Are We Out of the Woods Yet
There's a vibration against his leg. A shift in the calm atmosphere that wakes him. Something is wrong. Instinct, survival, something has alarmed him. He looks over and Daisy is still asleep, hanging onto his arm for dear life. He unwraps himself from her slowly, grabs his gun out from under the mattress. His foot steps are silent as he walks into the living room, he checks the whole house, nothing. Then he remembers his phone, it's on the kitchen counter, on silent. He could kick himself for the rookie mistake. The alarm has been triggered. He's reaching for the front door when someone knocks on it. He swings it open, gun raised, and sighs. ''Well that didn't last long''.
Phil Coulson and Mack are standing on his front porch, both wearing surprised expressions. ''Mack did you know he was here?'' ''No sir, thought Daisy was alone''. ''Well this is upsetting''. Ward doesn't put down his gun. ''What do you want Coulson?'' ''To come in, it's freezing out here''. He lets them, surveys the area for other Shield agents. Even texts Kebo to tell him to keep a look out. ''We're alone, you can relax''. ''I don't believe you''. ''Not asking you to. Where's Daisy?'' They look around the living room with mild interest. ''Asleep''. ''Can you wake her up? I'd like to speak with her''. ''Tell me why you're here first''. ''I just want to talk to her''. ''She has a phone for that''. ''Face to face is more my style''. Ward should just shoot him right now, do the world a favor.
Let this bliss he and Daisy have found play out for a little while longer.
Soft paws come running down the hallway and Peanut starts barking at the the new comers, running to Ward's side, growling. ''You have a dog?'' ''I'll go get Skye''. His feet feel heavy as he walks into the bedroom and shuts the door, Peanut running in at the last possible second. He knows that this world they have together, tucked into this house warm and free, is about to come to an end. She deserves more than this. ''Skye''. He shakes her shoulder, she moans and turns over. He tries again, she pulls the quilt over her head. ''Go away''. ''I need you to wake up baby''. She doesn't move. ''Buddy help me out here''. Buddy crawls over to Daisy and licks her face, barks at her.
''I hate both of you''. She complains, shoving the dog off her. ''This better be important''. She holds Peanut to her and kisses her forehead. ''Coulson is outside''. All color drains from her face. ''What?'' Her voice is unsteady, shaking. ''Coulson is in our living room with Mack, they want to talk to you''. ''How did they find us?'' ''I don't know''. ''We're supposed to be untouchable''. In a rush she grabs her phone and curses loudly, throwing it across the room. ''The alarm went off but my phone was on silent''. '''Mine too''. She pulls on his shirt and a pair of sweat pants, she turns the door nob and Ward stops her. ''I'm with you, whatever they say''. ''I know, me too''.
She takes a deep breath, takes his hand and walks out, her small family following behind her. ''Daisy''. ''Coulson''. ''Hey Tremors''. ''Hey Mack''. Ward and Daisy sit on the couch across from them. There's a tightness to the Director of Shield's face, Mack looks tired, stressed, worry lines across his forehead. ''What's wrong?'' Coulson looks in between Ward and Daisy before responding. ''Daisy last time we spoke you told me you had ended things with him''. ''That was almost a year ago. Things change''. There's a smug look on Grant's face they all ignore.
''How did you find us DC?'' ''Kebo should learn how to recognize when someone is following him'''. The couple sighs as one, Ward curses under his breath. ''Why are you here?'' Daisy already has a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach, she knows what he's going to say. Mack is guilty when he tells her, ''we need you back D''. No matter how hard she tries to fight it, her body slumps in defeat, hands start shaking. Ward curls her to his side, an arm around her shoulder. ''Why?'' He asks, Coulson shakes his head. ''I can't tell you here''.
Ward laughs, that humorless laugh he's perfected over the years. ''You really think we're going to go back to Shield without any information?'' ''We? I just want Daisy, you're not part of this''. ''Yes he is. DC we're a package deal, haven't you figured that out by now? Tell me why Shield needs us''. Coulson opens his mouth to answer, but Mack beats him to it. ''We have all the information on Coulson's plane, everything you need to know is there. You can decide after you see it if you're in or out''. Grant and Daisy share a look, Coulson can read between the lines, he stands.
Buddy gets up from Ward's side and starts growling, barking and snapping at the Director. He is silenced when Ward yells a few words in a language Daisy doesn't recognize. ''It's Latin''. He tells her when he sees the look on her face. ''You trained our dog to listen to commands in Latin?'' ''Peanut was going to get the same thing''. How can she not love him? ''Daisy I'm begging you here''. ''Give her a minute''. Daisy sighs, looks around the warm living room. This is her life, her home, she won't abandon it. Shield can deal with whatever is wrong on their own.
But what if it's the end of the world? She tells herself to shut it because it's always the end of the world where Shield is concerned. ''DC you can't just come into my house and ask me to change my life, we've worked so hard to get to this point. I'm not Shield anymore and neither is Ward. You'll never trust him or he you and I can't be selfish and put him in that position''. ''So don't bring him''. ''I think you missed the package deal conversation sir''. ''Thank you Mack''. An argument breaks out between the Director of Shield and Daisy, and they have never argued. It's strange to witness.
