Chapter 20: Skye's Crashing Down.

Notes- This is unbeta-ed any mistakes are my own. Feel free to point them out and I'll fix them ASAP. Blah Blah Blah you know this by now.

I feel like there is a lot but nothing at all in this chapter somehow but here it is. Things are about to get interesting. I meant to get this out Boxing Day but it didn't happen in the end with my family's Christmas plans and then New Year but I hope this will satisfy you until I get the next chapter edited and posted. I promise the 0-8-4's purpose is revealed incredibly soon.

Has anyone guessed what Tommy's secret decision is yet? I'm curious.

Thomas' POV-"Gramsy house"

"Tommy, I need you to tuck Skye in. She won't go to bed because she didn't get to play with you after lunch." Thomas heard Grant's tired voice call down the hallway.

He sat the remote down on the coffee table and met his brother in the doorway. "I'm her new favourite Grant, better watch out." He joked, jogging past his brother towards the stairs.

"Yeah right, Tommy." He heard Grant mutter, following him up.

Grant's POV

"Oh…looks like she fell asleep on you, favourite." He teased, walking over pulling up Skye's blanket; he didn't want her to get cold. "You better give her a kiss goodnight anyway, you'll get in trouble tomorrow if she asks and you didn't." He told his brother, giving Skye a kiss on the forehead himself.

Tommy grinned, and then bent down to give Skye a kiss too. "That's what favourites do. Don't they Skye." He whispered to the sleeping child.

"Get out of here before you wake her, you idiot." He shoved Tommy out of his room.

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Grant's POV

Sitting in the lounge on the couch watching 'Lethal Weapon' he broached the subject. "Are you going to tell me? Or do I have to ask Skye?" He threatened lightly, his brother was hiding something and he wanted to know what.

Tommy got that same glint in his eyes when he was up to something as Skye, and that was never good.

Thomas' POV

He shifted uncomfortably, not liking the disapproving tone his brother was using on him. It made him feel five years old again.

"I think I'd rather not…until I process it more. But you'll know when the times right." He informed his brother.

He needed more time to think this over. This was a big decision, that not only affected him but also those he loved. Grant had already made his choice years ago. Thomas wasn't sure he really understood the struggle of the choice his brother had made, until he was making it himself.

He wasn't satisfied with the way his life was going at the moment, something had to change. Maybe this was it. This could be the change he was looking for.

Grant's POV

"Thomas." He growled in frustration, his brother was always so vague when he didn't want to reveal anything that might give him away.

"Don't Thomas me, Grant. I'll tell you when you need to know. I just want to think about it some more, then I'll tell you." Tommy said with equal frustration.

"If you've got to think about it some more, this can't be good. Remember the go-kart? That ended in broken bones, Thomas." He exclaimed, annoyed his little brother was so stubborn and would never listen to anyone.

Thomas' POV

He scowled remembering, then glared at his brother for bring it up. Grant knew it was a sore spot. "This is nothing like the go-kart." He snapped, frustrated. "I think this is a higher scale decision, than installing brakes or just using my feet, Grant." He informed him sarcastically, rolling his eyes.

Grant wouldn't let up until he gave him something to stop him worrying. "I can make informed decision a lot better than I could when I was five." He told his brother, indignantly.

Grant's POV

Higher scale decision. This small detail his brother let slip didn't fill him with confidence.

"If it's a long term decision Tommy, you better be damn sure it's the right one." He told him, seriously. "I don't want to spend another 7 hours in the emergency room with you ever again. Last time was enough." He stated firmly.

Tommy had cracked ribs, a broken tibia and a tooth through his lip last time. It had been one of the longest nights of his life. His parent's had been furious. They both physically and verbally tore strips off him when they had shown up at the hospital hours later for not looking out for his baby brother well enough.

"I hope you know what you're doing." He'd let it drop…for now. He didn't want this to turn into another argument.

