If You Close Your Eyes Does It Almost Feel Like Nothing Changed At All
''Do you ever think about what would of happened if you weren't Hydra?'' Ward looks over to Daisy who has been standing stone still in the same spot for ten minutes since Skye and Grant left. Of course he's thought about it, how could he not? Every day. ''I do''. He can tell that Daisy's guard is up when she crosses her arms and won't meet his eyes. ''You'd still be apart of the team''. He nods, wonders where she's going with this.
Daisy seems uncomfortable, her shoulders start to shake. He gets it then, reads between the lines and what she can't say out loud. ''I'd still be with you''. It's an assumption really, who knows if they would have really stayed together. Ward would like to imagine they would. He'd be able to wake up to her every morning, he'd of been there when she got her powers. Protected her like he always swore he would.
Ward wouldn't of let Gonzalez hunt her down the way he did, he would of followed her to the Afterlife. Ward would have given up everything for her, should she only ask. That's when he realizes that no matter what universe he and Daisy are in, he's always going to love her. Grant was right. Daisy flashes him a smirk, ''you really think we would have made it?'' ''I know we would''. There's so much emotion in his voice Daisy has no other choice but to believe him.
''How do you do it?'' She asks him a few moments later, the subject of what could of been closed for now. ''Do what?'' She drinks in the sight of him, his short hair five o'clock shadow. Even in a small enclousure like Vault D he still looks dangerous. ''Live with yourself''. At first he thinks she means to insult him but by the guilt in her eyes that's not her intention at all. She's asking for advice about the terrible things she's done as well.
''How do you do it?'' She asks again when he doesn't answer right away, her dark brown eyes burning a hole in his skin. ''You just do, you live and breathe because you don't have another choice. It gets easier in time''. She's quiet for a while after that, still not moving. Still standing in the same spot her breathing even as she looks at everything but him. ''You have any theories on why someone would want to kill you?''
It's a stupid question that she doesn't realize until it's already out of her mouth. ''Think you already know the answer to that''. ''How did anyone even know you were here? Coulson didn't release an offical report''. ''You're the Shield agent Sk- Daisy. You tell me''. Her brow furrows in concentration as she pulls out her phone to log into the Playground's system. Security cameras, everything. All she sees is the Shield agent named Robert grab a gun and come down here.
''There's nothing. Cameras don't show anyone having any information on your whereabouts''. ''Do they know about the other me? Maybe they saw Grant walking around and then assumed Coulson brought him down here''. The thought had crossed her mind, Grant hasn't exactly been discreet especially since he and Skye were reunited. ''Maybe. I should go check on Skye, make sure she's okay. The door is locked by my code so no one can get in here expect for me''.
Ward nods and she starts to leave, tells him she'll be right back. When Daisy pulls on the door handle to open it, it doesn't budge. ''What the hell?'' She tries again, puts in her code three more times. Nothing. ''Something wrong?'' Daisy turns back to Ward with a frown. ''I think I'm locked in''. That puts him on high alert right away, thinking that someone has trapped them in here together, makes them easier to take out at the same time.
''It might be Coulson, maybe he's trying to keep me safe in case there's another attack''. What they both don't know is that upstairs in the lab while Grant is interrogating the agent who attempted to kill his wife, Skye and Kebo are watching this exchange between Daisy and Ward. And Skye decided that they weren't leaving Vault D until they worked out the bad blood between them. Really it's more for her entertainment than anything else.
And because she really doesn't believe that this is how Daisy and Ward's story ends. It can't. She refuses to accept that, if her and Grant can find love again why can't they? After trying to unlock the door for another half hour Daisy sighs and gets up from the stair she was sitting on. ''No luck?'' ''Nope. I don't know what's going on''. ''You think Skye is okay?'' Daisy gives Ward a small reassuring smile. ''We're tough, I'm sure she's fine''.
''That agent isn't going to be''. Ward tells her, a dark look in his eye. He knows himself and how fiercely protective he is on Skye/Daisy. Knows that Grant won't take any chances this time, that man is as good as dead. Daisy doesn't comment because she knows he's probably right. ''Why did you help me find my father?'' She asks him out of the blue, Ward wonders how fast her mind is going at the moment, she's scattered.
It seems so long ago he took her off the Bus and brought her to Cal. All he wanted to do was keep his promise, she deserved the chance to meet her father. ''I promised you I would''. Daisy drops his gaze, intense and smoldering as they drink her in. ''But why?'' Daisy takes a step closer to the cell and it hums against her skin, Ward's face if not for the barrier would nearly be touching her's. She can almost remember the smell of him the taste.
