Chapter 16

"She's refusing to let Simmons examine her." It wasn't a question, more an observation he was hoping the older female would explain fully.

May crossed her arms over her chest, having just come from the medical room, Coulson had pulled up on his office screen. Jemma was the only one still in the room, looking more than a little lost and concerned after Daisy had stormed out. Not before causing a few tremors to rattle the building's supports though.

"She insisted that she's fine, and the test would be a waste of our time."

He caught that look, it had been a while, but he would still recognize it anywhere. "You don't believe her."

"I know she's hiding something."

Coulson nodded his head, switching the video feed to Vault D. Effectively dropping the subject for now, and switching to the more pressing matter. "What do you think his play is?"

Ward's body looked completely relaxed as he lay on the cot of his prison cell. Acting far too comfortable and amused for someone who was in enemy territory. It reminded the director of Loki, totally nonchalant about the dangers around him. It seemed like he actually wanted to be there, and that alone was enough to make him feel uneasy.

"Whatever it is, it's not good. He let us take him off that island. He wanted us to bring him in."

"I know. I honestly can't decide which one is more unpredictable. Ward or the thing controlling him." May rolled her eyes at that, making him wonder what her thoughts were on the two monsters. "You have something to add?"

Her lips quirked, but that was as much as she let on physically, before setting it back into her plain mask. "Ward had weaknesses we could exploit. This-.. Thing doesn't."

'have you considered that all of that may have been an act, to get close? That maybe he found a weakness and exploited it?'

Coulson's brow furrowed for an instant. Letting this roll around in his head for a few moments. That thing was centuries old. What could they possibly use against it?

'It wasn't an act. For whatever reason Ward never lied to me.'

"Son of a bitch."

They'd been wondering what the parasite wanted, why he was here? And the answer had been right in front of their faces. It had practically knocked him off his feet!

'He came back for Skye.'

"What?"

"Sk- gah. Daisy! This is just like with Ward, it's Daisy! He knows as long as she's around he'll be safe. She's what he wants."

May's brow furrowed as the director quickly pulled up some things on his tablet, searching for something.

"But why be taken at all, if It's just going to be locked up?"

"Because he's playing us. He wants to keep the focus here on him." Coulson pulled up a map with multiple dots flickering in and out at random locations. "Just as I thought, with us keeping our eyes centered on him, Hydra's been snatching up every inhuman that's popped up. Damn, I hate it when I'm right.."

The cavalry's expression softened as the dots went out, her gaze going to the man at his desk. He looked like the weight of the world had doubled on his shoulders.

"His army is growing with or without him there."

"I'll go talk to Daisy, see if she may have found out anything."

"No, let me. I need to talk to her anyway." His voice was quiet, but May nodded in understanding. She knew there was a lot he wanted to ask the female inhuman. So she excused herself to go check on Simmons.

There was a lot they needed to discuss. Unfortunately all of it was centered around the monster that had been keeping her captive the last week or so. Coulson knew it would be the last thing either of them wanted to talk about, but it had to be addressed.

They needed to determine whether Ward was really worth the risks. Discuss what had happened on the island. What she had learned. But more than anything they needed to construct a stronger game plan. One that didn't have as many loose ends.

-o-o-o-o-o-

"It's been a while since I had to search the vehicles for you."

She smiled a little, scooting over enough for the director of S.H.I.E.L.D. To climb in next to her. She had her computer balanced on her lap, with her feet propped on the front seat. It was nice knowing she still had an old comfort in hanging out in the SUV. That was more like the Skye before Hydra.

"You would have had to search them sooner, except I was kinda in quarantine that time."

Her tone was light, but there was a hidden pain that Coulson was picking up on. She saw that, and let a sigh pass her lips. She closed her laptop to give him her full attention, without really looking at him.

"Just needed some place quiet to think. There are too many questions and concerned looks out there. They all think I'm going to snap any moment."

