Through the fire

Disclaimer: I do not in any way own Marvel or Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D, nor am I associated with them in any way. This is a non-profit fan work written solely for the purpose of entertainment. This is in no way canon in any shape or form.

Replies to questions or statements:

-Not-So-Dark-One: Thank you, hope you enjoy this chapter.

-Shodai01: Thanks. At the moment, Callista's goal is to stay with Grant until she can be sure that he'll be alright. Once she confirms he's no longer in any danger, she may go back to doing mercenary work or just stay close to Grant. While she's willing to help out those she cares about, she is primarily motivated by monetary gain. For now, she has no desire to join HYDRA or SHIELD. Though, that may change later.

(One month later)

Grant sat down on the couch in the safe room he was in as he let out a heavy sigh and ran his hands down his face. It's been just over a month since his sister had broke him out of federal custody. They then began working together to hand Bakshi over to Coulson and dealing with Christian and their parents. It surprised him that Calista was completely on board with it, but he shouldn't have been too surprised when he was looking back on it. She had never shown any real care for Christian and she and made it clear that she had despised their parents, particular their mom. Not really surprising as she often suffered by her hand when they were younger. As she said, Thomas and him were really the only ones she really considered to be her blood brothers.

She had been with him at every step of the way. From kidnapping Christian to killing him and their parents in the housefire. Despite his best efforts to not get her involved, she had been incredibly stubborn and she absolutely refused to back out. Despite his initial hesitation he quickly became glad that she was there. It felt good to have someone he trusted having his back. Additionally, in spite of the fact that it's been years since the two last saw one another, it was like that hadn't been separated for a day as the two quickly fell into a familiar rhythm. The two had always worked well together, and with the skills the two had picked up over the years only helped to compliment their partnership.

After that, he had joined up with Whitehall's HYDRA with Calista infiltrating the group and disguising herself as a HYDRA tactical operative. It was her idea as she suggested that bleeding in with the background it would improve their chances to bug out in case things got hot. A sentiment that had proven her right in the end. She had stayed near him for most of the time, like when he and a HYDRA assault team had boarded his old team's plane she was disguised as one of the HYDRA assaulters. Additionally she was the one to restrain him when Raina ratted him out and Whitehall ordered him arrested. She had escorted him to the cell where he and Skye were placed him, but discreetly handing him a hidden blade which he hid in the sleeve in his jacket which he had later used to cut himself free. She had also held on to the rest of his gear and weapons that was taken off of him when he got taken into custody and handed it to him during the escape.

Once he had taken down the guard that was watching over him along with Skye, he had cut her loose and started to lead her out of there. Much to his shock, when he had turned around, he was greeted to the sight of her pointing a FN five-seven at him and seconds away from pulling the trigger. Which she no doubt would have if it wasn't for his sister standing right at the door leading into the room, grazing her in the shoulder which caused her to drop the pistol and clutch her shoulder in pain as she tried to stop the bleeding.

From there, Calista had pretty much grabbed him by the arm and forcibly dragged him out of there. Along the way, they had came across a woman with Melinda May's face, but it wasn't heavily burnt which instantly made him realized that she was Agent 33, a SHIELD agent that got captured by HYDRA and brainwashed after they had raided her safe house. He had heard rumors that it was Bobby Morse, also known as the Mockingbird and a member of Coulson's inner circle that had done it. He still didn't know why Coulson hadn't bothered to rescue her considering he had heard that there were multiple times they had her at their mercy. It was possibly that Morse hadn't bothered to tell Coulson, or the new director of SHIELD just didn't think she was worth the resources to retrieve.

If the latter was true, it didn't surprised him one bit. If it was someone like Skye that got captured, Coulson would have done absolutely anything to find her and bring him home. But if it was someone like him or even another loyal SHIELD agent under his command, they just weren't worth the effort. SHIELD and HYDRA were very similar like that. There were those who were placed as important and part of the inner circle while everybody else was expendable.

Much like he was Garrett. He was just too blind to realize it at the time.

When Calista had raised her FN P90 at her, agent 33 didn't even raised her service pistol back. Before Cali could do anything he had forced her to lower the weapon. For he had recognized the look in her eyes and knew exactly how she was feeling in that moment. It was the feeling and look of despair and loss. Of how the person you've depended on for nearly your whole life and felt as if they were your soul reason for being was now dead, and how in the moments after that you just feel like you're falling down and lost as if one were adrift on a small raft in the middle of the sea with a storm on the way.

