Author's note: Thank you all! I'm sorry for the wait but it took time to arrange the events to my liking. I hope this chapter won't disappoint.
Thank you for your comments!
In case it was confusing who died in the end of the previous chapter – I'm sorry if I overdid it with ambiguity – it was SHIELD agent from the surveillance team.
Any of the opinions voiced by the characters are not the ultimate truth (or even necessarily reflect my opinions) – they are my interpretations of what the characters would probably do.
If you want to, I will appreciate your thoughts on whether they are in character.
If any of the created by me OCs are getting to much screen time – please write if you don't like it and why. But I kind of need them, because AOS never presented much of secondary cast (support staff – especially from Hydra side).
I hope you will enjoy eleventh chapter.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything but probably plot :) - if you recognize something, it's probably not mine. All rights belong to their owners.
Cross-posted at Archive of our own - works/5596210
Thank you for reading!
Chapter 11
The ring bell distracted Grant from the very important task - planning the details of deceive-Whitehall-and-stay-alive mission.
When Grant opened the door he saw Bobbi standing outside his apartment looking mildly uncomfortable.
"Hi, may I come in?" Bobbi's nervousness put Grant on edge. Did something happen to Jemma? Again.
No, Raina would have contacted him immediately if that was the case.
He nodded and stepped to the side letting Bobbi in.
She stopped upon seeing the changes and questioningly looked at Grant.
He shrugged - okay, maybe the store manager went a little crazy with Grant's credit card but at least his place didn't look as barracks any longer.
It was a bit unsettling - and odd - but strangely soothing. He almost regretted that HQ was going to be relocated.
Leaning on the stand he watched as she paced - three steps forward, turn, three steps back.
When she finally spoke up it was with the last question he could have expected:
"Is Dr. Simmons really brainwashed?"
She was still pacing as he thought how to answer.
On the one hand it wasn't exactly a secret that some Hydra agents were in Hydra less than voluntary - the secret was which ones.
On the other hand - Whitehall was under impression that Grant was one of them. Even if it was unstable and done quite differently than usually - Grant had much more autonomy and leeway.
"It's about what Dr. Fitz said, isn't it?" He sighed. "I don't know why he came to that conclusion. Maybe he couldn't accept the truth."
Bobbi stopped and turned around:
"So it's just him being unable to believe in Simmons' defection?"
Her posture was relaxed, face was calm and eyes offered no clues either - but this in itself was telling.
"Not completely, from what I've seen of his and her parents' reactions, she changed - not much, just little things. But it can be disturbing all the same - and it's easier to think it was someone's influence."
Grant waited several seconds:
"People just can't understand what effect meeting Dr. Whitehall has until they feel it themselves."
Bobbi frowned:
"What do you mean?"
Grant shrugged:
"He makes you see the truth. And it frees you - everything becomes clear and you find purpose, meaning."
Her eyes tensed and that was the only reaction Grant saw. She was good. But Grant's words - and their implications - weren't something she was prepared for.
Change of topic was in order:
"How's your head?" She touched the bump on her forehead and scowled. "I would have been sorry, really, if you just listened...but you're hellishly stubborn, Bobbi."
God, he was in for a world of pain at their next spar.
Her scowl deepened.
Grant smiled. It was worth it. Totally.
ooo
Closing the door behind Bobbi he leaned on it and slid down to the floor.
Whitehall and Bakshi were due to return in three hours. And though Grant planned this before he dragged reluctant Jemma in England, now he questioned his sanity.
But his plan, however crazy it was – hinging too much on Whitehall's arrogance – opened possibilities to avoid inevitable re-brainwashing. Because there was no way he was going to sell his actions as anything other than being compromised - caring about Jemma.
That's not a weakness, is it?
He angrily banished John's words from his mind.
He cared, yes. He was weak. There was no denying it - Jemma, Raina, Bobbi, even the kid...and Skye.
He got attached. The only thing he could do now was do damage control.
And if Grant succeeded - not only Jemma and Donnie would be out, Grant would show John just how wrong he was in throwing Grant away.
He will prove it to John and John will regret leaving him alone.
He wasn't useless. He wasn't.
And whole of Hydra will see it.
ooo
"You caused quite a commotion, agent Ward." Dr. Whitehall's smile showed his amusement and nothing else.
"It could have been avoided if not for the mole." Grant clamped down on his trepidation. He had nothing to worry about - he protected Dr. Whitehall's interests. That's all. "It was rather high-handed to send everyone in this building the photo of Dr. Simmons in compromising situation."
