I Can't Love You In the Dark
Daisy stares out the window, the night dark and silent like it will never end. They've been on the road since early that morning, only Kebo and Daisy's voices filling up the new car Ward had gotten his hands on. It's been three weeks since that evening by the pool, Ward's words full of regret, her sorrow crushing her chest. Ward's plan for them to travel to his safe house was burned to the ground, they were halfway there, took a break from driving when suddenly the trio was ambushed in their hotel room. The strike team wound up dead and Kebo took a bullet to the leg. According to Ward he made a lot of enemies when that Hydra creature took over his body.
Currently they are in Chicago, laying low, heads down. Grant has an apartment here, claimed when they arrived a few days ago they should be safe. Him and Daisy haven't breathed a word to each other since that night by the pool. The only time they do is at night, when Ward's nightmares are too much for him to handle and Daisy is the only one who can calm him. Even then it's just the same phrases repeated over and over so much that he's started to not believe her.
Shield's radar has been quiet, Daisy doesn't know if Coulson is dead or alive. Daisy can act like she's fine, that being around Grant is enough, that it doesn't hurt anymore to look at him. That she doesn't have nightmares and this entire situation is completely okay. She's told the lie so much to herself that she's starting to believe it.
Kebo struggles to keep up with her fast pace, his leg smarts every now and again. ''Sorry''. They pass shops on the street corner, keeping an eye out for any suspicious activity. Grant is back at his apartment, refused to tag along on the supply run Daisy demand they take. If she had to spend one more minute with those plain walls and Ward's glare, she was going to go insane. The apartment she didn't know he had is boring, modern, like it had never been lived in. Which she supposes, it really hadn't. There's no color anywhere, everything dark gray and gloomy. She gets it though, he only used it as a place to sleep when he wasn't on a mission.
There was one thing that made her freeze when she first walked in after Kebo. And it wasn't the hardly used furniture or the lack of that 'someone lives here' vibe. A single picture rested on the mantle, which is dangerous and so out of character for Ward. He knows the game he plays, if anyone found this apartment they'd use that picture to get to him. It's of her. Daisy's face half shadowed, her long hair cloaked in darkness. Upon further inspection she realized that the image is so hard to see you wouldn't know who you were looking at unless you knew Daisy personally.
Kebo followed her stare, a slow grin spread over his face. Ward did not comment on it, just put down the bags onto the couch and went to get a drink. They still haven't talked about it, and half of her wonders the last time he was here, was he himself or something else? ''We'll split up, you grab the cereal I'll get the tooth paste''. Daisy nods in agreement and her and Kebo part ways in the grocery store, sure they can order everything online, it'd probably be safer. But Daisy can't stand looking at that picture or being in a room with Ward, letting the silence consume them.
She grabs a box of Lucky Charms, Kebo's favorite, and waits for the man himself to join her at the check out station. He comes a few minutes later with tooth paste and other bathroom necessities. ''You know this whole playing the quiet game with each other is driving me up the wall. You and the Director are going to talk eventually''. ''The last time we did he basically told me he regrets everything that ever happened between us. Sorry if I don't want to repeat that''. Kebo rolls his eyes. ''You two stubborn idiots are going to be the death of me, I swear it''.
It doesn't take long at all when they reach Kebo's SUV, for Daisy to realize they're being followed. It takes her a moment to realize whoever it is is not skilled at it, not at all. ''Popeye we have a tail''. He stops his movements. ''Where?'' ''Brown jacket right behind me, baseball cap. Trying to act causual, like he isn't watching us''. Daisy hasn't got a good look at the person, Kebo glances around her shoulder. ''Whoever it was is gone now''. Daisy goes back to loading the plastic bags in his trunk, eyes and body on alert. ''Should we call Ward?'' She shakes her head. ''We can handle this Popeye''. Daisy opens the passenger door, and then decides to try a different tactic.
