Chapter 8
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As Fury, Skye and Maria explain what happened, and what Fury's injuries are, the doctor treats Natasha's injury while Tripp, the person present with the most medical training other than the doctor, treats Melinda's.
"How much do you know?" Coulson asks his daughter who he is sitting next to not wanting to go too far from her now that he has her back.
"I know everything you guys know but you don't know everything that I know." Skye tells them.
"We never do." Melinda tells her daughter, "But what are we missing now?" she asks curious.
For what feels like the hundredth time since she found out Skye takes a deep breath; it's as painful to reveal as it was the first time. Skye simply says, "Ward's Hydra."
"Jemma, Fitz, they are the plane alone with him." Clint says worried being the first one who react.
"They're safe, he won't hurt them until he gets orders to, which won't be for a while." Skye explains.
"I'm sorry Baby Girl, this can't be easy for you." Coulson tells his daughter, putting his own anger and betrayal aside because he realises how much this must be hurting his daughter.
"I'm trying not to think about it." Skye tells him, "His sister recruited him, she's Grace Peirce. She saved him from their abusive parents, who she was taken away from before he was born. His loyalty is to her over everything, including Hydra, but she is completely devoted to Hydra, any questions?" Skye asks not wanting to give the long explanation again, "Good, Tripp you've got the floor." Skye says.
"Really?" Tripp asks her surprised, "You want me to do this now? Don't you think waiting for a better time would be a better idea?"
"Please, we could all do with a distraction before the conversation we are about to have." Skye comments.
"Have I met you before?" Steve asks, "You look familiar." Steve says to Tripp as he has been watching him the entire time because there is something familiar
"See. Perfect timing." Skye tells him.
"May, don't push him, you know that more than anyone." Melinda tells her daughter as she knows that Tripp doesn't like to talk about his family at work; not because he's not proud, because he is, but because he doesn't want favouritism.
"It's fine, but I knew you were my favourite babysitter for a reason." Tripp comments and Melinda rolls her eyes, "You've never met me Captain, but you're reason my Grandparents were able to get together." Tripp explains, "My grandfather is Gabe Jones, and my Grandmother is Peggy Carter." He reveals to the surprise of Steve and Sam who are the only ones who didn't know, "And it is truly an honour to meet you." Tripp tells him.
"No, it's an honour for me to meet you." Steve says when he comes out of his shock.
"Okay you two can trade stories later, right now we've got to get a plan organized." Natasha says.
"We've got one, well technically its your's, but still." Skye says, "Aunt Maria, if you would." Skye says.
"Everyone follow me." Maria says and everyone with the exception of the doctor walks out to the meeting area and they all take their seats, "First is everyone up to date on what they need to know Skye?" Maria asks her niece curious.
"Everyone knows about Hydra, Peirce, Ward and the plan with the Helicarrier's, that's everything of importance." Skye says from where she is sitting between her parents.
"Not quite." Melinda says, "We don't know what you've been up to the last few days." Melinda tells her daughter.
"Or how you got that cut on your arm." Coulson tells her.
"It's simple. Once Nicky and I left the Triskelion we were attacked. Nicky ordered me to put up my force field, which is why the only injury I got was the cut on my arm and why Nicky was pretty badly hurt. It wasn't long after that that he showed up at your place." Skye says looking at her uncle. "Before we went our separate ways he told me to come here, which I did." Skye tells her parents, "I was alone until Aunt Maria showed up with several doctors and a dying Nicky. I've been here for the last two days because I, like practically everyone else in this room, am on the top of Hydra's most wanted list and until Tripp and Uncle John showed up a few hours ago I was reading magazines and keeping an eye on Nicky.' Skye explains simply, "Now plan." She says.
"We have to stop the launch it's as simple as that." Natasha tells everyone.
"Stopping it isn't going to be simple." Maria comments.
"The Council's not taking my calls." Fury says, "So we've got to breach S.H.I.E.L.D and the Helicarrier's and replace their target's with our own." Fury reveals showing the computer chips.