"Is that so?" Smile turned sharp.
But Grant ignored it. Dr. Whitehall had no reason to be displeased with Grant. He protected Jemma for him.
"He - or she - made a mistake choosing someone whose betrayal is out of the question - should have stuck with Dr. Turgeon. Although, am I wrong in assuming he was set up too?"
"No, you're not." Dr. Whitehall leaned back in his seat. "It's going to be some time before Dr. Turgeon recovers enough to continue his work. If not for your actions Dr. Simmons would have been in the same position and unable to step in and replace her supervisor. How fortunate that you intervened."
"I was trying to stop agent Morse from making hasty judgment - and playing right in the mole's hands."
Dr. Whitehall steepled his fingers in front of him:
"And that's the reason for the spectacle you organized in England."
Grant shrugged:
"My brother dearest spoke about "SHIELD's" attack on UN and I decided to use an opportunity - Coulson was going to be too busy convincing US Senator and saving minister Beckers to immediately react to Dr. Fitz's movements and one former agent visiting her family."
"Wasn't it too much of a risk leading both SHIELD and Hydra to one location?"
To Dr. Simmons was left unsaid.
"It paid off, didn't it?" Grant nodded to the memory card on the desk's surface which Dr. Whitehall studied before inviting Grant in his office. "Dr. Fitz was very impressed by his superiors' attitude to Jemma Simmons."
And sent to email Grant left in his phone the images of carvings similar to the ones made by John. Presumably done by Coulson himself.
"You assume he will betray SHIELD. However, sharing information he's aware is mostly identical to the one we have is not the same as becoming the mole for an organization he despises."
"I have no doubt he will choose Jemma over the whole world." Eventually. "However, turning him will require time. And caution."
Dr. Whitehall looked even more amused:
"And should be left to you, not Mr. Bakshi."
Don't react.
Grant frowned:
"You ordered to find out what SHIELD knows about the Obelisk. I'm sure Bakshi can continue with Dr. Fitz."
Dr. Whitehall's smile was full of promise.
Fear crept up his insides towards the heart. Did he upset Dr. Whitehall?
He didn't mean to.
Before Grant could have come up with an apology Dr. Whitehall said:
"I'll leave Dr. Fitz to you - report about any progress to me only."
Grant fought the urge to show his satisfaction:
"But Bakshi..."
"Will be busy searching for the mole."
Dr. Whitehall straightened in the chair and leaning forward arched an eyebrow:
"Anything else, agent Ward?"
Grant stood up:
"May I request transfer of agents I involved in England? Off the record."
Dr. Whitehall's smile became even wider.
ooo
Hallway outside the cabinet. Elevator. Twenty-six floors down.
Breathe.
In and out.
In and out.
Exiting at the underground parking lot Grant saw Raina waiting near his car.
"Shouldn't you be busy overseeing your lab's relocation?"
"My assistants are capable of handling it without my micromanaging."
Grant snorted:
"And I'm what? Not capable of driving without supervision?"
"How many painkillers did you take?" Raina outstretched right hand and with a huff Grant gave her keys. Although both of them knew that the answer was "none".
Two blocks from Hydra laboratories Raina turned to the familiar bar. Grant told himself not to worry. Just colleagues hanging out. Nothing interesting.
Nothing suspicious.
Weaving through the crowd behind Raina he slipped in the seat at the counter next to her.
She smiled, ordered something and started chattering away.
Half-paying attention to her stories, half-being lulled by her intonation Grant clenched the glass stopping his fingers from shaking. He didn't risk lifting it up - he knew he would splash the drink all over himself.
Raina's presence inexplicably unraveled a knot in his stomach sloughing off Grant Ward, Hydra agent, loyal to Dr. Whitehall (and kind of to Hydra, too) bit by bit.
Leaving Grant Ward who was on the verge of hysterical laughter because he was alive and not strapped to a metal frame.
He couldn't know for sure if his walking the line between desperate-to-not-displease and daring-to-lie-to-Whitehall's-face was effective.
Maybe Whitehall bought it. Maybe not.
But even if he will decide to not play with Grant and simply brainwash him again - he was ready for this possibility.
Raina leaned to him - as if sharing in secret some juicy detail of the latest gossip - and under cover of their bodies and the counter squeezed Grant's hand.
He squeezed back.
ooo
"...Dr. Whitehall said I could call my parents any time I wanted - accounting for SHIELD listening, of course...Grant, thank you." Jemma was speaking a mile a minute and slightly breathless.
