A/N: I am so sorry for the long wait! School has been really stressing me out lately so I had to put writing on the side for the time being. Hopefully the next update won't take as long as this one did. I'm going to try and post again on Monday. *Makes an apology buffet with cake, cookies and ice cream*
Summary: Melinda Qiaolian May has been an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. for most of her life, but all the training in the world could have never prepared her for the challenge she was facing. She had to let go, but when she looked into those soft nut brown eyes, she knew in that moment she would never let go.
Excuse any misspellings and grammar mistakes.
Disclaimer: I do not own Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. or any of the characters used
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Simmons was at the Hub about to upload Skye's blood to the system when Trip walked in on her. Trip had questioned her about what she was doing and how Coulson's team was so secretive and he brought up the drug that saved Skye's life. It sounded strange to him. Simmons knew she should keep what she and Fitz were doing just between them, but she had been caught and couldn't lie her way out.
Instead she told Trip that she wanted to do research on Skye's blood and possibly find more of that drug. However she was hitting too many dead ends. Trip offered to help her and was going to give her a secure line so she could contact Agent Weaver about this. With any luck she might be able to help Simmons find a way to re-create this drug.
Meanwhile back at the BUS, tensions were still high between the team as Skye tried to get in contact with anyone who might be listening. Every frequency and communications were down.
"What do you mean, noise," Coulson asked.
Skye continued typing furiously, "I mean literally noise across every S.H.I.E.L.D. communication channel. Some sort of blanket signal."
"Encoded data, maybe," Coulson suggested.
"I think so," Skye replied focused on the screen.
Coulson turned to May, "You want to fill us in? We root you out a mole suddenly our plane shuts down, our communications jammed."
"I don't know what's happening," May insisted, "You have to believe me."
"No, I don't," Coulson bit back.
Through the static coming from Skye's laptop, they could hear Garrett, "Do you read? Do you read, 6-1-6?"
"Where's that coming from," Coulson asked. Skye sighed and continued to type, "Close."
Garrett spoke again through the now clear line, "Enemy aircraft on my tail. Over."
"Garrett," Coulson confirmed.
"Coulson, I'm under attack," Garrett said, "Drones. Repeat, S.H.I.E.L.D. drones are on my ass and we're not getting along you copy?"
"Copy," Coulson said, "Garrett, what's happening? We've lost control of our aircraft."
Garrett replied, "Hell if I know. Tell me you got guns on that thing. I'm coming to you."
Coulson looked back at May, he could see the plea in her eyes and heard the desperation in her voice. She wouldn't make this up, she wouldn't be lying to him. But he couldn't bring himself to believe her. Without thinking, he fired the ICER. May was shot in the chest and fell backwards leaving Fitz and Skye speechless. Even if it was just an ICER Skye was not happy Coulson shot her mother.
Anger bursted through Skye as she glared at Coulson, furious he actually did that. This wasn't her fault, she didn't do anything wrong. Sure she kept a big secret, but she was trying to do what was right for everyone and he just shot her.
"Was that really necessary," Skye snapped angry and shocked that Coulson actually shot at her.
Coulson gave Skye a look, "I know you're in an uncomfortable situation right now and I'm sorry for that, but we need to get everything sorted out. Fitz, can you manually wire the guns to weapons control bypass our system?"
Fitz nodded, "If I have cables long enough, yeah."
Coulson looked at Skye, "Skye, decode the signal. We need to get ahead of this. I don't want any more surprises today."
Although she was still mad and surprised she got to work and watched as Coulson and Fitz brought an unconscious May to the cage where Ward was. She sighed and hoped everything would work out in the end, it had to work out didn't? Ward was sitting in the metal chair when Fitz and Coulson arrived. He watched them come into the cage and lower May to the ground in complete shock and confusion. What was going on up there was the only thing Ward could think about. Nothing made sense anymore.
Coulson was able to help Garrett out of his situation and he boarded the plane shortly after the other drone was gone. Garrett, Coulson and Skye were in the command center looking at the monitor as Skye explained what she knew was going on.
"It's a simple message repeated, semantic encoding," Skye said, "I need to find the mnemonic key. It should only take me a minute more to decipher."
"Can I ask the obvious question, what the hell," Garrett said.
"We don't know," was Coulson's reply, "We don't even know where our plane is headed."
"Oh I saw you're trajectory, you're being tractor-beamed straight to the Hub," Garrett told him, "Those drones were launched out of there for sure."
"Victoria Hand," Coulson muttered.
"Hand," Fitz said, "No it can't be."
Garrett looked at Coulson confused, "Can't be what?"
"The Clairvoyant," Skye said.
Garrett frowned, "I thought Ward capped that guy."
"I don't believe the man Ward killed was the Clairvoyant," Coulson said, "I think he was an unwitting decoy meant to end our investigation."
"That's a lot of trouble to go through for a red herring don't you think," Garrett commented.
Coulson added, "because the Clairvoyant is a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, using high level clearance to stay ahead of us, make it seem like she's got psychic abilities."
