A/N: So, I'm gonna try to update once, maybe twice a week. I watched the new episode, and I'm not actually emotionally stable at the moment, so, there's that. If anyone else wants to share theories or cry together, review, PM, anything. My shoulder is free.

Disclaimer: If I owned it, Ward would not even have a chance at being HYDRA.

He's hooked up to the machines again. Skye watches him. He looks so small for someone so big, all hunched over like that. His scratches are obvious and red against his slightly gray skin. His cinnamon eyes sweep the room and land on her. His jaw is resolute; his face doesn't betray the merest dash of emotion. He acts like the soldier he was trained as, but there's a whisper of fear whenever his mask of stoicism wavers, and it only wavers when he looks at her. She's not quite sure how to handle this. Instead, she listens to Simmons' scientific chatter.

"Well, your vitals seem alright, save the racing heart of course, but that can be marked down to adrenaline. The thing is, the signs you're currently displaying are quite a bit like those you showed after you held the Berserker Staff. Blood pressure and heart rate, higher than usual, and your brain is releasing an excess amount of epinephrine."

"In English?"

"Anger, Agent Ward."

"Oh."

"Yes, quite. I believe that something in Lorelei's DNA relapsed the effects of the Berserker Staff. Nothing to worry about, I'm sure, you should calm down. Try a relaxing activity, perhaps, or maybe get some sleep-"

She was cut off by Ward slamming his fist into the table.

"I don't need to relax, Simmons, I need to work this off!"

"Agent Ward! I will not be spoken to that way in my lab, or anywhere else for the matter. May I remind you about the last time you held Staff? You were restless for weeks on end, trying to 'work it off', and if I'm remembering correctly, I gave the same suggestion then as I am giving you know. You look terrible, and it's quite obvious you haven't taken a shower in days. So go, wash up, and go to bed. You never know where a fair amount of sleep will get you, and my current hopes are that it will get you out of this state. Now go!"

She pointed at the door to the labs, and Ward followed her orders, throwing his shirt on in the process. He swings petulantly at the leather punching bag, sending it spinning. Jemma sighs and sends a glance Skye's way, not missed by the latter.

"I'll go talk to him."

It's her turn to find him, and he's in his bunk, where she thought he'd be, but he isn't resting. He's sitting on the bed, hands threaded through his own hair, like he's trying to tear it out.

"I thought Simmons said to try and sleep."

"Can't sleep."

"Nightmares?"

He nods in reply, and she moves to sit beside him on the bed.

"Is it your brothers again?"

"No," he mutters.

"But I thought-"

"Well you thought wrong."

The words come out in a growl, but she doesn't back away.

"You'd better go," he tells her.

"Ward, I know it's not a good time, but I am here or you, I-"

"Don't do that!"

His hands finally release his hair, leaving it stuck up in all directions, and his eyes flash something fanatic.

"Don't you get it Skye? I'm slipping. I'm going absolutely crazy, and why? Because I wasn't strong enough to resist whatever mind game she was playing with me."

"Ward, you know that's not true-"

He shoots up and begins pacing.

"It is though! And now, the rage is back, and I don't even see my brothers anymore. They aren't what I have nightmares about."

"Then what is it? I can help you Grant, if you just tell me-"

"It's you!"

He deflates instantly, shoulders sagging, and he falls back to the bed, hands returning to his hair.

"Every time I fall asleep, it's you. You're in that tube and there's nothing I can do but-"

She places a hand on his arm, and he focuses on that, her hand, an anchor.

"I can't help. I can't move. And you just lay there, and you're dying, and there isn't a thing…"

He draws a long, shaking breath.

"I should've been there with you Skye. I should've protected you. I don't dream about my brothers as much anymore. I dream about you. You're back in that cellar, and it isn't Quinn shooting you."

A ripple of understanding flashes across her face. She knows what that's like, to feel guilty for something you haven't got a lick of control over.

"Is there anything I can do?"

"No."

She stands to go, but he reaches out and catches her wrist.

"Ward?"

He releases her. She stays a moment longer, looking at him, before finally drifting back to her own bunk. She knows he'll talk when he's ready.

Only when she's out of earshot does he whisper, "Please don't leave me."

I know it's been awhile since I've last updated. I'm sorry guys, I really am. I think I portrayed Ward's more vulnerable side okay, but I'm not completely sure, so… review? I hope that you haven't lost interest though. Better things are coming soon, I promise. This will probably turn into a multichapter, and I have a pretty good idea of what will happen next. However, I still have room for idea's, so if you want to see something happen in this story, review, PM me, whatever you want. I like to hear your ideas.

See ya!

SlayGal