Episode 6: A Fractured House

Sara sat beside Simmons, the two of them watching a video of Ward. At 5:30 on the dot, he sat up, wringing his hands. He took a few breaths, then stood, starting on a workout.
"5:30 on the dot every morning," Simmons murmured. "But there's no clock, no light, no way he can know what time it is."
"You've been watching him?" Sara asked.
Simmons nodded, "Every day before I left, every day since I got back. I'm sorry I didn't tell you." Sara pursed her lips but nodded.
"I forgive you, it's okay."
"Guys, there's been an attack," Bobbi said, walking over to them.
"Just to clarify, we weren't the ones who did the attacking, right?" Simmons asked.
"Nope. Marcus Scarlotti was behind the attack."
"Have fun with that," Sara said. "I gotta finish packing."
"Before you do that, Coulson wants you."

Sitting in Coulson's office, she watched as he paced in front of her.
"What do you want, Coulson?" she questioned. "I've got packing and apartment hunting to do."
"What do you know about Christian Ward?"
"He's a Senator. He's a son of a bitch… though that might be a biased opinion due to sleeping with his brother."
"Watch this interview," he said. "Tell me what you think after that."

As the TV turned on, Sara leaned back in her chair. Christian Ward sat in his office, giving an interview.
"S.H.I.E.L.D. is a terrorist organization and they should be treated as such."
"Is that what you plan to speak about at the U.N.'s emergency session tomorrow?" a reporter asked.
"What I plan to do is lay out a proposal for a multi-national police force that will target those suspected of ties with S.H.I.E.L.D. using any and all means necessary."
"Anyone suspected of ties?" Julien Beckers, the Minister of Foreign Affairs in Belgium questioned. "Who determines that? Belgium will never accept this proposal. It destroys the very idea of citizens' rights."
"Mr. Beckers," Christian said smoothly. "If you want to welcome S.H.I.E.L.D. at your borders with open arms, be my guest, but this infestation needs to be exterminated."

Sara looked away from the screen.
"Not even the harshest I've heard him speak," she remarked. "You've watched other interviews?"
"Just a few. But he's never cared about S.H.I.E.L.D. before. At least, not openly."
"Hunter said Talbot was working with Senator who had deep pockets."
"You think it's him?"
"I do." Coulson picked up his tablet and the image of Christian disappeared, showing a map of the globe with several blue dots. "Months rebuilding and this is S.H.I.E.L.D. Few operatives here, not many more out there. If Senator Ward's proposal passes—"
"It'll be a witch hunt," Sara murmured.
"Every military organization on the planet will have a license to kick our operatives' doors down and shoot them on the spot. I can't let that happen." He set his tablet back down, crossing his arms. "I know you aren't one of my agents any longer, Sara, but I need you to go speak to Ward."
"And what? Gather intel on Christian?"
"He's the uncle of your son." She glared at him.
"Don't ever bring Jonathan up in conversations like this," she hissed. "Do you understand?"
"Affirmative."

She could tell that Ward was surprised to see her when the frost disappeared.
"Sara—"
"This is how this is going to work. I'm going to ask questions and you are going to tell me the truthful answer."
"I never lied to you, Sara."
"You're right. I just never asked the right questions. My fault. Now, we need to talk about Christian." Ward jumped to his feet, approaching the glass as if worried about her.
"Why? What happened?"
"Just basic information, Ward. Habits, places he frequently visits, stuff like that."
"Sara, you need to stay away from him. He's not what he seems. He always has an angle, and if he thinks that you can lead him to me—"
"This isn't about you," she cut in. "Maybe it'll end up like that. But it's not about you at the moment."
"Isn't it? Do you remember me telling you what happened at the well, what he made me do? He gets joy from one thing, hurting people."
"I remember."
"Does he know I'm here, Sara?"
"Are you scared of him?"
"What?"
"Are you scared of Christian?"
"I'm scared of what he'll do to you to get to me."
"Okay. Then tell me what I want so we can keep that from happening."
"Okay… you can't trust Christian. Nothing he says is the truth. He'll smile, bare his soul, it's all manipulation He's a master at it. If you ever wondered where I learned, well… Look, Sara, I know what I am. But my brother, he's worse."

A day later, Sara and Coulson stood in Christian Ward's office. She hadn't originally wanted to go along, but Coulson had insisted and Keonig was watching Jonathan. She hadn't left the base in months after all. Coulson was leaning against a bookshelf while Sara was leafing through a family photo album. She noted the lack of photos of Ward. They really were distant. She closed the book as Christian walked into the room. He made it to the desk without noticing them.

Clearing her throat, Sara gave him a small wave when he noticed them.
"Excuse me, what are you doing here?" the man asked.
"Don't worry, we haven't been waiting long," Sara said. She held out her hand to him. "Sara Reyes-Fitz. Phil Coulson." When the Senator didn't shake her hand, she lowered it. She nodded down to the papers on his desk. "I assume these are for your speech. Coulson made a few changes." She rolled her eyes as he attempted to call security. "I'm sorry. Your men won't be checking on you, at least not for the next hour."
"What do you want?"
"An opportunity to clear the air. The attack on the U.N. wasn't S.H.I.E.L.D. it was HYDRA. Specifically, a man named Daniel Whitehall."
"You didn't come here to clean the air; you need something from em. All this swaggering simply tell me you have nothing to offer in return. What do you want me to do? Go on record defending S.H.I.E.L.D., condemning HYRDA? The American people are looking for a simple enemy, Ms. Reyes-Fitz. It's what makes them feel safe."