"She," Garrett questioned, "You think Victoria Hand's the Clairvoyant?- I don't mean to pee in the punch bowl, but that doesn't make a lot of sense. I was stationed with Vic in Lisbon. She's a hard ass and a buzzkill at parties, I grant you, but do you really think she's capable of that?"
"Excuse me, didn't she just try to blow you out of the sky," Coulson pointed out.
"Don't get me wrong, she's definitely gone nuts, but her actions prove she's not the Clairvoyant right," Garrett said, "I mean if she's been hiding in plain sight all this time… why reveal herself now?"
"Guys," Skye said when she was done with the encoding.
They looked at the monitor where Coulson read, "Out of the shadows, into the light."
The next part revealed Hydra.
Fitz was next to speak. "I thought Hydra was defeated after World War II."
"It was, S.H.I.E.L.D. was founded in the wake of that victory," Coulson explained.
"And they're back," Fitz asked.
"Hydra always comes back," Garrett muttered.
Coulson finished, "Cut off one head, two more will take it's place."
"But it was sent from a S.H.I.E.L.D. source," Skye said, "It's got to be some sort of activation signal, to Hydra member within S.H.I.E.L.D."
"Hand must be one of them," Coulson said.
"Okay, stop, stop, what does that even mean," Fitz asked, "targeting level eight agents, seizing power. I wonder how deep it goes."
"The signal's everywhere, deep," Skye said.
"You know what this means," Coulson said.
"Yeah, we're screwed," Garrett said.
Coulson replied, "We can't change course, and we have no idea what's waiting for us back at the Hub."
"I say we blow a hole in the of this puppy," Garrett said, "And parachute out, live to fight another day."
"We can't," Coulson said.
Garrett replied, "It's a cherry ride, I'll give you that, but let's not just hand over the keys."
"Simmons is at the Hub," Fitz said, "We have to save her."
Garrett sighed, "Trip's there too. I don't mind saying I don't like the odds on this one. We should let your specialists out of their cage. We can use every weapon we can get."
Skye agreed, "They can help us. We need to save Simmons and Trip."
Coulson released a breath trying to process everything before he spoke, "So we fly in there and face the music… even if it is the Hydra theme song."
Meanwhile in the cage, May was waking up and Ward was watching her. He had no idea what to think about May being the one behind all this. It didn't make sense, but he would get some answers.
"Coulson said you're an informant," Ward said, "Want to elaborate on that?"
May grunted, "No, I don't.. Damn ICER."
"We all deserve to know," Ward said.
May rolled her eyes, "Don't start with that. We do our jobs. End of story. I can't tell you any more until Fury gives the go-ahead."
Ward scoffed, "You're good. I mean, I always heard you were good. But, man playing us this whole time, conning this team, Coulson, you're daughter."
"I wasn't playing anyone," May snapped, "I had your backs."
"And reported on us behind them," Ward bit back, "You know, you always said to keep my emotions in check. But this is some next-level-"
May interrupted, "And you should have listened. You killed a man in cold blood, let your emotions get the best of you."
"Last I checked I was not the only one who fired, but no one saw you and you took my gun," Ward snapped, "I did it to protect this team from a monster!"
"No it was to protect Skye," May said, "Which would be okay if you- if we hadn't shot the wrong guy."
A tense silence fell over the two specialist. Neither of them having anything else to say. May's statement replayed itself in Wards mind, while May was trying to figure out she was going to get out of this mess.
Coulson walked in a moment later and talked to May, "Fitz repaired your direct line. If you have the ability to make this right, now's the time, 'cause you can't make it worse."
Coulson brought May to her encrypted line to see if she was telling the truth. May knew her orders, but right now she didn't have much of a choice. Her thoughts wandered to Skye as she and Coulson walked in silence. Was Skye okay? Did Skye think she was traitor? Did anyone get hurt up there? May wanted to ask where the others were, but decided against it.
"I have orders not to do this with anyone else present," May muttered as she opened the little door.
The plane jerked and Coulson said, "They're taking out our guns. Get Director Fury on the line or I'll march you out there first."
May clenched her jaw, but grabbed the phone. However when she called in, she was told Director Fury was dead. Coulson heard that, but then the shooting started. May was shot in the arm and cried out.
Coulson wrapped his arms around her and brought her to the floor behind the chairs so bullets wouldn't get to them. He would never let her get hurt, no matter how mad or confused he was with her now. No matter what he would always protect her. It was part of a silent promise he made to her many years ago.
Ward left the cage and went looking for the other's. He was so confused about what was going on and the shaking of the plane once it landed was not a good sign. Right now he needed some answers, desperately he needed to understand what was happening.
"Sir," Ward said when he saw Garrett, "What is going on? Who's shooting at us?"
"A whole lot," Garrett replied, "Come here let me catch you up. Apparently Agent Hand is the Clairvoyant, so chew on that first."
Ward's eyes widened and he didn't have a chance to respond. The shooting started and everyone fell on the floor. Garrett and Fitz were crouched down, while Ward pulled Skye into his arms shielding her from the glass that shattered and the flying bullets. The shots had stopped and everyone quickly moved below to the lower halls. May and Coulson met them down there.
