Coulson and May lead him to the briefing room, coming to a stop behind the large table in the centre of the room.

He looked around and made note of who was there. Fitzsimmons, the agent who had been with Coulson and Fitz on the plane, Hunter his name was. Agent Morse who he had the pleasure of meeting at the bus terminal a few weeks back, and an Agent he hadn't met before who looked as though he could bench press a small tank.

He wanted to greet Fitz and Simmons again but knew it was a wiser move to keep his mouth shut. From the glares he was receiving he doubted it would be appreciated.

"Ok listen up," Coulson called to get everyone's attention "Before Skye gets back I need everyone's guarantee that not a word will be said about the events that took place last year. She knows about the fall of shield but not who played a major roll in it," his eyes drifted to Ward "And, as much as it pains me to say this, I need you all to act normal around Ward," when his name was mentioned he felt everyone in the room turn their stares on him "So if you have any burning hatred you want to get out, now would be the time."

Ward ground his teeth together, annoyed that they couldn't just get on with the mission. They would have what they wanted and he would be away from Skye soon enough of her own accord, why couldn't they just let him do his job?

It's not your job anymore, the thought entered his head and he became even more frustrated. Mainly because he knew it was the truth.

At the silence and prolonged glares aimed at Ward Coulson figured no one was ready to go there with the arguments yet. He just hoped they would wait until the mission was over.

"Nothing? Ok, good. So we're all agreed. Carrying on as normal until told otherwise. Great."

"What's great?" Skye asked, coming into the room and braiding her wet hair.

"Ward has intel on the base so we'll know exactly what we're walking into." Coulson said quickly "We had been using the video feed from Mike's eye but it went dead around five hours ago."

Skye shivered and her first thought was the blame it on the boiling hot shower she had just come out of, the cold air of the briefing room a stark contrast. But in the back of her mind she knew it was at the thought of what could have been done to Mike. She ignored the feeling and tried to keep it together for his sake.

"You have intel on a hydra base? How'd you manage that?" She looked up at Ward, frowning.

"Remember the Agent I told you about that turned out to be Hydra?" At her nod he continued "He told his contact that I was hydra too, so now I have a man on the inside."

"Nice!" She praised him and hit his chest lightly with the back of her hand "If you always being so resourceful wasn't useful it would be annoying."

"Thanks," he felt uncomfortable lying but knew it was necessary at this point in time.

"Ok then Ward. Share your intel from your 'friend'." Coulson gestured to the screen, unable to keep the light sarcasm out of his tone.

Ward cleared his throat and went to pull up information he had been sent from his contact "Sunil Bakshi," he pulled up a picture of a dark haired man "A hydra asset, stationed at the Arctic base. He's been communicating using Hydra's old text channels," he then swiped the table and another image appeared "He sent a layout of the whole base, an estimated number of guards and the number of gifteds taken captive." He explained, trying to ignore the muted but nevertheless still hateful looks from the team.

Minus Skye of course. Her hateful looks wouldn't come until later.

"How many guards are there?" Morse asked.

He sent her a nod, grateful at the attempt to communicate and work as a team despite everything "35 in total."

She nodded, seeming to contemplate this.

"How many captives?" He turned quickly in surprise at the sound of Simmons voice, thinking she would be the last person to talk directly to him.

"Fifteen. One is obviously Mike Peterson but the identities of the others remain unknown. Although I'm sure a few can be found on the shield index." He tried to keep his voice normal and not let any of the doubt he felt creep into his words. He felt hesitant and almost guilty just for speaking to her.

"I'll need to bring a large med kit, maybe two. I don't know the damage that's been done to the captives but I doubt it will only require band-aids. But we'll need to get them full medical attention fast." Simmons said, now addressing Coulson.

"Ok. Get everything ready before we go." Coulson nodded.

"What's the split?" Mack asked, referring to who will be put into a team with who and what their role will be.

"Two teams. Fitz, Mack and May you're with me. We'll head to missile defence and gather intel."

