Family Matters CHAPTER 4
2 years later Melinda and Phil were sent on a mission now that Maria was no longer a rookie and was a level four agent she went on assignments with Agent Bobbie Morse. Yeye ended up moving in with May so he could look after Skye who was 15 and Grace was 10.
"Yeye, something is wrong with Grace." Skye called him down to their bedroom considering in this house they were sharing a bedroom. Grace was lying in bed tossing and turning she was hot and sticky, Skye was next to her holding her still. "She came home and went straight to bed. Then she started doing this...is she having a fit of some kind?" Skye asked concern laced her tone as she looked down at her sister.
"She is burning. Skye got get a flannel and run it under cold water." Yeye stated "
Xiànzài píngjìng ēnhuì wǒ yǒu nǐ" (calm now Grace I have you) "Xiànzài xiūxí wǒ de ēndiǎn nǐ shì ānquán de." (Rest now my Grace you are safe.) He then began humming a lullaby pulling her in close to him as Skye came back and handed him a cloth he began wiping her brow with it. Grace's eyes flung open and she bolted up right looking around panicking. Yeye began to run his hand up and down her back in a soothing gesture.
'Mom? mom? I want mom." She signed shaking her head as she was pulled in for a hug. 'Bad men, bad men. I want mom.' Grace signed getting up from Yeye and moving out of her room she ran to the bathroom and ended up throwing up. Yeye was there holding her hair and running his hand up and down her back. 'Something is wrong.' She signed after she had emptied her stomach. He ended up taking her to the lounge where he made her lie on the couch as he got some pammel for her and a cup of his tea he ended up sitting next to her and watched as she drank the tea.
'Something is wrong, I want mom.' She signed to him as he pulled a blanket around her.
"You need to rest Értóng (child) she will be home soon." He added and he noticed that she was fighting back sleep. He ended up running his hand across her back and once again taking up the lullaby she could not stop herself from falling back asleep.
"You gave her the tea didn't you?" Skye asked she was leaning against the wall.
"Yes."
"Is she alright?"
"She will be."
"Do we need to go to the farm?" Skye asked knowing that the tea her grandfather gave Grace had some sleeping herbs in it and Grace would be asleep probably until morning. They only gave it to her when she was not in control of her powers, so far Grace has never been sick so this was a first and it did seem to have an affect over her powers considering she was lying on the couch and her wings were wrapped around her. Yeye had ran his hand between them knowing this had a calming effect on her.
"I will get in contact with your mother, can you stay with your sister?" He asked and Skye nodded moved over to the couch he rested his hand on her shoulder. "She will be alright Xiǎo xīngxīng (little star)" he ended up walking back into the kitchen and called Melinda only for it to cut out. He redialed but only got the same response. He called Phil
"Hello?"
"I need to talk to Mellie."
"She can't talk right now William I have to go." He said hanging up making William frown before he rang Nick on his special number one reserved for family. Nick said he will look into May and Coulson mission in Bahrain and will get in contact with Maria and Clint. See if one of them was free to lend a hand.
Clint ended up coming home but not alone, he brought Natasha (she had met the family officially a year ago Grace adored her.)
"How is she?" Clint asked coming in the door, the curtains were closed as she was still asleep on the couch.
"Still asleep, she still has a fever but Yeye is managing it. She never gets sick..." Skye stated she was resting against the other couch watching Grace but moved over to Clint giving him a hug. "Natasha." She greeted smiling at her. "Have you heard from mom? She was asking for her before she fell asleep." Skye said and Natasha and Clint shared a look with each other just as Maria turned up. She ended up moving Grace on the couch so that she was lying on her instead. Natasha was still looking at Grace's wings. Sure she had seen them before but it was still shocking to see a 10year old with wings sprouting from her shoulder blades. "Is mom okay?" Skye asked noting there was tension amongst the adults in the room.
"She is on her way home, but it will be a few hours before she is here." Maria stated looking at Clint who was kneeling down next to the couch he placed his hand on her forehead.
"Still warm." He noted
"The air in the room is unchanged though."
"Could be the sedative." Clint countered considering that she had her wings out.
