Matter of Importance

Spoilers: Season 2 promo

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Phil Coulson stood starring at the images from the Infirmary cameras, the sound was off to respect their agent's privacy but it was a sight that could change even the darkest man. The sound of footsteps made him turn to find May a few feet away. She looked at the silent screens and focused in on the agent by the bed.

"How long has it been going on?" Coulson turned back to the screen. "How long as she been…"

"Every day, she feels guilt even if she denies it." May moved over and held out a tablet. "Trip finished the brain scans."

Coulson took the tablet and looked at it. "So brain activity is fully intact and he's dreaming?"

"It seemed to be an ongoing dream, not unheard of in coma patients. However, Trip state that the brain waves that accompany dreams suddenly disappeared during the scan as if it was cut off suddenly somehow." She accepted the tablet back, "he also said that when Ward wakes he could have a hard time differentiating between the dream and reality." They looked back at the screen to see Skye sitting by the bed talking to their patient.

In the Infirmary, Skye sat by the bed looking at Ward as she told him about her day spent training. Every evening she'd stop by and sit for an hour, to catch him up on her day and the team. She denied it to everyone but she felt so much guilt for him being where he was. His concern over her during and after the crash had made him lower his guard. He'd been dying and all he wanted was to look at her but Grady had pushed his face in the dirt. That alone had made her want to beat the crap out of Grady because even a dog got to look at his master as death visited, Ward had practically been denied something that even a dog received.

"…he says that Simmons made contact so we know she's okay but it's still nerve-racking, not knowing at any moment if they've brainwashed her or not." Skye sighed and wrapped her arms around her legs. "Oh a brighter note, Grady has been transferred to the Russian prison, happened last week. I think he's going to hate the new accommodations but he deserves it after what he did." Standing up Skye sighed, "I have to get some sleep before training tomorrow. May likes to wake me up well before you used to but on the plus side she doesn't restrict my diet." Squeezing his hand she walked away.

Skye got to the doorway when a sound made her pause. "Mia bella…" She turned to see Ward opening his eyes slowly, trying to focus on something.

"Ward?" Skye moved over quickly and watched as his eyes focused on her. "Let me get Trip."

His hand caught hers and she paused, partially shocked by the contact. "Your father, did they detain him?" His voice was low in a whisper and he looked at her with concern mixed with drowsiness.

"My father…Ward my father has nothing to do with this. You've been in a coma since Grady shot you after our failed transport of you to the Russian prison."

He shook his head, "that was months ago…"

"No that was last week. Grady shot you and we barely saved your life, you were almost dead when SHIELD arrived."

Ward seemed to look at her before letting go of her hand, starring up at the ceiling. Skye watched him for a moment before heading out to get Trip. She found the medic among the shelves of supplies taking inventory.

"Trip."

"Hey girly, how is our patient today?" He looked at the clipboard in his hands.

Skye leaned against the table, "he's awake and I think there's a time lapse of some sort. He thinks the transport was months ago and as soon I told him it was last week he went quiet."

"No surprise." Trip put the clipboard down, "his scans showed a dream state, meaning he was dreaming while in the coma. It's not unheard of for it to happen. It'll take a while for him to differentiate between the dream and reality." Collecting a few supplies he looked at Skye trying to understand what he was saying.

"So he was dreaming this whole time? Of what?"

Trip chuckled, "no clue, did he say anything when he woke up?"

"Mia bella, what does that mean?"

"My beautiful one, it's a term of endearment like sweetheart or babe. Usually more upscale, used in the upper echelons of society…at least American society."

The evening seemed to revolve around Ward waking up and Coulson coming in to speak to him. May and Skye joined them as Coulson laid out what would happen right after he left the Infirmary.

"...despite what happened you'll return your cell where you'll stay. Despite saving my agents and getting shot by one of them, you will not be afforded leniency. Since we can't transport you to the Russian site, you'll continue to feed us information till you have no more."

Ward nodded, "only to you," he looked straight at the man. "I'll feed information only to you. Obviously someone on this base is feeding HYDRA information or my transport plan wouldn't have been known. If there is someone on this base linked to HYDRA, I don't want Skye in the middle of it. That makes her a target if someone thinks she's linked to me."

Coulson looked over to Skye, who seemed to be quietly asking if he'd agree. Nodding, the director turned back. "Very well."

"But…"

"Dismissed." May spoke and looked at Skye.

The hacker left the room and Ward looked back at Coulson, "if you give me a list of photos of those on base I'll name anyone I saw linked to HYDRA or Garrett."

"Why?" May took a few steps towards the bed. "Why did you kill those HYDRA agents? Why are you willing to give one up to us without anything in return?"

Ward looked up at the woman, "you are giving me exactly what I want so I don't have anything to ask for."

"What is it that you want because we don't know what that is?" Coulson folded his arms.

"Skye's safety." Ward shook his head, "some things are more important than my freedom. I'll gladly rot in that cell of yours if it means Skye keeps living. HYDRA and anyone associated with them is a danger to her life."

May and Coulson seemed to share a look before May left the room. Coulson nodded, "I'll get the information for you." He started towards the door to leave the former agent in bed.

"Sir," Coulson turned to look at Ward. "I'd also like to talk to Dr. Nixon if she's available."

All Ward got was a nod before the director disappeared out of sight. The ex-specialist curled up on his side and ignored the pain in his ribs, taking in the fact that everything he'd experienced with Skye, good and bad, had been a dream. It had been so real and he'd been so happy, living a semi-normal existence that reality was cold.

He wasn't allowed to touch the girl he loved much less had the right to call her mia bella like he longed to. The realization that he'd never had freedom or friendships seemed like nothing compared to returning to his dark cell alone. The sporadic visits by Skye would no longer be so she was kept safe from anyone who could harm her. The only person he'd ever loved would disappear from his life and despite telling himself that it was for her safety and wellbeing, it stung like a bullet never could.

Ward was awoken later by familiar yet foreign movement and he opened his eyes to see Skye standing by the door staring at him. She walked closer to the bed once she saw he was awake.

"Mia bella…" he spoke before realizing it was reality not a dream. "Skye what are you doing here?"

She crossed her arms, "why do you call me that? You've said it twice now."

He looked to the side trying to form a response without telling her his dream. He knew she wouldn't appreciate it. "Doesn't matter, I have no right to call you that anymore."

"Whatever. I came here because I have a question for you." She sat down in the nearby chair and looked at him. "Why did you kill the HYDRA agents? Why stay with us, rescue us when you knew we'd put you right back in the cell?"

Ward sighed and met her eyes. "I want you to believe what I'm about to tell you." Taking a breath he met her eye for eye. "I've made some good choices and a lot of horrible ones in my life. However, the only thing I will never regret in any form was allowing myself to have feelings for you. You can hate me for that but it's true." He tapped his hand on the bed, "your life is more important than my freedom. I'll rot in that cell for the rest of my life if you keep breathing and living."

"The mole, you knew if they knew about your transport that there was someone feeding them information." Skye looked to the side, "so you took them out because you knew they wouldn't talk to us and stayed so you could convince Coulson to let you help find whoever it was."

"Yes, to keep you safe."

Standing the hacker moved a few feet before pausing. She turned around and moved to the bed, leaning down to kiss his cheek. Pulling back she met his eyes, "I hate everything you did before but you protected me when you could have escaped." Before he could speak she was gone from the room.

A/N: Okay so Coulson agreed to keep Skye away but do you think she'll stay away? The accident changed her, she feels guilt and is in love with Ward even if she denies it. It would be good heart rate practice for her...

Next...not sure

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