A.N.: Not being here for such a long time, I forgot how awesome this fandom and You Guys are! All I want to say is THANK YOU for your continued support of this story, and because I wanted to show you how much I appreciate You I decided to update as quickly as I could, so here you go!
Enjoy another chapter
Cherry
P.S.: There's also a poll on my site, it would mean a world to me if you'd tell me what do you think about my idea by voting ;D if you're not a registered user, you can write me what do you think in your comment ;]
Oh and one more thing! In this and another chapter, Ward is telling Skye some sort of story and it'll be in italics ;D
Also another think will be in italics but that's for me to know and for you to find out…
Now, I said what I had to say and I can let you read it ;]

Disclaimer: I was so excited last time that I was finally able to update that I totally forgot about this. So now I'll do this: I do not own any of the characters from Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. – they all belong to creators and writers.

Chapter 9 – Memory Lane Part 2 – Truth hurts

It was past midnight when Grant finally convinced Skye to get some sleep. She didn't want to listen when he told her that they still have five more days. Skye was so stubborn that he had to promise her that they will start another round of early in the morning.

Ward was now lying in his bed thinking about the things that he already told Skye: a few facts about everyone from their team (nothing too personal, he wanted to see if she'll remember anything on her own), some things about their old missions, but nothing too serious so Skye won't freak out or get scared too much.

"Get some sleep Grant Douglas, it's gonna be a long day" Ward thought and fell into a peaceful slumber.

Another day wasn't very different from the first one – Skye asked Ward loads of questions. She wanted to get more details on what specifically that missions were about.

Skye wanted also to find out what she was specifically doing on S.H.I.E.L.D., because until this moment Ward hasn't told her.

At some point their conversation turned out the other way around – Grant was the one that was asking Skye some questions. He wanted to know what Skye's life was now, for the past two years.

It was obvious for Skye that he wanted to buy some more time before telling Skye key things about her previous life – how did she end up in S.H.I.E.L.D. and why did she become an Art teacher after being an agent. Skye felt that that part of their conversation won't be that pleasant and that's why she let him have it his way. For now, of course, because she promised herself that if agent Ward won't start talking about the most important things in another hour then she'll kick him out of her apartment or call police and accuse him of harassing her.

For the last five hours or so Ward managed to avoid two questions that he feared most to answer: what has to happen that Skye's memories had to be wiped off in the first place and why, after two years of peace, all of a sudden S.H.I.E.L.D. got interested in Skye again?

How was he supposed to tell her that the person that threatened her two years ago was still out there free and now was after her again?

Ward knew that he had to tell her, he just didn't know how…

His thoughts interrupted beeping noise coming from microwave signaling that milk was heated. Skye wanted to drink something warm and Grant offered to do hot cocoa for her just like she liked it: with marshmallows, whip cream and sprinkles on top and just a hint of vanilla in it.

When he brought drinks to Skye's bedroom, her eyes lit up.

'How did you-' Skye took one mug with her good hand. 'That's my favorite.'

'You're still doubting that I know you, aren't you?'

'Hey, don't blame the girl for not believing a total stranger at first!'

Ward chuckled. 'So you believe me now?'

'Well, I still have some small doubts, but as crazy as everything that you're saying sounds, I do believe you. I just don't-'

'Remember me' Ward smiled weakly. 'I know and I also know that you just need more time, Skye.'

Skye remembered some small details about everyone from their team, except for Ward…

'Yes…I'm sure about that' Skye mustered a smile. She really wanted to remember him.

Silence fell in the room; Ward still didn't know how to start. 'This cocoa-'

'Agent Ward' Skye interrupted him.

'Yes, Skye?' He gulped nervously in anticipation.

'How did I end up here? In Malibu?' Skye's face turned serious.

'Well… what can I say…'

'The truth, Grant. Tell me the truth' she took his free hand in hers as if to comfort him.

"I should be the one comforting you, Skye, not the other way around" Ward thought. He took Skye's hand in his and squeezed it gently. He took a deep breath and started his story:

We were on a mission, four of us: you, me, May and Tripp. It was supposed to be a simple mission: collect 0-8-4…

'0-8-4?' Skye asked interrupting. 'What's that?'

'Object of unknown origin.'

'You mean, like alien stuff?' Skye was excited.

'Yeah…' he snorted. 'Something like that…'

'Why are you laughing at me?' She sounded offended, but when Ward looked at her she was smiling.

'Nothing' he replied. 'Can we get back to story?'

'Oh, yeah… sure.'

So it was pretty simple mission, until we collected the object…

'What was it?' Skye interrupted again.

'What was what?' Ward asked confused.

'That alien stuff, what was it?'

'It was technically an alien' he tried to explain, but then he gave up. 'It was a small device, Fitz can explain it to you if you'll ask him. Now, Skye, focus.'

'Sorry' she smiled sheepishly. 'Please, continue.'

There was an ambush, we were fighting very hard to get out, but we were outnumbered. Tripp got hurt pretty badly, May was the first to get out, because she had the device... and then I got shot…

Skye held her breath.

'It was nothing, Skye, bullet barely grazed my arm' he reassured her.

and then they took you.

We tried to fight but as I said, we were outnumbered, we couldn't do anything and I'm sorry for that Skye…

Ward stopped his story and looked down as if he was ashamed of himself.

'Hey' Skye took his cheek in her hand so he would look at her 'I believe you Grant. You did what was in your power to save me, I'm sure about that.' It didn't help, he still looked devastated, so Skye tried from the other side.

