Chapter Ten (Pieces)

FINAL CHAPTER

"I'm here again, a thousand miles away from you. A broken mess, just scattered pieces of who I am. Thought I could do this on my own, I've lost so much along the way."

"Skye?" Ward croaked. "Skye?"

"I'm right here." Skye replied tearfully. "We all are."

The rest of the team started to come in closer.

"I'm sorry." Ward slurred out. "I'm sorry for all of this. But I deserve this. I'm not a good man, Skye, I never was. I made stupid choices and look where it got me."

"Grant, no, you were misled." Skye replied.

"Misled? Is that what you're calling it?" Ward asked, getting weaker with every word. "Really? I was a dumbass to follow Garrett. I should've just stayed in jail all those years ago. It was my choice to follow him and Hydra. It was my choice to capture and torture you."

"Grant," Skye turned to look at Simmons. "Jemma, do something."

Ward slowly shook his head, "Don't. Just let me go. Even if I live, I'll just be carted off to jail anyway." He shifted ever so slightly and the blood began to ooze out faster. "I chose my path and this is where it led, to the grave." He coughed, sending blood into the air.

"Grant, no, you don't have to go. We can help you."

"You won't help me." Ward stated weakly. "You all view me as a lying bastard. I know Coulson will be hesitant to help."

Skye turned to look at Coulson.

Coulson gulped, "I-I wouldn't let someone die like this." he stammered.

"Look, I'm a broken man. I've always have been. I've made my choices and this is where it led me. I chose to follow Garrett and Hydra." He coughed again. More blood. "I was placed on this team to spy on Coulson. But something happened that I'd never thought that would, I made friends. Fitz, Simmons, Coulson, May." He looked at Skye, "And Skye.

I did truly care for all of you, but I was a fool to turn my back you on you. All of this is my fault, I'm sorry. I deserve this." He coughed once more. "I deserve all of this. It's on me."

Fitzsimmons looked at each other. May shuffled in place. Coulson gulped, "Grant,"

"Don't say it. I am to blame here, there's no doubting it." He grimaced in pain and his whole body convulsed, he didn't have much longer. "But I did care for you." His eyes floated to Skye, "And Skye, I did love you. And at least I died… protecting you… in the end…." His voice faded out.

"Then I see your face, I know I'm finally yours. I find everything I thought I lost before."

"Grant? Grant?" Skye cried.

"Is he?" Fitz asked.

"What?" May added.

"Simmons, do something." Coulson growled.

Simmons rushed over to Ward's broken body and felt for a pulse. She looked up, "He's alive, but barely. He needs medical help now."

Coulson turned to Hill, "Hill, get us some medical support."

"But he's a known Hydra traitor. Why would you want to help him?" Hill asked.

"That really doesn't matter right now. He may die from protecting us from Garrett. Garrett is dead, and I have many questions to ask Ward right now. So I need that medical support, now." Coulson snapped.

Hill blinked and then radioed in for support, "They're on their way." she muttered.

"Simmons, try to subdue the bleeding until the support arrives."

"Yes sir."

Coulson looked at Ward's unconscious body and to Skye who was still kneeling by him. He didn't know what to do. Ward was a traitor, but he did kill Garrett and protect him. He didn't know what to think.

He watched as Fitzsimmons went over by Skye and Simmons started to apply pressure to the bullet wounds on Ward's stomach.

May came over to Coulson, "What do we do now?" she asked. "Where do we go from here? Garrett is dead and Ward is dying. And what do we even do with Ward if he lives? He's a traitor, he has to be punished."

"Possibly, I think, Garrett was manipulating him. Using him by messing with his head."

"But we don't know where his true allegiances lie." May said.

"I know that. That's just something that we will have to figure out."

"And how is that?"

"Ward will figure it out in time. Because I know that he will. Just give him some time, and that bastard will figure out where he truly belongs, whether he is SHIELD or Hydra."

"You call my name. I come to you in pieces, so you can make me whole."

Author's Note: I don't own AoS, Marvel does. Song is 'Pieces' by Red. END OF STORY. I know, short story and probably not the best ending. I didn't know how to end it. But don't worry, Ward will live. I did plan on having him die, but there were several reviews saying not to kill him so I didn't. I hope that you enjoyed the story! PLEASE REVIEW!~ AwakeAndAliveSpartan.