"We have to take out all three though." Skye reveals, "If we take out one or two then the remaining one will pick up the slack; it's all or nothing." Skye tells everyone.
"Hopefully we can salvage something of S.H.I.E.L.D. when this is over." Fury comments.
"No." Steve says causing everyone to look at him, "We're not salvaging anything. We're not just taking down the carriers, Nick, we're taking down S.H.I.E.L.D., we're putting everything out into the open."
"S.H.I.E.L.D. had nothing to do with this." Fury argues.
"You gave me this mission." Steve says. "S.H.I.E.L.D.'s been compromised. Hydra grew right under your nose and nobody noticed."
"Why do you think we're meeting in this cave? I noticed." Fury tells Steve.
"And how many people got hurt before you did?" Steve asks.
"Uncle Steve, he didn't know." Skye tells her uncle.
"Know what?" Fury asks.
"For fifty years James 'Bucky' Barnes has been frozen and brainwashed, so much that he doesn't even know who he is anymore, by Hydra to be their weapon." Skye explains to her godfather, "He's the man with the metal arm."
"She's right, I didn't know." Fury tells Steve.
"Would it have mattered if you did?" Steve asks, "Would you have told me, or would you have compartmentalised that as well?" he asks.
"He's right." Maria says which causes Fury to look at her and nod.
After Maria's nod Fury turns to Coulson,
"Captain's orders." Coulson responds as even though S.H.I.E.L.D means so much to him, at the moment he trusts Steve judgment on this and even though it makes him incredibly sad he knows that it's right thing to do.
Next Fury turns to Natasha, Melinda and Clint, all three of them just lean back in their chairs, without saying a word which clearly means they are on Steve's side as well.
"Don't look at me, I stick with my team." Garrett says.
"This isn't S.H.I.E.L.D. anymore, not what it was meant to be. We won before, we've beaten Hydra and if this is what it takes to win again then it's what we have to do." Tripp says and Fury turns to Sam,
"Don't look at me. I do what he does, just slower." Sam says.
The last person that Fury looks at is Skye and once she gives a nod he turns back to Steve, "Looks like you are giving the orders now, Captain."
"Damn right I am." Steve comments.
"If we're going to take down the Triskelion, then we need to secure the Hub." Coulson comments causing everyone to look at him, "At the moment we don't know who there is Hydra, who's S.H.I.E.L.D and who's loyal to Hand." Coulson points out, "If we don't get it secure then it may not matter if we take down the Triskelion, Hydra could still win, everything could be lost." He tells everyone.
"He's right." Maria comments, "The Hub would need to be secured at the same time if we want to succeed, it's too much of a risk."
"Okay." Steve says, "So a team of us go to the Hub another to the Triskelion." He says.
"I'll lead the team to the Hub." Coulson comments and Steve nods.
"Tripp and I will join you." Garrett comments as even though they haven't talked specifics he can tell that securing the hub will be more of his style then what will happen at the Triskelion.
"Uncle John you realise that you are going to have to secure Ward in the interrogation room on the plane before you do anything, right." Skye comments concerned about what that will do to her Uncle.
"I know." Garrett tells her, "I spent years with him and never knew, it's my responsibility." He comments.
"There should be an archer on each team, which do you want Kid?" Clint asks his niece.
"Skye needs to come to the Triskelion." Fury reveals to everyone's surprise.
"Why?" Coulson and Melinda ask surprised.
"You want to release all of S.H.I.E.L.D's secrets online, correct?" Fury asks and Steve nods, "Up until a month ago that would be an Alpha decision that would require two Alpha level's agents' authorisation." Fury explains.
"You and Peirce, what's the problem?" Maria asks.
"You changed the requirements." Coulson realises.
"It will still require two Alpha level agents to authorise but once that is done a request for Alpha level conformation will come up, that's you." Fury says to Skye.
"Seriously?" Skye asks surprised as she didn't know that.
