Chapter 1

Disclaimer: I don't own anything. Everything belongs to their rightful owners.

AN1: So, I have just finished my first semester of Law School, and for once my brain has perfect timing when giving me new story idea, though I've been struggling with executions. I've come to realise how much I miss Bobbi/Hunter and their relationship with the team, so I wanted to write a story where the two of them, and Mack, join the team sooner, but then I got the idea of what if it was Bobbi on the Bus in the beginning instead of Ward and so I decided to write this.

THREE THINGS NEEDED TO KNOW:

When May was scouting Bobbi at the academy she became her SO

Skye/Daisy was born in 1991, rather than 1988, as I felt that it fits this story more to have Skye being slightly younger.

Coulson has meet Hand before because I find it extremely strange that he hadn't.

Considering how long it's been since she had a decent night's rest Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D Barbra "Bobbi" Morse is glad that for the first time, in what feels like a very, very long time, she was able to get a decent night's sleep. In fact, she is more than a little shocked to see the time on her bedside table is nine am.

After spending a couple of minutes just enjoying the feeling of being in bed Bobbi finally gets up to make coffee before getting ready for the day as she knows she has to meet Deputy Director Maria Hill at midday to talk about her next assignment.

After leaving her bedroom Bobbi heads straight to the kitchen, only having eyes for the coffee that is waiting to be made.

"No scanning of the room." A voice says as Bobbi puts the coffee on, and thanks to her training she doesn't react like her instincts are telling her too, "I'm disappointed, I taught you better."

Feeling shocked, as she honestly believed that she was alone, Bobbi turns and sees her former Supervising Office, mentor, and very good friend, Melinda May sitting at table, with two take away cups and a bag of food.

"May." Bobbi greats, surprised, though glad, "I didn't think to scan the room because this is my place, very few people know about it, and even fewer could get in without me knowing, apart from you that is." She says, walking over to her old friend, "I know I should know the answer, because you're you, but I have to ask, how'd you get in?"

"I have a key." May answers, like it's no big deal.

"Of course you do." Bobbi says, realising that she really shouldn't be surprised, "Is that still warm?" she asks, referring to the drinks.

"Should be, though I've been here a while." May admits as Bobbi sits down across from her, "Since when do you sleep in?"

"Since I got in at like three." Bobbi says, as she takes a drink, "It's warm enough." She reveals, taking a bigger drink, "I'm always happy to see you, May, but why exactly are you in my kitchen with coffee and…." Bobbi says opening the bag, "Donuts, of course." She says, having a look at what's inside, and taking one to eat, "What's going on?"

"I have an offer for you." May reveals.

"I'm listening." Bobbi says, as she takes a bite of the donut.

"Before I say anything you should know I haven't cleared this with Fury yet, or Hill, so if you want to walk away, not hear what I have to say I'll understand." May informs her old student.

"Like I would, you know me better than that." Bobbi tells her friend, though she knows May well enough to know that May would want to give her an out before doing something questionable, "I'll ask again, what's going on?"

"Fury asked me to determine parameters for a new team, a team that will run itself and have no red tape." May explains, causing Bobbi to be a little surprised by that, though she doesn't say anything as she knows there has to be more, "It will be my team, and I want you to be a part of it too." Melinda reveals, holding off about telling Bobbi about Coulson for the moment, though she will tell her, she'll have to.

"Are you going back into the field?" Bobbi asks, doing her best to hide her shock as she spent a lot of time with May in the aftermath of Bahrain, she knows what effect it had on her, and she heard May say, may times, that she was never going to go back into the field.

"I'm just going to drive the Bus." May answers, honestly not even sure that she believes that.

"Who else will be on the team?" Bobbi asks curious, being able to tell that May doesn't completely believe her words, though she decides to get more information before questioning her friend.

"An engineer, a bio chemist, and a level eight agent, me, and I hope you." May explains, and the fact that May used the word 'hope' tells Bobbi a lot.

