Ward was standing at the perimeter of the Playground, hands extended, palms up. He was unarmed, his posture relaxed, a cryptic smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

After a moment of stunned silence, the room erupted into a clamour of voices.

"What the hell?"

"What is he doing back here?"

"Is he surrendering?"

"Is he alone? Is HYDRA with him?"

"He's not stupid. He wouldn't just walk in here unarmed unless he has backup ..."

"Quiet, everyone!"Coulson ordered before pressing the button for the loud speaker. "Ward, I don't know why you're here but for now I don't care. Get down on your knees, hands behind your head."

"I'm done kneeling for anyone." Ward looked up at the cameras and shook his head, his tone defiant. "I'm here to make you a deal. And I won't do that on my knees."

"Maybe we'll put a bullet in your kneecap then." Coulson threatened. "I'm sure you won't have problems kneeling then."

Ward shrugged and replied ominously, "You do that ... and she'll get one in hers too."

Coulson paused, disturbed by the confidence exuding from the ex-SHIELD agent.

"She? Who's he talking about? He doesn't mean Skye, surely ..." Simmons said, outraged at his audacity.

"So what's the next move, sir?" Hunter looked over at Skye and resisted the urge to put his arms around her. She had turned as white as a sheet; the shock had robbed the colour from her cheeks and her hands were trembling slightly.

"I say we just shoot him in the head and end this." Trip was grim. "Before he can open that smug mouth of his any more and start with any bullshit about a non-existent deal."

"I concur." May was succinct. "He just wants to fill our head with more lies."

"No. Not yet, at least." Coulson was firm. "Something's wrong. He wouldn't just walk in here unarmed and ..."

He stopped abruptly when a video appeared on all the monitors in the building. It was a live stream of Audrey Nathan, crouched in a corner of a nondescript room, arms clasped around her knees, eyes wide with abject terror. Coulson felt as though he just got punched hard in the stomach and all the oxygen was sucked out of the room. He watched, speechless with rage as the tears flowed down the cheeks of his ex-lover.

"You haven't forgotten the love of your life, have you Coulson?" Ward asked into the camera, his tone almost benign. "I seem to recall you telling me how much she meant to you."

"You son of a bitch!" Coulson choked out, as he gripped the back of a chair so tightly that the knuckles turned white. "Where is she? If you hurt her ..."

Ward cut him off. "She's unharmed. For now. But if my associate doesn't hear from me in the next ten minutes then ... well, let's just say her future as a cellist is no longer guaranteed."

"What do you want?" The director's voice was cold.

"What do you think?" Ward laughed bitterly. "I want the only thing I've ever wanted. Skye. Give her to me and you'll get your cellist back."

At his words, Skye's face turned a shade paler and the trembling in her hands intensified.

"There is no way I'm going to just hand her over to you, you deluded psychopath!" Coulson was livid.

"Then I guess I misjudged you, Coulson." Ward was calm, in spite of his racing thoughts. "Her blood will be on your hands, not mine. My associate will start with her left pinky... "

"No!" Skye finally broke out of her shocked silence and paralysis. She launched herself forward. "I'll come with you. Just don't hurt her!"

"Skye!" Coulson held her back. "You know I can't let you do this."

"There's no other way." Skye looked Coulson squarely in the eyes. "Please. I have to do this. If I don't go ... I don't think I can live with myself if anything happened to someone you care about."

Skye looked around the room at the members of her team, her family - the worry and frustration etched in each individual face was almost too much to bear. She had to reassure them. "I can handle myself. And Ward. He has a sick obsession with me but I don't think he'll hurt me."

"Take this," Simmons whispered as she pulled her aside and handed her a device in the shape of a small thin pen. "It's a single shot of high dosage Dendrotoxin tranquillizer. The same chemical compounds in the ICER. Use it to incapacitate him if needs be. Hide it somewhere he won't find."

"Thanks Jemma." Skye gave her a quick hug before slipping the weapon inside her shirt.

"Three minutes and counting..." Ward's voice floated menacingly into the room. "It's decision time."

Coulson was torn - his body was half blocking Skye, preventing her from moving towards the exit.

May put a hand on Coulson's arm. "Phil. Look at me. He's not bluffing. We have no choice. He'll get his man to torture and kill Audrey if she doesn't go with him now. Besides, Skye is quite capable of taking care of herself."

May's words of reason penetrated Coulson's wall of resistance and he stepped aside and let Skye pass.

"Don't forget what you've learnt, Skye." May said quietly. She was firm with her trainee. "Stay focused. Don't believe his lies."

"I won't." Skye promised.

"She's coming out now." Coulson said defeatedly, all the fight in him dissipating.

"Good. I knew you'd make the right choice, Coulson. Once we leave, I'll get in contact with my man who has her." Ward continued. "She'll be returned as soon as I'm confident we haven't been followed."

Skye gave her team one final glance before she turned and headed towards the exit.

"I'm walking you out to him." Hunter intercepted Skye before she reached the door. She started to shake her head but it was clear he was adamant on the matter. She had never seen him this angry before. It was like he was a completely different person now, all traces of the cocky charming rogue was gone. He was ablaze with fury and overcome with helplessness, the frustration and fear flashing in his brown eyes turning them a shade darker. "I'm going to tell the sick bastard that if he so much as lays a hand on you, then I'll ..."

