Chapter 63
Disclaimer: I don't own anything. Everything belongs to their rightful owners.
AN1:
November 25th 2013
With the exception of Ward, who was given a couple extra days vacation because he went with Fitz and Simmons, the team are back on the bus. While Daisy does enjoy being back on the bus with Fitz and Simmons, both of whom she has bonded with since they got back, she does miss her family.
As they have gotten a new mission Daisy is in Phil's office with her mother and Uncle as they explain their newest mission.
"Wait, a telekinetic? I thought they didn't exist?" Daisy asks as she finishes listening to what her mother and Uncle told her.
"A person with telekinetic abilities has never been verified," Melinda explains, honestly not sure how she feels about doing this particular mission.
"That's why we're going to Batesville, to conduct an index asset evaluation and intake," Phil explains.
"Is that seriously how you saw we talk to her and see if she has powers?" Daisy asks and Phil nods. "God, that needs a better name, maybe something like Welcome Wagon," Daisy suggests.
"Daisy, Uncle Phil and I want you to pay close attention to this. its an opportunity for you to learn how to deal with someone with abilities who isn't family," Melinda explains, feeling concerned as after the way Daisy sought out Mike she is worried about Daisy thinking everyone will powers will be like Bobbi and because of that not even consider the possible dangers, though she does suspect that Daisy could become great at Index evaluations and intakes.
"Did you forget I found Mike Peterson first?" Daisy asks, looking between her mother and Uncle.
"And that went how?" Melinda asks her daughter and Daisy looks sheepish.
"Daisy, this is a chance to see how it's done when it's done right," Phil says, as the trio get up and head out of the office, heading down to the cargo bay.
"So, how many people like this have you encounter?" Daisy asks as she reads the file, and because she is reading she doesn't notice Phil glance at Melinda in cocern.
"A few," Melinda answers.
"There's not that many people on the index," Phil explains, as he realises Melinda's not going to.
"They must freak out when they see the SHIELD trucks roll up," Daisy comments, as she is pretty sure that for people who haven't been around SHIELD for their whole life it must be pretty shocking.
"Every case is different," Phil reveals. "Some people are in complete denial that there's anything unusual about them. It's a delicate process and from all reports this sounds like a particular sensitive situation," Phil reveals, and as he does Melinda knows that means things are likely going to volatile.
"Particle accelerator explodes," Daisy reads, wondering if she should call her Dad to find out what that means. "Hannah Hutchins, one of the quality-control engineers. Was it her fault?" Daisy asks curious.
"The town blames her. Four technicians died in that blast," Phil explains.
'That's terrible… all those families," Daisy says, feeling sympathy for the families, but also for Hannah, as she, her mother and Phil head down the stairs into the cargo bay.
"Small church community. They're pretty rattled," Phil explains.
"She must be too," Daisy comments. "Friends, co-workers dead, and on top of all that she might have some crazy powers she can't understand," Daisy comments.
"Or control," Melinda says a Fitz and Simmons walk up to them.
"Sir, the department of energy's declared the particle acceleration lab too dangerous to enter," Simmons explains.
"But the good news is, we still think we can retrieve the disaster-event data from the instruments. We'll determine the cause and see if there's any correlation between telekinesis spontaneously forming and a particle accelerator exploding," Fitz explains.
"Well, it does use giant magnets to fire billions of subatomic particles into their anti-particles at the speed of light to create miniature big bags, so seems like a good place to start," Phil says as Daisy, Melinda, Fitz and Simmons all look at him in confusion, Daisy feeling shocked as while she is used to hearing science speak from her Dad she doesn't expect to hear it from Uncle Phil. "What, I read," Phil explains.
"Okay, I'll try not to mention to big bangs when we talk to Hutchins about the explosion," Daisy comments.
"You're talking to her, you're staying in the car," Melinda tells her daughter.
"What! I thought you wanted me to learn," Daisy objects.
"And you will, from the car," Melinda tells her daughter. "Uncle Phil, Ward and I will talk to her," Melinda explains.
"But…" Daisy starts to object.
"Wheels up in five," Melinda says as she heads upstairs. "Strap in,"
"Uncle Phil…." Daisy starts to object.
"You heard your Mom, Daze, you're staying in the car," Phil says, as he agrees with Melinda on this, and Daisy can't help but feel annoyed.
"You're late," Melinda says, from where she is on the stairs which isn't facing the ramp, as Ward arrives.
Due to the meeting with Hannah not going well, in fact it went so badly that Melinda had to sedate her, the team are back on the bus.
