DISCLAIMER: No copyright infringement intended. All publicly owned characters and/or plot do not belong to me. I'm just playing with them. Willow Jamison/Cavanaugh is mine.

CHAPTER 26

"It's quite fascinating, really. Now that I know for sure she's GH-325, it means that I can't treat her like a normal patient. Her body literally resists traditional forms of medical treatment and slows down her healing when I try to intervene. Just the simple use of antibiotics and pain medications decrease her progress. I suspect that her arm would have healed in a matter of days when she was shot if I hadn't forced her to wear a brace. Of course I didn't realize any of this until her body rejected the breathing tube. Then it all made perfect sense." Jemma stared down at Willow's latest lab results. "Her numbers today are absolutely remarkable and her lung scans are fantastic!"

"But she's still unconscious…" Ward grimaced.

"I suspect her mind has shut itself down due to the excessive trauma-taking with it her pain receptors. Essentially her body is protecting her from the pain until she is healed enough. Again, this is in theory-because she is quite frankly, one of a kind. I plan to take some more scans of her ribs later to look for progress, but I would expect significant improvement." The biochemist placed her hand gently on Ward's shoulder. "Give her a little more time Ward. She's going to be alright, I promise."

"Thank you Simmons. For everything." He glanced up at her. "For keeping her alive, and for not totally hating me for being the enemy…."

"We all make mistakes Ward. Willow once told me that it didn't take two PH.D's to be a good friend and help someone in their darkest moments. That's probably the realest thing anyone has ever said to me…..and she was 200% right." Jemma smiled down at him before stepping quietly to the doorway. "This team is lucky to have you, even if they can't see through their anger just yet."

Ward let his talk with Simmons sink in, as he held Willow's hand, carefully stroking her bruised knuckles. He hoped she knew he was there with her. He hadn't left her side, unwilling to take the chance of her waking up alone. The first twenty-four hours were the hardest, listening to the breathing machine-hoping she'd make it. But then, her lungs had started working against the ventilator and her body had heaved and convulsed until they finally got the tube removed. Ward had been thoroughly convinced she was dying at the time, the sounds she had made, and the way her body was fighting had given him even more nightmares-but Jemma had insisted it was great news.

Now as he stared at her unconscious form, he could see that her color was coming back and her breathing had completely evened out. Her hands were finally warm again and he was feeling hopeful that she would come back to him in time.

"I still can't believe she's GH-325. I mean, you saw what her blood did for me." Skye absentmindedly rubbed her baby bump, as she sat on the opposite side of Willow's bed.

"It's hard to believe anything that's happened in the last week, honestly. Also, I owe you a huge thank you for having the foresight to record the conversation with Garrett…and also for not thinking the worst of me. I want you to ….no, I need you to know that I had no idea they planned to shoot you. He kept that part from me because he knew I wouldn't have let it happen-but even after, I should have done something. Anything would have been better than nothing. I will do whatever I can to rebuild that trust."

"Ward, do you think I'd let you be my son's godfather if I thought you were a bad guy? Give me a little credit here." Skye winked. "And….I do trust you. I mean, yeah, I wish I hadn't gotten shot cause it really sucked…but your girlfriend here saved me, so now we've come full circle. Also, I'm pretty sure she'll kill you herself if you ever lie again, so there's that."

"Wait…..you said son. It's a boy?" Ward asked in surprise.

"Yes sir." She grinned. "Simmons did an ultrasound earlier this morning. Lincoln is over the moon right now. We were able to Skype him in."

"That's fantastic!" Ward stood, moving to hug her in congratulations.

"So yeah, this means you have a godson." Skye smirked. "Thank goodness, because I'm not sure you could handle a girl child of mine if something ever happened."

"Yeah yeah-"

There was a hoarse whisper that took them by surprise.

"You should name him Will….after his awesome S.H.I.E.L.D. auntie." Willow tried to sit up, but didn't have the strength.

"Willow!" Ward was to her in an instant, explaining to her that she needed to lay back. That she was injured and needed to rest. He gently kissed her hand, breathing back tears. "You're awake. Thank God you're awake."

