Not really sure what day…
The first thing I felt when I started to wake up was the big ball of some kind of something stuffed in my cheek. The second thing was that the sheets on the bed smelled…different. They didn't smell like whatever we used at the Lighthouse. In fact they smelled kinda old, like someone pulled them out of somebody's cellar. Ugh, I sat up because the smell was kinda like mushrooms and the taste of the ick in my mouth was awful too. I felt my stomach flip over once then again and I puked all over the floor before I could find a bucket or the door to the bathroom. The wad of cotton stuff went with it and just sat there. I only looked at it once and knew that brown gook was tooth blood and yep…I puked again.
I wrapped my arms around my stomach and curled up on the bed then turned around so I didn't have to look at the mess cuz I was sure if I did I'd puke even more. The room was kinda cold and there wasn't any blanket. Fact there wasn't anything…no rug…no curtain on the window…no lamp or light. The only thing keeping me from the dark was the light that came in between the slats that covered the window. Whatever that dentist lady gave me was wearin' off and my mouth kinda hurt. I wanted to feel the spot with my tongue but I didn't want to either. I didn't want to know what was there or wasn't there.
I wanted…I wanted May…my mom. I needed her but I knew wherever I was she wasn't there and I had to be real quiet and not let whoever had me know where she was. I had to protect her. I tried not to cry but it just happened until my belly pain and mouth pain and all the other pains forced me to fall asleep…just to forget.
All the yelling woke me up. Somebody was telling somebody else in a really loud angry voice to clean up this mess. There was a lot of slamming and banging and people moving around but I just stayed right where I was and didn't make a move cuz I didn't want them to know I wasn't sleeping. I could fake it real good, except with May. She always knew. Then I heard more banging and somebody was clanging pots or pans or something and sloshing something around on the floor so I figured they came to clean up all the gunk on the floor and after a little while it stopped and got real quiet again. I heard the door shut but I knew somebody was still there just staring at me.
A real creepy voice that was trying real hard not to be so creepy said it knew I was awake and I better just sit up and get it over with. It didn't take long to figure out who it was…I recanized that tryin' ta be sweet creepy voice. Hale Hydra! Yeah…that creepy bitch got me and I didn't even remember how. Maybe that doctor was… No, I remember walking out the door with Nai Nai and getting in her big black car, but all I wanted to do was sleep and now… I didn't know how…but creepy nicey voice sounded pissed.
I took a breath and pushed myself up then turned around and yep, I was right. Hale was right there all starched and stiff in her Nazi uniform. I took a big breath and gave her the nastiest nine year old look I could but she just folded her arms over her chest and gave me an even nastier one and for a couple seconds we just stared right at each other. Doin' that can make a person forget she was only the size of a nine-year-old so when she walked right up to me I kinda just leaned back and closed my eyes. Then she kinda laughed or at least I think that's what the sound was 'cept I don't think Hydra-Hales can laugh. It'd probably break their face or make their uptight uniforms split right up the dupa!
I couldn't help it, just thinking that make me crack-up…one of those kinda laughs that explodes outta yer nose even if you slap yer hand over yer mouth. Then the more she stared at me tryin' to look all evil and threatening but it just made me spit out more laughing even though it killed my no more tooth. When she bent down and asked me if I thought this was funny. I shook my head but still couldn't stop even when I squished my lips together. The laugh came out like an even bigger spit.
She stood back and squinted her eyes real slitty at me and crossed her arms over her big stiff boobs all stuffed into that tight uniform. I wondered how she could breathe. She just stood there staring at me and I couldn't look at her. I really did try to stop laughing cuz really it wasn't funny. Maybe that stuff the dentist gave me didn't wear off or something.
Then she took a big breath and made some kind of huffy noise then said maybe this would make me see how serious she was. She pressed the button on some kinda thing she had in her hand and a piece of wall just slid open. There was a screen behind it and for a minute all I could see was a grey room with a window kinda like the one in this room. I looked at it only cuz she was looking at it with this dumb smirk on her face. About a second later Nai Nai walked into the frame and stood staring at the window.
Haledra was right. I stopped laughing and squeezed my fingers around the end of the mattress I was sitting on. She didn't laugh but she looked like she wanted to…if she could. But I wasn't looking at her. I was staring at the screen. Nai Nai turned around and looked right at the camera, like she knew it was there. She gave one of those almost not a nod like May gives when she wants you to know everything will be okay. Before she could do anything else Hydrale flicked off the feed and the panel slid shut. She turned around and looked right at me and said it wasn't so funny anymore, was it?
I just swallowed real hard and stared at her while she walked real slow across the room and then back a couple times. I just watched. Then she said we never got to really meet the last time I was there. She put out her hand and told me she was Brigadier General Susan Hale. I just stared at her hand and didn't even smile. She just kept it there and asked me if my parents taught me any manners at all and that this whole thing meant I should give her my name as a symbol of trust.