"Did you seriously just sedate her?" Daisy asks her mother as she hurries to catch up to where Melinda is, near the bunks.
"I did what I had to do," Melinda says, as she couldn't help but remember Bahrain. "And you were told to stay in the car," Melinda tells her daughter.
"I was trying to help," Daisy argues.
"Go to the lab with Fitz and Simmons, see what you can find," Melinda tells her daughter before heading into the command centre, and honestly Daisy is pretty shocked by the abrasiveness of her mothers tone as it is one she hasn't heard in a while.
"Yes Ma'am," Daisy mutters, too quiet to hear, before heading downstairs.
A little while later while Melinda and Phil are in the cage with Hannah Daisy is in the lab with Fitz and Simmons watching what is going on.
"So sad," Daisy comments as she listens to what Hannah is telling her mother and Uncle.
"And normal," Simmons reveals. "These readings are entirely within average ranges," Simmons explains. "Of course, it's hard to find something when you don't know what you're looking for. All I can tell from these brain waves is she's upset," Simmons comments.
"Do your really need a computer for that?" Daisy asks. "I love Mom, but she did shoot Hannah, her being upset being in the same room as her isn't exactly a surprise," Daisy comments, feeling like she is missing something.
"She sedated her," Simmons corrects.
"Things got out of hand; your Mom sorted it out. she's the Cavalry, it's what she does," Fitz comments; feeling like Daisy should know that.
"What is with that name? You've mentioned it more than once," Daisy comments, as before coming onto the plane she has never heard of it before.
"You don't know?" Simmons asks surprised. "Everyone at the academy tells the story," Simmons reveals.
"I wouldn't ask if I knew, what's the deal?" Daisy asks curious, finding herself becoming even more curious.
"There was a mission, Manama, Bahrain…" Fitz starts to explain, and as he does all the colour drains from Daisy's face.
"I don't want to know," Daisy quickly says.
"Daisy, are you alright?" Simmons asks concerned.
"Fine," Daisy says, before hurrying out of the lab, and as she goes Fitz and Simmons exchange confused looks, wondering what is going on, and not long after Daisy leaves Fitz decides that a prank could be just the thing to cheer Daisy up.
After leaving the lab Daisy hurries up to her bunk and thankfully she doesn't run into anyone else. Once she gets to her bunk Daisy closes the door behind her and leans against it taking a deep breath.
As she fights to catch her breath Daisy reaches into her pocket and with a shaking hand she pulls out her phone, before she even realises what she is doing she is calling her sister.
"Hey Daze," Bobbi answers, sounding glad.
"Bobbi…" Daisy says and the second she speaks Bobbi knows her sister isn't okay.
"Daisy, what's wrong?" Bobbi asks concerned.
"Fitzsimmons, they called Mom the Cavalry, and said they do so because of Bahrain, that everyone knows the story…. And I just couldn't hear it, I ran up to my bunk," Daisy explain. "Mom wouldn't tell us what happened, still won't, but everyone knows. Is that true?" Daisy asks, hoping Bobbi has an answer because she just doesn't understand.
"No," Bobbi answers. "From what I know the only people who know the truth are Mom, Dad, Fury and Nat because she figured it out," Bobbi explains, and Daisy isn't at all surprised that Natasha figured it out. "Everyone talks, about what they think happen. No one knows the truth, and the story gets bigger every year," Bobbi explains.
"That's why Mom said not to call her the Cavalry," Daisy realises.
"Exactly," Bobbi says. "The best thing we can do is shut it down when people talk about it," Bobbi explains.
"Okay," Daisy says, nodding even though her sister can't see, feeling like she can do that. "Mom's seemed weird since we started this case. Bobbi, I'm worried," Daisy admits.
"What's the case?" Bobbi asks.
"An index one," Daisy answers and Bobbi feels dread rise up inside of her.
"Mom will be okay," Bobbi says, needing to believe that. "She just going to be a bit tense, and uptight during this case," Bobbi tells her.
"That sounds Fun," Daisy says sarcastically. "I just don't know what to do. I can tell that something is seriously up," Daisy admits.
"Just do your job, Daze, do what mom and Uncle Phil ask. It's all you can do," Bobbi explains.
"I guess I could do that," Daisy says, sounding slightly uncertain.
"Look, I'm getting called into a briefing, but if you need anything call," Bobbi explains.
"Okay," Daisy answers. "I love you,"
"Love you too," Bobbi responds before hanging up, and once she has hung up on her sister Daisy walks over to her bed and sits down, thinking about everything her sister said.
A little while after she talked to her sister Daisy is in her Uncle's office with Melinda and Phil, talking about Hanner.
