Author's Note: Sorry for the long wait. I've officially been gone a month. Life's been a little more than hectic lately. My health hasn't been great and work is always hectic. I hope you enjoy this chapter as it took me a couple of tries before I was satisfied with it. Thanks for patiently waiting and all the wonderful messages and comments.

Third Person POV

Grant stands back as the paramedics put Skye in a stretcher and hook her up to IV's. He looks around looking, searching for Hunter.

There are a fleet of paramedics coming into the library with stretchers.

Hunter waves and Grant hurries over to him. "Stay with, Bakshi." Grant orders through clenched teeth. "I want him watched. Report back to me when you have an update."

Grant turns back and runs behind Skye's bed as they move her outside. Robbie, Mack and Trip, are already walking beside her.

"Take the cars. Meet us at the hospital." He tells the rest of the guys. "I'm riding with her."

"I'm sorry, sir." The paramedic shakes his head. "You'll have to meet us there. We're going to Saint Helen's."

"I'm going with her." Grant looks the medic in the eye. Everyone can see that he isn't backing down. The medic looks Grant over and finally nods.

"Go." Grant tells the guys one last time and they all turn to leave.

He climbs in behind the bed and medics. He stays in the corner, out of the way as they work on Skye. The lights are blaring and he sits stoically.

The paramedic gets an oxygen mask on Skye and hooks her up to an IV and blood, quickly stopping the bleeding.

Grant picks up the phone to call Deke but before he can utter a word, Phil snatches the phone. "Talk to me, Ward. What's going on?"

He tells Phil that Skye was shot and the hospital she'll be at. His voice is detached as he stares into nothing.

Sometime later, they make it to the hospital and it's a flurry as they move Skye quickly into surgery after they get the x-rays they need.

It's at this point that the nurse finally notices he's bleeding. "Sir, were you shot?" She asks appalled.

"it's nothing. It was a clean shot. Went in and out." Grant tries to shake her off.

The nurse waves over another nurse and tries to move him. "I need to have you sit down as we clean out this wound."

"I'm fine. I don't need medical attention. I just need you to tell me where I can wait while Skye's in surgery." He talks gruffly to the nurse.

The other nurse arrives and catches his side of the conversation.

"I will not let you walk around this hospital as you're actively bleeding." The first nurse says stubbornly. "Now sit."

Grant stares down the nurse but she doesn't budge. Finally, he nods and follows them onto a bed in the hallway. Both nurses tend to his wound. In the end, he ends up getting stitches but refuses any pain medication.

Grant finally moves to the emergency room and waits. It's almost an hour later before Mack, Trip and Robbie arrive. Minutes later, Skye's family runs in, demanding answers.

Grant sits, not moving, still looking at nothing, as Robbie answers all of their questions.

The waiting room becomes packed as more families arrive. Some are there for routine surgeries but most are there for students from the College.

Hunter arrives nearly two hours later. He looks around and finds Grant. He looks around and nods to Phil before turning back to his best friend.

"He's dead, Ward. He didn't make it to the hospital." Hunter speaks but Grant doesn't respond. "Ward?" Hunter steps closer. Grant doesn't move. Hunter turns to the others. "How long has he been like this?"

"He's been like that since we got here." Robbie answers looking from Hunter to Grant.

"Skye?" Hunter asks.

"Still in surgery." Phil answers, his voice thick with worry.

"Mack!" Elena half yells from across the room. She enters with Bobbi beside her.

Elena runs to Mack and throws her arms around him.

"I'm ok. I'm ok. I was on the outside of it." Mack reassures her as he rubs her back.

Bobbi yanks Hunter into a hug. "How is she?" She asks as she pulls back and she turns to look at Ward. She panics at the sight of him and turns to Hunter with tears in her eyes.

Hunter shakes his head, knowing what she's assuming. "It's ok, love. She's still in surgery. And he just needs a minute."

Doctors came in, calling patients names and family after family starts emptying out. Some families received devastating news while others still have hope.

Leo and Jemma cry quietly in each other's arms.

Phil sat silently watching the door, holding Melinda's hand.

Robbie, Mack and Trip never sat. They stand surrounding Skye's family.

Elena and Bobbi sat together, leaning on each other while looking at their boyfriends.

Hunter paced and kept a watchful eye on Grant who still hadn't moved.

Finally, a doctor walked in, saying, "For Skye Phil."