"Skye, Ward, Simmons, Hunter and Morse, you're on rescue and medical."

Skye raised her hand.

"Skye?" Coulson nodded.

"How are we supposed to get to the base without them shooting our plane down?"

"I don't think you're gonna like this but we're using the bus as a decoy. They blow the bus to pieces, thinking we're in it but we fly from the roof in a quin jett."

"Destroy the bus?" Skye gawked at him like he was insane "No. no way." She shook her head vehemently.

"It's the only way." He told her apologetically, knowing how attached Skye was to the plane she called home.

"There must be another plane we can use." Skye wasn't gonna let it go. She loved the bus and wasn't ready to part company with it so soon.

Coulson looked apologetic and opened his mouth to speak before Ward interrupted "Actually," he told Skye "There is."

"Really? You just happen to have a hangar lying around full of planes?" May said derisively.

Ward gritted his teeth again, and returned the look May was giving him.

"If so I'm all ears." Coulson added, trying to defuse the tension May's comment had caused.

"I don't have a hangar," he told Coulson "But Hydra does. Quite a big one."

"You'd give us access to a Hydra hangar?" Hunter jumped in, sceptically.

"Why would he not?" Skye asked, looking at Hunter weirdly.

Shit, he tried to backpedal "Uh, cause it might blow his cover, you know, being undercover with Hydra and all." He scratched the back of his head awkwardly.

"Yes, I'll give you access to it. They think I'm a Hydra member so me going in there to get a plane out won't exactly set off any red flags."

"So you have this kind of pull with Hydra just because of this guy you worked with? The one who had the same S.O?" Skye asked, remembering the man from his story.

He nodded "He's been...useful in some ways but more destructive than anything." He said, looking at Fitz and Simmons.

Fitz looked away and Simmons seemed to try her best to not attack him there and then.

"Please Coulson can we take out one of Hydras planes instead? The bus is too pretty to be blown to pieces." She practically begged him "Think of the bar." She added to sway him, knowing he was fond of it.

He considered it then sighed "If Ward can get the plane within the next two hours then I don't see why not."

"I can get it in one."

————

He approached the run down building on his motorbike, the engines roar dying down as he came to a stop.

Taking off his helmet he glanced around the area to check for any hidden traps.

Hydra loved their traps.

He hadn't been to this base for a good few months but he didn't think it had changed too much. At least he hoped it hadn't. Walking straight into a Hydra base was always the last thing he wanted to do even when he had been using their resources after he escaped shield custody. But this time he didn't mind all that much. For once he could use Hydra to actually make Skye happy by allowing them to keep the bus from being scattered over the Arctic.

Walking to the door he moved the wall light to the right of the entrance that looked as though it was a light tap away from falling apart. That was the image they had tried to project. What actually lay behind the wall was four feet of reinforced steel.

The compartment under the light appeared and he leaned forward to present his eye for the retinal scanner and then the fingerprints of his right hand.

Biometrics were all the rage in Hydra. Something them and shield had in common.

The automated voice spoke next "State your name."

"Grant Ward." He said clearly so his voice would be recognised as his own that was saved in the vast database.

"Welcome, Grant Ward." The voice greeted him.

The doorway creaked open and he made his way inside.

Going down the stairs to the underground hangar he looked around. It looked the same as he remembered it, the high ceiling and the dark lighting screaming evil organisation.

He inwardly laughed at how shady it looked and heard Skye's voice in his head 'What, they run out of lightbulbs?'

He greeted the guards standing at the bottom of the stairs with rifles.

"Gentlemen." He nodded at them.

They returned the nod at him and went back to standing vigilantly. Is that what he looked like while he was on a mission? No wonder Skye called him a robot.

There were workers running around the hanger, doing God knows what. But he did know this place doubled as a communications base as well as a hangar.

He knew exactly which plane he was going to take out, having wanted to fly it for quite a while. Only he wouldn't get to fly it for the mission. May would.

Figures, he shook his head to himself.

