* THIS STORY IS ON TEMPORARY HIATUS *

I'm not sure it will be continued. I had waaay too many ideas at one point, then had to chose one of them to complete. This wasn't it. But then, there's no shame in admitting that I didn't finish a story, right? It happens and seriously? It is a hobby, there are no obligations here.

At least now you don't have to continue reading, because you know there's no solution.

I am truly sorry for not continuing this story.

Summary: Post season one finale. It's Triplett who's going to interrogate the prisoner.

A/N: Someone, please, tell me to stop having ideas!

These Mark Are Untold Stories

Chapter One

They all got separate rooms in the Playground base. It was large enough to accommodate a small platoon, actually. Before Trip managed to acquaintance himself with his new quarters though, he got a message from Coulson.

"Bus. Command Center. Now," it said.

And then:

"Don't tell girls."

Apparently 'girs' were only Jemma and Skye, because Melinda May was already standing next to Coulson, her face set, her posture vaguely threatening.

"I want to have it off my fringe as fast as I can," Coulson stated. "So I'll simply tell you, that we have cargo onboard. I don't want either Skye or Jemma to know about it, but I'm gonna need help from the two of you in handling it." His fingers danced on the table and one of the side screens lit up, showing the inside of the Bus's cell. "I can't trust any authorities with him. Hydra may be everywhere and even if not, there isn't a cell he won't break out of. Whatever we think about him, we cannot afford to underestimate him. He is one of the best spies out there. That's why I'm going to conduct the interrogation myself. And I'll need your backup."

"Phil," May said gently, "maybe I-"

"No," he didn't let her finish that thought. "You've done enough already and he played with your feelings, with your..." Coulson gritted his teeth. "I won't, I can't let you get any more tainted even by being in his presence."

"I don't need your protection, Phil," May didn't sound offended. More like concerned. Coulson turned to her.

"But I need to protect you. At least from this. Please, let me."

Triplett thought that, actually, neither of them was suited to deal with the traitor they had in custody. Both of them were wounded by his actions too deeply.

"I think it should be me," he stated firmly.

"No, it shouldn't be you," Coulson slammed his palm against the surface of the table and tensed, shook his head, curled that palm into a fist, breathing deep and long. "I'm sorry," he uttered. "I said I only needed you to be a guard, in case. You may observe. But I won't let you in there with him."

"With all due respect, sir," Trip spoke quietly, with conviction. He knew how delicate the situation was, but he had solid arguments. "He had never betrayed me personally, because we weren't in the same team before the Hydra reveal. His S.O. betrayed me, if anyone. That makes me less emotionally compromised, sir. Besides," he turned to look at the screen and a figure sitting in the corner, legs curled up to his chest, eyes open, vigilant. Something churned in his stomach. "I was with Garrett for a few months. I have learned ways to torture a person you wouldn't imagine."

"We wouldn't imagine?" May doubted it possible.

Trip looked at her with a smirk. "Trust me, I feel evil to the core just remembering."

May shook her head and Trip turned back to Coulson. "Please, let me do this." He had another agenda too, one he wouldn't tell Coulson just yet. He'd heard stories, while with Garrett. Stories about Ward. He needed to see how true they were. His present commander hesitated, so Trip added one more reason. "Someone needs to take a look at his injuries, too and I have medical training. Unless you want him to develop infection and sepsis, or asphyxiate due to swelling in his throat and airway compromise. Both those deaths would be sufficiently painful but I don't think that's what you want. He's more useful alive, what with his knowledge of Hydra."

Coulson gritted his teeth but he nodded.

"Great, I'll go get the first aid kit then."

"What? You're gonna do this now?"

"You wanted to wait until tomorrow, right?" Trip smiled softly. "I'm afraid it's not an option if we really care about his survival. If you too need some rest, you may set up the recording and watch it in the morning. I'm not going to interrogate him now, either way, I just want to see how severe his injuries are."

In the end May decided to stay and watch and Coulson left to see if Skye and Jemma were settling down alright.

Triplett marched down the corridor to the prisoner cell, uncertain if he really wanted his suspicions to be revealed as truthful. If it wouldn't only make things worse.

t.b.c.