It's Been A Long Year Since We Last Spoke How's Your Halo
They make it to the Hydra base in a few hours, Daisy has spent the entire plane ride watching Maria Hill and Coulson. Once upon a time she trusted Hill, didn't know her all that well but Daisy trusted her to do the right thing, to put Shield first. But who is Maria Hill now? The woman that works for Iron Man, the person who'd follow Nick Fury to the grave, who is she without Shield? From what Daisy has observed, that trust is now broken. She's too secretive, speaking to Coulson in hushed tones, and her little army of soliders has Daisy protective instincts raging.
Halfway there Daisy turns to Kebo, who has been frowning at Bobbi for the past five minutes. ''If Ward thinks that pretending to be dead and coming back a few months later is some kind of romantic gesture, I'm going to kick his ass''. Kebo smiles at her, ''There she is. I knew you'd come back eventually Quake''. She shoves his shoulder. ''Seriously I will shoot him three more times if he thinks this is some kind of game''. ''I thought it was four?'' ''It's debatable''.
By the time they are on the ground, ready to leave the plane, Daisy gets in front of everyone and speaks up, Kebo and Mack by her side. ''Let me make something very clear here. You're here to strike at Hydra, nothing else. I'm here for Ward, and if any of you plan to hurt him, I will kill all of you. Do you understand?'' ''Agent Johnson are you threatening me and your Team?'' Daisy glares at Maria Hill, ''did I not make myself crystal clear? Yes, I am. No one touches Grant Ward or you're really see what I'm capable of'. She spins on her heel out of the plane, ignores the jealous expression that has taken over Lincoln's face.
''I'm with you Boss, I want Ward back too''. Joey catches up to her as Shield starts to storm the castle. Hydra agents are pouring out of the compound, guns hot and ready. Daisy doesn't even flinch, takes them all out in under a minute, their weapons useless on the concrete. Shield takes care of the Hydra agents she leaves in her wake, pretty soon she's inside and searching for Ward. Enemies on the first floor. No Ward. Second floor, no Ward. Third, still nothing. Her Inhumans, Kebo and Shield catch up to her, the building is quiet and empty.
They round the corner and enter in a large office, book cases backed against a massive desk, open windows, it's empty. Or so she thinks. Until Gideon Malick himself comes out of the shadows. ''Agent Johnson, wonderful to see you, it's been so long''. Daisy pulls out her gun and aims, ''where is he?'' Malick raises an eyebrow. ''You'll have to be more specific''. ''Ward. Where is he?'' And the laughter begins, so loud it makes her want to shoot him just to shut him up. Daisy and May glance at each other, Coulson is looking around the room almost nervous like.
Gideon falls silent until he notices Kebo beside Daisy. ''You traitor. You led them here?'' ''Actually I didn't, but I would have. Shield can be smart when they put their minds to it, you've underestimated them''. ''I'm the Director of Hydra, how dare you''. Kebo shrugs and rolls his eyes. ''Truth be told I like the old Director better''. ''You know what? So do I''. A voice from behind Malick sounds, the breath feels as if it has been kicked out of Daisy. Grant. Suddenly much to everyone's surprise, hands wrap around Gideon's neck and tug, he falls to the ground. Neck bent at an unnatural angle. Dead.
Ward is standing there, a smile on his face, and the world disappears. Daisy can't see anything except for the stubble on his face, his strong lean body reaching for her. He says her name and she loses it. Holsters her weapon and runs to him like her life depends on it. It does. Soon soon soon she's in his arms, she's home now everything is okay her suffering is over he's okay he's okay he's okay. ''Grant''. She's breathing him in and soaking in his touch, strong arms are holding her close, there isn't a trace of sorrow anywhere on her. She loves him she loves him she loves him she loves him.
Daisy can feel his lips in her hair, she crushes him tighter to her and smiles when his lips drift down to hers. It's as easy as breathing, kissing him. It's everything she's wanted and if this whole place caught on fire she wouldn't care. ''Daisy get away from him''. ''Quake that's not Ward, there's something wrong with him''. Reality snaps back, with a sigh Daisy pulls away from Ward to glare at Kebo. ''What are you talking about he's''- Lips descend upon her once more and she loses all concentration. Something wrong with him? What could possibly be wrong with him?
