AN: Hi! sorry this took so long, though it's just short, you know, life happened ;) thanks for checking this out and i hope you enjoy. slight implied Philinda. xx
Coulson leaned on his table, arms crossed as he watched them on the monitor behind his chair, as Skye gave them the eulogy and inspirational speech they all needed. He was touched at the things Skye had said about him. But they weren't just words of flattery for him, because he knew everything she said was true.
He cared for them more than he cared for himself. And he knew that by rebuilding SHIELD the right way, he was somehow protecting them and giving each of them a purpose in life, and that's what he wanted.
After they cheered with their beer bottles, he sensed someone standing behind him.
"You've been watching them." May observed out loud.
"Have you?" Coulson asked as he turned to look at her.
She showed him the tablet she was watching the team on.
Coulson smiled at her, "Why didn't you join them?"
"You know that's not my style Coulson."
He looked at her. She had that mask again that showed zero emotion, but he saw softness in her eyes. She always had that when she looks at him, only at him. "Maybe you should try a different one."
She rolled her eyes, "Like I said, I can handle my own problems."
"So why are you here?"
She smiled at him, a special smile only he could see, "I brought these," she showed him the bucket of ice with red wine and two glasses she was holding behind her back. She knew he preferred wine over other alcohols.
He smiled when he saw what she was holding on her other hand. "But I still have work to do…"
May headed for the couch opposite his desk and put the two glasses on the table. "Just because you're Director now Phil doesn't mean you can't have a drink anymore. You gave them the night off, we should too." She said as she opened the wine and poured one for the two of them.
He knew he couldn't say no to May, so he headed for the couch as well, unbuttoned his coat, and sat beside her, "might as well." He said as he accepted the glass she handed him.
"Cheers." May said softly as they clink their glasses together and sipped their wine. She put the tablet where she's been watching the team on the table in front of them.
They watched as the team shared stories of their own. It's been a while since they saw them smile and laugh like that again, and it was very refreshing. "I've been recording them." Coulson said as he continued sipping his wine and watching the team.
"What for?"
"I think our guest might enjoy it, let him know he's already dead."
May smirked. It was a great idea, a painful and effective way of torturing him. "It was a great piece, what Skye said."
Phil smiled at the slightest hint of admiration in her voice. "Like I said before, the way she thinks, its different from us," he pauses and sips his wine, "she always seems to find hope in humanity, a light in the dark."
"Don't go all poetic on me now."
He smiled again, "Maybe I should, Fury was."
"And look where he is now." Coulson gave her a look, "Relax, I'm just teasing." She knew how much Phil respected the man, even though he could sometimes be such an ass.
"Though I knew you could always solve his riddles, just like you could always solve mine." He smiled at her, his adorable loop sided smile.
"You're pretty easy to solve." She teased again, and he just smiled at her.
"What Skye said was true you know," he said, all serious now, "We could do anything as long as we're together. Because I honestly don't know what I'll do, if you guys ever left. It's nice to know I'm not the only one still believing in the true principle of SHIELD." He looked down.
She looked at him with compassion, "We're not going anywhere Phil, we're not gonna leave you." She reassured him.
He looked at her eyes, "Maybe you should, they're still so young. If you don't leave now, you will never have a normal life, have a family…"
She held his gaze, seeing the whirlwind that was his thoughts, "Phil. We're here, because we want to, not because we're forced to." She said each word carefully, making sure he heard every bit of it.
After a few silent moments between them, he finally gave her a defeated smile.
She put her hand on his knee, meeting his gaze, she said, "We will always be here. I will always be here."
He smiled at her, "Thank you, Melinda."
She smiled as she pulled her hand back, pouring them another round, and they continued listening to the stories the younger agents shared, smiling and laughing along with them.
AN: I'll be posting the last chapter of this, which will be centered on Ward, so stay tuned. thanks again for reading! let me know what you think? :) means a lot. xx
