Chapter Four (Ashes of Eden)
"You're thinking of what?!" Skye exclaimed as the team stared at Coulson in disbelief. "Repeat that again so I can make sure I actually heard that right."
Coulson took a sharp breath. He knew that this resistance would happen. But he was prepared to talk back. "I said, I'm planning on letting Ward out of the Vault. Under a few restrictions of course." he stated slowly. "He's to be monitored at all times and is to wear a tracking bracelet. No missions. And any weird activity will result in him going straight back to the Vault."
"You've got to be crazy." Hunter scoffed, crossing his arms. "That man's a bloody psychopath and you're letting him run around here? If there's a vote here then I'm saying no."
Bobbi looked at Hunter and then back to Coulson, "Believe it or not, I'm agreeing with Lance. And that says a whole lot." She shook her head and scoffed, "Coulson, that man tried to kill Hunter and I got tortured and almost killed in the process. Why do you think that it's such a good idea to let him out now?" she questioned, narrowing her eyes.
She was making a good point. Everyone thought that Ward was the closest thing to the Devil on Earth. Each of them, except Mack, had a reason to why Ward should stay locked up. Mack just went with what everyone else said.
"Morse is right." May agreed. "Ward does not need to be let out of that cell. He's crazy."
"Your ex doesn't seem to think so." Coulson stated.
May's face fell, "You called in Andrew over Ward?!" she exclaimed. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"'Cause I knew it would work better if no one knew. I called him 'cause I sensed that there's something far worse wrong with Ward than him being 'crazy'. And apparently he's not 'crazy'. He's got mental issues of course, but Andrew couldn't pinpoint them because of something else."
Simmons frowned, "Something else?" she asked. "What worse could be wrong with that lunatic?"
"Amnesia. And not due to an accident." Coulson responded. "Andrew believes, due to the weird circumstances of Ward's behavior, that Hydra did it to him. That Hydra wiped his memories of Hydra." He took a breath, "He believe that he's always been a loyal SHIELD agent.
He doesn't remember betraying us, none of that. It's strange. Even his weird assholic nature was erased. He's overly eager. Very strange." Coulson continued. "Like a dog."
"Then he's been brainwashed." Fitz stated simply. "That has to be it. He's brainwashed."
Coulson shook his head, "There's no evidence of brainwashing." he responded. "He's his normal self, minus the Hydra crap. He… I asked him a few more personal questions. He didn't know who Agent 33 was. Or Whitehall." He took another breath, "He didn't even know who John Garrett was."
Skye, Fitzsimmons, and May's faces dropped at that last statement. And that's how they knew that the Ward sitting in the basement wasn't the Ward that they had been chasing. For him to not know who Garrett was…. That was a big thing.
"That can't be possible, can it?" Skye asked. "He's got to be playing you. There's no way that he's 'forgotten' something that big." She was still hesitant to believe that Ward wasn't the bad guy anymore.
Coulson nodded slowly, "Well, it is. And Andrew believes that it's not good for Ward to be locked up when he has no clue to why he's there. I thought it over, and for a while too, and I decided to let him back with us. But take that term lightly, 'cause he's not really 'with us'.
He'll be staying here where we can watch him. And like I said earlier, he'll have a tracking bracelet and any weird behaviors will send him straight back to the Vault. This is my decision and I'll be responsible for anything he does."
The team didn't say anything, but only looked at Coulson in awkward silence.
"I'll… I'll take that as an yes. But there is one rule though. Do not, under any circumstances, remind him of what he's done. I don't know what will happen if those memories come back. And I'd like to keep this Ward under control."
(Right Outside the Vault)
"We'll be keeping an eye on you to make sure that things go okay." Coulson said, looking Ward firmly in the eyes. "And you're to keep that bracelet on no matter what. Is that clear?"
Ward nodded, "Yes, sir." he replied. He took a breath and looked down, "I really wish that you would tell me what's going on." he said softly. "If it's something bad, you can tell me."
