So this one-shot is connected to the last one in the sense that it uses the information that I gave in the last one. But this DOES NOT FOLLOW the last one. It's not part of the same story. It's just using some of the same characters from her memories. So enjoy!

They were waiting for Coulson in the briefing room. They had gotten a call that they had a job to do. Fitz and Simmons were jabbering about some scientific thing or another and May and Ward talked in hush tones, probably about ops.

Skye watched them quietly and thought for the umpteenth time about how grateful she was to be with them. They had become her family.

Coulson interrupted her thoughts, walking in and declaring, "There have been five murders in the past two weeks, all in the same town. S.H.I.E.L.D is almost positive there's something alien behind it."

"How do you know?" Skye asked.

"There were traces of alien material around the bodies," Coulson responded.

"Any connection between the victims?"

"They were all young women between the ages of 23 and 25. And they were all alumni from the same high school in the town, which is celebrating a high school reunion tomorrow evening."

"So what's the plan?" Fitz questioned.

"We're going undercover," Coulson replied.

"But…" Simmons stuttered, "But Skye and I fit into that category. Are you going to use us as bait?"

Coulson gave her a look, "Of course not. You are not going undercover, Simmons. Skye will be attending the reunion as an alumnus, with Ward as her plus one. The two of you will decide your cover story later. You'll each have contacts that will monitor for abnormal activity. Fitz and Simmons, you'll both be here, at the other end of the monitor. When you catch sight of something strange, you'll let May and I know. We'll be stationed outside. Questions?"

"How are we going to get Skye into the reunion?" Ward asked.

"I've pulled some strings," Coulson replied. "I got her an invitation."

"So where is it that we're going?" May asked, sounding as cold as ever.

"Creston High School, Grand Rapids, Minnesota."

Skye's heart stopped and the blood froze in her veins. She made a small choking noise and stared at the floor, her face displaying a look of surprise and horror. The others looked over at her in confusion.

"Skye?" Coulson asked, "Are you ok?"

She looked up, "I used to go to school there."

"But you were in an orphanage," Fitz burst out, confused. Simmons elbowed him in the ribs, but Skye just shook her head. She didn't mind the reminder anymore.

"They didn't know what to do with me. No one would take me so they decided to put me into school. I only went there for a year."

"What happened?" Simmons asked.

"I dropped out."

Before Simmons could ask any more questions, Coulson cut in. "Are you going to be ok on this mission?"

Skye nodded. "I'll be good."

For the rest of the day, Ward and Skye were working out their cover story. It was both easier and harder now that the people there would know who she was already. If they remembered her that is.

They arrived in Grand Rapids the next day. In the morning, Skye went with Simmons to pick an appropriate outfit. They ended up going with a black skirt and a long-sleeved, scoop neck green shirt.

Now, she stood in front of Coulson, Ward next to her. He was dressed in one of his usual black suits.

"Let's run through your story one more time," Coulson said, looking back and forth between them, "What happened after you left high school, Skye?"

"I got an internship at a software company in California, where I've since gotten a job, writing programs and software."

"Ward? What's your cover?"

"I grew up in New York City, went to Columbia. I moved to California to become a lawyer."

"What's your relationship?" Coulson continued interrogating their cover stories, "How'd you two meet?"

"We've been together for a year," Skye responded immediately.

"We met at the same gym and have been together since," Ward continued.

Coulson nodded, "Make sure to be specific with any other details. Good luck."

He and May got into one of the SUVs. They drove off in the direction of the school They were going to be waiting in the back of the gymnasium, ready to crash the party, should the need arise.

Fitz and Simmons moved forward, contacts at the ready. Skye and Ward tipped back their heads, opening their eyes wide.

Simmons placed the contact gently in Skye's eyes.

When she blinked and the contact settled, she looked at Simmons in front of her. The contact had done nothing to her vision.

"Is it supposed to do something?" she asked, hesitantly.

"No," Simmons replied. "Not for your vision."

"But we are getting info on our monitors," Fitz continued, "As soon as it picks up something alien, we'll know."

After a few more preparations, they were ready to go.

Skye slid into Lola's passenger seat, Ward taking the wheel.

They arrived at the high school. People were filing into the gymnasium. From it spilled light and noise. Ward pulled into a parking space and killed the engine.

"Are you ready?" he asked, turning towards her.

Skye nodded, "As ready as I'll ever be."

Ward stared at her for a moment before nodding. They both began to get out of the car. As Ward began to close the door, he stopped short, "Wait."

"What?" Skye asked.

"I don't even know you're last name," he said.

"I don't have one," she said.

