There's No Use Crying About It
Ward wakes as soon as Daisy leaves the bed, his body on alert the second anything changes around him. It's instinct at this point, he couldn't turn it off he tried. He can make out her form as she slips quietly from the room, he sees her put her hair up. She's either going to get a drink, or take out her frusturations on the punching bag. He'd bet his life it's the latter and lets her go. It's only been an hour and half since he brought her in the bunk, almost thirteen hours since Shield brought them in. Grant has never been picky about what or where he sleeps, he never had the luxury to do so, but he can't get comfortable here.
The sheets are too rough, the pillows are too thin, the mattress too small. He misses the warmth of his and Daisy's bedroom already, this trip is already taking too long. Ward tries to fall back asleep, but before he knows it it's five o'clock and he finds himself getting ready for the day. He finds Daisy at the punching bag, she's been here for two hours and doesn't show signs of stopping. She's covered in sweat, he can tell from this angle that her knuckles are bleeding and bruised.
''I thought we covered the right way to wrap your hands a long time ago''. Daisy stops her movements and looks at him. There's grief and pain all over her face, she's shaking. ''Not really worried about that right now''. She goes back to beating the bag with deadly precision, he's proud of her, she's come a long way since he found her in LA. ''Skye, come on cool it. You've been down here for two hours''. He understands that she needs to take out her anger and confusion on something, she needs an empty field or mountains somewhere, not splitting her knuckles open. She stops and goes to take a sip of water, he comes to stand over her.
''You won't be any use to them tired and sore''. Daisy puts the water down and lays her head on his chest. ''I don't know where to look Grant, I have no idea what they expect me to do. I tried again this morning and came up with nothing, I can't find her''. He trails his hands down her spine. ''I have a few contacts in California I called last night, we'll find her''. She looks up at him, ''why didn't you tell me?'' ''It was late, you were tired. I'll hear something today''. ''Thank you''. He smiles and kisses her cheek. ''Good you're awake, we're landing in thirty minutes''. May tells them and walks back into the cock pit.
''Landing? Did you know we were landing somewhere?'' ''No''. He follows her into Coulson's office, she barges in like old times without knocking. ''Where are we going?'' Coulson doesn't look at her when he says, ''to pick up Lincoln''. The surprise is plain on Daisy's face. ''Why?'' ''He's a Shield agent now, and he knew Jiaying, it's a start''. ''Lincoln became a Shield agent? When?'' ''Few weeks after you left''. ''I doubt he's going to know anything''. ''I'll take what I can get. We're also going to see Cal''. The plane shutters, Ward puts a hand on her shoulder. ''There is no reason to do that, he doesn't remember anything''. ''He might, I did''.
Grant prepares himself for what's about to come, braces his hands on Daisy's shoulders. ''What the hell is wrong with you? You have no right to inerfere in my Dad's life! He doesn't remember anything, we are not going to see him''. ''I don't remember when you became Director of Shield''. ''I told you we do things my way''. ''If we find Jiaying you can do whatever you want. Until then I call the shots''. ''Cal is happy where he is, if there's a chance he could remember all the terrible things he's done we can't take that risk. He's my dad, it's my call''. ''No it's not''.
She removes herself from Ward's grasp to glare at her former boss. ''If you want my help you won't do this''. ''We have to find her, there's a chance Jiaying could have reached out to him and we need to take it. I'm sorry Daisy but he might be the only one who knows anything, you want to find her don't you?'' ''This is wrong Phil, how can you risk what you went through on somebody else?'' ''I don't need or want your input Ward''. ''Not so long ago you brought me on this team to asses every risk, to look at every angle, to make the hard call, that's what I'm doing. I'm telling you this is not the right move. Don't do this to Cal or Skye''.
