Author's Note: A short(ish) chapter because I should be studying but I thought I should update because I won't update again until after my final exam. I will admit the end is a bit weird and I apologize in advance for it but it makes sense later on (I think).
Chapter 23 – What's in a Name?
Skye felt her blood run cold. Whatever Ward was protecting the team from, whatever had beaten him to within an inch of his life, was coming for her. She let her hand drop from Ward's face, the worry was clearly written on her face.
"Hey," Ward said softly, sitting forward and placing his own hand on Skye's face, "I will always protect you, from whatever comes."
Skye pulled away, "Protect me? You can't even protect yourself."
"The guy who did this to me is bad news, but…" When Skye went to get up Ward pulled her back down, "But he won't be coming back. I made sure of that."
Skye gave him a doubtful look, "I thought you lost the fight," She traced a finger along a gash on his neck, "It certainly looks like you did."
Ward caught her hand before it reached his face, he moved her hand and placed it over his heart, "But I'm still alive. If he wanted to kill me he could have, in an instant and without a second thought."
The worry on Skye's face only increased, "You're not making me feel very protected."
"He let me live, Skye," Ward said, placing his hand over hers so that they both covered his heart, "For the sole reason that I was willing to die." He smiled, "Apparently I am a man of honour and as long as I stand between you and him he won't come back. As long as I'm willing to die for you, you're safe."
Again Skye acted without thinking, slapping Ward on the back of the head, then an instant later claimed his lips with her own, only pulling away when she was sure she had his undivided attention. Resting her forehead against Ward's, Skye held his face in her hands, "Don't you dare die for me, Grant. I'm not worth your life."
Ward placed a hand on Skye's face, "Yes, you are."
Skye went to kiss him again, only to have Ward pull away. He pulled her hands away from his face. Letting them go Ward lent back against the head board, "Don't."
"Grant…" Skye said, reaching for his hand.
"Don't call me that." Ward snapped, pulling his hand away.
Anger began to line Skye's face, "Why not? It's your name." Then she paused, crossing her arms, "Unless you lied about that too."
"I didn't lie about my name, Skye." Ward looked away, unwilling to meet Skye's glare, "I just don't want you calling me Grant, okay. Ward's fine."
Skye's glare softened, "I've called you Grant before, what's changed?"
"Grant was hope, I don't want hope," Finally Ward looked at her, "I don't deserve hope."
Skye was confused, "Hope of what?"
"A future." Was all Ward said.
Skye sat forward, placing a hand on Ward's, this time he didn't pull away, "Of course you have a future, Fury let you out for a reason. He believes you have a future and so do I."
"Not with you." Ward whispered, Skye barely heard him, he looked away again.
In that instant Skye realized what Ward was willing to do, how far he was willing to go for her. If she called him Ward he was a soldier, a man whose mission it was to protect her. When he was Ward he could watched from a distance as Skye lived her life. But when she called him Grant he wasn't a soldier, he wasn't someone who watched from a distance as Skye lived a happy life. When she called him Grant it gave him hope that there was still a future for them together, a future he didn't think he deserved.
Standing, Skye moved to the other side of the bed and sat down next to Ward. She curled next to him, the same position she'd tried to sleep in, resting her head on his chest, listening to his beating heart. Ward shift, uncomfortable with Skye's proximity. However she ignored him, if she wanted to get through to the ex-HYDRA agent then she would have to make him uncomfortable. Finally Skye looked up at Ward, placing a hand on his chest, "We're never going to have the white picket fence, Ward." She made sure to use his last name, Skye didn't want him pulling away, "That doesn't mean we don't have a future together."
Suddenly Ward pulled away, rolling out of the bed. For a second Skye worried he wouldn't be able to stand on his own, but somehow the specialist managed to stay on his feet. Before Skye could react he managed to limp to the bathroom and close the door. Leaving Skye feeling cold and alone in bed.