"Ward." Hunter called.

Grant, was instantly on his feet, walking to meet the doctor.

"Are you her family?" The doctor looked around at all of them.

"Yes. I'm her father." Phil stepped forward.

"Why don't you come with me?" The doctor requested.

Phil and Leo step forward and look back to Melinda and Jemma.

Melinda shakes her head. "Go ahead. We'll wait here."

Phil nods as he follows the doctor with Leo on his heels.

Grant watches them leave, his body itching to follow. His hands tighten into fists and he visibly looks uncomfortable.

Jemma turns to him and reaches for his arm. "She'll be ok, Ward."

It's the first time since arriving at the hospital that Grant shows emotion. He turns to Jemma and nods. Tears coat his eyes but he doesn't let them fall.

Jemma moves forward and hugs him. "She's ok." She repeats.

And takes him into a hug. They all make their way back to their seats to wait as Grant stands in the same spot.

Skye is transferred to the ICU. She's in a medically induced coma. The bullet grazed both her large and small intestines as well as her kidney. She'd lost a lot of blood but had coded while in surgery. She'd be ok eventually but for now, the doctors were keeping an eye on her.

Being in the ICU, she could only have two visitors at a time. The first thing Grant did was to search and talk to the hospital's Chief of Medicine to arrange security. He also arranged for her to have an extra two visitors during the day.

Bobbi and Elena both go home after they hear that Skye was out of surgery and she'll be in the ICU. Grant sends Robbie, Mack and Trip home. He gives them specific orders to come back the next day and stand guard at Skye's room door at eight-hour shifts.

Phil, Leo, Jemma and Melinda decide to spend the night in the hospital. Grant sends Hunter to go get them something to sleep in.

When Hunter comes back with a shopping bag, Grant tells him to go home and sleep.

Grant is sitting at Skye's door. He still hasn't seen her but it doesn't matter. He's decided not to move until she wakes.

"Nah. I can pull up a chair and keep you company." Hunter looks around trying to find a chair.

"Hunter. I'm fine. Go home. Get some rest." Grant rubs his tired face.

"I'm staying with you, mate." Hunter shakes his head.

"Go home." Grant pushes. Hunter turns to him and they look at each other for a couple of minutes, not saying a word.

"Fine. But I'll be back in the morning to relieve you." Hunter nods and walks off.

On the third day of being in the ICU, the paparazzi have camped out outside of the hospital. Skye is still in a coma.

Grant has not left Skye's side for more than three hours at a time. He goes home, showers, takes a two-hour power nap and he's back at the hospital.

He drops off food for Phil, Leo, Jemma and Melinda before stepping back out and joining Robbie at the door. Jemma and Melinda watch him come and go.

"If today wasn't his last day, I'd tell you to give him a raise." Leo tells Phil.

Phil looks at the door and nods. "He's been great to us. I hate to see him go. He's always protected her but the company he and Hunter are starting will be hired to take care of security. He's dedicated to his job."

Melinda rolls her eyes as she chuckles.

"What?" Leo turns to Melinda, clearly not understanding what's so funny.

"They really don't see it, do they?" Jemma looks between Leo and Phil before turning to Melinda.

Melinda shakes her head. "No idea."

"Don't see what?" Phil asks both women.

Melinda and Jemma look at each other. Jemma gives Melinda a gesture that means "go ahead".

Melinda smiles, "Grant Ward might be dedicated to his job but that's not why he's here. It's not why he's been by her side." She looks at them to see if they understand but both men stay quiet still looking between her and Jemma. "Oh, for goodness sake. He's in love with her!"

Leo laughs and looks from Jemma to Phil. Jemma eyes him and shakes her head telling him it's not a joke. He looks to Phil who still looks shocked. "What? No—he—what? He can't—it makes—right?"

Phil shakes his head. "How long?" He directs the question to Melinda.

"Probably from the moment he met her." Melinda answers with a slanted grin on her face. "You mean to tell me that all this time neither of you gave it a thought to why Ward worked so hard to keep Skye safe? Why he's protective? More protective than either of you when it comes to the people around her."

"He's always been part of the family, Mel." Phil answers honestly. "From day one we told him what we were about."

Melinda rolls her eyes. "Why do you think Audrey trusted Skye with Ward from the beginning?"

Phil's eyes widen. "Do you mean to tell me she knew and never said anything to me? She—she knew Ward was in love with Skye?"

