A/N: Hey guys! As usual, here are *hugs* for you. I know all of you are still healing from the last episode, and yet the next one is coming tomorrow. Gah! I want it but I'm not ready for it. I don't think anyone is. :( Anyway, here's a short fic set after the ending scene of 1x19. It's loosely based on the promo 'cause I changed a few things. Hihi. I hope you guys like it!

Disclaimer: I do not own Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Chapter 1:

Skye's POV

He played us.

He played me.

I wasn't gonna lie. It stung a lot to find out about it. I've never felt so broken until that moment. I couldn't remember the last time I felt my chest ripped open like that. It already had a hole from before–the hole that I tried so hard to fill with the idea of family when I was growing up. I never felt it become complete until I joined the team. And it kept becoming complete when I started to get closer and closer to the team.

And then there was Ward. I have to admit I felt something for him. I didn't know what it was back then, but I knew that he made me feel safe because he always had my back. He always gave me a reason to smile and laugh, especially since it involved me teasing the hell out of him. I was his complete opposite, and that's why it was so interesting. I learned things about him little by little, and I appreciated him opening up once in a while about himself.

I learned to trust him. I got used to waking up and seeing him first thing in the morning. I got used to the playful banter and occasional flirting we shared during training. I got used to having him forcing me to get some sleep when I refused to let go of my laptop or phone. I got used to having someone care about me, in that kind of special way–or at least that's what I thought.

It tore me apart when I learned that he was HYDRA. I mean, how could he? He was…

What, Skye? He was what? It occurred to me that maybe I didn't really know him. Some of it could be true, out of the number of lies he may have told me. And that hurt a lot. I thought I knew him–turns out it was all just pretend.

And what stung the most was that I actually fell for him slowly. What stung the most was thinking that we could actually work if none of this mess existed.

"Imagine the world outside doesn't exist…" His words played inside my head. Lies. Everything was a lie. It was just a ploy to get the team to trust him. But…how much of it was real?

That question kept popping up in my head every minute. Was everything just an act? Did he even care about the team at all, or was it entirely business?

I sure wanted to believe that the moments we shared together, as just Grant and Skye, were real. I wanted to believe that he had a bond with the team. But I couldn't. Not after this.

He killed Agent Koenig. Agent May disappeared without warning, and who knew if Ward had anything to do with that? And now, I was currently on The Bus, with him piloting the plane as we entered New York. He needed me to decrypt that hard drive. Either that or someone gets hurt again, even me. I could get tortured under the hands of HYDRA. Hell, I could die for real this time if they want it.

"Hey," his voice snapped me out of my thoughts. "You alright?"

I forced a smile as I turned to look at him. "Yeah, I'm good. Why?"

"You were a bit quiet there, for a moment."

"Just you know, enjoying the view." I said as I turned back to the skies. "I've never watched the city from above."

Ward smiled at me. It's amazing how a voice in my head shouts "fake!" whenever Ward did something. I guess it is what it is now.

"Remind me to take you to a skyscraper then." He winked.

I chuckled at him, and silence fell between us.

"I'm gonna get something to eat. I'm starving. You want anything?" I asked as I got up.

"Whatever you're having will do for me."

"Alright."

As soon as I got out of the cockpit, I went to the room I once called my bunk. The door was busted but it will have to do. I needed some alone time to think this game through. I had no one with me right now. I was on my own in this, and I needed to figure out what my ploy was.

How do I escape from Ward? How? Think, Skye. Think.

Okay, I couldn't jump from the cargo hold because as soon as I lower that ramp, it will trigger the alarm. I could try and open the cage but I could only open it using the controls in the cockpit. I didn't have a tablet to gain controls. Dammit!

I had only one option, and it was the hardest one to pull off. As soon as we land, I could convince him that I need to go to a computer shop to decrypt the hard drive. How do I ditch him, though? He'd be breathing down my neck the whole time. How do I get him to look away for just a minute so I can escape? Maybe I could cause a commotion of some sort.

An idea popped into my head. It's not the best one, but I hoped it would work.

The cargo hold lowered down as I stood beside Ward. I was thankful that he didn't seem suspicious when I told him that I needed to go to a computer shop. It wasn't entirely a lie. I could decrypt it with my laptop in the Bus, since it had internet, but this was part of the game.

"We have to hurry." He said. "We'll walk our way until we can find a car and use it."

"Okay. Let's go."

Before long, Ward was able to find a car in one of the alleys. Not many people were passing, and he was easily able to hotwire the car. Minutes later, we're driving in the streets, looking for a computer shop. I was sitting in the backseat, glad that he didn't say anything about it. We were, after all, in a hurry.

Okay. Time to do Step 2.

I looked up at the rearview mirror and saw Ward distracted. He's currently searching for computer shops as we passed the streets. As discreetly as I could, I pulled my phone out from my pocket and opened it. I glanced up again. As long as I could work without him noticing, I was good. I just hoped my plan works.

I quickly turned back to my phone, typing as fast I can. It only took a few minutes until I got access to what I wanted. It was something Miles had taught me in my earlier days with the Rising Tide. I didn't want to use it, but I had no choice. It was my only option.

I typed and pressed a few more keys, going through commands and codes until I obtained what I needed.

"Gridlock Protocol" It said on my phone. Now, I just had to wait until we were in the computer shop itself so I could activate it.

A/N: I hope you're liking it so far. :) Sorry if it's not that long, but it looks like I'm gonna do three chapters for this. I'll update soon! xx