"Does she know there is a sedative in the tea?" Natasha asked
"She was out of it when Yeye gave it to her she probably didn't even realize." Skye stated frowning at the adults. "You didn't answer my question is mom alright?" Skye asked looking at her siblings.
"We don't know Skye."
"Then shouldn't one of you be there to meet her?" Skye asked
"Nick told us to come here, he will meet her when she lands and Phil is with her. As far as we know she is not injured." Clint stated but Skye could tell he was being careful with his wording.
"It has been an hour her fever has still not broken. We should take her to the farm." Clint stated looking to Maria who was still sitting on the couch. Natasha was up with Skye in her room as Clint looked from Maria to Yeye. "I will get word to Nick...do you think she will need a doctor?" He asked, they all knew Grace's feeling towards doctors.
"I know someone that we can ask." Maria stated and shared a look with Clint who gave her a nod.
"Yeye, do you want to inform Skye and Nat we are heading to the farm." Clint said watching as Maria moved from the couch helping Clint pick up their sister, even though she was ten and tall she was still very light in weight but when her wings were out like this, Maria ended up wrapping a blanket around her making sure they were hidden.
"It will do."
"You go get in the car, you will sit with her." Clint said, out of all the May children Grace got along best with Maria as Clint got along best with Skye. Maria nodded grabbing her bag and headed to the car with Clint following behind Natasha ended up grabbing his bag and stopping the door from slamming shut from the wind. He shared a look with her before moving to the car. Once he placed her inside and Maria had a hold of her he fiddled in his bag pulling out a small pouch.
"What are you doing?" Maria asked as she saw her brother inject something into Grace. And as he did Grace who had begun to stir once again relaxed into a deep sleep.
"Just in case." He said handing her the pouch. She frowned but took it anyway and putting it beside her. Yeye was going to drive the second car with Skye so they followed behind Clint who was driving with Natasha in the passenger seat heading to the airfield to take a plane to their farm.
May and Coulson turned up at the farm with Nick well into the early hours of the morning. Natasha was up and greeted them noticing the look in May's eyes but saw the determination in her posture.
"In her room, still sleeping. Maria is with her."
"The fever?"
"It broke two hours ago. Clint and Bobbie placed a drip in her arm."
"Bobbie?" May asked
"Bobbie Morse...took the news well. She is asleep in the guest room. Seeming Grace had a fit we thought it best Bobbie should stay."
"How?"
"Biomedical degree and advanced first aid training by law she is a fully qualified paramedic." Natasha stated reassuring her that she knew what she was doing.
"Skye?"
"In her room asleep." Natasha replied to which May nodded before heading to her daughters room. When she was gone Natasha looked at Phil and Nick waiting for an explanation. May entered the room and whispered reassurance to Maria who had woken up at her entrance before May made her way over to the bed before freezing. Grace was sound asleep with Maria curled around her protectively holding her against her front. Maria looked like she was going to move but May stopped her.
"You stay with her. I just came to check on her." May said the trauma of what she did still fresh in her mind.
"Mom you Okay?" Maria asked making Melinda blink back those thoughts and push them down deep. She then saw the iv bag and followed it down to her arm.
"Her wings are still out?"
"Yes, I am being careful."
"I know you are...stay with her Maria...I-I can't right now." May said after making sure she was alright she ended up walking out of the room and back the way she had come. She did not stop though she walked out the door leaving a clearly obvious worried Phil and a slightly more subtlety worried Nick and Natasha.
"Mel?" Phil followed her out but she had gotten in the car and went to drive off not before Natasha managed to get in the car.
"Get out."
"Going somewhere? You're not going alone. You can drive all you like and I won't ask any questions but right now I am not leaving you." Natasha stated she knew that look. So May drove off with Natasha in the car.
In the morning Skye woke up surprised that Nick and Phil were there but not their mother. She was officially concerned... Grace woke up snuggled into Maria who was looking down at her. Seeming that she had ended up rolling over after May had left and snuggled into Maria clinging to her top.
"How are you feeling?" Maria asked once Grace got her bearings.
'What happened?' Graced asked back
"How are you feeling?" Maria asked again
'I cannot remember what happened? My back hurts.'
"Your wings are out."
'Why?'
"You were sick, leave it in. It is pumping antibiotics into you." Maria said stopping her from pulling out the iv.
