Chapter 5: Greatest Fears Part 1

Grant's POV- Status: The Bus. Whereabouts: "Classified"

He was sleeping peacefully with Skye tucked snuggly to his chest which had become the norm over the past week. Fitzsimmons had so far been unsuccessful in working out how to get the 0-8-4 to turn Skye back to the correct age. He was startled awake by a sudden knock and his bunk door being slid open only for Coulson to poke his head in "briefing in 15 minute Ward" he informed him "Sir?" He questioned sitting up resting on his elbow trying not to disturb Skye. "15 Minute Ward" Coulson repeated closing the door.

He groaned before gently manoeuvring Skye from his side so he could rest against the headboard, she half opened her eyes "time to get up already?" she whined. He elected to let her sleep a bit longer it was earlier than usual, only 5:37am he noticed glancing at his alarm clock "nah, go back to sleep baby" he encouraged her quietly, watching her nod a little closing her eye again.

He though about all the possibilities that this briefing could hold and concluding none of them good he extracted himself from the bed and Skye to get dressed for the briefing leaving Skye to sleep. Entering the briefing room and seeing Coulson's face only confirmed his suspicions, he wasn't going to like what he was about to hear.

He was right, he didn't like what he was told at all but he waited till Coulson had finished explaining everything before asking questions "so let me get this straight, we're going to hostile territory to retrieve an 0-8-4 HYDRA is already in pursuit of and we have to get it first?" getting a nod of confirmation from Coulson he asked the most important question he wanted answered "What are we doing with Skye? Surely we aren't taking her into hostile territory with HYDRA lurking around?" he asked disbelievingly in Coulson's direction.

Coulson shifted uncomfortably and sighed answering his question "Fury had some other suggestions none of which I was happy with and I doubted you or Skye would be comfortable with given the circumstances so she's coming with us" he told him evenly not sounding particularly happy about it either. "SKYE'S ONLY THREE!" he exclaimed loudly irritation bubbling up inside him like lava "what if something happens? Skye can't protect herself anymore" he asked incredulously. "Unfortunately we're out of option Agent Ward. Do you think Skye would be comfortable staying with unknown agents looking after her while we attend this matter?" Coulson asked doubtfully, sounding no happier than he was about the situation. 'No' he thought irritated and neither would he for that matter "no sir and honestly I don't think I would be comfortable putting Skye's safely in anyone else's hands but our own" he stated much calmer than before. "Fury thought you might say that" Coulson said smugly.

Realisation suddenly hit him "is this why Fury dragged me into The Hub? He wanted to see if Skye was compromising my ability to be an affective member of this team?" He shouted indignantly. "No, no Agent Ward it's not like that" Coulson assured "then how's it like?" he asked bluntly "Fury asked an awful lot of question about how I related to the team and we interact within a team environment affectively" he asked disbelievingly wanting some answers as he crossed his arms eyeing Coulson warily.

Coulson's POV

Sighing he enlightened his agent "as you well know Agent Ward, this team is the first of its establishment. Fury wants to know if it's worthwhile putting together more of its kind. You being a specialist provide the most interesting perspective normally working alone. Fury wanted your standpoint. It's nothing to do with your abilities or effectiveness, nobody is questioning that" he reassured vigorously not wanting him to think Fury was booting him off the team or something "Fury was curious and he was even more interested once I told him you'd agreed to be Skye's SO but he understood that after meeting her" he chuckled just thinking of what Nick thought of his latest protégé.

Grant's POV

The door slid open halting the discussion as all team members' heads turned to see a very sleepy looking Skye standing in the doorway wearing her Iron Man PJ's holding her matching toy in one hand and rubbing her eyes with the other "what's going on?" she asked looking around at each member individually one by one, eyes settling on him. He walked towards her "did we wake you up baby?" he questioned picking her up holding her to his chest by the warmth radiating off her as he held her protectively to him he guessed yes. Skye nodded "I heard your angry voice and I was hungry" she revealed in a small sleepy voice as she rested her head on his shoulder snuggling into him eyes looking up at him curiously wanting to know what was happening "I'm not angry baby so don't you worry" he insisted brushing some of her curls back from her face. Skye nodded making him relax a bit more he didn't want her worrying.