A long moment passes before Coulson responds. ''This is not a team anymore, you made sure of that. I've been rebuilding what you helped destroy, the way I run things is so what you did to us never happens again. I can't think about emotional attatchments, the feelings involved on some cases. The way I see it you're lucky I haven't shot you in your sleep yet''. ''What Grant did has nothing to do with what's happening right now, you need to let it go''. ''He destroyed Shield''. ''He didn't do it alone. That was a long time ago DC, it wasn't his fault''. ''Daisy this is how it's going down, we both want the same thing and are doing whatever it takes to get there. I'm sorry Cal has to get involved but if Jiaying contacted him then it's on her, it's her fault for putting him in this place''.
A glass vase behind his desk breaks. ''We never should have left Tennessee''. She files out of the room with Ward behind her. Mack finds the pair in the kitchen, Daisy in Ward's lap at the table. ''Hey''. ''Hey''. ''Mack did you know that we're picking up Lincoln and Cal?'' ''What? Why are we doing that?'' ''They're both connected to Jiaying''. ''But Cal isn't going to know anything''. ''My point exactly. You know I liked it better when you were Director of Shield''. Mack laughs, ''me too Tremors, me too''. A few minutes later she's asking about Andrew and Fitz and Simmons, how they're doing, where they are in the world. ''Fitz and Simmons are still at the Playground, haven't heard from Dr. Garner in months''. ''Did he escape?'' ''No, May took him to a facility, the Fridge I think''.
''Mack what if Jiaying didn't look for Cal? What if Coulson asks him and all of a sudden my dad remembers everything? Is that possible?'' ''It shouldn't be, but I don't know. Not to be harsh but he's met you a couple times and your his daughter, if he doesn't know who you are, there isn't much hope''. Daisy doesn't notice that she's squeezing Ward's arm so tight until he unwraps her grip, ''what can I do to help?'' ''Nothing''.
''What the hell is he doing here?'' Is the first thing Lincoln asks when he steps on board. The second he sees Daisy though all words die on his lips. She's still beautiful, her hair long like when he first met her. Being away from Shield agreed with her, she seems brighter, happier. Though that could have more to do with Grant Ward than anything else. ''We're helping find my mom''. She tells him. Lincoln she observes looks older, harder, there's an edge to his bones. Shield will do that to you, turn you into a version of yourself you didn't know was there. ''I know why you're here Daisy, why is he?''
''Can't talk to me yourself Sparky? I'm here because Skye wants me to be''. The lights dim, the plane rocks. ''Lincoln calm down, let's go get a beer, okay?'' ''Don't want a beer Mack, I want that brain washing son of a bitch thrown out of this plane''. A beat passes and then the cargo bay is filled with Ward's laughter. ''You think I brain washed her? Oh god, that is too good. I bet Coulson told you that, isn't that right Phil?'' Coulson rolls his eyes and hides back in his office. There's a moment of confusion on Lincoln's face, then it clicks. Daisy can see when he finally realizes that all of the things she did, what she let Ward do to him, was by free will.
Daisy takes a step to him, ''Lincoln I can explain''- ''You let him and his lap dog torture me for hours!'' ''I know but''- ''You left all of this behind by choice, how could you do that? He betrayed your entire team, he hurt you''. ''He's not the same man''. ''When you thought he turned on you again you told me we could start something. And then I find you gone with nothing but a sorry note left. Who are you?'' ''Okay knock it off spark plug, you want to hurt someone? How about you take it out on the actual problem here? Leave her out of it''. Fire leaks out of Ward's hands and consumes the floor.
Before the situation escalates and there are pieces of Lincoln around the plane, Daisy pulls out her ICER and Ward is left standing in smoke. ''Get ready to land''. This was a bad way to start off her day. ''I lied, in case you were wondering''. Grant is following Daisy and Coulson to Cal's shop, she's been nervous since the confrontation with Lincoln. ''Remember the last time we were here?'' He asks, wrapping his arm around her hip. ''Yeah, feels like a lifetime ago''. ''I'm not mad about Lincoln, you had every right to try and move on''. ''I'm still sorry''. ''Don't be, it's in the past''.
