A.N.: I am so sorry for the delay posting this. As you can imagine, the finale was tough! But I've figured out where I think we're heading, and it's helped me shape this. I hope you enjoy. Just remember - I will always stand with Ward.

There was no contingency plan for this. There was no failsafe, no fallback. I may not have thought about what happens after, but I never dreamed we wouldn't actually finish this. Damn them all...

Kara…

Grant hugged her tightly to his chest. I'm so sorry, baby. I'm so sorry...He stood and looked around, taking the radio from Kara's belt. This reeks of May. She'll be coming. He leaned down to kiss Kara one more time. I'll get our closure, baby. I will.

Earlier...

Skye ran to her mother's side in the center of the courtyard. "Mom! What happened?"

"Gonzales...he...he said that we were...that Inhumans should be exterminated," Jiaying managed on a groan. "He had a gun."

He what? Skye looked around for Gonzalez, for SHIELD. It should have been Coulson, I knew it...She moved to stand.

Jiaying reached out. "No, stay with me, please. Gordon will take care of him." Her mother winced as she turned to Lincoln. "Get everyone to safety."

"Everyone, this way!" Lincoln started waving people out of the courtyard.

Simmons looked from Skye to Jiaying. "Let me take a look at that," she offered.

"SHIELD's done enough," Jiaying bit out.

Skye looked at Simmons.This...it just seems wrong...

Jiaying continued. "We have our own doctors. I'll be fine in time. Right now we have more pressing concerns."

Like war. Skye looked up at Jemma. "You should get out of here." You need to get out of here.

"What about you?" Simmons asked.

Skye looked at her mother and back at her friend. I can't...

Simmons read Skye's expression and turned to the two agents with her. "Come on," she murmured, running out of the square.

I'm sorry, guys...I'm sorry...Skye tried to ignore the feeling as her heart split in two again.

"Have you had any contact with Bobbi?" May asked Coulson, Hunter and Fitz. "Her Quinjet still hasn't arrived, and she's not answering communications."

Coulson and Fitz both turned to Hunter, who looked up and around before leaving the room.

"How's Skye?" Coulson asked in return.

"Disappointed that you aren't the one meeting with her mother," May replied.

Simmons charged onto the plane and in front of the screen. "Agent May. Sir, there's been gunfire. Skye's mother's been shot, allegedly by Gonzales. I'm afraid it's going to get worse."

"What about Gonzales? Where's he?" May queried.

Simmons sighed heavily. "I don't know."

"Got what he always wanted," Fitz offered.

"No. He wouldn't do that. It has to be something else." Coulson shook his head. "Find Gonzales. Get everyone out. I don't want to escalate the situation till we find out what we're dealing with."

May nodded and moved to comply. "Have all three birds ready to fly the second I return." She pointed at Cal as she passed. "He may be a part of it. Make sure he's secured."

Grant checked Morse's restraints before getting into the pilot's seat. "After all that, I should let you fly us the rest of the way, you've earned it." Now to complete our mission and make you whole.

Kara smiled. "Thank you, Grant." She reached over to take his hand. "For all of this. For saving me."

He shook his head, tugging her hand up to kiss it. "You saved yourself, baby. Don't give me more credit than I'm due." Besides, you saved me...

She glanced behind them at Bobbi. "I can't wait to give her what she's due."

Ward followed her gaze. "I know, baby. I understand." I understand more than you could ever guess. Multiple times over. "And you will, very soon." He quirked a brow. "Ready to go?"

Kara nodded. "More than ready. I want to put this behind us, so we can move on."

"Closure," he affirmed. And then I can leave them behind for good. "That's the mission. Almost there."

Lincoln doubled back to Skye and Jiaying. "We need to get you to the doctors," he murmured.

And I need for the world to make sense again...Skyeglanced up at him and around at the chaos.

"Okay," Jiaying conceded, groaning as Skye and Lincoln helped her to her feet.