"Uncle Phil, just let me go in and talk to her, as a friend," Daisy pleads.
"No. it's too dangerous," Melinda tells her daughter as Hannah's powers are too uncertain.
"Mom, she's not dangerous!" Daisy objects, honestly a little surprised that Melinda thinks so. "She's nice… like overly nice. She never misses a birthday post to her friends, runs the youth program at her church, rescues dogs," Daisy says, reading off her tablet to read all the things Hannah does. "Hanna's a safety inspector not just because she's detailed orientation but because she…" Daisy starts to explain.
"Genuinely cares," Phil finishes.
"Exactly," Daisy confirms. "And someone with that much empathy being responsibility for that much loss of life, she's devastated," Daisy says and as she speaks some pieces seem to fall into place for her.
"Daisy?" Phil asks, as she has gotten an odd look on her face.
"Look, my point is that being alone in the scary ass cage, trying to find a reason to rationalise and even justify what she is feeling today is the worst thing for her," Daisy explains. "She needs support a friend, and I can be that. I'm not afraid for her, she needs that; just like Bobbi did when you guys found her," Daisy says, feeling like she might be crossing a line by mentioning her sister, but she wants to make her point. "Please, let me talk to her," Daisy requests.
"No," Melinda answers.
"Until we figure out what's going on with her, she stays locked up and you stay away," Phil says and as he does one of his collectables fall of the desk. "Thought that wag glued down," Phil says as he bends over to pick it up. "Daisy, you're asking the right questions, but for now, that's all you get to do. I'm sorry," Phil tells his niece.
"Whatever," Daisy says before basically storming out of the office.
"She's not going to keep accepting no for an answer," Phil tells Melinda.
"I know," Melinda answers. Honestly she is feeling pretty torn as she does believe that Daisy could get through to Hannah, but she is worried about her daughter as Hannah doesn't have control over her abilities and so talking to her will be dangerous for Daisy.
Not long after she talked to her mother and Uncle, still feeling a little annoyed, Daisy is in the kitchen with Ward who is making something to eat.
"It's just not fair, I know I can get through to Hannah, and Mom knows I can, and she just won't let me," Daisy says, clearly annoyed.
"I'm sure she has her reasons," Ward says, wondering if he is going to be able to get more information about May and Daisy's personal lives; hopefully something he can use.
"She always does," Daisy comments.
"Daisy, if you want to be a SHIELD agent you need to learn to follow orders, even ones you don't like," Ward explains.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know," Daisy says, sounding pretty annoyed and she walks over to the couches.
"Where'd I put that knife?" Ward wonders to himself as the knife he was just using has disappeared.
A little while later the plane has lost all power, which resulted in Melinda and Ward needing to perform an emergency landing, which was something Daisy has never experienced before. As they made it to the group without injury Melinda, Ward and Daisy are in the command centre waiting for the others.
"Are you alright?" Melinda asks her daughter concerned, checking in for about third time since they had to the do the emergency landing.
"I'm fine," Daisy assures her mother, smiling slightly as she knows how many times her mother has asked, as Phil and Simmons walk in.
"Our ear comms are usually relayed though the plane, so here's some hardware," Phil says, as he hands out walkie talkies.
"Did the girl do this to us, sir?" Ward asks.
"We believe Miss Hutchins is the victim here," Phil reveals, and if it was a less stressful situation Daisy would have said told you so. "Our theories about her powers have been disproved," Phil explains.
"By who?" Melinda asks curious.
"I saw a ghost," Simmons says, and everyone gives her a shocked look. "I… I know how it sounds, but a man attacked me and then he disappeared," Simmons explains.
"Did you get a look at him?" Melinda asks.
"He dematerialised!" Simmons objects.
"May, run your system checks. Is the cage still shielded?" Phil asks curious.
"Most of the power's dedicated to it," Melinda explains.
"This man or whatever he is has been tormenting Miss Hutchins. The cage might be the one thing protecting her now," Phil explains and as he does Melinda glances worrying at Daisy. "We'll inform her," Phil explains.
"Uncle Phil, can I please be the one to talk to Hannah?" Daisy asks. "Her life has been turned upside down and we stuck her in a nightmare box," Daisy points out, feeling like that must have freaked her out. "She thinks she's being punished. Can I please be the one to deliver the good news," Daisy requests, looking between her mother and Uncle.
"That a non-corporal madman is hurting her?" Ward asks disbelieving.
"Again, I think it'd be better coming from anyone else, really," Daisy says, giving her uncle a pleading look and once she asks Phil glances at Melinda who says everything she needs to say to him in a look.
