I Should Of Worshiped Her Sooner
''How's Lincoln doing?'' Skye asks Daisy as they both enter the kitchen. It's been a few days since Lincoln was shot, since Ward left. Since then Daisy hasn't once left his side, wating hand and foot for whatever he needed. ''He's alright, Simmons said as long as he takes it easy he should make a full recovery''. ''Good, that's good''. For the most part their fight earlier has been all but forgotten. Skye supposes it was the heat of the moment and Daisy needed an outlet.
And now that Lincoln is doing better and Ward is out of the picture (Skye understands why Daisy might be a little relieved at that. He always did have a habit of getting under their skin so easily.) the fight is far from both their minds. ''You want a sandwich or something?'' Skye asks as Daisy takes a seat at the table. ''Sure''. Skye starts roaming the cabinets for bread, tosses her other half a beer in the process. The two women are quiet until Skye puts a sandwich next to Daisy who gives her an amused look. ''What?''
Daisy gestures to the plate, ''you cut the crust off''. Skye laughs, ''Ellie Rose and Cal hate crust. Sorry it's a habit''. Neither Skye nor Grant have really mentioned their children to Daisy or Ward except maybe once or twice. Perhaps so they wouldn't dwell on things they would probably never have in this life, or maybe because Skye and Grant miss them terribly and don't want to talk about them in fear of becoming emotional.
For the first time Daisy pays attention to the names, can't remember if Skye or Grant ever told her what they were. Cal. After her father. ''Cal''. Daisy whispers, picking at the bread just for something to do. ''Yeah. And my son is the best part of me, so is my daughter. I didn't really understand what true love was until I had them. I can't really describe it, just that all my life a piece of me was missing and I didn't know it until I saw their faces''.
Daisy chews on her lip, there's this longing in the pit of her stomach that wasn't there before. If Skye can have that in her world, is it possible that Daisy could too? ''What happened to Cal and Jiaying in your world?'' Daisy asks Skye, and this sorrow enters her so deep and fast it takes Daisy by surprise. She back tracks quickly, tells Skye she doesn't have to talk about it if she doesn't want to. But it makes her curious, was it worse than what Daisy went through?
Skye clears her throat and blinks quickly to dry her eyes. ''I don't think you want to know''. ''Come on how much worse can it be?'' ''You really want to know?'' ''If you want to tell me''. Skye sucks in a breath, hands grazing over her chest in an unconscious gesture. Daisy can make out just the top of a scar, faded but still noticeable. ''I still put Cal through T.A.H.I.T.I. He's doing well, working at a vet clinic''. ''He's doing that here too. And Jiaying did she try''- ''To kill me?''
Skye nods and they both wince at the memory of Jiaying hands around their throats. Skye is deciding if she should tell Daisy what happened a couple of years later, how Jiaying was brought back to life by another Inhuman. How Skye believed that her mother had changed and followed her until the bitter end, even when Grant warned her not to. She doesn't think Daisy needs to hear that, that her mother was once again a monster all the same.
''And um she died. Cal killed her, that's all''. Daisy narrows her eyes at Skye, ''there's more. You do remember that I am you, right? There's something you're not telling me''. Briefly Skye closes her eyes, her fingers once again drifting over the scar Jiaying left her so long ago. So Skye takes a deep breath and tells Daisy all of it. How she and Grant went back to Shield to find her mother and Jiaying convinced Skye she was a completely different person.
And Skye believed her. Even when her mother tried to blow up the Playground while she was still inside it. Even when Grant told her something wasn't right, she refused to accept it. How her Grant and Shield went to the new Afterlife Jiaying was building. ''I really thought she wanted peace, but she didn't. And I fell for her lies again''. With tears in her eyes because it still stings like that knife in her chest again even after all this time, Skye tells Daisy how her mother tried to kill her again. How she stabbed her on the beach, watched her bleed.
''I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for Grant. He saved me''. Daisy is quiet for a long time, absorbing all of it in. In the end she knew Jiaying wasn't the mother she hoped for (obviously) but Jiaying had a second chance in Skye's world. Why not take it? Skye was willing and hopeful to have her mother back in her life but all Jiaying wanted was power, revenge. What kind of mother does that to her child, not only once but three times? A cruel monster that deserved what she got.
Daisy pats Skye's hand and tells her she's so sorry, that Skye deserved better than that. ''She gave you that scar''. ''Yeah''. Unknown to the pair Grant has been leaning against the doorway listening. It wasn't intentional, he just didn't want to interrupt their conversation, it looks to be over now. Silently he moves into the kitchen, ''hey babe''. Skye turns and Daisy can see how Grant takes in all of her sadness, even though she was crying a few seconds ago she's smiling at him now. Takes his hand, looks lighter, better.
