Chapter 35: Ask and You Shall Deceive

Grant Ward had walked these halls countless times; every crack in the floors, every dent in the walls, he knew it so thoroughly that he could close his eyes and maintain the same grace as he strode through the corridors. The unacknowledged wide-eye stares glued to his every movement were nothing new either. Even the knowledge that this would be his last time in Hydra's North American home base was not strange in the slightest- every competent spy knew better than to grow so accustomed to a base so as to believe that it would be around for a while.

No, the unsettling part was knowing that every detail his eyes took in as he cased the base was broadcasted to the SHIELD team waiting for entrance less than a mile outside of HQ.

The Hydra agents frozen when they caught sight of him appeared unsure of how to proceed. Given his obvious status of MIA at this point as well as all the other agents that had gone missing- from Scarlotti to Kaminski to John- in his absence, the only sensible thing to do would be to detain him for Whitehall's judgment. However, it appeared no one wanted to volunteer for such an honor and elected to watch him stupidly whilst hoping someone else addressed the elephant in the room instead. It was painfully pathetic but not wholly unexpected.

"Any day now, boys and girls," Grant muttered to himself- and the eight SHIELD agents listening to his every word.

Grant's patience survived another fifteen steps before he grabbed a nearby Hydra agent, the same one he interrogated for information on Kara's indoctrination not too long ago. She flinched slightly at his touch but otherwise maintained her composure.

"Where's Whitehall?" Grant demanded, ignoring the agents around them that recoiled in response to his brusque tone.

The agent he held only shook slightly when she indicated towards the briefing room.

Grant debated his next move briefly. He wanted to find Kara and ensure her safety, but that might cost him credibility. Why would he seek her out rather than explain and ingratiate himself to Whitehall immediately? She would just have to wait.

Without hesitation, Grant walked those final steps towards the briefing room's doors, with every intention of pushing them open without preamble and interrupting whatever self-important conversation the Hydra leader was having.

Finally. Show time.

Skye fought the urge to fidget while she waited with Coulson, Bobbi, Hunter, and May in the van two blocks from Hydra headquarters. It was a rookie move, fidgeting, it broadcasted anxiety and uncertainty- may as well say, hello, world, please take a shot at me!

Skye had learned at a young age not to let people see that they got to her. Long before SHIELD, she had learned to conceal any hurt or nerves. Half the battle was projecting confidence, and Skye was a firm believer of fake it 'til you make it.

But Skye had also learned long before SHIELD that she should trust her instincts, and right now, her instincts were screaming at her that something was wrong. Skye was not sure what it was, but the sense of impending doom had not faded since Grant had left. She could not help but wonder if the pit in her stomach that had formed when she and Grant had locked lips before parting ways was a sign. The pit had only deepened since then, reminding her that their farewell should not feel so much like a goodbye.

May had glanced at Skye twice in as many minutes, even as she spoke in low tones to Bobbi, and Skye knew her S.O. had seen the unnatural stillness that Skye had defaulted to in an effort to avoid fidgeting and correctly guessed that she was on edge.

But really, there were only so many times that Skye could dissemble and reload her sidearm without attracting the attention of agents highly attuned to their surroundings.

"Ward's inside," Trip's voice rang out on the comms and sucked all motion out of the van. Skye almost felt a twinge of guilt that he was stuck back at base since Coulson had originally wanted it to be her left behind. At least one major field agent had to be there to guard against potential attacks.

"Video feed is live in three…two…one." The screen in the van lit up perfectly in time with Fitz's sullen voice.

The perfect clarity of the image of Hydra HQ's hallway was only interrupted by the occasional blink by Grant.

"Nice work, Fitz," Coulson praised.

Fitz sniffed. "Not nice enough to be bloody invited to the party."

Skye could almost picture Simmons leaning over to place a commiserating hand on Fitz's arm and murmur that Coulson was a wanker. Okay, so Simmons probably wouldn't use the word 'wanker', but Skye certainly would if she had Simmons' accent.