Engines roared and Skye looked up. Raina saw Quinjets raining fire..."Come on! Help me," Skye urged. She looked up again as she heard the familiar high pitched whine of the guns charging. She ducked as the jet's weapons engaged, debris raining around them as people shouted in the distance. A rocket struck behind them, knocking all three of them off their feet.

Skye pushed up slightly to look around. What is going on...Why is this happening?

Jiaying exhaled sharply as Lincoln helped her up, eyes filled with hurt as she gazed at Skye. "Why would you let them do this to us? I thought you were on our side."

Let them? This isn't my fault! Skye gave her mother an incredulous look. How can you think that? "I am. I-I had no idea, I swear."

"Jiaying, I'm here." The same redhead who was keeping watch over Raina approached them.

"We've got to get you out of here," Lincoln insisted.

Skye turned to follow, stopping as an Inhuman behind her went down. She spun to see a SHIELD agent, gun in hand. Skye flung out a hand, vibrating his gun apart. You're not my team, you ruined everything. She stalked over and engaged him, exchanging blows and knocking him out.

"Skye, stop!" May called out, running into view.

Finally, someone with answers. Skye grimaced at her former mentor. "What have you done?"

May held out a hand. "That's what we're trying to figure out, but you need to stand down."

"Stand down?" Skye questioned angrily. "After Gonzales just shot my mom and declared war on us?" You can't be serious. "You're the one who needs to stand down." You all do. I can't believe they all warned me this would happen...

"I need to see Gonzales," May continued. "Where is he? We can fix this."

You don't know what's begun...Skye shook her head. "It's too late to fix this. Now take your men and get the hell out of here."

"Not until I see Gonzales," May insisted. She started past Skye.

No. No more. Skye grabbed her mentor's arm, taking a fighting stance. She attacked, May shrugging her off.

May got her in a sleeper hold. "I don't want to hurt you!"

Skye grappled back. You forget who you're dealing with now…"You won't," she grunted.

The two exchanged blows, May sweeping Skye's legs out from under her. "Stop wasting time, Skye, help me fix this," she warned.

I am wasting time...Skye stood and held up a hand. "I'm sorry, May, you're not welcome here." She sent a wave of force towards May, knocking her back and out.

Coulson sighed and addressed the screen. "Jemma, do we have confirmation on who actually fired the missile?"

Simmons shook her head. "No, sir, we're still sorting out what happened with that Quinjet. Our priority was to get all SHIELD personnel out safely."

Coulson turned to Agent Weaver on the other half of the monitor. "Was there any resistance to that from the locals?"

Weaver pursed her lips. "No, they seemed as keen on leaving as we were - perhaps retreating to shelters or bunkers."

"Or they evacuated," Coulson suggested. "We know they have a powered way out. May."

"Where's Skye?" May demanded.

"How are you feeling?" Simmons asked, alarmed by the bruising on her face.

May responded flatly. "I have a headache, and I asked a question."

"None of this would have happened if Gonzales hadn't attacked," Jemma erupted.

"You can't actually believe he would do something like this," Weaver protested.

"Oh, no, Gonzales would never attack a base unprovoked," Simmons snapped back.

"Robert did not do this!" Weaver insisted.

"How can you be sure?" May asked.

"Because he went to great lengths for me to get a gift for Jiaying, a peace offering," Weaver returned.

"I agree," Coulson offered. "Gonzales was smarter than this. It's too sloppy."

Weaver squared her shoulders. "I recommend we respond with a strong show of force."

Coulson shook his head. "I have no intention of starting a war before I understand the situation." He moved towards the screen, addressing Weaver directly. "Agent Weaver, you're now the highest-ranking officer on the carrier. I want you to head back there and await further instructions."

"Yes, sir," Weaver acknowledged.

Coulson shut the link to Weaver and focused on his team. "I don't believe that Skye would turn against us."

"You didn't see her fight me," May intoned darkly.

"Her mother had just been shot," the director countered. "I can believe she's confused."

"No more than the rest of us," Simmons commented. "Why invite SHIELD only to attack?"