''If there's any sign that this gets too much for Cal, we're gone. If I even think there's a spark of something in his face, we leave''. She tells Coulson when he approaches the door. ''We'll see''. Mack and Coulson walk in first, Ward and Daisy follow. May opted to stay with Lincoln, Daisy thinks she's trying to avoid Ward as much as possible. The shop is empty, her dad is standing with his back to them, looking for something on a tall shelf. She's hasn't seen him since the day Shield kidnapped him, there's a dull ache in her chest. He doesn't deserve this. This life they are about to interrupt should carry on in blissfull ignorance, not haunted by demons from years ago.
''Mr. Zabo?'' Cal turns, there should be fear in his face, Coulson kidnapped him, he should be kicking into survival mode right now. But an easy smile spreads and he looks at peace. Something is clearly wrong. ''Good afternoon, how can I help you?'' ''My name is Phil I'm with the FBI, I have a few questions for you''. They all flash fake ID badges, Cal buys it. ''Oh of course of course, please come in the back and have a seat''. Cal disappears behind a curtain and Daisy grabs Coulson's arm. ''What's wrong with him?'' ''Nothing he's fine''. ''DC I'd recognize the man who kidnapped me, and he clearly doesn't. What did you do to him?'' Silence is her only answer.
They go into a small office with a desk and a chair, Coulson takes the chair, Daisy and Ward remain standing. ''What can I help you with?'' ''We're looking for a woman who's from this area, she may have been in here before. Can I show you her picture?'' ''Of course''. Daisy leans closer, begging anybody who might be listening that there's no possible way Cal remembers her mother. Blank. No change in his expression as he observes the woman he once loved, the woman he killed for, the woman who gave life to his daughter. Daisy is both relieved and heart broken.
''She's very pretty, but no Sir, I'm sorry I've never seen her before''. Daisy cracks a little, lays her forehead on Ward's shoulder, fists clenched at her sides. ''Are you alright miss?'' ''She's fine, a little tired a think''. ''Agent Johnson, perhaps you should wait outside''. Mack says. ''Well hey, that's my last name too. What a coincidence''. Her father laughs, and it's painful. She looks at him, same brown eyes, same ears. How does he not see it? ''Come on I'll take you out''. She lets Ward lead her away, the air is growing thick in her lungs. ''Is it too late to call it? Can we go home?'' The sun is hot on her face and she wants the cool mountain air and matching mugs filled with hot chocolate, Peanut and Buddy sleeping next to her.
The panic fades when Grant pulls her in his arms, she closes her eyes, he's here. He won't let her go mad from these ghosts, they will make it back to warm throw blankets and fireplaces. ''I'm sorry Skye, this wasn't fair to you or Cal''. ''I don't think Coulson cares about what's fair anymore''. ''Want to take a walk? Clear your head?'' ''Yeah''. She laces her arm through his. ''Shield had to of done something to him, there's no way a person wouldn't remember a kidnapping and a stand off in the desert''. ''Maybe he's blocking it out, he doesn't want to remember''. ''What if they put him through T.A.H.I.T.I. again?'' ''Can they do that?'' ''That's the only reason I can think of''. ''Be a cruel thing to do''. ''I wouldn't put it past Shield''.
By the time they make it back to the plane Daisy is fuming, her hands are going to break from the way she's holding her powers back. ''Did you put Cal through the T.A.H.I.T.I. program again?'' She demands of Coulson as soon as the wheels are up. Lincoln is awake and is ignoring them. ''What? No''. ''He's lying''. There's a tell in Coulson that Ward has always been able to pick up on. ''Stay out of this Ward''. ''Not happening''. ''Coulson you have two seconds to answer my question! Did you put Cal in that machine again?'' He has the nerve to look ashamed. ''Yes''. And Daisy explodes.