Chapter Twenty-One (Part That's Holding On)
"It all looks different now, but it was right in front of me. The memories fall around of everything I used to be. Can I let it go when I still feel your echoes? I watched you disappear, but I can't make myself believe."
"Get her out of here, now." Coulson ordered, holding the grieving Skye back from Ward's lifeless body. He looked to May, "Mel, please. Before something bad happens."
"I'm not leaving him!" Skye screamed. "No! No! It's my fault! I killed him!" she cried, struggling in Coulson's grip.
Coulson grabbed her by the shoulders and looked straight into her eyes, "Skye, it's not your fault." he said softly. "It isn't. You only thought that the blade would kill the demon, you didn't know. It's not your fault."
"But," Skye whimpered, tears streaming down her face.
"It's not your fault. Go with May and get washed up. Hunter and I will deal, we'll deal with Grant." Coulson said, trying to calm her down before she caused a massive earthquake. "Everything will be okay."
Skye let May take her by the arm, but she looked down, "No, it won't. It will never be okay. He's dead, and he won't be coming back this time." she muttered. "And it's my fault."
Hunter took a breath, "Skye, you're not to blame. If anything, blame the demon. Everything is that monster's fault. You didn't kill Ward, the demon did. Don't put this burden on yourself."
"I don't know, Lance. I don't know what to think. I drove that blade into him because I was afraid. Only if he had told me that it would kill him too…"
"And it's not his fault either." May said sternly. "Only the demon's. Skye, please, don't blame yourself or anybody else, just the monster. Come on, let's get you cleaned up. Coulson will figure out what to do with Ward." May looked to Hunter, "Hunter, go find the others. Tell them what's going on."
Hunter nodded gloomily and went out of the storage room.
May looked back to the grief-stricken Skye, "Now, let's get you to where you can get some rest. You haven't slept in days and this isn't helping." she said softly.
Skye nodded numbly, taking one, last hesitant look back at Ward's corpse before following May out of the room.
Coulson took a long breath, dragging his hands through his hair. He looked back to Ward's body, "Now, Grant, what are we going to do with you?" he muttered sadly to himself. "We've lost you again, and for good this time."
He sighed and turned around to face the door, grief taking him in its grip. "I'll find someone to help me get you. We'll do a nice proper burial, again. And, and…. We'll…." he trailed off, not having the strength to say anymore.
Coulson walked out of the room, head hung low in grief and in defeat. But he was too busy to notice the sound of rustling behind him and the gush of air.
"I gave it all, but you were fading. Where'd you go, all alone? I couldn't stay. Another fall, through the dark of the shadows. I reached for you, only you. There's still a part, a part that's holding on."
(Elsewhere)
Darkness surrounded him, Death greeted him like an old friend. But he can been Death, so was he just coming face to face with himself? This was the second time he had died, but why did it feel like nothing?
No one came to greet him this time. No angel in a cloak offering him somewhat of a second chance. Nothing that would lead to his ultimate downfall. There was nothing.
And this nothing felt nice, peaceful. He didn't care that he was dead, gone for good. As long as nothing else happened to him, as long as nothing else happened to the team, or Skye.
Skye. He knew that she felt horrible, guilt for driving the blade into him. But he had never told her that it would kill him too, so it technically wasn't her fault. But guilt piled onto him, pushing him down in this sea of darkness.
What was this darkness anyways? This wasn't Heaven or hell. Was this in between? But this didn't seem like the Netherrealm. This was nowhere. What was going on? Something felt way off.
Then he saw the familiar, black-cloaked figure striding towards him.
The Grim Reaper.
The air reverberated as he spoke, "I see that the demon took your life in the end. There was nothing I could do to help for that."
"Then why did you leave me all by myself to fend for myself?" he asked.
"You were cast out, I no longer commanded you. But you did your best to protect the ones you call friends and the woman you love. I see why you disobeyed the rules to keep her from death. She's strong, she cares for you."
"What are you talking about?"
"I am offering you a proposition."
"What?"
"You aren't technically fully dead yet, I can bring you back. Back to your friends."
"You, you can?"
Grim nodded, "Only because you're not fully dead. This is in between the realms of Heaven and hell, this isn't even technically the Netherrealm. But there is a drawback, you'll be human."
"Human?"
"No angelic grace, no demonic hellfire. Just human blood running through your veins. The demon side of you was destroyed, leaving a really weak human side which died when the angel burned away. What's left of you now is human, and that's all that can be brought back."
"So, so I can be normal again?"
"If that's how you put it, then yes. Unfortunately, there are setbacks. This technically ripped your wings from you, the marks of them, scars, will be left. And the memories of what happened to you won't go away."
"I'm sure I can deal."
"And I think you can. Do we have a deal."
"Yes."
"Then enjoy your human life."
"Can we call it fair? Or was it just a dire game? Who's the winner now when I can't even speak your name? Caught inside the dream when you were reaching back for me. Did you get lost inside, or did you disappear?"
(Two Days Later, SHIELD Base.)
Skye lay numbly on her bed in a depressive state, not caring since Ward had died. And she was still blaming herself. That wouldn't go away, this was a permanent scar.
The sound of footsteps made her look up. Fitzsimmons stood in the doorway along with Mack, grief still showing in their faces.
"Skye, we're having lunch. Altogether." Simmons said. "You coming?"
"Not hungry."
"You need to eat sometime." Mack said. "I know you're, well, not doing great, but you've got to eat something. You're just going to make yourself sick. You don't want Simmons sticking an IV into you, do you?"
"I don't care." she mumbled, burying her head into the pillows. "I don't."
Fitz sighed, "Skye, we're all still reeling." he said softly. "We still all grieving, but you need to take care of yourself."
"I'll eat later, go away."
Simmons hesitated, "Skye… Never mind. As long as you eat something and clean up." she said. "I'll check on you later."
Skye heard the three agents walk away but didn't bother to say goodbye, she was still hurting way too much to care.
Ward was gone because of her and she would always blame herself for his death, no matter what anyone said. She began to cry softly into her pillows again.
Minutes passed. Hell, it could've been hours for all she cared. Time became nothing in her grief.
Footsteps sounded behind her, but she didn't look up. Not until the all-too-familiar voice spoke, caring and soft.
"Skye?"
Skye bolted up, her eyes bloodshot from tears. She began to tremble as the color drained from her face at the sight of who stood at the foot at her bed, out of nowhere.
The scarred countenance with the sharp cheekbones. Those soft, brown eyes. That caring smile.
"Grant?"
He smiled, "Skye."
She couldn't believe it, Ward stood at the foot of her bed.
Grant Ward was alive.
"I gave it all, but you were fading. Where'd you go, all alone? I couldn't stay. Another fall, through the dark of the shadows. I reached for you, only you. There's still a part, a part that's holding on."
Author's Note: I don't own AoS, Marvel does. Song is 'Part That's Holding On' by Red. So Ward's alive, but human now. You knew that I couldn't keep him dead for long. He always survives somehow. But how will the team take this? I don't know. Keep reading and PLEASE favorite, follow, and/or review! ~AwakeAndAliveSpartan.