Grant smiled:
"I told you that you would change your mind about my plan."
Although Grant couldn't see her he was sure she rolled her eyes at him:
"Yes, I-am-agent-Grant-Ward-I-hatched-the-most-great-plan-ever. Single-handedly."
Her imitation of his voice was truly atrocious.
"Hey, I don't sound like that!"
He got only her giggles in answer.
"Laugh it up, I'll figure out how to get back at you." More giggling.
Footsteps on the stairs below indicated that he needed to wrap up the conversation:
"Sorry, I have to go. Bye, Jemma."
"Bye, Grant." Her voice was soft and unexpectedly tingled his heart.
Ending the call he dismissed the feeling and cheerfully waved at the frozen agent McBraid:
"Thought I'd drop by, say "hello."
ooo
"Where are we going, sir?" McBraid was sitting unnaturally still in a passenger seat of Grant's car.
"New York." Grant turned the wheel getting on the highway.
"Why are we going there, sir?" Grant internally sighed. The Hydra agent was persistent and already recovered from his bout of compliance.
Although Grant was amused by his attitude and looked forward to riling him up - two and a half hours was enough to start uncovering just what got Raina so excited about this particular agent.
"To have some fun, agent." Grant grinned.
McBraid oddly glanced at him:
"I don't think this word means what you think it means, sir."
"Oh, come on, haven't you enjoyed our little adventure?"
He stayed silent. No, that wouldn't do.
"You can say what you want - I don't have a habit of killing people if I don't like what they say."
Agent stared at Grant with wide eyes and then cleared his throat:
"No, you just set people up to be killed to fulfill your goals." He stiffened. "Sir."
"You're mad about that SHIELD agent? You didn't even know her."
McBraid gritted his teeth:
"She was our prisoner - and we were responsible for her, sir."
Grant laughed:
"Are you going to quote Geneva convention at me now?"
"No, sir. I do realize that it doesn't apply to us - as members of terrorist organization."
But he was still furious that Grant set her up to die. After threatening that if she won't play her part her fellow agents were going to be killed.
"I let her colleagues go. I didn't promise that nothing would happen to her."
"And that means you kept your word? It's still a lie, however you phrased it."
Grant smiled. The guy was funny if weird.
"If it's any consolation, I didn't expect her to be killed - that early, too." Agent Sullivan was ordered to push SHIELD agents' buttons, true, but he didn't even get to the more painful insults. "I mean, it was possible but SHIELD was supposed to be more noble." And Coulson was the one Grant intended to make angry.
He underestimated agent Koenig's grief about his brother's death.
But the way the events played out was more beneficial than Grant planned. He certainly wouldn't've made such progress with agent Fitz already.
"That's why you switched Dr. Simmons with someone irrelevant to you, sure. Sir."
Grant finally sighed:
"What are you even doing in Hydra?"
McBraid tilted his head to the side:
"Helping to change the world, sir."
Well, he could become good liar. Sometime in the future...
"Change the world - for worse? How did someone like you end up in Evil Inc.?"
"Someone like me?" Huh, indignation was genuine.
"You know, you were supposed to take offence on the "evil" part." McBraid set his jaw and the corner of his mouth twitched up. "But you have no illusions about Hydra, right?"
Getting no answer Grant continued:
"You're lucky that Dr. Whitehall was preoccupied with packing HQ - and me - to personally question you."
Silence was oppressive but Grant ignored it focusing on the road.
"Agent Correa is my reason, sir." McBraid's voice was tense but conviction in it - it sent shivers down Grant's spine. "She's my reason for everything."
Grant suddenly got suspicion that whatever caused Raina's enthusiasm about this guy was something Grant wouldn't like.
At all.
ooo
Hydra agents from England's surveillance team were standing in line before Grant. Agent Reznikoffwas still sporting gauze on her face.
"I'm sure you're wondering what are you doing here. Don't worry - you're not going to be punished for following my orders." Grant leaned on the desk and smiled:
"You've been transferred under my command. You're going dark and will answer only to me. Any contact with HQ or other agents with exception of agent McBraid is not allowed unless with my permission or if situation will require it."
Grant fell silent and looked at the agents. They stared back. Grant waited.
Come on, he wasn't that scary.
Finally agent Reznikoff couldn't keep quiet any longer:
"What will be our mission, sir?" Grant disregarded her sarcastic tone:
"Find the real mole, of course." Grant didn't care about Hydra secrets but he really didn't appreciate the attempt to frame up Jemma.
ooo
Midtown Manhattan was as busy as Grant remembered it being. Crowded café was providing much needed anonymity while Grant, McBraid and agent Reznikoff listened in on her team's meeting with a very lucky journalist.
