Summary: Daisy has finally come back after being swayed by Hive, but as a result of all the things she did under his spell, she feels horrible and doesn't want to talk to you. Based on the events in 3x21

You felt absolutely horrible, watching your girlfriend, who you finally got back after weeks of losing her to Hive, going through withdrawl and feeling absolutely terrible. She also looked terrible, with dark circles under her eyes and pale skin. There was nothing more you wanted to do than walk in there and hold her, but Daisy didn't want to see you, not after what she had done to you.

You had gone looking for her, of course, but under Hive's spell, she had seriously beat you up and had been this close to actually killing you. You were fine now, but you knew she blamed herself for that, even though you didn't blame her and none of it was her fault.

Daisy knew you were watching her. There were all these cameras in her cell and she somehow could feel your eyes on her. She was trying to act better than she felt, but inside she was hurting. The images of you on the ground, her fist coming to land on your cheek again and again and you just letting her hurt you. 

You didn't stop her or fought back, knowing you could never hurt her. You promised that right when you started dating, to never hurt her. And you didn't, even if it meant you got hurt instead.

Mack, May, Yo-yo and Lincoln had left to go on a mission. They were following up on a lead they had found with the information Daisy had given to Jemma, one of the only people she would actually talk to. You had stayed at the base, both as back-up for the mission and not wanting to leave Daisy here alone if Hive came looking for her here.

Coulson was currently talking to Daisy from the containment unit, keeping a wall between him and her. The answers she was giving to him hit you right in your chest. She was so convinced of her own guilt.

''No one blames you for this.'' Coulson's voice flowed through the speakers. You stood in front of the big screen in his office, constantly watching Daisy.

''Then that's on you, because I deserve the blame. All of it. And these protocols? Make them permanent, because I belong in this box.'' Daisy's words stung and you felt so much for her. 

''You're not a criminal,'' Coulson tried to reason. But it was clear Daisy didn't want to hear any of it. 

''That's exactly what I am. What do you call beating your own girlfriend to within an inch of her life?'' When Coulson didn't know what to say, it only confirmed what she felt. ''So you can keep your forgiveness and your pity because I shouldn't have either ... or your friendship.'' 

''Daisy, Y/N doesn't blame you and neither does anyone else. You were brainwashed.'' 

''So was Ward.''

Those were her final words, making clear the conversation was over. 

Right then, the others returned from the mission. You were alerted of that by Jemma, who peeked her head into the office with a victorious smile on her face. ''They're back and they have Hive!''

You felt both relieve and anger flow through you. Relief you had finally caught him but also anger because everything he had done to Daisy made you angrier than anything ever could.

You rushed out of the office to find Coulson already talking to Mack and Lincoln, both of them still in one piece luckily. ''Mack,'' you smiled as best you could. You were always happy to see your teammates come back from a mission alive. ''I heard you got the son of a bitch.''

''We did. Got him frozen in a nice little box.'' He smiled widely, before it dropped a little when he saw the pain in your eyes. ''How's our patient doing?'' he asked kindly. Kind was the best way to describe Mack. He cared so much about everyone that it got to the point of annoying sometimes.

Your face fell and that was all you had to communicate for Mack to know it wasn't good. 

''Is anyone gonna talk to her? At least let her know we have Hive?'' Mack asked to nobody in particular.

''That's not a great idea right now. We need to stick to the security protocols,'' Coulson answered, even though it hurt him to say it.

You turned to Coulson with disbelief and annoyance. Nobody was going to tell Daisy they got Hive? She had the right to know and maybe it would make her feel better. ''You got to be kidding me.'' When nobody answered, you stalked off towards Daisy's holding cell. She didn't want to see you, but you had given her enough space and you needed so desperately to talk to her that you didn't care anymore.

''Should we stop her?'' You heard Lincoln ask behind you. 

''I don't think we can,'' was Coulson's answer, and he was right.

You took a deep breath before entering the right code into the door. It led you into the containment unit inside the cell, but you weren't planning on staying in there. Treating Daisy like the criminal she believed she was, didn't make the situation any better.

Daisy sat on the end of her bed, her legs pulled up to her chest. She didn't look up as you entered the room, but you knew she knew you were there.

''We got him,'' you said quietly and careful, ignoring the sting in your chest that she didn't say anything first. You hadn't talked to her since she had come back. Actually you hadn't seen her either because she refused to see you.

She perked up at the information, finally looking at you with the tiniest bit of hope in her eyes that you hadn't seen since she came back. ''Hive.''

