Chapter 14: Calling Agent Skyeward
Grant's POV- Whereabouts: "The beach house" Time: 6:00am
He woke with a start; when he realised he was the only one in his bed, panic filled him. Skye was never awake this early, child or adult. She loved her sleep.
He got up, heading for Skye's room in case he'd only imagined her in his bed last night but she wasn't in her own either. The alarm hadn't alerted him to any exterior doors opening so she was still in the house, which at least was a small comfort.
Walking down stairs in his boxers he heard the TV. Well, found Skye. He thought, entering the lounge. He found the TV on, but no Skye. Then he heard clanging coming from the kitchen.
Skye had moved a chair over to the bench so she could climb up to reach the bowls on the shelf above the bench. He found her sitting cross legged on top of the bench by the fruit bowl with a bowl over flowing with cereal and milk, an abandoned slice of bread covered to the crust with jam, and cereal scattered around her.
Skye didn't even look up from her cereal as he walked into the kitchen and put the lid back on the milk. "Hungry bubby?" He asked her. Skye looked up at him as she shoved a spoonful of cereal into her mouth, milk dribbling down her chin as she nodded. Wiping the milk off Skye's chin with his thumb, he grabbed his own bowl and started getting his breakfast.
He cleaned around Skye, who was still sitting on the bench eating her bread and jam. I'm going to have to hide the jam. He thought, putting it away on the highest shelf in the pantry. Skye had jam all over her face and hands; if he had to guess, he'd say she scooped it out with her fingers. He hadn't spotted a knife only a spoon for her cereal.
Seeing Skye licking the jam off her fingers, he grabbed a cloth from under the sink and dampened it. "Here bubby, let's get you cleaned up." He said as he wiped her hands and face. "Why are you up so early?" He asked, rinsing the cloth.
"I got hungry." She stated simply.
"Well, how about you watch some TV while I go to the gym?" He suggested. Skye nodded her approval, lifting her arms for him to set her down.
With Skye watching TV, he could finally get his work out done; not that running around after Skye wasn't enough exercise. He changed into his work out gear then warmed up on the punching bag for fifteen minutes. He was in the middle of push ups when he noticed Skye wander in the room. "Had enough TV, baby?" He inquired, continuing his work out.
Skye walked over, looking curious as she observed his movements. She liked watching his workout. He would catch her sneaking down to the cargo bay to sit on the top step so she could watch him.
All of a sudden he felt a weight on his back; Skye was hugging him from behind. Her arms wrapped around his neck, linked at the front, feet not quite touching the ground as he lowered. "Are you catching up on morning snugglies now, bubby?" He asked, continuing his push ups.
"Yep." She giggled as she held on.
He finished his push ups and just lowered his body to the floor, Skye still laying on his back. He'd done his usual number of sets, but the extra weight had worn him out a little more.
"Can I do that too?" She asked, voice muffled because she was talking into the back of his shirt.
"You might be a bit little, baby."
"But I wanna do stuff too." She whined near his ear, shuffling around to peak over his shoulder.
"How about something else?" He bargained.
"Like what?" She asked, curious.
Good question. She really is too little for the punching bag; it would hurt her hands or swing back and knock her over. He thought. "How about I teach you a few moves?" He suggested.
"Then do I run to you?" She asked hesitantly, still looking at him from over his shoulder.
"Yeah baby, so you can run to me." He nodded. Now he thought about this, it was a good idea. Skye already stomped on Natasha's foot after watching him in the cargo bay.
"Ok." She agreed, smiling.
He reached his arms up over his head; he flipped her gently over his head so she landed on her back on the mat.
"Let's do that again!" She laughed, scrambling up excitedly.
"After, baby. Stand here." He indicated for her to just stand in front of him as he stood up straight. Skye faced him, looking up at him making sure she was in the right spot. He turned her around so her back was against him and wrapped his arms around her little frame holding her secure.
"Baby, I want you to tell me what you'd do."
"I'd scream for you." She said, frowning.
I should have seen that coming. He thought, trying to hide a grin. "Good baby. But if I'm not there, what would you do?"
"Why wouldn't you be there?" She asked, sounding anxious.
"I'm just saying in case, ok. What would you do?" He asked again.
"Um…wiggle." She said.
He expected this; it was a child's first instinct and any attacker is prepared for it. Skye squirmed around but didn't get anywhere.
"I dunno what to do." she said hopelessly, sounding a bit panicked.
"It's okay, baby. I just wanted you to think about what you're going to do, before, you do it. Bad guys aren't nice. They might hurt you if you wiggle or struggle. You need to take them by surprise." He explained, reassuringly.
"How do I surprise d'em?" She asked, looking up at him with wide brown eyes.
"By being quick." He told her. If she was fast and precise in her execution, she'd take them by surprise, hopefully long enough for him to get to her.
"I want you to put your heel up on my shin and I'll explain what to do." He instructed. Skye lifted her foot up and rested it on his ankle. "Little higher, baby, that's it." He told her as she shifted her foot further up his shine, resting it around halfway. "Okay, baby, this part of your leg isn't as protected by muscle, so it hurts when somebody kicks it or rather slides their heel down it." He explained, trying to keep it simple enough for a three year old to understand.
"I don't wanna hurt you." She said, horrified and shaking her head.
