Phil Coulson

Director Fury exchanges a look with Agent Maria Hills before letting her step out of his office.

Maria Hills hates what she will do next as she goes to her own office where her friend and subordinate is waiting for her.

As she opens the door, Agent Phil Coulson, recently brought back from the dead (not that he knows of it – if they can they will make sure that he never finds out) and now leader of his own (almost independent) team, is reading something on his phone.

"Sorry to make you wait Phil."

"No worry, if this is about Agent Ward report about-"

"Phil. It is not." Her tone is grave, very serious and also uncomfortable.

"What is it?" he wearingly enquires. Not really certain he wants to know. As he knows Maria only take that tone of voice to announce a death.

"Six months ago, Darcy Louise Lewis was reported dead by the Austria authorities."

Just like that, his heart breaks.

Not that he let it shows.

"How? And have we confirmed it?"

"We did. She can't have survived. She's dead. As to the 'how' a killing strike with a sharp but coarse object – a kitchen knife is our best bet – in her hotel room."

"Who did it?" his voice is sharp, anger very clear in his eyes.

"We don't know. There is a suspect but nothing to convict him of the murder. Phil, there is no body."

He takes a sharp breath. No body. She may be still alive.

"Phil, I will not tell you to not investigate but you are on your own if you do. So be careful. But please. To not let yourself be too hopeful. The expert is very clear on the subject, with all the blood on the scene, she can't have survived."

Maria really hates her job sometimes because Agent Phil Coulson is still considered dead to the world and can't go to the only other persons who knew her to mourn. And she knows him, he won't stop till he finds Miss Lewis body.

Phil feels numb.

He is on autopilot as he goes back to the jet.

Vibrant, serious, joyful and sexy Darcy is dead. Or, someone wants it that way.

His cellist is dead.

He hadn't lie to Stark when the man had ask about his private life, even though they had not been that way, they could have, with time.

She got him without even really trying. And she knew about his job, loved that about him she had confess once when they had pull a sleepless night - to make sure Eric and Jane didn't burn out – while playing chess.

They had flirt and argue and play together.

She had been the one he had thought about when Loki had pierced his chest and during his time recovering.

And now, everything was…dead.

His plan for when he could finally "come back" to life: ashes.

She was not here.

She was dead.

Alone in his quarter, he finally lets the tears fall.

Three weeks later, Maria and him go to the cemetery where Jane had put Darcy's tomb.

He stays hidden behind the willow while he watches Thor and Jane mourn.

He tightens his grip on the bouquet of roses he had carefully chosen for Darcy.

When they finally left, he is numb.

Almost too high on emotion before her stele.

Her beautiful smile is immortalizing her tomb.

He can only see her as vibrant and snarky as the day he left her.

Her red lips smiling at him and telling him to take care and then kissing him.

Her warm embrace when she had taken him in her arms to make sure he would. Even if in the end he hadn't.

He can't let her rest.

He will search for her.

She's not dead.

Till he or someone finds her body, she's not dead.

He will find her.

He has to find her.

He is broken without her.