Walking to the office where the planes comings and going's were monitored he made direct eye contact with the Agent, establishing his superiority before even mentioning his name.

"The Lockheed C-5 galaxy," when the agent didn't make a move to authorise the flight request he gave him a glare and added "Sometime today."

He spoke in a demanding and arrogant manner, one that he found worked quite well the majority of the time.

The man flinched, just slightly, but tried to maintain a a level of authority "Name?" He asked, and Ward could hear a hint of a shake in his voice.

"Grant Ward." He said for the second time in five minutes.

The mans eyes widened and Ward figured his reputation was well known here if the gulp he watched work it's way through the guys throat was any indication.

"Gra-Grant Ward?" He stuttered. The stuttering caught him off guard, an image of Fitz flying into his mind and he nearly tried to reassure the man that he wouldn't hurt him.

What the hell was wrong with him? Thinking things like that could get you killed in places like this.

He shook it off and tried to channel the man Garrett had fashioned him into. Arrogant, rude, intimidating and...well a dick.

"Yes. Are you deaf as well as slow?" He raised an eyebrow.

The poor guy shook his head quickly and repeatedly and hurried to make the arrangements for him to take out the plane.

"That's all ready for you now Mr uh, Agent, uh Ward. Grant Ward."

Instead of wasting anymore time or words he only gave the shaken man a dissatisfied look and walked away to the plane.

He heard an audible sigh of relief from the guy and nearly smirked. While he often hated any reminders of what he had become he couldn't help but find the situation funny.

The agent seemed sure he was going to hurt him just because of his reputation. Why would he hurt him when he hadn't done anything?

Fitzsimmons hadn't done anything, his underused conscience joined in on the conversation.

He took a deep breath and boarded the plane, wondering if the unwanted reminders would ever stop.

Knowing they wouldn't, he flew the huge aircraft to the location of the bus.

————

He landed the massive plane alongside the bus and though he hadn't flown it mid mission, the easy ride back was just as enjoyable.

It was a beautiful plane, although just like Skye he happened to have a soft spot for the shield 616 plane they had all lived together on.

It was the only thing he hadn't admonished himself for getting attached to while on the team. After all, it was a plane, an inanimate vehicle. How could Garret see a love for an aircraft as a weakness?

He now knew that he likely loved the plane for a reason that Garrett definitely would have called a weakness. He simply associated it with the people who were onboard it. As sad as it sounded, he had had some of the happiest moments, if not the happiest, of his life on board that plane.

His near daily board games with Skye, training in the cargo hold while listening to Fitzsimmons bicker in the lab, the pride he felt but always tried to bury whenever Coulson praised him after a mission went well, and even the sparring he had done with May. Out of every person he had fought with during practice, she had been the one who tested him and made him feel like a kid watching one of his Hero's. He had heard stories of the Cavalry before joining Coulson and they definitely paled in comparison to seeing her work in person. His admiration act to disarm May when he first met her wasn't all an act. He had been taught throughout his life to fight in various different ways and that it was one of the greatest assets for someone like him to possess. So naturally, seeing the agent of shield with the reputation of the most skilled fighter had made him a little star struck.

And then just struck when she hit me numerous times with various types of building equipment.

He subconsciously rubbed his throat which had been the worst casualty of their fight just before he had been taken into custody.

He wasn't Mays biggest fan after everything had gone down but he couldn't blame her for trying to protect the team. He would have done the same thing.

He flicked the button for the planes cargo hold and walked down the ramp, seeing Skye and Coulson on the Bus' cargo hold.

"You have useful friends," Skye commented as a greeting, staring at the plane he had just walked off in awe.

"I take it you like it?" He asked, smiling at being able to provide her with something that made her happy.

"Like it? As long as it keeps my flying house safe it could have clowns painted on the side of it and I would still love it."

He felt his lips pulling up at how he had found out her fear of the circus dwellers.

