Chapter 10

"Caleb, Caleb! Slow down, I can't understand a word you're saying. Where's Daisy?"

Jemma Simmons had come into the lab early, intending to get some of the specs for the fire chamber worked out before Fitz and Bobbi woke up, when she noticed she was getting a video call from the Retreat. One could imagine her surprise when it was not Daisy, but an image of the young boy that popped up on screen.

The teen looked like he could use a good night's rest, and, according to her computer, had been trying to contact her since almost two that morning. This gave her the impression that something had happened, though where his transitioner was, she couldn't tell. The room behind him was too dark.

Instead of answering her question, he looked past her, hoping to find someone else. "Where's Director Coulson, or Mack, is he there? They're not answering their phones."

The biochemist tried not to take offense, she knew the inhuman wasn't her biggest fan, but knew he probably had his reasons for asking for their help instead of hers. "Coulson and May are on their way to London, and it's barely 4:30, I don't think Mack is even up yet. Perhaps I could be of assistance?"

The look of disbelief, that crossed his face, hurt. She wouldn't deny it, but she kept her cool. Just because she was a scientist, it didn't mean she was useless in other fields.

"Ward took Daisy."

She stood corrected. "When did he take her? Are you alright?" She scolded herself for not noticing the dried blood on his normally charcoal-ish-purple lips, or the slight swollen squinting left eye. How could she not have noticed the small inhuman was injured, she was a doctor for heavens sake!

"I'm fine, they left almost three hours ago."

Simmons nodded, placing down her folder. "Alright Caleb, just sit tight. I'm going to get the team together, and we're going to come get you-"

"Don't worry about me." He interrupted, his god eye narrowing. "You need to save Daisy, now."

"Yes, but Caleb, we don't know where she is yet. We could get you while we had computers running satellite feed with facial recognition." She tried to reason.

"You don't need to do any of that. I already know where they are."

-0-0-0-0-0-

She was in a room, one she did not remember entering, and in a bed she most definitely did not lay down in. This feels very familiar. Deja vu anyone? She checked to make sure she was still clothed, thankfully she was, but not in the pajamas she'd been wearing.

Daisy pulled back the blanket to find, not only was she not in her comfy pj, but she was in a dress. It was white, with pink and red flowers and petals scattered all across it. It left her shoulders revealed with short sleeves wrapped around her upper arms.

She groaned, holding her head. How had she gotten here? And why did it look like she was dressed for Easter Sunday? Suddenly, the memories of Ward showing up and taking her came back, but the mysteries of when she'd arrived and why she was in a dress still stood. Her head throbbed as she forced herself to get up.

The room was professionally decorated and set up like it was from a magazine. Though instead of being bright and welcoming, everything was dark, the coloration ranged from different shades of red to dark grays. If that wasn't enough to tell her who owned the estate, the wood carving of a skull with tentacles on the bed's head board did.

"Nothing screams crazy like someone carving the hydra symbol into the bed stand." She mumbled, looking around for a door. She knew her chances of escape were very slim, but at least she'd know where the enemy was coming from.

Finding one across the room, the quake inhuman approached it slowly, half expecting Ward or some other Hydra agent to come in when she reached it. Deciding she didn't want to alert whoever was guarding her door, she turned away, remembering the window she'd seen.

It was the soul source of light in the room, with thin curtains hanging on either side. Incredibly, it was not barred, and only had the normal lock system all windows came with.

Daisy looked out, finding not only was she on the third floor, gazing down on a closed in courtyard, but there was snow on the ground. Not just a little snow either, no there was a lot of it, somewhere close to a foot or so on the ground alone. Not mentioning the flurries in the air.

The Shield agent looked down at her bare arms and feet solemnly. It was a winter wonderland outside and she was dressed for the Fourth of July! They must have assumed she wouldn't dream of going outside in such attire, and they were right, she wouldn't. But they also underestimated her determination.

With that in mind, Daisy went about pulling the sheets off the bed, and finding anything else she might be able to use. Which is when she found the dresser and wardrobe were empty props for the room, not even holding a pair of socks.

