Chapter 16

AN: I am so amazed that even after all this time you are still supportive. THANK YOU SO MUCH!


At the Hub Hope, Hand, Trip and Sharon have managed to defeat the Hydra teams that were in the building, managing to save more lives than last time. While the group are checking to see how many systems are secure, and how much damage they are dealing with, the group of four and the other SHIELD agents watch as the images of the Triskelion collapsing, with a glowing figure that Sharon and Hope know to be Carol, flying up to the top of the building.

"Did you know that was going to happen?" Trip asks, looking between Hope and Sharon, his voice quiet enough so that only the two of them can hear him, and feeling shocked as he didn't expect to see the Triskelion collapse.

"Last time Hellicarriers crashed into the Triskelion. I'm assuming this time that Carol blew them up inside the hanger," Sharon explains, being pretty sure that Carol doing it this way would have led to less casualties.

"Wait, that flying figure was Carol?" Trip asks amazed, and both Hope and Sharon nod.

As Hope and Sharon nod at Trip a call comes into the main screen.

"Ma'am, we've got communications back up," An Agent says.

"So, I see that," Hand says, with an annoyed look and she walks to the screen.

Just as Hand is standing in front the screen connects and Colonel Glenn Talbot appears.

"I need to speak with whoever's in charge over there," Talbot says, and as he does Hand and Sharon exchange looks, and after recognizing the look from Hand Sharon, feeling nervous, walks up so that the two of them are standing in front of the screen, side by side.

"That would be us. I am Agent Victoria Hand, this is Agent Sharon Carter," Hand explains, as Hope purposely moves out of view of the camera as she knows that right now it would be best to keep her involvement secret.

"Ms Hand, Ms Carter…." Talbot starts to say.

"it's Agent," Hand and Sharon say together, Sharon not realising how much she resembles her great aunt at the moment.

"Agents," Talbot says, with a grimace. "You've got a real mess on your hands,"

"We're aware," Sharon reveals. It feeling strange to talk to Talbot as she knows what the future held for him in their timeline.

"It is deeply troubling how embedded Hydra was in our ranks, but I assure you we're going on offensive, just like we have been since Captain America's announcement," Hand explains.

"The Hub is secure, and as Agent Hand said all SHIELD agents are ready to go on the offensive. If you need we are ready to assist you in.." Sharon starts to explain.

"I think we've had about all the assistance we can handle from SHIELD, I'm sending in a peacekeeping force. They're gonna take control," Talbot instructs.

"Of course, Sir, what should I tell my people to expect?" Hand asks curious, though she has a suspicion.

"We just want to ask a few questions, get the lay of the land. Everything checks out, you and your boys can be on your merry," Talbot says.

"Okay," Sharon says, and once she does the call ends. "We can't stay here," Sharon says, looking at Hand.

"I know. If Talbot is coming we're going to either be arrested or killed," Hand says, knowing that because of her interactions with the man.

"Then we go to the Playground, with whoever wants to come, and whatever we need to take," Hope reveals, looking between Hand, Sharon, and Trip.

"Do either of you know the location?" Hand asks, looking between Hope and Sharon as she knows they can't ask for the location over coms.

"I do," Sharon reveals, as even though she was officially a CIA agent she never stopped being a SHIELD agent.

"Good, then let's stock up as much as possible and move out," Hand instructs, knowing that she can't force people to come with them, but she will get as many people as possible to.


On the Iliad Bobbi, Hunter, Clint, Mack, and Izzy are waiting inside their Quinjet, on the empty deck as all the Quinjets are either on their way to the Playground or Academy. While the others are firmly inside the jet Bobbi is standing on the ramp.

"Come on Brunn, come on," Bobbi mutters to herself, feeling concerned as each second feels like it lasts forever, as after losing Morgan, Yo-Yo, and Wanda so recently she doesn't want to lose anyone else, especially not Valkyrie who has become her best friend.

"Isn't this chick Asgardian? I'm sure she'll be fine," Hunter says, walking up to Bobbi.

"Asgardian's aren't immortal Hunter, they can still die," Bobbi says, as she stares at the way to the below decks, waiting for a sign of Valkyrie.

"Bobbi, get in the air," Valkyrie says, though the coms.

"No, I'm not leaving you!" Bobbi says, through the coms.