No one responded to Fitz's complaint as everyone's attention became otherwise engaged.

"Cramped hallways, easy to get surrounded in," Bobbi spoke aloud.

"Two dozen agents spotted already, all armed," May noted.

Grant unhurriedly strode through the hallway. Hydra goons scrambled to get out of his way, or at least those who were able to pick their jaws off the floor long enough to move. Whenever Grant locked eyes with someone, the agent immediately broke eye contact, as if the mere act of looking at Grant would result in a fate worse than death. Having witnessed his impressive glare, Skye was not terribly surprised.

Hunter squinted at the feed as Grant approached a group to demand Whitehall's location. "What is he doing? He's going to raise suspicions stomping around like the Hulk."

"It'd be more suspicious if he suddenly made nice," Bobbi said dryly. "He was always this friendly when I was undercover."

"And during his tenure with SHIELD," Coulson added. "When Agent Hill evaluated Ward, she gave him top marks everywhere but people skills- where she drew a little poop with knives sticking out of it instead."

Bobbi's brow furrowed, as if she were not sure she should try to refute that unbelievable tidbit of information or just accept the Director of SHIELD's confident assertion. Skye heard muffled cackling over the comms but could not tell who was laughing. Likely all three benched agents.

May's eyes were glued to the screen as she responded, "No, it was a porcupine because Maria noted he was 'prickly'."

Coulson shook his head. "It was definitely a poop."

"How charming," Hunter muttered.

How lonely, Skye thought but did not say.

"That's why it makes no sense that Ward would want to return to Hydra," Bobbi continued, ignoring the off-topic commentary. "He's never illustrated any interest in anything beyond Garrett at Hydra. He has no loyalties left there, but he still was gunning to return before we even considered it. Why?" Bobbi's right hand twitched like it was itching for her batons.

"He wants to make a play during the impending power vacuum that comes of Garrett and maybe Whitehall's deaths?" May suggested.

"No," Bobbi and Skye replied at once.

Surprised, Skye would have turned to catch Bobbi's expression, but she was more focused on Grant who was impatiently questioning someone about Whitehall's whereabouts. A trembling woman was directing him towards a room at the end of the hall.

Skye took a calming breath. The niggling sensation that something was wrong did not abate.

"Ward's entirely people-motivated," Bobbi explained. "Whereas some people join Hydra or SHIELD for a purpose in life, some higher calling, or even just to make themselves a force to be reckoned with, Ward only ever became interested because of Garrett. Most everything he did was focused on him, and when he wasn't taking cues from Garrett, he was doing so with Skye or Fitzsimmons."

"I've seen Ward in the field," Trip spoke up. "He's not a mindless follower, even if he did obey Garrett."

"That's not what I'm suggesting," Bobbi said. "Ward's actions are dictated by other people not because he follows orders perfectly but because his goals are centered on others and what he thinks is best for them. He's not after world peace, absolute control, or anything like that.

"That's why it makes no sense. There's no one driving him to return to Hydra, even if Skye and Fitzsimmons want it taken down. He jumped on this idea before anyone suggested it because he wanted back, but there's no one left to tie him there."

Coulson had a thoughtful look on his face, but his full attention was on the screens in front of him. "I wouldn't be so sure, Agent Morse."

Before anyone could ask him to elaborate, a voice rang out, "Grant!"

Grant paused before the doors Whitehall's lackey had directed him towards and spun around at the familiar voice.

His eyes immediately focused on the breathless woman who had called out. Kara looked worse for wear with a black eye and a horrific scar marring her otherwise beautiful face.

"What happened?" Grant barked as his eyes trailed over the jagged lines that almost resembled the work of electrocution.

"You're alive," Kara gasped, either clueless to or unconcerned with her own state, as she reached out to touch Grant's face where it was covered in bruises. "When you didn't return, we thought- I thought-"

"Kara, what happened to you?" Grant demanded. His eyes darted up and scanned the Hydra agents who were milling around curiously but quick to scatter when they met Grant's gaze. "Who did this?"

