beg for her forgiveness, for things she has probably already forgiven her Grant for.

This isn't the Skye in his world that needs his apologies, but he wants to give them to her anyway. Tell her that Grant was right about everything, that he will love her always. And if he should die he'll love her in the next life as well. He has to remind himself that this Skye already knows all of that, that she's the wrong woman to lay his soul before. Ward forces the words down into his stomach, bites them back when they move up to his throat.

Skye comes to him, looking radiant against the back drop of the moons, the blue atmosphere around them. ''What are you doing here?'' She asks, and Ward realizes he's missed the sound of her voice. The last words they spoke to each other were so long ago and she was still so angry with him. ''I could ask you the same thing''. ''I asked you first''. Ward has the urge to roll his eyes, a familiar reaction where Skye is concerned. ''Do you know who I am?''

To anyone else it'd be a stupid question, but Ward knows what she means. If he knows she is not the Skye he's used to. Ward nods, ''my guess is you're from the same dimension that the other me came from''. She seems surprised, like she wasn't expecting Grant to reach him already. ''You and Grant met already?'' Ward looks around with expert eyes and tells her they need to get out of the open. Somewhere safe and hidden. Skye nods, trusting him. Something else he isn't familiar with. Trust with her has been long dead.

''When did Grant find you?'' Ward has led her to a vast valley of rocks, safely hidden for a moment. They are tucked in a tight corner, shoulders touching. Skye clearly doesn't mind, but Ward is on edge. The last time he was free to be this close to her, they were two very different people. Skye seems to know this, puts a soft hand on his arm. It also doesn't escape his notice the way she's looking at him, her eyes dark and wide. The way her hand clutches his dark gray shirt like she's holding onto him for dear life.

''I'm sorry, I've just been so worried about you. Or Grant, he left a few days ago and I've been so scared''. Her voice breaks, and Ward fights his hands that itch to hold her. He has no right, thought he buried those feelings for this woman deep down. Clearly seeing her has brought them to light, and Ward is struggling with himself. Skye looks into his eyes, so full of understanding and sympathy. ''Are you alright? What are you even doing out here?''

Concern. She's actually concerned for his well being, this throws him as well. Ward locks everything down, puts this situation in a box to mull over later. Right now his main objective is to get what he came here for, and get both of them back to earth without incident. ''I'm fine. Hydra business that I needed to attend to''. Skye raises an eyebrow which makes Ward think that his counterpart usually caves when she does this. It has the same effect on Ward.

''You came to another planet for Hydra business? God, Ward please tell me you aren't here to find that creature Fitz warned us about''. Skye has years of experience in reading his facial expressions, so she can tell that she's right. Which causes her to sigh, look at him in an almost fussing manner. ''You're an idiot, you do realize that this mission could get you killed right? You might be okay with that but I'm not''. He's struck by the emotion in her voice, so raw.

''The Skye from this world could care less if I lived or died''. This causes Skye to frown. Ward is a broken man who needs someone to hold him, tell him that everything is going to be okay. That someone cares about him. So that's what she does. Clearly Grant couldn't get through to his other half, maybe she can. After all she did save him once before, why not do it again? Carefully so he has time to decide if wants it or not, she wraps both arms around his bicep. ''I care. I care if you live or die Ward''. This may not be her husband, but it's version of him. And she can't stand by and watch him suffer.

He's clearly shaken by her comment but hides it well. ''It's not true by the way, Skye does care about you. She might not show it, but she does. Trust me robot, I know''. She winks at him and Ward finds himself smiling. She smiles back and there's the sensation of a weight falling off his chest. Something he's held onto for so long is gone from him, always seeing the hatred in Skye's face. That's not the case here. ''You know Grant said something similiar''. ''What did he tell you?'' So Ward gives her a run down of their conversation a few days ago.

''You're happy in your world''. Skye nods, her arms still around his. Ward has relaxed in her embrace, and just like her husband he begins to melt under her touch. ''And so are you. Ward you can be happy again, just let me help you. I did it once, I can do it again''. Ward does not answer for a long moment, surveys their surroundings as the dust begins to pick up. ''There's nothing left for me''. Ward looks down at her, sees everything he can't have.

''That's not true. You deserve happiness Ward, and you'll get it. I'm not leaving you until that happens''. But he's shaking his head, not believing her. ''It was all over when I betrayed the team, when I left you''. There's old sadness in Skye's face, they've had this conversation in another time. And somewhere in that universe Grant listened to her, but not this one. Ward thinks he is too far gone, that he deserves nothing. Skye moves and cups his cheek, it's a shock to his system.