"I don't know," Coulson conceded, "but maybe their peace offering over there does."

Cal sang softly to himself and smiled.

So close now, closure. I was shocked when Bakshi told us about Morse, about giving up the safehouse. I didn't think she was that kind of agent, that ruthless. Knowing now she was running on Gonzalez's orders, it makes sense. That's the difference between Coulson and the rest - Coulson sees people first, not agents. He never would have authorized giving up a safe house unless he knew it was clear. Gonzalez and Bobbi had no such qualms, and Kara paid the price.

So now, we collect. With interest.

Jiaying groaned, panting heavily as the doctor extracted the bullets.

Skye shook her head. This isn't...I didn't know…"I thought that with her healing powers, the pain…"

"Wouldn't be there?" Lincoln supplied. "No such luck. Her gift can heal the tissue damage with time, but she feels all of it."

So did I...Skye looked on, her chest tight. What can I do? She moved towards the doctor. "Does she need any blood? I can - I-I can donate or - or what -"

"I think you've helped enough," Lincoln spat.

Skye whirled on him. Are you kidding me right now? "What is that supposed to mean?" Skye shot back. Don't even tell me you think -

"It means Jiaying was right - SHIELD couldn't be trusted," Lincoln replied. "But you convinced her otherwise. Why?"

You do. You son of a - Skye let the disbelief show on her face. "You think I knew about any of this?"

"Lincoln. Skye," her mother managed.

Skye turned towards her. "I never meant for this to happen - I swear," she protested. Why do you all think the worst of me?

"I should have been more careful," Jiaying sighed. "SHIELD has done this before. I hoped they had changed," she said mournfully. She turned her attention to the other part of the argument. "Skye feels as betrayed as we do, Lincoln - maybe more."

Is that what you feel, Skye? her first mentor's voice whispered. Does this feel right to you? Skye bit her lip. "I don't think we know the full story. Coulson wouldn't do any -"

"I can't do this right now," Jiaying interjected. "I'd like everyone to leave. I need rest if I'm going to heal." She lowered her head and took a sharp breath.

Skye stalked into Raina's room. "You knew, didn't you?" she asked. "Your visions - you saw fire, destruction. You knew it would all fall apart."

Raina inclined her head. "I'm afraid so." She took up her pruning shears and examined her plants. "Everyone thinks flowers are so delicate. They really are quite resilient."

"I'm not here to talk botany," Skye spat. Quit playing with me, Raina.

"No, you're here to ask questions about what's gonna happen next," Raina returned calmly.

"Yes," Skye confirmed. Why else would I bother with you?

Raina sighed. "Well, that's the tragedy, because even if I were inclined to tell you, you wouldn't believe me, not with our history."

"Forget history - I don't care about the past," Skye protested. Not anymore. "Just -"

"Well, you should, because the past and the future are intertwined, just like us," Raina retorted. "Our paths have been intertwined since before we even met, and I'm not talking about DNA. You and I have spent our entire lives searching for our destiny, and I finally have the answer. I had a vision today, and it revealed the truth. I've seen it."

"Tell me," Skye demanded.

"You wouldn't believe me," Raina replied.

Oh, come on. Skye gave her a look. "Raina." Enough.

"It is the thorn that protects the rose," Raina said softly. She chuckled. "Or, in this case, the Daisy."

What the hell does that mean? Skye waved her off. "Please, stop with the metaphors."

"It's not a metaphor," Raina emphasized. She gave a short laugh. "That's the irony. My true purpose, my...destiny is to help you become...what you're supposed to be."

Skye rolled her eyes. Sure, of course. Make yourself necessary to me to protect yourself. Good strategy. "Why the hell did I even come here?"

"Because you want answers. You're just not willing to hear them." Raina watched Skye move towards the door again. "In fact, we'll never speak to each other again. But...you'll see. Your mother isn't leading our people," Raina insisted, "she's misleading them. It's you who are destined to lead."

Skye scoffed. I just got here, I know nothing about leading anything.

"Even in the darkness, you'll see the truth," Raina said softly as Skye walked away.

