Authors Note: Hi guys first of all I have to say I love reading all your feedback and I've enjoyed writing this story so much I think this may well be the longest chapter I've written so far I had intended it to be one of the last but I feel there's more to tell and I think once you've read this you'll agree. There's a teeny tiny hint at Dex's back story here as well but since he is one of my characters from an independent novel you'll have to keep watch on my Tumblr for a sneak peak at that look up hollyedolly and you should find me :)
The team gathered around the centre console in the aptly named War Room, they'd spent the last few hours listening to Dex's war stories and now they were about to embark on their own. Johnson International was heavily guarded they had top of the line security which was hard to neutralise but Dex was confident he would be able to override it. One of the more pressing issues was mapping out the facility so that they could locate where exactly Skye was being held. The other was that Grayson or Johnson whatever he was calling himself now had hired a particularly nasty private security firm called CERBERUS. Jarvis was currently running diagnostics on the building so that should sort the former but the latter could be a big problem.
As it happened Dex had had dealings with CERBERUS and its CEO before, he informed the group that they were one of the company's the DOD had subbed work out too in Afghanistan. They were far from pleasant all of their employee's were ex military but many had been discharged for violent conduct towards colleagues or brothers as Dex called them and prisoners. They were highly trained with very faulty moral compasses and he believed that they would not think twice about killing any one of them on the spot or worse. The or worse part had made agent Simmons shudder, so he wrapped a well muscled arm around her shoulder and pulled her into his side. He smiled down at her, he found himself feeling quite glad that she obviously didn't know there were worse things than death; he hoped she never found out that there were.
"So what do you suggest Dex?" Coulson asked.
"What I'd like to suggest is that we send for some serious backup" he clocked Wards frown and mirrored it with one of his own "but that doesn't seem like an option...I have old core buddies that would be more than happy to help kick some CEREBUS ass. It would take em too long to get here though and I doubt suit is willing to wait much longer?"
"You guessed right, I'm not sitting here when I know she's so close and they're..." he tailed of when he saw Dex shake his head infinitesimally. Simmons and Fitz perked up at that and since neither May nor Coulson finished his sentence he guessed they were protecting the youngest members of their team as well. Not that it would do them any good in the long run; they'd soon see for themselves what had happened to Skye.
"Right well if that's not an option then we need to go with stealth I suggest a two man team for retrieval which should probably be me and the suit. Overriding the system should be easier with proximity and if anything does go wrong it will be easier to improvise on the scene. I should be able to hack the security feed again so Fitz and Jem can be our eyes in the Sky you guys need to watch our six. You'll also need to be clear and to the point no tech babble you got it?" they both nodded "Bad communication costs lives, you guys have the most important role in all of this because if we get caught it's all over. That leaves agent May and agent Coulson for extraction/back up".
"That sounds like an excellent plan to me, So I suggest we strike at shift change which Jarvis has just informed me is at 6am it's 3am now so that gives us almost 3 hours to prepare. Ward, Dex agent May and I will get you as close as we can to the service entrance of the Johnson building from there it's up to you. You know what's at stake here Grant I know your answer to this question but Dex I have to ask. Are you sure you want to go through with this?"
Dex looked at Coulson with a mixture of determination and pride in his eyes "Sir I never left a man behind my entire career, I don't intend to start now"
Coulson nodded he barely knew this man but he had developed a great deal of respect for the Major whatever his reasons for leaving the military he was still a leader. Perhaps when this was all over he'd offer Dex the chance to stay on, he knew that Agent Simmons at least would be pleased if he accepted.
"OK well me and the wonder twins here will work on the building layout see if we can locate some weak spots and escape routes. Then we should be good to go they all nodded and set about preparing for what they all knew would be a very dangerous mission"
Dex and FitzSimmons mapped out the building and deduced Skye's location from the old video feed in record time. Fitz volunteered to bring the others up to speed leaving Dex and Simmons alone in the lab.
"Dex?"
"Yeah Hon"
"If I asked you a question would you tell me the truth?"
"Sure"
"Can you and Agent Ward do this alone? I mean there are so many things that could go wrong. What if you can't override the security system? What if she's not where we think she is? What if she's badly hurt? What if Hyde's in the room with her he's truly awful Dex he really is and these CEREBUS people sound scary and I'm just so worried that one of you will be hurt or..." she swallowed her voice was thick with anxiety and unshed tears.
