Ivy here.

I waited behind the door as Ward came onto the Bus.

Ariel was shoved next to me.

"That was smart," I said. "Real smart."

"I know. I wasn't thinking. Hey, didn't you have a British accent before?"

Now who wasn't thinking? I reapplied the accent. "Of course, what would make you think I hadn't?"

"For a moment... never mind."

Ward climbed down and started ordering everyone around.

I went for the taser that I kept inside my jacket. Just in case.

"Oh, and there's one more person," said Raina. "You know Ariel Dalton?"

My heart thudded into my toes.

"Right. Come out, Ariel, I know you're here somewhere watching."

Ariel took a step forward. I pulled her back. "Are you crazy?" I could teleport us off in a moment.

"He doesn't get me, he'll kill everyone. I don't know what he wants, but something tells me it's probably better than death, which is what everyone will get if I don't."

Very, very slightly better. Maybe.

I looked at her, and then at Phillip, and released her arm. I pulled open voluminous jacket that someone had given her, found a hard to spot pocket, and slipped the taser inside.

It was the hardest thing I'd done. Letting go instead of protecting. "God protect you."

Ariel pulled out the taser and dropped it down the neckline of her dress. Then she walked out. "I'm here, Ward." She spat his name like it was a dirty word.

I sank down against the wall as they left.

The moment the door closed, I jumped up.

Everyone stared at me.

Agent May looked most shocked. "You just..."

"Yep. Now, let's get where we're going so I can get her back. After I do that, I will personally insure that he never, ever lays a finger on her again."

Then again, after what Skye did, I wouldn't have to do anything. Still, I'd do something.

Ariel here.

The ride was mostly silent. Ward made no attempt to restrain me or speak to me at all.

I spent the entire ride alternating glares between him and Raina.

Skye nudged me slightly. "What do you think he wants you for?" Her voice was too soft for anyone else to hear.

"I haven't got a clue."

"Quiet back there!" ordered Ward.

"What are you going to do, kill us?" asked Skye. "No, I don't think so."

"Whatever you wanted her for, you probably need her in one piece."

Ward nodded. "You, on the other hand..." He took too steps across and grabbed me around the throat, lifting me out of the seat. I gasped and clawed at his hand.

"Ward, stop that!" yelled Skye.

He let go and I collapsed back into the seat.

"Yeah, you're so a fan," I muttered. "Because fans of singers totally choke them."

I was silent for the rest of the ride.

When we landed, Ward grabbed my arm and pulled me onto my feet. "Come on."

He dragged me into their base, and directly to Dr. Whitehall's office. From there, he shoved me into a chair in front of the desk.

Dr. Whitehall stared across at me, face blank.

"Ariel Dalton."

"Nice to see you know my name at least. Ward says you're a fan."

"Yes, I have a copy of your CD."

"Why am I here?"

"Because I want to study you."

Oh, great.

"How did you acquire that voice?"

"The same way everyone else does. Work. Lots of work. And an excellent teacher."

"I want to see if there's anything else to it."

"Believe me, there isn't. I traveled through time and dimensions to an alternate universe and took training from a good teacher, and have continued taking them through my mirror."

The look he gave me was hilarious. "What?"

I whipped out the taser.

Whitehall collapsed onto his desk.

It was very satisfying to see that. I just have to say.

The door burst open. Someone tackled me, knocking me into the desk. My head bashed against the wood. Stars flashed. I slid down.

A hand grabbed the back of my dress, pulling me up and causing the collar to dig into my throat.

I kicked out, missing the first time, the second time connecting with my attacker's leg. The grip relaxed slightly. I pulled away, crawling under the desk and popping up on the other side.

Not one of my more shining moments, I admit. I can do thinking under pressure, but the response is usually a crazy plan, and my crazy plans don't always work.

My mind flew back to an incident from months ago. So many months ago...

"All right, that's enough," I said. "You've done your job."

The man stared at me. "What?"

"It was a test, agent. To see how prompt your reaction time would be. Congratulations, you passed with flying colors."

The agent in black continued staring.

I pulled out my adamantium mirror and bashed it against his head. He staggered back. Another blow to the head made him slump to the floor.

Blows like that could cause permanent brain damage. I should have felt worse than I did.

Now I had to get out of there.

I stole his jacket and his weapons, pulling the jacket on over my dress, which was definitely the worse for wear. A shame, I had rather liked it.

I stared at Whitehall for a second.

I could have killed him and taken revenge. And I wanted to. I wanted to so much.

I could have given him a few more shocks with the taser. I could have hit him in the head a few times. I raised the taser, ready to deliver.

There's something they don't tell you about revenge, though. They tell you that revenge won't make you feel better, that it eats away at you, that it's God's place to avenge, all of that stuff. And it's true. But they don't tell you how hard it is to actually murder someone in cold blood, no matter how much you hate them.

I returned the taser to my dress.

