Based on the song "Here With Me" by The Killers.

Wheels are turning, I remember when you were mine. Now just to reach you, baby I'd stand in line. But there's another world you're living in tonight and there's another heart that's fading in the light.

"We need to split up!" Coulson yelled over his shoulder at Ward, Hunter, and Kara.

Hunter nodded, "we'll cover you, go find Skye!"

Ward watched as Coulson made his way down the hallway and made the split-second decision to follow him. If Coulson was going to be finding Skye then Ward was going to be right along side him.

They made their way through the building, shooting the Hydra agents that tried to block them until they came to a doorway.

Who the hell is that guy?" Ward pointed with his gun as Lincoln and Mike Peterson came tumbling through the doorway.

Mike looked up, breathless, "I don't know. He packs quite a spark. I think he's protecting Skye."

Ward nodded as it registered. That's why this guy was here, he was with Skye. He shouldn't have been surprised, Skye could pretty much make anyone trail after her like a puppy dog. Still, there was just a slight burning sensation in the pit of his stomach that he didn't quite want to put a name to when he thought of the new guy in front of him.

Don't want your picture on my cell phone, I want you here with me. Don't want your memory in my head, no, I want you here with me.

"Skye," Ward breathed in disbelief as he handed Coulson his gun and looked over his shoulder. There she was, standing not even twenty feet in front of him, not a trace of anger or bitterness in her eyes as they looked at one another.

She swallowed thickly and her gaze flickered to Coulson. "Coulson," a relieved smile graced her features as she made her way towards the two men.

Suddenly, before Ward could even register what was happening, a man appeared out of nowhere and wrapped his arm around Skye, "I need to get you out of here."

"No, no, not yet, not yet!" She yelled as she looked back at Ward helplessly.

Then she vanished.

I must've been a fool to the bitter end. Now I no longer hope to have you back again.

"I'm still glad I shot you." Those words rang through Ward's mind for the rest of the week after he left Coulson and the team. He had been holding on to the slightest hope that maybe, just maybe, she wasn't as angry with him anymore. Apparently he was wrong.

He tried to shrug it off as he rolled on his side and tried to get some sleep, but the words nagged at him constantly, driving him up the wall. He sat up in bed and ran a hand through his hair as he replayed the scene in his mind over and over again.

He groaned when he realized that it wouldn't do him much good and he fell back on to his bed in defeat. If only things had gone differently, then maybe-

No.

There was no point in going through the 'what ifs'. They only made things worse.

Don't want your picture on my cell phone, I want you here with me. Don't want your memory in my head, no, I want you here with me.

A year or so has passed before he saw her face again.

He was sitting in a diner, trying to keep a low profile when she walked in with Sparky, as Ward liked to refer to him. Ward sat still in his booth, holding his menu up to his face, hoping she wouldn't see him, yet just a small part of him kind of hoped she would. He peeked over the top of the menu and saw her and Sparky smiling and laughing and a small, sad smile appeared on his face. He was happy for her. Really. She deserved someone who could make her happy, even if it wasn't him.

Sparky got up to order them some drinks and Ward put his menu down, thinking the coast was clear. But just then, Skye turned around to place her coat on the back of her chair and their eyes met. She gave a calm and collected look, one that said, "you know, I'm supposed to turn you in."

He matched it with one of his own, "I know," he nodded, "I'd like to see you try."

He picked up his leather coat and threw it on over his t-shirt and walked right past her and out the door. The bell rang on his way out and he could see through the corner of his eye that Skye was watching him through the window. He climbed into his car and put the keys into the ignition.

"If only things had turned out differently," he thought.

Well I saw you in a restaurant the other day and instead of walking towards you, I ran away. I keep on waiting for you to come around and say, don't want your picture on my cell phone, I want you here with me. Don't need those memories in my head, no, I want you here with me.

I know, I know, I haven't updated this one in a while, I apologize. This chapter was more of a "let's see if this gets me going again" thing because I have a lot of ideas and songs to add to this story I just can't really flesh them out yet.

(The art isn't mine but it describes the situation pretty well. 😂) 

Anyways, I hope you enjoyed my sorry attempt to start working on this story again and I hope to have more up soon. Fingers crossed!