"It was an accident- my fault- I should have known- Raymond Young, he was-"

Grant understood, even as he wished he did not. They must have tried to torture the SHIELD spy once he was discovered with electrocution, and Kara, a mess from her supposed failure and eager to prove herself once more, had gotten caught in the crossfire. Maybe Whitehall had arranged for it, or maybe Kara herself had, out of her mind from misplaced guilt.

Heedless of the eyes on him, those in the room and those monitoring him from afar, Grant pulled Kara in and halted her stuttering. He cradled her head into his shoulder, and she burrowed into his embrace, still shaking.

"It's okay," he whispered. "Everything's going to be okay." A part of him burned that SHIELD was witnessing Kara falling apart, but a vindictive part of him relished the idea that they would be faced with the consequences of their betrayal.

Grant pulled back because he could not delay any longer. He could not show that weakness now when so much was on the line.

"I'm going to meet Whitehall now," Grant stated calmly, distancing himself from the trembling woman physically and emotionally.

"I'm coming, too," Kara said, her voice stronger than it had been a moment ago. She was standing straighter, too, and rightly or wrongly, Grant could not help the burst of pride he had staring at her.

Kara was resilient in ways few people were because she did not shy away from her feelings but did not let them control her either, even brainwashed. Grant looked at her, marks on her face that would likely never completely heal and a stubborn glint in her eyes, and felt for the first time a reassurance that she would get past this. Kara would come out on top in the end, Grant would make sure of it.

She was a survivor. They both were.

And with that emboldening truth echoing in his head, Grant finally entered the briefing room and faced the music.

The van had gone eerily quiet with the appearance of Kara Lynn Palamas and her subsequent quasi-breakdown.

Skye had opened her mouth to say something, anything, because after witnessing that, her sense of justice demanded she speak up. Before she could, however, Coulson had silenced her with a pointed look.

As much as it pained her to admit it, he was right. Now was not the time to be divided and nothing said could change what had already happened to Agent Kara. But effectively infiltrating Hydra's headquarters without added tension due to an ill-timed argument actually would help the other woman.

So Skye stayed silent, but the weight of that silence was oppressive. Not too long ago, Skye had watched Grant and Kara interact and felt a wave of jealousy course through her, and now as she observed Grant hold Kara close, all she felt was exhaustion.

Guilt was tiring, and Skye felt the burden of it fall on her shoulders. After all, she could have saved Kara once upon a time if she had known. Skye also knew that Grant would be consumed with that same misplaced guilt as he stared at Kara's wounds. Skye shot an inconspicuous glance Bobbi's way and reminded herself that however calm Bobbi wanted to appear, she was not immune to guilt either.

But none of that mattered now because they were going to save Kara.

On the screen, Grant entered the room and interrupted a white-haired man with glasses who was conversing with a Hydra agent decked in black, tactical gear.

"Honey, I'm home," Grant said in a droll voice.

The agent dressed in black started at the sudden intrusion, but the white-haired man merely raised his eyebrows.

"Agent Ward, you've made it back to us," the white-haired man who could only be Whitehall said. "Alone, I see."

"Well, my return was not without complications," Grant said.

"I assumed," Whitehall replied, a queer smile lingering on his lips, as if something was so very amusing to him, but he did not want to share the joke with the room. He directed his next words to the other man, "Inform Agent Murray that his services will be required. We'll finish our discussion at a later time."

Once the unnamed man scurried out of the room, Whitehall addressed Grant once more, "We'll debrief as you go through re-orientation. You understand, of course."

"Of course," Grant replied neutrally.

"Re-orientation?" Coulson said.

"We may have a problem," Bobbi said carefully as Grant was led out of the room by Agent Kara, with Whitehall at his back and out of sight.

"What's re-orientation?" May asked.

On the screen, Grant and the others entered a room where another man in a tailored suit was waiting. If it were not for the sidearm plainly displayed on his hip, he might have appeared the average businessman.