"This should work perfectly." Ward hoisted Morse off his shoulder, dumping her into the chair. "You really did good, baby."

Kara smiled. "I couldn't have done it without you, Grant. I wouldn't know how to get closure." She stroked a hand over his chest. "I'd be lost."

Grant kissed her softly. "So would I." I'd have nothing to do but think, and that's not a good thing at all. "Let's get started."

Coulson watched as the team approached with their new guest. He plucked the headphones from Cal's ears. "You want to tell me what you're really doing here?" he asked.

Cal grinned. "Sure. I'm a present, a gift horse - a peace offering from my family. I'm also an excellent Shanghai rummy partner." He chuckled as Coulson put the headphones right back on him.

Simmons waited until Cal was out of earshot to continue her report. "Sir, I'm worried he's more of a trojan horse. I believe Cal took these before he was handed over to us." She held up the three vials. "I'm going to analyze them in the lab."

"Go," the director confirmed. He turned to May. "Have we lost Skye?"

May's mouth was drawn tight as she replied. "We didn't lose Skye. She chose."

Kara stalked into the room as Bobbi started to struggle in the cuffs. "You know why you're here, but I want to hear you say it."

"Sure," Bobbi said agreeably. "I'm here because you're a twisted psychopath, and once -"

Kara backhanded her. "Wrong answer."

Grant followed. "Shouldn't waste your energy, baby. We'll stay here as long as it takes. We'll get her to admit what she did to you." He wheeled the cart over towards Bobbi and took a seat, sighing. "Sunil Bakshi gave up some surprising information when we were finding closure with him. He said that you knowingly handed Agent Kara Palamas over to HYDRA, that you are the reason she suffered months of torture and mind control at the hands of her enemy." And I fully believe that you did. "You are here to confess that truth, to give Kara the closure she needs to move on - to heal, the way I've healed."

Morse smirked. "Good luck with that."

Grant smiled to himself. "It's not luck that's gonna help us." He cleared his throat. Luck works too slowly. My life is proof of that. "Kara tells me you don't like needles."

Skye walked into her mother's room, jaw dropping at what she saw. "How are you even up?" You were just shot, twice.

"A skilled doctor, the generosity of others," her mother offered. She poured a cup of tea. "Honestly, having you here is the best medicine I could hope for."

Skye eyed her. Just that easy? "Okay, but I've been shot before, a-and this i-is..."

Jiaying merely inclined her head. "Inhuman? What's wrong?"

What isn't wrong? Skye rolled her eyes. "Everything. SHIELD attacking, you getting shot, me fighting May, the threat of more people dying - this is way up there on one of the worst days ever." She blew out a breath. "And I talked to Raina. She warned that bad things are gonna happen. I was hoping she'd have answers." I don't know why I thought she would...

Her mother looked at her skeptically. "Thought you didn't trust her."

"I don't, and I shouldn't have gone," Skye muttered. "She's full of lies, and she'll never change." Fine, she's full of lies, but do you really believe Gonzalez shot first? whispered in her head.

Jiaying gave her daughter a look. "We have more pressing work - the safety of our people."

"How?" Skye questioned. "SHIELD can find us anywhere." Forget about us, they'd definitely come looking for me...

"Which is why we have to stop hiding and fight," Jiaying declared.

Wait, what? Skye looked at her mother. "You want to take the battle to SHIELD?"

"You've seen more clearly than anyone how they treat people who are different, who have gifts," her mother explained.

And I've seen them try to help...Skye frowned. "I know, but to -"

"If our people are ever going to be safe, I need you standing by my side," Jiaying interrupted. "I know it's a lot to ask, and there's little time." She pressed the charm Gonzalez had brought into Skye's hand. "Bring this back to me if you decide to join our fight."

"Skye's mother orchestrated the whole thing," Coulson declared. He shut off the video. "It was a performance. The Quinjet they stole only fired on the one building. Nobody got hurt."