"I'm not telling you too," Valkyrie says, as she takes down Hydra agents who have blocked her path. "I'm almost up on deck, but I got held up. The explosion is going to go off any minute, get in the air, I'll jump, you know I can," Valkyrie explains, needing Bobbi to listen as she won't risk the others because she got held up.

"Clint, get us in the air," Bobbi instructs.

"What?" Clint ask shocked, as that is the last thing he was expecting.

"Just do it!" Bobbi exclaims, and as he has worked with Bobbi more than once Clint knows the tone of voice, knows that she is completely serious, and so he takes them into the air.

"Come on, come on," Bobbi mutters to herself, as the jet raises into the air, and as it raises the Iliad explodes. "No," Bobbi says, sounding horrified.

"Bob, come on," Hunter says, trying to pull Bobbi away from the edge of the ramp, but Bobbi is too strong, she doesn't let herself be pulled away, then to both their relief Valkyrie jumps out of the fire and onto the plane.

"You really had to wait to the last minute," Bobbi says to her friend, sounding less than impressed.

"You know me, I like to make things memorable," Valkyrie comments with a smirk, and in response Bobbi just hugs her friend, feeling glad that she is okay.

"Morse, I'm gonna need to know where we are going," Clint says from the cockpit.

"I'm coming," Bobbi says, as she and Valkyrie break apart and she heads to the cockpit of the Quinjet so that she can take them to The Playground.

"Okay what the hell is going on?" Mack asks, as the ramp is raised, feeling frustrated and extremely confused.

"You might want to sit down," Valkyrie says, and once Mack sits down she starts to explain everything they told the others to him.


At the Fridge Rhodey and Thor have joined Tony outside the main doors, on the roof, which they are using to defend the fridge from the Hydra teams which are attacking.

"Bruce, Hank," Rhodey says, through the coms.

"Yeah?" Bruce asks curious.

"Start bringing the weapons and tech you've decided can't be left behind, bring it to the entrance, just in case," Rhodey requests, as while the three of them have been fighting Bruce and Hank have been going thought the slingshot program area.

"Okay," Hank says, as Thor hits a Hydra jet with his lightning.

"We've got a problem!" Tony says, as a jet just fired at the side of the building, near the ground, creating a hole which prisoners can escape from.

"Yeah, I'd say so," Rhodey comments, as Tony destroys the jet.

"Hey Eye-Patch? You there?" Tony asks, activating his coms.

"What's going on, Stark?" Fury, who is almost at the Playground, asks.

"We've got a Fridge break out," Tony reveals. "We'll do what we can, but people are gonna get free," Tony explains, as he spots a small boat.

"We're about to land at the Playground, once there I'll send you backup that has been cleared," Fury reveals. "Just do what you can, Stark, make sure as few prisoners get free as possible," Fury requests, as if all the prisoners get out that could be very bad.

"Yeah, like I said, that's what I'm doing," Tony responds, rolling his eyes, before cutting the coms.


"We're landing," Carol says, as the plane she, Fury, Natasha, Maria, and Steve are in flies into the hanger of the playground; where there are already other Quinjets.

"Good," Fury says, sounding glad, as he knows that he can start to make plans, start to get things working again.

Once the plan lands Fury, Carol, Maria, Natasha and Steve walk out of the plane, and straight to the man who is waiting by the hanger doors.

"Sam, where's Billy and Eric?" Fury asks, as he walks towards the man, as Carol looks around, it feeling strange to be at the place she has heard so many stories about.

"Doing orientation on the new arrivals. We've got two machines running to double check no one is Hydra," Sam explains.

"Who's been cleared so far?" Fury asks, and Sam hands over a tablet with names on it. "Where are they?" Fury asks.

"Common area, Sir," Sam responds.

"Have the teams I told you about arrived?" Fury asks.

"Not yet," Sam responds.

"Okay. There will be four other aircrafts. Flow by Bobbi Morse and Clint Barton, Melinda May and Phil Coulson, Sharon Carter and Hope Van Dyne, and Thor and Tony Stark respectively, they don't have to go through orientation, neither do these people, everyone else does, no exceptions," Fury explains to Sam.

"Yes Sir," Sam responds.

"If anyone doesn't past orientation, alert us immediately," Maria says, and once she does Sam hands Fury a landyard and they all head inside the main base.

Once they are in the base the five people head straight to the common area where Fury arranges a team, of people who are qualified, to send to the Fridge so that they can try to secure the area a bit better.


"You got my son killed!" Mike yells, sounding furious, as he walks toward Melinda, and as he does all the pieces fall into place for her.

