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Special thanks to :

Guest (you know who you are) for reviewing and giving me feedback on split chapters- this one's for you…this isn't really the kind of split chapter I wanted to write but hope you like it anyway

And Katie 452 for letting me know about the formatting error- I think I fixed it now and sorry for the inconvenience!

Ward

"What are you doing here?"

"I heard someone was trying to beat my espionage rating so I just had to come here and cross him off before he could even try."

"Really, I didn't think you would mind," Ward countered, sitting up gingerly on the thin mattress. Back in the Cage. Those ICERs to the chest really took a toll. When the woman didn't reply, he pressed, "I thought you went dark."

The woman didn't move an inch, "I went off the grid."

Ward ran his hands through his hair then rubbed the stubble on his jaw, squinting at her, "Same difference."

"No." Finally, Ward's visitor stepped closer, "going dark was when you killed Agent Hand and disappeared on your team for days." She said sharply but Ward didn't wince.

"I was under orders."

"Is that the bullshit you're telling yourself these days?" She crossed her arms and glared at him.

Ward laughed scornfully, "Funny, I keeping getting that as an answer. Just because you want a fresh start, a new ledger, doesn't mean I have to want that too. So, why are you here, Tash?"

"Don't call me that."

"You're just bitter because I pulled off the biggest snow job of the decade," Ward taunted, but she didn't fall for it.

"So you pulled off a goddamn blizzard. Props to you, Grant, you just became the dirtiest man alive," she replied moderately.

"Why are you here?"

Natasha Romanoff raised an eyebrow, "I'm just here to return Cap's cards to Coulson." She said breezily before stalking out of the room.

His second visitor of the day was Skye.

"Hi. I brought you your watch and a change of clothes." She said, throwing the bundle on his cot before dropping down on it herself. Ward was doing his usual push-up routine and continued as if Skye hadn't come in at all. He knew she was perfectly capable of carrying on the conversation on her own.

"So the Black Widow is here," Skye bubbled excitedly, reminding Ward of her obsession with the Avengers and those with supernatural powers, "I mean, wow, did you know she saved me?"

"Wait, what do you mean she saved you?" He sat up and looked over at her, alarmed. What had gone on when he was in Tactics?

"Bradbury held me as hostage. Threatened to kill me to get Coulson to back down." Skye said flippantly, eager to continue her monologue from before, "it wasn't a big deal, I'm still alive, aren't I? We still got out of there and took over the place, right?"

Ward just looked at her, not saying a word. He resumed his push-ups, channeling his anger into his workout.

"Oh, don't look so upset. You didn't know that he was going to pull a stunt like that." Skye said.

Ward grunted and Skye continued on.

"I was saved by an Avenger. I know that it's probably totally normal for you but seriously this is like a milestone for me."

"Well, you didn't expect her to let you die, did you?" Ward said rhetorically.

Skye crossed her legs and rolled her eyes, "Oh, I see, you're jealous because you didn't get to save me and she did."

Ward got up and walked to her, placing both hands on either side of her, leaning over her petite frame until she was nearly flat on her back, their lips just mere inches apart.

"You're damn straight that's right." He growled.

She smiled up at him teasingly, "I didn't loop the camera feed in here."

Instantly, he sprang back from her as if burned.

"Kidding, God, as if Coulson didn't already know that we're doing it." She rolled her eyes again, sitting up.

"We're not." Ward replied, confused.

Skye pointed at herself barely containing her laughter, "Joking again. Sheesh, Robot, loosen up a bit. I did loop the feed before I came in here." She bit her lip and Ward felt his pants grow uncomfortably tight.

"Surely you've got better things to do than coming in here to fangirl over Natasha Romanoff to a prisoner?" Ward dropped back down into plank position, attempting to clear his mind and regain control of his body.

"Wow…okay you're definitely jealous," Skye said slowly amusement coating her every word, "Tell me, how does it feel to be second best to a woman? I heard she can rupture you spleen with just a breath, blindfolded."

Ward grunted again, hiding a smile, "Get out and go train."

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw her hop off the cot and walk to the door.

"Oh… and I plan on going to the meet with Raina. Shhh, our little secret, don't tell." She divulged before ducking out of the room.

He swore under his breath. Trust Skye to drop a bomb like that and then run away.