He had insisted on taking her with them, much to Calista's protest saying that they were being surrounded by hostiles on all sides. But caved after the two of them had one of their silent brother-sister conversations when they stared at each other for a couple of seconds.

Now, they were in a safe house that was managed by the PMC that Calista worked for. It was set up before they had abducted Skye from the plane and after Calista called in a few favors as she insisted that they needed somewhere close by they could head to in case things with Whitehall went south, which they did. Something that he was grateful for now.

He was broken out his thoughts as he heard the nearby door opening with Calista walking into the room with two bottles of Jack Daniel's in hand. Smiling as she made her way over and sat down beside him, handing him the bottle which he graciously took and took a swig.

"So... you can say it." Grant said in disappointment as he braced himself for the I-told-you-so speech.

However, much to his surprise, it never came as instead his sister looked up at him with not a smug look or even a teasing one that they would often make to each other when they were kids. But a look of warmth and concern.

"How are you doing?" She asked with a worried tone.

"Alright... all things considered." He admitted as he leaned back in his seat and took another sip from the bottle of Jack Daniel's that she had given him. "Surprised you aren't rubbing it in."

"Eh, that's for later." She joked as the two siblings laughed.

"Thanks, Cali." Grant said after another swig. "I don't know what would have happened if you weren't there."

"You would have been find, man." She reassured. "Though, you might've ended up with a few more bullet holes in you."

He chuckled as she rolled her eyes. With her being disappointed that he wasn't taking it as seriously as she would've liked.

"Look why don't you get some rest?" Calista offered. "We'll think on our next move tomorrow."

"By the way..." Ward asked as he darted his eyes upwards. Gesturing to the brainwashed SHIELD agent he had insisted on bringing and was now currently resting in on of the bedrooms upstairs. "How is she doing?"

"Alright, all things considered." Cali informed him. "She's still not exactly... there, per se. But she is doing better than how she was a few hours ago."

"OK, OK." He nodded his head.

She leaned back in the couch as she took another swig from her bottle. "So, what are you planning now, bro?"

"I...I don't know." He admitted truthfully, not even bothering to try pretend that he had anything planned out anymore as he knew that his sister could see right through him.

"I-I'm thinking of maybe helping her." He admitted. "Try to see if I can help her remember who she is and..." He trailed off as he saw the look in his sister's eyes.

"She reminds you of you, doesn't she." Calista said. "Of how you were when Garrett was killed."

"Yeah," He said truthfully. It was probably why he insisted on her coming along with them. He saw her as another damaged soul like him, and that if he could just help her, maybe he'll be able to help himself too.

"Alright, I'm in." Cali said as she set down the now empty bottle on the table in front of them.

"Cali..."

"You aren't getting rid of me that easily, Grant." She smirked. "Or are you already forgetting how I saved you from getting shot back there"

"Hey, I would have made it. Like you said." He laughed.

"You know I was just saying that to make you feel better, right?" Calista smirked. "We both know that I did all the heavy lifting back there." He pointed both of her thumbs to herself for emphasis.

The conversation then shifted into playful banter between the two siblings. After about half of an hour later, Cal saw that it was getting late and decided that it was time to tuck in.

"Alright, I'm going to go get some shut eye."

Before she got up, she heard Grant speak.

"Cali..."

She turned to him at look. Seeing slight hesitation on his face before he continued.

"...Thank you. For everything." He said.

She gave him a smirk as she got off the couch and stretched her limbs. "Anything, Grant. Now, go and get some rest. It's been a long day." She said as she gave him a fistbump before she made her way upstairs. Once she entered her bedroom and quietly shut the door, she let out a heavy sight that she was holding in for hours as leaned back against the door. So far, everything seemed to be going alright and according to plan, but she still couldn't shake off the fear and anxiety pulsating within her. There were still so many upcoming events that would be hazardous to their health. Such as when Coulson is going to force them to find List and take down his version of HYDRA. And then there was going to be Simmon's attempted assassination attempt on him and later the death of Kara Palamas, which would push him over the edge and what would lead to his eventual death by Coulson's hand.

Hopefully that wouldn't come into fruition this time around. She just hoped that he will listen her when the time comes.

Author's note: Sorry, about that, been a while since I last uploaded this story. Bit of a time skip here as not much had changed in that time period so I figured I didn't need to retell it. That's it for now, hope this chapter was enjoyable and have a nice day.

Take care and remember… stay frosty, gents.