He walked up to her standing so close their shoes touched, he cupped her face gently tilting it upwards so she was looking into his eyes. "Jem I can't tell you nothing will go wrong or that no-one will get hurt because I don't know what will happen but I do know that Suit is not only highly trained but also highly motivated failures not an option for him and it's not for me either. I've been to a lot of horrible places and dealt with a lot of bad people and nearly every operation I've been on had a ton of what ifs? But you can't think about that you just got to focus on the outcome you want" he smiled at her "What's the best outcome?"
"That we get Skye back and everyone comes home safe but..."
"But nothing that's our aim and I promise you that I will do everything I can to make sure that's exactly what happens. Plus we got the smartest agent in S.H.I.E.L.D watching our backs so that's got to count for something right?"
"Right" her voice was barely a whisper as a rosy blush infused her cheeks, all of a sudden she was very aware of his hands on her face and that they were standing oh so close. Her heart was pounding in her chest as her stomach fluttered with nerves. They were looking deep into each other's eyes neither could look away, it was Dex that made the first move. His hands moved from her face tracing the outline of her body till they settled on her hips leaving Goosebumps in their wake. He pulled her flush against his hard, muscular body and pressed his lips to hers. He was gentle and tentative with her, his lips warm against hers not commanding or brutal as she had imagined and she had imagined in the short time they had known each other. Perhaps it was the heat of the moment, perhaps it was just that she needed to forget just for a little while, all the horrible things that had happened in the last few weeks. Whatever the reason she melted into the kiss and when his tongue sought entry she granted it willingly, enthusiastically even. She wound her arms around his neck and when he lifted her up and placed her on one of the metal lab tables, she gave a little moan of pleasure. Yes this was much better; she didn't have to stretch up on to her tip toes now. He was an excellent kisser and when he moved a hand to massage the small of her back it sent delicious shivers up her spine, his other hand tangled into her long dark hair.
The temperature in the room was rising fast when all of a sudden they heard a cough in the doorway. They broke apart reluctantly and looked over to see Fitz standing there looking rather unimpressed and just like that the moment was gone.
"I can't leave you two alone for five minutes" but he smiled as he said it. Simmons hopped down from the bench looking a little sheepish she straightened her shirt and combed through her hair with her fingers.
"Fitz we were just..."
"I don't need to know Jem, its fine but we're nearly ready so you better get your gear" he looked over at Dex who was sporting a roguish grin. Dex hugged Simmons from behind he put his lips to her ear and whispered so only she could hear "We'll take later OK?, that was just in case" he kissed her cheek tenderly and with that he left the lab.
"You sure you know what you're doing there Jem?" asked Fitz concerned he and Simmons had been best friends since the academy, he made up his mind a long time ago that he would not ruin a good thing.
"To be honest Fitz I don't have a bloody clue" she looked bewildered it was so unlike her but it had just felt so right it still did but right now they had bigger things to worry about like making sure that Dex and Ward got to Skye and that everyone got back in one piece. Dex was right it was easier if she just focused on the outcome they all wanted, she grabbed what they needed from the lab and headed up to the war room ready to play big brother.
They had made it to the service entrance of the Jonson building without incident, Agents May and Coulson were parked a few blocks away in the short bus. They were only here for extraction, once Ward and Dex were inside they were on their own.
Ward had had a lot of time to think whilst they waited, the three hours had felt like minutes to the others but to him it had been a lifetime. This whole experience had aged him, he felt like a different person. He was a different person stronger more determined even, he knew what would be necessary to get her back and he would get her back. If he knew Hyde like he thought he did he'd be in there with her. He at least would have to die but then he was far from sorry about that, he'd wanted him dead before but after this, now he really wanted the motherfucker dead preferably at his hands.
He didn't care what that said about him right now, he'd tear the whole building down brick by brick to get her back and he'd annihilate anyone who stood in his way.
"You ready?" Dex asked.
Ward gave a curt nod, Dex tapped away on his laptop "Ok the alarm systems down, do you two copy?"
"We copy Dex" said Simmons through the com system.
"OK let's do this" he produced a highly illegal device that looked like a credit card reader but what it actually did was hack into the keypad on the service door. The light changed from red to green and they were in, the Johnson building was a huge feat of modern architecture a 50 storey building with 5 underground levels and of course Skye was in a lab on the deepest level. At this time in the morning it should be deserted even security were not permitted down there in case they saw something they shouldn't.
"Can you see us" Ward whispered.