She squeezed his hand and he blew out a sigh of relief at the strength in her grip.

"It's good to have you back." Skye grinned. Willow reached for her hand as well and Skye took it. Ward's eyebrows arched in surprise-clearly a lot had changed during their time with Garrett. At least one good thing came from the nightmare, he thought to himself.

"Please tell me he hasn't been hovering." Willow smiled tiredly, looking over Ward's worn out features. He was exhausted, she could tell.

"Understatement of the century." Skye smirked. "I told him to shower in case you woke up-that his three day old stench would probably knock you right back out-but you know Robot, here."

Ward scowled at Skye causing Willow to laugh, and then immediately wince in pain. Her lungs might be healing, but he suspected her broken ribs were a whole other story.

"Wait….three days? I've been out that long?" Her eyes were wide and frantic. "No no no….I've gotta get up. We have to find Garrett. He's still out there and-"

"Hey….hey. It's okay. You're not ready to get up just yet. You still have a bunch of broken ribs and we can't let them puncture your lungs again." Ward tried to calm her. "The team is working on locating Garrett, but they need you at full strength."

"I'm gonna let you two catch up, and I'll let Simmons know she's awake." Skye smiled. "Stay in that bed, missy….or I'll tell Coulson."

Willow frowned in annoyance and Skye laughed, muttering under her breath something that sounded like 'have fun with that' as she walked out.

"So, you two seem to have worked things out." Ward smirked.

"Aside from the fact that she was totally wrong about me and my parents, that she tracked and followed me without consent, and was a complete and utter thorn in my side at first…she's alright."

"Just….alright." Ward chuckled.

"Well…she might have redeemed herself by holding my hand while I listened to my dead mother explain that they turned me into some kind of alien healing potion, and she did apologize and thank me for saving her life." Willow shrugged. "So yeah, maybe I am a little glad she was there with me."

Ward shook his head, laughing softly at her.

"But if I'm being totally honest….the thing that really won me over, was the fact that she's growing a tiny human….that doesn't have your DNA." Willow chewed on her lip as his gaze met hers. "Godson, eh? That's pretty amazing."

"You, are pretty and amazing." Ward whispered. He wanted to kiss her lips so badly, just to prove to himself that she was really awake and okay and he wasn't imagining things, but he settled for another tender kiss upon her hand. He didn't want to risk hurting her, or overstepping any boundaries that might be there now that she knew the truth about his past.

"I am, aren't I?" She smirked, and just like that, he knew things would somehow be okay.

"Already with the sassy pants." He chuckled. "I'll take it though."

Willow's eyes lingered on him for a long moment, before reaching her hand to his face. He leaned into her touch, the warmth soothing his tense muscles from countless hours of worry.

"Thank you." She whispered, her stormy gray eyes not leaving his.

"Please don't thank me. I feel responsible for everything and-" He slowly pulled back from guilt but she cut off his words.

"Stop." She hissed through gritted teeth, as she tried sitting up once more in the hospital bed.

"Willow-"

"I said stop! He doesn't get to do this to me…..or to you. He doesn't get to worm his way between us. Not now Ward. Not after everything he's put us through."

Ward's elbows rested on his knees and he lowered his face into his hands, trying to put all his garbled feelings into words. He'd wanted her to wake up so badly, to be alright, but he hadn't been prepared to deal with the hard stuff yet. He met her expectant gaze. She wasn't going to let him out of it though, this much he knew.

"For nearly 15 years, I followed a man that manipulated me beyond belief. I was convinced the guy was my saving grace, rescuing me from a fucked up childhood. I let him convince me I was a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent-"

"You are a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent." Willow replied with ferocity.

"I infiltrated Coulson's team under false directives to prove Coulson was a Hydra sleeper. I spent over two years trying to rationalize it all in my head. Deep down I knew John had ordered Skye to be shot. I couldn't prove it, but I knew-and that didn't stop me from following his orders. I nearly watched her die, and yet I couldn't make myself believe he was the bad guy-because that meant I was a bad guy. That's never what I wanted. Even as an angry teenager, that wasn't something I wanted. I despised people that hurt others-but I refused to see it."