The next time he saw Skye again was when he was being escorted down to the lap so Simmons could do a check up on his larynx along with any other injuries he suffered during the raid. Skye was at the punching bag with Triplett, but sweating up a storm, evidence that they had been at it for a while.

"Tuck your elbows in," Ward advised as May walked him through the cargo hold. Skye turned her head to shoot him a glare before refocusing on the punching bag that Triplett was holding for her.

"Move." May gave him a shove forward into the lab but Ward caught sight of a shadow of a smile on her face for a brief second.

"Ah, Ag-. Ward." Simmons corrected herself a little awkwardly. It was the first time he had heard her slip up on his name.

"Simmons," he nodded to her comfortably before looking around the lab, "Where's Fitz?"

The biochemist gestured for him to sit next to the Holotable. "He's in the back. Dr. Cavaco is running a few tests. I'm going to take a few x-rays of your throat, you know the drill…"

As Simmons busied herself, Ward spared another glance in the direction of the cargo hold. To his surprise, he saw Romanoff and Coulson entering the doorway of the lab.

"Agent Romanoff, Director Coulson, what a surprise," Simmons exclaimed upon seeing her.

"Agent Simmons," Romanoff nodded to the biochemist and Coulson offered the English woman a smile before fixing his gaze on Ward.

"I'll return to the cockpit." May excused herself. Simmons returned to Ward's side now that all the formalities were out of the way.

"I thought I told you not to put any strain on your chest and ribcage," She said crossly.

Ward looked her head on, "I didn't,"

"You were doing push-ups, Ward. I have been monitoring your vitals in the room and before you ask, I picked up Skye's readings in there too so I know she was in there." Simmons said the last part in hushed tones so the agents on the other side of the lab wouldn't hear. Then she continued on, louder, "You need to rest. The shots to your chest from the ICERs cracked your ribs even more."

"Simmons, do you mind if I have a word with Ward?" Coulson asked, stepping forward.

"Of course not, sir, as long as you don't plan on causing more harm to his injuries or inflicting new ones?"

It took Ward a moment to realize that she was being completely serious.

"You don't need to leave the room, Jemma," Coulson assured her and Simmons backed up to give Coulson more space.

"You left Skye alone in the facility." It wasn't an accusation or a question. Just a statement.

"Yes sir."

"Alone, with Bradbury. In a hostile territory."

"It was necessary, sir, we couldn't be side by side the entire time, it would be too suspicious." Ward explained, keeping his voice from sounding too defensive, "I had no idea that he would pull a stunt like that," He said, echoing Skye's words.

Coulson glared at him for a few seconds, "Technically, you could have… but it doesn't matter. I just wanted to get mad at someone for what happened to Skye."

"Sir!" Simmons exclaimed reproachfully while Romanoff let out a huff of laughter.

There was a sound of laughter, completely unrelated to Coulson's last words and Ward automatically turned his head towards the sound, his chest aching familiarly, like it did every time he heard her laugh. Skye and Triplett entered the lab, both chuckling at a joke and toweling down. Ward turned his head quickly back to Simmons and Coulson but not before catching the eye of the Black Widow who looked at him with a steely glint in her eye.

Simmons however, was looking curiously flushed as she dismissed Ward, handing him his meds before bustling around, cleaning up the equipment. Coulson gestured to Ward,

"Agent Romanoff, do you mind?"

Wordlessly, Romanoff gripped Ward's arm and led him out of the lab before he could so much as catch Skye's eye.

"I need a favor," he said as they reached the top of the spiral staircase.

"No thanks." Romanoff responded before he could elaborate.

"I'd owe you one," Ward pressed.

Romanoff pushed him into the Cage, "And I'm not sure I'd ever come to collect." She reached to close the door but he blocked her. The former KGB agent's expression hardened but Ward took his chances.

"It's for her."

"You have thirty seconds,"

He stepped back but not enough to allow the door to swing closed, "Don't let her go to Hong Kong to meet her father."

Romanoff turned to him more fully, her eyes slightly narrowed, "Why?" she asked suspiciously.

"Just don't. Ask Coulson if you have to, just don't let her. Please."

Suddenly, she leaned in, her face lined up with his. He stared back, refusing to back down.