After a few mintues Grant breaks it up, gently pulling Daisy away and back onto the couch. ''I need you''. Coulson says, he and Mack remain standing. ''I need time to think about it''. And that's when the nails go into the coffin, Ward knows this is all over. This normal life they both love so much is gone. He knows Daisy will never say no to Shield, and he can never say no to her. Coulson nods and heads to the door, Ward walks them out. ''You have twenty four hours to decide''. ''Don't put a time limit on us Phil''. ''It's what I have to do. I hope you make the right decision Daisy''. She doesn't look at him. ''Nice hair by the way Tremors''. Mack doesn't get a response either.
Ward closes the door and she sags into the couch, pulling Peanut to her. ''Skye''- She starts crying. He rushes to her, cradles her in his lap. She thinks being out of the field has made her soft. ''I don't want to go back''. ''You don't have to''. ''Coulson needs me''. ''Who cares? You said so yourself months ago that that's not your life anymore''. She's torn. Ward needs her so does Coulson, maybe even the world. How can she refuse if the world is in trouble? Coulson had to desperate, tracking her down like he did. Something has to be wrong.
''What do you think about this? It's your decision too''. He dries her tears, kisses her lightly. ''I don't trust anything Shield stands for, you know that. But I will put my differences aside if they do, if that's what you want me to do''. ''I can't ask you to do that Grant''. ''You're not, it's my choice''. ''That's it? That's what you want? You want me to go back to Shield?'' ''Don't get me wrong Skye I love this life we have together. I love this place we've created, but I think you miss it. I think deep down you miss the rush, the missions, using your powers for other things besides making fun of Kebo''. ''But I don't want to give this up, give you up''. ''So don't it's that simple. Either way you wouldn't be giving me up, I told you a long time ago where you go so do I''.
''It's not fair''. If there's one thing Grant has learned about life, it never is. It kicks everyone in the teeth a thousand times before it's finally over and you're six feet under. ''This doesn't have to be hard Skye, it's a yes or no answer. Tomorrow can go on like it always does, we can have this domestic life style every single day''. She looks nervous suddenly, rubbing Peanut's head in an uneven rhythm. ''We could start a family''. Joy and fear breaks out over his face, making her chuckle. ''Easy there Robot, it doesn't have to be right away, I was just''- Her words are cut off by his lips.
''A daughter, who's just as beautiful as her mother''. He says when she opens her eyes to look at him. ''A son who's just as gentle and brave as his father''. A smile breaks over both their faces and Daisy takes Ward in her arms. He runs a hand through her hair. ''So? What do you want?'' She unhooks her arms from his back to wrap around his neck. ''What I want is to stay here with you and imagine the world outside doesn't exist''. He melts beneath her.
Kebo comes back twenty minutes later to find Daisy and Ward in the kitchen. Ward is making lasanga and Daisy is sitting on the counter, a glass of wine her hand. ''Why are you two acting like Shield didn't just shit all over our parade?'' ''Because Popeye, they didn't. I won't let them''. ''That's a relief, the woods are clear by the way Director''. ''Good, thanks''. Kebo hops on the counter next to Daisy, pours himself a glass of wine too. ''I'm a little surprised Quake, when Shield whistles don't you usually go running?'' He tumbles to the floor and curses.
Later that night Daisy is laying on Ward's chest, Peanut sleeping soundly next to her, Buddy by Ward's feet. She knows deep in her heart that she's made the right choice. This is who she is now, this is life her and Grant deserve. The life their kids deserve, quiet, nice, normal. Not filled with death and grief, guns and blood. They could also become targets and she refuses to let that happen. Her time as an agent has come to a close, that chapter is done. She's ready to move on with the next phase in her life.
''I'm happy, here with you''. She whispers into Ward's skin, can almost see his smile. ''Me too''. So she's ready when Coulson comes the next day, this time he's brought May along. Kebo takes one look at her and all but runs out the back door. ''You look good''. She tells Daisy, doesn't even look in Ward's direction. ''Have a seat''. They do, in the same spot they were yesterday. ''So have you made your decison Daisy?'' She looks at Grant before responding. ''Yes we have, an the answer is no. We can't help you Coulson. Ward and I are happy here, I'm not giving this up''.
Disappointment shatters Coulson's face, May remains cold and passive. ''I'm sorry to hear that''. ''DC I can't remember the last time I was this happy, maybe I never have been. But you can't just expect me to drop everything''. Coulson finally looks at Ward and asks, ''you really make her happy?'' ''Hope I do''. ''Because she's giving up everything for you''. ''I know''. May sighs, ''we thought you might say that, so we brought this. Maybe it'll change your mind''. Coulson reaches in the jacket of his pocket, Ward tenses, his fingers at his gun. ''Relax, it's a file''. He takes the brown envelope and hands it to Daisy.
''What is this?'' She opens it. ''A surveillance camera picked that up last week, I thought you'd be interested''. A black and white image is shaking in Daisy's hand. She knows the person there. Same hair, same graceful stance, like nothing matters, like the world is at their hands. ''Skye? Who is that?''
It's her Mother.
Daisy can't feel anything.