Saibh Aislin
Chapter Three
Another obstacle appears when they get out of the car. Mackie drove them to the building that houses the abandoned lab. Fitz is supposed to come through the main entrance, as instructed by Donnie Gill. Donnie Gill wants to exchange Jemma for Fitz, but Fitz thinks that's not his actual goal. He thinks he wants to kill Jemma anyway and for Fitz to watch it.
And Fitz says that he hadn't let her die before and he won't let that happen now.
That's why Ward has to get in there as well, take position and take out Gill.
"Icer," he asked back at the base. He doesn't want to kill. He will if he has to, but he doesn't want to.
"Of course," responded Koenig. "We wouldn't want you to accidentally shoot someone other than the intended target."
"Look." Ward glared at him, trying to ignore the sick sensation the sight of this face always gave him. "If I wanted you dead, you'd be dead by now." He was probably the only one who realized how empty that threat was. Koenig took a step back, Mack grimaced and cast his eyes down and Fitz just looked from one to the other, slightly puzzled. "Let's just assume that I have other goals and that helping you save Simmons can get me that much closer to getting what I want."
"What goal would that be?" Koenig dared to ask but Ward didn't answer. Truth be told, he didn't know. He just wanted to do this. He just wanted to give Fitz what he needed.
They memorized the plans of the abandoned office building Donnie Gill directed them to. They checked for any electronic activity in the area. They prepared themselves for any unexpected circumstances they could think of in the short window of time they had.
Upon arrival they check again for video surveillance and it seems that the only precaution the kidnapper has taken, was to send the team elsewhere and blackmail Fitz. Gill is not very wise for a genius.
"We're good," Fitz announces, closes his laptop, opens the door and gets out of the car.
Grant opens his door too and steps out.
"I wait here," he hears Mackie's voice.
He looks around.
And he can't move.
The enormity of the building and surrounding neighborhood slams him like a punch in the face. Distances are too vast to cross. Sunlight tears at his eyes, rings in his ears. He holds onto the hood of the car as if it was his lifeline, the only solid point in the ocean of the unexplored.
"What's going on, man?" he hears a voice through the pounding of blood in his ears and he tries to scoot away from the shadow that now hovers near. He doesn't want to be touched, he can't be touched. "Easy."
It's not easy. It's everything but easy. Ward closes his eyes and tries to calm his racing heart. He has to get himself under control again, because they need him. Fitz and Simmons need him. He hopes it's not too late already.
He opens his eyes, looks at the building and vertigo slams him right back against the car again.
"Help me," he forces through clenched throat. Blindly reaches out for Mackie's hand. Out of the two evils he chooses this one, the support of the stranger. "Help me get to the building."
Mack doesn't ask questions, bless him. He acts. He doesn't hold Ward, doesn't push him, no. Instead he puts Ward's hand on his arm and together they advance to the side entrance.
Before they reach the building though, when they are in the middle of the open space, Mack stops.
"What the..." he breathes out.
Ward has no choice but to look around, even though the distances pull at him from all directions and stretch him like a rubber. Two people walk out of the building. He struggles to focus on them. It's Fitz and that guy, Donnie Gill. No sign of Simmons. He says something and Mack responds. He turns to Ward, speaks, but Ward can only concentrate on one thing at the time.
Well, two things, Donnie Gill's face and how to not get torn apart by tidal forces of all this expanse around him.
He raises the gun and takes the aim.
"No!" he hears a screem but manages to pull the trigger.
The blue bullet hits Donnie Gill squarely in the chest.