Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-24467536-20140523003751

At the end of Season 1, Ward limped off to jail thanks to May, the new spokeswoman for Home Depot ("Nail HYDRA!!!"). I think Season 2 begins with the audience seeing an adult Ward as he was as a teenager - in lockup wearing prison issue. As he stews in jail the US Attorney will be racking up the charges:

Six counts of murder (Victoria Hand, Eric Koenig, and four S.H.I.E.L.D. agents); three counts of attempted murder (Fitz, Simmons, and May); accessory to murder of a US mililtary officer; six counts of imprisoning high ranking military officers; accessory to kidnapping family members of unwilling Cybertek employees; aiding and abetting a terrorist organization. Some of these charges can be death penalty qualified; but given his numerous crimes Ward is facing life even if the death penalty is taken off the table.

So what are Ward's options? Newly minted Director Coulson will not welcome him back into the fold. From his new perspective, the original S.H.I.E.L.D. founders made the mistake of letting HYDRA scientists in and 70 years later they infected all aspects of life. He won't let that happen again on his watch. Plus, Coulson plans to use not-so-clean methods to get HYDRA intel out of him (partly as payback for Fitz's after effects due to Ward's  attempt to send Simmons and him to a watery grave). HYDRA is not going to want him either; the existing factions will assume Ward's alive because he squealed and dealed. Old school HYDRA is commit suicide when captured, not lawyer up. Ward will be in HYDRA's crosshairs if he knows too much. I'm guessing Ward will break out of jail again, by Raina this time, to team up with Skye's oozy father. From Ward's prospective, no one is going to forgive him, but he's not willing to die for his deeds. Garrett taught him survival instincts, so his best chance of survival will be siding with neither S.H.I.E.L.D. or HYDRA.  