Chapter 7
Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
AN1: Thank you for the support. PLEASE, PLEASE, REVIEW
Honestly Maria isn't at all surprised that that is Melinda's first question, but that doesn't make the question any easier to answer,
"A couple of bullet grazes and one to the lower chest." Maria explains, "Nat, Clint and Phil have done what they could to stabilize him and they've just landed at the medical facility."
"I need to see him." Melinda says and Maria can actually hear the pain in Melinda's voice which says a lot.
"I figured." Maria responds, "But you might want to put some actual clothes on." She comments as Melinda is wearing sweat pants that she suspects Melinda stole from Clint and a Captain America shirt that would have had to have been Phil's at some point.
"Right. I'll be right back." Melinda tells her friend before hurrying into the bedroom.
Fifteen minutes later Melinda and Maria are both in the commander's car on their way to the medical facility where Nick is.
"What happened?" Melinda asks Maria.
"He was ambushed when he went after his brother." Maria reveals, "He killed five before he got hit." She explains.
"Where were Phil, Nat and Clint?" Melinda asks, thinking that those three should have been there watching his back.
"He ordered them to stay on the plane." Maria explains.
"Of course he did." Melinda says with a sigh, not even surprised, "They didn't listen, right?" being pretty sure that they wouldn't but wanting to hear the conformation.
"Of course not." Maria responds, "Clint and Nat followed, at a distance and they were able to get in there at the first sign of trouble, take out the rest of the men, and get Nick out." She explains to her friend, "They're both okay." She adds before Melinda can ask.
"His brother?" Melinda asks.
"Dead." Maria answers, "When Clint and Natasha entered they found him standing over Nick, about to finish him, they stopped him before he could." She explains and Melinda nods, not sure how Nick is going to handle that.
"What's our cover for you getting me?" Melinda asks, realising that they are going to need one.
"You, Phil, Clint, Nat and I are still listed as his agents to alert in medical situations and most people know that the six of us are close, professionally at least, so they should be no questions." Maria explains.
"How long until we get there?" Melinda asks her friend, wanting to be there as soon as possible.
"Fifteen minutes." Maria answers, Melinda nods and the two of them drift into silence.
A little over fifteen minutes later Melinda and Maria hurry into the waiting area while making it look like that's not what they are doing, where Natasha, Clint and Phil are the only ones waiting.
"How is he?" Melinda asks as she makes her way over to her friends, "Is there any update?"
"They just took him into surgery but he was stable, or as stable as he could be, when we got here." Natasha explains, "The Doctors said that's a good thing."
"Good, that's good." Melinda says with a nod.
"We're probably going to be waiting for a while, we should sit." Maria says and the others nod and head over to the seats, sitting down Natasha and Phil sitting on either side of Melinda as they sit down while Clint sits next to Natasha and Maria sits down next to Phil.
"Mel." A voice says and Melinda turns to Phil, "When we were helping him I took this from around his neck so that no one would ask questions." Phil reveals, showing Melinda the chain that Fury keeps his wedding ring on, "I thought you'd want it." He tells his best friend.
"Thanks Phil." Melinda tells him, taking the chain and putting it around her neck, and under her shirt, knowing that she'll give it back to Nick as soon as she can.
"He'll be okay, Mel. He's made it through worse." Phil reminds her.
"Yeah." Melinda says, knowing what Phil is trying to do, but honestly it doesn't help much, and the group of five drift into silence all waiting for news of how the person who is not only their director and friend, but family, is doing.
For hours Melinda, Natasha, Clint, Phil, and Maria sit together and wait for news on how Nick is doing. While Melinda doesn't move from her spot or look away from the door to the operating room Clint, Phil, Natasha and Maria take turns going to get supplies, Maria has to make phone calls and Clint, Phil and Natasha have to give reports on what happened, but despite needing to do that they all make sure that at least one of them is always with Melinda.
After what feels like a very long time the doctors who are working on Nick finally work out causing Melinda, Natasha, Clint, Phil and Maria to stand up.
"How is he?" Phil asks as soon as the doctors walk over.