Thomas' POV

He recognised the surrender and he appreciated it. He had to make this choice for himself. Grant's answers would have to wait until he'd made his decision.

He was glad that Gramsy had decided to follow Skye's example and have an easy night. Gramsy wasn't going to like this. He hadn't mentioned it to her yet. She worried enough about Grant as it was, she didn't need to worry about him too.

"Skye thinks you're a superhero/protective knight." He threw out there suddenly, wanting to change the subject.

Grant's POV

He just scoffed at his brother absurdity. "I'm no superhero, Tommy. Protecting Skye is instinct, just like it is with you." He shrugged.

"What's it like protecting people for a living? Is it always so much fun?" Tommy asked him sarcastically, trying to covering up his curiosity.

Tommy's question caught him by surprise. "Usually it's not so long term. It's normally over within 24 hours or a couple of days. Skye's case is not the usual for us." He explained, honestly.

He didn't want to have to keep part of himself hidden from his brother. He wasn't a spy to Tommy, he was just Grant and he wanted that. He wanted that badly, to be just Tommy's big brother, even if it was only for a little while.

"So you're usually in and out pretty fast on these jobs? Tell me about your team. What are they like?" Tommy asked him.

He put Tommy's questions down to curiosity, he'd never asked for details before about what he did. He shrugged it off as Tommy wanting to understand the 'changes' in his life.

"Well, you know I'm a specialist. Skye's usually our computer hacker and my Rookie. We have two scientists on our team, Fitzsimmons. Fitz is our rocket scientist, he designs a majority of our tech. Simmons is like the other half of his brain, she's bio-chem. Then there's agent May. She's also a specialist like me, she flies The Bus. Agent Coulson's our boss. He basically keeps us all in line with the exception of Skye of course." He explained, giving Tommy the short version of what his team do.

Thomas' POV

"Wow, so you all kinda of have a certain role to play?" He asked, inquisitively. Making mental notes for later.

"Yeah, we all work together to get the job done. But we care about each other. We all look out for each other, like a family…I guess." Grant explained, sounding uneasy.

He met Grant's eyes with a genuine smile to reassure him that was ok. "I'm glad you have a family away from home. That way they can keep you out of trouble for me." He smirked as his brother rolled his eyes.

"Nothing's going to happen to me out there, so don't worry." Grant told him, turning off the ignored TV. "Get some sleep. Skye's gunna want her favourite running around playing with her tomorrow." He said getting up to go to bed.

"Grant, I thought you were her favourite person? She loves you, remember." He mocked, dodging past Grant towards the stairs.

Grant's POV

He shut his door as quietly as possible and stripped to his boxers, getting into bed. He couldn't help but worry about Tommy's secret. He sighed closing his eyes, he should try to sleep.

He felt Skye roll over restlessly beside him, his eyes snapped open again when she rolled right into his side with a thud. He looked down curiously at her small face, wondering what was causing her restlessness.

He watched her, looking for any tangible signs of distress. Skye furrowed her brows and took a deep breath, her frown softened. Her exhale tickled his bare skin, leaving him feeling very aware of her every breath and movement.

Skye suddenly appeared agitated. He was concerned she was having a nightmare. He was about to try and calm her down, when her little limbs flung across his chest. He stilled immediately, when he realised what she wanted. Skye wriggled her small, warm body until she was comfortable on top of his chest. She took another deep breath and stilled, resting her ear over his heart.

He usually woke up to find Skye had migrated during the night. He'd frequently wondered how he'd never woken up during the process. He was always alert even in his sleep and would wake at the slightest sound or movement around him. Apparent his body recognised Skye was no threat so he didn't even register her movements and wake. He was oddly pleased about that.

"I really do love our snuggles, bubby." He murmured, wrapping his arms around her. He gathered her close while planting a kiss on her freshly washed hair. He was drifting to sleep with Skye's raspberry fresh baby smell surrounding him like a comforting safety blanket, when he suddenly realised exactly why Skye always ended up on top of him every night. His bubby needed her own safety blanket and he was it for her.