"No Mike, your son is alive. I've had him protective custody for months, with people who aren't Hydra!" Melinda explains, as she has had Agents Piper and Davis, with Ace as they are people she trusts. As she speaks Melinda tries to move and right away realises that is impossible,. "He's safe, I promise," Melinda assures him, and as he does Mike stops walking towards her, but it is clear that he doesn't completely believe her. "You and Ace, what are you? You're a team," Melinda says, it being the one thing she can think to say, and just like she was intending her words cause Mike to stop in his tracks.

"He's safe?" Mike asks, and Melinda nods.

"And no one at Cybertech will be giving orders right now. They won't be monitoring your eye," Melinda says, as she learnt that right after Hydra's fall Cybertch was a little chaotic for days afterwards so it is safe to assume they would be in this time too, probably even more so because Garrett is dead, which means they have time to make things right.

"I'm sorry Agent May," Mike says, running towards her, and he is close enough he tries to move the rock that is pinning Melinda, as he does Melinda sees something.

"NO!" Melinda tells him, and right away Mike stops. "I need your belt," Melinda tells Mike, and without questioning Mike hands over his belt, which Melinda uses to tie on her upper thigh, as tight as she can. "I need you to go find Dai….Skye, and Simmons,"

"I did this, I'm not leaving you, Agent May," Mike tells her, guilt, and horror, clear in his voice.

"I need you to," Melinda tells him. "I can't be moved until we are ready to go, so I need you to find them," Melinda explains. "They will trust you. Tell them Mack Axe protocol, and what happened," Melinda explains, and something about her tone of voice makes Mike believe her.

"Okay," Mike says, with a nod.

"Go," Melinda tells Mike and he runs off.


Not long after he left Melinda Mike is able to use the tech he now has on his arm, to detect where the most heat signatures are, what appears to be a boiler room. Without much trouble Mike gets there and as he does the door blows of it's hinges and Daisy walks out.

"Mike?" Daisy asks, surprised, as she didn't realise Mike would be at the academy too, though she does realise that it would make sense.

"May sent me," Mike explains, as he raises his hands in surrender.

"And we're just supposed to believe that?" Coulson asks as he, Simmons, Fitz, and Weaver walk out, it being clear that Coulson sounds disbelieving.

"May told me to tell you Mack Axe Protocol," Mike explains, causing Daisy and Simmons to look horrified, as they realise what that means. "She fought Ward and Garrett, killed them both, and I thought because of that my son would be killed, so I blew up a wall. Agent May is pinned beneath a piece and wouldn't let me remove it yet," Mike explains.

"We've got to go, now," Daisy says as she can guess the reason why May wouldn't let Mike remove the rubble.

"Agent Weaver, Quinjets are on their way. They will take you to a safe place, we will see you there," Simmons explains.

"What about Hydra?" Weaver asks worried.

"There is no one else left on the academy grounds, just the people here and Agent May," Mike explains.

"Show us where May is," Daisy says, trying to hide how terrified she is, but she doesn't really succeed, and she, Simmons, Phil and Fitz follow Mike out of the boiler room, all five of them moving as fast as possible.


A while after Fury, Carol, Steve, Natasha, and Maria arrived at the Playground they have sent people to the Fridge to help out there, and are working with those who have been cleared to find out as much as possible; and to get the Playground set up.

As the others are working downstairs Fury, Carol, Natasha, Steve and Maria are all up in the office so that they can talk about everything openly.

"Wow, home sweet home," Bobbi says as she, Mack, Valkyrie, Hunter and Izzy walk into the office, having been told where to go by Sam.

"How long did you live here in the future?" Maria asks curious as Natasha, and Carol walk up to Bobbi and Valkyrie and hug them both.

"It was SHIELD's base for about three years. I lived here for about two," Bobbi explains.

"What happened?" Fury asks interested, wanting as much information as possible so that he can protect the base.

"A LMD Android of May blew it up to protect Daisy and Simmons from a LMD Android version of Coulson," Bobbi explains and in response she receives shocked looks from everyone but Valkyrie and Natasha.

"I always knew the robots would attack," Mack comments, not sure if that is the validation he wanted.

"From what I know you were very vocal about that when it happened," Bobbi reveals, looking amused.

"Has anyone else arrived back yet?" Izzy asks, looking around, looking for one person in particular.