Damn! I didn't trust her one teeny sliver of a rat shit so I just slid my hands under me and stared at her til she dropped her hand. She smiled and told me it didn't matter because she was sure her team could have my "driver" give them that information with the right persuasion.
I almost laughed again. HA! She did not know Lian May. Damn, that dragon lady would probably bite off her own tongue before she'd give anything away. But even so…I didn't want them to do anything to hurt her. Heck, she was May's mother. I couldn't let them hurt May's mother.
Aggie…I told her my name was Aggie. Hell, it was the first thing I thought of…kinda like St. Agnes. I erased all of that stuff years ago. There was no way she could make any kind of connection. She just stood there staring still like she wanted me to say more or maybe she didn't believe me. Then it hit me…like I said I blame the junk the dentist gave me. She wanted a whole name. Damn, I didn't think that far and hell, last names never mattered to me anyway. But I had to come up with something so I said again my name was Aggie…Aggie Lolan.
Haledra just stared still then made a hmpf noise and repeated the name like it was a question so I nodded. She smiled and said, we'll see. Then she opened the door and left.
I heard it lock.
Hallway – Hale's Compound- somewhere in Washington State…
A young officer hurried to match step with the incensed General.
"Ma'am…" the young man called timidly.
Hale stopped, let out a long disgusted sigh before turning to face the soldier who stood at attention. She returned the salute and silently gave him permission to continue.
The young man handed her a sheet of paper and stepped back. "I'm sorry ma'am. The team wasn't able to find anything on the woman. There is no record of her in any data bank. Her finger prints match nothing and not one facial recognition program can identify her. She had nothing on her, no ID, no driver's license and it's like she's got no finger prints." He ended more with confusion that anything else.
The general snatched the form from him, crumpled it into a small wad and tossed it aside. "Who hires a ghost to drive their child to a dentist appointment? Who the hell is this kid and why is she so damn important?" She asked no one and expected no answer as she stormed away leaving the young soldier slack jawed.
Isolated farmhouse – rural Pennsylvania…
May began pacing an hour after Lian disappeared down the dirt road that led from her home. Coulson knew better than to try to convince her to relax and just enjoy the down time. Three hours later he joined her or at least mimicked her anxiety.
Lian had called when they arrived at the dentist's office. She assured them all was fine and she would call again when they were headed home. That call never came. What did come was an alarm that sent both agents searching the woman's home for what set off the claxon. A small room in the basement revealed what was Lian's office and a laptop screeching with alarm.
May flipped it open hoping to stop the wailing, only succeeding in increasing the volume. She looked to Coulson who shrugged his shoulders. He was as lost as she was but noticed the arrow blinking center screen and tapped it with the tip of one finger, hoping it was indeed a touch screen.
Immediately the room fell silent and Lian's image appeared on the screen. She seemed to be driving erratically, swerving side to side. The engine sounds betrayed her speed. She spoke quickly but retained her calm. They had been compromised. She did not know by whom or when, but she was doing her best to evade those in pursuit. She had destroyed her cell phone and dropped it from the speeding vehicle. This means of contact would also be destroyed as soon as this message was sent. Her last words were cryptic and only that they'd know what to do.
The sound of smashing metal ended the message as the screen went blank.
For a moment neither agent did a thing. Both seemed to be waiting for the screen to light up again and give more information. Coulson spoke first telling May not to jump to conclusions that Lian could have knocked out whoever was following them and was making her way back to them. May shook her head. She knew her mother would not make let her wonder about the welfare of both her and Daisy. In this case, no news was not good news. A moment later May's panic melted away, replaced by fury.
"Know what to do? What the hell is she talking about…know what to do?" She spat as she slammed the laptop shut and landed a fist on top of it. Coulson cringed at the action. "My kid is probably in some Hydra…"
"Shh, shh," Coulson attempted as he grabbed her upper arms. She pulled away quickly. He drew a breath and took a step toward her than stopped and stepped back at her defensive reaction. "Hydra's been dismantled, May. They've been doing a worse job that we are at rebuilding. Whatever your mother did or tried to do we just have to wait…to…to think like she does."
"Damn it, Coulson!" May growled. "Nobody thinks like my mother." She slammed her fist atop the laptop a second time. It sputtered a few times before it let out a soft squelch.
Coulson gave it a pitiful glance. "You're explaining that." He grimaced as he pointed to the soft wisp of smoke that drifted up from the device.
Lian's Cell – Hale's Compound…
"I have no idea what the child's name might be. I was hired simply to drive and that is what I did." Lian responded to Hale's inquiry with no emotion.
"And the child's parents?" The general added.
"Paid me to do a job, no questions asked."
"They gave you no information?"
"Where to pick up, where to go and where to drop off…" Lian snapped militarily.