"Alive." The Doctor answers, "As you know Director Fury was grazed by three bullets and one hit him in the lower chest." He explains, "The bullet that hit him in the lower chest hit his lung and lodged in his liver." He tells the group, "We were able to remove the bullet and repair the damage, Director Fury is quite lucky that it didn't cause more severe damage. He's currently stable and resting comfortably." He explains and everyone in the group of five feel relief at that.
"Can we see him?" Melinda asks, there being some urgency to her voice.
"As you five are on his approved medical alert list, yes, but for a little while it would be best if only two of you were with him at a time." He explains.
"Agent May and I will visit with him first." Maria says, before anyone else has a chance to say anything.
"Of course, Commander, follow me." The Doctor says and Melinda and Maria follow him leaving the others in the waiting room, all feeling a lot better than they were.
About a minute later Melinda and Maria walk into the room where Nick is on the bed, he is unconscious and connected to machines though both Melinda and Maria are glad to see that he is not connected to a breathing tube.
"When will he wake up?" Melinda asks the doctor who has shown them to Nick's room.
"Hard to say, it could be any time in the next twelve or so hours." The doctor answers and Melinda nods, "If either of you, or him, need anything please don't hesitate to call." He requests before leaving.
Once the doctor leaves Melinda pulls a chair over to his left side where she is planning on sitting and Maria pulls a chair over to his right so that she and the others can sit there. Before she sits down Melinda realises something and turns to Maria.
"Where's his personal belongings?" Melinda asks Maria.
"Um…" Maria says, looking around the room, "Over there." She says, pointing to a bag on the opposite corner of the room to her, that Melinda heads over to, "Why?" she asks her friend confused.
"You know how Nick is about people other than those he trusts seeing his eye." Melinda says simply as while it has never bothered her, she was there when he was hurt after all, she knows how Nick can get about it.
"Oh, good point." Maria says, as Melinda starts to look through Nick's personal stuff until she finds the eyepatch.
"Got it."
"Good." Maria says, "'He'd be pissed if he knew we didn't put it back on him as soon as possible." She comments.
"Yep." Melinda confirms and she walks back over and carefully puts the eyepatch on her husband before sitting down in the chair that she pushed over.
"Mel." Maria says after Melinda has been sitting for a few seconds and Melinda turns to look at her, "I'm going to tell the med staff and anyone else that asks that you're his personal security while he's hurt. That will stop any questions." She explains.
"Thanks Maria." Melinda says, feeling incredible grateful to her friend as while she doesn't want to leave Nick she knew that she would have to think of something to avoid the awkward questions.
"Not a problem." Maria responds and the two friends drift into silence, Maria looking between her boss and her former SO who isn't looking away from Nick.
For hours Melinda sits in the chair on her husband's right side, not moving at all while Maria, Clint, Phil and Natasha take turns sitting in the chair on his right side, or they were up to about an hour earlier when they were all called to the Triskelion.
As she is watching Nick carefully Melinda notices when Nick's hand starts to twitch.
"Nick, can you hear me?" Melinda asks, leaning forward, "Nick?"
"Mel…?" Nick's ask, sounding sleepy.
"Yeah, I'm here." Melinda respond and Nick turns to look at her, "Are you in much pain?"
"Not much." Nick says and Melinda just gives him a look, "I can handle it." Nick corrects, as he knows what the look his wife is giving him means, "What happened?"
"You walked into an ambush alone, but luckily Nat and Clint didn't listen to your orders and were able to get into the building as soon as they heard the gunfire." Melinda explains to her husband, "That was a stupid plan, Nick." Melinda tells him.
"You would have done the same thing." Nick tells his wife, "You have done the same thing." He adds.
"Yeah, I have. So I know it never ends well, and you should to." Melinda reminds him, and even though he feels pretty out of it Nick can tell that Melinda is saying what she is saying out of worry and nothing else.
"I should." Nick confirms then realises something, "Jake?" he asks, "He…" Nick starts to say, trying to remember what happened.
"When Nat and Clint entered the building they found him standing over you with a weapon, about to kill you." Melinda explains, "I'm sorry Nick, but they did what they had to do." Melinda tells her husband, knowing that even with everything that happened losing his brother is still going to hurt.
"Of course they did." Nick responds, looking distracted, not sure how he feels about that.