"An Alpha decision has consequences, both good and bad. I thought that it would be smart for the one person in the world who knows whether it would be the right decision or not to make the final call." Fury explains to everyone's surprise.
"Guess I'm taking the hub." Clint comments a couple of minutes later.
"It's a good thing you need a great pilot for the Triskelion, because I'm not leaving my daughter." Melinda comments.
"You're a pilot?" Sam asks and Melinda nods.
"No, Mom, you're hurt." Skye tells her Mother.
"My leg is, that doesn't stop me from flying." Melinda tells her daughter.
"We should get going." Garrett says, "It's going to take us longer to get to the Hub than it will take them to get to the Triskelion." He comments.
"That it will." Coulson says, "Be careful." Coulson tells his wife and daughter as he gives them both a hug.
"You too." Skye responds, "I'm sorry for knocking you out." She tells her father.
"It's okay." Coulson tells his daughter, "Love you Baby Girl." He tells his daughter.
"Love you too." Skye responds.
"Good luck." Steve tells the four men once they finish saying goodbye to all the people that they care about.
"You too." Coulson responds.
"I'll walk you out." Maria offers and Coulson nods.
"So our plan?" Natasha asks.
Getting in the car that Maria brought them in Coulson, Clint, Tripp and Garrett make their way back to the plane.
"What are we going to do about Ward?" Tripp asks being the only one who wants to bring it up.
"Like Skye suggested." Garrett comments, "We secure him in the interrogation room until we can get him to the Fridge, or somewhere secure."
"The Fridge isn't likely to be secure for long." Clint comments.
"That should be next on our list of places to secure after the Hub." Coulson says and the other three nod.
"S.H.I.E.L.D's going to be no more after today." Tripp realises.
"S.H.I.E.L.D will always exist as long as people continue to fight and protect people the way your grandmother and Howard Stark intended S.H.I.E.L.D to." Coulson tells him.
"Nice speech Sir." Tripp tells him.
"He has a habit of that." Clint comments.
Back at Fury's base, while the others discuss the plan, Skye has headed into the kitchen area. The others think she is getting something to eat, but in reality she has gone in there so that she can express the pain she is in due to an headache, and the exhaustion she is feeling without everyone else worrying.
Skye knows that it is a combination of lack of sleep and how much of her power she has used in the last few days that is causing her headache and exhaustion but she also knows that there is nothing that she can do, she can't exactly go and sleep for an extended period of times when they need to face Hydra.
"May, are you okay?" Melinda asks concerned walking into the kitchen.
"I'm fine." Skye lies, "Should you be walking?"
"That's debatable." Melinda comments, "What's wrong?" Melinda asks her daughter.
"You mean besides Hydra being everywhere?" Skye asks, "And that in a few hours there is going to be no more S.H.I.E.L.D because of us?" Skye asks her mother trying to distract Melinda from worrying about her.
"Yes besides that." Melinda responds knowing exactly what her daughter is trying to do, "Talk to me May, please." Melinda requests.
"Truthfully, I'm not okay." Skye admits, "But that doesn't matter at the moment, I don't matter at the moment. What does matter is stopping Hydra or nothing matters because everything will be gone." Skye tells her mother, "We should get back out there." Skye adds.
"You matter." Melinda says stopping her daughter from leaving, "Never doubt that May, you matter." Melinda tells her daughter, "What you are going through matters, your pain matters, you matter May, don't ever doubt it." Melinda tells her daughter.
Not really sure what else to say Skye just gives her mother a hug which Melinda gladly returns.
"You ready for this?" Clint asks as they pull into near the plane.
"No, but it has to be done." Garrett says.
"Here, an ICER, it will keep him out for a couple of hours." Coulson says handing his ICER to Garrett.
"Let's go, we've got to get in the air." Garrett comments and Coulson, Tripp and Clint nod and exit the car when they exit they find Fitz and Simmons in the lab but no sign of Ward.
"Where is Ward?" Coulson asks.
