AN: YAY! I'm still alive! This weekend has been busy with work, but that's why I have chapters in reserve and don't necessarily post them as soon as I write them! I hope you all enjoy chapter 8, Leaf.

At 6:45 the next morning, Coulson's voice over the bus's intercom woke Skye up. "New mission, Gang. Briefing in ten". Skye groaned as she rolled out of bed and threw on some sweatpants and a t-shirt. She tied her hair up in a bun as she was walking to the bathroom to brush her teeth. When that was done she grabbed a slice of toast from the kitchen and went to meet the rest of the team in the briefing room.

May and FitzSimmons were already there. Coulson showed up a moment later with Ward. Skye hadn't been sure if Ward would still be included in the team or not, but was glad to see that he was. As soon as he walked in, Coulson pulled up a blurry image of a large, weird looking animal on the screen and began.

"There have been reports along the west coast of large creatures coming out of the ocean and moving into the mainland. So far they've been avoiding urban areas, but we're being sent to deal with it anyways. These types of creatures have never been documented thus far in history; their origins are unknown and whether they're from our planet or not, the question of why they're now changing their environment remains. That's what we're going to figure out.

"May has already set course for the location of the most recent sighting. We should be there in about two and a half hours, so be ready to go when we touch down. Skye, May, you're going to go for a hike. There've been some reported sightings, see if you can find any trace of these things in the woods. Fitz and Simmons, you're going to the beach where these things have been coming out. I want to know if there's anything in that water that shouldn't be. Ward and I will stay here and dig into old S.H.E.I.L.D. files, see if we can find anything that will give us a better idea of what we're dealing with. Everyone clear?" The team nodded. "Good. Dismissed."

As soon as Coulson gave them permission to leave, the team went off in their separate directions. Jemma and Leo took off for the lab, blabbering on about plans for their neurotoxin, while May followed them down the stairs. Coulson went into his office and Skye caught Ward's eye, about to ask what he wanted to do, but he just shook his head and so she shrugged and went into her bunk, pulled out her laptop, and started doing some research on animals indigenous to the area that she and Mel would be searching later.

With his forehead crinkled, Ward grabbed some paper and a pen from the desk in the lounge, and took it back to his cell. He sat down at the table and started writing.

You knocked me down. You beat me while I was there. You lorded over me like a master to a slave, and you broke me in ways that may never be fixed.

You took advantage of a lost boy with no hope. You twisted me into something of your own design. You made me into someone I loathe, and I will not let it define me.

I am starting over. I don't want to be that person any more. I'm shedding my skin to make way for the new man that I am going to become. I've been called a man before, but today I become one, because today I make my own choices. I chose to forgive myself. I chose to let go of the resentment I feel because it will not serve me. I will only let good into my life. I will purge myself of this darkness that you have infused me with. Despite all you efforts, I am going to become a man that I can be proud of. All my life I have been a victim, but that stops today. All my life I have been someone's property, but that stops today. Today, I become my own.

The letter wasn't addressed, but it didn't need to be. Grant had written it to more than just one person. When he finished, he set down the pen and took the paper into the kitchen. He quickly pulled the battery out of the smoke detector, found a box of matches in one of the drawers, lit one and set the paper on fire in the sink. When the paper was just a pile of ash, he turned on the tap to wash it down the drain, turned on the vent fan over the stove to clear out the residual smoke, replaced the battery and left. With that off his chest, he didn't look back. Instead, he went straight to Skye's bunk and was inches away from walking right in when he stopped, remembering the rules that came with his bracelet.

"Skye" he called. "Come here."

She looked up. "What? Why?"

"Because, if I come in there then I'm gonna get iced."

Skye laughed but climbed off the bed and walked over to him anyways. She stopped, just outside of his grasp for a moment to tease him and he audibly growled at her, causing her to hurry up a bit. The second that she was within his reach, Ward grabbed her and pulled her towards him, pinning her against the wall and kissing her. She was surprised at first, but met him with enthusiasm. They both forgot themselves for a moment and started moving into her room (since it just happened to be the location of the nearest bed), but as soon as he stepped through the doorway Ward's bracelet started beeping rapidly and he hurriedly stepped back out into the hall, which made it stop. Skye laughed but followed him back out.

"Not that I mind," she purred into his ear as they both allowed their hands to roam the other's body, "but what was that for?"

"I'm turning over a new leaf" Grant started to explain. "I'm remaking myself. And the one thing I know, beyond a doubt, that needs to be part of this new me, is you. Because I'm better when I'm with you."

Skye blushed. "Is the new you a softie too?" she asked.

"Sometimes, yes" he replied, "but seeing as how I'm not allowed in your room, how about we squeeze into that broom closet? Cause I'm not feeling too soft right now." He winked at her and she gasped and giggled, before shooting him a coy gaze and leading the way to the aforementioned spot.

AN: Thanks for reading! And I swear to Thor (get it? Cause he's a God? LMAO! i think im funnier than i am :P ), Reviews DO make me post faster! Like, seriously! They also make me write faster and better, which helps me post faster... So please, drop me a review! Let me know that I should keep doing what I'm doing! Because I'm doing this for you, so it's nice to get some feedback in return! Makes it feel like less of a tragic cry into the void... Anyways, yeah! Thanks! Review! Mwah! 3