I'm Grant Ward

Chapter 140: The Hidden Truth

Silence reigned inside the bus, each member of the team immersed in their own thoughts. Ward's disappearance had been a hard blow to everyone. He was one of the pillars of the team, the agent always ready for any situation, but now, after his disappearance, everything seemed unstable. It was as if the ground had been ripped out from under everyone's feet.

May was in front, firm and determined, controlling the bus that took them to the Triskelion, the headquarters of S.H.I.E.L.D. There was a mixture of relief and tension in the air. Finally, they had found Ward. Coulson had received confirmation that he was in the Triskelion, apparently safe, but the fact that they didn't know who captured him still made everyone suspicious.

Skye was sitting next to Simmons, her face reflecting the concern she felt. Fitz, silent, clenched his fists, his scientific mind already formulating theories about what could have happened to Ward. May kept her focus on controlling the ship, but her expression was hard and impenetrable. Coulson, on the other hand, tried to remain calm.

"We're almost there," May announced, as the Quinjet began to descend towards the Triskelion's helipad.

Coulson stood up and looked at his team.

"Ward is back, but we don't know what condition he's in. We need to keep a cool head. We'll find out what happened, but first and foremost, he's our teammate, and the most important thing right now is that he's safe."

Everyone nodded, aware of what they were about to face.

The team disembarked from the shuttle with quick steps, crossing the Triskelion's corridors. The shiny metal walls, the sound of hurried footsteps and agents moving around the complex, all of this seemed normal. But the tension between them was palpable. Ward, after all, had disappeared on a secret mission. And now, he was back, but with many unanswered questions.

They reached the medical wing where Ward was being held. As they approached the door, they heard low voices coming from inside the room. Coulson signaled for everyone to stop before pushing the door open slightly.

Inside, Ward lay on the bed, his eyes half-closed, clearly exhausted. Beside him sat Maria Hill, in a nearby chair, gently stroking his hair as they spoke in low voices.

"You've been through a lot, Ward," Maria said, her voice soft but with a firmness that was typical of hers. "But you're safe now. Let's find out who did this to you."

Ward nodded, though his expression was one of confusion and frustration.

"I... I wish I could remember, Maria. But it's all so confusing. They were organized, I know that. They were well trained, as if they had years of experience."

Before Maria could respond, Coulson knocked lightly on the door and entered the room. The others followed close behind, their looks of concern and curiosity on their faces.

"Ward," Coulson began, keeping his tone neutral but with obvious concern. "How are you?"

Ward looked at the team, his expression a mix of relief and discomfort. He tried to straighten up in bed, and Maria stood up, making room for the team to approach.

"Better, I think," Ward said, his voice a little hoarse. "Still trying to figure it all out."

Skye, who had been standing next to Simmons, stepped forward, her gaze fixed on Ward's face.

"What happened?" she asked, trying to control the emotion in her voice. "Who got you?"

Ward looked down, his hands fiddling with the bed sheet. He seemed to be searching for the right words.

"I... I really don't know," he began. "It all happened so fast. I was taken by surprise. A highly trained group. They captured me as I was coming back from the Centipede facility. They were ready to take me on, as if they knew every move I would make."