Ward had stood and was now pacing the tiny room, the emotions spewing out of him like a freshly uncorked wine bottle.

"You are not the bad guy." Willow argued. "You save people. You rescue people from the bad guys-you are not one of them."

"I put the man on a pedestal that ruined your life. How can I not be the villain in your story Willow?" His eyes were full of anger, but not at her. She could feel the hurt of betrayal in his voice radiating off in waves. She wished she could get out of bed to hug him-to hold him. She wished she'd been strong enough to kill John Garrett when she had the chance. It was bad enough he hurt her, but the knowledge that he had hurt yet another person she cared deeply about, made her blood boil.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Anything."

"Why now? What made you defy John Garrett now?"

"You." He replied honestly, without hesitation. Her eyes flew to his.

"Me?"

"The instant I realized he was after you, that was it. I won't let him have you. I refuse to let him hurt you." His voice was hoarse as he moved toward her, sitting down on the edge of her bed.

"You don't have to carry all the burden, Ward. I'm going to be fine, and once I'm healed-I'm going to put an end to all of this." She leaned forward, ignoring the burn in her midsection. She wanted to be closer to him.

"Willow, I don't want you anywhere near him. After working with him all these years, witnessing what he's done to people-the thought of what he might have done to you if we hadn't gotten there in time…. " Their faces were mere centimeters apart now, but Ward's eyes were closed tight in anguish-as if he were trying with all his might to unsee what he had feared for her future.

"Ward-"

"I-I'm no good at this…" She placed two fingers gently over his lips and he opened his eyes, searching hers for the right words. He reached up, taking her hand, twining their fingers together. "I've messed up probably beyond repair. I've done horrible things, and hurt people I care about. The only thing I do know, is that I would die to keep you safe. You are the only thing that makes sense to me anymore."

"Nobody is dying…because you have a promise to keep." She warned him softly. "Everyone I've ever cared about….leaves."

"I don't care what I have to do. I'm not going anywhere, pretty girl."

Their lips barely touched as Simmons came barging in, startling them both.

"I leave for thirty minutes and come back to this?! Willow! You can't be sitting straight up yet. And you…" She whirled around on Ward who actually cowered away from the scientist, slightly afraid she'd hit him with the tablet in her hands.

Willow threw her hands up in the air in exasperation.

"Seriously! What does a girl have to do around here to actually get to finish a kiss?" She complained. "First Skye…then Mack-now you! For the love of all that is holy, I will lay down when I am damned good and ready."

"I…..well…." Jemma stumbled over her words, unsure of how to proceed.

"Let me guess. You have tests to run?" Willow reached for the cup of water on her bedside table but Jemma grabbed it and practically shoved the straw in her mouth to shut her up. Willow took a few sips, enjoying the coolness that soothed her irritated throat. She looked up at Ward who had literally moved to the other side of the room now. "Run all the tests you want. Ward is on his way to take a shower and then he's going to sleep…all night."

He started to protest but she cut him off.

"I don't want to see your handsome face until you've had at least 8 hours of rest. I mean it." She gave him a look that said, ribs be damned, I will get out of this bed and make you. "I'm in good hands-Jemma is thorough, trust me-as many times as I've landed myself in her care, I would know. I'm sure I'll be ready to train tomorrow, so be ready." She grinned devilishly.

"Ha! Not a chance of that." Simmons piped up and Ward chuckled, knowing she'd only said that to get a rise out of the scientist.

Ward chanced moving to her bedside and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead.

"If you need anything….."

"I know." She squeezed his hand. "Get some sleep. I promise I'll be fine."

Even though deep down, she really didn't want him to leave-she always felt safer with him around. Her fear was irrational-she knew Garrett couldn't get to her here. Ward reluctantly nodded and left the scientist to deal with Willow's fiery attitude. He knew it was all part of her coping mechanism though. He'd seen her raw pain out in those woods. Sure, the GH-325 could heal her physical wounds-but what about the emotional ones?