"We've got you" replied Fitz "From here your clear all the way to the service elevator, to get to the lower levels you need an access code so Dex will have to override it"
They made their way quickly and quietly to the service elevator they had been right the place was deserted it was a Saturday which would help them further much less chance of bumping in to an innocent employee. Once inside it took Dex a while to crack the code but eventually he got it. They descended in silence both anxious about what waited for them when the doors opened.
The elevator pinged actually pinged as the doors opened Ward really hoped no-one was in earshot, the last thing they needed was for their location to be discovered before they even made it to the lab. Level 5 was a maze of narrow corridors and high tech labs, the whole place had a creepy vibe to it like an old dungeons or a morgue. Luckily for them Dex had a photographic memory, the guy was full of surprises just like Skye. He could see why they had become such good friends, maybe if she had relied on Dex for help instead of Miles they wouldn't be here now.
"OK the entrance to the lab should be around this next corner as far as we can see the coast is clear, there's another access panel that you'll need to deal with" Fitz informed them.
"Right we got it" Ward whispered.
"Remember there's no video feed in the lab so you're on your own in there, we won't be able to help you. Bring our girl home safe and please be careful...both of you" added Simmons. Fitz wrapped his arms around her in an effort to comfort his friend but in truth he shared her anxiety.
"Good work you two now stand by because we will need help getting out OK?" Dex tried to ignore the pure adrenaline pulsing through his veins. They needed a calming presence his men had been the same if he had seemed anxious or panicked in a combat situation it filtered through to them and panic in the ranks did no-one any good. It had been almost 7 years since his last mission and if he was honest he really had missed the buzz.
Ward scoped out the corridor it was clear as FitzSimmons had said it would be, they approached the lab doors in near silence and with caution. The control panel was incredibly complex it took Dex nearly 15 minutes and some highly dubious equipment to override it but he did and the locks opened with a loud click that echoed down the quiet corridor. They both listened with bated breath...nothing; a truly terrifying prospect struck Ward what if they were in the wrong place. This all seemed too easy he'd expected to come across some human resistance but nothing either Hyde or Anderson were incredibly stupid or this was a trap. Well if they were stupid enough to try and trap him then they would not live to regret it, he was getting Skye out of this pit no matter what they threw at him.
He'd always thought that relationships were a distraction he could not afford, that caring this much about a fellow agent (well almost agent in Skye's case) would compromise him. He found however that it made him so much more focused he had so much vested in her safe return that there was no way he could fail. He was willing to do things he'd never have considered before his love for his rookie made him stronger. It was with this knowledge that he pushed open the doors and entered the cold and sterile lab, Dex shadowing him. They both scanned the room it was dark they had to give their eyes a moment to adjust to the light.
Wards gaze fell on the Iron Cell at the far end of the room with its thick, unyielding bars it looked positively medieval and very out of place in such a modern building. He studied the cell closely, he could make out the outline of a young woman, her arms were chained above her head and she was slumped like she had passed out. He strode towards the cell, as the young woman's shape came into clearer focus he could see that they were in the right place. He didn't know whether to be relieved or horrified at seeing her here, she had been through hell that much was clear. Her body was covered in lightening shaped marks, she was battered and bruised, she was near enough naked and had what looked like a metal collar around her neck. "Oh God baby what the hell did he do to you" he whispered.
He examined the cell doors closely looking for an opening, his eyes alighted on an ancient looking lock. Damn it they needed a key "Can you pick this?" he shot at Dex. Dex strode over to the cell and took a good look at the lock "it looks tricky but I should be able to". Like a boy scout or a career criminal he produced a set of lock picking tools.
"Do I even want to know why you have all this?"
"It's probably best you don't suit" Dex chose that moment to take a good luck at the girl he'd come to love as a kid sister and his breath caught in his throat. "Oh baby girl" he set to work with great speed after that they needed to get her out of here now. They could see the steady rise and fall of her small, broken body she was alive at least.
She stirred at the sound of the lock clicking open "please no more" her voice was barely a whisper but it was full of resigned despair and it broke Grants heart.
"Skye" he climbed into the cell with her and gently tried to shake her awake, but she would not open her eyes instead she screwed them tight it was clear that every word she rasped out cost her a great deal of effort.
"Just kill me" tears were escaping her closed eyes "please"
It was like a punch to the gut, it winded him he knew she didn't yet realise that it was him that was holding her but hearing her say that she wanted to die...he swallowed hard. "Skye baby it's me...its Grant I've come to take you home OK. I need you to open your eyes please baby just open your eyes"
"It's not you, it's just a trick you're not here" she whimpered her voice was still raspy something was wrong other than the obvious.
"Skye look at me!"
"No, Go Away!"