"Okay." Bobbi tells her friend, "My answer is yes, I'll join this team." Bobbi says, honestly she knew she was going to say yes from the moment May started talking about a team, before taking a drink, "Now, what aren't you telling me?" Bobbi asks and Melinda just gives her a look, "Oh come on, you may be nearly impossible to read, but I know you, better than almost anyone." Bobbi says, telling the truth, "There is something you're not telling me, something you're worried about telling me, and I'm betting it's the real reason you're going back into the field, so… what is it?" Bobbi asks, leaning back on her chair, as she gives Melinda a look.

Looking at her old student, and close friend who never let her push her away, May feels an overwhelming feeling of pride, but she doesn't show that, all she does is slightly smirk, but as Bobbi knows May she knows what that tiny smirk means, "The level eight Agent on the team won't be just any level eight, it's Coulson." She reveals, to Bobbi's complete shock.

"Okay, isn't Coulson dead? Because I thought he was, though now I'm thinking there's a need to know list that I haven't been on until now." Bobbi admits, though from what May said earlier she doubts she is actually on that list now.

"What I'm going to tell you I'm telling you because I need you to know." Melinda reveals, telling the truth, as with everything that could happen with Coulson she honestly needs a friend to confide in, "And even though he'll be pissed Fury needs me too much to punish me for telling you." May admits, revealing a lot with that simple sentence, "That being said, what I am going to tell you is above your clearance level, and you're likely going to have to face Fury's anger once he knows you know." Melinda reveals.

"Wouldn't be the first time." Bobbi says, like it is no big deal, "And now you've got me curious, I want to know."

"Phil died when Loki stabbed him." Melinda reveals, and as she does it is more than clear to Bobbi that it painful for her to reveal that, "Soon level sevens will be told that his heart stopped for eight seconds, but that's not the truth." Melinda explains, "The truth is that he was dead for days."

"How's he alive now?" Bobbi asks, trying to wrack her brain for an explanation, but everything she thinks of seems impossible, or she would think it was impossible if she hadn't spent so long as a S.H.I.E.L.D agent.

"Fury." Melinda says simply, saying something that Bobbi was suspecting, "There's a top secret project, code name TAHITI, it involves Alien DNA and Fury used it to bring Phil back to life." May explains, "Phil can't know what happened to him, his doctors say that it will have negative consequences." Melinda explains.

"What kind of negative consequences?" Bobbi asks, not liking the sound of that.

"It's not clear." Melinda admits, "Phil's memories have been altered to make him believe that he's been recovering on an island, and Fury asked me to come up with a team based on being able to help Phil if something happens, if he starts to deteriorate in some way." Melinda explains.

"Bio-chemist, engineer, me." Bobbi mutters, trying to figure out the roles, and as she does the answer comes to her, "You need me, or at least a specialist, to help you deal with Phil, maybe even put him down if it gets to that." She says slowly, sounding more shocked the more she says.

"Yes." May answers, keeping her face blank, but Bobbi knows how painful it is for her friend to admit that.

"I'm in." Bobbi says, having no intention of letting her friend face that possibility alone, "I'll help you look out for Phil, I'll be a member of the team, do whatever I have to do." Bobbi promises her friend.

"Thank you." Melinda tells her, it being clear with those two simple words how much Bobbi agreeing to help means to her.

"No need to thank me." Bobbi says, taking a drink, "So, when are we going to inform Fury about this?"

"I have a meeting with him, and Hill, in an hour. Want to join?" Melinda asks.

"Oh yeah, I'm not going to miss this." Bobbi says, with a grin, "I'll go get ready." She says, before getting up and heading into her bedroom.

After Bobbi leaves the room Melinda lets out a sigh of relief, while she wanted to believe that Bobbi would agree to help her, there is a small part of her that was worried that she wouldn't agree.

A little while later Melinda and Bobbi are getting of Melinda's motorbike at S.H.I.E.L.D HQ.

"Damn, I missed riding with you." Bobbi admits, as she climbs off the back of Melinda's bike, "And I've got to say, the new bikes an improvement."

"I thought it was time for an upgrade." Melinda admits, as she climbs off too.

"Considering your old bike broke down so many times Clint, Nat, Maria, Phil and I used to take bets on how long until it will break down again, it was way beyond time for an upgrade." Bobbi explains to her friend, who gives her a less than impressed look, "What?" Bobbi asks, giving Melinda an 'I'm innocent' look which causes Melinda to just roll her eyes, "So, on a scale of one to ten how pissed do you think Fury is going to be that you told me?" Bobbi asks curious.