"You don't have shoes on, so it won't hurt me. Just give it a go." He encouraged. Skye looked down at her feet so she could see what she was doing. "Baby, don't look at your feet, okay? If you do, the bad guys will see what you're going to do and stop you." He told her. Skye tried again lightly, getting the hang of the move.
"Like this?" She asked, showing him, still very lightly.
"Skye, you aren't going to hurt me, I promise. You have to be harder on bad guys so you can get out of their grasp." He explained patiently.
"But you're not a bad guy." She said matter-of-factly.
"No, I'm not, but I'm pretending to be so you've got to be fast to get out of my grip. Try again, faster." He told her.
Skye was much better faster, when she didn't have time to over analyse hurting him and she was harder on his shins. He was proud of her. "Great job, baby, just remember be tough on bad guys and don't look at your foot." He coached.
"Got it." She said, smiling up at him. "What else?" Skye asks curiously.
"Elbow me in the ribs." He ordered.
"Ok." She hesitantly hit his guts.
"Ribs might be too high for you. How about the tummy?" He suggested.
He wished he hadn't. Skye was a little too enthusiastic and got him below the belt. "Good job, baby." He croaked, releasing her and bending over slightly.
"Did I hurt you?" She asked, horrified, reaching out for him.
"No, baby, I'm good. Your aim is good. The bad guys will definitely release you with that shot." He smiled, trying to reassure her. "How about we have lunch?" He suggested. He definitely didn't want to give her practice on that move again with him as the practice dummy.
"Jam sammies?" She asked hopefully.
"Yeah, you can have jam." He said straightening up, heading for the kitchen with Skye in tow.
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Skye had eaten her sandwiches and was now colouring a rocket ship she wanted to give Fitz while all her other master pieces were plastering his fridge. He could see she was looking tired, after their workout this morning. He probably pushed it a little too far himself, with the push ups, but teaching Skye some evasion techniques was good. He needed her to have some tricks in case something should ever happen.
He only just realised that neither of them really got dressed today; Skye was still in her PJ's and he was still in his work out gear. Well, perhaps we need a lazy day. He thought, resigning himself to the couch, grabbing another book off the wall near the TV.
Skye stood in front of him with her drawing in hand. "What you got there, baby?" He asked, putting his book aside and lifting her onto his knee, taking the piece of paper to have a look. "It's a very colourful rocket." He observed. Skye nodded her head, sticking her thumb in her mouth; she'd started this little quirk just after the HYRDA guy held her hostage, now he noticed she did it whenever she was tired.
"Do you think Fitzy will like it?" Skye asked wearily.
"I think he'll love it." He told her. He was about to suggest turning on the TV when he noticed she'd fallen asleep. Training must have worn her out. He thought shifting Skye to lie down on the couch more comfortably. He stood to pull the blanket off the back of the couch and put it over her. He hit the shower and finally got dressed while she was napping.
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He was coming into the lounge room when his phone started ringing. "Agent Ward speaking." he said, answering the call. Coulson's voice was worried and he was speaking in a rush. He stilled, listening very carefully to catch all the agent's words.
"They're coming for her." Coulson blurted out.
His blood ran cold. HYRDA was coming for Skye.
"Take Skye to a secondary location, Ward. I don't even want you to tell me. Keep this number so we can contact you." Coulson ordered.
"How did they even know about Skye?" He demanded. Coulson sighed on the other end of the phone.
"The HYDRA agent that held Skye hostage on The Bus was rescued during transport to a more secure location. He escaped, informing HYDRA about Skye. Now they've put a bounty on her head." He explained.
"Is the team ok? Was anyone on the transport injured during the attack?"
"No, we're all fine, Ward. I want you and Skye both gone from your location within the hour. It's unclear if your location is compromised. I want you somewhere more remote and isolated."
"Understood sir." He was about to hang up, when he remembered his promise to Skye. "Oh, sir, next time we check in, could the whole team be present. Skye's really missing you guys."
"I'm sure I can arrange it. Leave it with me." Coulson hung up.
He hung up the phone, releasing a heavy sigh and walked into the lounge to check on Skye. She was still asleep, thumb in her mouth and curled up in a little ball. He decided not to wake her; he could pack up their things while she slept and they could hit the road within an hour.
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It didn't take him long, the car was packed, and all he needed to do was get Skye and go. She didn't even stir as he scooped her up and carried her to the car. Placing her in her car seat, she blearily opened her eyes.
"Wat goin on?" She mumbled, rubbing her eyes groggily as he shifted her arms into the straps.
"We're going on an adventure. You can go back to sleep baby." He told her, kissing her curls closing the door hopping in the car and heading for the highway.
Glancing at Skye in the mirror he took in her innocent little face, her thumb back in her mouth. How could anyone even think of harming her? He sighed. This isn't how I wanted them to meet. Not like this and certainly not under these circumstanced. He thought, frustrated.
He knew that the safest place for them to go was his Gramsy's. He'd always been safe there; it was somewhere he could be himself and not worry. It was his safe place, until Skye of course. Now she was his safe place, so he needed to protect her, to keep her safe like she'd always done for him whether she knew it or not.
Notes- Thanks you EmmaJMcGhee for keeping me on track with this story :)