"Skye for the love of God why can't you just do what you're told for once!"
Her eyes flew open at that, her vision was blurry but she looked up at him and slowly his face came into focus. "Robot?"
"Yeah it's me baby"
It was him he'd come for her, hope swelled in her chest like a balloon. He was really here, he was cupping her face with those big strong hands she loved so much and someone else was here with him. Not wanting to get in the way Dex had hung back after he popped the lock but if they wanted to get her out of here they had to move fast.
"Sorry to interrupt lovebirds but if we wanna get out of here we need to hurry it up, Ward you're going to have to come out of there so I can get her out of those manacles. Ward immediately made way for Dex who uncuffed Skye in record time.
"Thank you" she whispered, she didn't have the energy for anything else, he was about to scoop her up and pass her to Ward when some entered from a side room they thought had been empty.
"Well now what do we have here, Is this the boyfriend Skye? Oh look he brought a friend how nice. I have to say Agent Ward I'm rather disappointed it took you so long to find us poor Skye has been waiting for nearly 12 hours for her rescue" Hyde sneered.
Skye shook and recoiled at the sound of his voice she was terrified of him that much was clear. Nobody answered him the two men just glared and stood in silence.
"And who is your friend? I don't believe I've had the pleasure"
"That's none of your fucking business" Dex spat.
Another man came out of the shadows both men recognised his voice and fixed the little rat with stares of pure hatred, how could he do this to Skye. "That would be Major Dex O'Neil he was a black ops specialist for the Marine Core, he's now one of the top players for the Rising Tide. Either Miles Lydon had not registered the death glares that had been sent his way or he just didn't care, any good that might have been there had been extinguished the minute Hyde had recruited him. He didn't even flinch when his eyes fell on Skye and yet he'd professed to love her? Ward had never understood what Skye had seen in Lydon, Skye was an idealist she believed in freedom of information and the rights of the people. Miles on the other hand had always been out for himself, Ward seriously doubted that he'd only ever sold information once this guy was a piece of work. He was seriously going to enjoy this, Dex could protect Skye get her out if needs be but one way or another he was taking these two down.
"A Major hmmm, didn't you say your old mentor was called Dex?" asked Hyde in a mildly conversational tone.
"Yeah that's him"
"Isn't it odd then that he would be here helping S.H.I.E.L.D, don't they stand for everything your against?" he asked Dex.
"In this case I made an exception, you mess with my family you mess with me and you really shouldn't have done that. Just ask the last guy that tried, you might have to speak up though I doubt he'd hear you where he is now" the smile he shot Hyde was venomous, this prick had really hurt Skye and if Ward didn't make him pay, he would.
"Very amusing I'm sure you are very capable Major I'd ask you to join us here at Johnson International when Miles here mentioned you I did my research. You'd be a very valuable asset especially since you managed to hack the security system that according to my consultant here should have been unhackable, but unlike him you're a man of honour you'd never accept would you"
"Not even when hell freezes over"
While Dex had kept Hyde talking Ward was able to come up behind Miles, he drew his side arm and wrapped a thick muscular arm around the scrawny hacker's neck. He pointed the glock at his temple "One false move and I'll kill you both"
"Oh please agent Ward don't be so ridiculous do you really expect me to believe that an upstanding agent such as yourself would kill an unarmed man?" his tone was mocking he either thought Ward incapable of such callousness or he didn't give a shit if Miles lived or died. Ward would put money on the latter.
"Try Me" Ward spat "because I'm taking her back with me no matter what I have to do, you see we're off book and S.H.I.E.L.D no longer cares whether you live or die. So if you wind up dead they really won't care" Grant barely recognised his own voice it was cold and detached.
"Well by all means then kill him, put a bullet in his brain he's of no further use to me anyway you'd be saving me a job" he found this amusing god this guy was a sick bastard.
Miles eyes widened at that, in his arrogance he'd believed he was indispensable to Anderson and Hyde. That Hyde was calling Wards bluff but now he wasn't so sure, here he was with a gun to his head his only hope now was that Ward would spare him for Skye's sake.
"You don't want to kill me Ward, she'll never forgive you. You know she loves me too that's why she ran off to warn me before and that's why she trusted me to help her with her parents. I didn't know what they'd do to her" his begging had the opposite effect to the one he intended. Miles was arrogant but not stupid he knew full well the danger he was putting Skye in by handing her over to these freaks and he did it anyway.
