"I'm not going anywhere."
But he had lied. When Ward woke up the next morning, Coulson was gone. The agent sighed; he wasn't really surprised that the agent had left. After all, everyone always did. Ward didn't even mind anymore, there was just an empty feeling he got whenever he thought about it. So he tried not to think about it too much.
Ward was pacing the edge of his cell when Skye appeared.
"Skye." He wanted nothing more than to rush over and wrap her in his arms. But the look on her face stopped him.
"Skye?" he asked, a small crack in his voice, no matter how hard he tried to stop it.
"What the hell, Ward?" her voice was coldly angry, a tone he had never heard her use before. Ward took a step back from the cell and Skye folded her arms.
"So that's it. You have absolutely nothing to say. Not to me, not to anyone?" Skye knew he could say more. After all, she had hacked into the system and watched the camera of Ward's cell from last night.
"I'm sorry," he said softly, finally meeting her eyes. He searched them, desperately hoping that there was some acceptance, not even forgiveness, just some realization that Ward actually meant his apology.
Skye stared at him for a moment, her expression unreadable. She walked over to the cell door and quietly typed in the code, stepping into the cell and closing the door after her. Skye leaned against the wall, coolly watching him.
Before he knew it, Ward took several steps back, until he was as far away as possible from Skye. At first he had wanted to see her, but now he was too afraid to get close. Ward didn't want to hurt or destroy her, as he had done to almost everything in his life.
"Ward…" she started to move towards him, but he held his hand out.
"Stop. Don't come any closer," Ward pleaded. Skye's eyes softened and she took a few steps closer as Ward stumbled back.
"Please, stop. I-I-I don't want to hurt you."
Skye thought she'd never see her SO this vulnerable and scared. He was backing into the corner, something Skye knew he'd never do if he was even half of himself.
"Ward…" she tried again.
"Don't move" his voice lowered, "I might hurt you."
"Ward." Skye moved quickly, and before he could back away she put her hands on his upper arms. He dropped his head, refusing to even look at her.
"It's okay. See, I'm right here and you haven't hurt me."
"Yes I have" he insisted stubbornly.
"You hurt the whole team, not just me," Skye stated firmly. A small tear made its way down Ward's cheek and he started to tremble. Skye hugged him close, feeling her SO collapse against her. He clung to her as she rubbed up and down his back, murmuring quietly to him.
"Ward it's okay. Hey, it's okay" she gently pushed Ward back, her eyes widening in alarm as he sank to the floor, almost too tired to stand.
"I-I-I'm sorry…Skye" Ward sobbed, his head in his hands. Skye knelt in front of the sobbing agent, gently brushing her hand against his forehead.
"Ward…please stop crying, please…" Sky begged. Ward let out a shaky sniffle and gasped a little. He stopped crying, lifting his head a few inches. Skye was shocked to see the misery in his red-rimmed eyes.
He nodded tiredly and slowly leaned his head back against the wall. Skye sank back, watching him carefully.
"Sorry for that whole…thing" Ward apologized.
"No, it's okay. Don't apologize" Skye soothed him. Ward nodded absentmindedly.
"Ward. We're going to have to speak to you" May stood behind Skye, her arms crossed.
There was a flash of alarm in his eyes and he scrabbled backward, his breathing coming out in rapid gasps. Skye instantly put a calming hand on his. Ward flicked his eyes over at her, but couldn't seem to calm down
"Ward, relax" she said calmly, hoping her voice would quiet him.
"May, can I talk to you, please?" Skye looked up.
"Outside."
"Ward really needs help. He's scared and he's hurt."
"I know" May said softly, "but he's also a traitor and a prisoner." She glanced back through the door at the specialist gasping in the corner of the cell.
"Send Simmons up here" May said suddenly, "and ask her to bring something to calm him down."
For once Skye didn't argue and hurriedly walked off to go find half of the scientist team.
"Can I use a night night gun on him?" Fitz asked.
"No" Skye snapped, "besides May just asked for Simmons."
"Sorry, Fitz" Jemma apologized as she followed the hacker out of the lab.
"May, you really think jabbing him with a large needle when he's already freaked out is a good idea?" Skye said, blocking the door.
"You got any other ideas?" May asked drily. When Skye failed to answer, May smiled. Or more accurately, the corners of her mouth turned up in something Skye could almost call a smile.
"Come on" May stepped into the cell, the syringe hidden behind her back. Skye followed and May tipped her head towards Ward.
"Hey…Ward" Skye crouched in front of him, willing him to focus on her and not on May who was silently slipping to Ward's side. Skye knew that if Ward wasn't having an emotional breakdown, May would never be able to approach him with a needle.
Ward suddenly yelped and violently flinched. Skye started back as May stood up, a now empty syringe in her hand.
Ward was staring at Skye with a mixture of hurt and confusion in his eyes. Skye held back a sudden urge to laugh. She never would've guessed that her former SO had such good puppy dog eyes.
Ward yawned, looking increasingly sleepy. Skye slowly maneuvered herself so that she was behind him and wrapped her arms around him. Ward slowly slumped back against her chest, his head drooping down.
May smiled this time, a real smile, as she quietly left the couple in the cell.
~Author's Note~ So this will be my last update for at least a week and a half, if not longer. Only one more chapter! Please feel free to leave a review!