''Safe, sound, and catatonic in a Gel-Matrix chamber. I thought you'd want to know.'' The smile on your face was forced and Daisy could sense you were faking your enthusiasm.

''Thanks. But you should be in the module. The protocols are for your own safety.'' Her voice was toneless and emotionless. She didn't even try to put up a facade and it became awfully clear she didn't want to talk to you.

Your own facade dropped, no longer feeling the need to put it up, and walked closer to her. ''I don't give a damn about security protocols,'' you said stubbornly before softening your voice. ''You're my girlfriend.''

Tears welled up in Daisy's eyes as she stared at the ground. She hadn't looked you in the eye since you stepped in there. ''Please, just leave me alone. You remember what happened last time. What I did to you.''

''Yes, I remember that very vividly, but-''

Daisy cut you off angrily, her eyes finally meeting yours, and she winced at the cuts and bruises on your face that she caused. ''There are no excuses for that! I promised I would never hurt you and I did. Doesn't matter if I was brainwashed or whatever, I still did it.'' Her gaze turned back to the floor, all the fire disappearing. ''I don't even know why you are talking to me right now. I clearly deserve to be here.''

You stopped her rambling before she could continue talking herself down. ''Can you please just listen to me for a second?'' you said sternly, done with the negativity.

''What can you say that would possibly make this better?'' she mumbled to the floor.

''Nothing.'' That wasn't the answer she was expecting in the least. 

You crouched down in front of her, making sure you sat in her line of sight so she had no choice but to look at you. Carefully, you unwrapped her hands from her legs and held them in your own. 

Daisy felt all kinds of things in that moment. The sadness and hate was still dominating and she wanted to push you away to keep you safe from her, but there was a spark of that same warm feeling she always felt when you touched her. It wasn't as strong as it used to be, which had probably something to do with her withdrawal, but it was still there and it warmed her whole body from the inside. 

For the first time in weeks, she felt a real warmth, a real connection. Not a fake one. And all of that was enough for her to completely empty her brain and just stare and listen. 

''There is nothing I can say that will stop you from hating yourself,'' you started your speech. ''I know you too well for that. So I'm not going to try and talk you out of that, but I am going to be here day after day to tell you how much everyone loves you, how much I love you and could never hate you. Not after what happened, never. And how you are not alone in this.'' Daisy's tears returned but she tried to keep them in. 

''We care about you, Daisy, more than anything. And I am not going to try and understand what you are going through, because I can't, but I will always be here if you want to talk.'' You smiled and added a more lighthearted remark. ''And even if you don't want to, I am still going to.''

Daisy shook her head, still not believing anything of it. ''I don't deserve any of that. How can you say that after what I did to you?''

''Because I have forgiven you.''

Those words were what pushed her over the edge and she jumped up angrily, setting a few quick steps away from you. 

''I didn't ask for that!''

You stood, walking back over to her. There was no way you were leaving her here like this. ''That's too bad, because I forgive you.''

You reached out for her arm to pull her into a hug, but as soon as you touched it, Daisy jumped backwards and pushed your arm away.

''No, don't be stupid. Get away, okay?''

It hurt you so much to see how afraid she was of hurting you again. How little she trusted herself around you. Something as simple as a hug was already too risky.

''It's okay, Daisy. It's okay,'' you muttered over and over again as you kept trying to bring her in for a hug and she kept trying to push you away. Normally, you would respect her wishes, but you had to show her you weren't scared of her and you knew how much she needed you and needed this hug.

''Get away! No!'' Daisy grunted, but you could see her movements and determination falter. The need to be held was bigger than her fear of hurting you. At least in that moment.

Finally, she gave up, collapsing against your chest. She clawed at your shirt, needing something to hold on to. You just let her cry, holding her tightly. Her loud sobs were a knife into your heart as you stroked her hair gently and whispered over and over again that you were here and that you loved her.

Everything, all the emotions and events from the past weeks, spilled out. All the guilt and the hate Daisy could no longer contain in her body, it all got washed away.

Eventually, she was so tired and empty from crying that you had to guide her back towards her bed where she lay down, exhausted. To your complete surprise, she whispered, ''Stay with me.''

A tiny, happy and hopeful smile formed on your lips as you climbed in beside her and pulled her into the same bear-hug you had her trapped in before. 

It was exactly like old times, before everything happened. Daisy's head on your chest, her hair tickling your chin and arms and her breath travelling over your collarbone. The moment gave you hope for the future. Hope that someday, things would be as simple as they were before: Just you and Daisy against the world (and the much weirder world).