"Well, they're not exactly what you'd call welcoming. They don't give you a choice" Ward explained, when Kayla had been ordered to interrogate him about Hydra's welcoming committee.

"So, what do they give you? Money? Threats? Torture?" Kayla asked Ward, who was leaning on the wall.

From his position he wasn't getting much light on him, making his features hard to see which unnerved Kayla. However, she certainly did notice the way he was crossing his arms which seemed to get more and more muscular every time she came down. Stay on task, she thought to herself.

"They're good at convincing people" Ward stated.

"Is that all it took to sucker you in? Just a few good lines?" Kayla retorted.

"No. I was never loyal to Hydra. I was loyal to Garrett" Ward exclaimed.

"Really? It was just a means to an end?" Kayla inquired.

"Yes" Ward told her, making Kayla sigh because she actually believed him.

"Just because you're not a true believer doesn't mean anything. No one could have forced you to become a cold blooded killer" Kayla explained.

"I don't blame him for the choices I've made" Ward admitted.

"Then who do you blame? Your brother? Your parents?" Kayla queried.

"My family tore me down. Garrett built me back up...the way he wanted. But I still don't blame them for what I've become. That's my fault" Ward announced.

"You know your family is not only respected. They're pretty much loved" Kayla stated.

"Well, every family has its secrets" Ward exclaimed, his eyes growing dark.

"Got to keep up appearances I guess" Kayla said, her mind wandering off, gaining a confused look from Ward.

Feeling that this was as good time as any, Ward decided it was time to tell her what he knew about her family.

"There's something I need to tell you…it's about your family-" Ward was quickly cut off by Kayla.

"Let's just stay on task" Kayla informed him.

She had been told that he had some sort of information on Skye's family and on her own, but at the moment with everything else going on she didn't think she could deal with that information.

"You make the rules…Hydra's protocol on gifteds is pretty straightforward. An acquisition team is sent out to convince or capture the gifted. If those two options aren't possible, then they'll take them out" Ward explained.

"Even if the gifted doesn't pose a threat?" Kayla questioned.

"A gifted that refuses Hydra is a threat. And threats are taken care of quickly" Ward stated.

"Well why haven't I been taken care of? Out of all the gifteds out there, I'm pretty high on that list. Why haven't I been taken out?" Kayla inquired.

"I don't know" Ward admitted.

Feeling that once again things were getting too personal, Kayla quickly closed the barrier between them, letting out a breath.

They had heard of a sighting of Donnie Gill, who somehow now had ice powers, and by the looks of it he was baiting them to come get him.

"Maribel del Mar. Anchored in the port of Casablanca. It's a privately owned cargo ship. Supposed to cast off this morning but didn't. It's frozen in ice" May announced to the team.

"Iceberg in the middle east? Gill's not subtle" Trip exclaimed.

"Trip, how long till you can have the bus in the air?" Coulson questioned.

"15, tops" Trip replied.

"You heard him. You got 15 minutes to gather your gear" Coulson ordered them.

"Excuse me, but Gill wasn't hard to track. If Hydra are looking, they'll find him" Hunter suggested.

"…The asset, uh said Hydra would be ready to take him out if they couldn't capture or recruit him" Kayla told them, trying not to look into Fitz's eyes.

"Which is why we have to beat them to it" May retorted.

"I'll coordinate from the bus. Down to 14 minutes. Let's get moving" Coulson informed them.

"Uh, Kayla!" Fitz called out, ushering her towards him.

"Hey, what's up?" Kayla asked, trying to keep her tone light.

"Who's this asset?" Fitz inquired, making Kayla stop in her tracks.

"…Um…Fitz, it's not-" Kayla was suddenly cut off by Coulson.

"13 minutes Kayla" Coulson insisted.

"Sorry" Kayla murmured at Fitz, as she followed Coulson.

"I thought we had an agreement" Coulson announced.

"I know, I know…I just can't lie to him" Kayla admitted.

"Ward's life will be in danger if Fitz finds out. I don't think you want that" Coulson stated, leaving Kayla with her thoughts.

"Fitz, please, this is ridiculous. What, exactly, are you hoping to accomplish?" Simmons questioned in Fitz's head.

"The asset Kayla's been talking to...it's him" Fitz replied.

"Oh, Mack was right. You're sounding paranoid. Stop assuming the worst" Simmons argued.

"The way that Kayla looked at me when I asked…she gets that look when it's about him. They're keeping things from me, and I just want to know the truth" Fitz explained.

"Fitz. You need to be honest with yourself. You're barely holding it together. There's a reason they're keeping things from you. I don't think you should go in there" Simmons insisted.

"You are not here" Fitz stated, as imaginary Simmons disappeared and he opened the door.

He cautiously walked down the stairs, and took a deep breath. He then took the barrier down, shock washing over him. Ward was standing in front of him, obviously shocked to see him as well.

"I imagine you've got a lot to say to me" Ward announced, as Fitz started to hyperventilate.

"Look, despite all of this...it's really good to see you" Ward admitted, a small smile on his face as Fitz sat down.

"Fitz? Fitz, are you al-" Ward started, but was quickly cut off by Fitz.

"Stop. Stop talking. Stop" Fitz insisted, letting his head fall into his hands, trying to get his breathing sorted out.

"I didn't want to hurt you" Ward told him, after Fitz had calmed down a bit.

"You tried to kill us" Fitz retorted.

"No. Garrett ordered me to kill you and Simmons. He expected me to put a bullet in your head. But I couldn't. I gave you a fighting chance to find a way out, I thought…I thought it would float" Ward exclaimed.

"Do...do you...do you...do you know what the, um...what you...Okay. I...you know, I have trouble with words, so, um...it's probably best that I show you" Fitz announced, getting a screen up on his tablet.

It was awful having to see Fitz as this stuttering mess, and Ward would do anything to switch their places, but he knew it was too late.

"Show me what?" He asked.

"Hypoxia. Found that one. That's what you did to me" Fitz stated, as he reduced the oxygen levels in the room.

"Fitz? What are you doing?" Ward questioned, starting to get concerned.

"I'm showing you...what it's like when you're deprived...of, uh...oxygen...b...the brain cells, they...they re...they react first. They die. Three minutes, damage is permanent" Fitz explained, as Ward started to gasp, the effects setting in.

He didn't want to die like this, not when Kayla still hated him. Not when he could still help.

"Where's Kayla?" Ward inquired, sitting down on the bed, feeling lightheaded.

"Gone. They're all gone after Donnie. And I should be there with them. But I can't be because of you, because of what you did to me! I'm damaged!" Fitz shouted at him.

"Donnie...Donnie...Donnie Gill. That's...that's why Kayla was…" Ward trailed off, gasping harder.

"No! I'm not...I-I don't...I don't, uh...I don't answer, uh..." Fitz stuttered, not sure what he was trying to say.

"Fitz. Listen to me. Listen. You…they don't know what they're walking into" Ward told him, fear evident in his eyes, which made Fitz stop and listen.

Author's Notes: I hope you all enjoyed this chapter! Sorry, that this chapter was a bit of a filler, but we do have some more action coming up next, as Kayla is sent into confront Donnie. Also I forgot to announce that we have passed the 50 chapters mark, yay! Please leave a review:)