Her smooth skin against the stubble on his cheek. It takes him back to a place full of board games, early morning training sessions and wrapping her hands before the sun came up. Innocent times, before the world caved in and he burned too many bridges to ever forgive himself. ''You are not worthless Ward, everyone is capable of being saved''. Her expression is so full of love he can't breathe. ''I wish I could believe you''. A shadow catches his eye before she can respond, and in one quick move he's shoving Skye behind him.

''When I tell you to run, run. Don't look back. Hydra is going to be opening a portal in exactly twenty minutes. We don't have a lot of time, we have to make it over that ridge''. Ward points to a distance rather far away and Skye's hands begin to clutch his back. Ward pushes down the feelings that follow. ''That creature is here, isn't it?'' Ward nods and hides a jump when her small hand slips into his palm. ''Well let's go then super spy''. She has too much faith in him, he thinks. He doesn't deserve it.

A dust storm suddenly strikes and Skye can't see. She's relying on Ward at this point as they sprint across the sand. He never once let's go of her hand or falters in his step. She starts to sweat as the minutes stretch on, her fingers slipping inside of Ward's. He tightens his grip almost to the point of pain, but she doesn't mind. Then she can't see at all, the dust is so thick and blinding. She stops moving, and a sharp tug brings her back to reality.''We have to keep moving Skye!'' ''I can't see anything! I don't even know where we're going!''

His hold on her remains firm. She can't see him but he's rooting her into place like Grant has over the past years. It's comforting, in a way. Even if he is not her husband, Skye knows Ward would never let anything happen to her. ''We're almost there, just a little longer''. ''God you sound like my SO again''. She thinks he laughs, but isn't sure. Skye isn't sure how long they keep running, but Ward suddenly stops. ''Ward? What's wrong?'' He let's go of her hand, which is the first red flag. ''Skye, go''. She squints and goes rigid.

The air has cleared some what, just enough for her to see what's happening. That evil Hydra creature is in front of them, a black mass that screams danger. It's faceless, but Skye could swear there's a chill radiating from it that gives goose bumps on her arms. ''Don't be an idiot, I'm not going without you''. ''Skye get the hell off this planet now''. ''I'm not going anywhere without you''. Ward actually starts pulling her in the other direction, all the while keeping her behind him. ''Grant Ward if you dont''- A sound cuts her off.

Ward's sudden halt in movement gives her pause. But the sound. Oh god the sound. A crunch, an exhale of breath. Painful. Broken. Ward suddenly slumps and falls to the ground. Skye screams and is on her knees beside him. Not even caring about the creature that could very well attack her next. ''Ward? Ward? Can you hear me?'' She grabs at his face that's growing pale. What the hell happened? Skye looks down at swallows back vomit.

His chest. His chest has been caved in. Oh god. ''Ward? Ward look at me, look at me. You're going to be fine. I promise I'm going to get you out of here, okay? I just need you to hold on''. She chokes on her tears, on the dust working it's way into her lungs. ''The portal will open soon and I'm going to get you home okay? You are not allowed to die on me, not again''. Ward's breathing is becoming slow under her hands. He's staring up at her like she's the most beautiful person he's ever seen.

Skye can't react. Or breathe. Or think. What's happening? Her hands continue to grab at his face, screaming his name over and over. ''Stay with me please. Grant just don't leave, please don't. Hold on, just hold on a second longer''. His cheeks are soaked with her tears and his hands twitch at his side, begging to soothe her. Comfort her in way. To tell her he's sorry, sorry that she has to see a version of her love die. ''Skye''. He draws out, his voice ragged and weak.

She leans her forehead against his, hands still cupping cheeks. ''Ward I love you, I would love you in any lifetime. Stay with me, stay. Please. I won't lose you again''. She closes her eyes and sobs into his skin, her whole body shaking with an old grief that she never thought she'd have to go through again. The planet fades the wind the danger means nothing in this moment. When Skye leans back to look at Ward's face she screams. His whiskey eyes are staring at nothing.

His breathing is no longer under her fingers. Her powers seek out the vibrations of his life force, but come up empty. ''No no no no no Ward you can't. You can't go away you can't leave me this wasn't supposed to happen. Skye loves you, I love you and you can't just leave''. Her words become a jumbled mess, her teeth clash against her lips and her lungs feel like they are on fire.