She walks down the street, hands out and ready. ''Quake what the hell are you doing?'' ''Just follow my lead Popeye''. A right glance at the right time tells her that the person following them, is hot on her heels. Daisy turns down an alley, Kebo catches on, grins. ''Shoot first ask questions later?'' ''Something like that''. She waits for the cheap sneakers to come into view, grabs whoever it is by the throat and shoves them into the building. She stops her movements immediately, drops her fingers from his throat. ''Oh hell, I thought it was going to be someone important''. Lincoln looks down at Daisy, smiles.
''Hey stranger''. ''Lincoln what are you doing here?'' She's on high alert, jumping to the conclusion that Shield must have sent him. He frowns. ''I had to find you, needed to make sure you were okay''. ''Shield didn't send you?'' ''Never was apart of Shield, you know that''. Daisy searches his face, after a few moments she believes him, realxes her posture. He hugs her hard, breathes her in. ''Are you okay? Coulson has been going out of his mind''- She pulls away from him. ''Wait, Coulson is alive?'' ''Last I checked, I left a few days after you did''. He doesn't mention the Playground or anything else about Shield and she doesn't ask.
Kebo clears his throat. ''So how'd you find us Sparky?'' Lincoln bristles, moves closer to Daisy. ''Wasn't too hard. I did have some help, Mack told me''. Daisy has kept in touch with her partner, kind of regrets it now. Because Lincoln is here. And so is Ward. Now that Lincoln has found her he isn't going to just leave again, he's under the illusion they are still, still what exactly? Not a couple, but something. She's been sleeping with him for the past few months. He loves her, she can't just blow that off. ''I'm assuming you know what happened at the Playground''. They're walking back to Kebo's car.
''You mean you and Ward's lap dog breaking him out of Vault D? Yeah Fitz told me, is he here in Chicago with you?'' Kebo may not notice the jealous undertones of Lincoln's voice, but she does and she frowns. ''He's in danger, we're protecting him''. They get into the vehicle, it's an unanswered question that he's going back to Ward's apartment with them, Daisy isn't sure how she feels about this. ''In danger from who?'' ''None of your business Sparky, why don't you just run back to wherever you came from?'' ''Kebo stop it. He's just trying to help''. The ride to the apartment is filled with Lincoln asking about what she's been up to. God. This is going to be a mess.
Daisy isn't angry at Lincoln for finding her, she knows how concerned he must of been when she destroyed the Playground and then took off without a word. And she's happy, relieved to see him. But what's about to happen, him and Ward in the same room just irritates her. There's bad blood between Lincoln and Ward, it takes her a second to register what she's feeling. Worry. Worry for Ward, that some way Lincoln is going to hurt him. He won't, but the emotion sits with her the entire car ride over. When they stop at his door Kebo gives her a look and she rolls her eyes. Unlocks the front door and takes a deep breath. It's all or nothing.
Grant is sitting in the living room, book in one hand, glass of scotch in the other. He doesn't look up when they walk in, but something inside of him must notice another presence because he stands, hand on his weapon. ''Relax Sir, we just picked up a stray''. Ward glances at Kebo, skips over Daisy and scowls at Lincoln. ''What the hell is Sparky doing here?'' ''Ask Quake''. Ward, for the first time in two days glares at Daisy, arms crossed. ''Lincoln is going to be staying with us''. She can see the anger in his eyes, she crosses her arms as well.
''Kebo, outside. Now''. Ward growls, Kebo gives Daisy the finger before following him out onto the patio. Ward slams the glass door shut so hard it rattles. Daisy tries not to watch them and focus on Lincoln who's moving around the apartment slowly. But she can't help it, Grant is too controlled, too quiet. His body strung so tight as he talks to Kebo through clenched teeth, hands curled into fists at his side. She can't hear them and isn't a pro at reading lips like Ward, she tries to catch Kebo's eye but he doesn't look at her. ''Nice apartment, pretty boring''. Lincoln comments, and she watches his gaze fall to the mantle.
