Could've Been A Princess You'd Be A King
It's like a tidal wave of horrors is unleashed onto Shield. Ward's body seems hell bent on destroying the organization one secret base at a time. And since Ward, the real Ward, knew where half of them were, it doesn't take long at all until Coulson is watching them burn. They send strike team after strike team to try and take down Ward, each man comes back dead. Daisy and her Inhumans have struck him hard once, barely making it out of the Hydra base alive. Grant himself wasn't present much to Daisy's disappointment, but they got the job done which was to blow the base to pieces. Daisy hasn't heard from Kebo in weeks, it makes her nervous and agitated and she finds herself desperately wanting to tell Ward about it. But of course she can't.
It's easy to slip into mission mode, to pretend that this new Hydra threat is just another stupid director, another head to cut off that she won't lose any sleep over. That's what she tells herself at night anyway when she's lying in bed with Lincoln, this is just another threat she has to neutralize. And once she does she will have peace. It doesn't help. She still wakes with Ward's name on her lips and the ever present pain in her chest at what she has to do. Daisy hasn't seen phantom Ward since that day in the shower and part of her wonders if that's for a reason. If this is how she's going to say goodbye to him, finally, one last time.
Shield and her are on rocky terms but for the most part they've forgiven her for what she did to Coulson. Coulson himself seems to be doing exactly what Daisy hoped, he's stewing in his own regret and self hatred. Good. He deserves it. All those agents all those people being murdered, are on him. And he can't sleep anymore. Currently Daisy is in the kitchen sitting next to Mack, a hot cup of coffee in her hands that isn't fooling anybody. ''If you're going to attack you need to do it soon Tremors. You're putting it off''. She's about to deny it, to tell Mack he doesn't know what he's talking about. But he does, he's right.
''I don't want to kill him. I know that I have to, but I just''- It hurts, her throat tightens. Mack puts his arm around her. ''So have someone else do it''. She shakes her head, ''no it needs to be me. That's what Ward would want''. Her phone vibrates on the table, it's Dr. Garner, he's ready for her. ''I'm not in the mood to talk to him today''. ''It's a good idea D. I think you need to''. Daisy drains the contents of her mug and walks to the lounge with a frown on her face. She has to be strong now, she doesn't have time to let her emotions get in the way here. And if she talks to May's ex-husband, her emotions tend to leak out.
Andrew is in the lounge, legs crossed at the ankle, smiles when she takes a seat across from him. ''Good afternoon Daisy''. ''Hey''. ''So, a few things have happened since we spoke last''. ''You could say that''. ''Are you going to give me short answers this entire time?'' ''Probably''. He uncrosses his legs, folds his hands on his lap. ''Look Dr. Garner I don't have time to cry about what's happening, people are dying out there''. ''People die every day''. ''But not by Ward. He's killing people, and the longer we wait the higher the body count is''.
Andrew raises his eyebrow at this. ''So why has it been weeks since you found out he was alive and done nothing about it?'' There's outrage on her face but he continues on. ''You're putting this off and it's understandable why. I know how you feel about Ward, and I can't imagine what you're going through right now. But Daisy if you don't talk about this it won't end well for you''. She laughs, ''won't end well for me? I can't think of one scenario where this whole situation can end well. Either I kill Ward or he kills me, that's it, that's how this ends''. Andrew pauses, ''you haven't even considered the possibility of finding a way to save him?''
Daisy throws her hands up. ''Of course I have! But it just seems unrealistic, I doubt there's a book on how to save someone who's body has been taken over by an evil Hydra demon''. ''Have you looked?'' The Playground shakes, she glares at him. ''You and I both know that I would do anything to save him, I want him back and I wish things weren't like this but I don't have a choice here. If I don't stop him he's going to start a freaking apocalypse''. ''Are you up for it?'' Dr. Garner asks, clicking his pen to the point where she wants to break it in half.