"Hub team is on their way, Fridge team is fighting Hydra and waiting on backup, and Academy team aren't answering their coms," Carol explains, trying to hide her concern as she knows that Melinda and Daisy would only turn off their coms if they were worried about worrying everyone or if they were trying to protect others.

"Then we should go to the academy, it's not far," Clint argues, feeling worried about his friends.

"We're giving it an hour, then we will," Natasha explains as that is what she and Carol decided.

"Until then we're working on what else needs to be handled immediately, you can help with that," Maria says, from the desk where she is working, and so everyone walks over to her.


As they moved as fast as possible it isn't long before Daisy, Simmons, Phil and Fitz are able to get back to Melinda, before anyone can react Daisy runs towards Melinda and kneels down next to her.

"Really? Taking out both of them, didn't want to leave one for me or Jemma? Or even Bobbie?" Daisy asks, trying to sound normal, though it is hard for her to do so.

"It was something I had to do," Melinda responds, as Phil, Fitz and Simmons get to Melinda and Daisy, all of whom look horrified.

"May…." Phil says, not sure what else to say.

"We've got to get this off of you," Daisy says, as she puts one of her hands on Melinda's shoulder. "Then we'll get you to the bus, and Jem will start to treat you, she'll fix you right up," Daisy says, knowing that her girlfriend can perform miracles which she has done more than once.

"My leg can't be fixed," Melinda says, as she is pretty sure about that. "And I have to fly, Daisy," Melinda tells her.

"No, I'll fly us back. You and Carol have been teaching me. I can do it, Mom, let me do it," Daisy begs, knowing that it will take a lot to fight against Melinda's stubbornness but she has to try.

"Skye's right, let her fly!" Phil says, feeling amazing that Daisy called Melinda Mom and very confused about everything, but knowing that Melinda flying wouldn't be good.

"It's Daisy," Melinda corrects. "And I locked the controls to me," Melinda explains, and right away Daisy's heart sinks.

"Of course you did," Daisy says, not at all surprised, though she wishes Melinda didn't do that. "Then let's get this off you, and get to the bus," Daisy says, before using her powers to obliterate the rock that is crushing Melinda's leg.

The second the rock is in pieces Simmons runs over as she starts to look at the wounds she suspects that Melinda is right, that her leg can't be saved, though she isn't going to say that. As Simmons inspects Melinda's wounds she sees that an orange substance, which she knows to be centipede serum, is leaking into Melinda's wounds, both those on the crushed leg, and the various cuts that Melinda has on her. While Simmons can't help but wonder what, if any, effect that will have on Melinda she knows that now is not the time to question it.

"We need to get to the bus. Even if May is flying I can do more there," Simmons explains, knowing they have to be quick.

"I can carry her," Mike says, wanting to do something to help.

"Be gentle," Daisy instructs, as she lets go of Melinda's shoulder to grab her hand.

"Very careful Agent Peterson," Phil instructs, and Mike picks up Melinda, and starts to carry her, as Daisy doesn't let go of Melinda's hand.


At the Fridge, Tony and Rhodey have been working to keep the prisoners inside as Thor deals with any incoming threats, and Bruce and Hank get the weapons and tech from the vault into the Quinjet.

As they have been in contact with Fury and the others the five of them know to expect SHIELD reinforcements that they can trust and so they are being more careful about who they are attacking.

"And that should do it, all prisoners are secure," Tony announces through the coms, as he and Rhodey, with some difficulty, were able to move all prisoners from the damaged area of the Fridge to secure cells.

"Good. There is an aircraft coming in this direction," Thor reveals.

"I got it," Rhodey says, and he flies up towards the plane. "This is Cornel Rhodes, if you can hear this channel respond immediately or you will be shot out of the sky," Rhodey says, speaking though a coms connection that Fury told them to use.

"This is SHIELD 409. Alpha victor echo november golf eco romeo sierra sierra alpha victor echo tango hotel echo foxtrot uniform tango uniform Romeo echo," The pilot says through the coms channel.

"They're good," Rhodey says to the others. "Land on the roof, near our ship," Rhodey instructs.

After spending a little bit of time making sure the replacement SHIELD team have things covered, and setting up protections for them, Rhodey, Tony, Bruce and Hank get on their spaceship. The spaceship which is more cramped than before as it has all the tech and weapons they are taking with them. Having got coordinates from Fury Tony is flying as Thor is staying behind a little longer to help.


