Chapter Thirteen (Dead Inside)

Lyrics are from 'Dead Inside' by Skillet.

"To find this love of mine, had to walk through wind and fire. Forever and always."

"Coulson."

The older agent looked up to see a grief-numbed Ward. "Grant, you actually decided to come out of that room."

"I guess." Ward mumbled.

Coulson sighed and shifted in the waiting room chair he was in, "It's probably better that you don't stay in that room. Seeing her like that will only make you worse. You need some time away from her."

Ward remained standing, "I feel like something will happen to her while I'm not there. I think I need to be there."

Coulson shook his head, "Grant, nothing is going to happen to her. She'll be fine. But it may be awhile before she wakes. She just needs time, just like you."

"Why do I need time?"

"Well, you haven't been yourself. I know you've probably have already heard that, but you need to hear it again." Coulson tried to explain. "You have trauma that won't go away unless you make it. You keep putting all the blame onto yourself and that is not going to help. You have to push it aside."

"But I can't."

"I know you can. And lighten up your mood at least, try to think positive."

"And how can I when I feel dead inside?" Ward asked, the numbness visible in his brown eyes. "I can't feel a damn thing."

"I know you can." Coulson said. "Look Grant, I know that you have certain feelings for her, well while you aren't breaking protocol with May."

Ward shifted his gaze from Coulson, embarrassed a little because Coulson had mentioned his and May's relationship.

"Don't let this take those feelings away." Coulson thought for a moment, "Grant, I, um."

"You what?"

"I have a doctor coming to look at you."

"What?!" Ward snapped, his grief turning to anger. "Why do I need a doctor?!"

"Something's causing you to hallucinate, and I want to find out what it is." Coulson replied, trying to prevent another Berserker outburst.

"I wasn't hallucinating." Ward growled through his teeth. "I know I wasn't."

"Even if you weren't, I still want you to get checked out."

"I don't need a doctor, I'm not crazy."

"I'm not saying that you're crazy."

"I know you are!"

"Grant, stop this!"

"Why should I?!"

"Hollow hands reach out, for you to touch me now. Forever and always."

Coulson blinked, "Why should you what?" he asked, confusion lacing his voice. "I didn't say anything else."

"What?" Ward asked, realizing that it wasn't Coulson who had told him to stop. He turned around and froze. "S-Skye?" he stammered. "You're back?"

Skye smiled, "Yes I am. I don't know what happened, but I'm here."

Coulson frowned, "Grant, are you ok? What are you doing? There is no one here." He rose from his chair.

Skye frowned, "He can't see me, can he?" she asked.

Ward shook his head, "So far, I'm the only one that can. He thinks I'm losing it."

"But you're not, I'm here."

"Try to tell that to Coulson."

"Tell me what?" Coulson asked, approaching the agent. "Grant, you're seeing things again. It's not real."

Ward tried to ignore the agent, "Skye, will you stay?" he asked. "Don't leave me again."

"I won't, I promise. And hopefully I will actually be myself, well I mean in my actual body. And people won't think you're crazy."

"You don't know how much pain I'm in."

"Grant, she isn't there." he heard Coulson say sternly. "Snap out of it." He continued to ignore Coulson.

"I think I know. At least you're not the one that's pretty much a ghost." Skye joked. "I think this is worse."

"I don't know."

Skye tried to put her hand to Ward's face, but she couldn't. Of course, she forgot that she couldn't physically touch anything, not even Ward. "You know how long I've longed to actually be able to do that."

"Why can't you go ahead and wake up?" Ward asked. "Everybody wants you to."

"Grant, I've tried. I can't for some reason. Maybe it's not time yet or something. I really don't know."

Coulson placed a hand on Ward's shoulder, "Ward, snap out of it." he said sternly. "I think you need to see that doctor now."

Ward slapped Coulson's hand off, "I don't need a doctor, I've already told you that." he growled.

"Grant, please." Skye pleaded. "Don't do this."

Ward edged off, just for Skye. But he secretly wanted to slug Coulson in the face.

"Ward, I don't know what to think about you right now." Coulson stated, trying to keep his cool. "But I think you need some time off. Some time to yourself."

"Why?!" Ward snapped. "I don't need it."

"Yes you do."

"Grant!"

"Shut up Skye!"

"Ward, she isn't there!"

"And you shut up too!"

"Don't talk to me like that!"

"What's going on?" They all turned to see Simmons walk into the room, a SHIELD tablet in her hand.

But then she froze, eyes directed towards the location of Ward and Skye. The tablet fell to the ground with a crash, the screen cracked.

Coulson frowned, "Jemma, what's the matter?" he asked. "What's wrong?"

Her eyes stayed trained on the same location, fear etched into them.

"Jemma, what is the matter?"

The young lab agent's stomach dropped, "S-Skye?"

"Dead inside, my heart and soul flatlines. Put your mouth on mine, and bring me back to life. Dead inside. No other satisfies. My blood runs dry, take my life, save me from this death inside."

Author's Note: I don't own AoS, Marvel does. Skye reappears to Ward and Coulson becomes more worried about him. Him and Ward get into an argument, when Simmons walks in. She in frozen in place, and apparently can see Skye. What is going on? Marvel's Agents of SHIELD will return in a chapter. Keep reading and please review! ~AwakeAndAliveSpartan.