Chapter Twenty-One (Home)

"I still remember that day in December when I turned my back and ran away. Flames of a passion replaced by an ember, growing slowly dimmer everyday."

It wasn't until a few hours later until Ward finally stirred and woke in his bunk. He sat up slowly, his mind groggy from a few hours' sleep. He looked around, having no clue how he got in the bunk.

He remembered a graveyard, then nothing. It was all blank. Did he pass out? He didn't know, everything was just one, big blur to him.

Ward got out of bed and was prepared to slide open the bunk door when he stopped. Something in his mind felt missing. It was like there was something there that he should remember, but it wasn't. He shrugged it off and opened the door and went out into the lounge where the rest of the team was busy talking.

"Guys, what's going on?" he asked, scratching the back of his head.

They all stopped and turned around in surprise at the sight of Ward up and walking.

"Ward, you're awake!" Coulson exclaimed, gesturing for Ward to sit down in an empty chair.

Ward raised an eyebrow, "Why is it such a surprise that I'm awake?" he asked. "Is there something I missed?"

The team gulped, exchanging nervous glances with one another.

"You know I can see you doing that." Ward said. "Really, what did I miss? What happened?"

Skye looked at Ward, "Grant, what's the last thing you remember?" she asked.

Ward narrowed his eyes, trying to remember, "I think we were battling Abbadon?" he asked. "Was that it? 'Cause all I remember is that we killed her and then everything went dark."

"That's all?" Fitz asked.

"Yes. Wait, why are you asking all of these questions? Is there something that I should remember?"

Coulson gulped, trying to decide whether to tell Ward the truth or not. But he decided keeping the fact that he was possessed by the Devil himself was probably the best chance at this point.

"You were really sick." he said. "You came down with some demon virus thing and were delusional and in and out of consciousness for days." That was half right.

"Demon virus?" Ward asked.

Simmons nodded hesitantly, "Yes. Well, that's the best guess at what it was." she said. "Never seen anything like it. You were hallucinating and delusional."

"Really?"

"Yes."

Ward sighed, "So, where are we at with the lock situation?" he asked.

"It's all taken care of." May said. "The demons are back where they belong, Hell." She left the part out that they had to fight a Lucifer-possessed Ward.

Ward frowned, "So I missed all of the action." he muttered. "Well that's great."

"Don't try to be sick next time." Triplett joked.

Coulson shot him a scathing glare.

"So," Ward began. "What's the next thing?" he asked. "You know, since all of the demons are gone."

Coulson sighed, "I guess to try and build SHIELD back up again. With it back up, maybe that will give the world a good grip to stand back up again. Half of the world, more or less, had been killed in the incursion. It will take a long time for the world to be truly restored." he replied.

"That's a lot of work you know." Skye added in.

"Then we'll start soon." Coulson said. "I'll need everyone's help. It's a full team effort."

Ward sighed and got up, "When's the last time I ate?" he asked. "'Cause it feels like never."

"Uh, I don't know." Skye said. "Go eat then."

"Fine." Ward turned and went to the kitchen, leaving the rest of the team to talk.

He was glad that everyone seemed glad that he was ok, and it even felt as though it was part of the team again. But something didn't settle quite right in his mind. He knew that something was being kept from him by the way the rest of the team was acting around him. And he knew that he would figure it out eventually.

But now was the time for a brand new world and a brand new start. And now Ward decided to put everything behind him and make himself that sandwich.

"And I still remember that foolish endeavor, holds in needless pain and suffering. Falling apart while avoiding surrender. I've been led astray."

Author's Note: I dont own AoS, Marvel does. Song is 'Home' by Fades Away. Ward is awake and fine and the team in relieved, even though they are keeping the biggest fact from him that he has forgotten. The fact the he had been possessed for days. And now the team seeks to rebuild SHIELD once again to hope restart the world. ONE CHAPTER LEFT. Keep reading and please review! ~AwakeAndAliveSpartan.