"So that's the way they want it. Fine." She could lose a toe or two if need be. Though she didn't want to.

After tying the sheets together, she opened the window. Immediately the cold air sent goosebumps up her arms and legs. Rubbing her arms she peered over the edge. Gosh that's a long way down.. She went back and made sure the knot around the bed post was strong and tight.

She tried to calm her breathing as she pulled the sheets tight. "Come on, you've jumped out of a building before, sure there's no pool this time, but this should be easier." Daisy almost laughed at herself as she climbed out over the windowsill. This was such a bad idea.

She glided down slowly, afraid if she went too fast the sheets might untie. Snow flakes pelted her from all sides, melting and freezing to her skin as an icy sheen. She was definitely going to have a long hot relaxing bath when she got back to base. Her hands were already beginning to ache and go numb, not liking the vice grip she had on the silky sheets.

The inhuman grimaced, realizing there were two windows underneath her. Please don't have anyone see her, or have the drapes open. To her dismay the drapes were open, with only a thin curtain shielding her passage.

The room was much like a home office or den, with a large desk, lounge chair, and bar. Her eyes widened as she spotted the room's occupants. The two men, she recognized as Ward and Gideon Malick, were sitting across the room from each other.

Malick was pouring himself a drink, while Ward was sitting with his arm over the back of the lounge chair, a drink already in hand. They weren't looking her way, but that didn't mean they couldn't. She needed to move before they noticed her makeshift rope.

Daisy loosened her grip, sliding a lot faster, not giving the two men a second glance. The friction hurt her hands, but she reminded herself that it was better than being caught by Ward. The ground approached quickly and she winced as her feet sunk into the freezing snow.

Now she just needed to get inside and out the other side, then find a car. All without being spotted. She looked down at herself, laughing at how stupid her thoughts were. Yeah, like a bunch of Hydra spies weren't going to notice a girl running around in a flower dress.

'Raina.'

She squeaked quite girlishly as she tried to tip toe run through the snow. Why couldn't they have brought her somewhere warm? Then again she probably wouldn't have been able to escape so easily if that were the case. Still, they couldn't have left her slippers? Hydra really was evil.

She was almost amused that there weren't any guards, though that probably had to do with the weather outside, they were most likely crawling all over the inside. She grimaced at the very thought. But it was better than freezing to death out here.

Finally reaching the door, she was relieved to find it unlocked. At least she hadn't climbed out her window only to be stuck outside. She shuddered upon entering the domain once again, shaking out the skirt of her now wet dress. Luckily she had plenty of days off to use, cause she was ninety percent sure she'd come out of this with some kind of cold or fever.

Figuring she was about as warm as she could get at the moment, Daisy looked down both ends of the hall. Clear. Hugging the walls, she went left, hoping it was the correct choice. It was taking her away from the side that had Ward and Malick on it, so it had to be good.

She nodded, as though to reassure herself. With any luck Coulson would come and save her before Ward even saw she escaped.

"Hey!" Well so much for that theory. "What are you doing here?"

It's okay, stay calm, maybe he doesn't know who she is. She pulled on a stupid smile, looking at the man decked out in black with a bulletproof vest, two side arms and a semi automatic slung over his shoulder. Yeah he didn't look like he was anywhere near the top.

"I'm sorry, my car broke down not far from here and I was just looking for a phone to call someone to pick me up." She brushed a lock of hair behind her ear, trying to come off as harmless and innocent.

He looked at her for a long moment, probably taking note of how her body was slightly dripping. "How did you get in here?"

She turned and pointed over her shoulder, past the door she'd come through. Hoping she was correct in assuming there was a door to the outside that way. "A door back there, I knocked but no one answered and it was unlocked."

He cursed under his breath, appearing to believe her story for now. She silently applauded herself for tricking him.

"Do you have a phone I can borrow?"

"What? Oh yeah.." He dug in his pocket, pulling out said device and unlocking it before extending it to her. "Here."

She smiled accepting the piece of technology. "Thank you so much." Sucker, she quickly typed in Mack's cell, placing it to her ear.

It rang a few times before she heard a gruff 'hello?'

"Mack, hi!" She turned away from the hydra agent.