Only Dex registered the change in Ward, Skye had been watching the exchange in silence slumped in her cell. Dex took his jacket and wrapped it around her shoulders, kneeling down beside her he pulled her into a tight embrace hiding her face so she couldn't see what was about to happen. "Don't Look" he whispered.
"Oh stop your grovelling Miles he's not going to kill you, it's all talk. You're all the same with your morals and your high handed attitudes. You think you own the damn world that you can horde all the supes and alien technology for yourselves while telling the rest of us it's too dangerous for us but you do nothing with it. Instead of harnessing their power like you should you let them roam free, when they could be of use to us. You don't build an army when the war has begun; you build up an arsenal so formidable that no-one dare pick the fight. Sacrifices have to be made if we want to secure earths future, S.H.I.E.L.D is finished, the people are already turning on you and when Johnson International can provide earths leaders with an army of super soldiers the avengers will become obsolete. Then where will you be? Even if you succeed in rescuing your precious Skye now, she'll never be safe" it was clear Hyde didn't think him capable of such brutality.
"Right now I really don't care about S.H.I.E.L.D or its future, I only care about her" Ward took his arm from around Miles neck, Hyde gave him a knowing smile which quickly turned to shock. Ward placed both his hands at either side of his captives head and with a sharp twist he snapped his neck before the young man could even struggle he was gone. It was quick and painless which was more than the little traitor deserved Ward doubted Hyde would have shown him such mercy.
"Well it appears I was wrong after all now doesn't it, poor Miles but it changes nothing you two are not leaving here with her. Lydon was an easy target but me, well you remember how things went down last time" he laughed actually laughed.
"One of us is" Ward said simply he hoped Dex picked up on the cue, he chanced a glance and saw that he had. Grant nodded at him before lunging at Hyde, his fist connected with the bastard's skull knocking him backwards but not out still it was enough of a distraction for Dex to scoop Skye up and run he was out of the door before Hyde recovered himself. When he did he was enraged he pressed a few buttons on what looked like a keypad on the wall before Ward could stop him. The alarm system blared no doubt the sound would send all security personnel running for this room, he hoped to God that Dex was faster than they were. Before Hyde could inform any of them what the security breech was he was on him again.
Dex sped out of the lab as fast as his legs could carry him as soon as he was out of the doors he had FitzSimmons in his ears asking him a million questions all at once. "Shhhhh guys you need to focus we have to get out of here, I don't have long before every security guard comes running"
"But where's Ward?" Fitz was agitated.
"He's doing what he has to do, the suit can take care of himself OK but Skye she needs our help she's in bad shape. You need to focus, once she's safe then we can worry about Ward if he's not out in 20 minutes I'll go back for him" he never thought he'd be risking his neck for a suit but he knew he would go back he wasn't just trying to appease the scientists.
He was at the elevator when he heard the alarm system trigger, he gently placed Skye in the corner of the elevator and set to work on the control panel he found when their lives were at stake he worked much quicker and in what seemed like hours but was in actual fact only a few moments the service elevator was rising.
He prayed that the security team would use the other bank of elevators and not the freight elevator they were now in because how the hell he would face off against god knows how many CERBERUS agents with a barely conscious Skye he didn't know. Super powers or not looking at her now she would be no match for ex-military thugs, he scooped her back up and waited with bated breath to see what would be waiting for them in that tiny corridor. Skye whimpered in his arms "shhhh baby girl we're almost there, you're going to be OK" he tightened his grip on her.
"Where's Ward" there was seriously something wrong with her voice it was raspy and every word cost her a great deal of effort. Simmons would look at her when they got back to the tin can she'd be OK eventually not like...he pushed the thought away.
"He'll be here soon hon" he soothed she didn't look convinced but she didn't have time to push as the doors sprang open.
"Dex you're clear to the service door, the security staff took the stairs there were six of them they all look pretty damn scary. I know Wards super agent and all but..."
"Fitz he'll handle it, once we're out you two watch the monitors for him we won't leave without him OK"
"OK" they chimed in unison.
He ran down the corridor reaching the service door there was no need to override the keypad this time it was only needed for the outside. He pushed down on the bar with one hand supporting Skye's weight with the other; the cool morning air hit his face as he stepped out into a near abandoned parking lot. Skye shivered against him and they both jumped when shutters slammed down shutting off all the exits they were out but Ward was trapped inside with guns for hire and a psychopath. This was not good, he could raise the shutters he knew it but Ward would have to fight his way out on his own.
He signalled to agents Coulson and May and the screeching of tires signalled their arrival, running to the van he was greeted by Coulson throwing open the sliding door. He climbed in gently placing Skye in one of seats.