"Well, honestly," Jemma chimes in, "how was she supposed to know both of you were so blind?"

"Well….does Skye know he loves her?" Leo challenges.

"Please. She's so in love with him that she can't see that he loves her just the same." Jemma answers shaking her head.

"She's in love with him too?" Phil now looks confused and slightly angry. "Have they—are they—?"

Jemma shakes her head. "They're both oblivious to how the other feels. Maybe when she makes it out of this, they can finally tell each other how they feel because I can't handle watching them anymore."

Jemma moves to grab her food and begins to eat. Melinda follows suit. Only Leo and Phil don't look very hungry.

Jemma puts her phone on silent. "Handle it, Deke." She said frustrated and she gets back to her food. She's put him in charge of canceling all of Skye's appointments and dealing with calls for the day.

Melinda's phone rings and she frowns. "Hello, this is May." She listens to a bit before an angry look comes across her face. "What video?" She looks around and snaps the TV on and flips through the channels. She stands as she finds the video on the TV.

Phil, Leo and Jemma turn to watch what she's doing, confusion on their faces.

The video is dark and taken from what looks like a cell phone camera. It's unsteady and it's slowly zooming in. Melinda hits the volume. As the video continues to play and zooms in, Skye's voice comes out clear.

"How does anyone fall in love? It just happened." Skye's sitting against the wall next to Robbie.

"Yes, but you must love things about him. What do you love about him?" Robbie asks.

"He's kind. He's strong and I don't mean his body. I mean he's strong in character. I had a chance to see him with his grandmother twice and I could see how much he loved her. I loved watching him with her." Skye's voice has turned soft. "He teases me. He keeps me on my toes. He's stubborn as hell. He annoys me to no end but even when I'm mad at him, I can't help but love him. He's got integrity. He's so honest—brutally so. He's not scared of being himself. He's so confident."

They all expect the video to end there because there's a moment of silence until Robbie continues. "You're in deep. I'm surprised I didn't see it before. It's so obvious now."

"I blew it, you know?" Skye shakes her head. "He used to be different with me. He teases me now but the times are few and far between. He used to be warmer with me. I made the mistake of thinking he felt something for me and I hit on him and ever since then, he's pushed me away. I understand why. He didn't feel the same but he thought he had to draw a line and we couldn't even be friends anymore. It doesn't matter now. But he could make me laugh. We used to play board games. He's really good at a couple of them and he got quite competitive. He's what a man should be. It doesn't hurt that the man looks like an Adonis."

The video continues but Melinda can't watch it anymore. "Take it off the air NOW! My client had no idea this was being filmed and clearly didn't approve it. You have no right to put it on air. It is against the law to record without consent. Take it off NOW!" Melinda grabs her things and doesn't stop to wave goodbye as she stalks out of the room, clearly very pissed off. "I will have your—" her voice is cut out with the door closing behind her.

The video has finished and a reporter is in a studio. "Well, there you have it. Skye confessing to being in love with her bodyguard, Grant Ward."

"Shit." Jemma curses as she pulls out her phone. "Shit. Shit." She thumbs through her text messages and sees messages from Deke to call back. She clicks on his number and waits for an answer, "Deke." She stops because she's interrupted. "I know. How was I—yes, we just saw—Mel is dealing with it now. No, we do not have a comment. I'll be right there." She looks for her things.

Leo grabs her bag. "I've got it. I'll drive you. Dad, we'll be back."

But Phil isn't looking at them, he's watching the TV as they're replaying the video. "Send Ward in." He tells them.

Jemma and Leo share a look before nodding and stepping out of the room.

Phil had gotten up and was standing closer to the TV. He squinted his eyes to try to get a better look and paid attention to Skye's voice as she talked about Grant.

"You wanted to see me, sir?" Grant walked in, expecting to see Phil in a chair next to Skye's bed. He frowned at Phil, standing by the tv. "Sir?"

Phil points at it but doesn't say a word.

Grant steps closer and his eyes widen what he realizes what he's watching.