'Do not like doctors.'
"No doctors came." She reassured her, "you were sick Grace you needed medicine."
'How long have I been asleep?'
"Two days." Maria replied seeming that Skye had returned to their home with Yeye and Nick returned to work leaving Phil and Clint here as Coulson knew Melinda would want him here helping out and Bobbie was still there especially seeming that yesterday Grace had what seemed like a mini seizure. Maria stayed with her during the day and cuddled up to her at night it seemed that Grace preferred to cling to her front in this state.
'Mom?' Grace asked looking around and at this Maria froze she did not know what to say.
"She was here, but had to leave." Maria replied carefully. "How does your head feel? Tummy? Throat? Ears?"
'Head a bit dizzy, tummy...empty, throat dry, ears fine.'
"Do you think you are up for moving?" Maria asked
'Am I in a diaper?' She asked after moving to the side to prove she was ready to move. She turned a glare on her sister.
"Only way I was going to sleep next to you." Maria replied but had a teasing tone
'If I could talk I would be grumbling.' Grace signed before looking down as a wave of dizziness washed over her she laid down on her back only to sit up and she turned to look at her wings.
"What's wrong?" Maria asked sitting next to her she had to move as one of her wings almost struck her.
'Sorry.' She signed as a strange feeling washed over her she could feel the air in the room and felt how Maria moved, this was normal she could usually feel the presence of others in the same room as her and would focus on one thing to minimize the affect her power had to stop it bombarding her with feelings from everything around her how the smallest of movements sent a ripple of air that she could feel and pinpoint where it is from but right now was different. Right now she could feel everything around her but not just in the room, in the house she felt three others moving around in the lounge, she could feel the wind coming from the windows that were open in the rooms even the flapping of wings from a fly up the chimney. It was all crashing into her like waves pounding against a rock. 'Too much.' She signed trying to push it away only to snap her head to Maria as she ended up pushing her away. 'Sorry...too much...make it stop please.' She said pulling her legs up to her chest as she did her wings wrapped around her.
"Grace, listen to me. Focus on me. Please let me help you. Feel how each breath I take in and out...the movement of my fingers as I brush them against the blanket. The feeling of this..." she said as she ran her fingers across her right wing brushing carefully across the feathers it sent a shiver down her spine as she focused on what Maria was saying trying block out the other feelings. The noises coming to her across the sound waves in the air only focusing on Maria's voice. Maria had moved closer still so that her hand ran against her bare back under her shirt up and down her spine. She felt her wings relaxing enough that she could see, Maria sitting next to her Grace ended up jumping onto her pulling her right into a hug her head pressing into her shoulder she felt herself shake. She did not want to let go even when she felt someone else enter the room.
"She alright?" Clint asked
"She is now, I think." Maria replied noting that Grace ended up holding onto her tighter. "Think you are ready to try again?" Maria asked still running her hand up her back. Grace shook her head, she did not want to leave, she did not want to move. Right now it was like Maria was her anchor and she was scared that if she let go everything will overpower her and push her away.
"Bobbie wants to come and check her over if she is alright with it." Clint asked but at the mention of this name she did not know she shook her head again clinging tighter to Maria's top.
"Bobbie is a friend Grace. She and I work together." Maria said making Grace move back so she could sign.
'Like Nat and Clint?'
"Almost she is part of my team. I don't think anyone could be like Nat and Clint."
'Mom and Phil.' Grace signed and at this Maria and Clint choked back a laugh, and were highly amused. 'What is funny?' Grace asked but Maria and Clint didn't answer so she pouted. 'I want a shower.'
"Bobbie first...please?" Maria asked making Grace sigh.
'Fine.' Grace signed back but seemed to move closer to Maria as Clint left to get Bobbie. Bobbie entered and Grace actually opened her mouth. 'You are beautiful?' Grace stated in that child innocence.
"Thank you. You are too."
'No I am cute, you are beautiful.' Grace said
"You were right she is adorable." Bobbie said looking at Maria who nodded her head. Bobbie then began to examine her, she noticed how Grace seemed to tense at this and seemed to cling tighter onto Maria.