"Except Commander Gonzales," Simmons remarked. "It either killed him or destroyed any evidence of foul play against him."

"If it's theater, it worked," May said grimly. "Every Inhuman up there believes that SHIELD attacked their leader and declared war."

"Including Skye," Simmons pointed out.

"Then mark that down as the second time SHIELD got played today," Hunter interrupted.

"Figured out what happened to Agent Morse," Fitz explained. "She left on a Quinjet with - you," he continued, pointing to May. He pulled up the security footage he and Hunter had found.

"I didn't leave with Bobbi," May protested. "That's -"

"Agent 33," Coulson finished.

Fitz supplied the rest. "She killed her guard, stashed him under a blanket in Vault C, then boarded a Quinjet posing as May."

"But why?" Jemma questioned. "I don't understand."

Hunter continued. "The Quinjet's transponder went dark outside Aranda de Duero in Spain. I'm gonna need a pilot."

"With pleasure," May volunteered.

The fine art of torture. It's one that Garrett taught me well. And among the first things he taught me about it was you had to seem like you were enjoying it. No matter how much your stomach turned, or how you may empathize with the person across from you.

I bet everyone thinks that I take pleasure in this, that I'm so twisted I relish other people's pain. But I'm not looking to inflict pain blindly. That was my family's hallmark. No, I use pain as a tool and a weapon to accomplish things. Order. Justice. Closure. I'm trying to use what Garrett made of me to help myself, to help Kara.

I know full well no one else will help us now.

Coulson stalked down the hall with the team May and Hunter selected. "This reeks of Ward. He left Agent 33 here for this very purpose."

"But why take Bob?" Hunter questioned. "Did she have a history with him?"

Coulson shrugged. "Not that I know of, but Ward's logic is rarely logical." He sighed. "There's a piece we don't understand yet."

"There's a piece that Ward doesn't understand," May interjected. "When I find him, I'm going to kill him," she continued with relish.

Hunter looked at her approvingly. "Glad we're on the same page."

Grant examined Bobbi's hand. "Any agent worth their salt adjusts to pain - can push it away. So I took a different approach - paralytic combined with an anesthetic. You can't fight what's happening, nor can you feel any of the pain...yet." It's like growing up in my family...He gave her a smile. "Crazy, huh? Now, in a little while, the drug will turn off. Everything you're not feeling will flood in at once."

"It's how I felt after the mind control was removed," Kara added. "I remembered every terrible thing they did to me."

"Now, we can avoid all that pain if you cooperate," Ward offered. Not that I mind the other way as much as I might want to. "Admit your sins," he continued. Give Kara the closure she deserves.

"What happened to you was a tragedy," Bobbi gritted out.

"Not good enough," Kara said darkly.

"I had to make a choice when I was inside HYDRA - protect my cover by giving them a SHIELD safe house that might be occupied or blow my cover and lose intel that I knew for a fact would get two dozen SHIELD agents killed," Bobbi continued.

"So you did sell me out," Kara declared.

"I'm sorry you were in that safe house, but I did the right thing," Morse persisted. "The lives of the many outweigh the life of one. You - " She glared at Ward before turning back to Kara. "You swore to the same ideal when you signed to SHIELD."

"That's your apology?" Grant scoffed. You signed up to be sacrificed?

"Oh. I'll go one better," Bobbi retorted. "If I ever apologize or beg for mercy while you torture me, know that I don't mean a word of it - not a word. I made a hard call. I'd make the same one again right now."

If she didn't make me so angry I'd admire her. Or maybe I do, a little bit. It's easy to say the lives of the many over the few when you've spent your life knowing someone else would give the same for you. I didn't have that luxury, and Kara didn't either. No one came to free her, no one thought to help her. That SHIELD that Morse talked about was the vehicle of Kara's torment. It's easy to sacrifice someone you don't know.

What about someone you do know? What about someone you love? What lengths would you go to spare them pain? Yes, we signed to SHIELD to protect people, but it's not an easy thing to know that your life is forfeit. It's more than a tragedy, and it's not a little white lie, to be quickly forgiven.

