Chapter 4

"We get in, we pick up the package and we get out. May and Skye you'll head in through the east and Ward and I will head in through the west gate. The package is located in the 3rd sub-basement of the facility in the south-west corner of the building. "

Coulson ran through the mission hoping that everyone's emotions would be set aside until they were all safely back on the bus. Some of his team wasn't pleased about Ward sitting at the table but he knew that he could be an asset to the them and after their brief discussion he knew Ward would do anything to win them back.

"Security?" Skye asked.

"On every level- heavily guarded, heavily patrolled. FitzSimmons you'll be running point technically here and Skye you'll be doing what you do best- getting us through their security system. It's a closed security system so we can't hack it from here but the new equipment should help ease our way through the building. We land in 15 minutes."

Everyone stood from the table and began to go their separate ways. "Skye- a moment." Coulson gestured for her to follow him to his office.

She entered his office and closed the door- "You ok?" He asked.

"Honestly- nope!" She answered in an extremely matter of fact tone.

"I saw the broken glass..."

"Yah well- my anger got the better of me last night. It won't happen again."

She turned to leave the room not wanting to discuss the matter any further. "You'll have to have his back out there today Skye- for today he's a member of the team and we all get back on this plane at the end of this, ok?"

"I know what my job is Coulson. If you trust him I'll trust him as far as the mission is concerned."

"Feelings can't get in the way Skye- for you or him."

"Don't worry- let's just get this done."

They had gotten into the building without any problems. Getting the package and getting out had been another story. They met up at their rendezvous point within the building under heavy fire. Coulson knew that the building had heavy security but this was overkill- there was a guard around every corner.

Coulson had retrieved the package and now they needed to get out. They turned the corner and Skye ended up with Ward- Coulson and May ran up ahead to get the security door open. Suddenly 4 guards attacked from every direction and Ward's instinct to protect Skye kicked in although he quickly discovered that she had become, as Coulson had put it, a focused agent. He could tell that she had trained for hours to move the way she was but there was a careless element to it. She didn't miss a beat until a bullet grazed her shoulder. Although he knew it was a painful wound Skye didn't flinch. Ward moved like he always had and Skye could see him out of the corner of her eye as he broke the neck of the man who had shot her. Their eyes met briefly and Skye turned to run towards Coulson and May- she just wanted to get the hell out of there. Then she saw him. His weapon aimed directly at Ward. She froze for an instant, a nanosecond really. "Ward- move!" She yelled as the weapon discharged and their eyes met. Ward hit the ground just as Skye took aim at the shooter and with one bullet he fell from his perch. Ward looked up to where Skye was standing her weapon stilled aimed. He could see the relief in her eyes and Skye knew it so she quickly turned once again scanning the area for other guards. He could see the blood running down her arm and as always he blamed himself for not being able to protect her- she had managed that he not get shot. With frustration running through his veins he got up and ran towards Coulson's voice yelling at them that the door would close automatically. He caught up to her and they both breached the door together just as it shut and locked behind them.

"That was a little close as usual." Coulson said with his comical matter of fact tone his head nodding.

"Let's get out of here now." May said and grabbing Skye she wrapped a tourniquet around her arm as they ran.

Back on the bus, Skye and Ward were taken to the lab where FitzSimmons looked at the wounds they had suffered. Coulson was in his office on the phone reporting their success and May had gotten them off the ground seconds after they entered plane.

Fitz starred at Ward intently as he stitched his cuts. He had been close to Ward before Hydra and he had been deeply hurt by Ward's betrayal but he had stayed in touch with Ward always believing that one day he would be back with this team. "She got hurt Fitz."

"She's gotten hurt a lot in these last 2 years Ward, I've told you that. She fights like she doesn't need to make it back but she always does. The pain never effects her. Jemma usually bandages her up without any anesthetic. She's tough Ward."

Skye stood up and waked out of the room never once looking in their direction.

It was 1am and Ward couldn't sleep. The days events invaded every one of his thoughts. He needed to punch something hard- he needed to get this energy and frustration out. He grabbed his hand wraps and headed downstairs. The plane was silent and still until he got to the stairs and saw her punching away just as hard as he knew he wanted to. Over and over she beat the bag until she collapsed to the floor breathless and exhausted. Fitz's words repeated in his head "the pain never effects her...she's tough Ward." He turned to leave not wanting to hurt her any further, wanting to keep his distance as he had promised Coulson he would.

"Are you watching me!" The anger in her voice made his blood freeze.

"I didn't mean to disturb you Skye. I was here for the same reason you are." He turned once again to leave.

"Sure you were- just like last night you needed a drink at the same time I did right-" she got up off the floor.

"Your arm is bleeding Skye-". The gunshot wound had opened up and there was a dark blood stain on her white shirt. "I'm fine."

"You're not fine Skye."

"What the hell do you care Ward-"

"What the hell do I care! You're kidding me right Skye!" He walked down the stairs in anger wanting her to look him in the eyes.

As he approached her whole body contracted and as soon as he was close enough she hit him- hard. He looked back at her, his nose bleeding. She hit him again and again and again. He put his arms to his face to protect himself from her powerful punches but he just let her hit him. To stop her he pushed her hard against the wall. Her eyes raged and she lunged at him kicking his torso. He fell to the floor and she got on top of him punching him over and over.

"Fight me!" She yelled.

He grabbed her and flipped her onto her back pinning her arms back over her head.

"Enough Skye. I don't want to fight you."

Wiggling her arm loose she slugged him and managed to get up off the ground. He followed suit a few seconds later.

"I'm not the rookie you knew Ward. I have skills now. I learned and I trained so that I could defeat people like you."

"I'm not the enemy Skye-"

"You were." She ran towards him but Ward grabbed her arm and slammed her into the wall knocking the wind out of her.

"I'm not and now you're really bleeding Skye." Blood ran to her finger tips.

Still holding her body against the wall he could feel it let go.

"I'm not the enemy Skye."

"I know." She finally whispered as her rib cage rose and fell.

He leaned in and put his forehead against hers. "I'm so sorry."

"I don't know if that's enough." She could smell him and feel his breath on her lips.

She pushed him back, off her.

"You hurt me Ward and that hurt changed me. You almost broke me but I fought back. I miss who I used to be. I miss laughing and I hate that I cried every day for months over you. I know you've changed and I know where your loyalties are but seeing you- making someone else laugh brought it all back and I was that lost vulnerable person again."

There was silence between them except for the heavy breathing as they both tried to catch their breath. That was the second time she had mentioned Sabrina and Ward hated it.

"She's not you."

Skye pushed his body away from hers and walked through the lab to the first aid kit hanging on the wall.