A/N: Well, well, well. It's been a bit. Let's get the formalities out of the way.

Where have you been? Honestly, it's a bit of a mystery to me. I've been in the same places I've always been, obviously just doing other things. I fell in love with Critical Role and over the last three years (side note: yikes, that's a long time) I've written a lot of fic for that show. And then... then things happened.

I was diagnosed with a rare neurological disorder in the summer of 2017 that severely affected my abilities to function like a person, and all of my energy went into the basic necessities for life (work, and keeping myself clean/fed/etc). It didn't leave a lot of time for writing, nor was I in the mind-space for doing much writing. I'd throw around a few sentences or paragraphs here or there, but nothing spectacular and mostly just so I could have something to look at before I fell asleep at night... none of it was particularly "publishable."

What changed? Drugs! Just kidding... but I am taking new medication to help with my disorder, which has completely changed my outlook on things and enabled me to enjoy other things than just work and sleep. Also, I saw "Avengers: Endgame" and realized how much I loved all of the characters I wrote into this story, and I loved this story. I couldn't let this one stay under my own personal Snap.

Will you finish all your other stuff? Who knows? All I know is that I have some of the fire back, and for right now, that's all I need.

So what's this? This is a short, filler-ish chapter to pick up some of the loose threads I laid down three years ago and never came back for. I hope it will be enough to whet the proverbial appetites while I slip back into the groove of this story and write a real chapter. Consider it like a movie trailer... a written movie trailer, sure.

Thanks for all your support. I hope you'll stick around.

If you want to see me in my natural habitat, I'm memorysdaughter on Tumblr and I love connecting with new friends!

Skye sat at the twins' dining room table with her head in her hands. It was approaching midnight, and over the past few hours the house had slowly decreased in its activity; Skye was pretty sure she was the only one still awake. She'd been spending all of her time since returning from the hospital hunched over her computer, trying to figure out what Ward was going to do next.

It had been fairly easy to write a program to track his cell phone - baby stuff, practically. The problem was, he wasn't moving. He was in a richy-rich neighborhood near Barnham, and he hadn't left for three hours.

Skye's phone vibrated against her hip; she shifted her position and pulled it out.

They're saying they're going to keep her two days, Summer's text message read. She's sleeping now.

The texts were accompanied by a picture of a sleeping Wanda in a hospital bed in a new room. Skye was pleased to notice that Wanda was wearing actual clothes, some sort of loose pajamas, instead of the hospital gown, and that the restraints were gone.

She looks better, Skye replied.

She's calmer. I'm going to head home now.

See you when you get here.

There were footsteps on the floor and Skye looked up to see Pietro approaching her. He ran a hand through his hair and sat down near her. You should go to bed.

I could say the same to you, Skye replied. He looked exhausted.

I went out in the workshop, Pietro signed. It was… too much.

Skye frowned. Didn't Fitz and Bobbi and Hunter clean it up?

Pietro nodded. It doesn't matter. I don't think I'll be able to go out there any time soon.

I understand. Skye leaned forward and showed him Summer's text messages. But this is good news, right?

Yes, yes. I just want her home.

Me too.

Skye hugged him. She felt him tense slightly as she wrapped her arms around him, but then he sighed and returned the hug.

You are too good, Pietro signed when she let him go.

I just want to protect everyone I love.

Sometimes that isn't possible.

Not on my watch, Skye declared fiercely.

Pietro gave her a sad smile. And that is why you are too good.

Skye crawled into bed next to Jemma around one in the morning. It was snowing again, and the house felt more like a bunker, cut off from the outside world, than it had in a very long time. Skye couldn't figure out whether that made her feel safe or not.

Jemma rolled towards Skye and, nearly unconsciously, brought her hands up to Skye's. Tired, she spelled.

I know, Skye replied. Just sleep.

Love you.

Love you too.

Worried about Wanda.

Same.

What we do?

Fix it, Skye answered. Soon.

Good.

Skye kissed Jemma's cheek and pulled the blankets up over them. She knew her mind should be with her sister, sleeping in the psych ward, but in truth her mind was on that blinking red dot, the pulsating sore of Grant Ward's presence, in that fancy neighborhood, plotting against her. It flared into the darkness of her mind and lit her dreams - why was he there? What was he doing?

And how fast could she stop him?

"Maria?"

"... hmm?"

"Maria, I need you to listen."

"Melinda, it's four a.m., and if you haven't forgotten, our separation was caused by some spectacular lying and hiding that you've been doing, apparently for years. I don't really know if I want to -"

"I found out what they did to Skye. And it's bad. It's really, really bad."

"Have you been crying?"

"..."

"'Lin?"

"I just… I thought we could win this one. I really did. And I was wrong."

"Hello?"

Only silence. And darkness. Her head hurt. Her arms hurt. Where was Pietro?

"Hello?"

Footsteps, and then someone approached. A kind-looking woman. "What can I do for you?"

"I would like… for to speak… with someone." It was hard to talk. Her tongue felt thick and dry. When was the last time she had anything to drink?

"It's very early, but the doctor will be here to talk to you in a few hours."

"No. I would like… a doctor… who I know."

The woman looked down at her clipboard. "Is he on your care plan?"

"He is a friend, and also a doctor. I know of him." She tried to remember his name. He was at her house, in her workshop. "Andrew. Find Andrew, please. I would like for to speak to him."

"I'm sorry, I don't know who that is."

Wanda tried not to scream. "Andrew. Ask Pietro - he knows him. I want to apologize."

"Okay, sweetheart. I'll see what I can do."

Skye slept four hours and found she could sleep no more. Leaving Jemma in bed, she headed for the kitchen. Natasha was leaning against the counter, drinking a pond-algae-green smoothie. She held a pitcher filled with the same out towards Skye, an inquisitive look on her face.

Skye shook her head, making a "gross" face followed by a grin, and went to the fridge, taking out the cranberry juice. She poured herself a glass and leaned against the opposite counter.

"Yesterday was pretty scary, huh?" Natasha asked, once she made sure Skye was looking at her.

Skye nodded.

"Today's going to pretty exciting too."

What? Skye signed.

Natasha pointed to Skye's laptop, sitting upright on the table a few feet away, the Grant Ward surveillance program still up on the screen. "He's on the move."