''Honestly? No. When I'm here I think that I could, I think that killing Ward won't be that hard. But out there, when I'm forced to really do it? I don't know. It's still his body, you know? I shot him, I wanted to kill him once, it shouldn't be hard''. ''Tell me after you shot him, how did you feel about it?'' Daisy thinks back to that day, how angry she was, how she wanted him to suffer, to bleed, to hurt.
''Never turn your back on the enemy, you taught me that''.
That was before she understood, however. When her hate and anger at Ward was so strong she wanted to witness his death, wanted it to be by her hand. Daisy was also angry at herself for falling for him, for having feelings for him even after it all. He was like a disease under her skin, so matter how hard she tried she couldn't get him out of her system. She hated what she'd done afterward, not that she'd admit that to anyone. Daisy would curl into the shirt she stole from his bunk at night, and cry, praying that he somehow survived her onslaught. Because that's what Grant Ward does, he survives.
''I was proud of myself, for a while. And then reality settled in, and I couldn't stand myself. I've regretted it every day since, even after Ward forgave me. Sometimes I'd stare at the scars I left and wonder why in the hell it didn't seem to bother him''. Daisy doesn't notice she's crying until Andrew hands her a tissue. ''He loved you''. ''Which is why killing him is going to be the hardest thing I will ever do''. ''Like I said, there's always that small chance of saving him''. ''Dr. Garner I don't have time for fairytales or magic, this is life and death. If I don't do this more people will die''.
She stands looking down at him. ''You might want to consider sticking around for a while, I'm going to need you''. Daisy makes it to the doorway before he speaks. ''When you attacked Coulson, did it make you feel better?'' She turns, and with a sigh sits back on the couch. ''He deserved that, everything that's happened is on his head''. ''And I imagine he feels terrible for that''. Daisy spends the next hour with Dr. Garner, right before their done he asks her about Lincoln. ''And have you spoken to him about what's been going on?'' She has, and she'd be lying if she said it didn't spark some kind of emotion in her chest.
*
Daisy is sitting on her bed, drinking as usual. It's been a week since she saw Ward, since Kebo left. She isn't handling it well. Lincoln comes in without knocking, they've lost all need for pleasantries and privacy at this point. ''Are we going to talk about the elephant in the room?'' He crosses his arms and sits next to her. ''Lincoln I really don't''- ''Well I'm going to talk, and you can listen''. She rolls her eyes but let's him speak. ''This thing between us, I want it to continue. But I'm not an idiot, I know you don't love me. I know that what you have to do is going to damn near kill you''.
She takes a drink from her bottle and he steals a sip before opening his mouth again. ''But I'm hoping one day you can move on, and I'm sorry that this has happened to you. Neither you or Ward deserved this, and what you did to Coulson, well he had it coming''. Daisy can see it in the other Inhuman's eyes, he knows that she loves Ward. And he still wants to be with her. What kind of man does that? Stays with a woman who takes everything and gives nothing back? So she kisses him and he promises he'll help her however he can.
*
''You know Daisy it's okay to have feelings for someone else. I'm sure Ward would understand, you deserve to move on''. She doesn't tell the good Doctor about her plans, in fact she hasn't told a soul. Except for Coulson. She's leaving Shield after this is over, leaving everything behind. Daisy will go sought out Kebo if he hasn't found her already, and live the rest of her grief filled days somewhere with snow and gray cold mornings. Because there's no way she can return to the state she is now, or was before, after Grant's pulse dies under her fingers. It's going to destroy her.
Suddenly May and Bobbi come running into the room, Daisy is on her feet immediately. ''You want Ward? We found him, wheel is up in ten''. May doesn't spare a glance at Andrew, and her and Bobbi exit just as quickly as they came in. Daisy feels ice in her lungs, her hands are shaking, Lock it down lock it down lock it down get your emotions under control. Dr. Garner puts a hand on her shoulder. ''Do what you have to do, but remember that everyone can be saved. You did it once with Ward before, you could do it again''. She gives him a smile before traling after the Shield agents.