'Was that the moment when they took my memories?'

'What? No, of course not' Grant said quickly.

They kidnapped you and we were searching for you. Coulson tried everything… but after two days you actually contacted us. You said to pick you up from the diner that was near the place where our mission went south.

And you were there, sitting, drinking coffee, all safe and sound.

But something was wrong, as your S.O.

'My what?' Skye asked.

'We'll get to that later' Ward said and continued.

I knew that you weren't telling us everything. I gave you a whole day to tell me or someone else what really happened when you were captured and what was going on now, but you didn't.

So I confronted you and after some convincing you told me what that people truly wanted from you.

'They told me that if I wanted to keep everyone on my team safe, I had to leave you all, never come back and forget about all of you. I had one week to make the decision or they would eliminate not only me but all of you, one by one.'

Skye had tears in her eyes.

'You remember that?' Ward was in awe.

'I just did' she wiped off few tears with the back of her hand.

Ward caressed Skye's cheek for a moment and then pulled her gently into a hug.

'Can you continue?' She asked quietly his chest.

Ward held her tighter. 'Sure.'

As it turned out, when you came back you've already made your decision. We were fighting over it for almost whole week. We all tried to convince you to change your decision, but it didn't work.

Also the fact that Tripp injury was so bad he had to stay at the hospital for two weeks didn't help either.

Skye looked up from Ward's arms, she was scared but she had to ask that question.

'But who did that to me? Who threatened me back then?'

Grant was silent for a moment. 'That's the point, Skye. You recognized only two men – Neil Pearson and Ian Quinn. The first one has been dead for year and a half. They got to him before we could and Quinn? He just disappeared, like he always does.'

Skye shivered and it wasn't from the cold.

'We were on the trail of a third person but then you had this accident…'

'And you stopped searching?' Skye was shocked. She freed herself from Ward's arms ignoring the fact that her heart instantly missed him. 'You stopped, because I happened to have minor car accident? Why?'

"And here comes another hard part" Ward thought.

'Maybe we'll take a small break?' he suggested.

'No. Answer my question, now.' Skye was determined to finally get the truth.

'Okay' Ward sighed heavily. 'You see, Skye, S.H.I.E.L.D. didn't leave you all alone. We've been watching you. We wanted to see how you're doing in your new life. We even-'

'Kate' Skye said quietly.

'What?'

'Kate… that's how she knew all of you, how she told me to trust you… she's one of you, isn't she?' It finally downed on Skye. Every little thing Kate did in the past that Skye didn't understand before. Now it all clicked.

'Yes, agent Kate Morris is one our best…'

Skye had tears in her eyes again. Everything that she believed was true now turned out to be a lie. 'Skye, listen to me, she-'

'No, Grant, I'm sorry but this conversation… it has to happen between me and Kate…' she quickly wiped off her tears. 'Okay, we have to move on. You were telling me something about-'

'Okay' Ward knew Skye suffered, but he had to respect her will, just like he did two years ago. 'Skye, that accident you had last week… it wasn't really an accident…' he tried to stay as calm as he could, for Skye.

'I- I… are you sure about that?' she asked not believing what she just heard.

'Sadly, yes. Only you got hurt… and Doctor said that if not for quick intervention you could've just been dead.'

'I think I need a break' Skye's voice was flat.

'Skye, but we-' Ward tried to comfort her.

'Please, I need some time alone' Skye pleaded.

'Of course' Grant quickly got up from her bed. 'I'll take Steve for a walk. Do you need anything?'

'No, I'm good, thank you' Skye said quietly and lied down, turning her back to Ward.

Skye was back in that white corridor, this time she knew what was waiting for her around the corner. She finally got to the door and again electronic control panel appeared on the left. Somehow Skye knew what to do this time, she typed in few numbers and door opened.

Although she wasn't aware of what was waiting for her behind that door.

There was standing a man in a suit. He held out a gun pointed toward Skye. She wanted to step back and run out of the room, but he was quicker. Man came up to Skye whispered 'I'm sorry Skye' and fired, twice. Then he gently lied her down on the floor and left the room.

Skye looked down and saw her hands covered in blood. She looked at her shirt – it was drenched in blood.

Skye started screaming.

When Grant got back from the walk with Steve he was sure Skye would want to continue their talk. But when he got to her bedroom he only heard soft snores. Steve, as always, quickly run to Skye and hop on her bed to go to sleep as well.

Ward knew that he and Skye were both tired – physically and emotionally. He needed some rest as well, so he went to the bathroom to take a shower and then get some sleep.

It was until two in the morning when Grant was woken up by Skye's screams.

He ran to her as fast as he could and saw her thrashing around in her bed. He had to wake her up quickly, first he shook her gently but when it didn't work out he shook her a little bit stronger and started calling her name.

Finally Skye woke up, her eyes red and puffy from crying.

Ward instantly hugger her and whispered soothing words to calm her while she was still crying.

After few minutes, when Skye finally stopped crying he wanted to let her go, but she just clutched to him more.

'No' she whispered. 'Please, don't.'

'Are you sure?' Ward asked her cautiously.

'Yes… maybe I don't remember you, but I feel safe with you' she said sobbing.

Grant just held her tighter, finally after half an hour Skye was again asleep in Ward's arms.

'Skye, I will always protect you. Always' he whispered, kissed her on her forehead and drifted off as well.

A.N.: So… that's it for now. Let me know what you think about it ;D
And I'm reminding you about the poll on my site ;D
Until next time,
Cherry