The next morning, Ward had woken with a start, realizing he'd slept far longer than he'd meant to. He showered quickly, throwing on some jeans and a black t-shirt before heading back to the med bay. When he found the bed was empty and completely made-he practically growled in frustration. He figured he should be used to finding himself in this situation by now, but that didn't help calm his irritation that she was missing, yet again.

What he didn't expect to find was Willow and Skye sitting at the bar in the kitchen laughing and talking like old friends. Willow looked like her regular old self.

"What are you doing out of bed? You should be resting!"

Both women abruptly stopped talking and glanced his way. Willow smiled brightly at him and he suddenly forgot he was upset.

"I just…..uh….remembered ….I need to call Lincoln." Skye grinned. "Morning Robot. Don't be too hard on her."

Ward nodded at her as she walked out, moving toward Willow. She had her hair down, and she wore faded jeans with a pink t-shirt that said 'fight like a girl' on it. Appropriate, he thought. She reached for his hands, pulling him to stand between her knees, looking up at him innocently as if she was prepared his wrath.

"I feel like a broken record, but you have to stop scaring the shit out of me. Every time I find you missing I-" His tone started out clipped, but he gave up, resting his forehead to hers.

"I'm sorry. I never apologized for running off from the safe house." She chewed on her lower lip and his fingers brushed over it, tugging it from her teeth, lingering on her skin giving her goosebumps.

"You should have came to me. I would have gone with you."

"And what? Had to choose between me and Garrett on the spot?" She frowned. Both of his hands reached out to cup her jaw, his darkened eyes boring into hers.

"I will always choose you. Do you hear me? Always."

"He would have killed you." She breathed out raggedly. "So I guess the truth is, I'm really not sorry I left you behind."

"You're not ever doing that to me again."

"I can't make that promise-

"Willow."

"What?"

"Shut up." Her mouth fell open in shock, but then his lips crashed to hers and she whimpered in satisfaction as she hooked her thumbs through his belt loops, pulling him toward her. His fingers tangled in her long, dark locks as they kissed-sinking into the relief of being able to truly taste her, being able to feel her aliveness.

"Ohhhhh wowza…..I um…didn't realize you two were in here doing um…. that." The Scottish engineer stuttered from the doorway. " I mean, you know…um…oh bloody hell."

Ward stopped abruptly, and Willow actually groaned in absolute irritation, peeking over Ward's muscular shoulder.

"Nope." Willow pointed to the doorway. "You…out."

Fitz's mouth hung open, embarrassed.

"Actually, you know what….no." She moved to stand, holding her ribs to support them, and grabbed Ward's hand. She dragged him past Fitz and down the hall to Ward's bunk. He followed after her, shrugging at the scientist.

Stopping outside the door, she turned and stared up at him with a certain longing in her eyes. He recognized that look of want, and for the first time in his adult male life, he felt strangely, and annoyingly if he was being honest, compelled to hold back.

"As much as I-"

"Open the door Ward." She ordered softly.

He hesitated only a moment before they were inside and she was pulling him to her as he closed the door with his foot. Her back hit the wall behind her and he tensed, worried she might have hurt herself but she made no mention of it before her lips found his again. His restraint was hanging by a thread as he fought not to go too far and take her right then and there as his. When he was finally able to get a grip on himself, he pulled back abruptly with a low groan of frustration.

"I'm sorry." She panted in embarrassment, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear, before flattening her palms against the wall at her sides so she wouldn't be tempted to reach out and touch him.

He didn't want her to be sorry.

He stared into the deep charcoal pools of her eyes as her chest rose and fell in deep breaths, before leaning back in carefully, his arms holding himself on either side of her head against the wall, just far enough away to protect her ribs. His lips brushed just under her ear, and again on her neck. She shivered, her eyes fluttering closed.

"I want this. I do. But not like this. Not here. Not when you were barely alive two days ago." He breathed against her skin. "You mean more to me than that."

"I know." She whispered, swallowing hard. "I didn't really mean to …well….maybe I did for a moment there…" Willow's cheeks flushed. "I just…. wanted to be with you for five minutes. Five uninterrupted minutes. No teammates. No Garrett. No lies. No pasts looming over us. No fears or sadness. I just wanted you for five minutes Ward."

