The Father-Daughter Job
Disclaimer:
As always, I own nothing.
Rating:
T
Genre:
Romance/Drama
Pairing:
Coulsye
Lyrics Used:
Kellie Pickler "I Wonder"
I Wonder
Sometimes, I think about you | Wonder if you're out there somewhere thinkin' 'bout me | Would you even recognize the woman your little girl grew up to be | 'Cause I look in the mirror and I see | Are your brown eyes lookin' back at me | They're the only thing you ever gave to me at all
Oh, I hear the weather's nice in California | There's sunny skies as far as I can see | If you ever come back home to Carolina | I wonder what you'd say to me
Forgiveness is such a simple word | But, it's so hard to do when you've been hurt
Oh, I hear the weather's nice in California | And, just in case you're wonderin' about me | From now on I won't be in Carolina | Your little girl is off | Your little girl is off | Your little girl is off to Tennessee
"You can't tell her this…" Agent Melinda May warned her dear friend and colleague, Agent Phil Coulson as he reviewed his findings in his hands. "God only know what this will do to her."
"She already knew something like this could be a possibility." Phil argued. "I already warned her that she may not like what she finds." He reasoned, as he continued looking over everything laid out before him. "Besides, it's not all bad. I mean, yes, Mr. Spencer has a somewhat questionable past…" The senior agent had to concede that she had a point, on that front. "But, Agent Zhao really did a number with him. Turned his life around...Got him on our side...Made him one our most invaluable assets." Phil argued, going over all of Evania Zhao's interactions with her asset, Elliot Spencer.
"Yes, she made him a part of a group of ex-cons that think they're Robin Hood." May deadpanned. But, she knew Phil well enough to know that-when he made up his mind about something-there was no changing it. "You sure she's ready for this?"
"I know she is." Phil replied, staring directly into his friend's eyes. Seeing the determination written in his piercing blue orbs, Melinda knew there was no turning back.
"I'll plot a course." The pilot replied, simply, before rising from her seat to return to the cockpit.
"It's open…" Skye called, casually, at the knock on the door to her bunk. Turning to see who opened the door, she added "What's up, AC?" She asked, lightly, before noticing the hesitant look on his face. "Is everything okay?" She asked, slightly more worriedly.
"Listen, Skye…" Phil began, unsure of how to start the conversation, as he slid down onto the bed next to the young hacker. "I've been looking into finding your parents and...well, I found your dad…"
"You found my dad?!" Skye repeated, stunned by the news.
"Yes, but, you should know…" Phil began, trying not to get the young woman's hopes up. "When we started this, I warned you that you might like what you learn."
"And, I told you…" Skye began, firmly, staring directly into Phil's eyes with her own doe ones filled with a determination that Phil had never seen before. "That...It can't be worse than what I've imagined."
"Actually, Skye...I don't know if what I found is better or worse…" Phil replied, uncertainly.
Skye had to admit that she had never seen Phil like this before. He was always so confident and sure of himself. Seeing him like this made her wonder if maybe what Phil had found really was that bad. "Tell me…" She replied, finally, deciding that no matter how bad it was, it had to be better than not knowing and just letting her mind run wild.
"Your father's name is Elliot Spencer." Phil began, finally. "He's been a SHIELD asset for the last twenty-five years. Your mother, Agent Evania Zhao, first met him when she was originally sent to kill him-"
"'Kill him'?!" Skye interjected, stunned by what she had just heard.
"At the time, Mr. Spencer had made quite a name for himself as a hired hitman." Phil deadpanned, as he gently took Skye's hand in his own in an attempt to soften the blow of what he was telling her.
"You're telling me that…" Skye began, as she digested everything that Phil was telling her. "...my father was paid...to kill people?"
"Yes." Phil replied, grimly. He hated having to be the one to tell Skye these terrible things about her past. But, she has a right to know...He reminded himself as he knew he had no right to hide something like this from her. "But, your mother really had a profound effect on him." He added, hoping to give the young woman some semblance of hope. "She helped him turn his life around. Even supported him as he got involved with a team not...entirely unlike ours."
"Really?" Skye asked, curiously.
"They call themselves 'The Leverage Crew'..." Phil began, with the ghost of a hopeful smile. "They're a group of ex-cons that use their criminal talents to help people that have been wronged in some way-usually by some rich and powerful venture capitolist or some large corporation…"
"So, what?...They just use my dad to beat the crap out of whoever wronged the person?" Skye asked, somewhat incredulously.
"Granted, your father is typically the muscle of the group…" Phil conceded, stroking the young hacker's hand, comfortingly. "But, he plays other parts, too…" He explained. "And, the group does quite a bit of good work...Which is why SHIELD always looks the other way in regards to their...methods…"
Skye remained silent for a moment as she digested everything that Phil was telling her. She couldn't believe that her mother was a SHIELD agent and her father used to be a paid assassin. When she finally spoke, she nearly startled Phil. "Why did he disappear?" She asked, taking Phil by surprise.
"He didn't." Phil replied, softly. "Your mother knew that they both had very dangerous enemies. Enemies that neither of them wanted you exposed to." He explained, carefully, sliding closer to draw the young woman into his arms. "They both wanted to protect you but couldn't agree about the best way to do it...So, one night, your mother disappeared with you in tow and took you to the orphanage, leaving them very specific instructions to continually move you around…" The senior agent elaborated. "Your father's a good man, Skye…" He added, trying to salvage Skye's opinion of her father. "He's been searching for you just as long and hard as you've been searching for him…But, your mother wanted to ensure that no one would ever know that you were their daughter...She didn't want anyone to know who you were and come after you...She was killed only a couple hours after dropping you off at the orphanage…"
"So, you're saying…" Skye began as everything started sinking in. "...that my mom died trying to protect me?" She asked. "And, that my dad's been looking for me the whole time I've been looking for him?" She couldn't believe the way the situation had turned out. All this time, she thought she had never been wanted-that she was just a mistake that nobody wanted to be bothered with. Now, come to find out, she had an entire agency protecting her-keeping her safe since she was born.
"That's exactly what I'm telling you…" Phil replied, gently.
After thinking it over and processing everything she had just learned, Skye spoke calmly and confidently. "Can I meet him?"
"Agent May's already plotted a course." Phil replied, gently, tightening his hold on the young hacker in his arms. "We'll be there within the hour…"
Smiling ever so slightly up at Phil, Skye replied gratefully "Thank you, Phil…" And, she meant it. Phil Coulson had done so much for her in the short time that he'd been in her life, she didn't know she'd ever repay him.
"I'm just glad I could help." Phil smiled, gently, as he rose from his seat. "If you need anything, I'll be in my office."
"Thanks…" Skye replied, smiling a little broader. "...for everything."
Author's Note:
So? Whadda y'all think? I hope you all like it! Don't forget to review!
~Skye Coulson