Chapter 9
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AN: Thank you to all who have added to alerts, read, reviewed or any combination of the three. It means a lot to me.
AN2: As usual thank you so so much for your support it means the world to me. I hope you enjoy this chapter.
For two days Melinda sits by Coulson's bedside waiting for Coulson to wake. She makes regular calls to the tower to speak to Skye and the others. She has found out that by Tony and Bruce's best guest Skye has aged another couple of months and that after the Coney Island trip they have learnt their lesson about giving Skye a lot of sugar.
More than once Melinda has been tempted to ask Tony to bring Skye to Australia but every time she is tempted the knowledge that Skye is safer with Tony, Pepper, Steve, and Bruce stops her from asking, but that doesn't stop her from missing her daughter terribly.
Both Clint and Natasha who have been spending a lot of time in Coulson's room have gone to have a shower, grab some food, check on the others, and make sure that Maria and Garrett haven't disappeared again making Melinda the only one in Coulson's room.
Melinda is currently pacing across Couslon's room as she can't sit in the chair that she has been sitting in any longer. She is on about her fiftieth return trip across the room when the door opens and she sees Simmons standing at the door.
"I brought you this." Simmons says handing her a coffee.
"Thank you." Melinda responds.
"How's he doing?" Simmons asks curious.
"The doctor said the same, but she hasn't really explained what that means." Melinda explains, not letting her frustration show.
"Is his chart in here?" Simmons asks interested.
"Yeah, here." Melinda says getting a folder out of the end of Couslon's bed and handing it to Jemma who sits down and begins to read it.
For several minutes both Melinda and Jemma are silent as Jemma reads the chart and Melinda continues to pace causing Jemma to doubt whether giving her coffee was a good idea or not.
"What does everything mean Simmons?" Melinda asks curious, "Will he be okay."
"From this everything looks very positive." Simmons tells her, "He's healing, the swelling has gone down, there has been no more bleeding. I would say he's likely to wake up sometime today." Simmons reveals.
"Really?" Melinda asks.
"I can't be sure but everything I see here indicates that." Simmons tells her.
"Thank you." Melinda tells her.
"Of course." Simmons responds, "I'll leave you alone." Jemma says putting the chart back and standing up.
"Jemma, I mean it, thank you." Melinda tells her.
Jemma smiles back at her and she leaves the room.
"You hear that Phil, Simmons says you're going to wake up today, you better not decide that this is the first thing your late to in thirty years." Melinda tells her husband.
In New York. Skye is playing with Tony's huge Lego collection, with Tony, Steve, Pepper, and Bruce all of whom are watching her closely to make sure she doesn't put any in her mouth.
"Done now." Skye says.
"You're house isn't built yet." Tony tells her.
"I know, I don't want to play anymore." She tells her Uncle.
"Well what do you want to do?" Steve asks her interested.
"Go to the park, I want to play on the playground." Skye tells him and the four adults exchange looks as ever since pictures of Skye got on the internet they have been doing their best to avoid going out so that more don't get leaked because they can't be sure of who will see them.
"I don't know if that's a good idea." Tony tells her.
"But I want to go to the park." Skye tells Tony.
"I know you do kiddo, but we can't right now. There has to be something around here you would like to do." He tells her.
"That's not fair." Skye says.
"I know." Pepper tells her.
"You mean, I want Mommy, and Daddy." Skye says upset, getting up and running to her room.
"It's not fair that she has to suffer because of other people not letting us have our privacy." Steve comments.
"Wait, does Quinn even know that she has been de aged?" Bruce asks.
"I don't know, why?" Tony asks.
"Let's just say for sake of argument that he doesn't, that means that he would have no reason to know or even suspect that Skye is three years old. Yes people will speculate who she is but I doubt Quinn will realise that she's Skye." Bruce explains.
"We should wait to this afternoon to take her." Pepper tell the others, "She just stormed out of here, she shouldn't be rewarded for that by getting what she wants." Pepper explains.
"So let her cool down then one of us talk to her." Bruce comments.
"Yep, I think it's my turn." Steve comments.
"We'll until then help me pick all this up." Tony requests.
"Why do you have so much Lego?" Bruce asks.
"Because I love it." Tony answers.