"All right," Phil says. "I'll head upstairs, activate the emergency transceiver and radio HQ. Ward, take a firearm. Escort Fitzsimmons downstairs, assess the damage, get us up and running," Phil instructs.
"Wait, guys, um where's Fitz?" Simmons asks worried.
A few minutes later Simmons and Ward have gone to find Fitz while Phil is working on making sure they can be found, while Melinda is checking what is going on with the plane. As everyone else is doing their jobs Daisy walks up to the cage door and knocks.
"Hannah?"
"Who's there?" Hannah asks.
"My names Daisy. We haven't met yet," Daisy explains as she slides down the door so that her back is against it.
"We crashed, didn't we?" Hannah asks. "Are you all hurt? I'm so sorry," Hannah says, and as she does Melinda can hear the pain in her voice.
"No. no, no. we're all okay," Daisy assures her. "Whatever's happening, it's not your fault," Daisy says, in the most comforting tone of voice she has. "We were wrong, but you need to stay in that room so you're safe," Daisy explains. "Something… bad is out here," Daisy explains, as she glances around.
"Demons,"
"I don't know what it is," Daisy admits.
"Do you believe in god?" Hannah asks curious.
"Honestly? I don't know," Daisy reveals.
"Well, I do. and I know that he's punishing me, and I deserve it," Hannah explains.
"No. no, you don't. no one does," Daisy explains, wishing she could open the door and give Hanna a hug. "Religion's never really been a big thing in my family, especially growing up, but my grandfather, he's religious," Daisy reveals as she has a few vague memories of William taking her and Bobbi to church when he was watching them. "He once told me something I kind of like, he said, 'god is love," Daisy reveals. "It's sappy, and simple, but I like it, 'god is love the thing that keeps us together," Daisy explains and as she does Melinda walks up. "And if he's right, and that's true, I don't think he would punish you for a making a mistake. I think he'd forgive a mistake," Daisy explains.
"I want to believe that," Hannah admits.
"Daisy, I'll stand guard now," Melinda says, walking towards her daughter.
"What, no," Daisy objects.
"Uncle Phil needs help with the transceiver," Melinda instructs.
"If it's all the same I'd rather stay here for a while," Daisy explains.
"It's not all the same. It needs to get done, not discussed," Melinda explains, in a stern voice, and as she does Daisy stands up.
"Hannah I'll be nearby if you need me," Daisy say and then she takes a step towards her mother. "Look, I don't know what bad things this whole situation is causing you to remember, but if you want to share I'm here. I'm not a little kid anymore," Daisy says, before walking away, heading to her uncle's office.
A few minutes later Daisy is sitting cross legged on her Uncle's desk working on figuring out what is going on with the plane.
"Seems like a hardware issue, not firmware, which isn't my thing," Daisy explains. "I really should be with Hannah," Daisy comments, though she also suspects that she should be with her mother.
"Hannah's safe at the moment," Phil tells his niece.
"Hannah's not the only one I'm worried about," Daisy mutters.
"What?" Phil asks curious.
"Nothing," Daisy says, and then she decides to try and get some answers. "You were in Bahrain with mom, right?" Daisy asks curious, as she remembers Phil coming to the apartment to get her before the mission.
"Yes," Phil confirms, slightly hesitantly, wondering where Daisy is going with this.
"But Bobbi said only Dad, Aunt Nat and Fury know the exact details of what happened," Daisy comments.
"That's true," Phil confirms. "Daisy, do you have questions?" he asks, knowing he has to be delicate.
"I have a lot of them," Daisy admits. "Mom's been acting weird since we got this op; it's just like she was back then, right after the mission," Daisy reveals.
"You remember that?" Phil asks, as Daisy was twelve so it's not overly surprising, but what is a little surprising is that Daisy can tell the different between different version of Melinda.
"I'll never forget," Daisy admits, pain in her voice.
"That mission, Bahrain, we were the welcome Wagon, and it went south," Phil explains, and as he does Daisy turns to look at him. "Bobbi's right; I don't know exactly what happened. What I do know is that your mom went into a building, said she could fix the problem, and when she came out she was different," Phil admits, not wanting to say too much to Daisy but feeling like he should explain some basic.
"Dad said basically the same thing back then," Daisy admits. "I know so much goes on that Mom and Dad protect Peter and I from, and Bobbi too, but I want to be able to help her, her both of them if they need," Daisy explains as she has seen her dad struggling since the Battle of New York.
"Daisy you help your parents every single day, by just being the incredible daughter you are," Phil tells her, and Daisy smiles slightly.