"I hope you understand that as soon as this scribbler's big news is published we're screwed. Sir." Hydra team leader's tone hasn't become less disrespectful but as long as she obeyed Grant's orders and didn't push his lenience too far…
"I'd like to think that they would be too happy to care about the reporter's source." Well, for the first twenty-four hours.
Agent Reznikoff wasn't reassured.
Oh, who was he kidding – he was so dead.
As if his first contact – altercation – with the Avengers wasn't disastrous enough.
ooo
Eleven months ago
It was just Grant's luck – or lack of thereof – that then agent Armstead brought Asgardian bitch to Triskelion Grant was one of the first ones they encountered and who, thus, tried to apprehend unauthorized person. After she failed to completely subdue him through voice she deemed him better than the rest men she met so far on Midgard and he was chosen as her top enforcer.
Unprepared for more than half of its personnel siding with the enemy Triskelion fell embarrassingly quick.
That left only one foe besides Lady Sif capable of stopping power-hungry witch – the Avengers.
Fortunately, five of six Avengers were male.
Even more fortunately, Thor was on Asgard, Dr. Banner out of New York and freaking captain Rogers broke out Lady Sif and Commander Hill managing to not run in Lorelei even once.
Otherwise Grant was certain that Romanoff would have been forced to cross him off rather than waste precious time trying to knock him out without seriously hurting.
Grant was grateful that she didn't take the more efficient option. It couldn't have been easy to spare him blow after blow while having broken collarbone and other injuries received from being thrown around by an Asgardian.
Even though he ended up tased. Twice.
ooo
His phone vibrated just as sharing of confidential information was drawing to a close. Grant took it out and barely stopped himself from jumping up and down in joy.
Broadway – Lafayette St., subway, NYC. In six hours. P.S. Don't get any ideas. From: Auto. To: Wall-E.
Grant absolutely got wild with ideas.
Three clicks in the comms signaled the finish of the meeting.
"It's going to be so much fun." Agent Reznikoff swallowed while McBraid just sighed.
Well, he most certainly will have fun.
ooo
Grant was watching Skye trying to decide if he liked her new hairstyle or not. Well, the bangs were making her look even younger – but were also creating romantic image.
With black formal two-piece suit under coat it kind of painted the picture of a beginning clerk. Or law student.
Either way it was cool. And hot.
"Looking to change a profession?" He sneaked up on her making her startle.
"Are you crazy scaring people like that?" Skye suspiciously glared at him and moved away.
"Maybe, Eve. New hair is cute by the way." She hesitated looking him over and then huffed:
"How many faces do you have at your disposal? And it's Auto, Wall-E."
"The same one who was inspired by Hal 9000? Really?"
She crossed her arms and hissed:
"It's the main antagonist! And Hal was kind of cool – if crackpot."
Yes, Grant got it – "Auto"'s profile showed 100% enemy - 0% match to him.
Well, it can change.
"So why am I here? Did you miss me?"
She glowered at him:
"What I wrote about "getting ideas?"
At Grant's smile she heaved a sigh:
"Don't flatter yourself. If I had any other options I would have chosen them."
It stung a little to be considered the last option but – she contacted him. Willingly.
"Ouch, that hurt, Eve."
She glared.
"A little."
Skye rolled her eyes:
"Whatever. I need to get my friend out of the police station. You must remember her – you left her and her son tied to a radiator for four hours."
"I wasn't the one who couldn't put together a gun consisting of five parts for so long."
She paid no attention to it:
"I hacked NYPD and am ready to plant order for transfer of suspect into FBI's custody."
Grant raised an eyebrow:
"You seem to have the plan figured out. What do you need me for?"
She frowned:
"Don't pretend to be daft – I have no idea how to actually pull it off. And I look, well…"
"Too young to be a federal agent." Grant smiled:
"Hey, maybe you're a prodigy…"
She smacked him in the arm.
Damn, he was just trying to compliment her.
"…a little violent one."
He dodged her next swat.
ooo
"Draw it, open and put away. Be confident." Skye's practicing mantra wasn't filling Grant with confidence. But as long as she didn't drop the ID...
"Relax, agent Dawson." He stopped the car in front of the NYPD building.
Skye forcefully exhaled and nodded. Seeing different face on her was disconcerting even though he picked it himself.
The precinct was busy with officers and detectives but it wasn't the sight that made Grant want to turn around and drag Skye away.