She can't be. Skye can't be going through this again. Logically a part of her knows that this isn't her husband, that Grant is still alive somewhere out there. But this is him, in a sense. And she's just had to watch him die, again. Skye curls herself around his body, using her own as a shield against whatever is coming for him. There are no words to describe her in this moment, just that a sadness has overtaken everything inside her. That it hurts. Hurts every cell in her body.

Skye can't form a proper thought, all she wants to do is lie here with him. Her hands in his hair. If someone were observing this situation from above they would see Skye with her small form tucked into Ward's. Her already raw voice saying his name over and over, her tears soaking into the gray shirt he'll never take off again. Her face buried in his neck that no longer holds a pulse. They could hear her occasional screams, the sobs that tear out of her mouth.

They would also see when she loses it, when it's too much for her to take. To absorb and deal with. So she slumps against Ward's body, going limp and her mind growing dark. So she isn't aware when another portal opens, when it isn't who Ward said it would be. It's not Hydra, it's Shield. Coulson and Fitz to be exact, they arrive close to where Skye is, and of course recognize her instantly. In half a second Coulson has her in his arms and him and Fitz look down at Ward.

No words are exchanged, nothing is said on behalf of the man who was once their friend. Neither men spare a glance back as they get Skye off Maveth and back to earth. Leaving the blue skies behind, not knowing the horror that will be unleashed because of that mistake.

''Wait so you're sure sir?''

''Ward is really dead?''

''Who killed him?''

''Why was she there in the first place?''

''Shouldn't someone find Grant and tell him?''

''He's off the grid Fitz''.

''Coulson you said she was lying next to his body?''

''I'm glad he's dead''.

''Skye won't be''.

''Where is Daisy? Has anyone told her about recenet events?''

Skye opens her eyes slowly and with struggle. It feels like they've been glued shut for a long time. Her entire body aches, her heart feels like it's in shambles. She remembers everything, it all comes back in a rush. Seeing the other Ward and then losing him. Skye thinks she might be calling out for him but her throat is so sore and dry. ''It's alright Skye, you're safe now''. Is that Simmons? Is she still in the other dimension? Or is she at Shield, her Shield back home?

Simmons is standing next to her with short hair. So Skye is still in the other world, the one where she watched Ward die again. Skye sits up and takes in her enviorment. She's in the lab on a cot, everyone from the team is there. It's odd not seeing Grant amoung their friends and Skye has to remind herself that this isn't the life she's used to. If it was none of this would have happened. Skye looks around the room, no one looks sad about the situation.

Which makes her angry. Again she has to remind herself that none of these people love Ward like they do in her world, they are all glad he's dead. Skye looks Coulson dead in the eye, the room shakes violently. ''Where is my husband?'' Coulson exchanges a look with May, Skye notices that her counterpart is not present at the moment. ''Why don't you get some rest Skye and I'll explain everything''. ''Is he dead? Dead like Ward?'' She chokes on the words, puts a hand over her mouth to cover the sob.

Skye heard Coulson say he was off the grid a second ago, but he could have been lying. ''I don't need rest. What I need is for you to tell me if I have to kill you or not. Because if you harmed Grant in any way I will tear this place apart and lock you inside''. Her hysterical tone turns hostile and the Playground rumbles, ceiling tiles start to fall. Before anyone can respond a needle is slid into her vein, and Skye falls back against the pillows.

Coulson honestly considers putting her in Vault D, but when Grant gets back and he finds out, it wouldn't be pretty for anyone. ''What are we going to do with her sir?'' Coulson looks at Skye with a frown. ''Wait for Grant to get back then we'll find a way to send them back home. They failed in their mission to save Ward. If that Inhuman exists in their world he will too in ours. Fitz find him for me''. ''Yes sir''. Coulson walks up to Skye, a woman so different than the one he's used to these days.

Her hair is long like when he first met her, Daisy Johnson does not reside in her bones. Coulson wishes more than anything some days that he could have those months on the Bus back. Where the world wasn't so cruel, where his team was still innocent and new. Not completely different versions of themselves that he hardly recognizes anymore. Looking down at Skye he is glad she found a life outside of this organization, she deserves to be happy.

So did Ward. And Coulson would be lying if he said he didn't feel a small pang in his chest at the knowledge that Ward is dead and gone.