And once Morse can say that, can see that, our work will be done.

Skye looked at the pendant in her hands. A charm to keep evil away. I could have used this...She sighed as she walked through the rubble. All of this, all this chaos, all this destruction...I still can't believe that's the SHIELD that I know. I've been through every bit of data in that system, and there's no records of anything like this - unprovoked attack, genocide...That's HYDRA, not SHIELD. And yet my mother...

She sighed as she reached the spot where she and Jiaying had first explored her power. My mother. What do I do about my mother? She wants me on her side, but would she even believe it? The way that she and Lincoln have been looking at me, talking to me...She defended me when it was Lincoln, but her first response was to blame me. What does that say about her, about us? What am I supposed to do now?

"How are you doing, baby?" Grant took Kara by the waist to pull her close. "You okay?" This is the hardest part, where we have to dig in.

Kara nodded, exhaling roughly. "She did admit she sold me out. That's step one."

Grant brushed her hair back. "She did. And we have all the time in the world for the rest." As much time as you need.

Kara glanced over, smirking. "It's happening," she confirmed, walking over to look in Morse's eyes. "She feels it." She crossed back to embrace him.

Grant rubbed his hands up and down her arms. "Once she understands your pain, we can all move past this unpleasantness." That's all it will be - remembered unpleasantness, with no power over you.

Bobbi struggled against the cuffs. "Don't you see what's happening? He's molding you - the way that Bakshi molded you. The circle never ends."

I would never treat her like they did. Grant scoffed. "You left her for dead. I'm helping her heal...from wounds you inflicted." And if I'm molding her, I'm molding her to be strong.

"Then take her to Hawaii," Bobbi countered. She turned back to Kara. "Do you think it'll end with me? There's always someone else to blame."

Grant stiffened in Kara's arms. Of course you'd think that of me. I'm just a psycho, a killer...

"You're wrong," Kara declared.

"I bet he started you off easy - symbolic target - maybe the doctor who made your mask," Morse suggested.

Grant and Kara exchanged a look. Exactly what I warned Kara Morse would do - try to turn Kara against me, try to make her doubt...

"Ward probably started off easy, too," Bobbi concluded.

"You're right," Kara admitted, rubbing a hand over his chest. "It was his dog."

Grant closed his eyes. I don't know if I'd call that easy at all...

"Garrett made him kill his dog," Kara continued. "I know what you're doing, Agent Morse, and it's not going to work." Kara stalked towards Bobbi slowly, standing before her. "Grant's already told me everything - everything - about his abusive family, about John Garrett, about having to kill Victoria Hand."

He winced. Preparing might have helped Kara, but I didn't expect her to just lay it out like that.

"But in the end, he overcame his family and the pain Garrett put him through," Kara said firmly. "He remade himself. It's why I love him," she said softly, glancing over at him before turning back to Bobbi. "...and why no matter what he does, I will always stand with Ward."

Where do I stand now? Skye passed the charm from hand to hand, walking back towards the village. I want to be a part of both worlds, but they are both forcing me to choose. It was so much easier when all I wanted to do was pull back the Wizard's curtain, but I am way down the rabbit hole now...She blew out a breath as she made her way along the path. Curiosity and all, right? She slowed as she heard voices ahead. Who would be out here?

"There's only one thing that can save the Inhumans from death and destruction," Raina said softly. "And it is neither you nor I. It's Skye."

Jiaying scoffed.

Raina inclined her head. "I've considered killing her and you - running from my fate. But then, I realized..." She took a breath. "What my grandmother used to say - that one day, I would be an angel. And I realized her words have come true. I am not a monster," Raina declared, pushing back her hood. "I am an angel. I'm finally what I'm meant to be."

"I'm happy to hear you say that," Jiaying murmured darkly.

"Angels are guardians, Jiaying, but they're also heralds, sent to reveal the truth," Raina said.

Skye froze as Raina caught her eye. What is - what is going on here?

