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xxx SHIELD xxx
As May was doing a routine check of her quinjet, her mind drifted to Andrew again. She remembered what Coulson had told her about Andrew still being in transition. She wondered if it could be stopped or, better yet, reversed, since he had not fully transitioned. Once the thought occurred to her, she stopped what she was doing and quickly went back into the main area of the base.
May searched the compound for a specific person ... Lincoln. She needed to find out as much as she could about the Inhuman transitioning process.
Lincoln was in the training room with Daisy. He needed to work on his fighting skills and Daisy, occasionally, would spar with him. She had just flipped him onto his back and jumped on top of him when May walked into the room.
"Lincoln," May stated. "I need to talk to you."
Daisy could see the worry in Lincoln's face as he quickly scooted out from underneath her and ran over to May.
"Yes, ma'am."
"What's this about?" Daisy walked over to the pair.
"I need to talk to Lincoln. You don't need to get involved."
With that May turned around and walked out. After mouthing the words "help me" to Daisy, Lincoln quickly followed the senior agent.
xxx SHIELD xxx
May led the Inhuman to one of the unoccupied containment rooms, which made Lincoln even more nervous. He stood at attention waiting to speak until he was spoken to.
After a few minutes of pacing, May finally turned to him and said, "Tell me about Inhuman transitioning."
"It's a process to help the Inhuman adjust to the drastic change they just underwent. It varies from case to case, depending on the transformation and the person. There is no set way to handle it. Each one is different and, usually, difficult to work with."
"How so?"
"If the transformation is physical, it can be hard to determine the extent of it, such as if it's just the physical change or is there something more. It can take awhile to figure out."
May took some time to process this.
"Why the sudden interest transitioning?"
"Andrew."
"Ah, right," Lincoln responded.
"I want to understand what he is going through. Can it be stopped?"
"No, it's irreversible."
"There has to be a way!"
"There isn't! As long as there have been Inhumans, there has been no record of it being stopped or reversed. Our history goes back thousands of years."
Lincoln's anger was building. There was no way he wanted to help that monster after what he'd done. But, he also knew he couldn't, shouldn't, take it out on Agent May. She was no one to be trifled with and his issue was with Andrew, not her.
A look of defeat fell over May, but she fought it before it overwhelmed her.
"There has to be a way to help him."
"No! There doesn't," Lincoln shouted, then crossed his arms and turned away from her. He was trying desperately to control his emotions.
"Lincoln, I know this isn't easy for you. Andrew, no, Lash killed your friends and tried to kill you, but what you need to know is that was not Andrew. He is a good man."
"He is no longer that man."
"Andrew is still in there. I know it. Some part of him must still be part of Lash!"
Lincoln slowly turned around to face her. He saw that the usually stoic look of this warrior had softened. He had never seen any kind of vulnerability from her until this moment.
"Please, you are the only one on this base with this knowledge. I know you can help him, if you can get past your own ... hate, anger and fear."
Lincoln took a deep breath and shook his head.
"I don't know."
"At least try. I need you to try."
Lincoln stepped away from her and took a few moments to consider it.
"Well, usually, there is not such a drastic change in personality ..."
"Hmm?" May tried not to hope.
"So ... that is something worth investigating," Lincoln said as he looked at the agent.
"It's a start."
xxx SHIELD xxx
After a few days searching, May picked up a lead and went to Coulson.
"Director, requesting permission to take Lincoln on a recon and possible retrieval mission."
"Is this about Andrew?"
"Yes, it is."
"You're sure you want to do this?"
"I have to try."
"Well, then, permission granted," Coulson said and May turned to leave. "Melinda."
She stopped and glanced back at Coulson.
"Be careful."
"I will, Phil."
"Also? Daisy will be upset if her boyfriend gets hurt, so try not to let that happen."
"I can only do so much."
xxx SHIELD xxx
After retrieving Lincoln from Daisy's room, May and the Inhuman took off in the quinjet. Once autopilot had been programmed with their destination, she went in the back to talk to Lincoln.
"Lincoln, we need to discuss this."
"Hey, Daisy was just showing me some of her ..."
"Not that."
"Oh."
"Although ... no, we have to focus now on the mission, we'll discuss whatever it is you were doing with Daisy some other time."
"Okay. The mission."
"The plan ... if we find Andrew, what are you going to do?"
"Try to talk to him ... are you sure that's a good idea? It worked much better when you talked to him. He never wants to talk when I'm in the room. He's all kill, kill, kill."
"Stay calm and he won't hurt you. If he tries anything, we have Fitz's new gadget that will provide a distraction. Remember, do not attack. The key is controlling your emotions."
"Right."
"So far, the only thing attacking him has accomplished is nearly getting yourself killed. It's time to change tactics. Think of him as just another Inhuman who needs your help. Focus on that."
"I'll try."
"Remember, as soon as we've found him, Mack, Daisy and Bobbi will be en route to pick him up. So, we need to keep him distracted until they get here."