Watching her husband Melinda can tell that he is hurting and confused, but she also knows him well enough to know that he wouldn't want her to admit that. So instead Melinda just reaches over and takes Nick's hand, it being a big thing for her to do but she wants to show Nick that she is there for him, and the two of them drift into silence.
It has been about an hour since Nick woke up and ever since he and Melinda have been sitting in silence. As they hear the sounds of people walking to the door Melinda quickly let's go of Nick's hand just in case it's not someone they know, which it probably won't be.
Seconds after hearing the sounds the door opens and Natasha and Clint walk in.
"Sir, it's good to see you awake." Clint informs his boss.
"It really is." Natasha adds.
"From what I heard you two are the ones who got me out, against orders." Nick explains there being some level of disapproval in his voice.
"Yeah well, it was a stupid plan. We were following at a distance but when things went to hell we interfered; and neither of us will apologise for that." Natasha informs Nick, giving him a look, a look that Nick responds to and then gives a nod.
"But I am sorry about your Brother, sir." Clint says, "He was going to kill you, we didn't have a choice." He explains.
"I understand Barton." Nick says, having chosen his words carefully something which everyone else in the room has realised, "You did what you had to do."
"Yeah, but that doesn't mean you have to be okay with it." Clint comments, "My brother's tried to kill me more than once, but I'd still morn him if he died. I'd still be angry at the people who killed him, even if they were protecting me. So, I get it." He tells his boss.
"We made sure to get his body out. Hill's storing him somewhere secure." Natasha reveals.
"Thank you, both of you." Nick says, looking between his two agents.
"Of course Sir." Natasha and Clint both respond.
"Hill and Coulson are outside. We'll head out so they can come in." Clint explains, "Like I said, it's good to see you awake." He says before he and Natasha walk out.
"Clint's right." Melinda says once Natasha and Clint leave, "Jake was still your brother. It's okay to be upset, to be angry at them for what happened."
"I'm not angry." Nick says and Melinda just gives him a look, "But it does hurt." He admits, knowing that if it was anyone other than Melinda in the room with him right now then he wouldn't do so.
"I know." Melinda says, giving him a supportive look, one that Nick returns.
It has been two days since Nick woke up and against medical advice Nick has left the medical facility and is returning home with Melinda who hasn't left his side since she was allowed to see him after surgery, something that worked perfectly with her cover as his personal security.
"Why have I never realised how many stairs it takes us to get here?" Nick asks as he and Melinda walk into their apartment.
"Because you never notice them before." Melinda says as she closes and locks the door, "How you feeling?"
"Like I was shot." Nick says and Melinda rolls her eyes, "You asked." He defends.
"Yeah, I know." Melinda says, realising that she should have known better, as they head over to the couch, "So, your doctors said at least two weeks until you return to work." Melinda comments, "When are you really going to go back?" Melinda asks curious.
"A week, maybe slightly less." Nick responds and Melinda isn't at all surprised by that answer.
"Sounds reasonable Doctors always recommend a lot more rest than needed." Melinda comments.
"For us anyway." Fury says and the two of them exchange amused looks as in all the time that they have both known each other they know that neither of them have ever listened to doctors' instructions.
"Seeing as how we have basically nothing I need to go pick up some shopping, is there anything specific that you want?" Melinda asks curious.
"I'll write a list." Nick responds.
"I can also head to the Triskelion if you want me to grab one of your laptops, or anything else." Melinda says as even though she knows that most of Nick's work can't be taken home she knows that some of it can, and she also knows that he will go insane for a week at home if he doesn't have things to do.
"I'll write a list for that too." Nick informs her, "And if you see Hill…. "
"I'll ask about Jake." Melinda says, knowing what Nick is about to say.
"Thank you." Nick responds and Melinda just gives him a tiny smile.
"I have something for you." Melinda responds removing Nick's necklace from around her neck, "Phil took this before the medical personal could see, he gave it to me at the hospital." She explains, showing Nick his necklace and ring.
"I was worried I lost it." Nick says, looking relieved, as he takes the necklace and ring from Melinda, "I'm glad for Phil's quick thinking." Nick says as he puts the necklace around his neck, where it belongs.