'Daisy? What the hell happened? Why would you let him-'

"I know, I know, I'm late, my car broke down, I need you to come pick me up. I'm a little too far from Caleb's house to walk." She hoped he got what she meant for him to do by that. Pretending he made a response she continued. "Yeah I'm at that big house."

'Caleb already told us where you were, he didn't hurt you did he?'

"Nah, I'm fine. Just a little cold. It's snowing in case you forgot."

Her partner laughed, making her smirk in turn.

'We'll be there in ten, hang in there, tremors.'

"Thanks, I'll be out front." With that she hung up and turned back to the man. "You're a life saver, thank you so much, my friends will be here in ten minutes."

He grunted, taking his phone back. "I'll show you out."

She smiled, hoping he would say that, cause she really didn't want to get lost in this place. Especially if It would be coming to see her any time now. "That's so kind of you." She gushed like a fan girl in front of her hero. It was exhausting playing this dumb, how was she ever able to do this before.

He didn't respond to her fake gratitude, just lead her silently through the halls, looking around every once and a while. She wondered if he was afraid of being caught with someone that had presumably just walked into the Hydra base. Perhaps he expected to get in trouble if they were seen, not that he wouldn't get in trouble anyway.

If any of the men who actually knew who she was saw them the agent would probably get shot. That's how Hydra handled there people, right? Don't do what they're told, they get shot. Or if they're seen with a prisoner and showing her the way out, they'll be seen as a traitor and shot. She almost felt bad for the guy, he had no idea what could await him.

She could see the double doors, that lead to the outside. Oh freedom was just a few yards away. She could almost taste it, the cool fresh air, the frigged snowflakes. She could nearly hear the whirl of the quin jet coming to her rescue. Almost there.

"Keselowski!" She flinched unintentionally, looking over her shoulder the same time the Hydra spy next to her did. The new comer pointed at her, a scowl on his face. "What is she doing here?"

Keselowski, as she now knew him, scratched the back of his neck in a nervous gesture. Not looking at her or the other man. "Someone left the doors open, I was just showing her out."

The new agent walked straight up to them, and Daisy felt all her hopes for freedom die with the look in his eyes. He knew who she was, he had to, that or he was about to kill her for trespassing.

"You're a fool, no one left the door open. She's trying to escape." His gun was out faster than she'd been able to see, and fired before she could react.

She expected to feel the pain of a bullet, but was instead startled by the dropping of dead weight beside her. She looked down to find he'd shot the spy helping her. She really hoped Mack would get there soon, cause there was no way someone didn't hear that.

A hand locked on her arm, the still hot barrel of his sidearm pressed into her side. This was not going well. She needed to come up with a new plan, since this guy obviously wasn't going to fall for the stuck traveler.

"Hey, let me go now and you won't get hurt."

He shoved his gun further into her side. "Shut up." If it wasn't that she was insanely stubborn and trying to look tough, she may have grimaced.

"No really, cause in about five seconds, you're gonna go flying into that wall over there." She beckoned with her free hand, hoping this would work.

She got the reaction she want as he looked where she pointed, giving her the opening to twist the gun out of his hand and point it right back at him.

'They taught me a few things.'

Haha! She's still got it. Smirking, she looked back at the man before her. He looked pissed that he had fallen for such a stupid trick, his hands slightly raised in what she was sure was a mock surrender.

She doubted anyone took a girl in a flower dress seriously, well except maybe Coulson and the rest of the team, but that was after they'd met Raina, before, not so much.

"You're not going to shoot me, you're just a scared little girl."

'but do you have what it takes to pull the trigger?'

"Did you seriously just say that? I'm 'just a scared little girl'?" Her eyes narrowed as a smirk tugged at his lips. "Did your boss give you no idea who he had locked up in that room?"

"I don't know Rapunzel, all I know is you're not supposed to leave your room."

Rapunzel, huh, somehow that actually made sense to her. Not that she had time to think about that as the hydra man reached to take his gun back. His hand caught hold of it the same moment she forced him into the wall.

Who needs guns, they're too loud anyway. She went over to the man laying unconscious against the wall, digging in his pockets for a phone.