Grant kisses her forehead and keeps one arm around her shoulder. One of the worst days of his life was when Skye went to the new Afterlife to prove to him and Shield that her mother had changed. But she hadn't and Skye paid the price. To this day he still has nightmares about that awful day, the image of her all alone on the sand bleeding out before him and there wasn't a thing he could do about it. ''Ward and Kebo found Marcus Stanley''.
Grant tells them a few minutes later after he's checked his phone. Skye jumps out of the chair and looks up at her husband. ''What?'' He hands her his phone and the grin she was wearing fades. ''Something wrong?'' Daisy asks, taking the offered cell phone from Skye's hand. ''Ward and Kebo found Marcus, the only problem is getting to him''. Grant informs Daisy just as her eyes drift across the screen. She's looking at a Hydra base in the middle of the woods.
''Hydra kidnapped him''. ''We have to break him out''. Grant says, mind already on the mission. Taking in every variable, thinking of every possible outcome, how to get everyone in and out alive. ''Where's the base?'' ''Canada. Daisy can you get us a quin jet and meet us in five minutes?'' ''Sure. I'll go get Mack''. Skye watches her other half exit the kitchen and then away from view. ''We could be home soon''. She tells Grant who takes her hand.
''That base isn't going to be easy to get into baby, we might have to plan at length to break in. Ward and Kebo are already there, we'll know more when we talk to them''. Skye turns and buries her face in his shirt, automatically his arms wrap around her and he kisses the top of her head. ''I know I was hell bent on staying until Ward and Daisy worked out their issues but now that he's gone from Shield, I think it'll be good for him''. Skye mutters.
''They'll find their way back to each other even without our help. I came here to save Ward and I did, mostly. You came here to find me and you did. What happens now is up to them, we can't force Daisy and Ward to fall in love again''. ''I know''. He keeps one arm around her as they leave the kitchen and meet Daisy by the quin jets. Mack isn't the only one with her, Coulson and May are as well. Fitz and Simmons are lingering as well.
''You found the Inhuman that sent you here''. Coulson says, crossing his arms. ''We did. Is that a problem for you?'' ''No, I have no problem with sending the two of you back home''. Grant senses hostility in Coulson and is on edge. ''The issue here is that you and your wife let Ward go, let him leave my base without a second thought. He's a criminal, deserves to be punished for his crimes''. Grant scoffs and takes a step closer to Phil.
''You know Coulson it took me a long time to be okay with who I am, with the things I've done. I took years for me to realize that Garrett was a sick son of a bitch that used me for his own personal use. Not everything Ward has done was his fault. He spent months in Vault D paying for his mistakes. The team was his family and he doesn't have that anymore, the people he cares about all want him dead. Isn't that tortue enough?''
Coulson rolls his eyes. ''He tried to kill Fitz and Simmons, he's murdered Shield agents. Ward doesn't deserve forgiveness or redemption. What he deserves is a bullet to the head''. Grant shifts even closer to the Director of Shield and May tenses. ''Well if you want to get to him you're going to have to go through me. And you and I both know exactly what I'm capable of. Stay the hell out of my way or you're going to regret it. You touch Ward and I will burn this place to the ground''. A shudder runs through Phil who quickly covers it up.
''Now are you and the Calvary going to get out of my way or not? I have no problem getting out of here with a fight''. The tone of his voice has Coulson and May moving away. Fitz meets Grant's eye and Grant stops in front of him. ''I'll do my best to keep them occupied''. Fitz tells him and Grant nods, hoping that some of the relationship he and Ward had on the Bus is still somewhere inside. Simmons gives Grant a half smile and Skye takes his hand.
Daisy and Mack are quiet as they board the quin jet. Don't say a word until they are in the air and miles away from the Playground. ''We're outnumbered''. Mack says, Skye tuns around in her chair and smiles at him. ''Kebo and Ward have a team waiting. Besides you have two Inhumans here with earthquake powers, we're not the ones who need to be worried. Hydra is''. ''Wait, isn't Ward still the Director of Hydra?'' Macks asks, glancing at Daisy.
''Not really, Malick took over. They probably still think he's either Hive or dead''. ''Then can't we use that to our advantage? Ward can just go in and grab Marucs, there doesn't have to be a fight''. Skye tells Grant, who thought of that plan earlier. It's a good one, but it could be dangerous. If Hydra doesn't see him as the Director anymore it could turn into a battle anyway. ''Maybe. We'll see when we get there''. It takes a few hours but they make it.
