A/N: Whew! Two scenes in one day coz I was on a roll :) Sponge bath is finally done and out of the way, but old animosities raise their ugly heads.
Thank you to Maddison1803 for her quick review :3 I love all your thoughts on this fic, so don't hold back on sharing them :)
DISCLAIMER: I only own this story.
"Kara?" Skye asked as the woman in question rubbed a soaped up sponge over her back.
"Yes?"
Skye opened her mouth to speak again but hesitated. Kara sensed her uncertainty was due to Grant's abrupt dismissal of her apology from earlier.
"Whenever you're ready, Skye." She encouraged.
Another few moments went by before Skye tried to speak again.
"Do you think that…that Grant will forgive me?" she mumbled in a small voice.
Kara paused in her scrubbing of Skye's left shoulder, wondering how to approach what she knew to be a sensitive subject. Not only for Grant, by evidently for Skye as well.
"From what I saw out there earlier," she began. "I think that you absolutely have a chance to earn his forgiveness, just as much as he does of earning yours."
"What makes you think I haven't forgiven him?"
"Neither one of you has taken up the chance to sit down and hash out what sits between you. I know you were furious at him for his betrayal of your team and your heart, and that anger flowed through into San Juan."
"He chose Garrett over us." The younger woman sulkily accused.
"I think you see my point. You haven't been in a good position to forgive him for months, and he you for weeks." Kara finished soaping Skye's left arm and moved to sit in front of her. "But listen to me. The two of you now have an opportunity to fix this. Share absolutely everything about yourselves."
"What would that do?"
"You would know each other for who you truly are. In my opinion, that's the best place from which to start a life with someone." She leaned over to reach the soap and lathered up the sponge again. "I didn't know the Grant Ward that you fell for and May can't cope with. But the Grant Ward of today? He's not so bad." The comforting smile was once again in place, and Skye felt tempted to return it, but was unsure at what point she should stop letting this woman in.
Taking the sponge from Kara, Skye started to scrub her chest and belly, circling slowly so as to avoid the redness that was thankfully starting to recede.
After she was dirt-free and dressed in the nightie the Grant had gotten for her, Skye stepped out into the main room. Grant was sitting at the small table reading a novel and raised his gaze to look at her.
"How do you feel?" he asked politely.
Skye glanced at the floor and made herself look back up to avoid showing signs of weakness. "Cleaner." She stated with a conviction she didn't really feel.
Kara and Grant looked at each other, worry etched clearly on their features.
"I want to sleep now." Skye continued, her previously open and vulnerable air covered up as her S.H.I.E.L.D. training kicked in.
Kara gestured to the queen double. "Bed's all yours."
Without waiting for anyone else to say anything, Skye marched over, pulled back the covers and tucked herself in, burrowing her face into the pillow so they didn't see her tears.