Agent Young and unknown man were standing near detective Lewis' desk.
"Change of plans - execute Alpha three." Skye stilled at his words but recovered and briskly walked away from Grant while he moved to the arguing people.
"Detective Lewis? Agent Miller, FBI. I'm here for Ms. Page."
Detective frowned at him:
"I'm afraid we have a problem, agent Miller. These agents are here for Ms. Page too."
"Agent Young, FBI, this is agent Flynn, CIA. I understand that Ms. Page is a person of interest in your investigation but our case takes precedence."
What were they doing here?
"Why's that?"
"Matter of National security."
Grant snorted:
"Yeah, sure, a con artist - not very successful one at that - is so important."
Agent Young calmly confirmed:
"Yes, she is."
Grant sighed:
"Can I at least speak to her?"
"No."
He threw his hands up:
"You're not serious! Just fifteen minutes in the interrogation - you can watch."
"I'm sorry but no."
Grant scowled at her:
"Look, agent Young, I didn't come here all the way from Indiana to return empty handed. Do you know how much information she can have?"
FBI agent shook her head:
"I am sorry that it causes troubles in your investigation but we're taking Ms. Page."
Grant turned to the detective who stepped back raising hands:
"Don't drag me into this. You're federal agents."
Grant moved closer to agent Young:
"Don't think I'll leave it. I'm gonna call your superiors."
CIA agent who kept quiet until now smirked:
"Good luck. It's way above the pay grade of an agent from backwaters field office."
"Excuse me?" Grant didn't even need to play offence - some upstart from an agency which didn't even know how far behind SHIELD they were thought he was better than level 7 operative?
"No need to take it personally, agent Miller."
"I'm not the one who can't keep his arrogance..."
"Whoa, calm down!"
"Arrogance? We're protecting our country..."
"And we're what? Sitting on our asses?"
"Gentlemen, you need to calm..."
"We're serving as much as you do - only without fancy toys and…"
"Is this idiot for real?"
Grant's burner phone vibrated in his pocket. Time to go.
"We'll see which one of us is an idiot. I won't leave it like that!"
He angrily turned around and stormed off.
ooo
"Jessica, this is...Austin."
Grant didn't appreciate her needling when they needed to quickly get away from the police station and change the car - even though Skye could have picked up worse name.
Jessica timidly said:
"Nice to meet you."
Skye cheerfully added:
"He's the one who tied you to a radiator."
Grant pointed out:
"After saving you from..."
White car pulled up before them and abruptly stopped. He jammed on the brakes barely avoiding hitting it and shouted:
"Get down!"
He dropped sideways on the passenger's seat just as windshield burst with glass from bullets.
He grabbed the steering wheel and pulled the car in reverse.
"Skye?" Watching the road from side mirror he accelerated away from the ambushers.
"We're fine!"
They flew out on the intersection and he pushed on the gas pedal:
"Prepare to exit!"
"What?"
The car drove right through the café's show-window.
"Now!" Skye dragged Jessica out and nodding at him rushed to the back entrance ignoring screaming and panicking people.
Ambusher's car screeched to a stop. Grant rammed into them pushing their car in the traffic and opening fire killed a driver and his neighbor.
Driving around them he sped up - patrol cars were coming.
Two minutes later he drove inside the parking lot.
He got out of the car, rushed to the trunk and pulled a canister with gasoline. Thirty seconds later he set the car on fire and ran to the place where he left a bike.
Having put on the helmet and the gloves he turned on the engine and just as he was moving up the ramp he smashed into suddenly appeared car.
Flipping over it Grant landed on his right side and slid across the pavement. Intense pain shot through his shoulder but he paid it no mind rolling away to a sidewalk.
When he tried to stand his left leg burned from foot to knee. He pushed through throbbing and straightened up right to the barrel of the agent Flynn's gun.
"Alive?" Agent Young's voice was at least somewhat apologetic – Grant could guess whose idea it was to almost run him over.
Instead of answering he grabbed the gun and forced it away from himself just as agent Flynn pulled the trigger. Grant ignored the deafening crack, hit him in the head and fired at agent Young with her partner's weapon at the same time as she did.
Bullets impacted his chest knocking the air out of his lungs and causing agony in his left side.
Agent Flynn was out cold while agent Young lied on the ground and tried to lift her gun at Grant. He stepped on her wrist and bent down to pick it then sharp stabs of pain pierced his back and he felt as if his heart was going to fall out of his mouth.
