Chapter 2
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AN1: Thank you to everyone who left kudos reviewed/commented and added to alerts. PLEASE review/comment.
At about twelve thirty Melinda and Phil arrive at in New York at the place that they both consider to be their sanctuary. After parking Lola in the parking structure they both head up to the apartment.
"Wow, this place has not changed." Phil comments as they walk into the apartment and he sees it.
"And that surprises you?" Melinda asks as she checks the apartment to make sure they are alone.
"A little." Phil admits, "When was the last time you were here?" Phil asks as Melinda walks back into the room.
"After Andrew and I divorced." Melinda explains a she purposely came here after her divorce because it was away from everything, "You?" Melinda ask.
"After I was brought back. I stayed a few days." Phil explains, Melinda, nods and they both drift into silence.
"What are you doing?" Melinda ask when she notices Phil pulling his phone out of his pocket.
"Calling Skye to see how things are going."
"Put the phone on speaker." Melinda requests and Phil does just that.
"Really Coulson? You've only been gone four hours." Skye says as a way of answering her phone.
"We just wanted to call and make sure everything was okay." Phil says.
"Everything's fine." Skye says, rolling her eyes not that Phil and Melinda can see that, "We haven't burned the base yet." She jokes.
"Don't joke about that." Melinda instructs.
"So, why are you in New York?" Skye asks, purposely ignoring her SO's comment.
"You've tracked our phones?" Phil asks, disapproval in his voice
"Yeah." Skye says sheepishly, "I was curious." She admits.
"We'll talk about that when we get home." Phil says, "Like we said, we're here to see some old friends."
"Who? Who are these old friends that you're telling that you're alive?" Skye asks, really wanting to know as it isn't like Coulson and May to leave them alone.
"We'll explain when we get back." Melinda says after she and Coulson exchange a look, both deciding that they don't want to say who they are seeing over an unsecured line.
"You better." Skye says as she is honestly very curious about what who May and Coulson have gone to see.
"We will." Phil says, "Call if you need anything and don't let Hunter talk you into doing something stupid." He requests.
"I won't." Skye says, 'unless it's also awesome.' She thinks to herself.
"Good. See you when we get back." Melinda says.
"See you when you get back." Skye says before the call is ended.
Half an hour after they hung up with Skye there is a knock at the door and even though they know it's most likely Maria Melinda still grabs her gun as she goes to answer.
"Really May?" Maria asks when she is let in and sees Melinda's gun.
"Like you don't do the same thing." Melinda says as she closes and locks the door behind Maria.
"True." She admits, "So what's going on? What did you want to talk about?" Maria asks as she sits down on one of the chairs.
"A couple of things." Coulson says from the couch while Melinda walks over and sits on the empty seat.
"The first is that the council have just started to talk about who will replace Gonzales as the head." Melinda explains, "I recommended you and the council agrees. The job's yours if you want it." Melinda explains, knowing that Maria will know exactly what she is talking about as Coulson and in the last couple of months her, have been providing Maria with updates.
"Wow, I wasn't expecting that." Maria admits, "I thought the Council hated the way Fury and I ran things." She comments.
"They did." Coulson confirms, "But you're the most qualified person there is." He says, "I know that you're busy, that you like where you are and that like us you don't think voting works but this is different.…" Phil explains.
"The council advice the director, we oversea Phil, we're his World Security Council." Melinda explains, "Having a council of people who truly understand what we face every day overseeing everything gives us a chance of making S.H.I.E.L.D better, and a chance at not repeating the mistakes that we have all made in the past; but if we're going to do that, if we're going to reach our potential then we need a strong leader. The best person in charge of the council and that person is you." Melinda tells her old friend, the person she trained when she first joined S.H.I.E.L.D.
"May's right you are the best person." Phil says, knowing that it proves how serious Melinda is about wanting Maria to take the position by how much she talked.
"Do I have time to think about this?" Maria asks as honestly she isn't sure what she wants to do.
"Yeah. Weaver said you have two weeks to make your decision." Melinda explains and Maria nods.
"You said you had a couple of things to talk to me about, what's the second thing?" Maria asks.
"It's time I tell Clint and Natasha that I'm alive." Phil says, "And I guess the others too."
"Well it is going to get harder to keep the secret considering everything, and the longer you keep it the worst they'll react." Maria admits, "Have you experienced any side effects since you figure out what the carvings meant?" Maria ask as that is the main reason why Coulson, and her and May were ordered not to tell Natasha and Clint the truth. Fury didn't want Natasha and Clint to know in case Phil experienced side effects and they had to take action because of it.