"Hey you!"

Seriously? She looked over her shoulder, to find three men had just entered through the front door, all with their weapons trained on her. Yay, now to find a new way out. Forgetting the phone, Daisy picked up the semi automatic, that had fallen next to the guy. This should send them ducking for cover.

She fired off somewhat random shots, hitting the first man in the leg the second in the side, but missing the third as he dropped back. Well, that was definitely going to call attention. She dodged the return fire, ducking down a hall she had passed earlier.

Time to find another way out, and perhaps take down some hydra spies while she's at it. Shouting echoed behind her and it was bout that moment she realized it had probably been more than ten minutes since she'd called Mack. She needed to get outside.

'This place is massive.'

It was like one big maze of halls and doors, most of which being locked or leading to dead ends. How could anyone find their way in a place like this. She felt like she was in a labyrinth. A labyrinth full or men hunting her and a monster that was parading around in another man's body.

Gunfire rang out, making her duck behind the closest wall as bullets found themselves embedded on the other side. That was close. Waiting for the firing to cease, she jumped back out using her powers to send a wave of force to knock anyone in that direction off their feet and hopefully unconscious.

She grimaced as some dust fell from the ceiling, informing her that she may have weakened the supports of this hall. Any other time she might have thought bringing the whole building down a good way to get rid of some hydra, but for all she knew her team was running through the structure, and there was also the possibility she could accidentally kill Ward, and It would just continue to use his body.

"It's invigorating watching such fierce powers in action."

'Your gift is quite destructive.'

Daisy whipped around fast enough to find herself pressed against the wall with It standing before her. He had that overconfident look, that Ward used to be so fond of, on his face. His body relaxed as though he didn't view her as a threat. She wanted to wipe that smirk right off his face.

"You must be cold."

'Are you hurt?'

He unzipped his jacket, before pulling it off. She was sure her eyes were wide as he pulled her forward a step, so he could drape it around her shoulders. The material was hot against her skin, reminding her that she was still very much frozen and dripping melted snow and ice.

The female inhuman shuddered and drew it closer, never knowing she could love a jacket so much. She smelled it, unintentionally, relishing in the smell that she knew as Grant Ward. The parasite couldn't change that.

"Thanks." Guess Chivalry wasn't entirely dead.

"I must say, I underestimated you this time." She wanted to point out that it wasn't the first time, and she was sure it wouldn't be the last. But chose not to. Just because he offered her his jacket didn't mean he couldn't turn around and do something awful. "I was sure you wouldn't dare test your body against the cold."

"Please, that wasn't nearly as cold as when I walked through the Canadian wilderness in winter, and that was in a winter coat." It was all a lie, there was no way it had been as cold as walking barefoot, and under dressed for such conditions. She much preferred walking aimlessly through the frozen forest fully dressed, than spend two minutes outside in short sleeves and bare legs. She'd swore she'd felt her blood freezing in her veins.

'Ward' smirked at that, gently slipping a warm hand behind her back. If she wasn't so cold she may have drawn away from it, but found the heat too welcoming to ignore.

"Come on, let's get out of here before the roof gives." She found herself nodding as he guided her back the way she'd come. Why was she letting him take her god knows where? She was supposed to be running to find a new way out. She tried to remove herself from the arm that had snaked around her waist, but discovered Ward's grip was tighter than she'd first thought.

"What do you think of going to Tahiti, I hear it's a magical place." Any other time she might have laughed. She'd even thought of cracking similar jokes, but the fact that he wanted to take her there meant he was trying to take her further away. "Malick has a nice beach house there. We could have the place to ourselves."

She felt sick, she knew what he was thinking without Caleb to tell her. He was thinking a honeymoon get away. Oh goodness, someone save her. Preferably Mack or someone from S.H.I.E.L.D. Or anyone that wasn't Hydra or working with Hydra.

"How about we... don't." She hoped this would catch him off guard enough to release her, unfortunately it had the opposite effect. "Cause Tahiti and beach houses aren't exactly my kind of thing."

