Hey everyone! So this chapter has kind of a darker, more depressing feel to it, but I think the events of the chapter are important, and something I would love to see the show address. The flashback scene takes place shortly before Ward meets Garrett (in other words, right after he set his parents' house on fire) Enjoy!

After hours of tossing and turning, Ward finally gave up on his attempt to sleep. He allowed his mind to wander away from Skye's pale angry face towards a scene just as painful…

A seventeen-year-old Grant Ward knocked on the door to Lemma Mental Care Hospital. An elderly nurse opened the door and smiled at him.

"How can I help you, dear?" Ward stared at his feet nervously, and mumbled something under his breath.

"I'm sorry, dear, could you speak up please?"

"I'm here to visit Thomas…Thomas Ward." Grant looked up at the nurse pleadingly.

"I'm sorry, young man, but patients here can only be visited by a member of their family. Thomas's whole family was here to visit a few hours ago."

Ward bit his lip…he could feel the heat rising to his face from anger and embarrassment. "Please, ma'am" he said politely. "I'll only be a little while."

The nurse looked at him carefully. "Alright, dear. You have ten minutes."

Ward nodded at her, a rare smile appearing on the teenager's face. He followed the nurse into the hospital, and hesitantly approached the door with his brother's name on it. He opened the door slightly, and froze when he saw the dark-haired boy huddled on the bed, mumbling to himself.

"Hi, Tommy" he said softly. Tommy turned around and looked at him, complete confusion etched in the premature lines of his teenage face. "It's me, buddy" Ward said softly. "It's your brother, Grant."

"Gr…Gr…Grannnt?" Tommy asked, appearing to struggle with the effort of speech.

"Yeah, Tommy." Ward whispered, trying to keep his voice from breaking. "It's been a while, hasn't it?"

"B…big bro…bro…"Tommy, growing frustrated with his inability to communicate with his brother, took one of his hands and began hitting himself in the head.

"Stop it! Stop!" Ward cried, grabbing his brother's hands, and forcing him down on the bed. Tommy, exhausted, instantly fell asleep.

Ward bowed his head, and began to cry over his little brother's sleeping body. "I'm sorry," he sobbed. "I'm so sorry, Tommy, I'm sorry. This is my fault…I was supposed to protect you. But I was so scared, Tommy. I'm so weak."

He heard the nurse's approaching footsteps, and hastily wiped his eyes. "I'll make them pay, Tommy, I promise."

"Oh, dear, the poor boy seems to have tired himself out" the nurse said, walking through the door. "If you want to come visit again, why don't you try coming in with his family. His parents are a lovely couple, and they have a son who's only a couple years older than you!"

Ward nodded, forcing a smile onto his face. On his way out of the door, then before he could lose courage, he asked: "Is he going to get better?"

The nurse smiled at him sadly, "I don't know, dear. Brain injuries, especially ones from drowning, can be almost impossible to heal."

Ward nodded dejectedly. "But don't give up hope, dear. I'm sure he still has a bright future ahead of him, with a friend as good as you."

Ward blinked his eyes rapidly, then muttered a quick 'thank you' before running out the door.

Coulson laid on his bed, staring at the ceiling. It was past midnight, but he just didn't feel like sleeping. Maybe I should try Tai Chi, he thought wryly.

Suddenly a piercing, terrified scream ripped through his room.

Skye! Coulson thought with a jolt. He jumped out of bed, pulling on a t-shirt, and ran down the hall. He burst through the door, only to find May already there, holding the shaking agent in her arms. She was stroking Skye's hair gently, and murmuring to her comfortingly. "Shh…it's okay, Skye. It's okay, child."

May looked up and saw Coulson standing at the door, panting, with a look of extreme concern on his face. She smirked at him and whispered, "You're shirt is on inside out." Coulson looked down, and released a small laugh. "Go to bed, Phil" May said gently. "I've got this."

Coulson stepped into the room, shaking his head. "I wasn't sleeping anyway" he said softly, looking down at the sleeping young woman in May's arms. "Besides," he continued. "You don't seem like the singing a lullaby type."

"And you are?" May asked, raising her eyebrows.

"There's a lot you don't know about me, Agent May."

"Clearly," the Asian agent replied, but she scooted over, allowing Coulson room to sit next to her on the bed. The two of them sat there in silence, keeping vigil over their surrogate daughter.