Last year, Fitz had decided that despite being in the air for Halloween it was still, after all, Halloween. So he had bought a cheap mask at one of the grocery stores they stopped at before takeoff the night before Halloween and had waited until the next night, when it had gotten dark outside the plane, Skye had put a movie on in the living area in dim lighting and she was alone.

He had waited for the timing of the movie to be on his side, the crescendo of the music that indicated a graphic scene in the horror movie she was watching and jumped out from the shadows, a maniacal laugh sounding from underneath the mask that he assumed Fitz believed a clown would sound like.

He had heard the scream from his bunk and raced like hell to get to the source, coming into the room to see a furious Skye hitting the living daylights out of Fitz with a pillow.

"I. Hate. Clowns!" She had shouted, enunciating each word to the poor scientist.

Though Ward had to admit it was his own fault.

"It's me, it's me!" Fitz's had screamed, taking the mask off.

"I know it's you, you idiot, why do you think I'm hitting you?" She put the pillow down then and a hand flew to her chest "Don't scare me like that. I appreciate a good Halloween prank as much as the next person but please Fitz, for the love of God, anything but clowns."

Ward remembered how hard he had tried to keep in his laughter at the shocked and bewildered engineer and the fury radiating from his Rookie.

He had succeeded for the most part until Fitz had foolishly uttered "What about Jesters?" To which Skye had rearmed herself with the pillow and continued her assault, chasing him around the living room, the horror movie forgotten.

That was when he let out a snicker, earning the attention of Skye who glared at him.

"You think this is funny?" She asked, voice dangerously low, but he could tell she was unnerved. So he had tried to distract her.

"Funny?" He shook his head "I don't think that particular word is in my programming Rookie."

It had worked, and he had felt a surge of pride at having made her feel better. She let out a surprised laugh but quickly added "You know, I was thinking I should get you some new software for Christmas. Get you that update that comes with a sense of humour but it seems you've already went out and got yourself one Ward."

He gave her an arrogant look and crossed his arms.

"Know what else my programming comes with? The option to delete fear. So that means I'm not scared of clowns unlike a certain someone I know."

That brought the glare back and she had marched up to him, grabbed his arm and told him "Fine. If you're so brave you can be on clown protection duty. Sit right here and if anything that looks even remotely like one of those painted shits comes near me, shoot it."

"Well thats a bit much, what if it's just me?!" Fitz had questioned.

"Well there's a simple solution to that Fitzy," she had told him "Don't wear the stupid mask!"

He had rolled his eyes and settled down to watch the rest of the movie with Skye and Ward.

"You know they're just psychos in face paint, they think they're so scary." She had muttered after five minutes.

"So you're not scared of them?" Ward raised an eyebrow, challenging her.

"No. I'm more annoyed with them really. They think they have capitol on horror but they clearly don't." She had corrected him proudly, chin in the air.

"Whatever you say." He appeased her. And despite her claims of bravery, for someone who wasn't scared she had stayed awfully close to him for the rest of the night.

"Well thankfully Hydra were all out of planes defaced with clowns."

Skye laughed but smiled gratefully at him.

"Thanks Ward. Seriously. The bus means a lot to me and I would hate for anything to happen to it."

"Me too," he returned her smile.

Coulson watched the two former enemies and for a moment was left wondering if the past few months had even happened.

But of course it had.

He knew Skye would hate him, hate them all, for not telling her about the true calibre of what went down in her missing time but he did believe this was the only option for now and despite how unsettling it was to see Skye smiling at Ward he was grateful, albeit reluctantly, for the mans pull with Hydra giving them the opportunity to save the bus.

"Yeah. Good work." He was impressed he got the words out without choking but he was even more shocked by what he thought was genuine gratification he saw flicker on the mans face at his compliment.

He knew he was only continuing the act of grateful commanding officer for Skye's sake so why did he look so...happy?

He walked back into the bus before he could think about it more.

————

"So the bus won't be the decoy?" Simmons clarified, feeling somewhat disappointed. While she had also loved the bus and had bittersweet memories attached to it, the bitter ones seemed to win out.

