Are We In the Clear Yet
''You waited nearly a week to tell me about my mom''. Ward has been sitting on the edge of her bed for ten minutes now, saying nothing. He knocked on the door a few minutes ago and Mack made a hasty retreat. ''You nearly died, I didn't want to add to that''. ''But you let me think she was alive all this time!'' He pauses. ''Did I give you any indication that she was? I never said to you that I knew she made it off that island''. ''That's not the point''. ''How long did you know about the baby?'' He asks her minutes later. ''Why?'' ''Did Simmons tell you when you woke up or did you find out sooner?''
He knows something, Daisy feels guilt run up her spine. She doesn't answer him, just picks at a stray string on the bed spread. ''Jiayang told me the day I arrived at the Afterlife''. ''So when you and Lincoln met with Shield''- ''I knew and didn't tell you''. He sighs, doesn't look at her. ''Why not? Why did you wait?'' ''I don't know''. Ward shifts closer to her. ''I thought we knew better than to lie to each other''. Daisy glances at him, the hurt is back. ''I was afraid okay?'' ''Of what? Of me?'' There's outrage and self hatred on his handsome face.
''No, not of you. God no''. She forgets momentarily about what he's done and cups his face. ''You are going to make the best Father Grant, but I didn't tell you because I knew you'd doubt yourself and I didn't want that''. He leans into her touch, slides his lips across her palm. She loses concentration for half a second and then pulls her hand back. ''Look I'm sorry I didn't tell you about the baby, I wanted to, so much. But I was just scared and we weren't exactly on good terms at the time. But''- ''It's okay''. He interrupts.
Daisy doesn't know what to say to him, how to move on from this. She loves him, she's not going to leave him, and she understands that he did what he did because he was protecting her. Daisy can't exactly fault him for that, Jiayang is, was, a monster in the end. All her mom wanted was revenge, power, Grant was right all that time ago. Revenge can make people do horrible things. ''Where do we go from here Grant?'' ''I don't know''. ''You can't just expect me to be over this in a few minutes, I need time''.
''I understand, take all that you need''. He rises from the bed, leans down and kisses her forehead. He leaves the room and she's left crying into her pillow.
''Popeye we screwed up again''. An hour after Ward left the room Daisy caved and called Kebo, he always manages to pull their heads from their butts when things go bad. He sighs into the phone. ''I'm literally gone for three days and you two already managed to crap all over the happiness? What's wrong?'' He's silent as Daisy tells him, she hears him pop open a can of beer when she's almost done. ''Quake I thought of many scenarios on how this trip was going to end, and I'm proud to say that was one of them''. ''You knew Ward was going to kill my mom?''
''I don't know why you didn't think of it either, he's very protective of you in case you hadn't noticed. But Jiayang did try to kill you on several occasions, why wouldn't Ward take the shot as soon as he got a chance? Plus she bloody stabbed you! In the chest! If you ask me a mother like that doesn't deserve to live''. ''I know that you're right''. ''But on your end she was your mom, and despite all of the terrible things she's done, that still holds weight. Quake she would have killed you if the Director didn't get to her first''.
''I knew about the baby for a week and didn't tell Ward''. Kebo sighs loudly, she hears him take a huge gulp of alcohol. ''I swear you just want to be angry with each other don't you? Why didn't you tell him about Hydra junior?'' ''You know how Ward is, he's scared''. ''We're all scared Daisy, he'll be fine. Plus I think you have more of a right to be angry here, you know him putting a bullet in your mom's head and all''. ''I don't know what to do''. She pulls a pillow to her chest.
''Come home. In my opinion Shield is toxic to you both''. ''I was thinking the same thing''. ''Great minds Quake, great minds''. She cracks, smiles a little. ''I missed you Kebo''. ''Oh you're dropping the full name now? Must be serious. I missed you too Daisy, come home. I'm tired of sleeping all alone out here. It's creepy by yourself at night, you know Buddy brought a dead rat into the living room yesterday, it was disgusting blood everywhere''.
She spends the next few hours talking to Kebo and she feels lighter, more relaxed, at ease. Daisy has clarity in her blood, she wasn't angry with Ward, he did what he had to do and she understands that. The woman that her mom showed her wasn't real, she never existed, and Daisy doesn't mourn Jiayang herself, but the mother she could have been. Should have been. She grieves already for her child who will never hear Jiayang's smooth laugh or feel Cal's goodness on his or her skin.
May comes in later, asks if she needs anything. ''No I'm okay''. The Calvary takes a seat on the bed, brushes the bangs out of Daisy's eyes. ''If you want to talk I'm here''. ''I know''. ''Ward has destroyed two punching bags so far, I think Coulson is going to have an aneurysm soon''. Daisy gets up with May's help. ''May what would you do, if you were in my position?'' May is thoughtful for a long moment. ''I'd talk it out''. Daisy smiles, ''you hit him first''. ''You're probably right''.
