Nightmares

He wakes up practically the moment his door opens, but doesn't move an inch; he is well aware that there is only one person who would come into his room in the middle of the night without even knocking. His eyes still closed, he listens as she crosses the room to his bed, feels the mattress dip as she climbs in (he lets out a little groan as she crawls over him, kneeing him in the stomach), then settles between him and the wall, curling into his side. Then, only then, he lets out a sigh.

"Everything's alright?"

"Stupid Trip and his stupid Second World War movies," Skye mumbles, burying her face in his neck.

Oh yeah – they watched some kind generic WWII spy movie that night, chosen by Trip, who, in spite of not wanting special treatment because of his grandfather, is a big WWII nerd. Truth to be told, Grant didn't really paid attention to the film; he just made himself comfortable in the corner of the couch, having Skye lean against him, reading his book, while the movie went on in the background.

"Care to elaborate?"

Skye let out a little, distressed noise.

"I had a nightmare," she confessed, prompting him to take her hand and press a kiss against the crown of her head, encouraging her to go on. "I was this big femme fatale forties spy-lady, y'know, like Peggy Carter was, and I was on this mission in some kind of movie theatre – I had to get some intel or kill somebody, I don't even remember –, and I went up to the projector room, and then…" her voice breaks, and he swears he can feel tears against his skin. "I heard somebody from behind me and turned around, gun in hand, and… It was Quinn. And I fired, and I guess I hit him, but he fired, too, and he was quicker than me, and…" She full on sobs now. "And it hurt so much, and I was so scared, and you weren't there, and…"

"Shhh…" he hushes her, wrapping his arms around her and practically pulling her on top of him, caressing her hair, the horrors of her nightmare hitting him hard, too. That day in Italy still haunts him, too. "It's okay, it was just a dream. You're safe now," he murmurs into her ear.

"I know, but…"

"No buts," he cuts in. The I'll protect you is implied, but unsaid. He kisses the top of her head once again, then tucks her under his chin. He already knows the answer, and it's not like he would let her leave now, but he still asks, "Do you want to stay for the night?"

Skye doesn't say a word, just nods, tightening her arms around him.

"Okay." He moves them into a more comfortable position. "Sleep now, sweetheart."

In his calming embrace Skye actually falls asleep pretty fast; Grant watches her in the near-complete darkness for a long time, caressing her back as she sleeps. He might not have been able to always protect her in the past, but he won't make any mistakes in the future. And two things are sure: one, the next time he sees Quinn, he's going to kill him, and two, he is going to have a talk with Trip about movies he should and shouldn't watch with his girlfriend first thing in the morning.

A/N: This drabble marks the start of my mini-hiatus. Don't worry, I'll be back on either Wednesday or Thursday. Until then, take care! :)