They sat in awkward silence as the train chugged its way down the track. As Ward had said, they got on the first one, regardless of where it was heading. It just so happens that the first train was heading to Alaska.
"We're going to freeze." Skye moaned six hours later, as the train doors opened at a small station in the middle of nowhere, sending a strong, icy breeze around the carriage.
"We'll be fine. I have some supplies in a box up here."
"Is it in the station?" Raina asked him.
"Maybe, maybe not." Ward said, not fully trusting Raina. She did have a history of selling people out to get what she wanted.
"So what do we do when we get there?"
"We get off the train and get our supplies before finding somewhere to sleep for the night."
"That's a simple plan." Skye said, wondering where the catch was.
"They tend to be the ones that work." Ward told her.
He put one of his feet up onto the seat and, looping his arms around it started staring out of the window.
Skye studied his features. There was definitely something wrong.
"Next stop, Wainrwright, Alaska." A woman announced over the PA system "This train will terminate here."
Ward stopped staring out of the window and picked his jacket up. Skye and Raina did the same, knowing that they would be going no further.
Ward stepped off the train and zipped his jacket higher, shoving his hands in his pockets to try and keep them warm.
"Holy Crap! It's cold" Skye squealed, stepping off the train behind him.
"I've been colder." Raina said in her usual cryptic manner.
"Yeah well. We need to go and get some coats or we'll all die of pneumonia." Skye pointed out, while trying to make shapes out of her misting breath.
"We'll go get my lock box, then we can get some clothes." Ward promised.
He led them five paces when he found his forehead against the barrel of a handgun. The three of them were surrounded by gun toting agents.
"It's OK girls. Agent Coulson sent me to come and get you." The man pointing his gun at Ward said.
Raina quickly moved behind the man. Skye glanced at Ward who didn't take his eyes off the gun barrel and followed Raina.
"Heil Hydra" The man quietly said to Ward, cocking his gun.
Skye, sensing something wasn't right turned to look back at Ward and heard what was said next, even though it was said barely above a whisper.
"Whitehall will be so happy to know I've blown your head off."
Skye looked to her side and found a loose piece of wooden fence. She pulled it off and, on instinct hit the man around the back of the head.
Ward, seeing Skye hit the man launched into action. He disarmed the man in front of him, then using the gun to take out the others before they could react.
Ward raced forward and grabbed Skye by the arm.
"Where's Raina?"
"A thankyou is always polite." Skye said as Ward dragged her into the station.
"Thankyou for saving my hide. Now where's Raina?"
"I don't know. I think she ran off, back towards the train." Skye told him.
Ward was moving so fast Skye found herself having to run to keep up to him.
"My box is at the bus station, we go and get it and then get out of here." Ward told her, navigating her into the parking lot.
"We're going to steal a car?"
"Borrow."
"Borrow without permission with no intention of returning it?"
"Yep. But right now needs must."
Ward took a lock pick kit out of his pocket and started working on a car, trusting Skye to keep lookout.
Within the minute he had opened the door, so he reached across and opened the passenger one to allow Skye in. Then he set to work on the ignition.
"How do you know how to do this?" Skye asked, slightly impressed.
"Convicted at 17 for GTA." Ward explained, flashing her a devilish smile as the engine roared to life.
Ward put it in gear and set off towards the bus station. He pulled into a parking bay and turned the ignition off.
"What are you doing?" Skye asked. She had been preparing herself to go and retrieve Ward's box and was surprised when he stopped the engine.
"We are going to go and get the box, before we swap cars."
"Swap cars?"
"I assume you know that was HYDRA, not SHIELD and that's why you attacked."
"I heard him say something about Whitehall and your head."
"Then they will know we stole a car and will be looking for it. So we need to swap cars to get out of here."
"That makes sense. Although I am holding you personally accountable for all of this. If you hadn't taken me off the bus then I wouldn't be on the run from HYDRA with you." Skye said, the tone of her voice telling Ward that he had a long way to go before she would trust, or like him again.
He got out of the car, walked around to Skye's side and opened the door for her to get out.
She followed him into the bus station and towards the lockers there.
He pulled a bunch of keys out of his pocket, searched through the keys until he found the right one. He put it in the lock and turned.
"How long have you had this box?" Skye asked.
"About eight years." Ward told her.
"How did I not know about it, I mean, I researched all your possible hidey holes when you had that whole Loreli thing. This one didn't come up."
"It's not one either SHIELD or HYDRA were aware of. Call it an exit strategy."
Ward opened the door and pulled the holdall out of it and indicated to Skye that it was time to leave.
"We've been driving six hours, it's getting late. Can we stop?" Skye pleaded.
"We can stop at the next town. Before we set off tomorrow we can get some winter clothes."
"What is the next town?"
"Fairbanks."
They fell into silence once more while Ward negotiated the roads and found them a motel to stay in for the night.
"You coming in or are you staying here?" he asked her reaching for his door handle.
"I'll stay here until you get a room." Skye said, not really wanting to brave the cold until she had to.