A single tear escaped and trailed down her cheek. This was the real Willow. The impossibly beautiful and strong, sassy and unpredictable woman that he cared for, once again letting him see her vulnerable side. That's when he always saw just how brave she truly was. Cupping her cheeks in his hand, gently brushing the tear away with his thumb, he grinned down at her.

"Just five minutes? You wound me." He winked.

"God, shut up!" She smacked his chest with an embarrassed laugh, glancing away to avoid his gaze.

"I'll do better than five minutes." He gripped her chin, forcing her to look at him. "I've got the entire day off and I might have heard Agent May mention a pit stop at the Triskelion.

"Pretty sure that's the last place I want to be right now." Willow frowned.

"Me either. That's why, we're not going." Ward smirked. "How are you feeling? Are you up to a lunch date at the Botanic Garden?"

Willow's entire demeanor shifted, practically lighting up the room.

"I was about to jump your bones two minutes ago. I'd say I'm feeling pretty good." She stuck out her tongue, playfully.

"Careful with that tongue, princess. It's not like I enjoy resisting you." He traced a finger over her jaw and down her throat teasingly.

"Ohhh usually I only get the princess treatment when I'm causing trouble." She laughed, nipping at his fingertip as it brushed over her lips.

"You're always causing trouble." He leaned down to kiss her once more, before pulling back to add some distance-not wanting to risk losing control for a second time. She stood there chewing on her lip, unable to speak. Ward couldn't deny that he loved how much the space between them was bothering her too, but that lip might be his ruination if she kept it up. Finally she pulled herself away from the wall, trusting herself not to attack him.

"There's just one problem with your plan. Simmons will never agree to it." She huffed out. "She barely cleared me to leave the room this morning even though I feel great, and my scans were perfect. Bones are healed, just waiting on some of the swelling to go down. Other than that, I'm good."

"You leave Simmons to me." He winked, opening the door. "Get ready and I'll come back for you in a few."

"I can't believe you got them to agree to this." Willow genuinely smiled up at him as they walked side by side, her arm looped through his happily.

For a moment, she almost felt like a normal person. Not some girl with alien blood coursing through her veins and a serial killer after her wanting to drain her dry. At first she'd been a bit apprehensive, wondering if Garrett could somehow find them, but the temptation of having a day alone with Ward in the sunlight was too much to pass up. Plus, she was an agent. She couldn't submit to fear, no matter how much she really wanted to.

"Let's just say, I owe Simmons about a million field samples and she may or may not have threatened to give me an alien virus." Ward grinned.

"Well that's not really anything new." Willow chuckled. "And Coulson?"

Ward tapped his wrist and she noted the bracelet he wore.

"What's that?" She questioned.

"I agreed to wear it when I confessed I was Hydra. Basically, Coulson knows where I am at all times and can take me down with the touch of a button."

Willow stopped abruptly with her signature hardened scowl plastered across her face.

"You can't be serious. Skye retrieved her phone and played them the conversation with Garrett. How can Coulson not-"

"It's not for Coulson's benefit I don't think. Not really. Some of the others…..had a harder time accepting it." Ward grimaced.

"May."

"I can't blame her." Ward gripped her hand, leading her through the stony entrance to the gardens. "Besides, I wouldn't trust me either if I were in their shoes. They have no reason to."

"I'll talk to her. If I can trust you maybe-"

"Don't. I deserve her anger. And honestly, even though I've been thanking all that is good and holy in this world that you didn't hightail it away from me-that doesn't mean I think you shouldn't have."

Willow rolled her eyes.

"Ward…ok yes. I wish you could have told me what Garrett was doing to you, and maybe I wish that you had no relation to him. But you didn't kill my family. You aren't the one that tortured me. You are a victim to his madness as much as I am-but you were there for me when it mattered most. You did the right thing when you didn't have to-and as much as I hate John Garrett with every fiber of my being-I wouldn't be standing here in this beautiful garden with you if it weren't for him."