Coulson's POV

He watched the interaction smiling as he heard Ward's slip of the word 'baby' knowing he didn't usually call her that and certainly not in front of an audience. Ward turned back towards him serous look on his face "I don't like this. I don't want her even in the same continent as HYDRA" he insisted and sighed hugging her closer as he continued "Skye stays on The Bus at all times with somebody and an ICER at the ready, just in case or we both stay here together" he insisted firmly leaving no room for negotiations. If there was one thing he knew Ward wouldn't negotiate on, it was Skye's safety and he wouldn't either. He wasn't happy Nick had put him in the predicament "I wouldn't have it any other way in these circumstances and Fitzsimmons will also be staying on The Bus for communication purposes. We'll be in constant contact the whole time via comms" he informed with a promise he really couldn't do this without Ward being on board he needed an extra Specialist to watch May's back.

Fitz's POV

He listened intently standing next to Simmons with his arms crossed over his chest just observing the debate going on over Skye's safety. He exhaled noisily getting their attention "She will be safe Ward. We won't let anything happen to her, we'll put The Bus on lock down and Skye won't leave our sights. I promise" he stated meeting Ward's eyes. Simmons nodded vigorously beside him in agreement.

Grant's POV

He gave Fitzsimmons a curt nod of acceptance "are you going somewhere?" Skye's interrupted sounding anxious obviously not understanding the conversation going on around her. He didn't want her to be more worried "yep we both are" he told her lifting her up a little, at her questioning glance up at him he made a quick decision "to the kitchen for some toast, how does that sound?" He asked. "With jam?" she inquired excitedly lifting her head up "with jam" he agreed rolling his eyes at her addiction. He set her down and watched her run out the still open door and disappears in the direction of the kitchenette.

Facing the team again he noticed Coulson's quizzical look at him not telling her the plan "Skye don't like heights" seeing there incredulous looks he explained "she freaked at The Hub's glass elevator on the way to Director Fury's office. Apparently three year old Skye hasn't grown out of her fear of heights yet" he stated evenly glancing in the direction of the kitchen to check she wasn't getting into anything "ah that maybe a problem" Coulson stated nodding in understanding then turning his attention to there still silent pilot, not needing him to voice his question she stated "6 hrs" and left the briefing room heading for the cockpit.

After breakfast was eaten and they'd gotten dress he sat Skye next to him ready to buckle her up for take-off but first he had some explaining to do "Skye do you remember this morning when you asked me if I was going somewhere?" she nodded which encouraged him to continue "well, we are all actually going somewhere….. flying somewhere" he added the last part tentatively gaging her reaction. "But Robots can't fly silly, Fitz told me" she informed him knowledgeably "well Fitz is right, Robots don't fly but people can" he informed her gradually. "Oh so are we taking a plane flying because Fitz says rockets are much cooler and they can go into space which is really, really, really high" she demonstrated stretching up lifting her arm to show him pointing skyward. "No baby, we aren't taking a rocket we're taking a plane. I need you to buckle up" he told her grabbing her seat belt and buckling it then doing his own "do planes go really, really, really high like rockets?" she asked in a much smaller voice now looking down at her belt buckle realizing what it was for. He could hear the anxiety creeping into her voice "they do but not as high, you'll be perfectly safe ok? You have your belt on and May's an excellent pilot" he assured her giving her hand a squeeze.

"What if we fall out of the sky?" Skye asked suddenly looking up at him panicked " May's an excellent pilot, she'd never let us just fall out of the sky" as if May had been listening in The Bus started rolling down the tarmac startling Skye causing her to jump and clutch his arm. Seeing her scared eyes looking at him bordering on panic he took her hand and squeezed it "its ok baby, remember what I told you at The Hub? Close your eye, it'll be over soon" he encouraged as they started their vertical ascent.

The plane evened out and May informant them that they could take off their belts and there ETA, not having heard the loud speaker before Skye jumped again squeezing his hand in a vice like grip he didn't know she possessed. May hadn't informant them using the speaker to buckle up at his request not wanting to freak Skye out. The team was also buckled down in the cargo bay so Skye didn't have an audience.

He unbuckled them both briefly letting her hand go moving her belt out of the way "you can move around now if you want Skye" he encouraged and stood up in front of her waiting for her to move "how about we go find the team and see what they are up too?" he suggested trying to entice her into a response but Skye seemed too uncertain to form words yet so he just lifted her up and headed for the cargo bay to find the others.

He would be lying if he said he wasn't concerned about bringing Skye along with them even if she was going to stay on The Bus where it was safe, he just didn't feel right about it there were risks and that didn't sit well with him. Something was off about this mission he could feel it and he would much rather she was away from any potential dangers no matter how significant.