Cidney smiled as Skye entered the shop. From the beginning she'd taken a liking to Skye, maybe because they both had so much in common.
"What brings you out here?"
"Needed to get away from the plane. Usually we've completed our mission after being grounded this long."
Cidney nodded in understanding. "Hurry up and wait. That's what this must seem like for all of you."
"How are you doing with all this?" Skye followed Cidney to the back of the shop as she added bouquets to her display.
"I think if one more person asks me that," Cidney stopped arranging the bouquets and turned to Skye, "I'm going to blow a fuse. It's like everyone is just sitting waiting for me to break again." She turned back to the flowers.
"Sorry."
"No more apologies please, I'm begging you Skye. I think this is uncomfortable for everyone right now…not just Grant and I. Don't try to deny it, I see all you watching me like I'm going to shatter at any moment. Point is Skye I think we could be good friends…maybe the rest of the team too…I'd really like to give that a shot without my history with Grant getting in the way."
"Okay. You're right…"
"Good!" Cidney nodded her head decidedly and led Skye back behind the counter and had her sit, "Now tell me about yourself."
"Where do you want me to start?" Skye suddenly felt very shy.
"Anywhere you want." She continued when Skye shot her a puzzled look, "Here I'll start. When I was living in my van one of my favorite things to do was just drive late into the night. I'd stop if I found an open field and just climb up onto the roof to look at the stars. I think I like it better away from the cities…it's harder to see the stars here."
"There was this hillside outside of the city that I'd drive to when I lived in my van. It was secluded and I liked to sit and stare at the city all lit up at night…made me feel less alone…" Skye recalled
"I'd love to see it one day." Cidney squeezed Skye's hand.
Skye looked around the shop "How'd you do it?" Skye marveled, "I..I never felt like I belonged anywhere till I found SHIELD. It's been a family I never had…I just always bounced through life…and you've made something…you didn't need a secret organization to come rescue you."
"I've spent most of my life longing for a team like you have." Cidney smiled at Skye's expression, "Pretty easy to look at someone else's life and think they have everything together isn't it? You did your best with the talents you have, I did my best with mine. I can say for sure that I didn't make many lasting relationships…the few I hav-had" She corrected herself "…well they all turned out to not be who I thought they were."
"I know Ward isn't who you thought he was…but he loves you. We can all see it when he looks at you."
"You all think very highly of him don't you?"
"I know he hurt you…but I also know he's sorry. He's a good man." Skye felt the need to advocate for Ward.
"I know…I saw enough of him to know he's good. I just don't want to let him back in for it to happen all over again.
…
Coulson watched as Cidney sat in front of him fiddling with her ring. Waiting patiently for an answer he sighed inwardly at her growing distress.
"Is there another way? There has to be another way your team can get what they need without me." The reality of starting over somewhere else was becoming real as the mission quickly approached. She didn't want to start over. Not anymore, she was tired of running away.
"I wish there was. We can't send in our own agents without a guest to help us. Unless you know of someone else we could convince to help us that security won't check."
"No. I don't know anyone."
"I'm sorry. Believe me I wish we could just take pictures of the evidence…but SHIELD wants the copies."
"Why not just arrest him?" she murmured.
"Not our orders." He looked at her sympathetically. "I know this is hard for you. I wish there was another way. The only thing I can do is offer my help in getting you a new life somewhere else."
"I…I'm booked for weddings…I don't have connections anywhere."
"We'll take care of all that." He assured
"Charleston." She whispered so softly Coulson almost didn't hear her.
"West Virginia?"
She let out a broken laugh, "No, South Carolina. If I have to move…I want Charleston South Carolina."
"South Carolina it is. Skye's been setting you up with a new identity; new birth certificate, driver's license, social security. After the mission Cidney Allan will no longer exist. Everything will be erased.
"My degrees?" Cidney looked at him dejectedly.
"I'll have Skye make some up for you." He promised "Now that we have a place Skye can finish everything. We'll need a picture for your photo id."
"Can't you just use my old-" understanding crossed her face, "I'm changing my look too…"
"Haircut maybe a dye too."
Her fingers stroked the ends of her long hair. Sure she'd thought about cutting it, it was definitely long enough to donate. But dye it? That was something she was not all for.
He saw her uneasiness growing, "May just some cool highlights?" He suggested.
Cidney stood abruptly and left Coulson's office. She needed off the plane, away from everyone to process this. She drew the attention of the team as she passed through the main area and ran down to the lab. The thought that they were getting to see her fall apart again crossed her mind. Ward found her sitting at the end of the loading dock watching the sunset. Sitting beside her he didn't even get a chance to ask if she was okay.
"How'd you do it? H..how did you just leave?" she swallowed the lump forming in her throat. "You were gone in a day…I can't do that. I can't…I don't know how to just leave everything I've worked for….leave Danny." She whispered
Ward pulled her into his side and she buried her head in the crook of his neck and clung to the front of his shirt. Gently he ran his hand over her arm, "I knew I had to follow orders. I told myself I'd be selfish if I stayed…I had to go…if I didn't I'd fail a lot of people and some would get hurt."
"I'm not an agent, Grant."
"I know…but you can help a lot of agents with their job by completing this mission."
"Will this mission even help people? Civilians?"
Her voice was shaky and Ward felt her tears soaking through his shirt, "This mission is important. It can save a lot of people. We need your help to do that." Ward thumbed away her tears.
"I can't…I can't do this." She mumbled
He pulled away and held her in front of him, his hand cupping her face, "Yes you can. I know you're terrified. I know you wish all this never happened and so do I. You deserve to be happy. But I know you, Cid. I know you'll still be incredible wherever you go. You'll make your business even better and I know you'll do this mission."
"How? How do you know?"
"Because you have a heart of gold. You've always had a desire to help people. And I know you'll be great because you always are. You conquer everything you try. Queens always to you. No contest."