Hale narrowed one eye and walked away from the small Asian woman who did not turn from her place at the window, nor did she react. The general paused then turned and walked back. "I find it difficult to believe that any parent would hand their child over to a stranger and give no information."
"I do the job. I ask no questions." Lian stated simply.
"Then perhaps you can provide answers." Hale grinned.
"It would be unlikely. I do not judge how a person chooses to rear their offspring." Lian replied. "Asking nothing leaves me with nothing." She finished, still staring at the window that let in only small slivers of light and provided no view outside of the room.
Hale nodded as she turned to the door. "We'll see," she muttered under her breath before exiting.
Lian waited to hear the lock click then took a short breath. "Yes," she raised her chin then lowered it. "We shall."
Night 92 – Lighthouse command center – location classified…
"I have no idea what it is," Piper threw her hands in the air. "It's been blipping almost all day. Started somewhere outside of Philadelphia and now the damn thing is clear across the country."
Fitz gave a quick nod. "We've looked through all of our records and nothing matches the signal. It is not one of ours."
Mack stared at the blinking dot on Piper's screen. "If it isn't one of ours how is it showing up on our frequency?"
Piper shook her head and Fitz hurried to peck at the keys on his own console. He had no answer at the moment but he'd spend the night tracking it down.
"Perhaps Coulson or May…" Jemma began.
"Gone dark," Elena finished for her.
Mack glanced at the small clock in the corner of the large screen. "It's been hours. They have be headed back by now. No dentist takes that long."
Elena laughed under her breath. "We are talking about Daisy, correct?" She remained engaged in her own search for the signal's source. "She probably took off as soon as they landed."
Jemma stifled her own laugh, but not her smile. "I'm sure Agent May had a firm grip on the situation not to mention a firm warning." She turned toward Mack. "And they told no one their destination?"
Raising at eyebrow at the young scientist's fishing, Mack grumbled. "It was a safety measure." He looked around the room, "for all of us."
"Perhaps they merely wanted a bit of time together with out all of us putting in our noses and smiling all pretty at their little family." Fitz scoffed without stopping his rapid typing but froze as the staticky scratch of May's voice faded in and out of the air control radio.
Mack slammed the response button, acknowledging May's distress.
"226…repeat 226…" May's voice crackled through the static before falling silent as the hydro-doors opened admitting the Quinn Jet.
The team was on its feet on its way to the hangar before Mack could give an order.
Daisy's Cell – Hale's Compound…late evening
I looked at that weird window for a long time. The blinds didn't open even a crack more so just a little sunlight came into the room. That's when I figured it out. It just stayed the same. It was always daytime it never got to be night. I didn't have a clock or a watch but I knew enough time went by for it to be night. I guessed it was some kinda Hydra torture so ya wouldn't know days were going by or it was time to sleep or be awake. That could really make you crazy.
My mouth wasn't hurting too much and the toothache was gone with the tooth. It tasted terrible, like I was sucking on a penny. Not that I even did such a gross thing, but I know what pennies smell like and it tasted like that…I guess if you can taste a smell. There was no place to spit and I really needed to spit out this grossness. If I didn't I was gonna puke again. I figured they must be watching me from somewhere so I just started yelling that I needed to use the bathroom. I yelled about twenty times before some big goon opened the door and grabbed my arm so tight I thought my fingers would explode. He dragged me down the hall with my toes hardly hitting the floor. Then he shoved the door to a lavatory and threw me into it. I landed on my knees and grumbled a whole bunch of expletives that would have set May's ears on fire…not to mention my backside.
The big jerk mumbled something that sounded like 'two minutes' so I did what I needed to fast. I grabbed a whole bunch of tissue and stuffed every pocket. I figured I could spit into that and just pile it up in a corner. I almost laughed cuz the Hydra Housekeepers would have to clean it up.
I guess my two minutes were up because the guy slammed the door into the wall and grabbed me and made me tiptoe back to this damn room and yippee the Hale Nazi was waiting with that damn sick smile I really wanted to wipe off her face.
She told me she gave me time to think and even let me use the bathroom…like that was some big gift. HA! If I peed on the floor they'd be cleaning it. Then she sat on the bed and patted it like she wanted me to sit down next to her so I folded my arms over my chest and leaned against the wall while the big goon stood in the doorway. That was kinda dumb cuz he was so big I could just zip right out between his legs and…well, maybe I couldn't get away but I could make them look for me for a while.
General Tightass said she hoped I had enough time to think about telling her my real name. I didn't even flinch cuz, hell, I heard that about a million times. The real name I thought I had wasn't even really me cuz I was a Coulson and a May, not a Johnson. I said I did tell her my name and if she didn't like it she could call me whatever she wanted. Then she told me I had a smart mouth but she'd see to that…in time. Yeah, yeah a big old Hy Haledra threat. I just shrugged my shoulders. I wasn't afraid of her…well, I wasn't gonna let her know I was afraid of her.
