Author's note

Some lines taken from episode 19 'Only Light in the Darkness'

Chapter 51

Ward and Skye were the last to meet up with the team before Coulson, Fitz, Simmons and Trip were due to leave for Portland. She had been the last to go through orientation and get her lanyard and he had been waiting for her when she left Koenig.

"Okay everyone's here, good," Coulson said as they walked into the room. "We need to get going but I just wanted to go over what everyone is going to be doing while we're gone. May?"

"I've called a contact to get the information on Hill. I'll probably have to leave the base to go meet her, since we can't exactly be inviting just anyone here. While I'm waiting to hear back I will make what repairs I can to the bus – including fixing the fuel line. It'll still be banged up, but I can get it operational," May told him.

"I can give you a hand with that," Ward interjected. "The sooner we can get the bus flying, the sooner Skye and I can get the hard drive decrypted and I can get her back here safely."

"And that'll give me some more time to keep tracking down the escaped Fridge prisoners," Skye said. "While you two do your thing with the bus I can put together a database of who's out, where they've been, the direction they seem to be going, that kind of thing. Although what we're going to do once we have that database I don't know. We don't exactly have the manpower to hunt them all down."

"We've got some people," Coulson said. "Hand is putting together a couple of teams to start going after these guys just as soon as you send her some locations."

"Maybe you could use a few more sets of hands?" a voice came from the doorway. The team turned to see Barton and Romanov coming into the room. "Cap had to go track down an old friend, but Nat and I have some time," Barton offered as they approached the team.

"You look like you lost a fight," Romanov said to Ward as she stood beside him, looking him up and down.

He shrugged. "I've had worse."

"And he actually won the fight," Skye piped up from beside him. "It was just like twenty to one so he got a bit banged up in the process."

"How did you two even find this place?" May asked.

"We got sent by a friend," Romanov replied. "And agent Koenig was very excited to see us when we got here and happily pointed us in your direction."

"He even gave us these lanyards," Barton added, holding his up.

"Wait he just gave you the lanyards?" Trip asked. "No orientation required?"

"What's orientation?" Barton asked looking at Trip. "And who are you?"

"This is Antoine Triplett - Trip- he was Garrett's specialist when I joined Coulson's team," Ward replied. "And orientation is the lie detector, which you would be exempt from because you were sent by Fury." He paused and then added. "And because Nat can beat it."

"Who said we were sent by Fury?" Barton asked. "We never said that. And Fury's dead."

Ward looked at him with a raised eyebrow. "Okay then. Anyway, we could definitely use the help on getting these guys back to the Fridge. The sooner they're all locked up again the better." He suppressed a shudder at knowing he was partially responsible for these dangerous prisoners being out on the streets.

"You did what you had to do," Romanov said quietly from beside him, noticing his discomfort. "Sometimes, we have to do terrible things; that doesn't make us terrible people."

He shot her a small smile in thanks. He knew she was right, but that didn't stop the guilt from swirling. The end justifying the means wasn't a motto he wanted to live by anymore – he wanted to be better than that. Unfortunately, he knew that in this business of spies and secrets and other worlds that wouldn't always be possible.

"I can help you get the bus operational," Barton offered May. "And Nat can help Skye with her database, before we head out." May simply gave him a nod in return.

"I'm assuming you guys have a plane?" Coulson asked, receiving a nod from Barton. "May's going to track down Hill once she's done fixing the bus but she can't take it because Ward and Skye need it. Think you can drop her off somewhere on your way?"

"Yeah definitely," Barton agreed.

"And Maria is in DC," Nat offered. "Since Fury's out of the picture, she's stuck with facing all the blowback from everything that's happened."

Coulson nodded. "Okay then. How much time do you have left Ward?"

"A little under twelve hours until I need to call him to tell him I either have a decrypted hard drive or Skye with me. I want to leave it as long as possible so.." he trailed off looking at Skye. He didn't want to have to leave her again but knew that he would.

"Understood," Coulson said sympathetically. "How are you going to explain leaving alone to meet back up with him?"

"He thinks you'll be so busy focusing on tracking down all of the escapees from the Fridge that you won't notice anything else going on. I'll use that to my advantage – tell him since we have such little manpower you're sending me out on my own to recapture someone. He'll buy it."

"Alright. We better get going so we can catch Daniels as soon as possible. We probably won't be back before you have to leave, so be careful!" he said to Ward. "Don't do anything stupid and make sure you check in. We need to know that you're safe." Then he turned in May's direction. "You too, stay safe. Come back as soon as you can." May nodded, appreciating that he was making an effort even if he still hadn't fully forgiven her.

"We'll rendezvous with Hand at the Fridge after we drop May in DC," Nat spoke up. "And I'll get her hooked into Skye's database. Then we'll help her get that side of things taken care of so that you guys can focus on Garrett and Hydra without the distraction."

"Thanks guys," Coulson said. "It's appreciated."

"It'll be nice to have a bit of a break," Barton said. "To be the clean up crew while someone else takes care of all the heavy lifting. It's lucky Ward's shoulders are so broad, or I just don't know how you'd all manage."