Kicking the gun away from her he stumbled to the agents' car and clutching at his most certainly re-broken rib fell inside.
Police cars were block away as he turned the corner.
ooo
Stopping at the first alley he unbuttoned the jacket and made sure that bullets were stuck in the armored plates. But he couldn't breathe in, only out.
He forced himself to take tiny breaths and got out of the car.
Pulling off the helmet he tried to inhale normally but instead started coughing and put a hand over mouth in an attempt to suppress it.
Then he took away his hand his fingers were stained with blood.
Damn.
Deliberately stepping on his broken ankle he walked away.
Slow breaths through the mouth. Concentrate.
He pulled the phone from his pocket and dialed the only number in its history.
After second beep he heard:
"Connor! Thank God! Are you okay?"
Connor?
"Yes." He didn't trust his ability to say more words between breaths and something fishy…
"Glad to hear - I was worried! Do you think these guys were Hydra?"
"Certainly."
...was...
"Damn. I thought they wouldn't find Jessica that fast. Anyway, we'll be waiting in our place."
"Lie low."
…going…
"Yes, yes, I know. Be careful too."
"Sure."
…on.
Ending the call Grant leaned forward placing his hands on his knees.
He had no idea what Skye was trying to tell him but it sounded an awful lot like she was captured.
His week kept getting better and better.
ooo
EMS vehicle pulled up to the apartment building and paramedics rushed in.
Grant got inside their car and rummaged through the supplies.
Finding necessary ones he got out.
Bus station's restroom stall wasn't the most hygienic place to treat injuries but he didn't have better ideas. Dizziness was impairing his ability to think clearly. And fear for Skye.
Rendezvous point two. ASAP.
Sending message to Raina was an even worse idea.
ooo
Little motel on the outskirts was chosen by Grant due to it quietness.
Getting up the stairs left him weak, irritated and in more pain than he already was in.
Then he finally made it to the roof he turned EMP device on and partially opening the door threw taser disks. Strangles cries were his cue for entering.
Two operatives in black uniforms without patches - one of them sniper.
Picking disks up he dispatched Hydra agents.
Next to the rifle was device which Grant recognized as Heat Signature Detector.
Little bit of luck worsened Grant's mood. As if today wasn't catastrophic enough.
Still Grant took it.
Motel room had six people in it. And back-up nearby.
So, he had to neutralize eight operatives not getting Skye and her friend killed at the same time.
All without letting any of Hydra agents get away.
And he currently wasn't in the best shape.
When did his life get so complicated?
ooo
Grant strode to the room as if not knowing about the trap.
Sticking bomb on the wall he turned around and walked back the way he came dropping little surprises for later.
The bomb blew a good sized hole in the wall. Grant threw a couple flash bangs in, got to the door and opened it with the key.
He entered and shot all four agents just in time for the back-up to arrive.
Smoke grenades detonated, Grant exited and shot two more agents before gun was knocked out of his hand.
He ducked under the blow, caught Hydra agent's arm and twisted. Another agent ran inside the room – there Skye was – Grant missed hit to the ribs and doubled in pain.
Agent hit again – in the same place - and Grant fell down. Before agent stroke the third time Grant pulled out knife and stabbed him in the back of the knee.
Grant got up, shot bleeding agent and rushed to the room.
Skye stood with a gun aimed at the last Hydra operative – who was half-crouched – and she wasn't shooting.
Hydra agent twitched and Grant shot him. Body fell on the floor and a small handgun rolled away. Grant reeled and leaned on the wall to stay upright.
"Are you okay?" Skye unfroze and rushed to him.
"Car." Pain was excruciating. "Outside...back..."
"Don't talk." Skye frantically threw his arm over her shoulders. "Jessica!"
Her friend stumbled between the bodies but ran to them.
ooo
"Left." Grant coughed and was dismayed to see there was still a little blood on his palm.
Skye turned the car and warehouse came into view.
"Stop." Skye shut down the engine but before she could exit Grant caught her arm. "Inside...friend."
She hesitantly nodded.
Damn, he should have said the "friend" was Raina. It was going to blow up in his face.
Skye and Jessica dragged him out of the car and in the warehouse.
"You?!"
Damn, he knew it.
Skye tensed and stepped forward. Jessica stumbled under Grant's full weight while Raina pleasantly smiled:
"Nice to see you again, Skye."
Before it could have exploded Grant leaned on Jessica and they fell on the floor.
ooo
"I think you have mistaken scientific degree with a medical one. You need a real doctor. And X-ray."
Raina inserted the tube in his chest. He could feel it going through every layer despite Novocaine.