"And that is my purpose. I'm here to show the Inhumans exactly what you are," Raina continued, looking to Skye again. "Even in the darkness, they will see the truth," Raina repeated.

What was - why did she say that again? She froze and watched as her mother stabbed Raina in the throat. No...oh, please, no...She let the charm fall from her hand and stalked towards Jiaying. "What did you do?" Skye hissed. "How could you?"

"She threatened me," Jiaying protested. "You tried to warn me, but I didn't listen until it was almost too late."

Liar. Skye looked at her mother with fresh eyes. "She knew I would see this. She said as much," she realized out loud. "She saw who you really are, so you killed her."

"Everything I've done, everything I will do is for the protection of our people," Jiaying insisted.

"You killed Gonzalez," Skye said, exhaling sharply. That's why this all feels wrong... "You want a war."

"War was inevitable," her mother scoffed. "I struck first so we would have the advantage."

"He came to make peace!" Skye cried incredulously. Here I thought it was Coulson, but if it had been, he'd be the one dead...

"Peace? I built this community in the middle of nowhere so we would be left in peace," Jiaying laughed bitterly. "Yet, SHIELD found us. No matter where we go or what we do, they will hunt us down. If we are to survive, SHIELD must be destroyed."

"What are you planning?" Skye asked quietly.

"I am planning for our future - your future," Jiaying insisted. "Daisy, I won't live forever, and when I'm gone, you must lead these people - protect them as I have done."

"Protect them?" Skye repeated. "You killed Raina. You are leading them into a war!" She shook her head. "If they need protection, it is from you!"

"I'm sorry you feel that way," her mother sighed.

Skye opened her mouth to protest, the blow to the back of her head taking her by surprise.

"Why won't she apologize," Kara gritted out. "Why? Am I so unworthy? Is my life so expendable?" She inhaled shakily, tears shining in her eyes.

"Not to me, baby," Grant said softly. "Not to me." He kissed her, hugging her tightly. "You're tired, it's all right. Go, rest. I can handle this."

"The things she said about you, Grant..." She shook her head. "I know you told me she would but...they really don't - no one can see. Why can't they see?"

He laughed bitterly. "Oh, baby." He kissed her again. "Thank you, for caring. They don't. They can't. They don't want to. And that..." He sighed. "That's on me. I'll have to carry that. But you..." He brushed her tears from her eyes. "Baby, knowing you see me, you love me, even with all my skeletons, all the things I've done..." He shook his head. You're the only one, ever. "It means more to me than you could ever know."

Kara kissed him, cupping his face in her hands. "I do, you know. I love you, and I will always stand with you."

Grant caught her hands in his, kissing her palms. "Thank you. Now let me take care of this tonight, all right? Get some sleep."

Kara nodded, hugging him tightly before leaving him for their makeshift bedroom.

Kara...Seeing her like this, it's why this one is more personal than the rest of them. Bakshi could only be expected to be evil, it was in his nature. I'm sure the team would say just like mine, right? My nature is dark and evil and twisted and incapable of love or a thirst for justice.

But then I see Kara suffering and I think to hell with what they believe.

Maybe I can't save me, but I'm going to try like hell to save her.

Grant walked back in alone, brandishing a thermos of coffee. "Gonna be a long night," he explained, watching Morse squirming in the chair in front of him. "I knew you'd be tough." I'm glad for it. Challenge me, damn it. "Coulson's got a good eye for talent, though he's a little blind when it comes to spies in his own house." They just keep multiplying..."You know, you and I are a lot alike, both of us living one life on the outside. But who we really are - we keep that buried deep inside...where no one can ever find it." Not even us...He sighed as he put down the coffee cup. "That's why Coulson never saw us coming," he concluded. He leaned in. "That's why you never saw me coming."

"Where's Kara?" Bobbi questioned.

"Sleeping." Pacing. Hurting. He let his anger show in a dangerous look. "Oh, but don't worry - I can go all night." As long as it takes for her...He waved the next needle at her. "I need you to help me help her," he demanded. "Kara needs closure. Admit that you betrayed her, and we can end this."