"No."
"Okay, then I don't see why you can't tell them." Maria says, "Pepper's hosting a dinner at Avengers Tower tonight. Everyone going to be there why you don't two join us." Maria suggests.
"Will that be okay?" Phil asks after exchanging a look with Melinda.
"Should be." Maria says pulling out her phone and calling Pepper.
"Hello."
"Hey Pepper, it's Hill. Is it okay if I invite two more people to join us tonight?"
"Sure, who?" Pepper asks.
"It's a surprise, but you have my word that you can trust them and they're not strangers, not to some off us anyway." Maria explains.
"Okay." Pepper says, being quiet confused but not questioning as she is used to it, "Do they have any dietary requirements?"
"Nope."
"Okay well tell them to arrive at six thirty, dinners at seven." Pepper instructs.
"I will. Thanks Pepper."
"You're welcome." Pepper says before hanging up.
"Pepper's fine with it." Maria says, "So everyone will be arriving by six thirty so how about we meet around the corner from Avengers Tower at twenty past six and arrive together." She suggests, "And considering it's hosted by Tony and Pepper dress is between smart casual and semi-formal." Maria explains.
"So I guess we're going to have to go shopping." Phil says looking at Melinda as while he's suits' fit that he is pretty sure that Melinda wouldn't have brought anything.
"You have plenty of time." Maria says.
"It's okay, we don't need to I have something I can wear." Melinda informs Coulson.
"You do?" Phil says surprised.
"I thought it might be necessary." Melinda explains and Phil nods.
"As much as I would enjoy spending the afternoon with you two I need to get back to work. I'll see you later." Maria tells her friends.
"See you later." Both Phil and Melinda respond and Maria leaves.
At about quarter past six Natasha, Clint, Sam, Steve, Wanda, Vision and Rhodey arrive at Avengers Tower having come from the new Avengers Facility.
Natasha is wearing black jeans with a black and white striped top that as a sweetheart neckline, Wanda is in a red dress with a lace hem and a black leather jacket, Clint is also wearing a black leather jacket with a grey shirt underneath and black jeans, Steve is wearing dark blue jeans with a white t-shirt and dark blue jacket, Rhodey is also wearing black jeans with a white button up shirt and a grey vest and tie, Sam is wearing a powder blue shirt with a white shirt and grey tie and finally Vision is wearing his usual attire.
When they arrive the are greeted by Pepper who is wearing a black skirt with a red and pink short sleeve shirt and Tony who is wearing a light grey suit with a red shirt and a tie.
"You're early." Tony informs them.
"There was no traffic." Steve explains as Pepper greats everyone.
"Why are they're two extra place settings?" Natasha asks, having noticed them right away.
"Hill's bringing people." Tony explains.
"Who?" Steve asks curious.
"She didn't say, said it was a surprise." Pepper explains.
"Odd." Clint comments looking at Natasha, both wondering who Maria is bringing as there is a pretty good chance that they know whoever it is.
"Well whoever she's bringing we'll find out soon." Sam points out.
"True." Tony says, "Drinks?" he asks and the others nod.
At the same time the others are wondering who Maria is bringing to dinner the woman herself is standing on the side walk, wearing black pants, a black lace top with a brown vest over top, waiting for Phil and Melinda.
"No tie?" Maria asks, surprised, when Phil and Melinda pull up in front of her in Lola and she notices that the dark grey suit and blue shirt he is wearing is missing a tie.
"Yeah, I thought I would mix it up." Phil says not wanting to admit that he accidently brought no tied ties and he didn't want to ask Melinda to tie one for him.
"Looks good." Maria says, because she realises exactly why Phil wouldn't be wearing a tie and curses herself for bringing it up.
"So do Nat and Clint know anything about what's going to happen tonight?" Melinda asks as she walks over to Phil and Maria, wearing black leather pants and a black lose halter top with a draped neckline and black boots.
"Nope." Maria answers as the three friends begin to walk and Melinda passes Phil back the keys to Lola.
"They're going to hate us, aren't they?" Phil asks, after a few minutes of silent walking.
"They're going to be pissed. I think hate is a strong word." Maria comments.
"Really, you think that?" Melinda asks, giving Maria a look, "You and I have lied to them for over two and a half years and Phil hasn't told them he's alive. I think hate is a real possibility."