Skye stopped him by placing a hand on his shoulder. She looked deeply into his eyes for a moment and saw something in them that confirmed her suspicions, something she had only just guessed at earlier but now she was certain of. The realization of his feelings caused a rush of unexpected warmth to wash over her to counteract the cold shock she was feeling at the sight of Ward. She was unsure as yet if she reciprocated but the look in his eyes tugged at her heart and she desperately wished they would get the opportunity to talk after all this was over.

"I'll be okay. I promise." She offered him as reassuring a smile as she could muster and gave his hand a quick squeeze.

"Okay." Hunter forced himself to look away, fearing that if he continued to gaze into her warm brown eyes a second longer, he would give in the the absurd little voice inside his head telling him to physically restrain her so she couldn't leave. To hell with this Audrey woman. How could her life be worth more than Skye's? All he wanted was to keep Skye close and protect her from this monster. But he couldn't do a thing to help her now.

He had never felt so powerless in his life. "I'm still walking you out though."

Skye nodded before turning to Coulson one last time. She impulsively threw her arms around him, feeling his own arms wrapping around her tightly in response.

"I'll be safe. Don't worry. And I'll be in contact as soon as I can."

The rest of the team looked on helplessly as Skye and Hunter made their way outside.

Ward couldn't help but stare as Skye stepped into his view. Was it possible that she had grown even lovelier since he last laid eyes on her? It had only been several weeks but it felt like an eternity. He had her image seared into his brain but even his imagination couldn't do her justice. The reality of her walking towards him - albeit with distrust flashing in her eyes – made his heart beat wildly in his chest. His eyes raked over her hungrily, feasting on the sight of her beauty.

She is finally mine

Ward's excitement subsided when he directed his attention to her companion. He frowned. A man walked beside her - a man unfamiliar to him. Ward scowled when he noticed their close proximity to each other and that he was touching her. The murderous rage that was lying dormant inside him threatened to awaken at the sight of another man laying his hands on Skye. He glared at him with unconcealed menace as they approached.

Undeterred by Ward's death-glare, Hunter kept his hand on the small of Skye's back as they walked slowly to where he was waiting near a black sedan. She was leaning back slightly into his touch for comfort and from Ward's reaction, it was clear that the intimate gesture did not go unnoticed. He clenched his fists tightly as waves of jealousy washed over him. It took all his self-control not to knock the man to the ground with a quick right hook to the side of the head.

"Listen up, mate." Hunter said, stepping forward and closing the gap between them. He looked straight into Ward's eyes as he struggled desperately to rein in his emotions. "I don't know what your deal is but if anything happens to her, I will personally hunt you down and make you suffer like you've never suffered before in your life."

Ward suppressed his rage as he stared back at him with equal intensity. "I'd like to see you try, mate."

"Contact your man now Ward." Skye stepped between the two men. "Tell him not to hurt Audrey."

Ward reached into his pocket, pulled out his mobile and tapped out a simple message.

"Done." He put the phone back in his jacket. "For this hour, anyway. Let's go."

Satisfied that his underlying threat was made clear to the both of them, Ward took Skye's arm and led her to the car. She mouthed a silent goodbye to the mercenary and attempted a reassuring smile. Hunter could only look on helplessly as the car sped off, catching Skye's glance as she turned to look at him one last time from the passenger window.

"What was the deal with Trainspotting there?" Ward made no attempt to hide his displeasure. "Who the hell was that?"

His query was met with stony silence from Skye.

"Well?" Ward was insistent.

"He's not Scottish," she mumbled. She had mistakenly called Hunter that once herself, not too long ago. She suppressed the sudden and completely inappropriate urge to laugh hysterically.

"Whatever." Ward was in no mood for games. "Who is he?"

"My new lover." Skye bit out impulsively. Her combined frustration and anger was making her reckless. She wanted to hurt him and knew that the lie would do the trick. "And he's good. So good ..."

Ward's grip on the steering wheel tightened as his entire body stiffened at Skye's words. "I can tell when you're lying, Skye. Your voice changes pitch."

"Fine. He's a colleague. A friend. What does it matter anyway?" Skye finally answered, feeling the bile rising in the back of her throat as she addressed him. "You've taken me hostage yet again and I have no idea when I'll see him – them – again."

Ward glanced sideways at her briefly. "You're going to have to trust me, Skye. You'll understand soon enough."

"Trust you? Trust you? Are you kidding? Skye's tone was incredulous. "You want me to trust you after threatening to kill Audrey and kidnapping me? Wow. You're even crazier than I thought."

The car skidded to a screeching halt as Ward braked hard and pulled sharply off the main road.

"Listen to me Skye." Ward took hold of Skye's shoulders and forced her to look him straight in the eyes. He spoke softly, his tone terrifyingly calm. "There's nothing crazy about me or what I have planned for you. For us. I've never had a clearer purpose in my life."

He pressed his lips softly against her forehead for a brief moment before gently releasing her and manoeuvred the car back onto the road. Skye felt the long-suppressed sparks of electricity from his contact and was furious that her rebellious body still responded to his touch in such a way.

They drove in silence for a while, each lost in their own contemplations. Skye was first to disrupt the stillness.

"Where are you taking me?" Skye asked as she stared resolutely ahead, refusing to make eye contact with him.

"Somewhere we can really talk." Ward said. "Somewhere safe."

Safe?

She had never felt less safe in her entire life.