It would have been almost therapeutic to watch the plane she and Fitz had been dropped to their deaths from be destroyed.

Though she couldn't be too unhappy about it, seeing the joy on her friends face at the news.

"Nope. Ward managed to get another one." Skye grinned, looking proudly up at Ward.

Simmons watched the emotions on his face that Ward couldn't hide in time for her to miss.

And she probably would have missed them if she hadn't been watching. It seemed as though her eyes couldn't help but find him whenever they were in the same room, her self preservation instincts kicking in to ensure she could have full view of his movements.

She was currently working hard to determine if the brief ecstatic look she had witnessed him reveal was genuine and not another fake out.

Though she had to admit that the likelihood was that it was real, judging by how fast he had wiped it off his face as if he hadn't wanted anyone to see it was there to begin with. Then there was the odd look that followed. It had looked similar to distress.

She couldn't imagine what he had to be distressed about.

He had what he wanted, another chance to infiltrate the team and play them. Maybe even finish the job this time.

But she also had trouble understanding his aim. Without the motivation of his beloved Garrett he didn't appear to have a reason to take them out. At least not one as strong as doing his masters bidding.

He couldn't possibly still be running with the whole 'besotted with Skye' angle he had used in custody.

Could he?

After all, according to Coulson he had pushed awfully hard for him to not tell Skye about her memory loss.

Maybe he saw it as his opportunity to get close and once again dismantle their lives.

But then why would he look so devastated at receiving such gratefulness from the person he needed to win over in order to stay and complete his plan?

Unless...

Jemma frowned and wanted to kick herself for the direction her thoughts had gone in.

There was no way he truly cared for Skye. For any of them.

And even if what Fitz so desperately wanted to believe was true she told herself what she had told Fitz.

It didn't matter.

He had made his choice.

A choice that had resulted in the near ruin of the people he claimed to care for.

"Simmons?" She heard Coulson's voice ask.

"Sorry," she shook herself out of her pondering "What was that?"

"I asked if you could have the medical supplies ready in 20 minutes?" He repeated, looking mildly concerned at her lack of focus.

"Oh, um. Yes, of course." She smiled "I'll get them now."

"Thank you. Alright everyone, take what you need and put it on the new plane so graciously loaned unknowingly by Hydra. To destroy their own base. Ironic isn't it? Ok, suit up. Arctic here we come."

————

May had docked the jet to the roof of the Hydra plane, reluctantly admitting to herself that the evil organisation had good taste in aircraft.

Then she had them in the air, starting the long flight to the frozen land mass.

She had been flying for around half an hour when the door to the cockpit had been slid open, the unwanted disturbance immediately setting her teeth on edge.

Then even more so at the sound of the intruders voice.

"I know I'm the last person you want in here telling you how to do your job but I thought I'd let you know that the plane is modified. The engineers at Hydra replaced the engine with a more efficient one so you don't need to give it as much fuel. So," he paused "Go easy on the throttle."

She remained silent, trying her best to keep the calm she had created before he had walked in.

She knew Ward could take a hint and a moment later she heard him turn to leave until he stopped.

"I'm more than aware that none of you believe me and I'd be an idiot to not understand why. But I know you're the best at reading people. So of all people, surely you can see that I'm not here to hurt anyone." He felt the need to add "Not this time."

May was good at reading people. But she knew Ward wasn't far behind her in the skill.

So she knew he could lie proficiently.

She had believed his demands to only talk to Skye while he was in vault D to be a manipulation on the girls attachment to him.

Just another piece of leverage to escape.

But with every interaction with the youngest agent her belief had slowly crumbled.

He simply no longer needed Skye as leverage. He had gotten free, escaped from Shields clutches yet he came back in the name of reuniting her with her father.

Her family.

The one thing Ward knew Skye wanted the most.

But even though May no longer thought his fascination with the girl was self serving, she probably liked it even less that there was the possibility that it was because of authentic feelings.

Because how authentic could his feelings be if he had claimed to care for Fitzsimmons yet sent them to the bottom of the ocean?

