Submitted by klutzygirl – who sent me a rather detailed prompt, over which we had a good discussion, which I have lost ever since (I know…). Still, I mostly remember what we talked about, but still tweaked around with it a bit, and in the end, it turned out to be this fic: a Nothing Personal AU where Coulson doesn't get to the Bus in time to get Skye out, and Grant ends up taking her to Cuba to Garrett.

Crossroads of Destiny

Leading Skye down the stairs to John's basement headquarters in Cuba Grant just can't shake the feeling off that he's making a big mistake – and Skye's hateful gaze is just strengthening this feeling. But at the same time a voice – one that eerily reminds him of John's – keeps telling him that this is exactly what he is ought to do. John's life is priority; everything else, even Skye, comes second.

But after that? What happens after they have the serum? He has no idea – curing John would end his fifteen year long quest. Half a life. He has no clue where to go, what to do after that. (But two things are sure: John will be there with him, and he'll keep looking out for Skye, even if it's the last thing she wants right now.)

(He still wants to believe that one day she'll understand.)

Reaching the bottom of the stairs and walking into the part of the basement that John has made his personal nook, they come face to face with the man himself almost immediately – he is sitting in the barber's chairs as if it was a throne and he a king, looking smugly over his realm. When he sees Skye, there's a spark in his eyes that's almost sinister.

"Great job, son," he tells Grant in a slow voice, the corners of his mouth pulling into a grin. "I assume the hard drive is already with Raina?" Grant gives him a curt nod. "Wonderful! And good thinking taking the girl with you," he adds, standing up from his chair.

Grant involuntarily straightens his spine; he has thought it all out, what he'll say, how he'll justify bringing Skye here instead of ditching her – or worse yet, killing her – after she decrypted the hard drive. She's good, he has planned to say, good enough that they can assume there are other barriers on the drive, other levels of protection. They might still need her to break some of these. He is ready to argue for it, but then John continues, saying something that makes Grant's heart stop for a moment.

"Strucker will be very happy to have her."

"Strucker?" Grant asks, stepping away from Skye, trying not to sound too taken aback, too protective. "Why would…?"

John simply shrugs, walking casually towards him and Skye; Grant instinctively moves in a way that he remains between them.

"He's been doing some experiments – trying to give people powers. I hear he's even had some success. And to get a girl with the GH serum in her blood… He'll have a field day with her." He stops and tilts his head to the side looking at Skye with a strange expression. "Of course, Whitehall might outbid him."

Skye, who's been stubbornly silent until now, lets out a string of curses – Grant has to agree with her –, while he takes a step towards John, raising his hand in a placating gesture.

"But it wasn't the plan," he says, trying to sound calm, reasonable. "It was never in the plan to let those maniacs meddle with us." He deliberately doesn't say things like they weren't going to get Skye or that she was supposed to walk free. He knows he couldn't appeal to John that way.

John scoffs, then nods pointedly towards Skye.

"She was never in the plan. I'm adjusting things according to our situation in a way that we gain the most." Then he opens his arms, taking a step towards Grant, as if he was a benevolent master, granting him more than he deserves. "And anyway, I gave you time to play with her. You had months. Did I ever say that you can't have your fun with her? Did I?" The smile vanishes from his face. "Now playtime is over. And don't tell me that you actually feel something for this little bitch? Don't tell me that you are that weak."

Grant's hands clench into fists. He and John might have had their disagreements in the past; small things, over methods and outcomes, but he always bowed before John's opinion in the end. Because that's how it was supposed to be – he owed John too much to go against him. But this? This crosses the line.

He turns his head, and looks behind his back, sneaking a glance at Skye who's huddling against the wall, unarmed, her hands in handcuffs. He's trying to tell her something, although not even he's sure what. That he's going to protect her? That he's sorry? That he loves her? (There's something in her eyes, although he can't read it quite well.)

But one thing is sure – this time he won't subject his will to John's.

"No," Grant says simply in the end, turning back towards his mentor. "No. You can lock her up, if you want, until it's over, but I won't stand aside and watch you harm her or use her as a bargaining chip."

John actually laughs at this.

"Now you're being ridiculous, son. Don't forget what I've done for you! And you'd pick her side rather than mine?"

"I would." The answer is out before he could think it over, and he's surprised how relieved he feels after saying it out loud.

A strange expression crosses John's face – he pulls his eyebrows together, while his mouth pulls into a malevolent sneer.

"In that case…"

The first blow comes completely unexpectedly – John strikes him right on his fractured cheekbone, not holding back a bit. The hit throws him back, while he sees stars from the pain.

"In that case it's time I show you where your place is," John says, readying for the next hit. This time Grant expects it and dodges, forcing John's hand back. It's harder than he would have thought – the techs at Cybertek might not have succeeded saving John on the long run, but it's sure as hell that they managed to make him as strong as possible.

"And you know what?" John continues as he hits again, this time targeting Grant's chest; he's not fast enough to block, and he can practically hear his ribs crack. "I'll be immensely enjoying putting a bullet into you girl's head after all this."

This spurs Grant on, who tries to go after the panel on John's side, targeting his weakest spot. But John of course anticipates it and grabs his wrist forcing it back. Grant uses the momentum to knee the older man in the gut but it seems to have very little effect on him, apart from having John release his hand. The next moment Grant manages to take a hit though, his fist landing on John's jaw, forcing him to take a step back. But his victory is short-lived – John attacks again right away, this time going for his already tender ribs once again. Grant doubles over in pain, which gives John the opportunity to grab his arm and twist is behind his back, turning Grant's whole body towards the wall.

He expects to see Skye there, maybe terrified, maybe worried about him, maybe still having nothing but hate for him, but she's nowhere to be seen; she's just simply gone. Grant allows himself a smug smile before he feels John's boot at the back of his knees, forcing him to the ground.

The next moment there's the sound of gunfire in the air, and the world seems to stand still for a moment.

He expects to feel the pain at first; then, for a fraction of a second he contemplates why he can still expect the pain – if John wanted to end him, why didn't he shoot him in the head? Why is he alive still?

And then there's a heavy thud behind him.

Clenching his teeth he turns around and is faced with John's body on the ground. He's lying on his back, clutching at a hole on his chest that seems to be an exit wound. He's not dead yet, but he's almost there.

Grant raises his head until his eyes meets Skye's – she's standing maybe fifteen feet from him, by a table, one wrist still in the handcuff, holding a gun with barely-trembling hands.

"I nicked your key," is all her explanation to his wide-eyed, unbelieving gaze as she puts the gun down and walks to him, helping him stand up. "But don't think that everything's forgotten," she says, but there's barely any malice in her voice. "And now let's get out of here."

Grant does the only thing that seems reasonable in this situation – he laughs.