Ward was running scenarios through his head, all of possible ways Garrett could react to the news of Skye being his daughter.
If he does know, will he be mad that Ward found out? Could or would he kill Ward?
If he doesn't know, will he be upset or surprised? Will it make Garrett rethink things and maybe surrender? Or will he use the knowledge to fuel his anger and fight? Could it lead to Skye getting hurt by her own father? Ward didn't want that to happen. Maybe he shouldn't tell him...
No. He had to.
And before he knew it, Ward found himself walking down the halls to the small room where Garrett was.
Ward rapped his knuckles on the door, even though it was wide open. Garrett was at a desk in a reclined position, flipping through a fancy car magazine.
"Ward! Hey, after Hydra is done overthrowing SHIELD and we're on top, I'm thinking about getting a cool car like Coulson. What's his car called? Lilly?"
"Lola," Ward corrected. "John, can I talk to you?"
"Sure, son," Garrett said, tossing aside the magazine and sitting forward. "What about?"
"Um, you, actually."
"Me? A favourite topic of mine, okay."
"Uh, right, so, do you have any...offspring?"
Garrett stared at Ward suspiciously.
"Why do you ask? What's this about?"
"Just answer the question, John," Ward said flatly. Garrett could dance circles around things to avoid them, but that was not going to happen now.
"Fine. Um, yes, it has come to my attention that I have fathered a few children over the years."
"Over the years?"
"A few decades, why?"
Ward frowned a bit. "Do you stay in contact with them?"
"Stay in contact? That implies that I even had contact once. I don't even contact the mothers ever. Heck, I couldn't even tell you some of their names," Garrett said. He looked pretty proud of this. Ward didn't know how to feel. Sure, he's slept around too, but he was always careful. And should he ever have a child, he wouldn't just abandon it. Or them, like Garrett.
Garrett clearly didn't have any interest in knowing any of his children. Still, Skye wasn't just anyone. At least not to Ward.
"Skye," Ward blurted before he could really think about what he was about to do. "Skye is your daughter."
Garrett didn't look surprised. He moved his mouth as if he was trying to form a word.
"I know," he said at last.
"You do?" Ward's voice was quieter than usual.
"Yeah, but how do you know?"
"I was going through the filing cabinet back there last night...I couldn't sleep. Sorry," Ward said. He wasn't used to apologizing, especially not to Garrett.
Garrett sighed. "Aw, jeeze. I didn't want you to know. I know you're...harvesting feelings for her."
"That doesn't matter," Ward said firmly. He wasn't ready to admit it to Garrett...or himself. "Skye's been searching for you and her mother her whole life.
"And I don't want to be found! Why do you think I have the only copy of that file? Why do you think I made sure all her searches led to nothing?"
"Almost nothing," Ward corrected. "She got to SHIELD."
"She's good, I'll give her credit. Plus she's got Coulson helping her out. But that's not the point."
"She should know," Ward said.
"No. Especially not now." Garrett shook his head.
Ward knew he'd never be able to convince Garrett. And maybe he was right. Would Skye want to know now? Right in the middle of a SHIELD vs Hydra fight?
But the little voice in his head was saying yes, she would. She'd give anything to know.
"You read the file. You know I did things..." Garrett said.
"You killed everyone, including SHIELD agents."
"It wasn't supposed to happen like that. I didn't know Skye's mom was a SHIELD threat."
"How so?"
"She looked human but, as I learned after the fact, she wasn't like us."
"Alien?"
"Or something. I don't know. And I don't care. Do you want to hear the full story?"
Ward nodded. If not for Skye, at least for himself as now his curiosity was piqued.
Garrett pulled a flask of some alcohol from his leather jacket and took a swig before telling his story.
"I was in China doing some undercover stuff for SHIELD. I met a lady, who would later be Skye's mom. She was gorgeous and seductive and cool. So, yeah, we hooked up. One night stand. I was leaving the next day anyways. Nine months later, I was back in China doing some follow up on the mission and ran into her. She was almost due and convinced me to stay for the birth. Like I said, she was gorgeous and I couldn't say no. So I stayed and out came this little baby girl. And before I could even do anything, SHIELD got involved. Skye's mother was on the radar for a while, unbeknownst to me, and now the baby had the potential to be trouble. When SHIELD tried to get involved, the people in the village tried to step in and protect the mother and the baby. It was too late for the mother. Maybe it was childbirth, maybe it was the fact that she wasn't human or maybe it was stress. Either way, she died almost twenty minutes after the baby was born. I didn't know what to do. I knew I wasn't going to stick around and take responsibility for it, but at the same time, I couldn't let them harm this new baby who's barely been around for an hour. So I...killed them all but two agents. They were a pair and I knew they'd help the baby. I had gotten a shot to the neck and needed help so I fled. I ended up doing three things. One, I made up a story as to where I was. I didn't want anyone knowing I was that baby's father or that I was even in China when it all went down. Two, I destroyed all files and reports on the event. Well, all but the one you read. I don't know why I kept it, but just in case, I did. I got some random academy kid to help delete and black out all the computer files. And three, once I got the bullet out from my neck, I burned my neck so it would cover the injury. It was believable considering I worked with bombs. I did everything I could to not be having this conversation with anyone."
Garrett took another sip from his flask. "I refuse to let her get in my way now. I was already starting with Hydra when she was born. It was a mistake to keep that file. I swear, Ward, if this gets any bigger than it is already..." He didn't finish the sentence.
Ward sat there, listening to this story. He couldn't believe it. He didn't expect it to be like this. But as Garrett was speaking, and looking slightly remorseful as he did, Ward could only think about doing one thing.
Telling Skye.
A/N
Making up Garrett's little story here was a lot of fun. It kind of fits with the what we know on the show, but is also a bit of a spin. Skye shows up in the next chapter, in case you've been wondering. Thanks for the love I've gotten, and see you on Tuesday!
P. S. ONE MONTH UNTIL SHIELD IS BACK YAY
