Daisy Johnson kicked a shard of rubble out her way, as she stomped through the disaster zone. Here she was on a Friday night, stuck on a stupid mission, because of stupid Hellfire, literally kicking rocks.

"Doesn't the Director of Shield have piles of paper to push?" a teasing voice called over.

She turned to the source and glared. "Why the hell are you so cheery?"

"Hell-hopping made me appreciate all this," Robbie walked up to her and waved at the burnt building, Hellfire's latest target.

"Good for you," Daisy muttered, kicking another rock.

"Why are you here?" Robbie asked seriously, picking up on her mood.

"James and his deplorable behavior is my responsibility."

"Daisy, you're not-"

"Just stop what you're about to say," she interrupted. "I gave the order for therapy and rehab for Inhumans affected by Hive." She turned away, her back to him, so he wouldn't see her eyes glimmering with tears. "Like an idiot."

"What do you need me to do?"

Daisy squeezed her eyes shut. Robbie's voice was soft, but she didn't dare face him. Then he would know how much of a fraud she was with her new title.

Daisy Johnson, Director of SHIELD.

What type of Director was bawling every five minutes because she made emotional decisions that put the public at risk?

A failure.

"Daisy?" Robbie's voice was closer. "Tell me what to do, and it's done."

Daisy exhaled and some of her tension dissipated. Robbie's loyalty was what she cherished the most about their friendship.

"Find me Hellfire," she hastily wiped her eyes. "Tonight."

He was gone by the time she turned back to him.

Hellfire wasn't the most imaginative felon. Robbie tracked him at a local strip club, in a cloud of cigar smoke.

"Can you focus on backing me up and not that girl's backside?" Daisy grumbled as they scoped out the scene, heading to the bar.

"I-uh," Robbie stammered. "Sorry."

Daisy huffed a sigh, as she took in the miniscule costumes, and the abundance of flesh popping out.

"I just-" Robbie rubbed the back of his neck. "I haven't-"

"Spare me the sad details, Reyes," Daisy rolled her eyes. "We're here to get James. Not reclaim your twenties that you lost hosting a vengeance demon." She ordered a beer while Robbie ordered whiskey.

"It's not like- " Robbie began, as the bartender brought their drinks.

"Shit! Is that James?" Daisy cut him off and pointed to the center of the club.

J.T. James, aka Hellfire, complete with ruddy cheeks, and a drink in one hand, was being led into a back room by a stripper wearing pasties and a fluorescent pink thong.

"Should we wait till he's done?" Robbie ventured, blinking hard.

He winced when Daisy clipped the back of his head with her beer bottle. "Want to give him till the morning, so he can sleep off his bourbon, too?"

"It'll be bad for SHIELD," Robbie warned. "If you start a fight in a strip club." Robbie had gone from only wanting to work solo, to caring about SHIELD as much as Daisy did.

"Ok," she relented. "Let's wait." She settled in her seat, taking a swig of beer.

"Actually, chica," Robbie downed his whiskey. "I think I got this." And he zipped up his jacket and strode away, before Daisy could ask his plan.

"Oh crap," Daisy scooted out her chair. Reyes, who never drank, in a contained area with Hellfire was an explosion waiting to happen.

And she thought her Friday night was going to be boring.

"What the hell, mate?" James blustered.

One moment he had a tantalizing pair of breasts in his face and a stripper that didn't care about the no touching rule, but then he was being yanked up and was face to face with a heavy scowl with facial hair.

"You're coming with me, asshole," Robbie growled.

The stripper stopped gyrating and ran to the door.

"Kandi Kane, come back!" James called after the dancer. "I swear, I've never seen this man-" and he stopped speaking when Daisy sauntered in.

"Sup James," Daisy raised an eyebrow. "Keeping it classy, I see."

"Stay the hell away from me!" James pushed Robbie away. "I want nothing to do with you."

"No can do," Daisy surveyed the private room distastefully. "Not when you're burning down banks."

"It was as an accident!" he retorted, then frowned. "Wait a minute." Recognition dawned when he saw Robbie's leather jacket. "You're the one that got me locked up the first time!" James smirked. "So you're her new lapdog, eh? Didn't end so good for the last one, mate."

"Shut up James," Daisy clenched her fists. Robbie glanced between them both warily.

"Ah, don't worry, love," James laughed coldly. "This one here seems to have mettle, he mightn't die on you so easily."

"Shut. Up." Daisy stepped forward, her mouth pulled into a flat line.

James put a finger to his mouth, pretending to think. "But Sparky didn't just die, did he?"

Daisy froze.

"He preferred to kill himself than to stay on and fight," James bared his teeth. "And it was all because of-"

Robbie charged forward and gripped Hellfire's throat.

"Finish that sentence," Robbie's voice was deathly calm. "So I can finish you."

James gasped for air, clutching at Robbie's hand.

"Finish it!" Robbie snarled, tossing James across the room, where he crashed on a mirrored wall.

Outside, someone shouted for security.

"That's enough Agent Reyes," Daisy's voice was even, though her hands were trembling. "We're here to acquire the target, not get a lawsuit."

"Better listen to your Mistress, mate," James chuckled, on the floor. "She can get possessed by evil when you're not looking.

