Ward sipped his drink, staring at the ice in the glass. "Sometimes I wish I could see life another way. Seeing everything that we have to hide takes its toll."
"And that's why you shouldn't take on that burden. Other people can know. Share that load." Skye leaned back in her seat. "When Coulson told me that he may have needed me to post a cover story, I was pissed. It stood against what I believe. But I never thought about it. I never thought about what you really do. SHIELD. It's more than the government trying to just keep stuff for its own gain."
He nodded. "It's really about protecting the human race."
She couldn't stop staring at the gunshot wound. "Let me look at that, at least. Please. For my piece of mind?"
He sighed heavily and picked up his drink as he stood. "There's a small sick bay back this way."
She beamed in triumph and followed him. "Take off your shirt." Opening a cupboard, she pulled out some gauze and antiseptic. When she turned about to him, she had to take a breath. Agent Ward was certainly in shape.
He sat on a stool, setting his drink aside. "You okay there?"
"Huh? Uh, yeah." She nodded, shaking herself. "Let me just clean this up for you." Kneeling some, she soaked some gauze and gently wiped at the wound.
He hissed in a breath. "Cold," he chuckled.
"Sorry," she whispered with a smile. She bit her lip as she cleaned the flesh of the very well built agent. She couldn't deny the tingling sensation making her skin warm. She bandaged him carefully, letting her fingertips brush his bare skin. When she finished and looked to his face, he was staring back at her with a grin.
"Not bad," he smiled. "First time tending a gunshot?"
She grinned. "Yeah. But you were right, it didn't go too deep." Her hand was still resting on his side, lingering on the warm flesh. Her eyes trailed down to his lips as he took another sip of his drink.
He set it aside and edged closer to her. "Told you I could handle it." Deftly, he brushed some hair back from her face. "No need to worry."
She closed her eyes, leaning her face into his hand. "Good to know." She held her breath, anticipation making her stomach flutter. His hand, calloused with years of fighting, was warm and his touch tender.
"Skye…" he whispered, trailing off. She felt his breath on her cheek, the warmth of his body as he moved closer to her. Gently, almost weightlessly, his lips brushed hers.
"Agent Ward?" Coulson's voice broke the spell as it drifted down the hallway.
Ward sat up straight, clearing his throat. "Back here, sir!"
Skye took a moment to recover before replacing the antiseptic and sighing. Well, at least they weren't on the wrong foot anymore.
