"Somewhere… beyond the sea… somewhere… waiting for me…"
Ward kept one arm tight around Miranda, swimming hard with the other away from the wreckage. He had to get them to land. He had to get them away from the wreckage before it sucked them down with it.
It was an hour of hard swimming before he was able to wrench Miranda's unconscious body onto the shore. He laid her on her back, checking for a pulse. It was there and the slight rise and fall of her chest was a good sign. He flopped back beside her and closed his eyes, trying to catch his breath. His muscles screamed at him from exertion.
The pilot and co-pilot were dead. The engine had given out and the water landing had been too hard to keep the plane in one piece.
Miranda groaned as she came to. Ward forced himself to sit up, looking to her. "Miranda, are you okay?"
She opened her eyes and nodded. "Yeah. I'm okay."
Ward sat up some. "We need to get in the shade." His body hurt but he still managed to his feet. "Can you stand?"
She nodded. "Yeah." She stood. "Can you?" She took his arm and put it over her shoulders. "Let me help."
He was hesitant, but let her help him into the trees. "We were almost to Columbia from what I saw before we crashed."
"By the lack of noise, we missed it." She set him gently down once they were under cover.
Ward grinned. "Don't worry." He held up his wrist, bracelet gleaming.
Coulson called all the team back to the bus. Well, all but Fitz, who was still in the medical unit. Once gathered at the com, he took a deep breath. "There was a plane crash a ways off the coast of Columbia. Two survivors are on a small island just east. I want us to get them."
May crossed her arms. "What aren't you telling us?"
"One of the survivors is Ward."
Triplett took a step back. "You've got to be kidding me."
Skye shook her head. "No. Hell no."
"I can't let Miranda die out there," Coulson insisted.
"You can send another plane," May countered.
"We're going." Coulson shook his head. "That's final. Get ready to land us in Columbia and we'll boat out from there."
Miranda was shaking after the sun set. Ward glanced over at her. "Want a fire?" he asked.
She grinned. "Sounds romantic."
He rolled his eyes and started gathering any dry materials he could find.
"It was a joke, Grant. Learn to laugh a little." She hugged her arms, shivering to stay warm.
Ward found a way to get a spark going and lit the dry brush before moving to her. "Hypothermia isn't a joke." He took off his jacket and shirt and pulled her into his arms.
She tensed some. "Wh-what are you doing?"
"Using my body heat to keep you warm." He held her tight. Her body was almost an icicle.
Reluctantly, she relaxed, curling up to him. "Oh."
"I didn't forget your only rule." He grinned a little.
"Good. Because it still stands." Her shivering slowed.
"It's a good rule. Doesn't complicate things."
"Sex isn't complicated, Grant."
"It's intimacy."
"It's physical bodies doing what they were made to do. The true intimacy is letting someone into your heart." Miranda looked up into his eyes. "Like you did with that girl."
Skye.
Ward closed his eyes and looked away. "Get some rest. Rescue team is usually travel by night. We'll see them in the morning."
May found them first. Of course she did. Ward, bare chested and cradling the beautiful brunette in his arms as they slept near the smoldering embers of a fire.
She took in the sight. He looked at peace, protecting her. It was his instinct to have a purpose. To put himself in a line of fire.
May cleared her throat.
Ward woke, putting Miranda behind him immediately. "May?"
"They're here," she called out as Miranda woke.
Triplett and Coulson made their way through the brush. "In one piece," Coulson nodded.
Ward stood. "Sir."
Coulson shook his head. "You're not an agent anymore, Ward. No need to stand of formality."
Miranda rubbed her eyes. "Phil?"
Simmons arrived next, going past Ward to Miranda. "Are you well?"
Miranda nodded. "Just a little worn. Beat up from the landing."
Simmons put a hand to her head. "You're a bit clammy. We should get you to the plane as soon as possible to run a few checks."
Miranda nodded, standing.
Ward looked to Coulson. "Am I swimming back?"
Coulson watched him. "If certain people had their way, yes, you would."
Skye hadn't been on the boat. But she was in the cargo bay when the team arrived back with Miranda and Ward. Skye didn't even realize she'd been holding her breath. She watched as Simmons led Miranda to the lab. Coulson and Triplett flanked Ward. But he wasn't in cuffs.
Skye felt her heart stop as Ward lifted his eyes to hers.
Coulson and Triplett headed back upstairs, May in tow, but not Ward. He stopped, keeping her eyes. "Skye."
Hearing his voice brought all the anger to the surface again. "Ward." She steeled herself.
He stepped closer. "I know this isn't really what you had in mind."
"Saving Miranda? We do that. We're the good guys."
Ward closed his mouth for a moment. He'd had that one coming. "Well, once we're back in the States, I'm sure your good deed will come with a mighty high reward."
Skye stepped forward. "You should know about rewards. Living your little luxury life now."
He paused. "Is that what you think I'm doing?"
"You're traveling the world as arm candy for a high priced whore."
His fists clenched. "Don't call her that."
"So tell me, how is she?"
Ward rolled his eyes, fists releasing. "That just shows how little you really know." He turned away.
Skye grabbed his arm. "Do you even care, Ward? That Fitz is still in the hospital? That Simmons could never trust you? That I…"
He turned to her. "That you what, Skye?" He looked at her hand on his arm. "That you could never realize that my feelings-"
"If you say your feelings for me are real, I'm going to throw a book at you."
"They are."
Skye looked around. "Damnit. No book."