"Then what did you go by in high school? I'm supposed to be your future fiancé, I should know your last name."

"Cathcart," she stated, somberly, "That's the name they gave me at the orphanage. Skye Cathcart."

They rounded the car and met at the trunk. Popping it open, Ward pulled out two guns, holstering them under his jacket.

Skye turned to him, buttoning his jacket and straightening his tie.

"Don't forget," Ward said, "Call me Grant, not Ward."

"Got it," Skye responded, still smoothing out his attire.

One of his hands folded over both of hers, stilling them. He raised the other and cupper her cheek.

"I don't know what happened to here," Ward's voice was deep, gentle, and soothing. It made her want to forget all the problems that she's had and just listen to him forever. "But you don't have to worry. I'm here. I'll protect you."

Skye smiled at him and leaned into his touch. "I know," she whispered.

Ward smiled and pulled his hands away.

"Well then Ms. Cathcart," his voice turned flirty and sexy as he offered her his arm, "Shall we?"

"We shall," Skye took his arm, "Grant."

As they walked in, Skye thought frantically, He's not going to be here anyway. He'll have gotten fired. Or he'll have left. He wont be there. But as much as she tried to convince herself, it wasn't working.

They had been mingling for an hour. They had repeated their cover story to 10 of Skye's acquaintances. They were on 11 right now.

"Where did you meet?" the man asked. Skye remembered his name was Frank.

"We go to the same gym," Skye responded. "Grant and I have been together for a year."

They continued small talk for a few minutes more.

"I'm going to go get a drink," Skye turned to Ward, "Do you want anything, honey?"

"I'm good, thanks," Ward replied, watching her go.

In true character, he leaned forward, towards the man they had been talking to.

"I'm going to propose to her soon," he smiled.

"Really?" To his credit, the man looked genuinely interested. "When?"

"In a few days," Ward winked.

"I'm glad the two of you are happy," Frank responded, "She was only here for a year, but she had a rough time."

"How so?" Ward cocked an eyebrow. He probably shouldn't be doing this on a op, but he jumped at every chance he got to learn more about Skye. "She doesn't talk about her life before her internship very much."

"Well, she didn't really have many friends. I was friendly, but she seemed to always push people away. She was smart, but didn't really apply herself very much, I guess. She was just…a loner. She was kind of goth-ish, too."

As Frank spoke, Ward's mind formed a picture of Skye. A slightly younger version of her, sitting alone, always dressed in black, always in mourning. It was terrible and sad and Ward tried his best to banish the image from his mind.

Skye was filling a cup with punch when Fitz and Simmons came on over the comm device in her ear.

"We're getting traces of alien residue," Simmons said.

"Where?" Skye pressed her finger against the earpiece and spoke as quietly as she could.

"Straight ahead of you, next to the wall."

Skye looked up. He was there, straight ahead of her, leaning nonchalantly against the wall. Brown hair was slicked back on top of a square head. His face was somewhat attractive, but also held a hidden malice. Skye was only able see it because she knew it was there. The top two buttons of his plaid shirt were unbuttoned, revealing the beginnings of a muscular chest. His hands were in his pockets and he was staring right back at her.

She knew her contact was zooming in on him.

"That's our alien," Fitz said, "He may look human, but he is most definitely alien. Be careful, he might be dangerous."

"Coming over to you now, Skye," Ward's voice filled her ear before Coulson joined in: "May and I are ready if you need help."

But Skye wasn't listening.

"Mr. Michaleson," she whispered to herself. She knew the rest of her team heard because there was the faint buzz of questions in her ear, but she paid them no heed.

A memory came back to her as she made her way over to him.

The bell rang. "Skye, would you stay after class?" Mr. Michaelson requested. Skye didn't respond, but didn't leave either.

Foster care finally stopped trying to sell her off and put her in a real school. She didn't know what was worse. She didn't have friends here either. No wanted to be near the orphan who cut.

Except Mr. Michaelson. He got off on it. On her scars.

Skye was still sitting in her desk, fiddling with her physics notebook. Michaelson came up behind her, placing his hands on her shoulders. He pulled her up, pressing her against him.

His hands slid under her shirt.

Skye did nothing except stare ahead, her doe eyes lifeless.

Soon, Skye was standing in front of her old teacher. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Ward coming closer.

Subtly, she motioned for him to stay put, that she could handle this.

"Hello, Mr. Michaelson," her voice wasn't like her own. Inside, she was breaking, splintering into thousands of fragments. On the outside, she sounded calm and cold.

"Skye?" he sounded surprised and pushed himself off the wall. He advanced, coming to a stop right in front of her. "My, my. It has been a long time."