He's picking up the picture when Ward walks back in, his face a blank mask as Lincoln looks back and forth between him and Daisy. ''I'm staying at a hotel nearby, I don't want to crash your place''. Ward doesn't respond, just picks up his drink and heads to his bedroom. Daisy watches until he closes the bedroom door. ''Quake I'm going to go for a walk''. Kebo's face tells her all she needs to know, he never did like it when Ward was angry. She nods and all too soon her and Lincoln are alone in the living room and he gives her a small smile. ''So this is awkward''. She releases a light laugh, seeming to break the tension.
''You can say that again''. Lincoln walks up to her, brushes the back of his hand against her cheek. ''Are you okay?'' She knows what he's remembering, those first weeks after she lost Grant and she couldn't get out of bed. How hopeless she had become, and Lincoln was the one who helped her as best he could. Daisy may not feel the same way he does, but there's something between them she can't ignore anymore, not now that Grant is alive. It's not wild passion like what her and Ward used to have, she isn't consumed by fire every time she looks at him. But there's an emotion, somewhere in there.
''I'm okay''. He isn't buying it, she sighs. ''It's been weird but I'm fine''. ''How's Ward doing?'' ''As well as expected''. Lincoln is fishing for something, she can tell by the way his shoulders are set, the way he keeps looking back to Ward's bedroom door. He rubs the back of his neck. ''You want to go somewhere?'' ''Sure''. She grabs her jacket, dying to get out of that stuffy apartment. They end up a few blocks down the street at a coffee shop, spend the rest of the afternoon there catching up. Daisy realizes on her third cup of coffee that she's missed Lincoln, their conversations. He's kind, sweet, something she didn't know she wanted until she went without.
The sun is setting and Daisy sends a quick message to Kebo, telling him she won't be back to the apartment until later. Later turns out to be the next morning. Daisy wakes with her head pounding, when she sits up a bottle slips from her fingers and onto carpet. It takes her a moment to remember where she is, what happened. Drinking. A lot of drinking. Lincoln bought alcohol and she drowned her sorrows in whiskey before drowning herself in him. She turns over to find Lincoln curled into her bare back, his breath warm and inviting on her skin. It'd be so easy, too easy. To stay here with him, leave Ward and his recovery process to himself. It's what he wants, isn't it?
Daisy decides against it when her head is in the toliet. She can't abandon him, no matter what he says. She can't leave him, he promised he'd never leave her. Shouldn't she return the favor? After using half of the supplied mouth wash she slips on her clothes and unlocks the door, Lincoln stirs awake. ''Hey, leaving already?'' ''Yeah, have to''. He slips on jeans and meets her at the door, opens it for her. She's halfway in the hall when he catches her arm, smiles at her. ''Last night was fun''. She returns his grin, slips her arms around his neck and kisses him lightly before turning to the elevators. Lincoln watches her go before shutting the door.
What neither of them noticed was Ward on the other side of the hall, watching the scene unfold before him. They didn't notice how he looked as if the entire world just fell at his feet, like he just lost everything that mattered most to him. He did. Grant is staring open mouthed at the now empty hallway, so many emotions inside of begging to be released. Anger. Jealousy. Rage. Mostly at himself, for letting Daisy slip away. She's with Lincoln now, she deserves someone who makes her happy. Who doesn't make her cry every time he tries to speak to her. He wants that for her, a life with someone who makes her smile on her worst days. He just wants that someone to be him.
He isn't an idiot. The second Sparky walked into his apartment he knew by the way he looked at Daisy, that there was something going on. Ward would be lying if he said he hoped Daisy didn't exchange the feelings Lincoln was clearly giving off. When she didn't come home after leavng his apartment, he got worried, knowing there was no way Sparky could protect her. So he followed them against Kebo's wishes, and regrets it now. He feels sick, his chest hurts. He's never experienced this kind of hurt before. It's dark and sharp, tugging pushing pulling at him until he's out of breath. Loss. He's lost her.