A couple of hours after Simmons left Coulson's room Natasha and Clint have returned, and from outsides point of view Clint is filling Melinda in on the latest gossip, though in truth he is just catching her up on what she has missed.
"So I have no idea how Maria managed it but Garett is in the conference room catching up on his paperwork." Clint tells Melinda.
"She threatened to permanently assign him to desk duty." Natasha reveals.
"How do you know?" Clint asks.
"Why do you still ask that question?" Melinda asks turning around the face her brother, who is once more sitting on the window sill "You already know the answer." Melinda tell hm.
"We all do." Coulson's voice barely above a whisper says.
"Phil?" Melinda asks racing to his side.
"Hi." Coulson says to her.
"Hi." Melinda responds.
"Where's Skye?" He asks.
"In New York, with Tony, Pepper, Steve and Bruce." Melinda answers.
"What happened?" He asks.
"You were making sure that Fitz and Simmons were buckled in when the plane went into a dive." Natasha explains, "You fell and hit your head." She reveals.
"I'll grab the doctor." Clint says leaving the room.
"How long have I been out for?" Coulson asks.
"A couple of days." Melinda answers,
"FitzSimmons? Ward?" He asks.
"All fine." Melinda answers, "Garrett and Maria are here too and Garrett's new boy, agent Triplett." She explains.
"Agent Coulson, glad to hear you're awake." The doctor says walking in the room, "If you could all wait outside for a few minutes." The doctor says to Melinda, Natasha and Clint.
"I'm not going anywhere." Melinda informs the doctor.
"We'll wait outside." Natasha says and she and Clint leave the room, Clint handing her a ten dollar bill as they do.
For several minutes the doctor runs several tests and asks Coulson several question, "If all goes well I can let you go in a couple of days." The doctor tells Coulson before leaving.
"What happened to the plane?" Phil asks.
"Some small damage, the power came back on so we think that it was a temporary problem." Melinda explains, "Clint's been overseeing all the maintenance, and before you ask, your car is fine." She assures him.
"Are you sure Skye is okay?" Coulson asks.
"Yes." Melinda tells him, "I call every few hours, but she had a nightmare of what happened." Melinda reveals.
"She what?" Coulson asks surprised.
"Thanks to her power she dreamt what happened. After some help from Tony and Bruce she was able to tell Fury were we were." Melinda explains.
"Did she see what happened to me?" Coulson asks.
"Yeah, every time I call she asks to speak to you, I've been telling her that you're asleep but she knows that you're hurt." Melinda reveals.
"I want to talk to her." Coulson tells Melinda.
"I figured you would." Melinda says grabbing her phone.
"Mel, have we found Quinn?" Coulson asks.
"Not yet." Melinda answers, "Hey Tony, Phil's awake. Yeah, he's good. Yeah he does. She did? Pepper's right, that was the right choice." Melinda says to Coulson's confusion, "Hey May." Melinda says to her daughter.
"Mommy, when can I come home?" Skye asks.
"Not for a little while." Melinda tells her daughter.
"I want to come home." Skye tells her.
"I know you do sweetheart." Melinda tells her, "There's someone who wants to talk to you." Melinda tells her.
"Who?" Skye asks confused.
"You'll see." Melinda says and she hands the phone over to Coulson.
"Hey, Baby Girl." Coulson says into the phone.
"DADDY." Skye yells happily, "How are you?"
"Better now that I'm talking to you." Coulson tells his daughter.
"I've missed you Daddy." Skye tells her father.
"I know. How are you?" Coulson asks.
"Okay, can I come home now?" Skye asks,
"Like your Mom said, it will be a little while." Coulson tells her, "Are you having a good time with Uncle Tony, Aunt Pepper, Uncle Steve and Uncle Bruce?" Coulson asks.
"Yeah, but I miss you and Mommy." Skye tells her father, "And they won't take me to the park." She tells her father.
"They won't take you to the park?" Coulson asks looking at Melinda for an explanation.
"I'll explain later." Melinda tells him.
"Skye I'm sure they have a reason for not taking you to the park." Coulson tells his daughter though he is confused as to why, "You need to listen to them. Can you do that?" He asks.
"Yes." Skye answers.
"Good, I love you Baby Girl." Coulson tells his daughter.