"Let's be clear here. I don't buy this reformed, lovesick puppy crap of yours. Just because Coulson and his team are eager to forgive and forget, doesn't mean I am. You're a traitor, Grant Ward and if it were up to me, you would have more than a few cracked ribs to be concerned about."

"Come on, Tash, we both know that I can take you in a fight, especially since Clint Barton isn't here to fight your battles and justify your actions." Ward said softly.

Romanoff only sneered, "You could use someone like that right now, couldn't you?" She said before pushing him back to shut the door firmly.

Skye

"Don't do it,"

"What, eat this sandwich? I'd love to have your figure but I can't give up mayonnaise for it, sorry." Skye retorted before taking a big bite out of the sandwich Trip had just made for her.

The Black Widow didn't turn away, "Don't go to Hong Kong."

Skye choked, glancing up to look at Trip to make sure he didn't hear, "Oh my god, shut up!" She hissed, putting her food down.

"You didn't tell them." Romanoff stated, walking around the counter to grab a bottle of water.

"I didn't tell anyone but Ward and obviously even he can't be trusted," the hacktivist grumbled.

Romanoff opened her mouth to speak but Skye cut her off, "Not here."

"Oh, I didn't- uhm, can I get you something, Agent Romanoff?" Trips asked, flustered and Skye hid a smile. The team was still getting used to having an Avenger on the Bus, no matter how many times Skye said, "I told you so," to them.

"I'm all set here, but thank you, Agent." The Black Widow replied, waving her bottle of water for him to see, "We'll talk later," She promised to Skye before walking away.

Trip watched her go, "Want to get one of those suits?"

"Trip."

"Alright, alright, so what did she want to talk about?" he asked, taking a big bite out of his sandwich.

Skye responded quickly, "Training." She resumed eating her lunch as the specialist raised an eyebrow at her

"Am I not good enough?"

"Your sandwiches are mediocre. So, how long do you think the Black Widow will be here? Do you think the others will show up before I might just faint if Captain America comes on board."

"I'll make sure to give you an adequate warning in advance if he does decide to join us. What do you mean, my sandwiches are mediocre?"

"Have you ever had one of Ward's sandwiches? Or Simmons'?" Skye rolled her eyes but she caught sight of Trip's sudden change in expression, "What?" She deadpanned.

Trip pushed his plate away, looking somber, "Look, Skye…"

Her heart plummeted, whatever he was about to say wasn't going to be good.

"…I know we told you to talk to him and stuff but he's supposed to be punished, not visited every few hours like he's only moved to the Cage for the extra space."

Skye put down her sandwich, appetite gone, "Trip, I know and I don't expect you to understand-,"

The specialist put his hands up as if in surrender, "I know I don't get the whole story, or your history together, but he has to be punished somehow. This really isn't any of my business it's between you and Coulson, but…."

Skye sighed. She knew Trip was just trying to be helpful and just, trying to help her make the right decisions, "I remember that he betrayed us and killed people and that hurt me more than you will ever know, but I still stick to my words. We have to move on now. Ward's a very valuable asset and… I need him. Not… in that way. You know what I'm talking about." Skye smirked, changing the mood back to playful, "Don't worry, you can still train me." She reached over and patted his hand before hopping off her stool and leaving him to clean up the remains of their lunch.

Before Skye could reach the lab to talk to Simmons, she was ambushed by the Black Wido.

"Gah! You can't just come out of the shadows like that!"

"Let's talk Hong Kong."

"Let's not please. I just left a tense conversation with Triplett and I'm not very interested in starting another with someone I know can crush my windpipe with her toes." Skye sidestepped her but Romanoff blocked her easily, "Really? You want to do-si-do out here?"

The Black Widow's expression softened a little, "I'll take you to Hong Kong."

Skye stopped mid-step, her mouth gaping open in surprise, "Wait, seriously? That's it? No 'trust the system' or 'it's too dangerous'?" She eyed the other woman suspiciously, "Does AC know?"

Romanoff shook her head, her expression cryptic, "No one knows but us."

"Does 'us' include Ward?"

"No."

Skye snapped her fingers in mock disappointment, "Darn, I was hoping that we could break him out in the process since we're already disobeying a direct order."

Romanoff gave her a strange look and Skye plastered on a bright smile.

"So any news on Captain America's whereabouts?"

Sorry about updating late

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