That's when she comes down from her high. From her joy, from her instant relief at finding the love of her life alive. Her body is starting to remember things she'd forgotten in his absence. Like the way he's kissing her now. His mouth was always warm, smooth and soft. And the way he's holding her, not soft or kind. It's hard, like a steel trap and he's afraid she's going to escape. He's cold. Everything about him is cold, no sunlight no fire nothing. What the hell? Daisy manages to break off his kiss and open her eyes, studying him.
What she finds chills her to the bone.
Pale skin. As pale as she's ever seen it. Dark eyes, they hold no resemblance of the whiskey color she loves to look in. Logic takes over, maybe he's sick or injured? She's about to ask him what's wrong, when something slithers across his forehead. It takes all of her training not to scream. She removes her hands from his neck to rest on his chest. Heart beat. But it's faint. ''Grant?'' And when he smiles at her, it's menacing and everything about him screams predator. Run. Every cell in her body is telling her to run, but her training kicks in.
Daisy unwraps herself from Ward, takes a step back to observe him further. He looks awful. Like a walking corpse. ''What happened to you?'' Horror. Horror and agony is traveling up her legs and she can feel it swirling inside of her chest. What's going on? ''Hail Hydra''. Ward turns from her to look at Shield, and when his gaze lands on Coulson, he laughs. ''Phil Coulson. You gave me this body, I should probably thank you for it''. Coulson looks like he's going to vomit. ''Ward?'' ''Not Ward actually, just using his body as a vessel, if that helps all of you understand''.
The entire room is speechless. Vessel? What the hell is he talking about? Coulson finally seems to be the one who gets it, and revulsion spreads through his veins like blood. What has he done? ''The creature who possessed Wil, you're it aren't you? That thing from the other planet''. ''There you go. I knew you were the smart one''. Daisy is at a loss here, she's standing there frozen because none of this makes sense. Then it hits her. Malick sent Ward into that portal to find this ancient Hydra creature and bring him back to earth. And he needed a human host to do so.
Oh my god. Ward. Ward is this evil's things host. It's using his body to live and do horrible unspeakable things. Which means he had to of died for this to occur. Grant was never alive he never got off that planet and came to Hydra, he's been dead this entire time. ''Oh, I thought you might like this back''. Ward walks to the other side of the room, pulls out a black object and throws it at the Director of Shield, who catches it quickly. It's his arm. His black robot arm. Why did Ward have that?
Daisy looks at her boss. Guilt and self loathing is all over him. Ward turns to Daisy and gives her a smirk. ''You don't know how your Ward died, do you? Let me tell you, it's really a great story''. Coulson tells him to stop but of course it's ignored. ''You see Phil Coulson tied him up, shot him twice before eventually letting his hate get to him. Your Ward was defenseless, he had no chance really. Coulson took that arm and crushed his lungs, until his heart stopped beating. It was a poetic death really''. Ward pauses to take in Daisy's expression before continuing. ''You want to know his last thought before he died?''
Grant walks up to Daisy, towers over her and grins at the tears rolling down her face. ''His last thought was your lips''. A cold finger trails down her face, brushes across her mouth. ''How he wanted to just feel them against his one more time''. Daisy can't breathe. She's going to be sick. ''I have his memories, and everything is pulling me to you. He really loved you Skye''. It's the name that does it. Daisy just can't take it. There's too much sadness and rage and hate and love inside of her that she just snaps. But Ward's body, just like it used to be, is quick to react.
Right before the building starts to shake he shoves her onto the desk, straddles her hips, holds her hands up in his. Hydra agents storm the room and Shield takes cover, out of the corner of her eye Daisy sees Kebo taking out the targets that were aiming for her. ''Just like old times, right Skye?'' Ward taunts her, the pressure on her wrists increase ever so slightly. ''Daisy remember who the enemy is!'' May yells from across the room, the Calvary is having no problems disposing of the agents around her.