''It was the least I could do all things considering''. Is what he settles with, and it's not a lie. He wanted to help her after he'd burned everything down around her. He can't say it was because he loved her, she wouldn't believe that. Ward can't stop looking at her, so beautiful. Remembers the feeling of her hands in his hair, the look on her face at Providence when he grabbed her chin and kissed her. The taste of whiskey on her lips.
Upstairs Kebo and Skye lean farther into the screen, holding their breath.
''They can't do anything with that bloody barrier in between them Quake''.
''Shut up I can't hear''.
''Nothing to hear, they're just staring at each other''.
''It's a thing Popeye. You never noticed Grant I and I doing that?''
''It's still creepy''.
''It's love''.
''Whatever Quake, hand me another beer''.
Without warning the barrier is down and Daisy sucks in a breath, she can feel the heat of Ward's skin from where she's standing. See the burning intensity of his eyes as they fix on her unwavering. And for a moment it's almost as if the world outside doesn't exist. It's just her and him like it once was so many years ago it seems. When they were both different people. When he was Agent Grant Ward and she was still Skye with her long hair and dreams still intact.
Ward says her name like a caress against her cheek. Like he did when Coulson was removing him from the Playground to send back to Christian, that bag over his head. Almost desperate. Like he was drowning and she was the only thing that could save him. Then the spell is broken. Ward snaps out of it, backing away from her like there's a gun to his head. He's surprised to see the sting of rejection on her face, how it crumbles.
He can't go there. She doesn't want him. Her brain is just confused from the Hive situation they can never go back to that. Grant may have Skye but Ward will never have Daisy. Who shakes her head to clear the emotion from her face until she too backs away from him. Stands back in her original position and won't look at him. Her attention focused on her tablet.
What the hell was that? What was she thinking? She's with Lincoln, she cares about him so much! Ward doesn't mean anything to her anymore. He was just a small flicker of light in the chaos of her life. Bright and burning when he touched her, and no matter how hard she tries she just can't get that back. Not with Lincoln, and Daisy hates a small part of herself for it.
She settles with there's always going to be an attraction between her and Ward. That they have both spent time with their other selves and their chemistry is rubbing off on them. That's what she's going to tell herself. Daisy can't go down that road with Ward again, she's too afraid. Besides even if she wanted to, he clearly doesn't. Perhaps he's still in love with Kara, maybe he's still upset by her passing. And she's with Lincoln, end of story.
Daisy clears her throat and tries to unlock the door again, to no avail. She sighs loudly, ''looks like we're going to be stuck here for a while''. Ward is sitting on the old familiar cot and doesn't comment.
''Dammit they were so close!'' Skye yells at the video monitor before throwing a piece of popcorn at it. ''Get your head out of your ass Ward she wants you! Did you not see the look on her face?'' ''He can't hear you Quake''. ''Shut up''. Skye and Kebo are sitting side by side the screen between them on full volume, a pack of beer and a tub of popcorn between them. ''When are you going to let Daisy out?'' Skye chuckles, ''not until I win the bet''.
Kebo rolls his eyes. After Grant got Skye out of Vault D to get her stitched up and when he left to go question the man who tried to kill her, Skye and Kebo started watching Daisy and Ward. Skye bet him that they would kiss before the day was over and Kebo disagreed. It was a twenty dollar bet that Skye has no intention of losing. ''Popeye I'm telling you they're going to crack''. ''Did you see how fast Ward snapped out of it? No they're not''.
Skye shoves a handful of popcorn in her mouth and watches Daisy and Ward continue to ignore each other. Ward looks like he's brooding and Daisy is too engrossed in her tablet to pay him any mind. ''I'm bored. This is boring now. Make them talk about their feelings''. ''Yeah let me just go down there and force their feelings out of their mouths. Moron''. Kebo glances over to his friend and just slightly winces at the markings on her face.
Her right eye is swollen as is her forehead. When she takes a breath it looks like it hurts, her ribs are bruised. Kebo has no doubt that Grant is wiping the floor with that Shield agent. If it isn't dead already he's going to wish he was. ''Do you think she loves Lincoln?'' Kebo asks her and Skye shakes her head. ''I think she wants to, I think she's trying. But you know I attempted the same thing and I just couldn't do it. It was always going to be Grant''.
Skye twrls her wedding ring against her finger, seemingly lost in thought. If it all goes to hell and Daisy does end up brushing Ward off and being with Lincoln, Skye isn't sure she'd approve. Not that her opinion matters in this dimension but she wants her other half to be happy. She wants her to be with the person she's supposed to, the one she really loves. And that's Ward. ''Oh we have movement''. Skye looks back up at the screen.
