You Say Sorry Just For Show
''Daisy I know you must be very confused right now, but I can explain everything. Just tell him to remove the gun''. ''Not likely''. Ward growls, stepping even closer to Jiaying. She could tell Ward to kill her, solve this whole problem right here and now. She coud be back in her home tonight, back in her own bed with Ward, Buddy and Peanut by her side. This could all be over in seconds. ''Daisy please''. It's the please that does her in, ''Ward put your gun down''. He does slowly, coming to stand next to Daisy. He doesn't put his gun in his holster.
''Ward? Grant Ward? This is the man who haunted you at the Afterlife''. ''Haunted? Skye what the hell is she talking about?'' ''My daughter used to call out for you in her sleep, usually every night. I never knew why until now. You look at her the way Cal used to look at me''. Daisy closes her eyes, uses her training that May drilled into her. Calm down. Count your breaths. Clear your mind, think of a place where nothing and no one can hurt you. It works. Daisy starts asking questions like she would if she were still a Shield agent.
''People don't come back from the dead Mom, how are you alive?'' ''Daisy I will explain it all to you, please come with me''- ''No. Just answer my questions here, I'm not stupid enough to walk into an ambush. And by the way if you ever try to kill Ward or any of my friends again, I'll return the favor''. There's a spark in Jiaying's eyes that Daisy has seen before. She used to absorb it like a small child, now the look of pride chills her. ''I didn't try to kill anyone''. ''Don't lie to me, not again. I know it was you, onto my second question since you're avoiding the first, why do you keep trying to kill me? I'm your daughter''.
''Okay fine, no more lies. I didn't want you to find me Daisy''. ''Why not?'' ''Because sweetheart I was afraid''. ''Afraid of what?'' ''Afraid of the last time we were together. I did an awful thing to you because I cared more about power than I did anything else, I recognize what a terrible mistake I've made, and I'm sorry. I'm so sorry''. Daisy looks to Ward for support, he gives her a look and she knows what to do. ''Tell me how you're alive and I'll consider your apology''. Jiaying walks until she's almost directly in front of Daisy, Ward shifts closer to her.
''Did you ever meet an Inhuman by the name of Sasha?'' ''No''. Daisy suddenly wonders if her mother knows about the attack on the Afterlife. ''She's dead now which is ironic when you learn about her powers. She can raise the dead''. The information is so taboo and ridiculous Daisy giggles, which turns into full on laughter. That's impossible. There's no such thing. Though a few years ago she didn't believe in any of this, Inhumans, monsters, aliens. Impossible seems pretty far fetched these days.
But how can she not believe her? Jiaying is standing right in front of her, who Daisy knows without a doubt was dead the last time they saw each other. She sobers up and glances at Ward, he isn't buying it. But it has to be true. ''Did you kill her?'' Mack speaks up, latching onto Daisy's side so him and Grant form a line of defense. ''Mack isn't it? You were helping Shield with the Secret Warriors program''. ''How the hell do you know about that?'' ''I can't say, not here. Daisy please come with me and we can talk''.
Daisy has two options here. She can stay in this dirty alley and tip toe around answers all day, or she can go wherver the hell Jiaying wants to take her and find out all she needs to know. It's an easy choice. She can defend herself if anything goes wrong. She doesn't trust Jiaying, but she trusts Ward and Mack, and that's all she needs. It could be a trap, more than likely is. ''Fine, lead the way''. And like the over protective boyfriend that he is, Ward puts a hand on her arm.
''This could be a trap Skye''. ''I know''. ''She tried to kill you once''. ''I know''. ''And you're just going to follow her wherever?'' ''You would do the same if this was Garrett and you know it''. ''I would have shot Garrett by now''. He's not happy but lets her go, shadowing and smothering her as she tells Jiaying to lead the way. Unknown to Daisy and Jiaying but not to Ward, Mack contacts Shield, sending Coulson their location. He has feeling they are going to need back up.
''I missed you''. Jiaying tells Daisy when she turns around. The streets are crowded and half of her just wants to lose her mother in the crowd. Walk away like none of this ever happened, keep pretending that all of this is a bad dream. ''Can you save the mother daughter bonding for later?'' ''Why do you want to remember the bad but not all the good? We had wonderful times together Daisy''. ''Before I realized how far you were willing to go for power. You tried to murder your daughter, I won't forgive you for that''.
Jiaying switches topics. ''How's Cal?'' A protective instinct flares up in her chest, ''we are not talking about him. He's dead to you''. ''I know about T.A.H.I.T.I.''. ''Of course you do''. ''I never wanted any of this to happen''. Daisy ignores her and instead focuses on Ward. He's in mission mode, weapons hot, eyes roving anywhere and everywhere. ''This is a bad plan Skye''. ''I'm aware of that, I just want to hear what she has to say and then we'll walk''. ''It could be a trap''. ''That's why I brought you''. He doesn't return her smile.
Jiaying leads them into a small house a few blocks down, far away from Lincoln's. Grant goes in first, announces it's clear and motions for Daisy and Mack to come inside. The house is bare, empty except for one couch and a rocking chair. Jiaying walks to the patio door and leans against it. ''Daisy I'd like to speak to you alone''. Daisy can almost hear Ward's jaw snap, his fists clench. ''I'm not leaving my partner alone with somone who tried to kill her''. ''She will come to no harm I promise''. ''We're not buying it''. Ward's gun is out again.
''Grant''. He sighs without looking at Daisy, already knowing what she's going to say. ''I just need a few minutes''. ''D she's dangerous''. ''I want to hear her out''. ''She makes one wrong move and it's game over''. ''Skye I'll be right outside''. The comment is directed at Jiaying who nods in response. When they are alone Daisy lets out a sigh she didn't know she was holding. ''How are you handling your powers?'' ''They're fine. I didn't come here to talk about that and you know it''.