His feelings for someone seemed to be dependant entirely upon circumstance.

Skye was only an inconvenient situation away from being the next person Ward 'cared about' who was hurt by his hand.

"So because this time you're not here to hurt anyone that cancels out the last time you were?" She couldn't help but jibe.

"Of course not," he sighed "Look, May, you and I both know the second Skye has her memories back I'm gone. So just let me at least help you on this mission while I'm here."

Silence.

"What would it take for you all to believe that I'm on your side?" He asked quietly.

On their side? May would have laughed only she didn't want to give him the satisfaction.

"You're not on our side Ward. You never were."

She heard his steps and the soft closing of the cockpit door.

————

"So have you ever done missions like this before?" Skye asked the seasoned agent.

"Like in the Arctic?" Bobbi clarified. When Skye nodded she continued "Once or twice, more closer to Russia than the actual Arctic though. I'm definitely more of a heat girl."

"I don't know, I quite like the cold. I mean, don't get me wrong I love the sun but theres something refreshing about it."

"Wait till we're in the Arctic. You'll be begging for a little sun."

"What are the chances of seeing a penguin?" Skye asked, jokingly. Half jokingly. She did really want to see one.

"None, considering they're native to Antarctica." Simmons responded, smiling and coming to sit with the two women.

"Oh. Right. Forgot about that." Skye laughed and watched Simmons drink her tea "I need to brush up on my zoology."

"Oh I have some wonderful books I can recommend to get you reacquainted with wildlife."

"Uh, yeah, I'm more of a documentary person. I like to actually see the fluffy guys, not just read about them."

"I understand. We could have an encounter with a polar bear. Although hopefully not too close. Their tracking capabilities of humans is quite unique. Once they get the scent they won't stop. Fascinating."

"I get the feeling it would be less fascinating when they have their jaws clamped around our necks." Bobbi said, raising her eyebrows.

"Quite," Simmons looked down in thought "Let's hope we don't encounter one then. Anyway," she continued brightly "Since we're on rescue I'd like for us all to carry some medical supplies that we all can use in case we get separated."

"I'm fine with that," Bobbi nodded "I've been trained in basic first aid."

"I haven't," Skye said, raising a hand.

"No need to worry. This is only a precaution, I doubt we'll get separated from each other."

"With any luck she and I will though," a mans voice interrupted and Skye recognised it as Hunters.

"Ha. You're a comedic icon." Agent Morse deadpanned.

"Oh now you recognise that? After the divorce?" He rolled his eyes.

"Wait," Skye paused and looked between the two agents "You guys were a thing? As in a married thing?"

"Unfortunately." They said in unison which prompted them to glare at each other.

"Are you guys cool with doing a mission together?"

"As long as she keeps her hands to herself I think we'll be just fine."

"Because you're just that irresistible," Bobbi scoffed.

"According to you, yes, I am. Barbados ringing any bells?"

Bobbi cleared her throat then made an effort to avoid eye contact "That was for a mission and you know it."

"Do I?" He commented, then walked away, winking at Skye.

She grinned, loving the interactions between the two previously married agents.

"I can so see you guys together." She said.

"Ugh," Bobbi gagged "Don't ever say that again,"

"What? It's true. You would have been, like, a power couple."

Simmons watched her friends eyes light up, a look she had seen when the girl had watched reality TV shows on the bus.

She found herself staring, noting that she hadn't seen this level of carefree happiness from her since...

Well, since she had come back that day with Coulson, recounting how she had discovered Wards true allegiance.

She realised that with everything that had happened, the fall of shield, Fitz's trauma, going undercover in Hydra, Skye's new powers and now their current situation that she hadn't had the time to realise that she had missed her friend.

The way she had been before all this.

She wanted so desperately to tell her what she had forgotten but she now found herself wishing for more time with her, like this. Without the weight of all her previous decisions and experiences.

"The only power in our relationship was in the Ferrari he drove off in after he signed the divorce papers."

