64. Dangers of the temple

"Nobody touches her!" I shake blood off my hand and walk away, not bothering to look at anyone's reaction.

A few minutes later an agent approaches me. He's scared shitless.

"What?" I say with an irritated tone.

"Sir, Mr. Whitehall has ordered us to shoot the plane."

"If that's what he wants, then do it."

Agent Melinda May outmaneuvers her Hydra assailants and flies to San Juan, Puerto Rico, where S.H.I.E.L.D. must race to enter the hidden Kree city below and destroy it before Hydra can get to it. Thanks for the chip that Grant left which May found they were able to find that Hydra has already arrived, setting up residence above the ancient temple said to be needed for an extinction-type of event. Guessing that Hydra intends to drill straight down to the temple, S.H.I.E.L.D decides to attack straight away.

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Ward's POV

I ignored Skye for the remainder of the trip. No agent even goes near her and I know it's because they know I'll probably kill them.

Raina is talking my ear off about this so-called city. She won't shut up. I tell her I don't care for the millionth time. She rolls her eyes and keeps talking.

She's on repeat, about how their true nature will be shown and how only the worthy can go down there. She looks at me and makes a comment about how maybe someone's true nature will reveal itself and we can be together.

One of the Hydra operatives grabbed Raina by the arm and led her into the building while another stopped by Grant's side. "You know where to take this one," he said briefly before heading off the plane.

The moment they were alone, Grant grabbed Skye by the arm and whispered in her ear. "We don't have a lot of time and they have monitoring devices everywhere. So whatever I do, just play along."

They headed down a long staircase into the heart of the building with Skye walking slightly ahead. Grant decided that keeping her focused on something besides her anxiety would be the best course of action, so he led with something that had always grated on her: his cockiness. "Checking exits, numbers of men, weapons inventory. I'm impressed. How's your marksmanship?"

Sure enough, Skye threw him a disgusted look over her shoulder. "I don't know. Hand me your sidearm. Let's find out."

It took all of Grant's self-control not to laugh and he squeezed her arm lightly so she'd look up and see the twitch of his mouth. She's really getting good with the one-liners! "Cool under pressure. I see May's teaching you control."

"That's one of our differences," Skye said a bit louder than necessary. Grant figured she was taunting the Hydra agents watching them. "In SHIELD they train you to control yourself. Hydra wants to control everyone else."

"I'm not loyal to Hydra," Grant said in a disgusted tone as he led her up yet another series of stairs. "My orders were to collect Raina. Bringing you along was your father's idea." They stopped before a set of heavy wooden doors.

Skye whirled around to face him. "Maybe you don't remember but we've played this game of 'Let's kidnap Skye' before and it didn't end well for you."

"That's not my concern. Here." I grab her hands and cut her loose from her bonds.

She winces and rubs at her wrists and just for a second before I can stop myself I'm mimicking with my hands on her wrists.

She gives me a look and pulls her hands away and I pull back from her a bit.

"Really? Then what is it?"

I walk behind her to get to the door. I turn back to her and tell her, "to keep my promise."

I enter the room and see Cal sitting alone. I nod a hello and left the door open for Skye to come through.

Cal sees Skye and stands slowly, probably trying not to scare her.

Skye comes in slowly as well. She looks like she's at a loss for words and I can't help but smile. She's finally meeting her father.

Neither of them say anything. Cal is looking at Skye like he's looking at the sun for the first time and Skye is looking at him utterly lost. Love and sadness shine in her eyes.

"I'm sure you two have a lot of catching up to do." I say softly.

"Thank you, Grant." Cal gives me a grateful smile.

I smile back and as I'm walking out of the door, Skye looks at me. I see a thanks in her eyes too and I exit the room.

I know Coulson will be pissed at me. One, for taking Skye and two, because he doesn't want her anywhere near Cal. But that's not his call. Cal deserves a chance to make things right with Skye and if she doesn't want any part of him, so be it. But that is also her call.

Standing guard in front of the door, Grant was determined not to let anyone disturb Skye's first meeting with her father. But then one of Whitehall's primary aides came up to him and started to open the door. Grant moved in front of it.

"They're not to be disturbed," he told the aide softly. He'd found that using a softer tone was sometimes more threatening than being loud or stern.

Sure enough, the aide paled and said urgently, "I just need to tell Dr. Johnson that Dr. Whitehall wants to speak with him. He's coming here now!"

Grant sighed. If Whitehall was headed their direction, there was nothing he could do. But there was no way in hell he was leaving here without Skye. He nodded and stepped out of the aide's way, listening as the man said his brief sentence to Cal and Skye and then left the room.

Thank God I'm alone because I notice the watch on my hand begins to glow red. I'm surprised and bring it to my face. Fitz left me this watch. I squint to make out the word right underneath the color. <CLOSE.>

'Ok everything i going perfectly now all I have to do is save Trip's life and everything would be good'

Shortly afterward, Cal left the room alone and moved to stand beside Grant as they waited for the Hydra leader to arrive. Grant counted four Hydra foot soldiers plus the aide. Raina arrived before Whitehall, marching straight up to him, perhaps under the illusion that he had some kind of power, just like he did when Garrett was still alive.

"Is there a problem?" she demanded.

He contented himself with tilting his head toward the incoming Whitehall who arrived with an obviously brainwashed former SHIELD agent at his side. The man was carrying a big silver container but Grant didn't speculate as to what was in it. Those sort of conjectures were pointless. He'd deal with the contents of the case when he had to. Grant did allow himself a moment of satisfaction though. If he hadn't caught Kara, she would've been the agent at Whitehall's side instead of Smith who possessed none of her skills. Grant was delighted to know that he'd weakened Whitehall's security. It made the job he had to do now that much easier.

"Well, well," Whitehall said silkily. "We're here today…in part…because of the three of you." He pointed at Grant. "You delivered Raina as you promised." Grant bowed his head, a small smile on his lips. Idiot!

Whitehall wagged his finger at Raina like she was an errant child. "And I had my initial doubts about you, young lady," he said in a jovial tone, "but you are slowly earning my trust." Watching Raina's careful and pained smile, Grant raised his eyebrows. Whitehall clearly had no idea who Raina was or what she could do. Whitehall walked closer to Cal. "And your knowledge of the Diviner," he said in a hushed, almost awed tone, "has led us to this…historic moment. For that, I offer my gratitude."

He turns away from us with his finger in the air. "I have just one question. How does she fit in?"

[For those wondering if it is pure AOS then no it's not. While most of the story will be Agent of SHIELD's, I will add Avengers story as well as there is no way to avoid them]