The Hunters and the Prey - Chapter Twenty-Two

Author: Milady Dragon

Daisy stood there, watching Ianto get upset, and while she wanted to help him, she couldn't. This was up to him.

Oh, she could understand what he was saying. Daisy didn't have any sort of knowledge about the Zero Cabinet, but it sounded horrific. To be put in that thing, and to never change or sleep or anything…she just couldn't imagine it. It wasn't something she wanted anyone to have to experience.

And yet, Sir James was suggesting that very thing.

However, she could totally get why he was asking. Having been under Hydra control for so long, and still carrying around the curses her Dad had seen, he would have wanted to make certain he wasn't going to hurt the ones who wanted to help him.

She hadn't been lying when she'd told him that she could sympathize with how he was feeling. Daisy could still vividly recall the day her magic had manifested after a particularly nasty temper tantrum she'd thrown. It hadn't even been because of her Dad or Melinda or Andrew; it had been silly, and her own fault. But it had caused her magic to explode outward in a way that had caused part of a mountain to collapse, and it had been the scariest thing she'd ever experienced…and she'd been in the middle of a battle.

Dad had managed to help her regain control, and that very night he'd stayed up and worked on the gauntlets she now wore. She really didn't need them anymore; now, it was more because she was used to them, and liked them, and they'd been a gift from a father who'd done his best to protect her from her own magic.

So, she just got why Sir James was worried about losing control. Sure, Hydra getting into Ianto's house wasn't something she thought was possible, but anything could trigger him, and he wanted to make sure he was safe.

And it was his decision. They had to respect that.

So, while she waited for Ianto to see that he couldn't just refuse to accept Sir James' need to make sure he wasn't going to be a danger to himself and to others, she turned back to the man who'd been her guard back at Hydra's base, wanting to ger a better look at him and perhaps to know him a little better.

The horrible blankness was gone from his eyes. Now, his emotions were visible for anyone to see, and Daisy noticed the fear and uncertainty beyond the placid façade he was wearing. There was also pain there, and Daisy had to wonder just how he was hurting.

"I'm always in pain," he answered, when she asked. "It's mostly my shoulder and chest, where the arm's connected. And my head, now, but I think that's because I'm not under control anymore. I… hope that also means I'll be getting my memories back." He looked at her, cocking his head to side. "Why are you doing this?"

"Doing what?" She was confused.

"Standing up for me, after what I did to you…"

"Wasn't you." She shrugged. "It was Hydra."

"I don't even know who I am anymore…"

That was so soft, Daisy wouldn't have heard the words if she'd been standing any further away.
This is your chance to find out who that is."

His eyes met hers directly. "Please…why are you helping me like this?"

Daisy took a single step closer. Like this, she could tell he hadn't bathed in days, but she wasn't about to let that gross her out. "Look, I can't pretend to know what you've gone through. But what I do know is that you haven't been given any sort of choice. This…" she waved her hand around, not pointing at anything in particular, "is you making a choice. You should be allowed to decide what you want to do."

She gave him a small smile. "But, please see Ianto's point of view. If he agrees to put you back inside that cabinet, then he believes he won't be any better than the ones who did it without your consent. And there's one thing I know… Ianto Jones is a genuinely good man. He just doesn't get that, in thinking the way he does, he's taking away your choice. He'll understand, just give him a few moments."

She had that much faith in the Cardinal Grand Master. She might have just recently gotten to know him, but that was what she was seeing in his stubborn denial of putting Sir James back into the cabinet for the time being.

Even now, the ranting behind her was over. Daisy blushed as she realized everyone must have heard her. She wasn't one for being on the stage, so to speak, so it was a little unnerving.

And arm went around her shoulders, careful of Skye sitting there, and she didn't have to even look to know who it was. Her head tilted up so she could look at her Dad, and his expression was equal parts love, pride, and the desire to pull her away from a man who was obviously still quite dangerous. That he wasn't doing just that was a testament of his willingness to let her stand her ground…and the knowledge that he could overpower the Winter Knight with his magic the moment the man showed any indication of attacking her.

"She's right," Ianto's tired voice spoke up. Daisy turned, and saw just how resigned the Grand Master was, Jack standing next to him in support. "I'm sorry for that, Sir James. I didn't consider the notion that I was taking the very thing from you that Hydra did. I would have been just as bad as they were if I had."

It was a 'damned if you do, damned if you don't', moment. Daisy didn't envy him in the least.

"And you," Ianto moved toward Daisy, shaking his head, "you are showing a great deal of wisdom for one so young."

"That's my girl," Dad said proudly.

"Makes me wish she wasn't a Cardinal," Grand Master Stephen said, "because I'd have snapped her up as my own Novice in a heartbeat."

"I wish I'd beaten Pepper to the punch," the Cardinal Grand Master replied.

Daisy felt herself blushing all over again. She didn't honestly think she was all that special, but it was still gratifying to hear.

"Now," Stephen said, "that we've decided to go along with Sir James' request, we should probably get started."

If Daisy was honest, she really didn't want to do what the Winter Knight was suggesting. The very idea of being in that box, even if he wouldn't really be aware of it, made her skin crawl. But, she wasn't about to disagree with him, because this really was his choice. Because he was dangerous, and knew it, and didn't want to risk hurting anyone.

Already his conscience was coming to the forefront. It was a very good sign indeed.

Daisy had hope for him.