"That's true; but we also have too much history, we've been through too much for there to be hate between us." Maria says as they arrive at Avengers Tower.
"Which is why they're going to be even more hurt that we didn't tell them, even if they don't show it." Melinda says as they walk into the elevator.
"We were following Fury's orders." Phil points out as Maria presses the button for the right floor and scans her access card.
"Might not help much." Melinda says, "Remember how you reacted when you found out I was lying to you?"
"Good point." Phil admits and the three friends drift into silence.
"So, how are we going to do this?" Phil asks as the elevator nears the right floor.
"Me, then Mel, then you." Maria says and Phil nods and the elevator dings and the doors open, "Here goes nothing." Maria says before stepping out as Melinda and Phil move so that they can't be seen just yet.
"You're late Hill." Natasha tells her friend as everyone turned towards the elevator when it opened.
"And who are these surprises?" Clint asks as Melinda steps out, "Mel…" He says shocked though he is grinning from ear to ear.
"Hey, Clint, Nat." Melinda says and both the former S.H.I.E.L.D agents look happy to see their friend.
"Everyone this is Melinda May…." Maria introduces.
"The Cavalry?" Steve asks as he heard stories when he was in S.H.I.E.L.D.
"Don't call her that." Natasha, Maria and Clint say together.
"I'm sorry." Steve says quickly.
"Mel this everyone." Maria says and Melinda nods.
"It's nice to meet you Melinda." Pepper says, "You said you were brining two people, who else is here?" Pepper asks curious.
"Me." Phil says stepping out of the elevator.
"That's not possible." Clint says shocked, as everyone who knew Phil just look shock, "You died!" he says pain and disbelief clear in his voice.
"I did." Phil confirms steeping forward, "I came back." He explains.
"How long?" Natasha asks, it being clear that she is attempting to hide her shock.
"Nat…." Phil starts to say, but she cuts him off.
"How long, Philip?" Natasha asks, her voice deathly quiet.
The other Avengers, Tony and Pepper exchange looks at that as even though they would very much like to say something they realises that this is a conversation that the two former agents and Coulson need to have.
"Six months after New York." Phil says, knowing how serious Natasha is when she calls him by his fall name.
"SIX MONTHS." Clint yells shocked, "And you didn't tell us?" Clint ask pain more than clear in his voice.
"You knew, both of you." Natasha says looking between Melinda and Maria it being clear that she is hurt by that as she is actually showing pain.
"We were under orders, I can explain." Phil says.
"NO. THAT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH." Clint yells angrily, "After everything the five of us have been through together we deserved to know. You should have told us." Clint says before walking away and heading to the balcony.
"He's right." Natasha says, "We've all done a lot of things under orders; but this is something you should have broken orders to tell us." She says to Phil, Melinda and Maria, "We deserved that much, you owed us that much." Natasha says before walking off to follow Clint. If what Natasha said didn't get to Phil, Maria and Melinda the fact that there was actually tears in her eyes would have.
"I'll go talk to them." Melinda says after a few minutes of awkward silence and she walks in the direction that Natasha and Clint went in.
"So, how are you not dead?" Tony asks as he, Pepper and Steve walk over, the others staying back as they don't know Phil.
"Fury and very, very questionably procedures using Alien Biology." Phil explains.
"Are you alright?" Steve asks as Pepper looks at her friend like she doesn't really believe what she is seeing.
"Now I am, for the most part." Phil explains, and before he can say anything he finds himself getting hugged by Pepper.
"Don't you ever do that again." Pepper says as she hugs him, "And you should have told us."
"I know." Phil responds as he returns the hug.
"What happened to your hand?" Tony asks as he notices the prostatic.
"I recently had to catch an alien artefact to stop it from killing a lot of people. It started to turn me to stone so a member of my team used an axe cut it off." He explains.
"You gave Fury the Helicarrier. You're the one rebuilding S.H.I.E.L.D." Steve realises.
"I am." Phil confirms, "But I'm doing it right this time Captain, I won't let the same mistakes happen again."
"I'd like to talk to you about that at some point." Steve says as he still has serious doubts.
"Sure."
"And I want to have a look at that arm, make sure you've only got the best." Tony says as he isn't sure how to deal with Coulson suddenly being alive, but making sure that Phil has the best possible arm is something eh can deal with.
"Okay." Phil says as he expect that.