'You said no doctors.' Grace signed to Maria
"Bobbie is not a doctor but has had medical training." Maria replied "she isn't going to hurt you." Maria added "she is wanting a shower." Maria told her
"She can have one, but she has to leave the line in her arm. You might want to be in there with her."
'Hungry.' She signed happy that she was allowed to have a shower
"I will get Phil to make us something." Clint said as Maria and Bobbie helped her to the bathroom. Grace was not happy that by the time she walked to the bathroom she was dizzy and tired.
"You good?" Maria asked noting that her grip on her arm seemed to tighten as more weight was put on it. Grace nodded before getting undressed, Maria was kind of grateful that Bobbie was with her helping her get Grace ready for her shower as it seemed too much effort for the 10 year old.
"You are going to get wet you know that yes?" Bobbie asked
"Why?"
"Considering that you are practically holding her up. Maybe a bath..."
"No baths." Maria interrupted her considering that they had only tried to give her a bath once and that led to a pretty big melt down. She still would not have a bath even though it had been five years.
"Ok. You get her in the shower then when she is done you can get changed while I help her get dressed. If that would be alright with her."
'Ria trusts you, and you are not a doctor good enough for me.' Grace signed as Maria helped her in the shower. She ended up holding her steady as she washed herself. Maria had to wash her back mainly because she still had her wings out.
"Your wings are still out."
'Can't put them back in. Hurts to try.' Grace signed back as she washed the shampoo out of her hair. Bobbie helped her get dressed as Maria left to get changed.
'What is wrong with me?' Grace signed after Maria was gone.
"Your powers are evolving, at the same time you get a viral infection." Bobbie stated
'So I got sick like every other kid and it makes my powers evolve?' Grace asked scrunching up her face in thought. 'I can't even get sick right?' She huffed as Bobbie helped dry her hair.
"Any more dizziness?"
'No, I am tired though. But hungry I want food.' She signed and this made Bobbie smirk.
"Then let us go to the kitchen." Bobbie said helping her walk to the kitchen. The smell of food was strong and amazing Grace picked up her speed. "Easy you don't want to tire yourself too much." Bobbie said keeping pace with her. She grabbed her to steady her as a dizzy wave hit her.
She sat down at the table drinking the chicken noddle soup Coulson had made and nibbles on the toast before moving over to the couch and cuddling into Maria as she started reading her a book. One of the chapter books that was how she ended up falling asleep again.
They stayed on the farm for a week mainly because Grace could still not put her wings away. Her other symptoms were gone and she felt fine. Even went outside and flew for a bit, while testing her powers. When she returned home she was happy when she moved through the house she saw Yeye in the kitchen and went over and hugged him.
'Is mom here?'
"She is in here room, wait Grace leave her for now. You can help me make dinner." He said
'I want to see mom.' She signed but stayed in the kitchen and began helping him. Maria shared a look with him as Clint left to talk with Skye who was in her room. When she was finished helping him she ran out of the kitchen heading to her mother's room, the door was closed so she knocked and waited for a response. She could sense her mother moving around in the room so she knocked again and waited for her to come to the door. She opened the door and Grace grinned up at her moving in to hug her. Something was wrong the hug felt wrong. She stepped back searching her mother's face for what was wrong but it was blank and showed no emotion.
'What is wrong?' Grace signed to her now concerned.
"Nothing is wrong Grace."
'I helped Yeye make dinner. Will you come and read with me?'
"Not now, maybe later." May replied bending down and kissing her on the head before stepping back. "I am glad you are feeling better." She said before closing the door. Grace stood there for two minutes just looking at the door before turning and going to her room where she found Clint and Skye on the bed talking. Grace ran over to them and climbed on the bed hugging Skye happy that Skye hugged her back. She was worried about their mother and was not the only one.
The days turned to weeks which turned to years. May had been there but not fully there she had put distance between her kids even though she was now working in admin. Maria and Clint had been busy with work and their own lives leaving Skye and Grace at home. Skye was becoming more distant, locking herself in her room spending most of her time on her computer leaving Grace spending most of her time with Yeye cooking. Skye was 17 when she decided she wanted to go into SHIELD she ended up talking with Nick about it and he agreed so she went to stay with Maria so that Maria could teach her what she would need to know.