Facing Your Past [Book 1]: A Grant Ward FanFic.

Chapter 11 - The Other Base

Providence

Taylor had a lot of time to think about what she would say the next time she spoke to or saw Ward. And a lot of time to think about what they were. So, there she was, laid on her bed, her eyes closed thinking and replaying the last few hours in her head. Should she have taken Garrett's offer, or would she have suffered the same fate? And what about Ward? What side was he on during all of this? SHIELD? HYDRA? If he is HYDRA that means, as we speak, Garrett's free and Hand's dead. If he is SHIELD, then Hand's alive and Garrett is as good as dead. With her luck which one was most plausible? Ward covered for Garrett in the first place, was that because he was Grant's S.O.? She doesn't know. Or was it because he's HYDRA and knew that Garrett was the Clairvoyant? Taylor's thoughts were interrupted by Coulson's voice outside of her bunk. She rose from comfort and investigated the noise.

"Skye, please tell me something good." Phil pleaded.

"We have internet." Skye informed.

"Yay. And, boy, have I lowered my expectations." Coulson said sarcastically as Taylor joined the two but not before giving Skye the dirtiest look known to man.

"But all H.Q. support systems are gone." Skye told them both, ignoring Taylor's stare.

"Well then, the internet it is. Find everything you can on our team, all personal records, photos, anything that proves we exist... then erase it." Coulson orders. Taylor nods in agreement. This wouldn't be the first time she's been erased from existence. Skye has begun working on the holotable but she looks up at his last part.

"Uh, that's kind of the nuclear option." Skye states. Coulson turns and comes back into the room as Taylor speaks.

"It's our only option. Every government agency in the world will be on our ass. We need to vanish." She spat.

"Okay, but...once that's done, it can't be undone. We'll be ghosts. Not agents of SHIELD, just agents of...nothing." Skye says to the two agents. Coulson says nothing, just turns and walks to exit the room again. Until Skye stops him again. "What about Ward? Have you heard from him? He and Agent Hand should have dropped Garrett off at The Fridge by now." Taylor just scoffs. Skye looks at her confused.

"Of course, you would ask that." Taylor spits again, venom dripping off the 'you'. Once again Coulson walks back into the room but ignores Taylor's comment.

"Not yet." He hands Taylor the SAT phone Hand gave to him. "Taylor, give him a call. Hearing how Garrett settled into his tiny, windowless permanent home might actually cheer me up. When you're finished, collect everyone's badges. It's no longer something we want to flash around." This time he can walk out of the room. Taylor gives Skye a smug smile and heads to her bunk. She calls his number and waits for him to pick up.

"Sir? Is everything all right?" Taylor smiles at hearing his voice.

"Hey, it's me. I just wanted to let you know that Grant Ward no longer exists." Taylor starts, still smiling. She can hear the confusion on his face.

"You want to explain that, Taylor?" Ward replies. Taylor's smile drops when she realises how foreign that name sounds coming from his mouth.

"I don't know. Why don't you ask Skye? She's the one erasing your existence." Taylor asked.

"Tay, we've been over this. I said it was nothing." Ward reminded in a warning tone.

"Right, sorry. Coulson had us evacuate before he could lock us all up. Now she is scrubbing our I.D.s while Coulson figures out our next move." Taylor tells him.

"Makes sense." Ward replied. "Agent Hand picked up some Navy jets in the vicinity. She has us taking the long route to The Fridge just to be safe."

"Fair, you took that surprisingly well though. Did you hear the part about you no longer existing?" Taylor laughed.

"Well, it's not the first time our identity's been compromised. You have any idea where Coulson's has us headed?" This makes Taylor smile at the memories.

"No idea. I'll keep you posted though."

"Good." Ward replies. "I'll catch up with you when I can."

"And when I see you next, who you gonna be?" She asked, feeling him smile down the phone at her question. "You got a clean slate. You can be anyone you want.

"I don't know. Maybe...Tom Brady." He answers.