Ivy would have given me an earful over it anyhow. He'd get his payback in the afterlife – hopefully. Whenever that happened.

I slipped into the shadows. When you're trying to hide, being below most people's eye level helps tremendously.

I dropped down behind a large crate in a dark hallway.

My stomach growled. I hadn't eaten in ages – I think the last time was before the concert. How long ago had that been? Two days? Maybe?

I pulled the jacket tighter around myself. They'd be after me in a minute. What should I do now?

That plan could have been thought through better. Just a bit better.

"Find her!" yelled a voice.

I decided now would be a good time to move on.

The only person here who would help me is Skye. And she would be meeting with her dad.

At least Skye had parents. A parent. I would give a lot to have that right now – even if they were crazy murderers.

I did have a brother – one who was probably doing all he could to find me – but it's not exactly the same thing, is it? I would have done something to contact him, but I didn't have any way to contact him, especially not at that moment.

"There she is!"

I have never run so fast in my life.

I picked up my skirts and sprinted down the hall, grabbing for my tazer, then crashed directly into someone.

Ward grabbed me, picking me up off the ground. I kicked at him, my knee finding a target where it hurt. He held on.

I head butted him. "Let me go, Ward, and I might help you protect Skye!" I growled at him.

He stared at me for a moment. "What happens to Skye?" He yelled in my face, starting to shake me.

"Stop that and call off the others and I'll tell you."

He stopped shaking me. He lowered me to the ground, keeping a tight grip on my arm with one hand, and motioned to the other HYDRA agents. They left without a sound.

"What happens to Skye?"

I looked into his eyes for a moment. "Who bit you, Agent Ward?"

"What happens to Skye?"

"Who bit you? You're not supposed to have those scars on your face."

"Ivy. What about Skye?"

"I have no idea." I head butted him again. "I haven't watched Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. for ages. Been in the wrong universe."

I pulled away and ran. Getting head butted twice will disorientate you a bit – the only reason that plan could have possibly worked.

Well, actually, it didn't work.

Ward grabbed me around the middle, picking me up off the ground and throwing me up against a wall.

I've been punched before. I've never been physically beaten like that, though, not up until that moment.

Ward's fist smashed into my face again and again. The skin split on the first punch. On the second one, I started screaming.

It was probably only just how much pain I was in that saved me. My screaming alerted everyone within hearing range.

A door slammed.

"What are you doing?" screamed Skye.

Ward let go and I slumped down against the wall. Ward continued his attack, kicking at me as Skye pulled him back. His foot connected with my ribs. Something snapped.

Skye started screaming at Ward. I won't repeat anything that she said because it would have to be censored.

I felt as if every bone in my face was broken. Several were, actually.

Someone grabbed my shoulder, pulling me up into a sitting position. A set of hands began to inspect my face. I couldn't quite make out faces. Voices weren't that clear either.

"Anywhere aside from the face?" asked a male voice.

"Kicked me a few times. I think one of my ribs is broken."

He checked. "Yes." He stood up. "She's going to need a thorough examination and medical attention."

"I sincerely doubt I'm worth it."

"Aren't you one of them?"

I couldn't stop myself from laughing. Pain shot through my rib. "Yeah… no. I'm not in the habit of working for Nazis."

"I am not a Nazi!" yelled Ward.

"Yes you are!" said Skye.

This could go on for a while.

I would have tried to make an escape if I could have stood upright. As it was, I sat propped up against the wall, wanting to be pretty much anywhere else.

Footsteps sounded nearby.

"Not now!" yelled Ward.

The footsteps retreated.

Ward turned his attention to me. "You lied."

"Yeah. And if you're going to criticize me for it, I'd take a long look in the mirror first."

"It's just like Ivy's here."

I twisted around to look up at him. "Don't you ever say a word about Ivy. She was worth ten of you. More than ten. She at knew what the right thing was and tried to do it. You, on the other hand, either don't have a clue or just don't want to."

Ward grabbed me and and raised his fist to strike.

Skye grabbed his arm and physically yanked it backwards.

"Ward, may I just say that any desire you have to date Skye is not being helped right now?"

I'm surprised he didn't beat me to a pulp for that.

Instead, he let go, setting me down and backing away. "Have you got a death wish?"

"I did watch your business associates murder my parents, after all. Is it so unbelievable?"

"You did what?" demanded Skye.

"I didn't have anything to do with it. And I saved your life."

"For which I'm grateful, but as far as I'm concerned, the whole HYDRA thing means we're both even."

"You barely even knew me."

"I should have kicked you a little harder when you attacked me at that gas station. The only real unearned forgiveness in this world comes from God. You have to pretty much earn everyone else's. Sorry."

Something touched my face. I batted at it.

"Just trying to get some of the blood off," said Skye.

"Sorry. I can't see very much right now."

"Like I said, when is that doctor coming?"

Hopefully never. I didn't want to see another member of HYDRA as long as I lived. Maybe after I died, I'd like to see one. Maybe.

And then I passed out.