From the bookshelf, Coulson spoke up.
"And how do you think they'd feel if they knew your brother was HYDRA."
"Coulson, no," Sara hissed. Coulson walked closer to them.
"That's an awfully complicated idea to grasp, especially in an election year."
"Are you threatening, Mr. Coulson?"
"No. I'm telling you—"
"Coulson, don't."
"—I have your brother in my basement."

The Senator blinked in surprise.
"Is he all right? Is Grant hurt? Did—did you have to do anything—"
"No. We believe there are other ways to get information from people." Christian let out a deep, relieved sigh. "I'm surprised your concerned, honestly," Coulson remarked.
"You don't have a brother, do you?"
"No. Always wanted one, though. As an only child you tend to idealize that relationship. Family has to take care of each other, right? Then again… I've heard some stories that say otherwise."
"What did Grant tell you?"
"Plenty," Coulson answered. "I know what you did. How you forced him to torture your youngest brother. I know what happened at the well."

A smile made its way onto Christian's face.
"So, it's a well now? You may think you know Grant Ward, Mr. Coulson, but trust me—underneath every lie he tells is just another lie."
"That's not true," Sara snapped. "And how would you know?"
"We were engaged at one point. It fell through when his alliance to S.H.I.E.L.D. did."
"Ah, so you're the one with the kid."

Sara felt her face pale as Christian addressed Coulson once more.
"When we were kids, our parents were always gone, some state function or another. We'd spend all day by the creek hunting salamanders and crayfish. But I could never leave Grant alone with Thomas. I found Grant down there once, standing over him with a screwdriver. Thomas was on the ground, just screaming. And I saw something… something else behind his eyes. Something I'm sure you've seen before, as well. A second later, it was gone, and he was just my little brother again. He told our parents that I forced him to do it. I've spent too much of my life trying to unravel his lies."
"He wouldn't do that," Sara said. "He loves Thomas. I've met Thomas."
"He always finds someone to believe him," Christian directed that to Sara. "I wonder what lies you're keeping for him, Ms. Reyes-Fitz?"
"My loyalties are to S.H.I.E.L.D. and the American government," she seethed. "Don't ever question that."

Scooting his chair back, Coulson stood.
"He won't geta way with it this time," he said. "It's not going to be simple… but I think I know a way we can both have what we want."
"Really?" Christian asked. "And what would that be."
"We give you Ward in exchange for your anti-S.H.I.E.L.D. proposal reversal."
"No!"
"Deal."

Sitting on the Quinn-jet, Sara stared straight ahead as Coulson piloted.
"We need the Senator's help, Sara," he told her. "Ward is what he wants to make that happen."
"I hate you," Sara said, turning her head to meet his gaze.
"You're just saying that."
"No, I'm not." She stood, leaving the cockpit to sit in the back. This couldn't be happening. Not now.

May found her sitting in her room at the base. Jonathan was asleep in his crib.
"Do you agree with Coulson, May?"
"Yes."
"Get out." May did as she asked.

It was Bobbi who finally got the woman out of her room.
"They're taking him today," she said. "If you wanna say anything to him. You gotta say it now."
"Why would you tell me, Bobbi? What's in it for you?"
"You need closure, Sara. Now, get up. And follow me. Hunter will take Jon."
"Jon?"
"It's shorter than Jonathan."

The agent grabbed Sara's arm, dragging her to her feet. She pulled Sara throughout the base until they stopped in the main hallway. Sara tugged her arm away from Bobbi, glaring at her.
"You didn't have to yank that hard."
"Stop being a baby," Bobbi chided.
"What's she doing here?" Trip asked.
"I have a name, Triplett, thanks."
"I didn't mean it like that, Sara…" His voice trailed off as they caught sight of Ward being led through the hallway.

The moment their eyes met; Sara could feel her resolve breaking. She darted forward, through the armed soldiers until she stood in front of him.
"I'll shoot you if you make me move," she threatened a guard.
"Leave her be," May ordered.
"What are you doing, Sara?" Ward questioned. "I asked for you to come and you didn't."
"I-I-I couldn't."
"Why not?"

She couldn't bring herself to tell him the truth.
"Cause I can't bare seeing you locked up down there."
"And here they go, taking me from one prison to another. Go away." Sara took a step back at the venom in his tone. The guards moved him around her and before they rounded the corner, Sara yelled after him.
"I didn't mean it, you know!" He stopped, spinning around to face her.
"Didn't mean what?" he asked.
"Past tense," she answered. His eyes widened before he was dragged around the corner.

When he disappeared, Sara lifted her head as she realized everyone was staring at her. She turned to them, clapping her hands together. She spoke lowly.
"If you don't make yourselves scarce, I'll make you help me pack." That caused everyone to walk away… except Fitz. He shuffled over to her.
"Are you okay?" he asked quietly.
"No. Leo, I don't think I ever will be." With that he wrapped his arms around her, settling his chin on the top of her head as she started crying against his chest. She cried for Ward, for Jonathan, for the future, and, selfishly enough, for herself.

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