"He just left?" Skye asked, mouth agape.

"Yep. Without a glance black." She nodded, a dangerous smile gracing her lips.

"Wow. I would have been pissed."

"Oh I was," she shook her head.

"Now I get the tense vibes between you guys."

"Yeah, we're not too compatible. But don't worry, we're professional enough to not let it get in the way of what's important. This mission for example."

"Speaking of, when will we get there?" Skye asked.

"About 6 and a half hours."

She turned to see Ward approaching them and smiled "Cool. So, what I'm hearing is there's time for battleship?" She asked, looking at him hopefully.

"Sorry, I don't think Hydras plane come equipped with board games." He joked.

"I figured," she grinned "So I brought my own. It's in the Quinn jet. So, do you wanna play?"

He laughed "Yeah, ok. I'm sure you can beat me at least twice before we get there."

"Yaas," she whispered, getting out of the booth seats they were sitting in and going to get the board game.

Morse looked at Ward, studying the man they had told her about.

She saw in him the confidence and poise that came with being an agent and the kind of self assuredness that followed.

But she could also see uneasiness, like he was uncomfortable and on edge, waiting for something to happen.

And she could cut through the tension between him and Simmons with a shield issued knife.

"Are you guys gonna be ok to do this? Cause I know there's a history between you," she gestured to Ward "And the team. I trust Coulson's plan but it needs us to carry it out perfectly in order for it to work."

Simmons looked at Ward, unrestrained hatred directed at him. She broke her gaze and returned it to Bobbi "We'll be fine." She spoke through gritted teeth.

"Are you sure? Cause I don't particularly want to go in there with an unstable team."

"Simmons," Ward said, drawing her attention "I," he paused and shook his head "I know I can't take back what I did. God knows I would if I could. But I promise you, on my life, that I'm not going to hurt you. Or anyone else on the team for that matter."

She didn't let her glare flicker.

"I just want to help. For as long as I can."

Her eyes narrowed at his remorseful charade.

She had had enough of this.

"You want us to move on? Is that what you want? To forget about you trying to kill us? Tell me, Ward. Skye tried to kill you. What made you forgive her?" She spat the question, half wanting to hurt him and half truly curious.

"It's not the same. I deserved it." his eyes took on a distanced, dazed quality as though he wasn't fully focused on the present. Reliving a memory.

She saw on his face as his thoughts returned to the room and he focused back on her again "But you didn't. So I'm not asking you to forgive me. Hell, I'm not even asking you to be in the same room with me after this is all over."

Jemma felt something like guilt at his expression and calm, resigned tone.

Then the familiar rage returned, drowning out any guilt or sympathy she might have felt, if she had felt it in the first place.

"But this isn't over, is it?" She stood, hands fisting, and never taking her eyes off him to let him know she wasn't afraid "We're stuck with you until she remembers what a disgusting, evil, psychopath you are."

Bobbi reached for Simmons' arm, resting her hand there "Jemma," She tried to calm her.

"No," she shook her hand off "He needs to know that his plan won't work. We won't just accept him again because Skye does. Skye doesn't even actually accept him!" she breathed out in a near hysterical laugh "This is all a twisted, sick mistake. No matter how many so called 'good deeds' you think you can suddenly do, you'll never wash out the blood on your hands. You'll never be good."

Ward nearly flinched. Not just at the venom he heard in her voice, he felt that was valid after all. But because he had heard those words before. Not just once.

He was taken back to a oddly warm night for the month, in December, a week before Christmas at a senators ball his parents were hosting. He was nine. He had been minding his own business at the venue, only giving polite conversation when prompted as per the instructions of his parents.

He had been standing in front of the tower of wine glasses when Christian had thrown the punch. He guessed it must have been because he looked at him funny or maybe he was just bored. Of course on instinct he had ducked, allowing Christians fist to smash into one the glasses, the wine soaking Christians shoes. He had been pissed so had shoved Grant into the rest of the wine glasses. He fell in what felt like slow motion and the sound of the glass shattering had been deafening, even above the noise of the live band.