Daisy's face drained of all color, and her shoulders slumped. "I'll talk to security and show them our credentials." She avoided Robbie's eyes as she reached for the door, her boots crunching over broken glass. "Get Hellfire in the Inhuman cuffs and wait for backup." And she darted out the room, her hair hiding her face.

White hot anger coursed through Robbie as he hauled James to his feet. "Lawsuits don't bother me," he said softly.

James snorted. "Kill me, I don't care. I'd welcome it."

Robbie's grip tightened as his glowing amber eyes bored into James' frightened blue ones.

The Penance Stare burned away Hellfire's bravado, and self-hatred, illuminating his sins and magnifying them, and with a snarl, Robbie commanded the demon to make James feel the weight of the suffering he inflicted on others.

By the time, SHIELD backup arrived, James was catatonic.

Daisy busied herself with her computer screen when Robbie entered her office.

"I got your report already," Daisy tapped away at the keyboard not looking up. "Have a good night."

And take a goddamn hint, she added silently.

He stepped forward, his sneakers silent on her carpeted office floor, and didn't stop till his shadow fell across her desk.

She didn't look up. "I have a crapload of paperwork after you left Hellfire a drooling mess." Her eyebrows furrowed at her screen. "So if you'll excuse me-"

"No." Robbie pulled up a chair. "You're not excused."

Daisy slammed her hand on her desk and glared. "You have no right, Agent Reyes-"

"Don't Agent Reyes me," Robbie matched her tone. "I've every damn right since the night we met." He leaned forward. "I'm your friend."

"Well, Friend," Daisy moved to shut her computer down. "I don't want to talk about it." All her reports were completed, of course. She'd just been wasting time in her office, hoping Robbie would come see her, but now he actually showed, she was scared and wanted to run.

Would he still want to be her friend if he knew her past? All of it?

"Daisy," Robbie's voice was soft. "You know everything about me from my blood type down to my shoe size." He reached out and brushed her hand. "Let me in."

Daisy's face drained of color as she thought about people she'd let in and how they let her down.

But Robbie's dark eyes were earnest as they searched her face. Like he would be her knight, going to battle for all she'd lost, and the spoils of war would be her trust and faith.

Could she dare hope?

She snatched her hand away, standing up. "B positive. Size 8. Want my bra size, too?"

"Joking to deflect is getting old, chica." Robbie picked up her laptop bag as she grabbed her purse.

"Want me to walk you to your car?" Daisy pointedly changed the subject.

"Nah, I'm good," Robbie sighed and brushed a strand of hair from her cheek. "Wanna meet for coffee in the morning again?"

"I have conference calls in the morning then I'm booked solid all day," Daisy said, genuinely regretful.

Now that she was Director, friends were few and far between.

Mack and Yoyo were usually on missions, Fitz and Jemma had thankfully retired and were raising a family, while Coulson and May were on a much needed sabbatical. She had a sudden idea. "Wanna have dinner? Not like a date or anything. Just food."

Robbie didn't even stop the smile that crept across his face. As if he'd want to mess up his closest friendship with dating.

"Dinner and a movie then?" Robbie stuck his hands in his jacket pocket.

Daisy nodded. "Your place, though. You cook, I choose the movie."

Robbie mulled over her offer, taking in her sparkling eyes and genuine smile. So different from when that asshole James spoke to her.

"Your place cause it's bigger," Robbie leaned in. "I'll cook and do the dishes. But I get to choose the movie."

"Deal," Daisy laughed softly, already knowing it would be an obnoxious action movie. She rummaged in her purse. "Here's a spare key. Don't come before 7 pm."

Robbie grinned as they parted ways, already planning a menu and deciding which Fast and the Furious movie he wanted to rewatch.

Daisy slept fitfully that night, as Hellfire's words dug their way into her dreams.

She was dreaming of Afterlife.

It was a beautiful Spring day, and in the distance was Lincoln, with a bright smile and warm eyes.

"Daisy!" he exclaimed, holding out his arms.

She laughed, running to him, and when he embraced her, she melted. Being in his strong arms was so perfect.

"It was perfect till you betrayed me for Hive," Lincoln's face fell, and his eyes shimmered with tears.

"Lincoln, no, please," Daisy begged, cupping his face with her hand.

"But you killed him, Skye."

Daisy jumped. It was Ward holding her now, with that smirk she hated.

"Get away from me!" Daisy struggled.

Ward pursed his lips and suddenly she was at SHIELD with Hive.

"Drop to your knees and beg me to take you back," Hive sneered. "You're nothing without me."

"That's not true. " Daisy's heart thudded. "It wasn't like that."

"It was exactly like that," Hive gave her an oily smile. "Lie to yourself. Lie to Robbie but not to me. No one knows you like I do, Daisy."

Wake up, wake up.

"Not yet," Hive extended his hand. "We can be together again. Just like you want."

Daisy screamed, hoping to escape her dream.

"Not till you kill me again," Lincoln appeared next to Hive. "You're moving on and forgetting me Daisy." His eyes shone with tears. "Forgetting me after I sacrificed myself for you."

Daisy jolted awake, beads of sweat dripping down her face and her heart hammering.

3 am nightmares.

They were back.

Damn Hellfire and damn Reyes for stirring up those memories.