He supposed it said something about his life that this wasn't his most painful experience.
Raina smiled:
"You are very lucky that your lung hasn't collapsed completely. You would have been dead."
Skye abruptly stopped her pacing.
Raina continued with clinical detachment:
"Collapsed lung puts pressure on the heart, causes decreasing blood pressure, shock and soon death."
Grant tried to glare at her. He wasn't a medic by any stretch of imagination but he knew his situation while serious wasn't that extreme.
But Skye was pale and trembling, obviously worried.
Worried about him.
Fine, for once Grant appreciated Raina's meddling.
ooo
"...I'm not the one who got Chan Ho killed. After experimenting on him."
Furious whispering from the next room woke up Grant.
"I shouldn't be surprised that you're in Hydra. You always had that "mad scientist" look."
Raina's amused laughter made Grant want to stand and intervene before Skye committed homicide.
Then again he was a little interested in the conversation.
"Your disgust towards Hydra is entertaining. Especially considering that you run around with one of their top operatives."
Okay, very interested.
"I'm not running around...he kidnapped me - twice!"
"So that's why you called him for help."
"I didn't...I didn't want to! I had no other choice!"
"Of course, Skye. It's not like you told me that we always had a choice. Right before you said you would never introduce me to other Inhumans - because I don't deserve to go through terrigenesis."
"You don't. You were with Centipede. Now you're with Hydra."
"So self-righteous. Have you forgotten that you worked for Hydra too?"
"What?!"
"You erased all files on agent Ward."
"That's... it was different!"
"How so?"
"I didn't know he was one of them!"
"Really, Skye? I called you after helicarriers blew up above Washington."
"He looked clean! I checked him..."
"Like poor Miles checked Centipede?"
"Don't talk about him!"
"Why not? He tried to make sure his actions won't hurt anyone – much. But he was wrong."
"He took your money and got people killed!"
"Money with which he wanted to build a good life - for himself and for you."
"He's just a liar. All this talk about freedom of information..."
"You're a hypocrite, Skye."
"What?!"
"It was noble to hack evil government organization and dump their files in the internet where anyone could read them. How many people do you think you hurt?"
"Wait a second..."
"And the moment Miles decided to finally gain something more material from his talents you turned your back on him. But he didn't do anything different from what you were doing – uncovering secrets."
"People deserve to know what's being kept from them."
"And that's why you're keeping Inhumans existence a secret?"
"Shut up, Raina! It's different - and you know it!"
"It doesn't take much to make you change your opinion, doesn't it, Skye? Just a promise of home – and look how many people ended up dead."
"I didn't kill them!"
"No, you just let agent Ward do the dirty work for you."
"You...what are you...he's just a murderer!"
"How convenient for you - you got what you wanted but the blame lies squarely on him. After all you didn't make him kill all those people - he did it himself. And it doesn't matter that he did it to help you. And it doesn't matter that he now lies with separated shoulder, fractured ankle, broken rib and a chest tube in his lung. And it doesn't matter that he killed Hydra agents – effectively betraying the people he works for. You too naive to picture what will be consequences for him if someone finds out. But you never were around for the consequences, were you, Skye?"
Grant heard the door being loudly shut.
He should have interrupted them.
ooo
Grant struggled not to show his pain but it was hard then it felt like hot knife was stabbed in his chest.
"You will need to do X-ray." Raina put the pulled out tube on the table. "I'm serious, Grant."
"Okay."
She gave him unimpressed stare:
"No strenuous activity. No high altitudes. No diving. And visit to a professional medic."
Grant nodded. Raina frowned:
"And you should know that your lung can collapse again in the following weeks - and probably will regardless of what you will or won't be doing."
Great.
Knocking on the door by Skye who fidgeted in the doorway the last five minutes stopped Raina from nagging him further.
"May I come in?"
Raina pulled off latex gloves and picking medic kit exited. Without saying a word to Skye or even acknowledging her presence.
Skye tried to do the same but it didn't look quarter as classy.
She lingered in the doorway:
"I'm glad you're not dead."
It sounded better than "murderer".
Not that Grant was hurt or anything.
Of course not.
"And I wanted to thank you – for helping Jessica and saving us from Hydra. Again."
She fell silent.
Silence stretched.
"Aren't you going to say something?"
Grant shrugged ignoring sharp pulling in the shoulder:
"I'm pretty sure murderers are not supposed to be thanked but hey, what would I know?"