"Upstairs." Fitz answers, "Where have you been? What's going on Sir?" Fitz asks.
"Tripp fill them in." Clint says as he follows Coulson and Garrett, who have already left, upstairs.
"There is no easy way to do this, so I'm just going to tell you." Tripp tell the pair, "Hydra has infiltrated S.H.I.E.L.D at the highest level." Tripp say quoting Skye as the way she has been informing everyone is the most direct way, the simplest way.
"No, it can't have." Simmons says shocked.
"It has." Tripp tells her, "There are Hydra agents all throughout S.H.I.E.L.D, and I'm sorry to tell you this, because I know he is your friend, but one of them is Ward." Tripp explains.
"No, you're lying." Fitz says angrily, "Ward is our Friend, he is not Hydra, and how do you know? Huh, what could possibly make you think Ward is Hydra?" Fitz asks angrily.
"Because Skye told me." Tripp tells Fitz, "And her powers told her."
"You've seen Skye?" Simmons asks and Tripp nods, "Is she alright?"
"She's a little shocked about everything, but she's as good as she can be." Tripp responds.
"No, he can't be." Fitz comments, "Skye's power has to be wrong, Ward can't be Hydra."
"Fitz, has Skye's power ever been wrong?" Simmons asks her boyfriend.
"It has to be." Fitz tells her.
After they leave the lab Garrett, Coulson and Grant make their way upstairs where they find Ward in the kitchen.
"Hi, I was wondering when you would get back, what happened?" Ward asks pretending to be curious.
"Stop lying." Coulson tells him.
"Excuse me?" Ward asks realising that the most likely explanation is that they have found out about him but he is hoping that he is wrong.
"We know everything Grant." Garrett tells him, "It's over."
"No, it's not." Ward tells him, "It's only just beginning." Ward says and he reaches over and grabs a knife of the sink and throws it at Clint but he avoids it and Garrett shots him with the ICER.
"You okay?" Garrett asks his friend.
"Fine, guys a bad shot." Clint responds as he stands back up.
"No he's not, you're an amazing dodger." Coulson tells his friend as all three of them know just how good of a shot Ward actually is.
"Yeah well, same thing." Clint responds, "I'll get us in the air." Clint comments and he heads to the cockpit.
"Help me get him into the interrogation room." Garrett requests and Coulson nods.
Back at Fury's base Steve and Sam are outside, while Melinda and Natasha are in with Fury, and Maria and Skye are out in the meeting area, going over the final details of the plan.
"So will this work?" Maria asks curious.
"I don't know, there are too many variables." Skye admits, "I know that we are doing the right thing. I don't know if we are going to succeed or not, but I know that we are doing the right thing." Skye explains.
"It's time, we've got to go." Natasha says walking out of the medical area Fury and Melinda right behind her.
Skye and Maria nod and they all grab what they need and leave the base.
Back on the plane Clint is flying and Coulson and Garrett are upstairs figuring out a plan for securing the Hub when Tripp, Fitz and Simmons walk in.
"Tell me he's lying, tell me Ward's not Hydra." Fitz requests.
"He is." Garrett says simply.
"What are you working on?" Simmons asks curious.
"Captain Rogers, Director Fury, Agent Hill, Natasha, Melinda, Skye and a man called Sam Wilson are going to stop Hydra from using S.H.I.E.L.D's new Helicarriers to kill millions of people. But, in doing so, S.H.I.E.L.D will be destroyed because it is the only way to destroy Hydra and get everything that they have done out into the open." Coulson explains, "While they do that we need to secure The Hub."
"We're destroying S.H.I.E.L.D?" Simmons asks shocked.
"Dismantling it." Garrett corrects.
"At the moment we don't know who at the Hub is loyal to whom, so we have to be careful and do this until we can secure the place, ICERS only." Coulson instructs and the others nod and they start to prepare themselves for the battle that is going to come and the price that it is going to cost them even though they are doing the right thing.
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