Ward has moved from the cot to the edge of the cell, Daisy's eyes snap up to him. ''You planning on breaking out of here?'' She asks him. Ward says nothing, just continues to look at her. ''What?'' ''Just remembering''. ''Remembering what?'' Skye groans out loud and throws another piece of popcorn at the screen, ''you, you idiot! He's remembering you! God. Popeye I should just write on Ward's forehead I Love Daisy. Maybe then she'd get it''.
Kebo chuckles. ''What are you two doing?'' Kebo and Skye jump at the sound of Grant's voice behind them, having not heard him come in the lab. Skye gets up from her seat and puts the tablet face down on the table so Grant can't see. ''Nothing''. Her and Kebo answer in unison. Grant rolls his eyes and grabs a rag from beside Skye. Wipes the blood off his knuckles. Checks over to Skye to make sure she's alright, that she's not in pain.
He hears muffled low voices coming from the tablet beside them and raises a brow. ''So boss what did you find out?'' Quicker than either of them can react Grant snatches the tablet from the table and looks at it. And a deep sigh fills him. ''What did you do?'' He asks Kebo who throws his hands up. ''Why does it always have to be me?'' ''Did you two lock Daisy and Ward in Vault D?'' Grant looks in between them and knows that's exactly what happend.
''Maybe''. Skye answers, putting a hand on Grant's chest. ''Why?'' He sees popcorn and beer on the chairs where Kebo and her were obviously sitting. They've been into betting on everything recently and he can only wonder what it was about this time. ''Because you and I both know people need a push sometimes, and Daisy definitely needs one''. ''Yeah a big one, like off a cliff''. Kebo comments and Skye elbows him in the kidney.
''Skye you can't trap them in a small space and force feelings on them''. ''Actually you can boss, it almost worked''. Ward pinches the bridge of his nose and closes his eyes. Mutters something about how childlike they can be and they do not have time for this. ''Anyway what did you find out?'' Skye turns the conversation back to the present danger. Wraps her arms around Grant's shoulders and kisses his cheek. He relaxes into her embrace, his arms going about her waist.
''The guy isn't working alone, apparently him and a few other agents heard rumors that Ward was in Vault D. No one knows that I'm here well until now. Anyway I got the names of six other agents and they're all being questioned right now by Coulson''. ''Grant we can't exactly trust the Coulson here. He wants Ward dead just as much as the rest of them''. ''Daisy said she would leave Shield if anything happened to Ward, Coulson won't risk that''.
''So what do we do now?'' Grant glances at Kebo. ''Now we try and go back home. Kebo you have any leads on Marcus?'' ''Negative boss''. Skye buries her face in Grant's shirt, biting back her frustration because she's dying to see her kids. ''Just hang on a little longer Skye. I miss them too''. He whispers in her ear before kissing her forehead. ''In the mean time can you take Vault D off of lockdown?'' Skye and Kebo both frown.
''We were having a good time''. ''Fun's over''. ''He's such a buzz kill''. Skye tells Kebo who nods in agreement. ''Remember Quake he's a robot, he has too much fun he'll short circut''. Grant rolls his eyes again at the both of them when they start laughing. Skye unlocks the door to Vault D as Grant sits in Kebo's chair and pops open a beer. ''I'll go tell your other half the good news''. Skye kisses the top of his head before walking out of the lab. Both Grant and Kebo watch her as she walks down the stairs and tells Daisy she's free to leave, she can handle it from here.
Daisy and Ward glance at each other before she takes off and Skye stands in the middle of the room. ''You know I can get you out of here, all you have to do is tell me''. ''Are you okay?'' He takes in the damage on her face and how one arm is wrapped around her ribs. ''I'll be fine''. Ward walks out of the cell and up to her, checking her injuries closer. ''Grant found out about why that agent attacked you''. ''And?''
''There's six other people involved, all of whom have been caught and are being questioned right now''. Ward chuckles, ''Shield is trying so hard to protect me''. ''You can thank Daisy for that''. At the mention of her Ward grits his teeth. ''You know she cares about you''. ''Don't''. ''Ward I am her, literally. Don't give up on her, okay? I don't want to leave here without knowing you're safe, that you're happy. And I know she makes you happy''.
Ward looks at her deeply, takes her in. That wedding band on her finger that gives him hope even though it shouldn't. All he knows is that in another universe she loves him, she's his. Skye doesn't flinch when Ward's hand brushes against her cheek. ''Ward you''- He kisses her. Maybe it was from the rush of what almost happened with Daisy, but he just did it. She breaks away after a few seconds and takes a step back. A small smirk on her lips.
''Oh your counterpart is so going to kick your ass''.
Upstairs Kebo chokes on his beer and looks at Grant.
''Wait does this mean I lost the bet? That's the wrong girl Ward! You moron!''