"Where's agent Ward?" asked Coulson worried.
"We hit a snag, he had to distract Hyde so I could get Skye out the last I saw he was still in the lab they were holding her in. Hyde must have triggered the security system because the alarms started blaring we only just made it out before the shutters came down. FitzSimmons said there were six guys headed down there, if he can fight his way out then I can get the shutters open so we can get him out. Skye's pretty banged up but she doesn't need urgent attention we got time.
"Please help him" Skye rasped, her breathing was ragged and laboured but her eyes were pleading. "This is all my fault, please don't let him die" she closed her eyes as tears began to fall. Coulson reached out and took his nieces hand, squeezing her fingers reassuringly.
"Skye a lot of people are to blame for what has happened these last few days but you are not one of them. This is not your fault if I had listened to Melinda and just told you the truth none of this would have happened. We will do everything we can to help Grant, we won't let him die" Phil rarely made such promises but it's what she needed to hear. Come on Grant he thought.
He didn't pull out his gun or the knife that was strapped to his ankle; instead Grant Ward chose a more hands on approach. This is what he had wanted since Hyde had first laid his hands on Skye and now he'd got his wish. He wouldn't show Hyde the mercy he had shown to Miles he would make him suffer like he had made Skye suffer. He was no longer concerned about Skye he knew she was safe, he'd heard Dex and FitzSimmons through the com system. He also knew that six guns for hire were on their way down to the lab but he wasn't worried she was safe and he'd faced worse odds before.
This is what Ward excelled at he was a specialist trained to be the whole solution, a lone wolf. His love for Skye had made him stronger, had changed him but there was no denying it was easier to do what was necessary when he was alone. Ever since he'd touched that berserker staff he'd fought to contain the rage he felt but now he welcomed it, embraced it. He felt truly invincible as he laid into Hyde, the psycho put up a good fight but he was no match for Grant not when he was like this and he was beginning to realise it. Grant could see him scoping out the exits but he wasn't going to let him get away this time, even if he felt like sparing the bastard which he didn't he knew people like this he'd dealt with them before they were relentless. Skye would never be safe he would come after her again and again until she was back in his grasp this had to end now.
"Give it up agent Ward, if you surrender now I might even let you live" he spat blood out as he said it and scrubbed his hand across his battered face. Purplish bruises were starting to form where Wards fists had connected with his body.
"Even if I was stupid enough to believe you, you'd never leave her alone. Don't you get it I don't care if I die she's safe that's all that matters as long as I take you down with me she has a fighting chance".
"Is that what you really believe agent Ward that if I die your precious love will be safe? Are you really so naive? That girl will never be safe you can kill me and the entirety of my order and she still won't be safe. Who do you think ordered us to pursue this anyway it was S.H.I.E.L.D they've always wanted this no matter what they say in public. Why do you think Fury is so intent on getting hold of my files? They want our research not to contain it but to control it like they did with the tesseract. There's no happy ending for Skye the girl was born to die and you my young friend will die with her and so will anyone else who tries to protect her. Unless of course she gets a handle on those powers but it will change her along with her little experience here who knows how unstable she may become" he smiled goading Ward buying time and Ward knew it.
He pulled the knife from his leg it was a sharp hunting knife and when he shoved it into Hyde's gut it sliced through his flesh like butter. Hyde gave a gasp of surprise as bright red blood covered Grants hand; he ignored the warm liquid his other hand was on Hyde's shoulder he made sure he was close enough to the man's ear so he could hear every word "I know what I have to do to protect my girl Hyde, I will die for her if I have to but that's not going to be today" he pulled the knife out and slammed it into the back of Hyde's neck severing his spinal cord. Just like that the man that had blighted his and Skye's lives was gone but he was right he would not be the last he still had Anderson to deal with possibly even S.H.I.E.L.D itself.
He heard shouts from the corridor and was reminded that there were still six guards between him and the exit. As their footsteps approached he braced himself for a hell of a fight but one way or another he had to try and get back to Skye.
"He's out" cried Fitz who was following Ward on the monitors not quite believing what he was seeing, he and Simmons had seen six of the biggest guys they'd ever seen enter that lab. They waited a few seconds to establish that he was not being followed before speaking again "It looks like he's alone but the exits are blocked and he'll need access codes to get back up to the service entrance".
"The elevator shouldn't be an issue, I gave suit a little invention of mine it should get him back up to the service corridor" Dex assured them.
"Then why the bloody hell didn't you use it the first time you went down" Simmons snapped.