His slithery voice wrapped around her, coating her in lies.

"I didn't expect to see you her, Skye, my darling," he smiled, inching himself closer to her.

"You're a monster, Michaelson," she spat, "And you know what? I'm here to end you."

"You think you could end me? What kind of monster do you think I am?" he slurred. He began to circle her and he ended up behind her.

Skye was sure the party would stop and people would turn to stare as all of this unfolded. But no one did. The party continued. The noise swelled around them. Ward stayed away, just as Skye signaled him to.

His hands found her shoulders, pushing her shirt and bra strap to the side. His finger traced along the curve of her neck up to her ear. He leaned down, and breathed into her ear.

"You will always be mine," he whispered, "I own you."

Skye tried to move away, strain away form him, but she couldn't move. She was frozen with fear and revulsion.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Ward. He looked furious. He raised his finder to his ear, pressing on his comms. His mouthed moved, forming to words that would call Coulson and May in.

Skye closed her eyes in defeat. She hadn't wanted anyone to know about this. She didn't want Ward or May or Coulson to see her this way.

"That's a good girl," Michaelson breathed, "Submit."

Ward came closer, hand going to his gun. Michaelson's head snapped to look at Ward. His face turned savage, contorting, extra teeth coming down from his guns.

He pushed Skye away from him and she fell to the floor, scrambling to get away. By now, the entire party was watching.

Ward drew his gun, pointing it at Michaelson.

"You think your guns can hurt me?" his voice was changing. It sounded like nails on a chalkboard or broken glass.

Skye looked up to see that the rest of him was changing, too. He was getting taller, brawnier. His pupils turned to slits. His irises and the whites of his eyes turned a bright yellow. His skin turned a sickly grey, but the rest of him looked humanoid.

A shot resounded. Ward had fired. The bullet hit Michaelson's in the center of his forehead and his head snapped back. But then he looked back up.

His face held a look of pure malice as he glared at Ward. Michaelson advanced on the agent. Ward kept firing but it did nothing to slow the monster down.

Michaelson knocked Ward's gun out of his hand, grabbing Ward by the neck and slamming him against a wall.

Ward's gasp of pain roused Skye from her fear.

She stood, shouting. "Hey! Michaelson!"

There was no response.

"Michaelson!" she repeated, "You sick bastard!"

That got his attention. He turned, slowly, dropping Ward. The agent slid down the wall, slumping.

Michaelson started advancing on her.

She didn't know what to do. She had no plan other than to get him away from Ward.

Michaelson raised a hand and she did nothing. His backhand stung her cheek and sent her flying across the room.

The party goers had fled and the gym was empty.

Fruit punch went flying when he knocked the table out of his way. Skye scrambled to get away from him, but her back slammed against the wall. There was no where to run. No where to hid. It was just like when she was younger. She could do nothing against this man, this monster, that took advantage of her.

Just then Coulson and May rushed in. but there was nothing they could do for her.

"You know what I'm going to do to you?" he growled, "After all your little friends are dead, I'm going to take you until you can't sit for a week. I'm going to make you mine, slut."

Anger flared in Skye. She thought about books she'd read and movies she'd seen and people she'd talked to. They all said when they fought they felt a profound calm. Skye thought that was bullshit.

All she felt was chaos, raging up in her like a tidal wave, taking over everything.

She didn't think, she didn't process, as she drew a dagger from her boot.

"I. Belong. To. No. Man," Skye shouted, enunciating every word.

With more strength than she ever thought she had, she leaped at Michaelson. She landed on Michaelson. The blade of the knife flashed as she plunged it into his neck.

He gave an inhuman roar of pain and fell. Blood squirted and coated Skye.

Ward and Coulson stumbled over the mayhem towards her. May checked to make sure Michaelson was dead.

He was.

She knelt on the floor, rocking back and forth.

"Oh god, oh god, oh god," she sounded broken.

Ward knelt next to her.

"It's ok," he whispered, "Shh. It's going to be alright."

He wrapped her in his strong arms, puling her against him.

He pressed his lips to her forehead. "I'm here for you, Skye."

It was done. It was over. Michaelson was dead.

Skye was sitting on her bed on the Bus, her eyes closed.

She felt the bed dip slightly as someone sat next to her.

She listened to the strong breathing.

"Ward," she guessed.

"Yes?"

"Hold me," it wasn't a command. It was a request.

He took her in his arms, leaning back. She was against his chest.

"Ward," she said again.

"Yes?"

"I think I'm in love with you."

There was no response for a few moments.

"Skye?"

"Yes?"

"I think I'm in love with you, too."