It was then that Grant glanced around the room and allowed the SHIELD agents to take in the metal chair proudly displayed at the center.

"Is that-" Simmons began on the comms unit.

"The Koenigs lie detector chair?" Fitz finished incredulously.

"Yes," Bobbi answered darkly.

"How did Hydra even get ahold of it?" Skye demanded. "I thought the technology was top-secret and no one but Fury and the Koenigs knew of it before the fall?"

"Fury was Garrett's S.O. Alexander Pierce could have known about it. Hydra infiltrated even the top levels. We have no way of knowing just what intel Hydra gained access to before they revealed themselves," Coulson said grimly. "Anything before we split is likely fair game."

"This is the lie detector test that even Natasha Romanoff couldn't pass?!" Hunter cut in.

"He's going to get caught," Bobbi said.

"And give us up," May added.

"We need to get him out of there!" Skye said.

"Everyone calm down," Coulson said as Grant was strapped into the chair by Agent Kara. "Fury never actually confirmed whether Romanoff passed."

"Is that supposed to be reassuring?" Hunter said.

"And Ward won't give us up, even if he's caught," Coulson continued as if he had never been interrupted. "It's a lie detector, not a truth serum."

"Because we don't have a truth serum," Skye muttered while her thoughts raced. She was consumed with nervous energy, the pointless desire to do something even though there was nothing she could do.

"Phil," May hissed.

"Have a little faith," Coulson said calmly. "Let's see what happens."

On the screen, Grant was fully strapped in and facing Whitehall, Agent Kara, and the other operative, who was standing behind the controls and booting up the system. Kara fidgeted slightly in her place by the door, belying her otherwise confident stance.

"Agent Murray," Whitehall said to the other man. "If you will."

"We'll begin with a few simple questions to set up a baseline, Agent Ward," Murray said as he fiddled with the system.

"Any day now," Grant retorted.

Murray glanced up at Grant before focusing on the screen in front of him once more. "What's your full name?"

"Grant Douglas Ward."

Murray frowned at the readings before him. "Let's try that again- what's your name?"

"Grant Douglas Ward," Grant repeated, his tone dripping with condescension. "Why? Are you suggesting I'm lying about my name?"

Murray flushed lightly and glanced at Whitehall worriedly. "I'm having trouble getting a baseline."

"Aren't you supposed to be the expert?" Grant asked lightly.

Murray shot an uncertain look towards Whitehall again. "Are you in any pain right now? That may disrupt the readings."

"I spent the last several days in SHIELD's captivity, where they tortured and drugged me," was Grant's dry response. "What do you think?"

Murray's brow furrowed. "Try not to move then," he said.

"I'm strapped to a chair, Murray," Grant reminded him. "I'm not moving much."

Hunter unexpectedly snorted and cut through the tension.

"It's nice to see he's a jackass to them, too," Bobbi commented.

"Will the results be accurate?" Whitehall asked Murray.

"Yes, sir," the Hydra operative said at once. "I know how to read interrupt the data."

"It's smart," May unexpectedly- and reluctantly- remarked.

And though Skye missed what was so impressive, Bobbi nodded in understanding.

"He's using the pain he's in to disrupt any readings, but by making those comments and undermining Murray's credibility to Whitehall, he's ensured that Murray will be more liable to ignore discrepancies to illustrate his competence- and that Whitehall might not believe it even if Murray raises any red flags," Bobbi explained. "He still needs to pass, but minor inconsistencies will likely be ignored now."

Grant answered basic questions- from his immediate family to his birthday- and established a baseline.

"But I didn't hit him that hard," Trip said. "He shouldn't be in that much pain."

"Do you think that was why he asked you to hit him?" Fitz asked. "Because he knew this would happen?"

"If he knew, then he should have warned us," May said.

"Quiet," Skye said, her eyes focused on the screen as Murray finished his questioning and allowed Whitehall to take over. Silence descended on the van once more as everyone became captivated by the scene unfolding in front of them that would determine so many lives but all of the SHIELD agents were powerless to impact.

