Ward sat in the cockpit for a few hours slipping in and out of sleep before he went down to be sure everyone on the Bus was asleep. Quietly he snuck into the kitchen to grab a sandwich. The Bus was quiet and Ward didn't make any noise while assembling his midnight snack. Picking up his finished product he turned to head down to the loading dock to sleep in the van but stopped in his tracks when he saw her standing frozen in front of him. Her long hair was tousled and her face pale making her freckles and blue eyes stand out; her lips were quivering and he saw her eyes misting over. Neither of them spoke for what felt like forever and Ward shifted uncomfortable. Cidney suddenly snapped out of her frozen state and gasped for a breath of air. Her eyes darted around frantically and Ward watched her shaking hand wander to her ring.

"What are you…why…you're…you're here…" Cidney managed to get out between shaking breaths, "Skye said you were on the team….you…um…Wilson…and now you're here.." her breathing started becoming more erratic, "I can't deal with you too right now." She whispered quickly.

Ward watched as her panic grew and at first he was shocked. De'd never seen her this shaken by anything, not even when they got held up one night coming home from a movie. He knew everything piled on was too much for her right now and finally snapped out of his own shock, "Cidney," he moved towards her and took her hand placing it on his chest. Her eyes snapped up to his, searching them frantically, "I need you to breathe with me, okay? Cid, please you gotta breathe for me." He took deep slow breaths and Cidney started to follow suit after a few. "There ya go." He kept up the exaggerated breaths, "That's my girl." Cidney yanked her hand back

"No." her voice trembled but her breathing was steady, "You don't get to call me that…not anymore...not after." Her voice cracked

Before Ward could say anything he heard Simmons, "Is everything alright?"

Quickly followed by Fitz, "What's all the commotion?"

"I'm sorry…" Cidney started as a few tears streamed down her face

"It's my fault.." Ward cut her off, "Simmons you should probably check her before she goes back to bed."

Simmons nodded and put her hands on Cidney's shoulders to lead her away "Come on. We'll do a quick check, get you nice cup of tea and get you to bed."

"Ever see that happen before?" Fitz whispered when they were out of earshot.

"Never." Ward shook his head.

"Alright I'll let Simmons know incase Cidney doesn't tell her." He started to leave for the lab.

"Fitz" the smaller man turned back, "Don't let her give Cidney tea. She can't stand it…only will drink it if she has a sore throat or when she's trying to be polite."

Fitz smiled slightly and nodded.

Grant sighed and hung his head, his sandwich no longer appealed to him, "Doesn't seem like the day was ready to end." Coulson stepped out of the shadows.

"How long have you been standing there?"

"When her attack started. You said she's never done that before?"

"Not that I've seen… but that was a long time ago." Ward confessed.

"Do you think that may happen again?"

"Sir I'd like permission to remove myself from this mission."

"That doesn't answer my question."

"She grew up in the system…bounced around from home to home. She has fear of abandonment...the last home she ran before that could happen. It took a long time before she actually believed I wouldn't abandon her and that's exactly what I did. I could see she was always battling between trusting me and holding back. I don't know if she'll do it again, but I know I triggered it. She was already overwhelmed…"

"I know. I should have taken your advice. Which shows I need you to stay on."

"Give her a few days away from me. She needs…I want her to be able to process everything. From the Intel we gathered Wilson is like a father to her. We took that away. She's smart… I can guarantee she's already thought that if Wilson stays free and realizes she was apart of this op taking files or breaking into his office then she won't be able to stay. We took her father figure and now we may take away her business. And then you throw in the guy who broke her heart?"

"Anyone would break." Coulson answered, "How are you doing in all this?"

Ward rubbed his chin, "I never stopped loving her…" he confessed, "knowing I'm the cause of this? It's eating me up inside."

"Maybe after sometime getting settled you two can hash some things out. If not I may need to bring in another agent for the party. We can't have her breaking down in the middle of a mission."

"I don't know if we can solve all our issues in a couple weeks."

"Not all. Just some."

….

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to wake everyone…I just didn't expect to see him." Cidney's face was red with embarrassment.

"It's alright." Simmons assured her, "Have you ever had a panic attack before?"

"Never. That's why I feel so embarrassed…I normally handle things a lot better."

"If I found out my father figure was working with an evil corporation and then saw the man who broke my heart I think I'd react the same way." Comforted Simmons.

"How much...how much has Grant told you? About us?" Cidney looked a Simmons sheepishly. She didn't know how close this team was or how long they'd been together but she knew she didn't want them knowing more about Ward's leaving than she did.

"Nothing," stated Fitz, "All he's told me about you is that you hate tea."

"What?" Simmons looked as though she took this insult rather personally.

Cidney looked between the two and opened her mouth to defend herself.

"She's right Jemma. It's disgusting." Fitz continued.

"It's delightful! It's healthy and.."

"And tastes like dirty leaves." Interrupted Fitz.

Cidney laughed so loudly they both stopped their arguing, "I'm sorry" she giggled, "I'm sorry, Simmons I have to agree with Fitz."

"Fine then off to bed with you; with NO tea." Simmons waved her away dejectedly.

Cidney made her way back to the bunk laughing to herself and passed the dark corner Ward had slipped into to avoid her detection. He watched as she stopped just inside the doorway of his small room. Standing there she looked sadly about the room. As soon as FitzSimmons had shown her where she'd be staying she knew it was his. Everything was in order and to his taste. The room smelled faintly of him; in some ways it was oddly comforting to have that familiar scent but it caused her to fall asleep thinking of him. Before she'd woken she'd dreamed of that day, the day he left was one of the worst days of her life. When she woke up she decided getting out of that space for a bit might help. She was already distraught and seeing him with the old wounds feeling raw was more than she could bare. Swallowing the lump in her throat she turned to close the door but stopped when she saw him standing there. Fresh tears escaped and she shook her head at him sliding the door closed.