The whole way back to the air field, Ward said very little. Skye thought it was either because he was in too much pain, couldn't focus, or just didn't know what to say. She kept glancing over at him as they drove, wondering if he would be all right, wondering if the kiss meant something to him. She had a feeling Ward hadn't expected to make it out of there alive, which was why he'd kissed her. She just hoped that didn't mean he would take it back later, when they had time to process everything that had happened.

"Grant, you still with me?" she asked as she thought she saw him nodding off. He turned his blood caked face towards her and his brown eyes were surprisingly focused.

"I'm fine Skye, stop worrying."

"Hey," she said, turning back to look at the road. "If you saw yourself in a mirror, you wouldn't be so quick to dismiss it either."

She sighed, wanting to ask him how he was but knowing he would just brush it off again. I always try to mask my pain in front of beautiful women because I think it makes me seem more masculine. Skye almost smiled as she remembered that line. It had been one of the first things Ward had said to her, after he'd been injected with truth serum.

"You just masking your pain again Agent Ward?" She gave him a snarky, sidelong glance that she hoped he knew was teasing.

"Of course," he responded, still looking at the road but she thought she could see the hint of a smile playing on his lips.

When they finally arrived at the bus, the whole team was there to meet them. They were all looking very concerned and became even more so when they were greeted with their first sight of Agent Ward since he left.

Skye put the car in park and quickly turned it off, while Grant went for the door handle. He pushed the door open, tried to get out, and found himself stumbling onto the garage floor. Mei was there in an instant, steadying him as Skye quickly ran around the car to them. Fitzsimmons were obviously in shock at his appearance and both stood a short distance away, staring. Coulson was just making his way over to take Ward's other arm.

"What are you both looking at?" Coulson asked his voice sharp. "This man needs help. Simmons, what does the scanner say?"

She jumped and quickly turned to run into the lab, followed closely by Fitz. Skye followed Ward in, supported on either side by Mei and Coulson. They sat him down on a table and Simmons quickly brought up a picture of his head, appearing on the screen across the room from them.

While she looked at it, Skye leaned against the table that was opposite where Ward was sitting. She kept looking at him, waiting for him to look back at her. He did, a couple times, his eyes flicking to her and then away again. Mei began cutting off the sleeve of his arm so she could get to the bullet wound in his bicep.

"Well," Simmons said, "It looks like you'll be just fine. Shouldn't be any complications." She turned around and gave Ward a winning smile. "You're lucky though, it could have been much worse. But you will have to take it easy for a while, which, I know you don't like to do. And we'll need to do another scan tomorrow."

Grant looked like he was about to protest when Coulson said,

"That's an order Ward, don't push it." His voice was still tightly controlled but he was looking more relieved. Mei glanced at Coulson curiously and then went back to working on Grant's arm.

"But, I will have to stitch up that nasty cut. And someone will have to wake you every couple hours tonight. Sorry," Simmons said, giving him an apologetic smile.

"I'll do it," Skye said a little too quickly. Everyone turned to look at her with curious eyes. She cleared her throat. "I mean… unless someone else wants to?"

Everyone seemed happy enough to let her do the honors and she caught Ward trying to hold back an amused smile.

"Ow!" Agent Ward exclaimed as Mei poked him a little too harshly. She looked up at him.

"Did that hurt?"

Giving her one of his well-known angry faces, he glared at her. "No, it tickled."

Smiling slightly, she continued to work.

Skye sighed and came over to stand in front of Ward, as Jemma had taken up his left side with her equipment for stitching him up.

"Well, it looks like you guys have this under control and since Ward is no longer in danger of death; I'll be getting something to drink now."

Grant looked at her with soulful brown eyes, still looking handsome even covered in blood.

"Let me know when you need waking okay robot?" She raised her eyebrows at him, patted him on the knee, and then left the lab, moving up the stairs and followed closely by Coulson and Fitz.