"Agent Ward, where have you been the last few days?" Whitehall began his interrogation.

"SHIELD headquarters," Grant said at once, his voice serious but casual- the perfect soldier with nothing to hide. "The Cavalry and Bobbi Morse ambushed me on my way back here after my mission."

"Marcus Scarlotti never returned to us, was he captured as well?" Whitehall asked. His glasses reflected the light in the room an obscured his gaze in a creepy way if you asked Skye.

"No, Scarlotti was killed on site after we met with SHIELD opposition," Grant replied. It was true but terribly misleading, Skye realized. He had just implied that May and Bobbi had killed Scarlotti, that they had been the SHIELD opposition, but he never actually voiced that.

Whitehall hummed. "A shame. He was useful in his own way," he mused. "But what about the team John Garrett assembled to retrieve you? None of them have returned either."

"As far as I know, all of them are dead or captured," Grant said.

"So why did you not share their fate?" Whitehall asked mildly, completely unconcerned with the numerous Hydra losses. Skye would bet he was the type of guy to discuss mass murder in the same tone he used to discuss the weather.

"Because I wasn't a part of their losing battle," Grant said. "I was released by Kaminzki and Andrews, but I never engaged the SHIELD forces."

"And why not aid your fellow agents?" Whitehall continued.

"Because I was focused on John. He was my priority," Grant answered. "The SHIELD agents had all been rounded up by the time I was released."

"And where is John Garrett? How come he's not here with you now?"

"He's dead," Grant said in a voice completely devoid of emotion.

Murray's eyes widened, and Kara Lynn Palamas' softened in sympathy, like she knew what that meant to Grant.

Whitehall showed no indications that he was surprised and merely asked, "And how did he die?"

"He was shot."

"By whom?"

"Me."

Immediately, Murray drew his sidearm, flipped the safety off, and pointed it at Grant. Even Kara started as she made an aborted move forward before catching herself. She looked to Whitehall, as if searching for a cue to follow, but the Hydra leader merely cocked his head to the side in contemplation.

"Is that so?" Whitehall mused.

"Yes, and let's cut the crap," Grant said. "We both know that John was never truly loyal to Hydra."

Kara's eyes narrowed, and Murray's jaw was hanging open, but Whitehall must have expected such an answer because he nodded as if Grant had just confirmed something for him.

"John never believed in anything but himself," Grant explained. "All attachments were considered weaknesses to him. He expected complete loyalty from his men but did not give it in return- not to anyone or anything. He didn't believe in causes, and the only higher calling he subscribed to was extending his own life.

"John felt betrayed by SHIELD for abandoning him. He was dying, and everything he did for Hydra was for the sole purpose of curing him. He was the first Deathlock and used the cybernetics and serum to prolong his life while we searched for a permanent cure. And he hated Coulson and Fury because Fury moved heaven and earth to bring Coulson back from the dead, but all John ever got for the injuries he sustained in his service to SHIELD was an 'earful of excuses'."

"So you killed him?" Whitehall asked, still disconcertingly his cue from his leader, Murray slowly lowered his weapon as if in a daze.

"John let his obsession with survival and his hatred of Coulson consume him," Grant said. "I begged him to walk away, but he never could. I wanted to save him, but I could no longer live only for him."

Whitehall folded his hands in front of him. "And he noticed, didn't he?"

"Yes," Grant replied. "The more he felt me pulling away, the more he pushed me to prove myself to him."

"Yes, Agent 33 mentioned your recent tensions. You spoke to her about how he was frustrated with your supposed lack of focus," Whitehall said.

Grant glanced at Agent Kara at that, and she just blinked at him. There was no recognition of what could be conceived as a betrayal of trust in her expression when faced with the confirmation that she had been reporting Grant's secrets to Whitehall.

"I did say that to her," Grant replied carefully. "John had been disappointed with me for the last several months. He felt I was no longer loyal enough to him."

"Were you?" Whitehall prompted.