May and Skye made eye contact, but didn't say anything to each other. Skye noticed May was holding her arm, she made a move over to her, but Coulson was already moving May away. Garrett, Ward, Fitz and Skye followed in silence, everyone's thoughts heavy with the new chaos surrounding them. Coulson and May took a different turn, she was injured and he needed to get the bullet out of her arm.
Although Skye wanted to follow, she knew they needed to get some supplies and stay with the others. Skye watched the corner they turned by and frowned before helping Fitz grab the bags and essentials they were going to need. Garrett and Ward were talking on the side and he asked Ward a specific question. One he had an answer to, but couldn't bring himself to say out loud.
"Is there anything on this plane you don't want them to get their hands on," Garrett asked.
Ward didn't have it in him to speak. Instead he looked at Skye who was looking through one of the bags. Her mind was wandering far away. All she could focus on was the sound of guns from outside and that her mom had been hurt, but she couldn't be there. Skye knew her mom was innocent of this Hydra and Clairvoyant threat, she just knew it.
"That was his direct line, Phil," May said willing him to believe her.
"So it's real," Coulson said, "That means it's just you and me, unless there were other parties you reported to."
"There weren't," May protested as he pulled the bullet out.
"Then come out with it," Coulson snapped, "Fury's gone. We're being shot at by our own people."
May sighed, "Fury knew you'd want me to join up, - asked me to keep an eye on you."
Coulson spoke in a softer tone, "Looking for what?"
May looked into his eyes, "Signs of physical or mental deterioration, to keep him updated. It's that simple."
Coulson was stunned, "Did you know about Tahiti?" When May didn't answer Coulson went on, "How could you do that to me? After all we've been through, the years we spent together in ops-"
"He said it was essential you couldn't know," May said.
"The time I spent sifting through the ashes with you in Bahrain," Coulson said, looking more hurt than ever, "I gave you a second chance when I assembled-"
"I assembled this team," May interrupted.
"What," Coulson asked in disbelief.
"I evaluated what was needed, and I gave the assessment to Fury, and he gave you the parameters for your unit," May explained softly.
Coulson had to ask, he needed to know, "What was needed, May?"
May bit her lip before saying, "Someone who could repair your body, a technician who could reprogram your brain, and a specialist to help me put you down if it had to be done."
Coulson felt like he was going to pass out. This couldn't be true, May wouldn't do this to him. How could she do this to him? No, she was his partner, his life long friend and here she was telling him all these things... Coulson didn't know what to think.
May's eyes were burning and her heart was racing. She never wanted to hurt Coulson, she only wanted to protect to him, to keep him safe.
"But I didn't do it for Fury. I did it for you! To protect you! I-I," May paused, "You mean a lot to me. A lot.… To hear you were dead, to have to lower that casket in the ground and bury you…." May held Coulson's gaze as she said, "You may not believe me, but that's the truth. And I have nothing to do with the Clairvoyant or this Hydra threat we're up against. Hopefully, this helps prove that."
Coulson looked away, "I want to believe you... but you've used that against me this whole time."
Ward appeared in the doorway, "They stopped firing, no clear shots through the windows."
May sighed, "They want to preserve the aircraft, a surgical strike team is next."
"Fitz cut the hydraulics in the cargo ramp, they'll have to pry it open," Ward told them.
"That won't hold them long," Coulson said as he finished wrapping May's arm, "We need a plan to get out of here with whatever we can take with us."
"About that," Ward said, "Might be an issue."
Ward and Coulson went to the lab where they had Skye back up everything on the plane to a hard drive. All the 0-8-4 specs and weapons they had come across were on this plane, even the Tahiti drug. Hydra could not get their hands on any of that, who knows what would happen if they did. So once Skye backed up the hard drive, she would wipe the system clean. After the system was clear, everyone geared up.
Fitz used one of his old inventions to create a hole in the plane and the floor below them to get out. While they circled around, Skye positioned herself near May and whispered, "I thought we agreed neither of us were allowed to get shot." May smirked at Skye, but didn't say anything. Skye was okay with that, the smirk was enough. The group snuck into the Hub and made their way through the halls. First they needed to find Simmons and Trip, then they could get of there.
"Now we split up," Coulson informed them, "Skye and Ward, disable their systems, most importantly their control of our plane."
"Copy that," Skye said.
"Remember, these agents are under orders, use ICER only," Coulson said as Ward and Skye left, "We'll find Simmons and get out."
"We should go straight for HAnd," Garrett said, "Hydra's always talking about getting their heads cut off right?"
"Saving SImmons and Triplett, that's our priority," Coulson replied.
Garrett smiled, "I agree and that's how I'd get it done, hope you have a better plan."
May tried to get Coulson to take her cuffs off, but he wouldn't. They needed her help, but those cuffs needed to stay on. May groaned internally, this would be a long day.
Teaser
"Right answer."
"I never mentioned that."
"Like my mom does?"
"Hail Hydra!"