Skye flushed. Then paled. Looking everywhere but not at him she blurted out:
"I didn't mean it like that! Well, I did - but not...I didn't want to offend you."
"No, you didn't want me to hear it."
She startled and looked at him but Grant interrupted her coming protests:
"I'm not offended." Liar. "You said the truth - you did nothing to feel bad for."
And it was silence again.
She opened her mouth several times and eventually said:
"I froze - then that guy...I knew he was going to kill me, I had a gun and I...just froze."
"You shouldn't regret that you didn't pull the trigger. Of course, then he would have killed you and Jessica but you wouldn't have become like me."
Skye flinched and then bit out:
"I'm not you. And I'll never become like you."
Huh, Raina was right. Skye needed to wake up if she was to survive.
"You prefer someone else to do the killing? Like your teleporting friend or me. I didn't expect it from you."
"I didn't say that! Stop twisting my words – you and Raina…I only meant that I won't become cold-blooded serial killer like you!"
"You think I enjoy killing?" Grant wanted to bang his head against the headboard but Raina would object to him ruining her hard work of patching him up. "I kill out of necessity, Skye. Following orders, for success of a mission, to stay alive. And this doesn't make it any less wrong and me any less of a killer but at least I know why I do it."
Skye looked away and crossed her arms.
"And if you insist on getting in danger again and again, you need to ask yourself if you're willing to pay the price for tangling in this shit. Otherwise create yourself – and your friends – new identities and disappear."
"Run away? That's your advice?"
Grant sighed. Damn, it was like speaking to a child:
"Do you want to live?"
"I want Hydra destroyed! And my people to be safe!"
"Then stop being so immature! It's a war. No one's going to fight fair or be merciful."
"I don't expect anyone..."
"No, you do. You're a good person and you can't help but expect other people to be too."
"I'm not naive or stupid!"
"You are naive - and I envy you for it. I hope you will not lose this light inside you."
She huffed:
"You offered to train me. Is it still on the table?"
"Do you really want it?"
Skye glared at him:
"I wouldn't be asking..."
Grant repeated louder:
"Do you really want it? Are you ready to fight someone? To death – don't delude yourself into thinking you can just incapacitate."
"To protect my people?" Skye nodded. "I need...I want this."
Grant hoped she wouldn't regret her decision.
But he knew that one day she would.
ooo
Raina entered with a tablet in her hands:
"Skye and her friend left."
Grant nodded.
"I would never have imagined…" Raina sat in the chair and trailed off.
Grant rolled his eyes:
"What?"
Raina smiled:
"That out of all possible women you will fall for her."
"What's so strange? You think I'm not capable of it?"
Raina smiled her number three favorite smile, you're-silly-but-still-amusing one:
"Quite the opposite in fact. I know you're capable of love. Capable of loving so much it becomes your downfall."
Grant's heartbeat went up:
"Who said anything about "love"? I just want…"
"Her to see you. But Grant, that's the definition of romantic love."
Grant fumbled for something to say. Anything. But words deserted him.
Finally he said:
"You don't approve? It seems like you don't like Skye very much."
"It's not a question of whether I like her. Because you do." She smiled gently and sadly – and Grant felt sudden chill. He's never seen such an expression from her.
"She's gonna hurt you."
He snorted:
"I think you have it backwards – I'm the one who can hurt her."
Raina tilted her head to the side:
"Because you always hurt people you care about?"
He felt as if he was punched.
"Skye has certain pureness to her – which appeals to you. At the same time she lived not the easiest life – full of abandonment and disappointment. And it appeals to you too. You think she will understand you."
He struggled to maintain neutral expression.
"But even if she does – do you think she will accept you for who you are? You may not be different, but you see the world differently."
"Why's that a problem?"
Raina leaned forward and took his hand:
"Because while you can keep your disagreement to yourself – after all you do it always – she sees only black and white."
Grant shook his head:
"She's not as naïve as you think."
"She's naïve enough." Raina squeezed his fingers. "Besides haven't you had enough of trying to please others?"
Grant frowned:
"I'm not trying to please Skye."
"You are. Other people shouldn't define you."
Grant intertwined his fingers with Raina's:
"Even if you're using me – thank you…for this." He squeezed her hand and let it go.
Raina sighed and gave him the tablet:
"Agent McBraid called. Said you should see this."
Grant took it and read in black bold letters "Alien imposter in charge of SHIELD?"
He scrolled down – to Phil Coulson's photograph.
Raina perplexedly looked at him:
"What is this?"
Grant smiled:
"It's my ticket to Skye's heart. And your ticket to your people."