"Because I don't believe in short cuts unless absolutely necessary it makes you lazy, got to keep my skills sharp hon" he reasoned.
Simmons was not impressed she understood keeping ones skills sharp but she did not appreciate standing around the centre console racked with worry waiting for him to hack an access panel and taking a good while when he had a box that could do the job in seconds. Now was not the time to be ticked off though they still had to help Ward and since Skye was worse for wear that task fell to Dex. His little black box had worked a treat, Ward was almost out when he realised his exit had been blocked.
"Don't worry agent Ward Dex is working on the shutters" Simmons assured him.
"Well tell the hacker to hurry up, it won't be long till someone realises something's wrong"
"You do realise I can hear you suit, glad to see you made it"
"Thanks but it'll be no good if I get caught now"
"Hold on I'm almost done...that's it they should be coming up now"
The shutters gave a loud groan as they began to rise despite his earlier reservations Grant was more than a little relieved to have Dex in his corner." They're up I'm coming out now"
He spotted the short bus immediately and ran full pelt towards his team mates he reached the van just as the service door burst open and more of the CEREBUS agents spilled out of the building. Dex hauled him into the van and May stepped on it before they'd even closed the door, Coulson made sure that Fitz and Simmons were aware that they would need to make a speedy departure. They were obviously being followed as May was swerving all over the place trying to lose their pursuers, they were all on edge they weren't home and dry yet.
Ward looked over at Skye who once she had assured herself that he was safe had closed her eyes, it was obvious that she was exhausted and in a great deal of pain she still had that hideous collar around her neck. He hoped that Dex or Fitzsimmons could remove it quickly when they got back to the bus. He moved to sit by her and took her hand in his squeezing it tightly "Skye" she wouldn't meet his eyes "Skye look at me" slowly she complied fresh tears welled in her chocolate brown eyes they were the colour he'd grown to love not a fleck of that frightening blue shone in them but they were broken, she had been broken. He detected something else shame maybe or guilt?
"I'm sorry" she rasped
"For what?"
"For everything, you should have left me there it's what I deserve" tears were sliding thick and fast down her cheeks.
"Skye that's not true, you didn't deserve any of this OK no matter what you did" he decided right there and then that he wasn't angry with her anymore. It would help nothing she'd clearly suffered enough; he couldn't bear to hurt her with his anger. "I'm not mad at you, I blame a lot of people for this but not you. I'm just so relieved you're back with me" he leaned over and kissed her head, and wrapping his arms around her he pulled her into his lap. She clung to him so tightly like she thought he would disappear at any moment, she really had not expected that she would ever get out of that place alive or that Grant would be the one to save her.
"Thank you" she whispered.
They were on the air strip, May was still driving like a rally driver when she zoomed up the ramp of the bus. As soon as they were parked up she ran for the cock pit not even bothering to shout the usual "wheels up in 5". Coulson secured the cargo hold and then turned to Ward "I suggest you let Simmons check her over, I need to talk to Fury" and with that he was off.
Skye was still crying silently but this was better than the horrified silence of before she tried a few times to speak and failed. It was almost like she couldn't get the words out which was something that very rarely happened, eventually she managed to whisper "maybe you should take me back to my bunk" in all the hubbub of the last 48 hours Ward had forgotten about Skye's escape from the bus and apparently so had FitzSimmons but it was clear that Skye hadn't.
He breathed out a sigh "I'm sure they'll cut you a break, they didn't even mention it after we found your note. I'll stay with you the whole time" he reassured her. Her nerves didn't ease but she didn't object any further, he laid her gently on the lab table that Simmons had prepared. The two scientists approached her slowly and began to carry out an array of tests, when it came to the full physical Simmons asked Ward and Fitz to leave but when Skye blanched at the very idea and it was obvious that she was becoming very agitated, Simmons relented and only made Fitz leave.
Ward sat by her side throughout the whole ordeal and winced when every new injury was revealed; due to her advanced healing the injuries that would have been fatal in any normal person had just hurt like hell. She was left with an array of scars that spidered across her body like lightning strikes. Jemma couldn't tell them if these would be permanent or not because she knew very little about the device that had caused them. Other than that and a few cuts and bruises she appeared to be fine or that was the theory until Simmons scanned her internally.
"Oh God" Jemma exclaimed.
"What is it?" Grant demanded.