"How do you do that?" He shook his head in bewildered amazement.

"Do what?"

"Be so…I don't know…..fiercely positive all the time? It's impossible."

"Oh hush." She blushed, nudging his shoulder with hers. "You know I'm not."

"I'm serious." Ward strayed from the path toward a row of white picnic tables. "You never seem to see the bad side of anything. I wish I knew what that was like."

"It's not that I don't see it. Negativity is just…..exhausting." They each took a seat across from one another, and Ward sat down the basket of food they'd gotten from a local deli when they first arrived. "When I was younger, I used to dwell on the death of my parents. A part of me still does, but I try and use it as fuel for the cause now. I remember feeling so hopeless and lost, hiding from life and feeling sorry for myself. That's when I realized my depression wasn't changing anything-so I decided to join S.H.I.E.L.D. Academy in my parents footsteps, so I could rid the world of all the mean and nasty hope stealers." She scrunched her face playfully. "Positivity and negativity both spread like wildfire, so we have to be careful which one we choose."

"Is it too late to be you when I grow up?" He winked, pulling out her turkey sandwich and bottled water, placing them before her.

"What fun would that be?" She grinned. "I guess I'd have to hit up that Aussie pub again and take my chances with Blondie."

"Yeah. That's not happening."

Her eyes trailed to his and she was met with a look she hadn't quite seen before. Willow bit her lip, thoroughly enjoying this version of Ward. She leaned forward toward him, smirking.

"Could it be? I'm not the only one that gets jealous?"

"You have no idea how crazy jealous you made me that night." He admitted, not breaking her gaze, and she could feel her skin flush all over.

"Why didn't you tell me?" She questioned breathlessly.

"I wasn't sure of the right thing to do back then. But I knew I wanted you to be happy-and I thought you were. I didn't want to complicate things." Ward's eyes flitted to avoid her gaze now.

"You make me happy." Willow smiled. "Especially when you make that broody, angsty face like you're doing right now. It's quite adorable really…."

"Whaaaaat?" He sat back embarrassed and she genuinely laughed as he tried to hide his smile.

"You heard me." She teased, pulling back to take a bite of her sandwich.

"Maybe I should let you go find Mr. Rugby Asshole….." He grumbled, playfully. "I'm not that broody."

She sipped her water, an onery smirk tugging at her lips.

"He did give me his address…"

Ward nearly choked on his food as he muttered something that sounded a lot like 'break his hands' and maybe something about 'putting a soccer ball where the sun didn't shine'.

And after that, they fell back into their normal groove of being Willow and Ward, only now she got to revel in the fact that he wasn't just Ward. He was her Ward.

It had been the best afternoon either of them could have possibly imagined, given how the week had started. They'd walked the gardens for hours, enjoying the exotic plants-the bright colors and sweet smells had lifted her spirits.

At one point, the male guide on one of the tours kept getting too close to her. Ward wasn't quite over the fact that she'd been attacked just days before-and as far as he was concerned-everyone was a potential threat, so he kept her close.

Willow would have said something, but if she was being honest, she was comforted by his protectiveness-and the contact felt good. The way his arm would slip around her shoulders or waist. The way he would subtly press a soft kiss to her temple, or the way he stood just enough in front of her as they neared other people, never letting go of her hand.

Others might have found it somewhat possessive-but not Willow. He knew she could fight-that she could handle herself. His simple acts weren't dominating in a 'she's mine' sort of way. They were simply saying 'she can take you on her own, but believe me, she won't have to'.

However, all perfect moments must come to an end-especially for S.H.I.E.L.D. agents. As they made their way toward the gift shop, Ward's phone rang.

"It's Coulson." He frowned, answering the call immediately. A group of rowdy middle school students on a field trip were causing a deafening ruckus, so Ward mistakenly stepped off to the side placing a finger in his other ear trying to make sense of Coulson's hurried words.

