Beginning of the End

Providence

"The Avengers defeated Pierce and destroyed the Hellicariers." Hand said as she and Coulson looked at the screen, viewing the images of the destroyed Triskellion and three Hellicarriers rubble. 

"And Agent Romanoff released the files." Coulson continued and pulled out a website full of comments to their classified information. "SHIELD has fallen, just like we planned." He knew it was the right thing to do, hell it was the only solution. HYDRA had infiltarted not just SHIELD but every branch of the government. And the only way to root out some of them was to sacrifice this organization. 

"I am going to the FRIDGE, to lock the HYDRA moles up. It's the most secure place to hold them." Hand stated.

"And I don't need to remind you that it's of outmost importance it stays that way." he said.

Hand noded and turned to one of the agents near her. "Agent Shaw, gather the prisoners and your best agents. Time to do away with them." she ordered turned back to Coulson. "Commander Gonzales called me, the Iliad and its cargo are safe. He sent some agents to the academy."

"Good luck Agent Hand." Coulson said and went back to his team. Fitz and Simmons were sitting together, holding hands though probably Simmons wasn't having any of the romantic vibrations Fitz was having. May and Trip were discussing something, probably had to with HYDRA. Ward and Skye were at the hallway, Skye holding his hand and comforting him. 

She looked at him and was about to ask a dozen questions before he sent her the 'not now' look. 

"Skye, I need to talk with Ward. I have more to say to him." Coulson said. Skye noded and told Ward that she would always be there for him before heading to the command center. As soon as she was gone, Ward's mask crumbled again. He looked less vulnerable than he had in the cage but it was clear that he was still in pain. 

"Grant," he started and touched his arm. "It is over for now. You can take a deep breathe." 

Ward noded but didn't say a word. Now that the danger had passed, he was no longer on adrenaline and didn't trust his voice. Killing Garrett was still weighing him down. He wished he could lock this incident up like the memories of the awful things he did but he couldn't, not yet at least.

"I know it's still hurting but in time you'll get better." 'You'll be free from the conditioning and you'll be able to live your life on your terms, not somebody else's.' stayed unsaid but it was there nonetheless.

"If you need, go back to the BUS and have some re-" He tried to offer but Ward immediately refused.

"No, no." he said, shaking his head. "I need to do something, anything to keep my mind occupied or I'll go mad." He would, with Garrett's voice still ringing in his head, with the image of his dead body still embedded in his mind.

"Okay." Coulson noded and the two entered the command center. It was time to clean up some of the mess.

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As soon as Coulson took the control of the HUB, all the agents went back to their posts, mechanics and scientists started repairing the quinjets. 

The news were on the big screen, everyone was talking about SHIELD's destruction, the classified information dump, whether to bring charges against SHIELD agents or not and Agent Romanoff's interrogation (literally it was that) in the Capitol Hill.

"I have recieved word from the Cube, the Treehouse. HYDRA agents have been rounded up and are being sent to the Fridge." Skye said to Coulson who had been watching the news with a drim look on his face.