Her mother takes a seat on the couch, Daisy remains standing with her arms crossed. ''You have three minutes''. ''Ward is very protective of you, is he not aware of your abilities?'' ''Cut the small talk okay? Just tell me what I want to know''. ''I'm not sure where to start''. ''How about when you died?'' Jiaying clears her throat, crosses her legs. ''Alright, after what happened I don't remember much, it was very dark and quiet. Then suddenly there was a flash of light, and Sasha is standing over me''.
Jiaying's expression turns dream like, as if her mind is far away in another place. ''She was my back up plan in case something went wrong''. Why is Daisy surprised by this? ''She restored me to my full health''- ''By killing people''. Her mother ignores her comment. ''After a few weeks I started looking for you, for Cal. I found your father first but he didn't remember me''. Daisy can't decide if she believes the sorrow in her voice. ''It took some time but I found you, you were with Shield like I figured''.
''I wanted to leave you alone, I knew in my heart you'd never forgive what I'd done. So I stayed quiet, until I heard about you returning to the Afterlife''. Daisy is suddenly rigid, her mind spiraling back. ''Sweetheart are you alright?'' It takes work but Daisy manages to get her facial expression back to neutral. ''Fine, keep going''. ''I was so proud of you, my own daughter following my foot steps, helping people. It's all I could have hoped for''. There's a lump in Daisy's throat she can't swallow.
''And then the attack happened''. Jiaying wipes her face, pats the spot on the couch next to her. Maybe it's the child in Daisy who always wanted her mother, or the adult her who a part of her is amazed and greatful that her mom is here. She lost her once, Daisy has a second chance that most people never get. She sits down next to her, wipes her own face. ''I didn't know what was happening''. Jiaying tries to touch Daisy's face, but she moves away. ''So many of our people were killed''. ''I know''.
''How badly were you injured?'' ''Why do you care?'' ''I just want to know if you suffered''. Daisy's voice is full of spite when she responds. ''Yes, I did''. ''I'm so sorry, but you did the best you could to protect them''. Daisy takes a breath before her next question. ''Do you know who is behind it?'' ''No, but when I find out there will be hell to pay''. ''I just might have to join you for that''. ''So that's what it comes down to? A commom enemy to reunite us?'' ''I guess so''.
''Daisy''. Her mother's tone is soft and gentle. ''I know how you joined Hydra after the attack, should I not also be angry with you for that? For banning together with the organization who cut me open and ripped me apart?'' ''Hydra wasn't like that''. ''Hydra will never change''. ''It did, I wanted revenge for what happened, I thought Shield was responsible but I was wrong. Hydra gave me an oppurtunity''. ''It also gave you Ward''. ''We're not talking about him''.
''I don't see why not, isn't that what mothers and daughters do?'' ''Sure, mothers also love and protect thier children, not try to suck them dry''. Jiaying sighs and stands up. ''Why is it so easy to forgive someone like Grant Ward but not your own mother? I've heard the stories, who he is and what he's done. Why can't you forgive me too?'' ''Grant is nothing like you, he's good and he loves me and he hasn't tried to kill me''.
''You think I don't love you? Daisy I love you more than anything''. ''Not more than power''. ''I was blinded by that yes, but I've seen the error of my ways sweetheart. All I want now is to have a relationship that we never got a chance at. We have a second shot here, why waste it?'' Daisy wants to, she wants to believe her, to trust her. And she does have a point, Daisy forgave Ward, a person she thought she never would. But they are two different people. Grant is Daisy's world, her rock when things get tough. Jiaying is just a power hungry woman who uses others to benefit herself.
Daisy looks away from her mother, out the patio and into the sunshine. She misses the snow. She wants Ward, she needs him, to be her support, the voice in her ear. Daisy gets off the couch and opens the front door and steps right into Grant's arms. He pulls her outside and holds her tightly to him, running his fingers through her hair. Daisy is surprised that she isn't crying. She lifts her face when she hears the sound of brakes squealing to a stop.
She turns and sees Shield vans parked in front of the house, May and Coulson rush out along with a few other agents. ICERS gripped tightly in their hands. ''Coulson''. Daisy breaks out of Ward's arms and runs through the front door, Jiaying is standing perfectly still, very calm. ''Coulson what are you doing?'' ''She poses a threat Daisy, we're taking her in''. It's a sound call and she agrees to it, but a small part of her objects. She can't explain why. Maybe it's the thought of her mother in hand cuffs, or the look in her eye when she's loaded into the Shield van. Either way, she has a bad feeling about this.
Daisy strays back into Ward's arms again, his heart beat solid and real in her ear. It relaxes her and she plants a kiss on his neck. ''I'm here if you need to talk baby''. ''I know, later okay? It's a lot to process''. He nods, kisses her lips lightly, sweetly. ''I love you''. ''I love you too''. Mack approaches them, rubbing his hands together. ''I should of told you about Shield D''. ''It's okay Mack, it's the right call''. ''Then why do you look so nervous?'' ''I don't know, she seems different, remorseful. But I can't shake the feeling that it's all an act''.
The three look to where Jiaying is sitting in the back seat, looking like she hasn't got a worry in the world. Daisy can't help but worry about it. The capture was too easy, it has to be harder than this right? May motions for Daisy to come over, she takes Ward's hand, she needs him right now. ''What's up?'' ''Daisy we're taking your mother to the Playground''. ''Why? Why not just interrogate her on the plane?'' Ward stiffins beside her and says, ''they're locking her up Skye''. She doesn't know if that's a good thing or a very very bad one.