Cut It Out and Restart *Daredevil*Damned*Agents of SHIELD*

1) The End and the Beginning

He wasn't the murderer. He seemed nice, a little strained, but not in the way a super-villain would be. She would know. She had met a few.

"Please, Mrs. Murdock. Sit down," he invited her, beckoning to the chair at the table opposite to him.

There was one more guard standing at the door out, otherwise they were alone. If someone wanted to murder her on spot, this would be a perfect opportunity. Instead, the man in his late forties met her eyes, endless kindness in his own. It was like getting stabbed again. The addressing didn't help – every time she heard it, it was like someone was either mocking her or accusing her; this man didn't sound like doing either though.

She gulped, obediently lowering herself on the chair, her gaze aimed low as usual. When the man said nothing more, she glanced at him hesitantly; he was watching her, attentive, observant.

"I understand you found yourself in a sticky situation," he said and Vera swallowed the 'you have no fucking idea' that was on her tongue. She remained silent. "I might be able to help out."

I found a way to help myself, thanks, she thought, her mind on the vial under her pillow.

"You've been charged with murder of your husband, found in your apartment above his dead body, covered in blood, after you called 911, claiming you found him like that and tried to save him. You have no alibi, the murder weapon had your prints on it and despite your lawyer's efforts, you'll be convicted, because lack of motive sounded like a joke given your connections to a known vigilante, who might be interested in a romantic relationship with you, just like you might be with him; a motive offers itself," he listed, voice calm and methodical.

Vera looked away, tears in her eyes. She knew all these things and she wasn't stupid, she knew exactly how it sounded. She had nothing to defend herself with. No one had. People hated her, speculated of her romance with Daredevil because of her past connections to him and some of them even suspected that the baby she had been expecting wasn't her husband's. The irony wasn't lost on her, neither on some people who knew better. No one was laughing at it though.

"Of course, if you would be willing to provide an alibi, a witness, it could save you. But you wouldn't, because you wouldn't want to bring trouble to Mr. Potter or admit you were running an errand for Daredevil, who you not only wouldn't want on a witness stand, but also physically couldn't get there, because he's not alive anymore."

Vera clenched her trembling hands into fists, tears of helplessness and hate running down her cheeks. She was used to the knot in her stomach, to numbness, to permanent pain, but this was like someone was probing the gaping hole in her. She looked at the mystery man who knew too much with hard cold eyes. He was still stoically calm, his face almost soft. It was irritating.

"Who the hell are you and what do you want?" she asked simply, aiming for a firm voice and missing by miles. Are you here to kill me?

"I understand the difficultness of situation you are in and I want to offer you an alternative to the little solution you snatched from the medical cabinet during your last check-up."

Her breath hitched.

No.

No, no, no, no, no. That was her out. Her out. They couldn't— they couldn't take that from her-

"You don't need to look so scared; we are not here to kill you and we won't confiscate it from you. But we might switch it," he offered with a gentle smile and Vera was utterly lost.

"What are you talking about?" she asked dully, bits of the desperation she felt showing themselves. "Who are you? What is this?"

"I would introduce myself, but I'm afraid that's classified." Classified? Who the hell was this guy? "But I'm with Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division."