Chapter Four (What If I Make it Right?)

Skye looked at Ward in fear as the lights continued to flash and more gunshots rang out. She ran over to the door, finding it locked. She looked back to him, "Grant, what's going on? The door's locked. I can't open it." she said, fear in her voice.

"The base in under attack." he replied. "The doors are designed to lock down in order to try and trap whoever's attacking. Makes it worse for those still inside. We're like sitting ducks, but we may be safe for a while."

Skye backed away from the door and went back to Ward, "What's going on, Grant?" she asked. "Who's attacking?"

Ward gulped and looked down, "I thought it was just a dream." he muttered. "I didn't think that Hydra would attack."

Skye frowned, "What?" she asked.

"Hydra." was all Ward said.

"Hydra? As in the Nazi group that Captain America fought?" Skye asked. "I thought that they were long gone."

Ward shook his head, "No, they weren't." he said quietly. "They were always inside of SHIELD, waiting for the right time to come back up."

"And how the hell do you know this?"

Ward looked Skye straight in the eyes, "Skye, I'm not going to lie to you. I did that once before and it ended horribly for me. And you'll probably hate me." he said.

"Grant, what the hell do you mean?" Skye asked.

Ward took a breath, "Garrett and I, we're… We're technically Hydra."

Skye's face fell, "What?!" she exclaimed. "Why the hell are you telling me this now?!" She backed away from him, "You're one of those killers?!"

"Skye, please listen to me. Me telling you this now is way better than what originally happens."

"Originally happens?" Skye asked with disgust. "What the hell does that mean?"

"Skye, when I was comatose, I had this dream that seemed to last over a year. No, it wasn't a dream. It was a vision of what is to come, or was, resulting from my actions." Ward explained. "It's made me change everything."

"Instead of you being a Hydra bastard?"

"Skye, I betrayed you. I killed Hand. I kidnapped you. I ejected Fitzsimmons out of the damn plane in the med pod. They sunk to the bottom of the ocean. Fitz was knocked into a coma for several weeks and was left with brain damage."

Skye blinked, not believing what Ward was saying, "What?" she asked, voice breaking. "W-Why would you do any of that?"

"Skye, I thought for a long time that I owed Garrett everything. Thought that he saved me, didn't see that he really pulled me down into a deeper hell than I was in. Didn't see the heartless bastard that he really is." Ward explained. "You don't understand what he did to me."
"What did he do?"

"I never told you this, but I was in juvie for a while when I was younger. Tried to burn down my home not knowing that my older brother was inside. Garrett got me out of that prison, only to throw me into the woods for five years as part as 'training' to get me into SHIELD.

But by then I was delusional with the thought that he was my savior or something. Again, I thought I owed him everything. Even got me into Hydra without me knowing what it really was. But it was always a means to an end. Only allied ourselves with them to save his life, he was dying.

What happened to me in that vision, I never imagined that it would happen." He looked Skye in the eyes, "But I believe I'm being given a second chance, to try and make everything right."

"W-What happened to you in that vision?" Skye asked, kind of afraid that Ward would do something to her.

"Coulson was made Director of SHIELD. In his new base of operations, I was locked away in the basement and treated like an animal. Only interaction I got was the guards that brought me my food and you every now and then. And that's only because Coulson made you to get information from me and you were the only one that I would talk to.

Eventually, Coulson basically sold me out to my senator brother and sent me to my death. I luckily escaped and then was a fugitive. I then kidnapped you to take you to your father, you shot me three times and left me for dead. Nothing of importance happens to me after that." he explained.

Skye didn't know what to say, "T-This is true?" she stammered.

Ward nodded, "I think so." he replied. "That's why I'm trying to change it now. Skye, I will not hurt you or let anyone hurt you. I swear my life on it. I'm making the declaration now, I am not Hydra. My loyalties lie with you and with SHIELD. I will not turn my back on anyone. Only Garrett. I rather see him dead right now."

Skye came closer to Ward again and sat on the edge of the bed, looking him in the eyes, "And you're not lying?"

Ward nodded, taking Skye's hand, "I will not hurt you, never. I swear on that." He gulped, "Please tell me that this doesn't hurt anything. Me telling you this now is way better than what was to come. Better now than stabbing you in the back."

Skye took a breath and put her hand on the side of Ward's face, "Grant, honestly, I am mad at you and I don't know what to think. But I am glad that you told me now. 'Cause if what you said was going to be true, this is way better than any of that. As long as you don't hurt anyone and you keep your promise."

Ward nodded, "I will, Skye. I promise."

Skye nodded, "Please keep that. And make sure that we both get out of this alive."

Ward smiled half-heartedly, "Skye, I don't know how well I could do that." he said, gesturing to his legs. "Still can't walk that well. There's a gun in the side table, but I don't know how much use I would be."

"I'll take it."

"Do you still say 'bang' when pulling the trigger?" he asked.

Skye smiled, "I don't think so." she said, reaching inside of the side table and pulling out the gun.

Ward nodded, "I wish you could've seen how you were in that future." he said. "Fierce, tough, a great fighter. Made me proud as your ex-SO."

"Well, I did have a great SO." Skye said.

Ward looked down, "I know that you're taking this surprisingly well, but I don't know how the others will react."

"Grant, trust me, I'm going to chew you out once this is all over." Skye replied. "Now isn't the time to. But we're both going to get out of this alive." She leaned in and gave Ward a heart-felt kiss. "I hope to see you later." she said after it was over.

Ward smiled, "You too."

But then banging sounded at the door. Someone was trying to knock it down. "Son, what the hell are you doing in there?!" a voice exclaimed. "Stop goofing around! You're not that crippled!"

Ward's faced turned stark-white as Skye turned to look at him. She knew who exactly was on the other side of that door, waiting to get at Ward. To try and drag him into the mess that he had just turned away from.

Garrett.

Author's Note: I don't own AoS, Marvel does. So, Ward explains all that he can to Skye and she actually is glad that he decided to tell her now than stab them in the backs. But Garrett's here, and he's not happy. (And I've actually decided to go all the way to San Juan. That's a whole other arc, which should be good. But those who have read my recent fics should know what will probably happen with Ward.) Keep reading and PLEASE favorite, follow, and/or review! ~AwakeAndAliveSpartan.