"Copenhagen." Melinda answers simply.

"This is going to be fun." Bobbi says, with a grin, causing Melinda to give her a look, "Oh, come on Melinda, you used to love pissing off Fury just for fun. You know how amazing it can be." Bobbi tells her friend, "Come on, admit it." Bobbi says, gently nudging Melinda.

"It can be." Melinda admits, as they arrive at the elevators, "But this is going to beyond his usual anger." Melinda explains to her friend, as she does the retinal scan to gain access.

"So you said, I'm ready." Bobbi assures her friend, as she does a retinal scan too.

"Good." Melinda says, as the two of them walk into the elevator.

A few minutes later Melinda and Bobbi arrive at Fury's office and they both walk straight in where they find both Director Fury and Commander Hill waiting.

"Agent May." Fury greats, and then he realises who else is in the room, "Agent Morse, I wasn't expecting you." He admits.

"I know." Bobbi answers simply.

"Why are you here?" Maria asks, looking between Bobbi and Melinda knowing the two of them well enough to know that there would be a reason for both being present, and she suspects Fury isn't going to like that reason.

"I've told Agent Morse about Coulson. I've told her about the team, and what you've asked of me." Melinda says, looking directly at Fury.

"I see." Fury says, giving Melinda a look, "Agent Morse, Commander Hill, please give us a minute." Fury says, not looking away from Melinda for a second, and because Maria and Bobbi both know that tone of voice they both quickly leave the room, half expecting that either Fury or Melinda will be bleeding when they return.

After Bobbi and Maria hurry out of the room Melinda and Fury just stand in the middle of Fury's office, staring each other down.

"Why?" Fury asks simply, about a minute after Maria and Bobbi left, "I made it clear to you how important it was to keep what happened to Phil compartmentalised, secret, and you told Agent Morse? Without clearing it with me!"

"I didn't feel the need to, I trust Bobbi." Melinda says, taking a step towards Fury, "You've put me in an impossible position Nick, and If Phil wasn't my oldest friend I would have walked out of this building and never returned the moment you told me what you wanted me to do." Melinda admits, and honestly Fury doesn't doubt that, "But I didn't because of Phil, because he's my friend and I owe him." Melinda tells her boss, "I told Bobbi everything because if I'm going to keep an eye on Phil, if I'm going to return to the field, then I need someone else I trust completely on the plane, I need her." Melinda informs her boss, stressing the her, it being more than clear that she means everything she is saying.

When Melinda finishes speaking Fury just gives her an intense look that would cause most people to stand, but Melinda doesn't flinch, she doesn't blink, and after well over a minute Fury finally turns away and walks over to his intercom.

"Send Agent Morse and Commander Hill back in." Fury requests, before turning back to May.

Seconds later the door opens and Maria and Bobbi walk back in.

"I see no blood." Bobbi mutters to Maria, sounding surprised.

"Guess they didn't come to blows." Maria mutters back to her friend.

"Agent Morse, do I have to make it clear to you the consequences of your actions if you inform anyone of what Agent May told you?" Fury asks curious.

"No Sir." Bobbi answers.

"Good." Fury says, "Commander Hill, I believe you are still vetting potential agents for the Specialist Position on Agents May and Coulson's team?" Fury asks.

"Yes. I think I found the best candidate, Garrett's boy, Agent Grant Ward." Maria answers.

"That would be a bad idea for many reasons." Bobbi comments, "Besides the position of Specialist has been filled… by me."

"Really?" Maria asks, looking between the other three people in the room.

"Yep." Bobbi says, "Besides do you really think that someone trained by Garrett would be a good fit on the team?" Bobbi asks, looking at Maria, stressing the team, "From what Melinda told me this is going to be a team, on its own, and knowing Phil he's going to see the team as a more than just a team. Do you really think someone trained by Garrett could fit into that?" Bobbi asks, looking at Maria, as she has spent enough time around Garrett to know that he doesn't play well with others and it's likely that people trained by him wouldn't either.