Because he was too damn stubborn and pushed her away, Ward told himself over and over that it was for her own good. That every time he looked at her all he saw was her below him, gasping for breath her face fading from his view. Which is true. Not so much anymore, but he knows deep down Daisy deserves someone far better than him, and it isn't Lincoln. He's never hated himself more than he does in this moment, watching the woman he still loves with every single piece of him, walking out of another man's hotel room. Grant braces himself against the walll, runs his hand over his face.
He isn't angry at her, she needs to move on, stop waiting on him. He knew the day was going to come eventually, either she was going to leave him or find someone else. But the thought of someone else with their hands all over her makes the blood in his ears pool. He has no right to be jealous but he is. The feeling curls and crawls inside of him, gnawing at his stomach. He was dead, he doesn't blame her. Ward shouldn't be alive but he was given a second chance with Daisy, and he's been wasting it. All he's done since he's been back is hurt her over and over. Now it's too late. She's gone. The hallway is filled with fire. When the smoke clears Ward is nowhere to be found.
Daisy checks her messages as she's walking down the sidewalk, there's one from Kebo a few minutes ago that tells her to meet him at a diner down the street. She walks in and sees Kebo sitting in one of the booths, Ward across from him. Daisy takes a seat next to Kebo without a word, orders a cup of coffee. Kebo is glaring at her. ''What?'' ''Thought you were done Quake''. ''Not now Popeye, I feel like hell''. They drink their coffee in silence.
Ward finishes his second cup and looks at her, his tone causal like he doesn't have a care in the world when he asks, ''so how long have you been sleeping with Lincoln?'' Kebo chokes on his coffee, sputtering into his cup because he can't breathe. Daisy's stomach shouldn't drop, she shouldn't feel guilt of any kind, but she does. And it makes her angry. How dare he. ''Excuse me?'' Grant meets her livid gaze, his brown eyes calm, his body relaxed and indifferent. ''Sir she's not sleeping with him, God. Daisy has standards''. Kebo comments, his face unbelieving until he sees the expression on her face.
''I'm not an idiot Skye. I saw the way he looked at you''. Daisy scoffs, jabs a finger in his direction. ''First of all it's none of your business who I'm sleeping with. And second go screw yourself. You haven't spoken to me in weeks and the first time you do you want to know about Lincoln? It's my life Ward and you have made it loud and clear you don't want to be apart of it''. ''Skye I didn't- ''You don't get a say in what I do''. They look at each other for a moment, until Kebo looks at Ward. ''You want me to shoot him? I will go blow his stupid head off right now''. Daisy punches him in the ribs and Ward doesn't answer.
The trio fumes quietly into their coffee cups, Daisy too blind by anger to notice the hurt is almost dripping off of Ward, and he pretends not to notice that she's hiding behind her anger so he doesn't see how upset she really is. ''Come on Quake, really? Lincoln?'' ''Popeye shut the hell up''. He slams his mug on the table. ''That's it, I'm going to''- He's cut off by Lincoln coming into the diner, eyes searching for Daisy. He doesn't notice the tension at the table, he approaches like everything is normal. ''We have a problem''. He tells her, handing her his phone. Lincoln remains standing, watches Dasy absorb the information on the screen.
''What's wrong?'' Ward asks, on alert the second he sees worry over take Daisy's face. ''Are you sure?'' She asks Lincoln, fingers shaking. ''Yeah''. ''Skye''. She looks to Ward, putting the conversation from earlier on the back burner. She needs him to be a Specialist, the best since Romanoff when she tells him what Mack just sent Lincoln. ''Lash. He's back''. Every body at the table freezes. Daisy didn't see this coming, the Inhuman creature has been silent for weeks. And now he's killing her people again. Kebo frowns. ''Well I guess this means our family road trip is over''.