WARD POV

"I blew it, you know? He used to be different with me." I hear Skye's sweet voice comes from the screen and I close my eyes to imagine she's right beside me. "He teases me now but the times are few and far between. He used to be warmer with me. I made the mistake of thinking he felt something for me and I hit on him and ever since then, he's pushed me away. I understand why. He didn't feel the same but he thought he had to draw a line and we couldn't even be friends anymore." Her words freeze my blood. What? What's going on? Why is she talking about me? "It doesn't matter now. But he could make me laugh. We used to play board games. He's really good at a couple of them and he got quite competitive." She laughs and it stops my heart from beating. I miss her laugh. "He's what a man should be." Is she saying what I think she's saying? "It doesn't hurt that the man looks like an Adonis."

I recognize Robbie's laugh. "I don't know about that."

"What the hell is this?" I ask. This was clearly taken in the tunnels at the college. My skin boils and my fists clench. Nobody had the right to take Skye's confession like this—to do what they wanted with it. "She's in a coma. She still has right."

"Melinda's dealing with it." Coulson answers me without looking away from the screen. "They have it on a loop."

"So, tell me about it?" Robbie asks.

"Tell you about what?" I watch as Skye leans her head back

"Ward. How'd it happen? Why?"

"How does anybody fall in love? It just happened." My breath catches. There it is. She said love. She's in love with me?

"Yes, but you must love things about him. What do you love about him?" Robbie asks her. The video shifts like the person moved. I don't want to watch this. It's invading Skye's personal space but I can't move. I'm glued to my spot. I can't help it. I want to hear what she said.

"He's kind. He's strong and I don't mean his body. I mean he's strong in character. I had a chance to see him with his grandmother twice and I could see how much he loved her. I loved watching him with her. He teases me. He keeps me on my toes." My jaw drops. I'd taken her to see my Gramsy twice. The second time was right before she'd passed away. "He's stubborn as hell." Her voice shifts from soft to annoyed and I can't help but smile. "He annoys me to no end but even when I'm mad at him, I can't help but love him. He's got integrity. He's so honest—brutally so. He's not scared of being himself. He's so confident."

The video stops unexpectedly. "We'll be back after these messages." An announcer says.

Coulson isn't saying anything and I still can't move so, I keep watching the television. The video doesn't play after the commercials are over.

"She got it off." I finally turn to see Coulson's head drop to his chest and turn to sit beside Skye. "Grab a chair, Ward."

I sit on Skye's other side. Before I turn to him, I need to look at her in case he tells me to leave and not come around. I'm sure he's pissed. He probably thinks something is going on between us.

She looks so fragile but her coloring is coming back. She's got IV's and oxygen hooked up. My body hurts seeing her on this hospital bed but I know if anyone call pull through it's Skye.

My hand automatically reaches for hers. I hold her hand in mine before giving it a kiss. I look at Coulson who is watching me very closely.

"You're in love with her." His voice is stern and he looks slightly angry.

I nod. This is exactly why I've been hiding it. This is one of the many reasons I knew it wouldn't work out. This man knows my history. He knows the kind of man I am—what I've done. He won't want me near his daughter.

"Did you know she loved you?" He questions, still watching me closely.

I shake my head. "No, sir."

"Would it have changed anything?"

"I want to say no but maybe I'd be lying. I love this job. I made rules for myself a long time ago for the safety of my client, my colleagues and myself. I've lived by those rules. When I realized how I felt, I decided I couldn't do the job." I admit. "But I didn't know how Skye felt. If I knew maybe I would have left sooner. Maybe I would have given it a chance. I don't know how to answer that."

Coulson looks at me for a minute. He's not saying anything. I leave him alone to think and wait.

I shut off the television and turn my attention to Skye. I have to catch my breath when I look at her. A mix of love and anger overwhelms me. Bakshi died on the way to the hospital and will not have to suffer years in a prison cell for what he did to Skye.

Two shooters are already behind bars and the other three will be released from the hospitals by the end of the week. All of them would be serving long sentences for the terror they'd caused that day.

"Thank you for always looking after her, Ward." I look back at Coulson and his expression has changed. He has a smile on his face. "I don't trust anyone else with her and that should tell me something. So, when she comes out of this…I'll support your relationship if you decide to go for it. She loves you. And now that I can see that you love her too—" he shakes his head, "I just want her to be happy."

I blink a couple of times repeating what he's just said in my head.

He stands and kisses her on the forehead. "Take care of her, Ward. I'm going to go home to shower and get some sleep. I'll leave her in your hands. Call me if there are any changes. See you later, honey." He leans his forehead against hers before looking at me again. He looks like he wants to say more but things better of it.