"Love you Daddy." Skye responds and she hangs up the phone.
"So why won't they take her to the park?" Coulson asks and Melinda sits down on the edge of Coulson's bed and begins to explain everything that he has missed in the last few days.
"I want to go to New York, now." Coulson tells Melinda.
"No way, you just woke from a coma." Melinda tells him.
"I don't care, I want to see our daughter." Coulson tells her.
"Phillip James Coulson." Melinda says angrily and Clint and Natasha who choose that moment to walk back into the room slowly back out when they hear both what Melinda said and the tone that she said it in, "Do you know how many times in the last few days I have gone to ask Tony to bring her, hundreds, but every time I did I stopped. I want to see her just as much as you do but it's too dangerous for her to come here and you just woke up. You can't go anywhere, not right now. You almost died Phil, again. Why don't you get that?" Melinda asks standing up and walking across the room, "You're brain was bleeding, you're lucky that you don't have brain damage, don't you get that Phil? You need to rest, you need to listen to your doctor and not go anywhere until they say you can." Melinda tells him.
"Hey." Coulson says reaching out and grabbing Melinda's hand before she can walk away again, "I'm okay Mel, I'm sorry for scaring you." He tells her.
"Don't apologise." Melinda tells him walking over and sitting down again, "Just look after yourself. Please Phil." Melinda requests.
"I will." Coulson says and he pulls Melinda down so that she is laying on his chest.
After leaving Coulson's room Natasha and Clint head to where they will find the others.
"Has something happened?" Simmons asks concerned as soon as she sees them as they just left to go be with Coulson not that long ago and it's quicker than normal for them to already be back.
"Phil's awake." Natasha explains.
"That's great." Simmons says relieved.
"Why aren't you with him?" Ward asks concern clear as he would expect that now Coulson is awake that they would be with him.
"We went to go back into his room after his doctor left but he must have said something stupid because Melinda was calling him by his full name and sounded pissed." Clint explains, "We decided to give them some time alone." He tells them.
"Coulson just woke up, how could he have pissed of May already?" Fitz asks.
"Easily." Natasha and Simmons answer.
Back in Coulson's room Melinda is still laying on Coulson and both are silent.
"Melinda, is the plane ready to go?" Coulson asks.
"According to Clint is just needs a final check, but you're not going anywhere, not yet." Melinda tells him.
"I'm not suggesting that I am. Not right now anyway." Coulson tells her.
"What are you suggesting?" Melinda asks.
"I will stay here without complaint for twenty four hours, after that if according to Simmons it will be okay for me to travel we can go to New York." Coulson tells Melinda knowing that they trust Simmons more than any other doctor.
"I agree with that, only if Simmons says it will be okay." Melinda tells him.
A day later Simmons gives Coulson the all clear to travel and Clint and Melinda have gone over everything that has been done to the plane and both of them have given it their seal of approval.
"Seriously let me stowaway on your plane." Garrett tells his friend.
"Maria's still got you doing paperwork?" Coulson asks amused.
"Yes." Garrett says annoyed, "I'm really missing the days when she was the rookie and she had to do what we told her to do." He comments.
"Please Maria has never done what we tell her to do, well except Melinda and Natasha, she listened to them a lot." Coulson reminds him.
"True but at least back then we didn't have to do what she says." Garrett says to Coulson.
"Since when do you ever do what someone tells you to do?" Coulson asks curious.
"Since she threatened me with endlessly desk duty and she actually has the power to do it." Garrett explains and Coulson can't help but laugh.
"I'm sorry." Coulson tells him.
"We're ready to go if you are." Melinda says walking in the room.
"I'm ready." Coulson tells her, "You know I would help if I could." He tells Garrett.
"You can, just let me on your plane and not tell Maria." He comments.
"She'll find out and I wouldn't be surprised if she put you on desk duty forever." Melinda tells him, "Just do your paperwork John, it's not as horrible as you make it seem."
"You wouldn't be saying that if it was you." Garrett tells her.
"It would never be me because I know how to do my paperwork before it builds up too much." Melinda tells him.
"Please, I'm calling in any and every favour you owe me." Garrett says.
"You can go with them if you want." Maria says from behind Garrett, "But if you do you will be on desk duty for eight months and have to do all the paperwork yourself. If you stay I'll give you a hand." Maria tells him.