He received an eye roll in response from the specialist in question and May and chuckles from Skye, Trip and FitzSimmons. Coulson and Nat just shook their heads at him, used to his antics. Then Coulson, Trip and FitzSimmons grabbed their gear and headed for the door.

"Hey!" Ward called before they exited, causing them to turn back and look at him. "Remember what you told me before I left the Hub with Hand and Garrett?" he asked FitzSimmons. They both nodded at him. "Same goes," he said firmly.

"We promise," they replied in unison, giving him small smiles.

He nodded once at them and they turned to follow Coulson and then locked eyes with Trip. "I've got them," the other specialist said.

"I know," Ward replied. And then Trip too followed after Coulson, the doors closing behind them.

They stood in silence for a few moments watching the closed door before May spoke up. "We should get to work on the bus." She headed in the direction the others had just gone, to enter the hangar the bus was parked in.

"And I need to get this database set up so that we can start tracking these guys down as soon as possible," Skye added, kissing Ward's cheek and then turning to head for the comm/sat room Koenig had shown her earlier.

Ward and Barton went to head after May when all of them were stopped by Nat's voice. "Wait, wait, wait!" They all turned back to look at her expectantly. "May and Clint can handle the repairs to your bus," she directed at Ward. "And if you show me where to go and what you've got so far I can take care of the database," this was directed at Skye. "You two should go spend some time together since you're going to have to be separated again shortly for who knows how long."

"Is this really the best time to be taking down time?" Skye asked.

"There's never a good time for down time. Something else always crops up," Nat answered. "But the three of us can handle what needs to be done right now. Take the time while you can."

"She's right," May agreed. "You both need some time together just the two of you. We can handle the rest of this."

Skye looked between May and Nat. "Are you sure?" she asked.

Barton was the one to answer her. "We've got this honey."

She broke out into a goofy grin and looked at Ward. "Hawkeye called me honey."

He rolled his eyes at her. "Maybe try being a little less excited about that baby."

Her smile got bigger and softer. "Aww don't be jealous. You know you're my favourite," she said as got closer to him, wrapping her arms carefully around his waist. He wrapped his around her in return and gazed down at her softly, running a hand along her hair.

May just rolled her eyes and continued on towards the hangar. She was used to the two of them and had learned to just ignore it. For such a tough guy, Ward was a huge softie when it came to his rookie.

Barton and Nat, however, were highly amused by the situation. Nat knew from experience how abrasive Ward could be, and Barton had heard all about his reputation – phenomenal at his job but not a people person in any way, shape, or form unless he was required to fake it for the job. So they both found it interesting how much of a marshmallow he seemed to become when the hacker was around.

"I think they're adorable," Barton said loudly, breaking Skye and Ward out of their little bubble. "Can we adopt them Nat?"

Nat rolled her eyes at him. "They're adults Clint. You can't adopt adults." He pouted at her, causing Skye to giggle. "Now go help May in the hangar, we don't have all day." He nodded easily and strolled off after May, and Nat turned back to Skye and Ward. "Wanna show me where I can work?"

"This way," Skye said, grabbing Ward's hand and leading the way.

She led them down a few corridors and to the comms room Koenig had shown her earlier, pointing out where Nat could find Koenig if she needed him as they went past. Once she had shown Nat everything, the older woman shooed them out of the room telling them to take a few hours and if anyone needed them they would page them over the base intercom. Ward and Skye agreed easily and headed off towards the part of the base designated as the living area, finding their way quickly to the room Skye had been assigned.


Skye's head rested against Ward's sweaty chest, listening to his heartbeat calm down and breathing even out, while he drew patterns on her naked back with his fingers.

"I love you," he whispered from above her.

"I love you too," she replied, tilting her head up so she could look at his face. "God you're pretty," she blurted out and then instantly blushed. She really hadn't meant to say that out loud, no matter how true she thought it was.

He gazed down at her with an amused expression. "I don't know that anyone has ever called me pretty before," he murmured.

"Well clearly everyone you've ever known has been either blind or stupid," she answered with a shrug. She'd said it now, she may as well just go with it.

"No matter," he dismissed. "And besides, if anyone here is pretty it's you. In fact that doesn't even cover it. You're so much more than just pretty. That's definitely not a big enough word."

"You're sweet," she whispered, snuggling back into his chest.

He placed a soft kiss on the top of her forehead. "Don't tell anyone, I've got an image to live up to you know." She giggled briefly and then settled down again. "How you doing with everything going on?" he asked after a few moments of silence. "We haven't really had a chance to talk since this all started happening."

"I'm okay," she answered, scooting up to place her head beside his on the pillow so she could look him in the eye. "A little freaked out; I never thought that my life could be something like this and it's a lot. But I'm dealing. Especially with you here. Because right now, lying here with you, I just know everything will be okay. I know I'm safe and loved and nothing can hurt me."

