A/N: Wow, it has taken a long time to get to this point! I just want to thank everyone that has been reading, favouriting, following, or reviewing - your support has been wonderful =). If you haven't figured it out yet, this is the final chapter of the story...I'm sad to end it, though. It's been a lot of fun =).

I hope you all have enjoyed reading!

"There should be a blinking red light. Once you see that light, you're done."

Ward sighed in frustration. "There's still no light." This was the third time they had had this conversation.

Over the coms, he heard Fitz take a deep breath, then ask, "Did you attach it properly?"

Gritting his teeth, Ward replied, "Yes. It's securely attached." Just to be sure, though, he jiggled it a little. It held.

"Then did you press the button on the bottom?"

"Of course I…" Ward trailed off, realizing that he hadn't actually pressed the button yet. "Hang on." He reached one hand under the small device and pressed the button, watching in satisfaction the problematic red light finally started blinking. "Got it."

There was a pause, then Fitz confirmed, "Yep, it's armed. I'll detonate it remotely once everyone's out."

Ward was back in Hydra's base, ready to take down Garrett and his operation for good. Phase One of the plan was to prepare to detonate the building with Fitz's remote-control bomb attached to the most powerful substance they had ever encountered - the green glowing cave rock. This explosion wouldn't leave a shard of Hydra's weapons or technology.

Standing up, Ward shut the hatch on the steel box encasing the dangerous material with the bomb attached on the inside, ready to be set off.

"On to Phase Two," he muttered. Automatically, he checked to make sure that his gun was concealed in his belt and easily accessed. It was time to find Garrett.

...

"I noticed that you were back at the base."

Ward stood in the doorway to his former mentor's office, his fists clenched with the effort required to control his anger. Garrett's back was to him, an opportunity that was difficult to pass up. But, he reminded himself, he had to try this the right way. For Jemma.

"Just got back," he ground out from between clenched teeth. He fiddled with the tracking bracelet on his wrist.

Garrett turned to face him, his face displaying a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "I take it your mission was a success?"

"Hardly." Ward whipped out his gun and pointed it directly at Garrett's heart. "I quit, by the way," he added mildly.

"What are you doing, Grant? I have your woman - don't forget that." Garrett's voice was icy, but he made no attempt to defend himself.

"Hands up," Ward gestured with his weapon. "And stop lying to me."

In his ear, he heard Skye ask, "Ready?"

"Ready," he confirmed, keeping his gun trained on Garrett and his body tense. He was ready for any move the man made.

An ear-splitting clamour filled the air, startling Garrett. Anticipating the sound, Ward didn't even flinch.

"Your brilliant plan was to set off the fire alarm?" Composed again, Garrett's dry voice was insulting. "I thought I had taught you better than that. Relying on gimmicks." He shook his head disgustedly.

"I'm not a killer, not anymore. Coulson and the remaining loyal agents are outside, waiting to catch all your operatives before we blow the base. It's over, Garrett."

There was a cold glint in Garrett's eyes. "You'll always be a killer."

The gun shook in Ward's hands, the temptation to pull the trigger nearly overwhelming. By some super-human strength, he managed to ignore the jibe. "We wait until everyone else is out, then we leave. You get put in prison for the rest of your life and I try to forget that I ever met you. That's how this is going to play out."

Indecision flickered across Garrett's face. "I'm not going to prison."

Before Ward could register what was happening, Garrett jumped at him, his hands outstretched to catch his neck in a choke hold. Years of reflex training had conditioned Ward for these situations, and he pulled the trigger before he could stop himself.

His aim was good - Garrett's leap turned into a fall inches from Ward. Dark red blood pooled on the floor originating from the wound on his chest.

"And in the end, I still win," the dying man choked out with a sick smile on his face. "You'll always be a killer."

Fury raged through Ward's veins, turning his vision red. The white-hot anger consumed him and he raised the gun again, aiming at Garrett's head. It didn't matter to him that he was already dead; his only thought was revenge.

"Grant, stop!"

The familiar voice, gentle yet commanding, broke through the veil of rage. Trembling, he turned to see Jemma standing in the door, looking at him with concern. The gun fell from his hands and clattered on the ground. "I didn't...I didn't want to kill him," he whispered, suddenly feeling so tired and heavy. "But he…"

Jemma rushed into his arms, cutting him off. "It's okay," she muttered soothingly, holding him tightly. "He didn't give you a choice."

"I don't want to be a killer."

"You're not. Not anymore." She pulled away from him so that she could meet his eyes. The love he saw in her face helped to alleviate some of his self-loathing. "You did what you needed to do."

Unable to speak, Ward just pulled her back to his chest and held her there, his face pressed up against her soft hair. He knew that they should leave so that Fitz could detonate his explosives, but for the moment, Ward just needed the comfort that Jemma provided.

He just needed her.
...

"That feels better."

"You're welcome," Jemma replied with a smile as she watched Ward rub his wrist where the tracking bracelet had been.

He shot her a grin. "Thank you."

"Ahem. It's really me you should be thanking…" Fitz muttered under his breath from behind Jemma. "I'm the one that actually took it off." Both Ward and Jemma ignored him.

"I think they want a moment," Skye stage whispered and grabbed Fitz's hand, pulling him out of the lab. Jemma noticed with satisfaction that their fingers were entwined and that there was a blush on Fitz's cheeks.

The explosion had been huge - there wasn't even a scrap of the Hydra base left. Coulson, May and what was left of SHIELD had managed to round up all the Hydra loyalists; the only remaining problem was where to imprison all of them. And the green glowing rock had also been obliterated in the blast. It irked the scientific part of Jemma that they had never figured out exactly what it was, but she figured that things were better this way.

"You're beautiful when you're lost in thought." Ward's voice brought Jemma back to reality. While she had been in her own world, he had stepped closer to her so that she was inches from his muscular chest. "And awfully hard to resist when you bite your lip so enticingly." His voice lowered.

Jemma's breathing sped up. It was always so hard to think clearly when he was that close to her. "Kiss me?" She hadn't even realized that the words had left her lips until she saw him smile in amusement mingled with desire.

Without bothering to respond, he cupped her cheek with his hand and tilted her face up. Then his lips crushed against hers in a kiss so passionate that it took Jemma's breath away. In the kiss was an unspoken promise, a promise of a lifetime of kisses to come.

Thanks for reading, and please leave a final review!

~Caitlin51