Meet Kebo and Ward in a secure and covered section of the woods near the base. ''About time you all showed up''. Kebo tells them as he takes a sip from the silver flask in his hand. ''Where's Ward?'' Skye asks, taking the flask and stealing a drink. ''Doing surveillance''. Grant takes a look around and then decides to join his counter part. ''Who invited them to the party?'' Kebo asks Skye as they move to seat on a fallen tree. ''Daisy and Mack are here to help. How's Ward doing?'' Kebo dramatically rolls his eyes, ''better since he left Shield''. ''Good''.
Skye sees the team of agents (more than likely old Hydra members that owed Ward a favor) discreetly move around in the shadows of the trees. ''So are we storming the castle or what?'' Daisy asks an hour later when Grant and Ward return. Both men shake their heads, Grant heads for Skye while Ward lingers not too far from Daisy but not close either. ''We're going to wait until the guards change shifts in the morning, that's when the base is weakest. Marcus is being held in the basement, we get in, get him out''.
Grant tells them and Ward nods in agreement. Skye is the only one who groans aloud. ''A stake out?'' Grant just smiles at his wife, always a city girl even after all this time. She isn't one to complain about a lot but sleeping in the woods even as an agent never appealed to her. ''Why do you think I brought alcohol?'' Kebo tosses her a bottle of bourbon and Skye high fives him. ''I knew I kept you around for a reason Popeye''. He winks at her.
Later when night has fallen Ward, Daisy, Mack, Kebo, Skye and Grant are all huddled in the shelter of the trees, their only light being the moon. The men Ward recruited have been ordered to stand guard all night around the perimeter of their small camp, just in case something happens. Even though Grant and Ward have no intentions of sleeping. There's too much at stake here. Skye passes Daisy the bourbon and it warms her veins.
Skye has her head on Grant's shoulder and starts scrolling through her phone. ''So in your world, how did you two get together?'' Macks asks, he's been curious about that since Grant walked into the Playground. Skye looks over at her husband lovingly and he curls his arm tighter around her. ''I joined Hydra actually''. ''You what?'' Daisy asks who looks equally surprised as Ward. ''Shield and I were on bad terms at the time, Hydra was my best option. And it was the best decision I'd ever made''. Skye brings her palm up to cup Grant's cheek.
So she tells them all about her and Grant's relationship. How they were at Hydra together, how they were both driven by revenge. And then it all changed when Skye exchanged herself as a prisoner for Shield to save her father and Grant attacked the Playground to get her back. How Rosalind Price turned Grant into an Inhuman and for months Skye thought he was dead. When she mentions those days she gets this look on her face, sorrow and fear. Grant whispers something in her ear and she relaxes. Kebo squeezes her hand.
Daisy and Ward can't help but get lost in the story Skye is telling them. In another dimension despite all odds they loved each other. Skye then tells them how in the end after Lash and how Grant led her to believe he'd betrayed her again, they left Shield. Lived together for a year before Coulson found them again. Daisy already knows about Jiaying and how Skye gave up her domestic life with Grant to try and save her, even though it was pointless.
''And the whole time I was pregnant too''. Skye muses, having just gone done telling Daisy and Ward about how Ian Quinn tried to kill Grant. At the mention of him everyone tenses. ''Glad he's dead in at least one world''. Ward comments, shaking off the memory of Daisy nearly dying. ''When this is over be my guest and go find that son of a bitch''. Daisy tells Ward, not looking at him. It doesn't escape Grant or Skye how Ward lit up when Skye mentioned her pregnancy. ''Do you have pictures?'' Daisy asks a few minutes later.
Skye hands her other half her phone and with shaky hands Daisy grabs it. Looks at the image of Ellie Rose and Cal on the screen. And while Ward keeps his face blank (Skye can see it plain in his eyes, the longing, the wanting.) Daisy has a different reaction. It only takes a few seconds before she's handing the phone back and getting up. Walking away from them, the trees rumbling. Grant moves to go after her but Ward stops him. ''I got it''.
Grant turns to Skye who is in his lap, her hands slipping underneath his shirt onto his warm skin. ''You did that on purpose, both of you''. Grant says to Mack and Skye, who just smile at him. ''I don't know what you're talking about babe''. Skye mutters, kissing his cheek. Mack says nothing but grins into the bottle he's currently drinking. Grant just rolls his eyes at the two of them. He has to admit though, Mack asking Skye and Ward about their lives together was a good move.
And Skye showing Daisy pictures of the kids? Icing on the cake. Skye cranes her neck to hear Daisy and Ward, so far there's silence. But when they start talking, she'll be able to listen. She has a feeling that conversation is either going to bring them together, or put a nail in the coffin all together.