Grant's attention snapped up suddenly from the report he was reading, when he felt another's presence in the room. He inwardly sighed, there's no way he was getting this report read anytime soon...

"Skye, what's the matter?" His voice for once sounded warn down and unguarded, he'd spent the last eight hour attempting to read the report, he had to read it before tomorrow.

"Nothing...Isn't that the report Coulson wanted you to have read by tomorrow? No way! The super spy hasn't done his homework, I never though I'd hear about that let alone see it myself!" Skye barley covered her amusement.

"Mmm," Ward's reply a noncommittal sound and he looked back down at the report determined to get it read.

"We're going out tonight, all of us," Skye mentioned off handily.

"No. You're. Not." Ward's tone was jut as harsh as the glare he'd turned her way.

"What makes you think you're not coming with us?" Skye's amusement now evident, she's probably going to regret all of this later when she's training with her S.O -the man he's really beginning to rub up the wrong way-.

"Because last time we all went out, who had to explain to Coulson why Fitz had been arrested by the German police force, why you had three assault charges against your name, why Simmons was on the god damn floor crying and you know how I feel about crying, and why I was attempting to remove my eye with an oyster fork? Because last time I checked Rookie, I had to explain all of that because none of you had the balls to man up and come clean. So I'm sorry if I'm 'being totally unfair' and 'way out of line, even for you, Ward' but do you think for once Skye, that you could just listen to me? Not as your S.O, not as an agent, but someone who really cares about you and the choice you make? Please, just once." Grant's voice and his eye had softened half way through his fully unguarded reply He knew he'd regret that later, the fact he'd let all his barriers down for that moment. Exposed the frightened, middle child with so many family issues, he's surprised he' still alive, who was trying to keep everyone else alive by taking the hits instead.

Skye stood wide-eyed and struggled for words, she nodded once and gave him a soft smile. "Sure thing, Grant."

Grant looked up to catch her eyes for a moment before the smirk that was so Ward settled on his face. "Be in the training room in the morning for 0630, no excuses."

Skye laughed softly as she turned and walked out of the living area of the Bus. "I'll be there, I can't take anymore pull ups," she paused in the doorway of her bunk. "And Grant? Get some sleep, Coulson will understand, it's not your fault that you redecorated the floor in red on that mission. I'm serious, S.O, sleep." Her tone held a threat that left no room for argument, and with that she closed her door and bedded down for the night.

I love you too, asshole she thought to herself. She couldn't help the mall smile that crept on her face before her body gave into the lull of sleep.

Grant Ward was so utterly screwed, even if he had almost died on that mission. What could he say? He had to walk it off, he didn't have the time to sit and whine while he licked his wounds, he had to make a difference in this world.