"Do you ever miss the way things used to be between you guys?" Daisy asks, as she knows that while things been her mother and uncle have improved they are a little different.
"Everyday," Phil answers, without hesitation. "When Fury told me to form this team I knew straight away that I wanted your mom on it. I thought that maybe being in a team, being in the field again, would help us get what we had, what we were, what she was, back again," Phil explains.
"I hope you do," Daisy admits and as she does the door slams and so they hurry over to it.
"The locks jammed," Phil realises.
"How'd that happen?" Daisy asks.
"How'd the plane go down?" Phil asks.
"Good point," Daisy admits.
Outside the plane, thanks to a conversation with Fitzsimmons Melinda has realised what is going on and so she is running with Hannah.
"What are you going to do?" Hannah asks as Melinda leads her away from the plane.
"Fix the problem," Melinda answers.
Back on the plane Daisy and Phil are trying to use Phil's old SHIELD tech to get through to Fitz, Simmons and Ward.
"Anyone there?" Phil asks, as being pretty sure his voice is cutting in and out as there is static on the line. "Maybe it doesn't work after all," Phil comments, glancing at Daisy.
"Yes, yes, yes, we're here, sir," Ward answers. "Where'd you go?" Ward asks curious.
"Nowhere. We were attached, locked in, then the guy disappeared," Phil explains.
"Hey, that's our story," Ward realises.
"Is Mom with you?" Daisy asks worried.
"She isn't with you?" Simmons asks, and Daisy gets a horrified look on her face.
"She'll be okay," Phil says to Daisy.
"You and Dad said that last time," Daisy says worried, and Ward files that away for future use.
A long while later Melinda has managed to stop the being that was after Hannah, by using her own experience and getting Hannah to tell him to go, and everyone is back on the plane, which is almost ready to fly again.
As Hannah is asleep in her bunk Daisy tucks her in and heads out, walking almost straight into Ward.
"She all right?" Ward asks.
"Much better, let me know if she needs anything," Ward says, before walking away and after Ward walks away Daisy walks over to where Phil is staring at his vintage shield walkie-talkie watch.
"Can Fitz repair it?" Daisy asks curious.
"No, this one a lost cause," Phil explains.
"Maybe we could find you another one," Daisy suggests, as with their family connections she wouldn't be surprised if they would be able to find one.
"I don't think so, they only made twenty," Phil explains.
"So, you've said," Daisy says amused. "Uncle Phil, I think you made the right choice. I think this team is good for Mom," Daisy explains.
"Not just her, this team seems like it's good for you too," Phil admits.
"I feel like I belong," Daisy admits. "Outside of our family that's not something I've felt that much," Daisy says, as she has always struggled to make friends always felt like she didn't fit.
"I know," Phil admits. "Daisy I know that you feel like compared to your siblings you don't have talents, but you do, you see the good in people," Phil explains.
"I'm not sure that's a talent," Daisy admits.
"It is, trust me," Phil tells her. "Daze, your mom and I wanted you to pay close attention to the index asset evaluation and intake process because someday you'll be good at it, even the best," Phil explain.
"Wow, thanks Uncle Phil," Daisy says, not sure how to feel. "Hopefully that means I can rename it, because the current name is super stupid," Daisy reveals.
"I know," Phil responds and once he does Daisy heads out of the command centre heading to the cockpit.
"Mom?" Daisy asks, knocking on the door. "Can I join you?" Daisy asks curious.
"You never have to ask," Melinda responds and once she does Daisy walks over and sits next to her mother, as she does Daisy notices that there is a tablet on the controls. "Daisy, you should be really proud of yourself, how you handled this whole situation,"
"Thanks Mom," Daisy says, smiling slightly, as Melinda causes the plane to fly into the air "Are you… okay?" Daisy asks, not sure how else to frame it.
"Yeah," Melinda confirms, knowing that she is doing better because her daughter is around.
"Good," Daisy says relieved. "You know I meant what I said, about being here if you need to talk," Daisy explains.
"I know," Melinda says, smiling slightly at her daughter and as she does the tablet rings with a video call. "Answer it," Melinda tells her daughter and Daisy presses answer revealing Tony and Peter.
"Finally. We've been trying to call for the last couple of hours," Tony reveals, honestly he was starting to get worried.
"We had some plane trouble," Melinda explains.
"Are you okay?" Peter asks worried.
"Yeah, we're okay Pete," Daisy assures her little brother, who looks relieved. "
"How was school today?" Melinda asks curious and once she does Peter happily start to explain and once he does four of the five members of the Stark-May family start to happily talk with each other.