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Something felt wrong. Grant sat bolt upright in bed, looking around the room for the source of his unease.

Ahh, that's what it is. I can sit up without Skye falling off. He thought, amused.

Once his senses kicked in, he noticed a few more things. It was later then he'd normally be up and Skye was nowhere to be seen. He got out of his bed quickly, concerned that Skye wasn't with him and could be getting into any amount of trouble.

He heard a giggle that was unmistakably Skye's as he descended the stairs and he breathed a little easier.

"…but Tommy, Grant doesn't like that much jam. Only I do." Skye explained, still giggling.

"Well, you shouldn't have used your fingers to scoop the jam out. I won't tell, if you don't." He bargained, grinning deviously.

"Deal." Skye agreed, happily licking the evidence off her fingers.

He had to try very hard to keep a straight face. "What deals are you making Skye?" He asked innocently. Skye and Tommy's heads snapped towards him in surprise.

"Um…nuffing." Skye told him, trying to look innocent.

He nodded. "Really? Nothing, that's what you're going with?" He asked, raising an eye brow at them. "Tommy has…" He peered a little closer at his brother. "…Batter in his hair, baby, and you have jam on your…well, everywhere." He said with a smirk, leaning against the bench waiting for an explanation.

Skye and Tommy exchanged a looked.

Skye turned to face him pouting, arms crossed over her chest defensively. "You're ruining it." She accused him.

"Ruining what?" He asked her, confused.

Thomas' POV

He could see Skye getting upset that her surprise had been ruined. "It's ok Skye, you can tell him now that he's awake." He encouraged her.

"But…It's not the same now." She whined.

"Fine..." He sighed. "Grant, go back upstairs and get into bed. You're ruining Skye's surprise." He instructed, gesturing to the unhappy pouting face Skye was sending his brother's way.

"Fine." Grant conceded, giving them a weird look as he turned around to go back upstairs.

Grant's POV

He felt ridiculous, he was awake now. Why did I have to get back into bed? He wondered.

Skye stuck her head through the open door. "Lie down and close your eyes." She instructed him, bossily.

He sighed, closing his eyes, letting his other senses take over.

"Ready Tommy." He heard Skye say.

The door creaked, open, Grant assumed. Next thing he heard was the sound of fast running feet. The air left his lungs as Skye landed on his chest. His eyes flew open to be met with Skye's excited brown ones.

"SURPRISE!" She shouted happily, bouncing a little with excitement.

He caught his breath watching Tommy walk in with a tray stack with pancakes and three glasses of orange juice. "Well, this is a surprise. Wait, did you and Tommy turn my alarm off yesterday while you were up here talking?" He asked. The pieces were coming together now.

Skye nodded. "Tommy said to put it on something called 'sneaky mode.'"

Tommy groaned, setting the tray down. "You weren't meant to tell him that." He shook his head, exasperated.

"Oops." Skye looked guilty.

He chuckled. "Tommy, are you corrupting Skye? 'Sneaky mode.'" He laughed.

That's almost as bad as short bus. He thought.

"Let's eat." Tommy said quickly changing the subject, passing the forks around.

"Which one did Skye use her fingers to spread the jam?" Grant whispered to his brother sitting up, taking his fork.

"All of them. Surprise." Tommy said snickering.

He groaned.

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They were hiding inside out of the heat. Skye had been whining that she wanted to play outside for the last few hours, she was bored inside. "It's too hot out there, baby. You don't want to get burnt again do you?" He asked, it was a sizzling 41 degree day and even the air conditioner wasn't helping.

"No." Skye huffed, looking unhappily out the window.

"How about we put the sprinkler on in the shade for her? It's cooled down a bit now?" Tommy suggested, noticing it was just past 4:00PM. The heat should have gone down significantly.

