3. Making Friends and Influencing People

Complete story — includes the ending

Coulson learns from Agent Jemma Simmons, who is working undercover within Hydra, that their next planned target for recruitment is Donnie Gill. Ward explains to Skye that Hydra brainwashes promising recruits such as Creel. S.H.I.E.L.D. traces Gill to a Hydra ship in Morocco, while Hydra sends Simmons with a team to find Gill themselves as a test of her loyalty. Fitz reveals to Ward that Gill is the target and Ward warns that Gill was a Hydra asset already, with Hydra only seeking to reactivate his brainwashing. Agent Melinda May, who knows of Simmons' mission, allows her and Gill to escape to maintain Simmons' cover, so Hydra successfully re-brainwashes Gill. Skye manages to shoot him; he falls into the water and freezes, but government forces are later unable to locate his body. Whitehall decides to promote Simmons despite her failure to retrieve Gill and Ward tells Skye that her father is alive, offering to bring her to him.