He exits the room and I'm left alone with Skye.

"You need to wake up, sweetheart." I'm still holding onto her hand, so I bring it back to my lips. "Come on, sweetheart. It's making me sick not being able to look into your eyes.

I move my chair closer to the bed and I somehow fall asleep.

I don't know how long I've been asleep but I'm awakened by Hunter. "Hunter?"

"Sorry. I don't know how long you've been asleep. I was just dropping off food." He tells me as he gives me a container.

I take it and sit up. "What time is it?"

"Nine."

Shit. I've slept most of the day. "Has anyone come back yet?"

He takes a chair and sits next to me. "Fitz stopped by but I think they trust you to stay by her side. He said they're coming back in the morning in shifts. He also said that you're on their rotation and need to go home and rest when they arrive."

"No." I look back at Skye and set my food on the tray table next to me.

"I'm just delivering the message. What you telling me 'no' for?" He leans back and puts his feet up on Skye's bed.

I slap his arm with the back of my hand and he rolls his eyes but puts his feet back on the floor.

"Robbie?" I ask because I haven't had a chance to talk to him yet.

"He's swapping with Mack in," Hunter looks at his watch, "two hours. He's angry at himself and your girl over here." Hunter nods to Skye.

I shake my head as I sigh. "It wasn't his fault. He did what he had to do. He was quick on his feet. He stayed in control of the situation and he kept her safe. He did everything I would have."

"You try telling him that."

"Have him come in when he gets here."

"I will." He's quiet but I get the feeling he has more to say. "Eat."

I lean forward and grab the box he brought. It's a salad and a turkey sub. I start to eat and before I know it, I'm finished with the meal. I can't remember when I ate last. "Thanks for that."

He nods. "Have you watched it yet?" He finally asks.

Ah. This is what he's been trying to get out. "Yea. I caught the end a bit of the beginning before May had it taken down."

"You know the internet now, man. It's never really down. It's on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, you name it. As soon as it's taken down another link pops up."

I'm furious at whoever distributed the video.

"She'll be pissed when she wakes up." Hunter sounds like he finds it funny. I turn and sure enough, he has a stupid smile on his face. "She'll be embarrassed as hell though first." He laughs.

I frown. "The things you find funny."

"Come on. You at least have to be grateful it's out." His head slants towards me with that stupid smile still on his face.

"Grateful?"

"Come on. If the video wouldn't have come out it would still be years before the both of you took your heads out of your asses." He's laughing again which makes me want to hit him. "Look, it wasn't right. It was a private moment. But we both know you're in love with her and now you know she loves you too. Take as a gift. You've ruined enough time holding back. You've got to live your life, Ward."

My hands itch to hit him but I hold off because he's right. I hate it when he's right. He gets cocky and more annoying than usual. "I was going to tell her."

"Liar." He says as he gets up. He walks around Skye's bed and leans over her. "Time to wake up, love. You've been sleeping long enough." I watch as he kisses her and stands back up. "I'm going to go home to my woman and get some sleep. Try to do the same. I'll let Mack know to tell Robbie. Good night."

At the door, he turns around one more time to look at Skye. I can see the love and affection for her in his eyes. "You love her." I say with awe as I've never realized it before.

"Like a sister." He gives me a sad smile before he exits.

Hunter has always been my best friend. He's always been someone I could trust. He's been like my brother. To know that he loves Skye like that makes me feel really good and I love him more for it.

"Come on, sweetheart. We all miss you." I pull my chair closer to her head and rest my head on her arm, drifting off to sleep.

I slowly wake to voices in the room.

"So, you're saying you're waking her up?" Coulson asks.

I sit up and see him talking to Skye's doctor.

They both see me sit up but don't stop talking. "Yes. It'll be up to her for when she wakes. But we've been monitoring her and she's improved. There's no telling when she'll wake but we're confident it'll be soon." The doctor explains. "Now, if you'll excuse me. I'm come by later in the day to check in on her."

My eyes are wide as I take in what he's just said.

Coulson has a wide smile on his face. "She's going to wake up, Ward."

I nod and I can feel a smile on my face. I turn to Skye who has more coloring today. "You're waking up soon, sweetheart. You hear me? We'll see each other soon." I lean forward and take a whiff of her hair. She doesn't smell the same. She's lost some of her Skye smell. She smells like a hospital but the faint smell of strawberries and vanilla is still there.