It was his turn to sigh, leaning his head back over the seat. "You're not wrong."

They were silent for a long moment, neither really wanting to get the ball rolling. It reminded him of when he took her to the retreat. After he'd told her about Lola.

"So I guess this is the part where you ask what happened on the island." Her words brought him back to the present. And he was more than a little surprised she'd spoken first.

"I just need to know what we're dealing with. The full report can wait for another time, but you didn't even let Simmons give you a physical."

She grimaced at that, and Coulson noticed how she chewed the inside of her cheek. He knew right then, Daisy wasn't going to tell him anything about what had exactly happened. Just what she had learned, if anything.

"You're dealing with something beyond anything you've ever encountered. I don't think fire is going to be enough to stop him."

His brow furrowed, that didn't sound like her. She should know they were already coming up with plan b, c, d, e, and even f. Some might think that's a little much, but they were dealing with a devil.

'There's no need for false modesty. We both know you're that good.'

He placed his hand on her shoulder, his eyes searching hers for confirmation. He didn't want to say something and discover he was wrong.

"I know, that's why I have Bobbi and Simmons working around the clock with Fitz. They're engineering a compound that should destroy It completely."

There was a flash of something else in her eyes, before her lips quirked up in a small grin. "One thing, I learned while I was gone, his name's not It, it's Hive."

For a moment, and only a moment, Coulson thought he saw the Daisy he knew. Whatever had happened on the island, he feared it had changed his daughter forever. This 'Hive', as she called him, had taken that girl away. He was almost afraid to think of the powers he had been rumored to have.

Was Daisy really Daisy? Or had the parasite turned her into something else entirely? How were they supposed to beat this thing, when they hadn't even begun to understand It's powers. It wasn't fair that he had this great advantage over all of them.

"Is there anything else you can tell me about it- Hive?"

He watched her expression carefully, maybe he was just being paranoid and imagining this. There was no way she would fall for any tricks and thoughts the monster may have planted in her head. She didn't let people control her like that.

"Only that S.H.I.E.L.D is in way over their head."

There it was again. She wasn't including herself, she was referring to them as S.H.I.E.L.D, instead of 'us'. Excluding herself from the group. Was he really just imagining this? Or was Daisy really pulling herself away?

Coulson forced himself to nod, letting his hand slip from her shoulder. "Okay. Well I have to go check on the lab's progress, but we'll talk later." No need to let her know he was suspicious.

He needed her to think he thought they were still on the same side. "Oh, and I wouldn't hang out here too much longer. Lincoln and Caleb are pretty worried, you should tell them you're okay." He noticed her eyes brighten at the mention of the other inhumans, and the director suddenly had a terrible thought.

Hive had let them take him and Daisy. Hydra had been building an army of inhumans for him since before he came through the portal. And now, he had foolishly put it within range of three more recruits.

Damn.

"Sure. I can't even imagine how Caleb must have felt. Was he alright, when you picked him up?" The concern in her gaze, had Coulson hoping he was wrong. He'd lost too many good agents to Hydra, and he most certainly couldn't lose her.

"He's okay, was a little shaken the first two days, when they didn't get you. But Lincoln and Joey have kept his mind off everything."

She smiled at that, bringing her feet down. "If it's alright with you, Sir, I'd like to go see them now."

He nodded his approval, watching her go. Please let him be wrong. He didn't want to be right again, not this time. Someone please tell him he was only imagining things.

-o-o-o-o-o-

So that's all for now. Oh my gosh, people, so I just watched episodes, thirteen and fourteen. I will admit, I cried during Parting Shot. I don't know if you guys have seen those yet, but all I can say is Bobbi! Hunter! No! And Mack's face at the end! And for fourteen, It's the SHOTGUN AXE!

Alright, enough of that. I hope you enjoyed, please tell me your thoughts! Love it? Hate it? Are you more confused than before? Let me know! I'm also very sorry it's not as long as I would have liked it to be.

So until next time?

Tootles!