"Really?" Garrett asks.
"Really, you still owe me a drink." Maria tells him, "Fury has op for you once you've picked up Skye." Maria tells Coulson and Melinda.
"What kind of op?" Melinda asks.
"Routine. Odd energy source. Doesn't seem dangerous, he'll give you the info." She tells them.
"Everyone's ready to go, you guys coming or not?" Clint asks from the door.
"Yeah, we're coming." Melinda says and her and Coulson leave the room.
"See ya, you two." Clint tells Maria and Garrett, "Don't do anything I wouldn't do." He tells them before following Coulson and Melinda.
"Is there even anything on that list of things he wouldn't do?" Garrett asks Maria.
"No." She answers, "Come on, the sooner we get started on the paper work the sooner we can have that drink and you can get back to your fun." Maria tells him.
"You say that like you don't miss it." Garrett tells her.
"Oh I do, I really do." Maria admits and the pair leave the room.
Hours after the team leave Australia Skye is happily dancing around the tower looking forward to seeing her parents, Uncle, Aunt, Brother, Sister and friend again. According to Tony's and Bruce's best guest she is currently about three years ten months old and it becomes clear that she experiences time differently from them as she thinks it's been months since she seen her parents instead of days.
"Skye, come have breakfast." Bruce tells her.
"Mommy and Daddy are coming Uncle Bruce." She tells them.
"I know, but you need to eat." Bruce tells her.
"I'm too excited to eat." Skye responds.
"May Skye Philippa Coulson you will stop that right now and come and eat your breakfast, don't make me tell you twice young lady." Pepper tells her in a stern voice.
"Yes Aunt Pepper." Skye says and she walks over at the table and sits down.
"What?" Pepper asks Tony, Steve and Bruce as they are all giving her a look.
"Nothing." The three quickly respond.
"When will Mommy and Daddy be here?" Skye asks.
"A few hours, so what do you want to do till then?" Tony asks.
"Um, can we play tag down in the garage?" Skye asks.
"I think we can do that." Tony comments, "As long as Uncle Steve agrees to at least give the rest of us a chance." He says.
"Of course I will." Steve comments.
"Yay." Skye says.
"Eat slower Kiddo, you don't want to choke." Tony tell her.
"I will." Skye says and she slows down how quick she is eating.
Skye, Tony, Steve, Bruce and Pepper have been down in the garage playing tag for almost an hour when Jarvis informs them that Coulson and Melinda have arrived.
"Tell them to come here." Tony requests.
As soon as Melinda and Coulson walk in the room Skye runs towards them,
"MOMMMMY, DADDDY." Skye says running towards them and Coulson picks her up, "You are never allowed to go away, never again." Skye tells her parents.
"We can't make any promises but we'll do our best." Melinda says as she pushes Skye's hair out of her face, "I missed you so much." Melinda tells her daughter.
"I missed you too." Skye tells her mother, "And Daddy, I missed Daddy too." She tells him.
"I missed you Baby Girl." Coulson tells her, "Why don't you go with Mommy to get your stuff while I talk to Uncle Tony, Aunt Pepper, Uncle Steve and Uncle Bruce." Coulson suggest and Skye nods and he puts her down and she and Melinda leave.
"How you feeling?" Steve asks.
"Okay, better than I was." Coulson answers, "Thank you so much for looking after her." Coulson tells them.
"It was our pleasure." Pepper tells him.
"Except when we make the mistake of giving her too much sugar." Tony adds.
"I'm glad you're okay Phil." Pepper tells him giving her friend a hug.
"Thanks Pepper." Coulson responds.
"You've got to stop this whole getting hurt thing." Tony tells him.
"I'm working on it." Coulson responds and the door opens and Melinda and Skye come back in.
"You ready to go?" Coulson asks Skye who nods then runs over to Tony, Pepper, Steve and Bruce and gives them each a long hug, "Come and visit sometime." Skye tells all of them.
"We will, you make sure you do the same Kiddo." Tony tells her.
"I will." Skye promises, "Time to go." She tell her parents.
"Yeah it is." Melinda comments, "Thank you." She says to Tony, Pepper, Steve and Bruce and Coulson, Melinda and Skye leave the tower to head home.
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