Chapter 113: The Team's Reaction

The day started off peacefully at S.H.I.E.L.D.'s mobile base, the "Bus." Skye, Fitz, Simmons, Coulson, and May were spread out across the break room, enjoying the time they had before being assigned to another mission. The TV was on, broadcasting an international news broadcast, but no one was paying much attention until a headline caught everyone's attention.

— "Breaking news: Al-Qaeda leader found dead in remote village in Afghanistan. Although there is no clear information on how he died, experts believe it may have been a clandestine operation conducted by a military or intelligence force."

Skye immediately raised her eyebrows, Fitz stopped what he was doing, and Simmons, who was next to him, turned to the screen with wide eyes. Coulson's face remained calm, but he already had an idea of ​​who could be behind this.

— "Do you think it could have been Ward?" Simmons asked, his voice filled with uncertainty, but with a hint of curiosity.

— "It's not impossible," Coulson replied thoughtfully. "He was out on a high-level mission, and if I know Fury well, this seems like the kind of operation he would assign to Ward."

— "If it was him, it looks like he was successful," Skye commented, leaning forward and crossing her arms. "No clues, no trail. Totally Ward's style."

May, who had been silent until then, glanced at Coulson. She didn't say anything, but they exchanged a meaningful look, confirming what the others already suspected.

A short time later, Coulson received a message directly from S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters. It confirmed what everyone was beginning to suspect: Ward had been responsible for eliminating the Al-Qaeda leader. He was returning to the team after successfully completing the mission.

Coulson looked at his phone, absorbing the information for a moment, before sharing it with the rest of the team.

— "Well, guys, it looks like our suspicions were correct. It was Ward. He took out the leader of Al-Qaeda," Coulson announced calmly.

Skye's eyes widened in surprise, while Fitz and Simmons looked at each other with a mixture of awe and shock.

— "Ward?!" Fitz exclaimed. "He was undercover this whole time, and we didn't even know it. Wow."

— "That explains why he's been so distant lately. Nobody talks about missions like this in S.H.I.E.L.D., but he was literally changing the balance of world power," Simmons commented, still taking in the magnitude of the mission.

Skye shook her head, a smile of respect forming on her lips.

— "Of course it was Ward. He's always been this efficient and discreet guy. But it's still kind of surreal, right?" Coulson remained calm, but there was a slight tension in his tone.

— "He'll be back with the team soon. And from what I can tell, he'll need time to readjust after a mission like this."

May remained silent, but there was a slight gleam of approval in her eyes. She knew what it was like to carry out such secret, shadowy missions, and despite her silence, she understood well the weight of what Ward had done.

The next day, while the team was in the common area of ​​the shuttle, Coulson received a notification that Ward was returning to the hangar. They didn't have to wait long; the plane door opened, and there he was. Ward walked into the room looking different, more tanned, with a full beard, his gaze more hardened but at the same time calm.

— "Welcome back, Ward," Coulson said with a small smile, his tone professional but warm.

Ward gave a slight nod.

— "Good to be back," he replied, his voice gravelly and a little tired.

Skye was the first to notice the beard and tan, letting out a small laugh of surprise.

— "Look at you, Mr. Elite Soldier," she said with a restrained laugh. "You really got into character, didn't you?"

Ward gave a small smile, acknowledging the comment.

— "It's part of the job," he said, his tone controlled. But behind that control, there were signs that he had been through some intense moments.

Fitz, on the other hand, couldn't contain his curiosity.

— "So, you were actually… you know, in Afghanistan? With… these people? What was it like?" he asked, his words quick as usual.

Ward shrugged.

— "It was what had to be done," he answered simply, not delving into details. He wasn't one to talk much about his missions, especially when they involved such delicate matters.

Simmons, ever the voice of empathy, added,

— "It must have been hard, Ward. But still, we're all proud of you. That mission couldn't have been easy."

— "Thank you," Ward replied, his eyes softening slightly at Simmons's words. "It was a necessary operation, but it's good to be back with you guys."

As the conversation flowed, the mood in the room began to lighten light. They knew that even though Ward had been through something extremely difficult, he was back safely and ready to continue with the team.

Coulson watched Ward for a moment. There was a change in him, something in his eyes—a hardening that hadn't been there before. Missions like this left their mark, even on the most seasoned agents.

"Let's give Ward some time to adjust. Missions like this aren't easy to shake," Coulson said, ending the conversation.

Ward thanked him for understanding, and the team, knowing he needed a moment to recover, dispersed to give him some space.

That night, the team decided to do something special to celebrate Ward's return. Skye suggested a group dinner on the bus, and everyone agreed. Ward wasn't the type to ask for that kind of thing, but the team wanted to show that they were there for him, even if he didn't ask.

Fitz and Simmons took it upon themselves to prepare something simple but tasty. Skye and May set up the table, and Coulson, in his calm, fatherly style, made sure everyone felt at ease.

During dinner, conversation flowed naturally. Fitz and Simmons told funny anecdotes about crazy experiments, and Skye joked about the training Ward used to force on her. The tension of the day dissipated, and for a brief moment, everything seemed normal again.

Ward, sitting at the table with the others, watched his team. Even though he had been on a lonely and dangerous mission, he knew he had something invaluable here: a team that supported him, even in the shadows. He smiled slightly, glad to be back.

At the end of the night, the team retired to their respective rooms, while Ward stayed in the living room, staring out into the darkness. He knew that, even after a mission like that, he still had work to do. But for now, he was glad to be back in the place he could call home.

— "You did what you had to do," Coulson said, stopping beside Ward before heading to his room. "And you did it well. But remember, we're here for you, whenever you need us."

Ward nodded gratefully. And so, silence fell as he reflected on everything that had happened and what was yet to come.