"Not in the beginning, but I think he could be taught to fit, and Phil would want to help him learn to fit." Maria explains.

"Agent Morse will be the specialist." Fury says, believing that it is the best option, and thus putting an end to this particular conversation.

"I've sent Phil the files of the potential candidates, your file wasn't one of them." Maria explains to Bobbi.

"Won't be a problem." Bobbi says, "I can get Coulson to agree to have me as the specialist." She admits.

"He's going to give me his recommendation, that is likely going to be Ward in three days, and he'll be in the building in two." Maria explains, "It's not a lot of time."

"I don't need anymore." Bobbi says, feeling that Maria should know that.

"That's all settled. If Coulson agrees Bobbi will be the specialist, if he doesn't then we're figure something else out." Fury says, looking at each of the agents individually, "You can go." He says, dismissing the three and without another word the three agents head out of the room.

"Okay, how did you know that wouldn't backfire?" Maria asks, looking at Melinda, the second she, Melinda, and Bobbi leave Fury's office.

"I didn't." Melinda admits, "I just thought it was a risk worth taking." Melinda admits.

"Of course you did." Maria says, not at all surprised, "Guess we don't need our meeting" she says, looking at Bobbi.

"Guess not." Bobbi says, glad about that.

"Now if you excuse me I have to go re-write an entire mission plan." Maria says, looking a little annoyed, before walking away.

"Guess my days opened up." Bobbi comments, honestly not being able to remember the last time she had actual free time.

"In that case want to get a drink?" Melinda asks

"It's not even midday, but sure." Bobbi answers.

"It's not the first time." Melinda reminds Bobbi.

"I know." Bobbi says simply, and the two of them head to the elevators.

A while later Melinda and Bobbi have taken Melinda's motorbike to a little bar that they both like to go to as it's easy to blend in while It has a great atmosphere.

"Two double scotches, neat, top shelf." Bobbi orders as she and Melinda head to a table that is the perfect position to see everything, but where no one can sneak up on them.

"Coming right up." The bartender says as Melinda and Bobbi take their seats.

"So, I meant to ask what kind of Bus are we getting?" Bobbi asks curious.

"Refurbished mobile command unit." Melinda answers.

"Are those things Ancient?" Bobbi asks.

"It's being upgraded." Melinda answers.

"Why?" Bobbi asks, confused, "They stated to get phased out not long after I joined. Why are we going to be using one?"

"Phil's nostalgia." Melinda asks, as the drinks arrive.

"Of course." Bobbi says, realising that she should have guessed that one herself, as she picks up her glass, "Saluti." Bobbi says, feeling like that is the safest choice.

"Saluti." Melinda repeats, and the two of them toast, and drink.

"You know, I remember the horror stories you and Phil used to tell about the years you two spend on a mobile command unit when you were Rookies, it will be nice to finally find out if they were true or not." Bobbi admits, as that is something she has always wondered but she has never spent enough time on a Mobile Command Unit to find out.

"They are." Melinda assures her.

"I'm sure there is some truth, but I still think you must be exaggerating." Bobbi tells her, "I mean you, Coulson, Garrett, Blake, Hand, and Izzy together on a plane, for years, under Fury's supervision couldn't have been so bad." Bobbi says, not believing that it could have been as bad as May and Coulson, even Izzy on occasion, has made her believe.

"It was." Melinda tells her, "There's a reason Hand and I still don't get along."

"You know you've never told me that story." Bobbi comments, as that is something she has always been curious about.

"And I'm not going to." Melinda says, taking a drink.

"Had to try." Bobbi says, with a shrug, "For argument sake, let's say that being on a bus constantly is as bad as you've always made me believe, what advice do you have?"

"Find a place you can be alone." Melinda answers, without hesitation, "And make sure you have an extra lock on your bunk door."

"Okay, there's definitely a story there, and I want to hear it." Bobbi realises.

"We had a lot of down time between missions, that lead to prank wars." Melinda explains, "Bunks were the most frequent targets."

"Targets how?" Bobbi asks curious, and to her amusement Melinda tells her old friend some of the pranks that people who are now some of S.H.I.E.L.D's best, most senior, agents used to pull on each other back when they were Rookie's in the 80s.