Disclaimer- I don't own Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Story- A few chapters.
Ward had just finished helping the last of the tenants out of the collapsed apartment building when he heard a small whine. It wasn't loud and didn't sound like a human. As far as Ward could tell, it was coming from under a small pile of rubble and collapsed beams. The specialist frowned; he knew all of the people were out and accounted for, so he didn't think it was a person. He crouched down and started pulling off debris, only to fall straight back on his bottom as a dog leapt out and started to lick him. He was quite glad that none of the team was around to see him. Ward held the dog back at arm's length. Up close he could see that it was a girl. She had fluffy, though dirty, light brown fur and pretty brown eyes that reminded him of Skye.
"Hey, girl" he said softly. The dog whined and licked his nose, then sat back and lifted a paw in the air. Ward tilted his head, and the dog tilted her head, panting happily.
"What have you got there?" Coulson came up behind Ward.
"A dog."
Coulson sighed. It seemed that all anyone could get out of the specialist lately was a few words at most.
"I can see that" he remarked drily. Ward felt a small grin spread over his face. He ruffled the dog's fur and she wagged her tail. The fluffy tail whacked Coulson in the leg, making a soft swishing sound.
"She seems to be a stray, sir. I was, uh, thinking I could take her in. At least until we find an animal shelter." Ward looked up hopefully at the agent.
Coulson shook his head regretfully.
"We can't have animals on the Bus." He said quietly, hating to see the disappointment on Ward's face.
Ward nodded and ran his fingers through the dog's thick fur. He stood up slowly.
"Stay here, girl" he said softly and followed Coulson back to the team. Neither man noticed the dog slinking along behind him.
Ward was seated alone, as usual. After everything that had happened, the entire team did everything they could to avoid him. He didn't really mind, after all he couldn't blame them. The specialist fiddled with his sandwich, not really in the mood to eat. He couldn't keep the dog out of his mind. When they had gotten back to the Bus, Ward had done some research, trying to figure out what breed of dog she was. He had finally decided she was a Siberian Husky. After going through several websites (including Wikipedia), Ward now desperately wanted a husky. As he sat by himself, picking at his lunch, he heard a whine.
He shook his head, there was absolutely no way that the dog was there. He was probably just hallucinating. When Ward felt a cool nose press against his hand and a warm head rest against his leg, he started to rethink the hallucination theory. Unless Skye's, Fitz's, Simmon's, May's, or Coulson's nose was wet and they liked to lean their head against someone's leg, it was the dog.
"How'd you get on here, sweetie?" he asked, sliding out of his seat and kneeling in front of her. Ward smiled as the dog enthusiastically licked his cheek and wagged her tail. She lifted both paws in the air, looking extremely pleased with herself. However, her pose only lasted a few minutes before she fell back. Ward quickly put his arm behind her back and caught her. The dog licked his cheek in gratitude and Ward felt a pain blossom in his chest. The dog reminded him too much of Buddy and Ward roughly brushed an arm across his eyes, swiftly pushing away the tears that threatened to spill.
"You need a name," Ward declared. He looked her over, again noticing her soft brown eyes and an idea came to mind.
"Sky. We'll just leave off the 'e' on the end" he said. The dog, now Sky, seemed to smile and let out a soft woof. Ward quickly held a finger to his lips and Sky quieted. He stood up and gestured for Sky to follow him.
Ward slowly poked his head around the doors to the lab.
"Uh…Simmons?" he asked quietly. It was really his first contact with her since he had gotten back on the Bus.
"Agent Ward. Is there something I can help you with?" she asked, her voice cool. She didn't look up from whatever she was doing. Ward felt a pang in his chest as he remembered how they were always in the lab and how they always knew what FitzSimmons were working on, even if they didn't understand it. Now it pained him to admit that he had no clue what the two scientists were working on.
"Yeah. Do you, uh, have a box?"
"Why?" Simmons still didn't look up, but Ward could tell from the rate her fingers tensed over whatever she was holding, that she was paying attention.
"I need a place for Sky."
Simmons finally looked up at the specialist. Her expression clearly showed what she was thinking.
"Ward, Skye has a bunk…"
"No, not that Skye, I meant-" Ward was interrupted as Sky leapt past him. Simmons shrieked, immediately covering her mouth with her hand.
"Ward, what are you doing?! Why is there a dog in here?" she asked incredulously, looking down at the dog. Sky let out a soft woof and sat down, staring up at the scientist with a look akin to happiness. The expression on Simmon's face softened as she watched the dog.
"I found her," Ward said.
"Hello, how are you?" Simmons ignored Ward and knelt down, petting Sky on her head. Sky rolled over, her tail waving like a flag.
"There's a box in the closet back there" Simmons pointed. Ward nodded his thanks and went to find the box. He came back, a look of confusion on his face as he held an empty shoebox.
"This?" he asked, his voice uncertain.
"Oh dear, I thought it was bigger. I don't think we have anymore…" Simmons frowned.
"Have you told Coulson or May or anyone else on the Bus about her?" she asked hesitantly. It was as though she was afraid to even talk to him, and Ward swallowed, suddenly feeling a lump in his throat.
Ward shook his head. Simmons gave him a look that clearly said that if she thought he was crazy before, now she thought he was a lunatic.
"Good luck" she said brightly. Ward groaned and left, Sky trailing after him. He flopped down on his bunk and sighed. After a moment of staring up at him, Sky hopped up on the bed beside Ward and snuggled down beside him. Ward smiled and wrapped an arm around her. Before he knew it, he was fast asleep, Sky curled against his side.
"Ward, what is that?"
Ward sleepily blinked his eyes open to find Coulson standing over him with a hard to describe expression on his face. Sky lifted her head and woofed, looking rather apprehensive and pressed a little closer to Ward.
"I thought I told you that it couldn't come on the Bus."
*TBC
Thanks for reading and I hope you liked reading this chapter! More to come soon!
