Chapter 53 – Too Late

It was another four weeks until Ward managed to get the courage to even think about re-joining the team, let alone do anything about it. It wasn't that Ward just avoided the topic, it was that he hadn't had the free time to actually think about anything besides stopping the attacks meant to capture or kill Skye and their baby.

Sir had stepped up his game, he learned from each group he sent after Skye. Ward couldn't detain them all and while he'd briefly entertained the idea of killing the minions he never actually followed through. The attacks now came at night and in greater numbers than before, it was then that Ward realized just how many followers Sir must have because the specialist never saw the same minion twice. With each attack Sir's minions made it further and further into the forest and Ward didn't have a clue about how much longer he could actually hold them off for. The only good news was that Sir's troops were only trying to capture Skye, not kill her. The others, however, were different.

HYDRA was yet to return and for that Ward was thankful but he quickly learned there were other human factions after Skye. Not just after Skye but the rest of the team as well. There were some who had no idea what Skye was, their only orders were to bring the last remnants of SHIELD to its knees.

The mercenaries working for other worlds were also returning, still determined to follow their orders to kill Skye, to stop anyone else from having complete control of her and the baby.

Surprisingly the best days for Ward were when more than one group attempted to enter the forest at the same time. All Ward had to do was make sure that they crossed paths and they seemed to take care of each other, leaving Ward to deal with the survivors. There were more bodies this way but Ward's only thought was that it wasn't him that killed them. However it did add to the fear some of the invaders had about entering the woods, so that was a bonus Ward couldn't argue with.

Ward continued his weekly updates with Fury but his patients was wearing thin. Every time he talked to Fury Ward would ask for help, for back up and every time it was denied. Ward begin to wonder if he was still really working for Fury or just for himself. What surprised the specialist was that he didn't actually mind the idea of being without a commanding officer, if only he could get some back up.

Even from a kilometre away Ward could tell that after four weeks Skye was going stir crazy. After each and every attack Ward would send her a message to let her know she was safe and that he was okay. Ward had suggested that because of the increased attacks that Skye should stop her trips outside, just in case someone did manage to get past Ward. Skye had complained extensively, her trips outside were her last threads of freedom and she didn't want to let go. Despite the complaints the trips had stopped and it was an unspoken rule that they never discuss the fact that Ward was right. Instead Skye kept sending Ward meaningless bits of information about what was going on around her, in other words, as far as Ward could tell, Skye was bored.

It was four weeks after he hid in a bathroom to meet Skye, four weeks before Skye's deadline that Ward watched the Bus emerge from the underground hanger, take off and disappear into the distance. It had happened before, although this time Ward wasn't worried, if she was going anywhere Skye would have sent him a message, giving him the chance to follow.

Ward watched the house carefully for the next couple of hour, just in case Skye hadn't been able to get a message out. He was, however, still mindful of the forest that surrounded him. Ward was surprised when a couple of hours after the departure of the Bus the car also pulled out of the underground hanger and headed off in the direction of the town. So Ward was even more surprised when the second the car disappeared over a hill his phone rang, not a message, an actual phone call.

Answering a phone while tied to a tree, especially at a height where a fall could be fatal, was difficult but somehow Ward managed it, especially after seeing the number call was the phone he gave Skye.

"You never call, what's going on?" Ward tried to hide the worry in his voice, he wasn't entirely sure he succeeded.

"Nice to hear from you too, Grant," Skye almost giggled down the line.

"I'm sorry," Ward smiled to himself, happy to hear the hacker's voice, she sounded like she was alright, "Hello, Skye. Nice to hear from you. How have you been?"

"Fine. You?" Skye asked, obviously holding back laughter.

Ward sighed, "Busy." He didn't elaborate, Skye already knew enough about the attacks that he didn't have to.

"I'm sorry," Skye sighed.

Ward shook his head, not caring that Skye couldn't see him, "This isn't your fault."

"Yes it is," Skye argued, "They're after me, aren't they?"

"That's not the point," Ward replied, he sighed again, "I don't want to argue with you, Skye and I don't believe for a second that that was the reason you called."

"No, I guess not," Skye sighed, the sound echoing down the phone.

"Does it have anything to do with a couple of recent departures?" Ward asked.

"Maybe," Skye replied. Even across a phone line Ward could tell the hacker was smiling.

Ward couldn't help but smile back, Skye was defiantly up to something, "What's going on?"

Skye was still smiling, he could tell, "What would you say if I told you I had the house all to myself?"

"What?" Ward hissed, "Are you insane? Are they?"

"Relax, robot," Skye laughed, "It's only for an hour or two tops. Trip, May and A.C. took off in the Bus. Something about New Zealand, I don't know, I wasn't exactly paying attention."

"And FitzSimmons?" Ward asked, not really sure he actually wanted to hear the answer.

"I may or may not have convinced them that without May or Coulson around they could go into town and have a proper date."

"Skye…" Ward sighed, "It's not safe for you to be on your own."

"I'm not alone. I've got you protecting me," Skye replied, somehow Ward could tell she was smiling again.

"Skye…" Ward sighed again.

"Will you stop," Skye laughed, "If you're so worried about me you could always come visit."

"You do realize Coulson probably had the base under surveillance, right?" Ward replied.

"The base, yes but it's locked up tight, Simmons didn't want me having any accidents down there while she was away," Skye answered, "As for the house, I highly doubt he has a camera in my room."

Ward sighed, defeated, "How long are they gone for?"

Skye was most likely smiling again, "The Bus won't be back for a day or two and Fitz Simmons will probably be a couple of hours."

"Okay," Ward replied, holding back his own smile, "Give me forty five minutes to make sure there's not going to be any surprises."

"I knew you couldn't say no to me, robot," Skye laughed, "See you soon."

"Yeah. See you soon," Ward sighed as the line disconnected, he wasn't entirely sure Skye heard the reply.

It was exactly thirty six minutes later that Ward finished his sweep of the forest, pleased that he had found no trace of any intruders. Deciding he had time for one more long range sweep Ward began to climb back up to one of the lookout points, he was half way up the tree when he first saw movement. It was in that moment that the specialist realized his mistake, he had gotten so used to the fact that the team would be watching for the approach by road that he had forgotten to keep an eye on it now that May and Coulson weren't there. The worst part was the man, who had obviously approached from the road, was now heading back in the direction he had come from. Meaning he had already been to the house and if the item in his hand was what Ward thought it was the man had also already done his job.

Snatching his phone from his pocket Ward called Skye, not caring he was half way up and only semi attached to a tree.

Relief flooded through him when Skye picked up, "If you're cancelling then I'm going…."

"Get out of the house," Ward yelled, "There's a bomb!"

"What are you talk…?"

The line went dead and Ward watched in horror as the house exploded. A column of fire shooting high into the air. He was too late.

Author's Note: I know I promised a while ago to limit my cliff-hangers but this one was too big and too good to pass up.

If you review I MIGHT update quicker

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