Grant stayed in med for three days, and when Dr. Twiss finally cleared him to go, Coulson was there waiting to take him home.
Over the past three days, every S.H.I.E.L.D. agent he worked with had asked about the boy—and each once had asked to see him, or if they could bring him something, or if, at the very least, they would be allowed to take a swing at Garrett (Hill said it should be a privilege granted to every S.H.I.E.L.D. agent).
The boy stood uncertainly when Coulson entered the med wing.
"You ready to go?"
He nodded, holding Buddy close to his chest.
The dog squirmed, and he loosened his hold.
Coulson noticed that the boy's hands were shaking slightly.
"Do they—do they all know that I lied?" he asked suddenly. "That I knew Garrett was a traitor and I didn't tell anyone?"
"They all know what happened, Grant," Coulson said firmly. "And they all know it's not your fault. In any way. Okay?"
He nodded uncertainly.
When they opened the doors to enter their quarters, noise exploded around them and Grant leaped back, panic crossing his face immediately.
It was cheering—the especially loud noises had come from the side where Tony, Clint, and Thor were standing—and the entire team was assembled, waiting.
Coulson placed a steadying hand on Grant's shoulder and guided him into the room.
Steve reached them first. "It's good to have you back," he said simply.
Grant surprised them all by stepping forward into Steve's arms, still clutching Buddy, and Steve ruffled his hair, grinning down at him.
"You had us worried, kid," Hill was next, and she clapped one hand on his shoulder, the lines of her face still firm but her eyes soft, and Grant nodded, understanding.
Pepper came next, and she pulled Grant into a hug, too. "You scared the hell out of all of us," she said, and a tiny smile pulled at the corner of his mouth. "Don't do that again, okay?"
Tony stood behind her, his hands shoved in his pockets awkwardly. "How's Buddy?" he asked abruptly.
"He's good," Grant said, grinning suddenly. "The plate you made for his leg really helps. He's healing."
"Good," Tony said, and Coulson saw, shocked, that there were tears at the back of the man's eyes.
"If I call him Iron Dog"—Grant began mischievously.
"You won't!" Tony cut him off, and Steve and Pepper were both laughing now. Tony tapped the light in his chest. "You need to take Iron Man more seriously, my friend."
"You have a flying metal suit," Grant said, ducking as Tony reached out a hand to shove him playfully. "Steve says it's not good for you to be taken too seriously, and Natasha says"—
Natasha cleared her throat. "Erm," she said. "That's probably enough."
"If you can say it I can," Grant said, grinning, and she hooked one arm over her shoulder.
"Not in front of Coulson you can't," she told him. "When we practice on the roof later, feel free to say whatever you want."
"Nat!" Clint protested. "You're a terrible example."
"I think she's great," Grant said.
"I think you're a suck-up," Clint said, throwing an arm over his shoulder from the other side. "But I'm glad you're back."
"No archery today," Coulson said, drilling Clint with a glare. "He needs to heal. And Tasha, no sparring for at least three weeks, maybe more. Hill, tell them?"
"If the kid doesn't heal, you're both fucked," Hill said bluntly, and Grant burst out laughing. "So don't push it, you two. Maybe I should find you a mission every day for the next three weeks."
Natasha rolled her eyes. "We won't let him spar," she said. "And I'll hide Clint's bows if I have to."
"You will not," Clint said. "If you do I'll"—
"What? What will you do?" she asked, daring him playfully.
"I will… not do anything because you might throw me off the roof if I do," Clint finished lamely, and Grant snickered again.
Thor and Jane stepped forward, and Jane smiled that bright smile that had endeared Grant to her when Coulson had first brought the boy in.
"It's so good to have you back," she said brightly, hugging him quickly.
Thor wrapped bulky arms around both of them. "Welcome home, son of Midgard," he said.
"We made pancakes tonight to celebrate," she said. "Well, Thor did. They're your favorite kind—blueberry pancakes and chocolate chip pancakes."
"On my world, we cook them with gingberries," Thor said. "Someday I will take you with me and you will have real food, Midgardian."
Grant's jaw dropped. "You'll take me with you? To space?" His eyes were as round as saucers.
Thor grinned. "Of course, young one. You can meet my mother and my company, Lady Sif and the warriors three."
"I've met Lady Sif," Darcy spoke up, emerging from behind Thor. She was wearing her old carefree expression again, but Coulson noticed that her dark eyes still shone with that fierce light.
Grant stared at her for a long moment. "Did you really hit Garrett with the taser?" he asked finally.
She nodded.
"That's the most badass thing I've ever heard," he said. "Thanks."
Darcy grinned from ear to ear. "Yea," she said. "No problem."
"Walking Dead marathon tonight?" he asked.
"Do you have school tomorrow?" she asked, and he looked to Coulson.
"Do I have to go tomorrow?" he asked pleadingly.
"They don't expect you back until Monday," Coulson said, smiling. "So have your Walking Dead marathon. Just don't let him stay up all night, Darcy."
Thor called them for dinner then, and for the first time since Grant had arrived in their midst, he walked confidently to the table, taking his place among them as if he knew he belonged there. He laughed more during that meal than Coulson had heard him laugh since he'd arrived, and later, when Coulson came out planning to join Grant and Darcy's TV marathon, he found that Tony, Clint, and Nat were piled onto the couches, too, watching the Walking Dead with Darcy and Grant. Jane and Thor were standing together, Jane leaning back against Thor's chest as they watched, and Steve, Hill and Pepper stood on the opposite side, talking quietly as they looked out over the group.
Their boy was in the middle of the group, holding Buddy in his arms, and he was curled up on the couch, his head on Darcy's shoulder. He was fast asleep, his face more peaceful than Coulson had ever seen, and Coulson's face softened as he looked on at the group.
Grant Ward was finally home.
AN: this will have a sequel, "Raising Grant Ward," so stay tuned. I'm not done with this fix-it fic, I just decided to break it up into a few different parts. FitzSimmons, Skye, May, Sharon Carter, Sam Wilson, and Bruce Banner will be coming onto the scene in that sequel. As always, your lovely reviews and comments keep me going, my friends!