He smiled softly at her. "I'm glad I make you feel that way. And it's true – as long as I'm breathing I will never let anything hurt you if I can help it. I would give you anything in the world if I could." He leaned in and captured her lips in a tender kiss, neither moving to deepen it. He pulled back from her mouth but touched his forehead to hers. "If you could have anything in the world, what would you want?"

"You," she said quietly. "This. Us. Even our crazy family," she added with a chuckle. "But mostly just you. What about you. What do you want?"

"What I want," he answered softly staring deeply into her eyes. "Is to just stay here with you and imagine the outside world doesn't exist."

She smiled brightly at him and pulled him towards her for another kiss. Just as she was about to deepen it May's voice came over the base intercom.

"Ward, Skye we need you in the main control room."

He pulled back with a pout. "But apparently it does still exist."

She giggled at both the look on his face and what he said. "Raincheck, for when this is all over?"

"Definitely," he agreed. "That few weeks off to relax I promised Simmons? I think you, me and a foreign country with no one around to interrupt us sounds nice."

"Absolutely," she agreed. "And you can talk dirty to me in the language of whatever country we end up in." She gave him a cheeky grin and a wink and jumped out of bed, quickly grabbing clothes to throw on.

"I will get you back for that," he warned as he too quickly got dressed.

"You've gotta catch me first," she called as she dashed out of the room and down the hall.

He finished pulling his shirt over his head and chased after her, catching her in the next hallway and pinning her to the wall with his body. "I'll always catch you," he whispered before he kissed her.


Barton, Romanov, May and Koenig were all waiting in the control room when Ward and Skye entered about twenty minutes after May had called for them.

"You two get a bit side tracked?" Barton asked, an amused look on his face.

"Just a little lost," Ward answered him evenly. "New base and all." His lie was so convincing that if they weren't sure it wasn't the case they'd actually believe him.

"Better not let Simmons find out what you've been up to," May said with a smirk. "I don't think she'd approve of you treating your poor cracked ribs that way."

Ward smirked back at her. "Since I'd very much rather she didn't yell at me, I don't think baby sis needs to know."

"Are you scared of the tiny doctor Ward?" Nat asked with a twinkle in her eyes.

"Definitely," Ward answered easily. "She's terrifying when she's angry."

"And she always seems to be angry at you when you're injured, since you don't let yourself heal properly," Skye added.

"Pot, kettle," Ward said with a raised eyebrow. "How many times did you have to be reminded to stay in bed after you were shot again?"

"Well we aren't talking about me right now," Skye said with a mock glare.

"Okay children," May interjected knowing that the two of them could go on forever like that if they weren't stopped. "The bus is ready to go and Nat is finished up with building that database for you. So we're going to head out."

Ward nodded. "It's getting close to that time when I need to head out too, so we'll head up to decrypt the hard drive once you guys leave." As he spoke, Skye moved closer to him, not wanting to be reminded that he would have to go back to Garrett soon. "You gonna bring Hill back here?"

"See what she says when I get to her," May answered. "Either way she can probably help."

"Alright, let's get going," Barton said. "I'm itching to get my hands on some escaped prisoners."

"Be careful," May said to Ward and then looked at Skye. "Both of you."

"You too," Skye replied.

"It was nice to see you again Agent Skye," Barton said, moving in and giving her a hug which last a few moments too long and earned him a growl from Ward. He pulled back laughing. "Don't worry, I'm not trying to steal your girl." He shook Ward's hand. "Take care man. Remember we're just a call away if you need help."

"Will do," Ward agreed.

Nat moved to Ward and embraced him tightly. "Remember what I said," she whispered. "You do whatever you have to do to stay alive. No one can fault you for that."

He smiled at her when she pulled away. "Thanks Nat."

She nodded and moved over to Skye. "Try to keep him out of trouble," she said to the younger girl.

"I do my best, but trouble has a bad habit of finding him," Skye replied as Nat gave her a quick hug.

"Tell Coulson I'll be back as soon as I can," May said to them as she gave each of them a quick hug.

"I will," Skye agreed. "Stay safe."

They left the room then, leaving Ward, Skye and Koenig alone. Ward turned to Skye. "We should go grab showers and then get this hard drive decrypted."

"Showers plural?" Skye asked with a raised eyebrow. "Can't we just share?"

Koenig coughed in the background. "Ah I'm still here guys."

Ward flicked a glance at him and then looked back down at his girlfriend. "Of course we can share baby. Conserve water and all that. Come on." He grabbed her hand and tugged her out of the room and along the hallway.

Just as they were entering her room again the phone in Ward's pocket rang. He pulled it out and saw Garrett's name on the screen and showed it to Skye.

"Why would he be calling you?"

"Not sure," he answered with a shrug. "One way to find out." He hit answer and put it on speaker. "Sir?"

"Good I caught you. You haven't left the base yet have you?"

"Not yet," Ward replied.

"Good, good. Look things have changed. I need you to bring the girl in, whether she gives you the decryption for the hard drive or not. I need her. Understood?"

"Uh," Ward started.

"Good. I'll see you both soon. Give me a call once you're in the air."

With that he hung up, leaving Ward and Skye staring at each other in shock. They definitely had not anticipated this.