So... OHMYGOD OHMYGOD OHMYGOD! I saw Civil War! That was my prize for getting a good doctor's report, but anyway. I will not say anything, except that it's awesome and all of you readers should go see it!

That aside, I apologize for that horrible cliffhanger. I hope this can make up for it. And all you Lincoln sympathizers, I know, I wish there was someone I could pair him with, But I don't really want to make another OC at this point.

Another reminder to share #BrettDaltonMustStay! We can't let him leave!

Hopefully you don't hate me for this?

Chapter 21

'Three and a half weeks. I sat in this chair everyday for three and a half weeks and you never said a word.'

This sure brought back memories. Coulson was sitting in the chair, looking through the transparent energy field to where Ward was leaning his back against the far wall. He wasn't so antisocial now, he was happy to be in control of his body again. Glad to voice his own thoughts and not some parasite's.

Who had been moved to a controlled quarantine zone. Where Bobbi and Fitz-Simmons had later eradicated it after mixing up a few compounds Coulson couldn't pronounce.

The hydra mole had himself positioned against the wall opposite the director, his arms crossed over his chest. As cocky as ever. He didn't even seem to mind that he was back in his old cell. Made Coulson wonder what he had been feeling while something else controlled his body. Had he seen what the inhuman had done?

"I remember a time when you would do everything in your power to protect her. You killed to keep her on your side, to make her understand. You wanted to be the hero, her hero."

'You can't reconcile all the ugly horrible things you do with the hero you so desperately want to become.'

"A lots changed since then. You're forgetting she shot me, four times."

'Whatever I may have thought there was between me and Skye, she made it pretty clear the feeling wasn't mutual. I'm not insane.'

The slight crease in his brow was the only hint that Ward was still a little bitter about that. The director really wanted to turn off the energy field and put the ex-specialist down for a permanent dirt nap.

"You're lucky she didn't aim for the head. Think of it as a small price to pay for all the lives you've destroyed. Mercy if you will, anyone else would have taken you out."

Ward pushed off the wall, a mock laugh escaping his lips as he came closer to the invisible wall. "Is that supposed to be your way of telling me she still cared enough not to kill me?" His voice was coated with sarcasm as he prowled like a tiger along the barrier of his cage.

'We both know the girl wasn't gonna let you die. You said yourself Skye's a soft touch, just like you'

Coulson shrugged his shoulders ever so slightly, keeping his calm exterior. "That's for you to decide, what I know is it's that weak heartbeat upstairs that is keeping me from coming in there and shoot you myself."

"I am grateful, for what she did."

"That's hard to believe, you nearly killed her."

Ward smirks a little at the anger that seeping into the older man's tone. He knew it would only be a matter of time before he'd reached his limits.

"I saw an opening and I took it. Just like you on that alien planet."

Coulson rose from his chair, his hand itching to crush the murderer's skull. As he'd said, the only thing stopping him from doing so was his love for the inhuman fighting upstairs "She risked everything to save you, you selfish son of a bitch."

He paused in his steps, looking down at the ground so his old team leader couldn't see the look in his eyes. "I am flattered, really. It was a-.. shock to see she was the one who saved me."

"She was the only one who would've, the rest of us wanted to get rid of that thing and you together."

"If it had been two years ago, I might have responded better." He said, with his arms crossed over his chest again.

Coulson scowled at his tone, wanting very much to do what Fitz had done when he discovered Ward was in Vault D the first time. It would be so easy to just end it now. Yet he couldn't bring himself to touch the tablet in the stand beside his chair.

"Careful Ward, I can always tell her we had to kill you. She'd understand."

"Yeah, but do you really want to disappoint her? She risked everything to save me." That overconfident smirk had Coulson's vision turning a little red, but he had to remind himself. He had tried to kill Ward once, it hadn't turned out well. It was better just to leave him locked in this cell. Safer for everyone, too.

"Don't get cocky. She knows who and what you are, she gets that you're never going to be free again. She understands that you'll most likely be transferred to a high security prison and never seen again."

"Then why? Why did she save me, if I'm just going to be locked away somewhere. What's the point? Why not just let me die?"

'Please don't die.'

"Because, for some God forsaken reason, she believes there's still some good in you."

'It's different. You're... good.'

'So are you.'

'Not always.'

The look of shock is quickly hidden under a mask of indifference as Ward turns away for a moment. But it was too late, Coulson had seen the brief emotion. He knew it was coming, though he hadn't expected it to shock the double agent into silence. He could barely hide his smirk as he got up to leave.

Just as he was reaching the exit to Vault D, the hydra spy decided to say one more thing. Probably assuming it would be some time before the S.H.I.E.L.D. Director had time to come talk to him again. His question almost made the man turn.

"Will I ever see her again?"

Instead, Coulson kept his back turned, not wanting him to see the shock that adorned his own features. He had not been expecting that kind of question, at least not yet. Maybe after he'd had a few more visits. "That depends, on whether she wants to see you."

'You will never see Skye again.'

-0-0-0-0-0-

The director couldn't help but smile as he entered the containment room, her's was contagious, even if she wasn't aware of it. She must be having sweet dreams, he decided, as he drew nearer to the sleeping field agent. That was good, he wasn't sure he'd be able to handle her having nightmares, the last one she'd had had shook the the base to its core.

Daisy's head was propped up on pillows, her neck brace holding her neck straight. Simmons must have brushed her hair, and if he wasn't mistaken, changed her clothes. The light blue hospital gown she was now in did nothing to hide the pale skin, and he hated how it reminded him of when she'd been shot.

'You're saying there nothing you can do?'

In the bed, with a possible concussion, who knows how much damage. Coulson was afraid to look at Lincoln and Simmons' report. She had been without oxygen long enough to lose consciousness and Ward had still been choking her when Fitz had finally gotten the door down. Coulson had shot him the moment his icer had safety off. Lucky he hadn't had a real gun with real bullets, otherwise Daisy would have surely murdered him upon waking up.

'I'm saying you need to call her family'

He let his hand grasp hers as he sat beside her on the edge of the bed. This was a new form of torture, watching her chest rise and fall shakily and being unable to repay the one who had put her there. Unable to do anything while she lay there trying to recover, with the help of multiple machines.

'We're her family'

Coulson would never admit it out loud, not even to May, but he was slightly glad Ward had lived. Though he hadn't shown it toward the man, it had at least given him hope that Daisy may one day be able to move forward. With Ward or someone else, it felt like there was a conversation the two were going to need to have, that would decide whether she choose to hold onto him more tightly or finally let go.

Everyone else was hoping for the latter choice, Coulson was too, but there was no way he would tell Daisy that. It was the teams view of him that had made her try to let go when she hadn't wanted to the first time. That's why it had come to no surprise for him, when she finally caved that night he died.

She may not be able to ever forgive him for all the lives he's taken and all the pain he's brought to the team. But she could accept him as he was, not perfect, but still what she wanted.

Or had thought she wanted. His gaze drifted to the finger print bruises on the girl's throat. Maybe she'd be more willing to move on after this? Because honestly, the director wasn't sure how many times he could handle seeing her like this. The first time had been enough, and the times following had only been worse.

'Then I'm very sorry.'

He looked over to where a monitor was positioned across from the bed. Simmons had a live video from Vault D pulled up, saying it might relax the S.H.I.E.L.D agent to know he was alive and well, when she woke. He wasn't so sure, that monster was the reason she was in this bed.