Due to The Academy being pretty close to The Playground it is a short flight, which is mostly spent with Melinda flying while Daisy is sitting next to her, holding her hand, and Simmons works on her crushed leg, doing the little she can.

"Playground, this is SHIELD, 616," Daisy says, once they are in range.

"Daisy, finally, why did you turn off your coms?" Carol asks sounding glad to hear Daisy, but also worried.

"May's hurt. Her leg has been crushed, Jem is doing what she can, but she needs a medical team," Daisy explains.

"How far out are you?" Carol asks, as she and Natasha exchange horrified looks, and even though she tries to hide it Daisy can tell how worried she is.

"five minutes," Daisy explains.

"We'll be waiting," Carol responds, and as she does Melinda reaches over towards Daisy and right away Daisy knows what she wants, and so she hands her the headset.

"Carol?" Melinda asks.

"Hey Mel," Carol responds, keeping her voice gentle.

"You've got my girls, right?" Melinda asks, as she wants to make sure of that.

"You know I do, but you've got them too," Carol assures her. "You've died three times Mel, you're not gonna die again," Carol assures her, as she knows she can't handle that, and as she does Simmons takes the headset off Melinda.

"Carol, we've got to move May now. We'll see you when we land," Simmons says, and without giving Carol a chance to respond Simmons hands the headset back to Daisy.


Not long after Daisy, Melinda and Simmons talked to Carol the plane, using autopilot, has touched down in the playground, and as it does Bobbi, a medical team, Carol, Natasha, Fury, Maria, Valkyrie, Izzy, and Clint runt towards the bus.

"May's leg was crushed, there's no circulation. We need to restore blood flow if possible, amputate if not, also need to check her for other injuries," Simmons says, as Mike puts Melinda on the gurney.

"May, I'm sedating you," Bobbi says, as she injects Melinda, before Melinda can argue with her. "Get May to medical, now!" Bobbi exclaims, and once she does Simmons and the medical team push Melinda as fast as possible.

As Melinda is pushed away Daisy walks straight to Carol and Natasha, both of whom hug her tightly, as that's exactly what they all need.

"What happened to Mels?" Clint asks worried.

"She killed Ward and Garrett," Phil explains, looking horrified, as everyone starts to walk down the ramp and into the hanger, Daisy reluctantly breaking apart from Natasha and Carol, though none of them move far away from each other.

"Oh my god, Mack!" Daisy says, running towards him, who is standing with Hunter, and Steve, and once she is close enough Daisy hugs him, feeing thrilled to see him, even though she is terrified that she is going to lose Melinda.

"Um hi, who are you?" Mack asks, feeling confused, as he awkwardly pats Daisy's back.

"Daisy Johnson. Your future self-described her as the little sister you never had," Bobbi explains, knowing it will be good for both Daisy and Mack to develop that relationship again, as she walks towards Daisy to hug her, holding her tight. "I'm going to help with May, I'll update when I can," Bobbi says, her voice loud enough for everyone to hear though she is mainly taking to Daisy who she breaks apart from. Once Bobbi has let go of Daisy she runs towards the main area of the base, only pausing to give Carol's shoulder a gentle squeeze.

"Full disclosure, because I know how you feel about this stuff. I'm part alien and I have sonic, quake, powers," Daisy explains, shocking Mack. "The version of you I knew wasn't okay with it when I first got my powers, but with time you were, and we became partners. So, if you're not okay this time I get it," Daisy reveals. "Now, if you excuse me, I really need to go check on May," Daisy says before hurrying off as she needs to be sure that Melinda is okay.


Having no idea what has happened in their absence Sharon, Hope, Hand, and Trip are arriving back at the Playground, a while after the Academy team arrived back. As they deboard the plane they are greeted by Izzy waiting for them and the second Hand sees her she realises something bad has happened.

"Who?" Hand asks.

"May, she killed Ward and Garrett, but her leg was crushed," Izzy explains, pain in her voice as she has known Melinda since the academy.

"How bad?" Sharon asks, her voice breaking.

"Not sure, Simmons, Bobbi, and a med team are working on her," Izzy explains, and the second she finishes speaking Hope and Sharon go running, clearly wanting to check on Melinda, and the rest of their future family.

"I have med tech training, I'll go see if I can help," Trip says, before chasing after them.

As the others run away Hand just walks towards Izzy and once they are close enough the two of them embrace, while both of them are worried about their old friend they are relieved to see each other again.