His arm around her was like a vice as he led her to who knows where. All she knew was that it was not the direction she wanted to go. It was taking her further into the hydra base.

"Nonsense, after that adventure outside, you must be dying for a tropical island get away."

"I'm dying to get away alright, but not from the snow." She said it under her breath, fearing what the dark inhuman would make his body do in response.

'I didn't mean to scare you.'

She was pretty sure the parasite actually wanted to scare her. He wanted to use her fear against her, just as he had back on base. Fear of what he could do, what he would do if given the chance or provoked.

Daisy swallowed, trying to ease her nerves before she sent this whole building to the ground. Where was Mack with that rescue? She could really use it right about now. She may love the warmth around her, but the mind behind it had her feeling she wouldn't survive this. Really, once It finally realized she wanted nothing but to remove him from Ward and kill it, she wouldn't be safe.

'Oh, you'll be plenty safe.'

Yeah, well he wasn't 'there' to protect her this time, and who was to say he would help her if he was? Grant Ward is a murderer, he doesn't care about anyone but himself, and he has a taste for revenge. He'd killed Rosalind just to hurt Coulson, she was sure she was next on his list. Right with the S.H.I.E.L.D. Director.

She couldn't think anymore on the topic as the familiar sound of gunfire reached her ears. The monster, holding onto her, cursed, turning her to face him completely.

"You contacted S.H.I.E.L.D."

Not being able to stop herself, Daisy smirked up at him. She knew he wasn't asking, that it was more an observation, but she couldn't help herself. "Yeah I did. And they're not going to leave until they have me back." It felt good to see him grimace, even if it was with Ward's face. It made her think, maybe, just maybe she'd escape.

"Well then, I suppose they will be here quite a while. Since I have no intention of giving you back."

She hated it when he said something like that. Especially when he had the same look he had in his eyes at the playground, right before he kissed her. Shivers ran up her spine, goosebumps spreading over her arms, like she'd been hit with a blast of cold air.

As though sharing the same thoughts as her, 'Ward' caressed her chin, tilting her head up. So she was looking directly into those amber orbs. Ward was a lot better at hiding his emotions, either that, or she'd gotten better at reading them.

It's hunger for power was small in comparison to the amount of desire she felt coming off him. If ever a guy was trying to drop a hint, he was the most straight forward about his wants and intentions. Even if he had yet to speak them out loud. It made her feel trapped, not just in his arms, but trapped as in no escape, no way to get back to her team.

Her eyes were beginning to sting with forming tears as he forced her to hold his gaze. She was starting to feel dizzy, though that could be the effects of running through the snow, getting soaked, and not drying off properly. But she felt like it was him doing it. Like he was forcing her mind to shut down.

Just as she was thinking she might fall asleep, those warm lips met hers. Forcing her awake long enough to return the connection with a surprising amount of strength and need. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she'd registered the sudden pulse she'd sent out.

It was similar to the one she'd made to escape her rock encasement, the first time she'd used her powers. She hadn't made one that strong since. She knew she should have been scared of the damage she caused, or the possible danger to the team, but it was forced back.

All she could focus on was the dark inhuman controlled Ward, and the heat of his lips on hers. She never wanted it to end, or was it him telling her she didn't want it to. She didn't know anymore.

-0-0-0-0-0-

That's all for now! And before anyone says anything about the two new episodes, please don't. I have yet to watch either episode, though they're recorded on my DVR, I haven't found the time to actually sit down and watch them. So please no spoilers, I'm planning to hopefully watch them Saturday, but who knows.

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed, please follow, favorite, and/or review. Each of your comments are read and very much appreciated. They encourage me to write more than I usually would, and wake up insanely early so I have time to think and plan out chapters without anyone interfering.

So yeah, don't own Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., but you know that might actually be a good thing, cause I'm positive there is no way I could have made the show as great as it has been.

That aside, I thank all of you for your patience, and ask that you continue to be as wonderful and supportive as you have been.

I wish I could upload every two days like I did when this first started, but I can't seem to find that much free time anymore. Enough of my rambling though, if you're still reading my long authors note you are amazing and I commend you for your devotion.

Until next time?

Tootles.