"Hydra infiltrated the Triskelion. There's no telling how deep-but we can trust no one. Garrett was there. He tried to overtake us but we escaped and lost him again. He killed Agent Hand and we are pretty sure he had tails on you two the moment we touched down. Get somewhere safe-we're almost to the BUS now. We'll come to you and maybe you can help us thumb through potential Hydra threats."

"Understood." Ward ended the call and turned back to Willow- only, for what feel like the millionth time, she wasn't there. His heart thudded in his chest as he scanned the crowd for any sign of her. This couldn't be happening again, he thought angrily.

That's when he spotted her, pulling against two men, one on each of her arms about twenty feet away, dragging her off. His fear turned to fury and all he could see was red. Willow glanced over her shoulder and locked eyes with him.

"WARD LOOK OUT!" She screamed, giving him just enough time to narrowly miss the knife coming for his midsection from behind him. He caught the arm under his elbow, disarming the attacker, bending his wrist upward with an effective crack before pulling out his icer and planting a round in the guy's chest. With precision, he took aim and managed to shoot one of Willow's attackers between the shoulder blades and he hit the pavement like a ton of bricks-but he couldn't get a safe lock on the second target.

Ward started toward her when more men arrived, three he could be sure of, moving through the sea of tourists. He weighed his options hurriedly. He doubted he could make it to Willow before the other three caught up-and she was clearly who they were after. The last thing he wanted was to lead them right to her. He'd evened the playing field for her at least, but when he saw the man grip her ponytail his decision was made. Ward grinned because he knew that guy was about to get the beat down of his life, he just had to hope they didn't hit her in the ribs. He turned his attention back to the other three, who now had him surrounded.

"Three on one guys…odds could be better…for you." He shrugged sarcastically.

He dodged the first fist, gripping his wrist firmly, smashing his elbow backward into splinters. Not stopping there, he twisted and tucked the guy's broken arm up behind his back-serving him up as a human shield while he iced the other two before they even had time to attack.

"Thanks for the cover asshole. Have a nice nap." He growled before putting an icer round in guy number three's chest. His attention turned back to Willow causing him to stupidly catch the brass knuckles of another attacker just underneath his left eye. He staggered back momentarily before the guy rushed toward him. Ward's swept his leg out from under him landing his enemy on his back and vulnerable. He slammed his boot into the guy's knee cap, the crunch of bones muffled beneath his screaming. Reaching down, Ward gripped his hair, slamming his head into the concrete below, knocking him out.

Willow felt the fingers in her ponytail and all her training with Ward had kicked in like muscle memory. Luckily he had dropped the hand on her arm like an idiot, so she gripped the wrist holding her hair and spun her body around. The man was easily 250lbs and over six feet tall, towering over her small frame-but that also made all the vulnerable spots more accessible. They stood face to chest and she wasted no time slamming her knee into his groin. He dropped his hands in pain letting go of her completely to clumsily reach for his manhood, but she quickly pushed his arms up and outward with her own, eliminating his defenses so she could uppercut his jaw with her fist as hard as she possibly could. As he staggered backward, dazed-she gripped his nasty, sweaty shirt, pulling him toward her-doubling the force of her knee that connected with a perfect kidney shot, dropping him instantly to his knees.

"That's what you get for touching my hair, asshole." She breathed, adrenaline coursing through her. "Tell Garrett I'm coming for him." Her voice was frighteningly calm as she landed her elbow into his temple, effectively ending the fight.

Willow felt a hand grip her hip, spinning her around and she nearly gave the person attached to it a black eye until she realized it was only Ward. He gave her a quick once over, noting the unconscious man on the ground.

"He touched the hair." Ward smirked.

Willow shrugged innocently, remembering the time in training that she'd viciously laid Ward out on the mat after he'd made the mistake of gripping her hair. It had been a rather victorious moment for her that day.

He kissed her forehead quickly with an amused laugh.

"Your eye is bleeding…" She fussed, worriedly. It was so unlike him to get hit. Willow suddenly felt guilty, realizing she had probably been a distraction. Him getting hurt because of her was the last thing she wanted.

"It's just a scratch. C'mon….we need to move. I'll explain on the way."

She took his hand, following him without question through the city, and hopefully toward a moment of safety.