The music halted, all eyes in the large room turned to rest on him. But he wasn't too concerned about the hundreds of people looking at him, no. It was two people in particular who had him worried.

His father had grabbed his wrist, hauling him off the floor and dragging him roughly to an empty hallway followed by his mother.

He was furious and Grant knew better than to speak first.

"What the hell have you done?" He hissed. Straight to the blame. Not a thought crossed their minds about the injuries he had sustained from the glasses. The sharp shards had made a decent number of cuts.

Another thing they would be mad about. They always needed to look camera ready.

He knew by then how futile it was to tell the truth, it had gotten him nowhere good before and it sure as hell wasn't going to get him anywhere good then.

But his father wasn't the only one who was furious. He had been the target of his brother all his life but something had changed recently. It had been constant for the past few months. He was tired, and angry and despite never expecting anything from him he felt disappointed that he couldn't have a normal brother. A normal family.

So it just slipped out "It wasn't me it was Christian."

His mother had let out a vicious laugh and hit him over the back of his head, large decorative rings making an impression in his skull.

She liked big rings. The bigger the ring, the more money they proved they had and the more money they proved they had the more power they gained. And power was everything.

"How many times do I have to tell you to stop lying and blaming everything you do on your brother?"

Grant shook his head "I never lie," and it was true to an extent. The only time he lied was when he knew they wouldn't want the truth. Like now.

"Every word out of your mouth is a lie," his father spat "Tell the truth."

He sighed, knowing they wouldn't listen but said it anyway "Christian tried to hit me. I ducked, he missed, so he pushed me into the glasses." He listed each step that led to the main event monotonously. Detached.

"You mean you fell into them on purpose to ruin the evening." His mother 'corrected'.

It was like every word he said was translated into what they wanted to hear.

"No. I meant what I said."

"Do you realise what your little stunt has done? How do you expect those people in there, those politicians and benefactors to believe that I can run the state and someday the country, if I can't even control you?!" He yelled.

Yelling was good. Yelling usually only meant a mild punishment.

It was always the silence that led to worse.

"Now they won't make the vote in the new year," he told him, pacing in front of him like some kind of...not wild animal. Grant always found they possessed a kind of grace. The man before him, however, had nothing of the sort. He was a fully fledged monster.

His mother had put her hand on his fathers arm reassuringly "Of course they will. We're the Ward's. One incident with a pathetic child won't make a difference," she seemed to think for a moment then her eyes lit up and she snapped her fingers as though she had been blessed with the best idea in history "We'll send him to military school, send everyone the message that we don't tolerate less than perfection. Not even from Ward's."

His father stared down at him, a look so calculating and cruel that he wouldn't ever forget. He found himself in that moment wishing for one thing and one thing only: to never, ever, have on his face that same expression.

"Yes. That's what we'll do," he nodded.

"But I didn't do anything. I was being good," he tried one last time.

"Good?" His mother had laughed again "You'll never be good."

Her comment damaged a lot more than the broken shards of glass did.

He realised later that he was grateful for Christians stunt. When he finally turned 12, because even for the Wards the school wouldn't make an exception and allow a nine year old to join, they sent him away to military school and it had allowed him months of peace at a time over the three years he had attended.

What he hadn't appreciated that night, however, was hearing Christian announce to the crowd in his most charming and innocent voice:

"Well there had to be at least one Ward that wasn't perfect right?" The crowd had laughed.

His father had hit him when they were in private that night. Told him each of his shortcomings, accentuated with each blow. Then of course Christian had his turn.

He remembered thinking darkly, I must be the only punch bag you have to feed.

"Got it," Skye reappeared, tapping the board in her hands.

Her voice brought him out of his memory and he held onto the distraction as though if he didn't, the thoughts could pull him back in time to that very day.

To that state of vulnerability.

"Ready?" She asked, gesturing to the board game.

"To get my ass beat? Always," he joked, and followed her laughter.