A/N: I know I've been away for ages, and this chapter isn't my best, but I haven't been able to sit and write for a while and for some reason, I've not had wi-fi on a Saturday since my last update. I also have to take school in to consideration and I start the school year in which I'll be getting a load of qualifications in a week, so updates might be few and far between for a while.
May drove the van back to base and Coulson sat shotgun. In the middle row, Daisy was sat finding comfort in texting Lincoln, while Jemma and Fitz were leaning into each-other on her left, holding hands tightly, both seeking comfort in the other, trying to stay grounded. Mack was sat alone in the back, crying in silently. The entire car was quiet, apart from the occasional text alert from Daisy's phone. When the short drive, that had felt like forever, was over and the team was back at base.
Mack lumbered down the hall to the piano room. He was supposed to be boxing up Hunter's things, but he couldn't face it. He knew it would only be about an hour until every one arrived to say goodbye to their friends, like had been done with Izzy, Idaho, Trip, Andrew, Rosalind, Will (for Jemma), Gonzales and both of Skye's (She wasn't Daisy at the time) parents. It was strange, he thought, a place where so many goodbyes had been said and so many tears had been shed could have an equal number of happy memories attached to it. He collapsed on to a couch, near the piano. He cried for a while until Jemma appeared in the doorway.
"I have Bobbi's binder." She told him, hugging the heavily decorated SHIELD folder to her chest. "I thought we could play one of the songs in here." She explained, sitting down next to him and opening it at the start. When her comment was met with silence she continued to flick through the different pieces of music.
"That one." Mack told her as she turned the page to the music for the tribute to Paul Walker.
"Are you sure?" She asked, "They aren't dead."
"Read the lyrics." He told her pointing at the page. "It just makes sense to me."
"I guess it does. And I already sort of know it, which makes it easier to play." She told him, removing the plastic sleeve from the folder and putting the music on the rack.
"How long until everyone gets here?" Mack asked.
"Daisy's calling Lincoln to tell him what went on, she said is was better to hear it than read it over text and Fitz is getting beer." She told him, sitting on the piano stool.
"The bosses?" Mack prompted.
"Are updating the agent profiles and writing the reports." Jemma sighed. "So we don't have to."
"I hope Fitz is getting here soon, I could use some liquid courage." Mack told her.
"I think we all could, but I noticed you treated Bobbi like a sister which makes this especially hard on you." She said understandingly.
"She was the little sister I never had and always wanted." He told Jemma.
"Are you an only child?" She asked.
"I have a younger brother, Reuben. You?"
"No, it's just me." She said as her phone went off. "Fitz is back and, ooh, he got Budweiser from that British store!" She squealed upon reading the text.
"What is it with you Brits and alcohol? Your drinking age is-"
"Similar to most European countries. It's just ridiculously high here." They argued jokingly for another twenty seconds before Daisy arrived, followed by Coulson, May and finally Fitz a minute later, raising the two of the six packs he's carrying as an explanation.
Daisy sat on the stool with Jemma and they played together as a duet. Coulson and May sat on the arms of one of the couches, Fitz stood behind Jemma with a comforting hand on her shoulder and Mack stood, looking lost, in the middle of the room. The whole team sang to the piano, but it felt like there was something missing without Bobbi and Hunter.
Tears were shed by every member of the team and, when the song was over, they clung to each other for support for what felt like hours. Jemma hugged Fitz more closely than Mack could ever remember them doing before and Coulson was gripping May's hand, with silent tears rolling down both of their cheeks. Daisy saw Mack standing alone and wrapped her arms under his so he was forced to hug her back, which he did, crying quietly in to her hair. Jemma and Fitz left first, hand in hand, followed by Daisy and May.
"Coulson?" Asked Mack as the director went to leave the room.
"Yes Agent Mackenzie?" Coulson asked, turning around to face him.
"Can, can I take a week off to go visit my brother? He asked me to come visit a few weeks ago, and I think I need to get away, just for a week." He said to Coulson, barely meeting his eyes.
"I understand. Leave as soon as you've packed, I'll call you if we need you." Coulson said. "I wouldn't have said no, I know how close you were to them."
Half an hour later, Mack said a short goodbye to his friends and drove down to his childhood home.