"I've always been loyal to John, but he always wanted more than I could give him."

Whitehall turned to Murray, who gave him a nod to indicate Grant's honesty. "Strange, given that John Garrett had always praised your talents to all of Hydra's leadership."

"It wasn't my talents he was disappointed with," Grant said simply.

"Then what was it, Agent Ward?" Whitehall said. When Grant remained silent for a beat, "Humor me."

Skye was struck with the realization of how painful this must be for Grant, to be forced to reveal these things to so many people he did not trust while he still mourned Garrett's death. Skye wished more than anything in that moment that she protect him from this, but that was not how life worked.

"I could never follow John's first rule: to not get attached to anyone or anything," Grant answered eventually. "John thought attachments were for the weak."

"But you got attached?" Whitehall said.

The hairs on Skye's arms raised as she sensed a deeper meaning to that question.

"Yes," Grant said. "After all, I was attached to John. I believe in loyalty, and in order to be loyal, you have to believe in something beyond yourself first."

Whitehall stared at him for a few tense seconds before he nodded. "Indeed. But John Garrett was your S.O. for over a decade; he himself recruited you to Hydra. Was your loyalty to Hydra not impacted by his death?"

"I am just as loyal to Hydra as I have always been," Grant said at once. He was scarily good at these deceptive truths. "John recruited me, but he did not make me loyal to Hydra."

"But why return to us if he's gone?" Whitehall pushed before Skye could feel any relief at Grant's ability to refrain from lying without truly answering Whitehall's questions.

"I've been a Hydra operative for over a decade. This is where I belong," Grant said.

Grant's voice was completely calm, not a hint of deception, but Murray tensed as he stared at the lie detector's readings and the machine let out of noise of protest.

Whitehall glanced over, and Murray shook his head. Skye clenched her fists.

"Let's try that again," Whitehall said.

"I have nowhere else to go," Grant said instead. "It was natural to come back."

Another damning beep, and Skye whirled around to face Coulson. "We have to do something."

"There's nothing we could do," May said before Coulson could answer. "Even if we abandoned the mission, it wouldn't help Ward."

Skye let out a noise of frustration but returned her attention to the video feed once more.

Whitehall took a step closer to Grant, but he still appeared completely detached, almost as if he were uninterested.

"I want you to think very carefully before you speak again because should your fail to answer again, Agent 33 and Agent Murray will shoot you. Do you understand?"

Grant nodded.

"Good, Agent Ward. Now why are you really here?"

There was a pregnant pause while everyone waited to see what Grant would say.

"Kara," Grant finally said.

Even Whitehall looked surprised by the admission and Agent Kara stood up straighter. Whitehall looked to Murray for confirmation, but the bemused man just nodded his head slowly.

"He's telling the truth, sir," Murray reported.

"Agent 33 is why you're here?" Whitehall asked.

"I couldn't abandon her," Grant said. "We're partners. No matter what else has changed, that hasn't."

Whitehall stared at Grant in contemplation, and Skye suddenly worried that the answer would not suffice, before he gave another patronizing smile.

"You're very fortunate, Agent Ward. I am not John Garrett, and I value loyalty."

Skye let out a breath that she had not even aware she was holding as tension drained out of her at a dizzying rate. Beside her, Hunter slumped in his seat. "Bloody hell," he muttered.

Whitehall turned and addressed the other man, "Agent Murray, you're dismissed. Thank you for your work today."

"Yes, sir," the Hydra operative said and scurried from the room, no doubt relieved to be done with the interrogation.

Once Murray had left, Whitehall approached the still restrained Grant and stopped in front of him. "It is very fortunate that you had this change of heart. It would have been a shame to lose you. In my one hundred and ten years, I have encountered few killers of your caliber."

Grant blinked slowly.

"Did he say one hundred and ten?" Hunter asked.

Whitehall leaned in and smirked lightly. "I see that surprises you," he observed. "Yes, Agent Ward, despite your many talents, there is still so much you don't know. No matter, you shall come to understand the way of the world, one way or another."