"You're such a hypocrite," she mocked. "You say I betrayed her? You betrayed your entire team. How many people who trusted you have died?"

You think I don't know that? He took a breath to keep the words from bursting out. She's just pushing my buttons. I know how this goes...

"See, I've seen the real Grant Ward, the one buried deep inside," Bobbi continued. "He's a coward who always has an excuse or someone else to blame."

He pressed his palms on the table, leaning closer to her. That's what Garrett made me. "You don't know me," he hissed. You don't know anything about me. None of you do anymore.

"Sure, I do." She ripped free of the cuffs, slamming his head into the table. She grabbed the needles from under her nails to stab Ward in the neck.

Damn it. Grant let out a grunt of pain, yanking the pins out. Thank god we were using thin needles. He took a fighting stance, sparring with her through and then out of the room. Still not getting away though. They fought their way through the hall. How the hell does she always find something to swing from?

Kara burst into the hall, firing.

That's my girl. Grant took advantage of the momentary diversion to kick Bobbi down the hall. Morse fought them both until Ward managed to grab her, tossing her to the floor. He kicked her knee viciously as she lay on the ground. Kara's life, her happiness, is worth both yours and mine. I won't let you ruin her chance to be free. He stood, panting, over Morse. "Now...is there anything you'd like to say to Kara?"

"Yeah," Bobbi managed. "I'd do it all again."

Of course that's what you'd say. Stupid, pointless resistance, when you know deep down you've made a horrible mistake. He handed Kara the gun.

Kara cocked it and walked over, pointing it straight at Bobbi's face as the agent stared her down. Kara frowned and looked to Grant. "This isn't right." She exhaled heavily. "I'm not feeling it. She doesn't care if she dies, and...she's not sorry."

You're right about that. But I'll make it that way. Grant nodded slowly. "It's okay, baby. I know what to do."

She doesn't care if she dies and she's not sorry. I remember what that was like. To feel so disconnected from everything that happened, and not just while on mission. Life wasn't something to be lived. It was something that happened around me, something that happened to me, in between missions. When the mission turned out to be Garrett's insanity, when there was no one telling me the next move...Kara wasn't the only one lost. Without Garrett, I had only one purpose, only one mission. There was only one thing that woke me up, that shook me and made me think about who I had been, who I was deep down. Only one.

If Morse is anything like I think, she has the same pressure point. She'll get to feel like I did, watching blood pooling on the cold concrete.

It's fitting, poetic, that I end my time with SHIELD like this.

Skye fought back a groan at the pain in her head, concentrating on her breathing and the sounds around her. We're on...the boat. The boots don't sound like the base. Echoey. What happened? She winced as she was bounced around. And who the hell is carrying me?

On cue, Lincoln raised a protest. "Careful with her. She's unconscious, not dead."

Gordon scoffed. "Just lock her up. We have to move fast."

How could I have ever believed in them? Over Coulson, over SHIELD? She carefully cracked an eye open to see unfamiliar silver cuffs on her arms. I'm going to have to figure out how to get on the right side of this one...And probably fast.

Morse's cellphone vibrated on the table. Grant snatched it up with a smirk. Finally. "That was fast," he remarked. "Someone must really miss their honey bunny." He tossed the phone aside. "You think he'll come for you, hmm?" Good. We're counting on it. He stood.

"Since you've shown no remorse for your sins against Kara, since you clearly have no regard for your own life...we're leaving you a little present." He checked the scope and clicked the safety off the rifle he'd set up. "First person through this door..." He pantomimed an explosion. "...brains everywhere." And that bright, vivid red is something you can never unsee...

Kara finished checking the restraints and stood. "I wonder what you'll feel when you watch somebody else die because of what you did."

Your betrayal, your cowardice, because you had the audacity to want something for yourself after years of - Grant took a breath and smirked. "I know what we'll feel," he murmured as he gestured Kara out of the room and armed the motion sensor. "Closure." He shut the door firmly behind them.

To be continued...