"So am I." Melinda responds as Nick gets started on his lists.
About ten minutes later Melinda has left their apartment when Nick hears a knock on the door, getting up, needing to do it slower than normal, Nick makes his way to the door and opening it he isn't surprised to see Clint, Natasha and Phil on the other side.
"We're on our lunch break so we thought we'd stop by." Phil explains and without a word Nick opens the door and lets them in, "How are you doing sir?" he asks.
"Better." Nick answers, "I know you three aren't just hear to check in, what's going on?" Nick asks them.
"We thought we should talk about what happened." Natasha explains, "Clear the air."
"Though I understand why you did it you shouldn't have Disobeyed orders." Nick reveals, "But thank you." He says, looking between the agents.
"I know that Clint said it at the hospital but we are sorry, Sir. We made the call because killing Jake was the only option to save you." Natasha explains.
"I know." Nick says, his voice slightly short as he doesn't want to talk about his brother, "Catch me up on what's going on at HQ." He requests and Phil, with input from the others start to explain everything that has been going on while Nick has been hurt.
Forty-five minutes after Nick got started on his lists Melinda is in Nick's office collecting the stuff that Nick asked for, being sure not to go into anything that is above her clearance level.
"Not even home a day and he's already getting you to get him stuff to do." An amused voice says and Melinda turns to see Maria leaning against the doorway with an amused look on her face.
"I offered. I figured that he'd want some stuff eventually so I might as well get it sooner rather than later." Melinda explains.
"Of course you did." Maria comments, not at all surprised by that as she closes the door and walks in, "Look I know that you hate resting just as much as he does but you should probably try and get him to rest at some point." Maria tells her friend.
"I will." Melinda assures her, "I'm actually glad you're here." Melinda admits, and Maria just gives her a look, "He's asking about Jake, about what's going on with his body." Melinda explains.
"It's here. Being heled in a secure area until he gives instructions." Maria explains, "I'm making sure that no one else can go near him."
"Good, that's good." Melinda says, knowing that Nick will be glad about that.
"Oh, do me a favour." Maria requests, "Tell Nick that the World Council approved the specific project budget he wanted."
"Will do." Melinda responds, knowing better than questioning that more.
"And…." Maria says, walking over to one of the cabinets in the room and opening it and pulling something out, "Give him this. He'll know what it is." She says, handing Melinda a file.
"Beyond my clearance?" Melinda asks, putting the file in the bag without even looking at the name.
"Yep." Maria says with a nod.
"Okay." Melinda responds, having gotten used to the secrets that her husband keeps in the last five months, "Anything else?"
"Nope, if there is anything else I'll bring it round." Maria responds.
"Okay, I'll see you later." Melinda says before heading out of the room with the stuff that Fury asked her to get.
A few hours later Melinda has brought all the things from the Triskelion to Nick and has gone and picked up shopping and dinner before returning back to hers and Nick's place.
"I picked up Chinese after I finished shopping." Melinda reveals as she walks into the apartment, "I figured it was the simplest choice." Melinda responds as she puts all the shopping, and their dinner on the table.
"Yeah, it would be." Nick confirms, getting up from where he is working on his laptop on the couch, "So, how many days are we going to get to spend home together?" he asks, not sure whether Melinda is going to be home the entire time he is or not, as he starts to help Melinda with putting the shopping away.
"Just a couple." Melinda answers, "I'm pretty sure that I already have a lot of paperwork waiting for me to do." She says as she grabs stuff to put away.
"You know I could order you to spend a few more days off." Nick responds.
"You could, but you won't." Melinda admits, "You know that there is no point in both of us going stir crazy." Melinda says as event though they would be spending time together they have both been agents for too long to be able to handle more than a few days off.
"True." Nick responds, reaching out and putting his arms around Melinda's waist and pulling her in as close as possible, "But I'm sure we can find a few things to keep us entertained." He says with a smirk.
"Oh, I'm sure we can." Melinda responds before Nick leans down and kisses her.
"You know; I don't think I'm very hungry." Nick says when they break apart.
"The food will hold." Melinda responds, "But you think you're well enough?" Melinda asks, there being actual concern in her voice as she knows how hurt Nick was, and in response Nick just leans down and once more kisses her.