When Melinda walks out onto the balcony she finds Natasha and Clint standing at the other end together, both facing away from the door.
"Two and a half years, Mel!" Natasha says, not needing to turn around because she knew it was Melinda as soon as she heard her walk onto the balcony, "You've known for two and a half years, and you didn't tell us." She says as she and Clint turn around to face their friend.
"I've known a bit longer." Melinda says and both Natasha and Clint look furious, but before they can say anything Melinda continues to speak, "The procedures that Fury used to bring Phil back were…Horrible." Melinda says, struggling to find the right word, "I quiet S.H.I.E.L.D and punched Fury in the face when he first told me what he had done. That should give you some idea of how bad the procedures were." Melinda explains and both Clint and Natasha are surprised by that as they know how much S.H.I.E.L.D means to Melinda, "Fury didn't want anyone who cared about Phil, with the exception of Maria, to know what happened, what he did, in case it went wrong. If he didn't need me to monitor Phil and watch for side effects then I'm sure that Phil would have been given orders not to tell me too." Melinda admits, surprising both Clint and Natasha by talking more than she usually does.
"You still should have told us." Natasha says.
"Yeah, I should have." Melinda confirms, "And I'm sorry that I didn't." she says and the three friends drift into silence.
"Did he experience those side affects everyone was so worried about?" Clint asks, not being able to help his curiosity.
"Yeah." Melinda confirms with a nod.
"How bad?" Natasha asks, wanting to try to understand what was so bad about the potential side effects. Wanting to understand why they were never be told that Phil was alive in case they happened.
"Phil asked me to shot him in the head if they got any worse." Melinda says.
"That's bad." Clint mutters, not sure what else to say.
"That's why you went back into the field, to watch him." Natasha realises and Melinda nods, "You should have gone against Fury and told us. We could have helped, we would have wanted to help, just like we always have." Natasha says as Clint, Melinda, Maria, Phil and Fury were the only people she let herself be her real self around for a long time so it hurts to know that they have kept something this big from her.
"I should have been the one who told you." Phil's voice says from the door where he is standing with Maria and they both walk over.
"Yeah you should have." Clint says angrily.
"I'm so sorry that I didn't. You're right, after everything that we've been through I did owe it to you both." Phil says as the five of them have been through so much together "I would understand if you never forgave me, if you never forgave us, but I am so glad to see you both."
"We're glad to see you too Phil, but we're still pissed as hell." Natasha says and Clint nods in agreement.
"I'll take it." Phil says.
"So…..We're all here. All together for the first time in years." Maria comments after a couple of minutes of silence.
"Yeah, we are." Clint says, "We could have had this a long time ago if you three didn't spend the last two and a half years lying to us." Clint says not believing that one of the people he cares about most has been alive for that long when he thought he was dead and no one told him.
"We deserve that." Melinda comments.
"You deserve a lot more than that." Natasha says, "And next time I see Fury I'm going to kick his ass." She says and no one else on the balcony doubt that she is telling the truth, and none of them would want to be Fury when he returns from where ever he disappeared to a few weeks ago.
"I'll join you with that." Clint says, "So can I ask about the hand or not?" Clint asks, concerned but not sure if he should mention it.
"There was a battle, almost a war really, a two and a half months ago and I caught an alien artefact that if it broke would have killed a lot of people, and it turned me to stone. Another agent cut my hand off with an axe to save me." Phil explains.
"So you're behind the new S.H.I.E.L.D." Natasha realises.
"Yeah. Fury left me in charge." Phil explains.
"Nice, but I'm guessing that happened after S.H.I.E.L.D fell which means you could have told us over a year ago, you're the boss now after all." Clint says.
"I am sorry that I didn't."
"We all are." Melinda adds and Maria nods in agreement.
"Sorry's not good enough. Not for this." Natasha says and the five friends drift into awkward silence, something that has never happened with the five of them.
"So um, food's ready, or you know you can just stay out here and stare at each other." Tony's voice says a few minutes later.
"We'll be right in." Maria says and Tony heads back inside.
"We're not going to forgive you, any of you, not yet." Natasha says looking at Melinda, Phil and Maria individually "But that doesn't mean we don't want to spend time with you."
"Nat's right, we've may be pissed but we've got a lot of catching up to do." Clint says, "So how about we go eat."
"Sounds good." Phil says and all of them head back inside. Melinda, Phil and Maria being glad that it seems like Natasha and Clint have taken the news better than they were expecting.