Coulson only gave him a half-hearted smile, "Trust me, you don't want to know. Some things are better left a secret." he responded. "You're free to move about the base, but you might want to stay to your room, which I'll show you, for awhile. Until things die down. You can't go on any missions until I say so." He started walking down the hallway and motioned for Ward to follow him.
Ward frowned, but he shrugged and followed Coulson anyway, "So, what is this place anyways?" he asked.
"The Playground. SHIELD's headquarters for now." Coulson responded, keeping his eyes ahead. "Part of it's underground and it's several buildings."
Ward nodded and keep his distance behind Coulson, still following him to what he assumed would be his room. He didn't say anything to the Director, only because he didn't know what else to say and didn't want to make things awkward between them.
Coulson accepted this quiet and continued to lead Ward down the halls, until something stopped Ward.
Ward's eyes had drifted down another hallway and he had stopped, seeing Skye standing there. A smile perked on his lips and he dashed away from Coulson, "Skye!" he yelled. "Wait!"
Coulson's eyes widened as he heard this, and he spun around to run after Ward, "Grant, stop! Come back here!"
Ward stopped just behind Skye right as she was turning around, a disgusted look on her face. He frowned, noticing her expression, "Skye, what's wrong?" he asked.
"Why are you here?" Skye asked coldly. "Why?"
"T-To see you." Ward stammered. "I don't know what's going on and why I was locked up… And you didn't come to see me… I thought that something was wrong."
Skye scoffed, "Yeah, with you."
Coulson stopped just a ways from them. He knew that he didn't want to bother them. He gulped and stood there to watch.
Ward's face fell, "I-I don't understand." he stammered once more. "Why are you acting this way?"
"'Cause it's you, you arrogant bastard." Skye spat.
It felt as though Ward had taken a shot to the heart. Why was Skye acting this way towards him? He thought that she loved him. What was going on?
"Skye, I don't know what you mean." Ward stated sadly. "I-I don't. Look, I have no idea what's going on now. Why is everyone acting so hostile towards me?" he asked. "And why won't anyone tell me?"
Skye scoffed again, "Clueless as ever. And let's keep it that way, you ass."
Ward took Skye's hand, "Skye… I thought… I thought that you loved me." he asking brokenly.
Skye's twisted up and she pulled her hand from his grasp, "Love you?" she retorted. "As if. No one will ever love you. Now get away from me and leave me alone." she hissed, turning around and walking away.
Ward's stomach turned to what seemed to be pure ice. His knees buckled and he fell to them. Coulson now came up to him, not sure what to say.
Ward looked up to Coulson with the hints of tears in his eyes, "Coulson, I don't understand. What's going on here? I did nothing to Skye!" he exclaimed. He came to his knees and swung his fist into the wall.
Coulson winced as he heard the crack of bones, "I'm sure that it's just a misunderstanding." he said lightly.
Ward looked at the blood that was now running from his knuckles and then to Coulson, "Look, I'm tired of all of this 'misunderstanding' crap." he almost growled. "Something's wrong and it all points back to me apparently. And you're hiding it from me."
"I'm hiding nothing from you."
"I have eyes, Coulson. I see it. You're edgey around me." Ward shot back. "I did nothing to hurt you guys. And now…" He looked down and clenched his uninjured hard. "Skye hates my guts." he said, heartbroken. "I thought that we had something going. Now it's gone. I have no damn idea what's going on. Everything's against me."
Coulson shook his head, "Now you're just exaggerating." he said. "Things will be better soon." He looked to Ward's bleeding hand, "Now, let's get you some medical attention."
Ward hesitantly accepted Coulson's offer. His whole body was numb, heartbroken from Skye's rejection of him. He didn't know what the hell was going on, but he would find out eventually.
But some things are best kept hidden.
Author's Note: I don't own AoS, Marvel does. So Ward is let out of the Vault, despite protests from the team. And Skye rejects Ward, leaving him heartbroken and more confused than ever. But will he find out what is going on, or will that stay hidden? And what is the repercussions if he finds out? That's for you to find out! Keep reading and PLEASE favorite, follow, and/or review! (Can we make it to 20?) ~AwakeAndAliveSpartan.