They find Ward in the gym, Fitz is sitting on one of the pieces of work out equipment talking to Ward. He falls silent when Daisy walks in. If Grant knows she's here he makes no move to show it. ''Fitz, Simmons is asking for you''. May says after she's helped Daisy sit on a bench. Fitz comes up to her, hugs her lightly and leaves with May. Ward keeps going on the punching bag, after half an hour she calls his name. ''What did that bag ever do to you?'' She hands him a water bottle when he approaches her.
''Do you need anything?'' He asks her, wiping his face with a towel. He's drenched in sweat and it makes it hard to think clearly. ''I talked to Kebo''. There's hope on his face that he tries to hide. Whenever Kebo is involved with them, it usually works out in the end. ''My mom only showed me what I wanted to see, the person she pretended to be, that's who I miss. I miss the woman who gave me courage, who wanted to be a grandma. You shot her because she stabbed me, and I can't be angry at you for that''.
He takes a seat next to her, slowly puts his hand on hers, giving her enough time to pull back if she wants to. She doesn't. ''I'm sorry you lost your mom''. ''Sorry I didn't tell you about our baby sooner''. He holds her close and this is where she wants to be. Here it's safe, the world is gone when she has her face buried in Ward's chest. Everything just melts away when his skin is on hers. ''I want to go home Grant''. ''You have an appointment in the morning with Simmons, and Fitz told me she'll clear you''. Happiness. All of this is over.
They share a sigh of relief. ''It's over. We can go home''. He kisses her, ''yes we can''. The next morning Fitz was right, after an exam Simmons says she's fit to leave. ''I'd like to do a sonagram first though''. Grant's face lights up, his hands are shaking though when he helps Daisy lay down. ''Everything looks good Daisy''. They both glance at Ward, and the expression on his face makes Daisy cry. It's a mix between awe and love, there's no trace of fear anywhere. When he hears the heartbeat he tears up, and demands Jemma prints out pictures.
Daisy and Ward are packing thier bags when Ward's phone rings. ''Kebo we'll be home soon''. Daisy keeps folding Ward's shirts, only half listening the conversation. ''Do not call my child Hydra junior. Yes I have pictures, is there a reason for this phone call?'' He stays quiet for a while, Daisy isn't looking at him so she doesn't notice how suddenly tense his body becomes. ''Who the hell is it?'' The sheets catch on fire and Daisy looks up.
''What's wrong?'' Ward hangs up the phone, then throws it at the wall. ''Baby what's going on?'' Daisy has a sick feeling in her stomach, there's only one reason why he'd be this upset. Whatever it is it means they aren't going home today. ''Someone put a target on my head''. ''I feel sorry for the idiot who did that''. Grant paces the room. ''Does Popeye know who it is?''. Ward runs a hand over his face.
''He said he'll call me back when he has more information''. Silenty Daisy throws him her cell phone. ''Skye you should go home, I'll come back when I find everything out''. He tells her as their walking down the hall in the direction of Coulson's office. ''Not going to happen robot. If you aren't going home then neither am I''. Ward is perfectly capable of taking out whatever moron thinks they can kill him, but Daisy thought Shield would be a perfect place to help figure that out.
''Coulson isn't exactly going to be upset that someone is trying to kill me''. ''True but he'll help because I love you. Besides if you have a team behind you I'll feel better about you being out in the field''. He's given up trying to tell her she doesn't have to worry. Coulson and May stop talking when they walk in. ''Are you here to say goodbye?'' ''Some idiot is trying to kill Grant''. May helps Daisy into the chair in front of Coulson's desk. The Director of Shield's face cracks into a smile when Diasy tells him this.
''Do you know his name? I want to personally thank him for this''. ''Phil if I had a name I wouldn't be standing here right now''. ''So why are you? You and I both know you're more than capable of killing someone''. Daisy sighs. ''I want your help to track whoever this is down. It could be an Inhuman trying to avenge my mom, or an old member of Hydra I don't know. But I'm not leaving until we do''. Coulson folds his hands on his desk.
''How'd you find this out?'' ''I still have people on the inside of certain things''. ''Of course you do. Fine Shield will help, but on one condition''. ''What's that?'' Daisy asks, glancing at her boyfriend. ''I want a picture of that sonagram''. Daisy smiles and pulls one out of her pocket. May looks over Coulson's shoulder and in that moment Daisy realizes something. Her child won't be without grandparents, he or she's got the best ones right here. And even though her and Coulson have been through hell the past couple of years, he's still the father she's been chasing all along.
Ward comes up behind her, puts his hands on her shoulders. Daisy should have known this wasn't over, it never is. But she isn't mad about it, no one gets away with trying to kill her boyfriend. Whoever it is will have hell to answer to when Grant finds them, and he will. He has enemies, and with Shield no longer being a concern the possibilities are endless. But who in their right mind would go up against Grant Ward? They'll find themselves six feet under very very soon.