Hale glared at me for a second then just plopped her hands in her lap and told me I would be more comfortable if I sat down. I told her I didn't want to sit, that I wanted to go home. That made her smile even more, but not sicky sweet, more like evil sweet. She said she would like to send me home and all I had to do was tell her where that was and I knew she just wanted to know that. I didn't say anything. She said just give me your address and we'll take you there right now.
I asked her why she brought me there and she said she wanted to know all about me. I told her there was nothing to tell, that I was just a kid. She stood up and kept her hands folded in front her when she said I was a very, very special kid and she was sure I knew about other special people and that maybe those people were making me do things for them. She smiled and said she'd like to get to know those special people and she was pretty sure I could help her do just that.
Boy, people talk dumb around kids. She was doing all this bush beating instead of just coming right out with it and it was really annoying. If I said anything then she'd be on to me even more so I had to keep playing dumb…as dumb as she was blabbing about special people. I told her everybody was special and I didn't know any very, very special any people. She shook her head but kept that dumb smile and said that little girls should not lie to their elders. I couldn't help rolling my eyes. I wondered how she felt about big girls telling lies or big general weirdoes telling lies to little kids.
Mostly I just wanted her to go away so I could really think about getting me and Nai Nai out of here. She kept asking me about my name and the special people I was supposed to know and how I was going tell her all about it.
I took a big breath and felt things start trembling…just a little bit, cuz she was making me so mad. I told her nobody made me do anything. The only thing in the room was that dumb bed and it was shivering a little bitty bit. If Hale noticed she didn't show it. I think she was too mad and just wanted to hide it behind her nasty grin. She put her hand on my cheek and I jumped back. Right into the doorway goon who pushed me forward. Hale put her cheeks and held my head so she could look right in my face. She said I'd see just who would be making me do what they wanted.
It did everything I could and pulled back my power. Cracking my bones right now was not a good idea. I needed a plan. The bed stopped before anyone noticed and the big goon picked me up from behind then plunked me down on it.
Hale said I better get some sleep because we had a lot of work to do. Then she slammed the door…with all the mad she was trying to hide.
The dark came then. I just Hale decided to make it night. I curled up on the bed again and cried til I fell asleep.
Lighthouse – Command Center – just after midnight Day 93…
May exited the jet without a word, pushing past everyone. It was difficult to gauge her emotion. Fear and anger can mask each other completely. She ignored their looks and questions, rapidly exiting the hangar as Coulson tried to explain while hurrying to catch up to her. The team, of course, noticed Daisy's absence.
Simmon's grin and intention of welcoming back the little girl her friend had become, fell away with the ache of concern. Coulson's look told her most of what she needed to know. Daisy was gone. Somehow they'd lost her despite the careful planning and covert operation. Somehow someone had slipped. Someone had betrayed the trust they place on them. Somewhere Daisy was in danger. Coulson shook his head when she started to speak. She swallowed her words and quickly wiped away an errant tear.
May stormed into command, the anger radiating around her. The team gave her space, waited for her to gain some calm before relaying their situation. Coulson respected the silence, holding back the urge to fill the team in on what had happened.
The perpetual blipping of the small spot on the screen was infuriating even without the current tension. May wrapped her hands around the top of someone's empty coffee mug and pulled her arm back intending to silence the offensive noise sending the object through the screen. The team held its collective breath as Coulson jumped to prevent her from doing just that. But May was faster. She spun toward the screen and let loose the mug. It crashed to the floor a few feet from the console.
All eyes were locked on the shards of white glass scattered across the floor. All but May who stared at the blip with new interest and Coulson who stared at the look of clarity on her face.
"May…" he started, reaching toward her.
"We'd know what do to do…" she breathed, ignoring his had as it lit on her forearm.
Coulson looked to the screen as the rest of the team joined him. Fitz moved close to May, standing with his fingers poised over the keys. "I…I can disable it for a few…"
"Three, six, zero, two, one, one…" May interrupted.
Fitz looked to her, furrowing his brows in confusion. She nodded toward the keyboard and repeated the numerals indicating he should input the same. The younger man gave a shrug and typed quickly, then stepped back as the blip stopped and the screen converted into a series of digits before going black then reopening to reveal a clear image.
Coulson's jaw dropped for a moment before he looked to Mack and shook his head. He still wasn't sure what exactly they needed to do but Daisy was missing. So was Lian and somehow all this had something to do with that. He was already giving Mack the information he and Yoyo would need to return to the dental office. He wanted to know how…who… Mack understood. Elena gave a nod and followed him toward the hanger with Piper and Davis close behind.
May drew a deep breath through her teeth and nodded. "That bitch has my kid and she is about to see just how I intend to get her back."