The enemy. Who's the enemy here? Hydra. Ward. Ward. Grant isn't her loving protective boyfriend anymore, the death grip he continues to have on her is proof of that. He's gone, never coming back. Daisy can't afford to fall apart here. Not now. She can do that later. Right now she needs to focus on getting out alive. She knows what Ward's body can do, what it's capable of. ''Grant''. She breathes, blinking back the tears as her head starts to clear.
''Come back to me. Please. I know you're in there, you have to be. Your story can't end like this''. One time. She'll try to reach out to him one time, and then all of her chances will dry up. ''Please, please come back. I love you. I love you so much''. She sees nothing. No warmth in those black eyes, no twitch or tick that tells her her Ward is still in there. ''Sorry sweetheart, but your boyfriend is dead''. Ward's face is met with a headbutt and a burst of power. He goes flying and crashes into a wall.
''Quake''. Kebo reaches her, the room is quiet again, Hydra is silent for now. Faster than Daisy thought possible, Ward is standing back up and throws Kebo out of his way. In a flash, Ward raises his fist and punches her in the face. She never saw it coming. He has never ever hit her before. Ever. Not even when they were on opposite sides, or even on accident when they were training. Daisy rolls off the floor, spits the blood on his shoes. ''That the best you can do?'' Ward grins at her. ''You're so strong. I don't need his memories to tell me that, I can sense it. We will meet again, all in due time''.
Grant backs away from her, sends a wink in Coulson's direction, and leaves the room. When Hunter and Bobbi go to look for him, he's nowhere to be found. What just happened? Is this real? Is she dreaming? Daisy can't breathe. ''Quake''. Kebo reaches for her, she holds up a hand to stop him. ''I'm okay''. ''Quake you are not okay, for the love of god were you here in the room? Ward is some evil creature from another planet!'' ''I know''. Daisy thinks she's in shock. Or mabe there's too much anger inside of her right now that there isn't any room for a broken heart.
She turns to Coulson. ''This is your fault''. She says, lips peeling back over her teeth, the room shakes, the windows shatter. ''You did this. You killed him''. ''Daisy I''- ''No you don't speak. You better start running you disgusting son of a bitch''. Mack and May back her up, Hill raises her gun. ''Agent Jonhnson I don't want to hurt you, but you need to stand down''. ''And you need to get the hell out of my way''. With a flick of her wrist Maria Hill is thrown across the room. ''How could you? How could you do this to Ward? To me?'' Coulson tries to open his mouth but she punches him in the jaw.
She's so wrapped up in her rage that she doesn't see Hunter's ICER until it's too late. Daisy tastes blood on her tongue. That's the last thing she notices before she's out cold. Kebo crouches next to her, puts a hand on her face. ''I'd put her somewhere with a lock Coulson, she's gonna go straight for your throat when she wakes up''. Hill says, rubbing the back of her head. Coulson doesn't move. Daisy was right, this is all of his fault. Everything Daisy has suffered these long months, are all on him.
He's a murderer. He let his rage get the best of him. He lost himself on a path of revenge, and for what? It didn't bring Rosalind back, it didn't bring him peace. He looks down at the woman he considers a daughter, and his heart aches. He's responsible for all of it. She can't hate him more than he hates himself. ''i should put a bullet in you''. Kebo says, hand on his gun. ''So why don't you?'' Shield agents have their own guns trained on him now. ''Because I'm hoping your guilt helps us find a way to save my friend''. Kebo pulls Daisy into his arms and lifts.
''I can do that''. Lincoln says, arms reaching for her. Kebo doesn't even awknowledge him, just passed through the door and out the building. ''I'm so sorry Daisy. I'm sorry for everything. I will do everything do get him back. If there's a way, I will find it I promise''. Kebo sets her in a seat beside him, rests her head on his shoulder. Whatever happens now, after she wakes up, now that that thing inside of Ward has made itself known, it won't be good. Kebo has a bad feeling in his gut. Like the world is about to end.
He isn't too far off. That evil creature using Ward's body is now in charge again, and heads will roll. Starting with Daisy Johnson. The love this body had for her is the only thing keeping Ward's soul intact, still keeps him awake and alert. Crush her, and he goes too. His empire will be drenched in blood. The world will never be the same.