"Positive." Nick responds as they make their way into their bedroom.
Three days have passed since Nick got home from medical and Melinda and Fury spent two of those days together, spending more time with one another than they ever normally get to. Even though there was a part of her that wanted to spend even more time home Melinda headed back to work on the third day.
Admittedly Nick found it very odd to be the one who woke up without Melinda in bed as it is usually the other way around, he usually either has to leave when she gets up to do Tai-Chi, has left before she wakes or doesn't come home, so being the one to wake up to an empty bed is an odd feeling to Nick and because of that Nick ended up getting up quiet quickly after he woke instead of staying in bed.
Once she arrived at the Triskelion Melinda realised that her assumption that there would be a lot of paperwork waiting for her wasn't wrong and so Melinda ended up working through lunch, not that that is overly odd for her, just to attempt to get on top of anything.
At seven thirty pm, over two hours after the rest of the Admin department has left, Melinda feels that she has gotten enough of the paperwork done to be able to head home and so she packs up her stuff, and heads out, pulling out one of her phones as she does and calling the first speed dial.
"Hello." Nick's voice answers after a couple of rings.
"Hi, I'm on my way home. Did you want me to pick up dinner?" Melinda asks, being pretty sure that she has never made a call like this before as usually she goes by Nick's office to see whether they are going to be having dinner together, causing them to sometimes eat it in his office, he sends her a message or even comes down to the admin department once he is sure the other agents have left, or she knows that he's not going to be home so she just picks up something for herself.
"I've already got that handled." Nick reveals, "So I'll see you soon?"
"Yeah." Melinda confirms, wondering what Nick has arranged, "I'm just getting in the elevator now. See you soon."
"See you soon." Nick responds before they both hang up.
A little while after she called Nick as Melinda was leaving the Triskelion Melinda walks into hers and Nick's apartment and the first thing that Melinda notices is that the seems to only be a little bit of light and so Melinda puts her bag and riding jacket by the door and heads into the apartment where she finds that Nick has lit candles, set the table to make it nicer than ever, and has put music on.
"Nick?" Melinda asks as she sees Nick in the kitchen.
"Hi, dinner is almost ready." Fury reveals, smiling at his wife.
"What made you do all this?" Melinda asks, sounding surprised.
"We've been married over five months, known each other over twenty-five and the only times when we've had anything resembling a romantic dinner is when we've been undercover." Nick explains as Melinda walks over, "I figured it was time that we broke that tradition."
"Wow, Nick, wow." Melinda says managing a smile even though it is hard for her, "I love you." Melinda says before kissing him.
"I love you too." Nick responds once the two of them break apart.
"All this smells incredible. Is there anything I can do?" Melinda asks.
"Go, sit. Like I said it's ready." Nick responds and after nodding Melinda heads over to the table, knowing that no one, or almost anyone anyway, would ever be able to believe that Nick Fury can be romantic and she feels pretty privileged to know this side of Nick.
A couple of minutes later Nick walks over and places the food on the table before he sits down and together the two of them have their first even romantic dinner together where they are able to be their real selves.
Three days later, the day before Nick is going back to work, against his doctor's orders, and he and Melinda are in New York, standing in an empty Graveyard side by side.
"You didn't have to come." Nick informs his wife.
"Of course I did." Melinda responds, "He was your brother, your family, even with everything else that happened there is nowhere else I would be." Melinda says as the two of them stare at the fresh grave.
"I hate him; I hate him a lot." Nick admits, "But, he was my brother. I should have done more. I should have figured out something, figured out a way to help him, to stop him." Nick admits.
"He made his choice a long time ago, Nick." Melinda says, both of them knowing that as they have read information that Natasha and Maria were able to track down, "I know it doesn't help but there was nothing you could have done." Melinda tells him, "But doesn't mean that you can't miss him, or that you're not allowed to hurt, because you are."
Having no idea what to say to that Nick just, after making that it is what he is going to do, puts his arm around Melinda and pulls her close taking the comfort that Melinda is offering him as the two of them dirt into silence as they stare at the grave; neither saying amore as they don't have to.