AN: I hast pray'd to the gods of creativity and inspiration f'r their divine help and reasoning. By invoking them I hast been imbu'd an insight that may salvage this story and thus may continue. Oh, gods I beseech thee and tender up this chapter as recompense f'r mine transgression.

Ch.4: The reason why

The next morning

"Why did you only let us see Daniel," Maddie questioned, shaking with rage, her hands clenched into fists. "let us see our children," she threw back her head then laughed. "what a joke, what happened, we demand to know why Jazz isn't allowed visitation rights you hypocrite!"

Jack remained silent.

He felt guilty, just as guilty as his wife had been when they listened to Danny's confession after he admitted to activating the portal. Surrendered was the calming serenity that once possessed Jack after Danny exposed his secret the puzzle pieces all fell into their rightful place. He winced, aching as his son's words stung him he wished everything could be different; but he knew there was no way to change what could be.

After last night's emotional exchange Jack felt his chest tighten, he felt grief swelling painfully inside of himself.

A shaky sigh escaped Danny's throat.

"I didn't want-want you to know-" Danny whispered, fear seizing his heart. "I-I was afraid of what you'd do to me-me-"he said, fighting back tears. "but I never wanted anyone to get hurt in my name, Jazz was in trouble I had to do something, I wasn't going to sit around and wait you gotta believe me-me."

Danny sighed, resigning himself to his parent's inevitable judgement.

He was gasping, choking back tears when he recalled underestimating the enemy who harbored a vast array of illegal and foreign technologies that were used against him. He had jeopardized police efforts and if it wasn't for Director Fury's Agents he may not have left the building alive.

Now he was facing the consequences of his actions.

"I would never hurt anyone, never-" he stammered. "not even on purpose," Danny let out a harsh sob his tears were hot, salty, and blinding, but he ignored it. "if-if I wasn't so weak then-"

It had changed him, changed him in a way he could have never imagined. Since the portal accident it had changed him into something hateful, confused, and unsure. He hated the way he was feeling right now, the way he was acting, but he knew better than anyone it had to be this way. He had to stay disconnected, he had to be separate from them. He had to pretend things would be easier, simpler, and he could handle it. But he knew better than anyone he couldn't.

Only it wasn't that easy now he found his mask was beginning to crack, splintering into an image of a spider's web. The kind of a plaster smooth theater mask that depicted happiness was only a parody that made up his life experiences and indwelt within him an irrevocable sadness, full of resignation and self-defeat.

"I'm sorry," Danny's mind screamed, but he couldn't bring himself to say the words.

He was sorry for everything.

"Please, don't take it personally," Fury said, leaning comfortably into his chair. "teenagers can be quite the handful especially the super powered ones always getting into trouble," he said in mocking parental tone. "I just needed to clear up the few last details regarding this week's incident."

There was no response from either Maddie or Jack; Maddie folded her arms against her chest Despite Director Fury was only providing sound logic it only made sense to keep her locked away.

Jasmine's isolation wasn't punishment it was a security measure until he received every single document the facility she was held inside was confiscated. Unlike most science experiments she was apart of a biological weapons project.

He had every right to fear her, but he felt he had to concede this idea since Coulson had met their daughter personally.

Jasmine was the only surviving specimen that had kept most of it's identity intact, her memories. Beyond those cloudy turquoise eyes as he witnessed it was evident they held recognition; an honest innocence reminding the Director she was still human.

There was no reason to withhold her from parents any longer.

From Agent Coulson's observation he had no right to treat her the way they dealt with criminals on a daily basis. She had committed no crimes on her captors behalf her hands were not stained with blood.

Fury had made the call to let her go.

Ease their suffering.

Director Fury watched Maddie walk out of his office with her husband following quietly behind her.

Jack took care to slam the door shut behind himself on his way out.

But he warned them both this was not going to be their last meeting.