Skye was sitting crisscross on her bunk, fingers flying across the keyboard. Coulson said they should sleep, but she couldn't help wanting to get a jump on researching the new op. all around her it was dark, but Skye was accustomed to less optimal conditions. Her master fingers found documents in the S.H.I.E.L.D. database which she immediately began downloading. She was about to open the first one when she heard
*smack* "huh!"
*smack* "uh!" coming from downstairs. She cracked her bunk door a peered outside. Flipping her head side to side she saw a light glowing from downstairs. Skye slid her computer to the side and descended the staircase to find the only team member who would be using the punching bag at this hour.
"Seems like I'm not the only one who couldn't sleep." Skye leaned against the stair railing and crossed her arms.
"Too keyed up." Agent Grant Ward resumed his punches, "wish Coulson would tell us where we're going."
"I thought you were on board with the secrets are kept for a reason policy?"
"I'm on board with it-that doesn't mean I like it." Ward looked at her around the punching bag and raised an eyebrow, "Grab some tape. You can't just stand there."
"I must have missed the gym subscription when I filled out my paperwork." Muttered Skye, but she wrapped her hands and started over to the smaller punching bag. They both trained in silence, Skye having given up on any conversation-Ward clearly wasn't in the mood to chat. Surprisingly it was him who broke the quiet about half an hour later.
"Here." Skye turned to see him still at the punching bag, but this time he was holding it. For me?
"C'mon Skye." A tinge of impatience colored her S.O.'s voice.
"Yes, sir." Skye stepped over to the regular punching bag with a mock salute. Ward rolled his eyes and braced the bag for her. She assumed her punching stance and took a deep breath before throwing her first punch.
"Make it mean something!" Ward told her as she threw her next couple sets. She focused and hit harder.
"I'm not buying it, rookie!" Skye gritted her teeth to keep from snapping at Ward and instead directed her anger into her punches, which were increasing in speed and pressure.
"I don't think you really want this." Ward had finally hit on the one thing he really shouldn't have said. Skye spun around and brought her leg up to knee ward in the gut. She punched his cheek when he doubled over and shoved him back, pinning him against the wall.
"Don't ever say that to me." She was breathing heavily and there was passionate anger glowing in her eyes. "Don't you ever tell me I don't want this. Because I want this more than any of you ever have. This means more to me than any of you will ever understand, more than you can ever know. I don't just want this, I need this. So don't you dare tell me I don't want this because God knows I do." She pulled her forearm from Ward's neck and stalked from the room. Ward reached up and gently fingered his cheek-that'll be a nice bruise in the morning. Wonder if I can avoid telling the rest of the team that Skye punched me. He shook his head. He knew they would find out anyway.
"That's my girl." He muttered and continued his workout.