Predator

Part 7

I couldn't sleep, the pain was too much. It seemed to have died down a little but I needed to stay awake because I felt weak. I knew that the worst of pain is yet to come as I still had the bullet in my leg and he had to get it out. 

Talking of him, he was very quiet. He seemed very focused on the road whilst glancing at the rear view mirror occasionally. I didn't want to talk to him and he never tried to open a conversation with me. It didn't help that we had been driving for a while and I had no idea where we were going, he just said he was taking me to a safe house. 

I looked out the window to see light snowflakes scattering along the ground. I loved snow, it was so pure and beautiful.

"We're nearly there" I jumped a little, surprised he actually talked. "There's going to be a blizzard which will make it harder for them to find us" I nodded slightly and stared forwards onto the road. He made a right turn and followed a dirt track up the hill until I saw a cottage in the distance. 

"I don't feel well" I whispered, my arms ached from keeping pressure on my leg and my hands were covered in dry blood. He seemed to speed up until we parked up outside the cottage. He quickly got out and walked straight to my side, opening the door and carrying me out towards the entrance of the cottage. With one hand he opened the door and walked inside straight up to the sofa. He gently placed me down and walked outside again before coming back in with a bag. 

"I won't lie, this is going to hurt" He whispered, pulling a first aid kit out of the bag. He grabbed some wipes, a pair of tweezers and a bandage looking at me. "I'd bite down on that pillow if I were you" I grabbed the pillow and placed it in my mouth, biting down ready. He picked the tweezers up and pushed them inside the wound, making a mumbled scream come out of my mouth. The pain was unbearable but he had to do this. I'd just have to kick his ass when I got better to make up for it.

After what seemed to feel like forever, he pulled the tweezers out revealing a blood covered bullet. He placed it on the floor and quickly used the wipes to dab around my leg and then onto the wound. It stung like a bitch, I wanted to cry and pull my leg away but he had to make sure that it didn't get infected unless the pain would get worse. After he was done he lifted my leg up slightly and wrapped the bandage round my leg.

"Thank you" I whispered. 

"So, did you want to keep the bullet? I mean, it is your first time being shot and hopefully the last" He smiled slightly, picking the bullet up and showing me. 

"No, I don't want to keep something that caused me so much pain" I glared at him to see if he got my subtle hint. He just seemed to stare at me, emotionless.

"I know you hate me, I know that you think that I killed your parents but I didn't. When your parents were involved with the crash I was too busy facing your brother who tried to kill me. As soon as I escaped Malick told me that there was member of his family left, you. He told me that I had to travel to England to dispose of you but I had other plans in mind resulting in you still being alive. I wanted revenge, I wanted to drag it out but there was something different about you. You was innocent, confused and alone. I had a soft spot for you and like I told you before, I developed feelings for you which is why I want to protect you"

"Bullshit! Lance would have told me" I frowned at him and he sighed, looking sorry for me.

"But would he? Why would he tell you the truth when hiding it from you would turn you against me and make you join Shield" He raised his eyebrow at me and I suddenly started feeling sick. "Think about it, the timing adds up"

"No" I whispered, looking down at the sofa trying to rattle my brain for reasons to disprove him. I didn't want to believe him but it would make sense. Everyone at Shield hated Ward, why would they tell me the truth when the truth kept me away from him and Hydra? Maybe Ward was right, maybe Shield do try to turn everyone against him even if he's still an ass.  

"I told you I'd protect you Jess but you need to learn the truth before you allow me to" He placed a hand on mine but I swiftly moved it away. I didn't know what to think anymore, why is everyone lying and manipulating me? Why couldn't people just be honest with me, treat me with respect rather than slowly destroy me. "I know how you're feeling, they've made me feel like that for a long time"

"Why would they lie to me? They were my family! They smiled in my face whilst hiding the truth from me" I teared up looking at him sadly.

"I told you from the start, they only care about the mission and if you get in the way you'll get hurt" He moved so he was sitting next to me on the sofa. "They won't hurt you anymore Jess, Shield and Hydra are gone. They won't find us, they'll be fighting each other giving us more time to get away" 

"I don't want to feel this way anymore. I'm tired of being manipulated and used. I wish I could end it all, I wish I could just have a normal life" 

"You can have a normal life, you just have to want it badly enough. I betrayed Hydra, I'm not longer apart of them. If you leave Shield behind, we can just disappear" I stared at him in disbelief. Was he crazy? Did he truly think that I was going to run off with him? Like a romantic film with a happy ending where they run off into the sunset? 

"So, we'll go our separate ways then" I saw a glimpse of a hurt man before it quickly changed into a distant look.

"I can't let you go Jess. I have to know that you're safe and that you're with me incase anything goes wrong"

"Ward, you hurt me, you manipulated me and you're the worst of them all. You made me almost fall for you" I shook my head, feeling the stupidity all over again. "I can't leave with you, I can't have you with me because you're just going to hurt me even if you truly think you're helping me"

"I no longer have affiliation with Hydra.  I'm finally a free man, I can finally be myself after years of being someone I'm not and hiding secrets I wish I could tell. I no longer have to hold any regret that's pent up inside of me" He held my hand and this time, I didn't pull away. "I don't have to act around you anymore, I don't have to lie and be secretive because I'm tied down to Hydra. The only mission I have is of my own accord and that's to protect you" I knew Ward was speaking from the heart but I also knew people don't change that quick and not that much. 

"I wish I could believe you" I whispered, "I believe that's what you want to happen but It doesn't mean you'll go through with it. I believe that you've acted as someone you're not for so long that you no longer know who you truly are" 

"But you make me who I'm supposed to be" He whispered and I saw his eyes begin to water. What the hell is happening? Ward was showing his true emotion to me, his true side. Did I pass out from the pain of my leg? Did the fog suddenly turn up and get me? I couldn't believe what I was seeing and hearing. Ward was showing he was human! I even felt sorry for him! 

"Is that a good thing?" 

"I hope so. I'm tired of being the villain. I want to show you that I can be the hero but you need to trust me" I looked at him sadly before moving closer and hugging him gently. His arms wrapped round me as he took shaky breaths. "I'm sorry for what I've put you through, But I want to make up for that and I promise I will"