Skye's head snapped towards their direction at the mention of outside. She stopped playing with her Iron Man, directing pleading eyes towards him.

"Would you like that baby?" He asked her, already knowing the answer.

Skye squealed, jumping up excitedly. "YES! Yes, let's go! What's a spinker?" She asked, going from excited to confused in 30 seconds flat. Skye's sudden change in demeanour caused the Ward boys to laugh.

"Sprinkler, baby." He corrected, chuckling. "It's better if we show you. Go get some bathers on and bring the sunscreen down." He told her. He watched her nod and sprint towards the stairs.

Tommy suddenly groaned. "God, I hope Gramsy kept the sprinkler after all these years." He said, looking worried.

He smirked. "Better check quick Tommy or you won't be her favourite anymore." He joked. Tommy rushed towards the back door, no doubt heading for the shed.

He didn't have to wait long before Skye reappeared in her spotty bathers. "I put it on myself, did I get it all?" Skye asked, bouncing up and down excitedly as she stood in front of him for inspection.

"Nearly." He told her, rubbing in a smear she'd missed on the side of her right cheek. "Did you do your arms and legs too?" He asked her.

"I did face, arms, legs, tummy, feet and ears. Gramsy helped me do my back and shoulders after she put the towels away in the bathroom." She exclaimed, excitedly.

He chuckled. "Well, that's good. Ready to go outside?" He asked, taking her hand. He led her though the back door, down the veranda steps.

"HOT! Hot, up." Skye hoped from one foot to the other, arms out stretched to him as the concrete burnt her little feet.

"Forget shoes, baby?" He asked picking her up, walking over to the sprinkler.

"It looks like a pretty fountain." She told him, captivated.

Putting her on the grass so she wouldn't burn her feet, he retreated back to the steps. He didn't need to get wet. Apparently Tommy did, he ran right through the sprinkler clothes and all. Tommy scooped up Skye on his way back and ran her through it with him. The two of them were dripping wet in no time, he watched them from the steps with Gramsy.

"Why don't you go and have fun with them?" She encouraged, nodding towards the soaked pair on the lawn.

He shrugged. "I'm waiting for Coulson to call. He said he'd ring in a few days to update me on how things are going with getting Skye turned back and the 0-8-4 situation." He explained trying to sound casual. His worry must have shown because Gramsy gave him a look.

He groaned. "Gramsy, don't look at me like that." He told her, frowning. "I just need to be prepared, just in case there are developments." He huffed, looking over at Skye dancing around his brother who was trying to catch her.

"The phone will ring, when it rings. You have to make the most of the time you have before it does." She told him, holding her hand out for his phone. "Skye, I think Grant could use a cool down." She called, once she had his phone.

Skye looked up and sprinted toward him. She jumped into his arms, her hair and water droplets flying as she slammed into him, soaking his t-shirt and cargo shorts.

Skye hugged him tight. "Cool now?" She asked, grinning at him.

"I think we can do better." He said, taking his shoes and shirt off. He turned her around facing away from him. He held her with one arm around her chest, the other grabbing her legs, lifting them into the air so she way horizontal.

Skye squealed, lifting her arms for balance.

"Ready to be an aeroplane, baby?" He inquired, running through the sprinkler.

"Grant honey, I'm leaving the phone on the step. I have to go into town to get some meat for dinner. I'll be back soon." Gramsy called from the step.

"Ok. Thanks Gramsy." He shouted back. Skye and Tommy gave her a wave as she backed out of the driveway.

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He was flying Skye through the air on their sixth circuit of the aeroplane, when the unmistakable sound of a gun shot rang out. His heart stopped at the sound.

He was trapped in the moment, aware of the smallest detail: water dripping off his soaked hair into his left eye, Skye's giggle as she soared threw the air, her hair plastered to her sun kissed face and Tommy's laugher as he followed them being his own pilot.