Mack, Joey and Lincoln are waiting for her by Coulson's plane. ''You ready for this partner?'' Daisy loads her gun, her ICER, before looking at Mack. ''Yeah. Guys be careful out there, this could be a trap and all of you are getting out of this mission alive okay? No one is allowed to die''. They found Ward's location at an abandoned building not too far from the Playground. It's more than likely a trap, he wouldn't let his location be known unless he wanted Shield, or more specifically Daisy, to find him.
''Boss it doesn't have to be like this. I mean you aren't really going to kill him are you?'' ''Do you want more people to die? I have one shot, I'mm going to take it. If you can't handle that then you should just stay here''. She refuses to feel guilty about snapping at Joey, and seeks out the one person who will understand what's happening right now. Even if she hates her at the moment. Daisy finds May in the cock pit, Coulson and Bobbi leave when she walks in, silence so loud it hurts her ears.
May says nothing as Daisy takes the seat next to her. Not that Daisy expects her to. ''May I know you're pissed at me but I'm freaking out over here, and I need you''. All Daisy gets is a sideways glance from her SO. ''Because I'm about to kill Ward and as much as I talk about doing it, I don't think I'm going to be able. I know it's just his body, but it's Ward. And I love him''- ''When it comes down to it Daisy, if it's between you and him, you'll choose yourself''. That's all May says on the matter and Daisy shuts up.
Daisy closes her eyes, and the gravity of the situation has her sprinting to a nearby bathroom. She vomits into the sink, her hands are ice and shaking and oh god she's going to do it. She's really going to have to stop his heart. She has the power, she could kill him in a second and he'd only feel a minor amount of pain. She's done it before, it's so simple. He'll blink and it'll be over. Daisy drinks all of the whiskey in her flask until her hands are steady, her head somewhat clear.
''Skye''. She starts, sits on the floor with her head in her hands. ''Skye look at me''. ''I can't''. She imagines Ward tugging on her fingers until they open and he's looking in her eyes. ''Fine, I'll just talk okay? You don't have to look at my perfect cheekbones''. ''Ward this isn't funny''. He chuckles and she aches and aches. ''You're doing the right thing. If I'm going to die, I wouldn't want it to be by anyone else but you''. ''You're a hopeless romantic''. She opens her eyes to find him smiling.
''That's why you love me''. ''That and you have a nice butt''. He winks, ''I know''. Daisy sighs. ''I can't do it''. ''Yes you can''. ''I'd be losing you all over again''. ''Would you rather me be at peace, or walking around trying to set the world on fire?'' ''I want you to be happy''. ''And I will be. Think of it like this, you're not killing me. You're killing the monster inside me, the one that wants to hurt you. I'm gone Skye, I'm waiting for you on the other side''. She wipes her face.
''Is there a heaven?'' He moves so he's by her side. ''I don't know. I'm in your head remember? I only know what you do''. ''God, I miss you''. ''I miss you too''. ''I'm sorry, sorry that I didn't find another way like Kebo is trying to do''. Ward is shaking his head. ''I don't think that way is possible babe. I think this is the only way''. Grant kisses her temple and she wants to feel him so badly. ''I can't believe it's ending like this''. ''Promise me something Skye''. ''Anything''.
He looks down at her, love in his warm brown eyes. ''Promise me that when this is over you won't give up. You'll move on, have a life, be the woman I know you are. Strong, full of life, I want you to be happy''. She could lie, again this is all in her head, she's basically promising herself this. So she does. Just to please him, or herself. She doesn't know which. ''I promise''. Instant relief covers him, so much that she can breathe. ''I love you Grant''. ''And I love you too baby. You know that. Be strong''. He's gone gone gone and Daisy knows she will never see him again.
Daisy hides in the bathroom until the plane lands. Here we go. She can do this. She can. So Daisy squares her shoulders, sets her chin, walks out with the strength Ward would be proud of. She's not killing Ward, she's killing that evil thing, and that's her job. Saving the world. This gives her clarity. She will do this. She will do this because she has to, because the world is depending on her. What's that saying? The one she heard from the nuns all that time ago?
Love is sacrifice. Love is pain. Love is putting someone else before yourself. And that's exactly what she's going to do.