All the team were having a meeting discussing how James Millen a Hydra loyalist had committed suicide
Coulson spoke 'This is the fourth time it has happened. We capture a Hydra soldier, but before we can get information they commit suicide. We don't know if its conditioning or part of their beliefs. We need more information'
Lance spoke 'Well maybe we should just ask'. He casually stared at Ward.
Ward was at the back of the meeting room, where the shadows covered him. And he did not speak or defend himself at Lances accusation. Ward simply stared back with cold eyes.
'How many times does he have to say that he's never been Hydra. Why cant you..' before Fitz could continue his tirade Simmons interrupted. And she held Fitz hand gently whispering 'We know Fitz. We know. All Hunter is saying is maybe Ward has information on Hydra's working. Thats all' Simmons then glared at Lance daring him to disagree. Lance simply smirked.
'Its called endgame' came the clear voice from the other side of the room. 'Its not suicide. A suicide is done when a person cant take things anymore, when a person is week. An endgame is played when.' There was a pause 'Its not suicide, its…. strategy'
'Is there something we can do' Coulson asked as he sat down.
Grant shrugged 'Its unlikely. Like i said it is a conscious act thought out and made real. But an endgame is usually played out for 100 days. Hydra and others believe that everybody breaks under torture. But a person can usually hold on for 100 days. So everyday you wake up and you… countdown, and when you reach 100. Endgame'
'Stop it' Fitz shouted standing abruptly. 'Its not a game OK.'
Everybody stared at fitz. May who had been silently observing spoke with authority 'Fitz, calm down'
'Its not a game' Fitz whispered again and walked out the room. Unconciously Wards eyes when to the scar on his arm.
As he got up to follow Fitz. Skyes voice halted him. '100 days. 100 days from the day of your capture to your first attempt.' Skye stalked to where Ward stood. Her eyes shining with something. An emotion that Ward could not recognise 'Your wrong.' Skye hissed 'You might tell yourself it was strategy, but the truth is it was weakness. You coward' She then struck Ward an open palmed slap.
All the team got up and started speaking at once. And while Coulson was giving a lecture to Skye about how Ward was no longer the enemy. Ward walked in the shadows.
A thought entered his mind. 'Soon'
The next day everybody pretended nothing had happened. Ward almost found it amusing in his sick way. If he had done the same thing to Skye, an open handed slap. Well the repercussions would not have been everybody pretending nothing had happened. But maybe he was wrong he laughed inside. Is this what insanity feels like?
The good thing was he did not have to be in the main living area. Ward collected the food and disappeared to his new room. Coulson had told him yesterday evening after the incident with Skye that he was giving him Lances room. Ward knew that the only reason why there had been a room change was because Coulson wanted him to play along. Act like the slap had never happened. He couldn't fault Coulson that. What was he going to do. Get Skye to apologise. Everybody had their favourites. A thought entered his mind, unbidden. Was he ever Garretts?
He knew he would hate the room. The room that Lance and Skye had… But God to be in a open space. A place where he didn't feel like he was trapped in a coffin. Ward entered the room and compartmentalised the acts of the previous occupant. Well tried to, after a while he gave up and started reading.
Grant tried to leave his room as little as possible. But of course he had to leave his room sooner or later. And when he did it was with the thought to avoid Skye. Ensure things did not escalate. But when he would go out to the kitchen Skye would be there, if he went to the gym Skye would be there. If he entered the science lab to talk to Fitz Skye was there. If he was being paranoid he would think she had been monitoring him from the CCTV cameras around the base. Thankfully she never communicated with Grant. Although once she tried. She came over to Grant almost a month after the incident while he was exercising. For some reason Grant flinched. An absurd reaction for someone who had seen as much pain in his life as he had. Skye stopped turned very quickly, and walked away. He could have sworn he had seen her shaking.
Maybe she was having problems with Lance?
After that though Grant became a ghost to the team. A punching bag in his bedroom and a space for his callisthenics routine meant he didn't have to go out for to the gym. His stockpile of freeze dried meals and protein shakes meant he didn't have to leave for meals. And Fitz had even started coming to his room to play chess. He was the only one that came.
And as he waited he knew it was only a matter of time before the other shoe dropped. It always did.