"Well...I think it may be easier if you take a look yourself" Jemma's voice caught against a sob. Skye just closed her eyes she already knew what he would see; she'd lived through it after all. She tried not to let her mind take her back there but it was impossible to push the memories away they were still too real, too raw. She saw his face that smile, heard his laugh, felt each crack of bone, each blow and shock that he laid on her body but worse was the fear that it hadn't really ended. That she wasn't really here on the bus that she would wake up on the cold hard floor of that cell and this was just another hallucination brought on by the pain.
Grant walked over and examined the screen that Jemma was staring at aghast and he gasped as he took in the extent of the damage Hyde had done. How anyone could survive this was beyond him nearly every bone showed signs of fracture, he'd literally broken every bone in her body that he physically could. No wonder she'd wanted to die and then it hit him like a freight train if it wasn't for the fact that Skye was a Hybrid she would be dead. He couldn't stop the tear that fell, that bastard. He was lucky that he didn't know what had been done to Skye otherwise...well he wouldn't go easy on Anderson when he found him. He looked down at his hands the hands he'd taken eight lives with, they were still covered in blood and although he felt regret for some he knew now he would never regret Hyde.
"Will she be OK?" he asked kindly he could see that Simmons was in a great deal of distress he doubted she remembered that Skye had shot her with the night night gun at all now.
"Well physically yes I think so, she'll be a little sore but she's healing well. We'll have to keep an eye but hopefully we won't have to reset any of her bones" he winced at that, Skye gave no indication she had heard what Simmons had said she was far away and Grant could guess where.
"What about her voice?"
"Well with that...I'm not sure I think she'll need to see a specialist, it looks like her vocal chords were damaged. It should heal like her other injuries but if it was caused by this" Simmons looked at the metal collar with distaste "then there's a chance it could be permanent"
"I don't think it was the collar" Skye said in a whisper.
"You don't? Can you tell me what it was? It may help"
"It was me when he...when he used it...it hurt so much that I screamed and I couldn't stop until my voice wouldn't work properly" Skye's face went ashen at the memory in a second Grant was by her side holding her tight, brushing away the fresh tears.
"So you screamed so much that you damaged your vocal chords?!" Jemma turned away, she couldn't bear the thought. Sure they'd dealt with some rather mean people before but this? This was pure evil, how could someone do that to another human being she tried and failed to stem the tide of tears. When she realised that was a losing battle she excused herself and left the lab.
Dex was waiting patiently outside for news Simmons had placed curtains in front of the doors to give Skye some privacy so he really had no idea what was going on. Other than Fitz had been sent out when Jem began the physical exam, he saw her approach she was sobbing almost uncontrollably. He knew it was bad when he'd heard Skye beg the suit to kill her but..."That bad?" he asked gently.
She nodded unable to form a coherent sentence she hugged him tightly and he wrapped his arms around her cradling her to his chest as she wept for her friend. After what seemed like an age she found her voice "How could he?" she looked up at him through tear stained lashes but he had no answers for her at 35 he'd come across more maniacs than any person should. He'd even been tortured himself once or twice but he still couldn't explain how people could be so cruel.
"I wish I could tell you hon, I really do but the truth is I don't know" he said sadly.
"How do you deal with it, how do you stop feeling the pain?"
"I don't think you do Jem or at least I never did, there's more to being a good soldier than taking orders you have to feel, you have to have compassion and empathy because if you don't how can you truly believe in what you're fighting for?" he stroked her wet cheek.
"I can't stand to be in that room, to look at what he did. She's my friend what does that say about me?" she sounded heartbroken.
"That your human, it doesn't make you a bad person. I'd be more worried if you weren't affected can I tell you something?"
"Yeah"
"The first time I saw a victim of torture was in Afghanistan the Taliban had kidnapped some reporters, it was our job to go in and rescue them. The mission was a success but in the heat of the moment when the adrenalins coursing through you, you don't really take in what's happened to them. All I did was focus on getting them back safe, when we got them back to base and I saw what had been done to them I hurled" Jemma stroked his bicep sympathetically. He swallowed past the lump in his throat and smiled down at her "So I'd say you're dealing better than me, Jemma you're stronger than you think you are because I know that in a moment you'll go back in there because Skye needs you. That makes you one of the strongest people I know" he really meant it as well. She hugged him tightly.
"Thank You" she whispered.
"Anytime hon" slowly she released him, wiped away her tears and walked back into the lab, Dex was right Skye needed her now she wouldn't let her down. Despite the little incident with the night night gun she knew that Skye would always be there for her, In fact in light of recent events she was quite prepared never to mention the incident again.
Authors Note: Oh my goodness that took four days to write I hope you all liked it.