Whitehall's face was so close to Grant's now that Skye feared he would notice the contacts.

"John Garrett was the one who introduced you to Hydra, is that correct?" Whitehall inquired.

"Yes," Grant responded carefully.

"And how did he describe us to you?"

"John said that Hydra understood the importance of survival, like us," Grant said.

Well, if that were true, as Skye suspected it was, then that was the biggest load of bullshit ever uttered.

"A simple explanation from a simple man, though I suppose that is one thing that unites the two of us," Whitehall said, still uncomfortably close. "But you'll find my methods of survival are far more successful," he concluded.

"You do look great for one hundred and ten," Grant deadpanned.

Whitehall gave a close-lipped smile. "Indeed. But while Hydra endures in ways organizations like SHIELD and the Nazis never could, it is not just about survival. We give purpose and meaning to the lives of lost souls like yourself. Hydra rewards loyalty and compliance."

Whitehall hovered inches away from Grant's face for a few more seconds as the silence stretched uncomfortably.

"That's a lot to take in," Grant said finally.

Whitehall gave another slight smile, like he was humoring a child. "Yes, of course. You will come to appreciate what I've said in time, Agent Ward. For now, your services are required."

Whitehall indicated towards Agent Kara who came forward to release Grant from his restraints. Grant never took his eyes off Whitehall.

"You and your partner have another assignment. Visit medical for your wounds and prepare to depart shortly."

Grant stood slowly in acknowledgment of the clear dismissal and walked carefully towards the door. He had just reached out a hand to push open the door when Whitehall called out once more.

Grant turned back towards the Hydra leader, who had not moved. Agent Kara stood loyally by his side.

"And Agent Ward, do think carefully on what I've said. It is in your best interests," Whitehall said.

Grant nodded and exited the room. He picked up the pace as soon as he was out of Whitehall's line of sight, navigating the nondescript hallways of Hydra HQ with practiced ease.

"Ugh," Skye shuddered. "He might actually be creepier than Garrett."

"So does this mean Romanoff actually passed the test?" Trip asked. No matter what, Trip could always be depended on to break the tension.

"You're free to ask her," Coulson said.

"I'll pass," Trip laughed.

"Do you think Whitehall knows?" Skye asked. She bit her lip and glanced at the others out of the corner of her eye.

"About us? Not a chance," Bobbi replied. "But he's not stupid, and Ward failed to answer that he returned to Hydra because he's a true believer or loyal to Whitehall. This was a power play to remind Ward that Whitehall is the one in control and that Ward either has to join Whitehall's team willingly or be forced into it."

On screen, Grant arrived at a simple bunk with a perfectly made bed and no personal belongings visible. It was a sad place to call home, but the again, Hydra had never been Grant's home. Grant looked down and focused on his left hand's fingers. He hissed in pain as he removed a needle that had been embedded under his nail.

Fitz let out an exclamation of discomfort watching it, and Skye could not help her own cringe. She supposed that answered the question of why the lie detector picked up indications of pain.

Hunter spun around to face the group. "I'm just going to say what we're all thinking: this is not a guy we can trust."

Skye glared at him while Coulson leaned back slightly and muttered to himself, "Nicely done, Ward."

Alone in his bunk, Grant spoke aloud to seemingly no one as he efficiently grabbed his gear and changed into his own clothes, "Meet me by the southwest entrance as discussed in fifteen, and try not to be late. You can't expect me to do all the heavy lifting."

I finished, yay! It's been a brutal last couple weeks for me, so for anyone who feels the same, I hope this helps even in the smallest of ways. I wanted this out last month, but this one was hard, so I actually started writing out of order. It's nice to know I have some of the next chapter (and several chapters after that) done. I'm really excited about some of the stuff coming up...

Thanks to everyone who reviewed! You guys are the best, and it's nice to see so many people care to follow this through to the ending. I was so unbelievably shocked to see how many of you there still are. Hope you enjoyed, and please as always, let me know what you thought!