Over 100 reviews! Holy smokes! That is a first for me.
isi7140, PurpleHipposRock, Ghost Rider of the Aragon, PernDragonrider, Sandy-wmd, Qweb, vamp of alium sativum, BenRG, Princess PrettyPants, TFKpuppet, a Guest, and writer's legend reviewed chapter 8, getting the thanks and gratitude of the author!
It's time for Coulson to say something.
"Didn't Director Fury say that that would be dangerous?" Simmons asked.
"He also said said Coulson went to Tahiti." Skye reminded.
"I'm telling the truth about this, Coulson." Fury said, sincerely. "There's no reason for me to lie."
"Power play." May offered. "He keeps the information, keeps the control."
Coulson folded his arms. "I think we're all very aware of who has the power in this situation, he wouldn't need to lie to keep it."
"That's not-" Fury began.
"I understand that you didn't have to do this for me. I'm grateful and a little surprised that I was deemed important enough for this, obviously, very expensive and exclusive program. But let's take a moment, and talk about where I'm at here." He didn't wait for Fury to approve before he continued.
"I was stabbed through the chest by a wanna be god. I died; a few times, apparently. I've been lied to since before I woke up, and technically I've never regained consciousness. I've dealt with any uncertainty I've had, alone. Not wanting my team to doubt their leader and not wanting you to second guess your decision to let me back into the field. And now that possibility is taken to another level and brings up some scenarios that have been circling in my mind, because this isn't my body. Right now I might as well have 'Property of SHIELD' stamped on my ass. So what happens when I'm not needed anymore? Or since LMDs are all still being tested, what if I'm deemed dangerous?" he chuckled, "Or not cost effective? What then?"
Silence.
Coulson continued his voice sharp and hinting dangerous. "I'll tell you what happens, everyone in the 'program' gets sent back to their real bodies and they move on to the next mission. Everyone but me, because I'm in a damn coma! 8 seconds, a lie. Tahiti, a lie. My body, both of them, a lie! All in all, I think I'm taking this rather well, Nick."
Fury's eye twitched.
"I risk this tech every day in the field, so if I want to take my chances on the truth because I'm tired of getting lied to, and because I want to know what I could someday be sent back to, then I will. And if you think you can stop me, you can go to hell...sir.
"Or you can see this as the rare opportunity it is, for you, and think of this as further testing for future operatives."
"I'm not comfortable with anyone seeing it that way," May said, her voice hard.
Fury's jaw clenched. After another moment of them staring at eachother Fury broke the gaze and hollered out of the room, "We need you to come in here Doctor!"
"Are you serious?" Ward asked, in disbelief.
"Didn't you say you were trying to protect him?" Skye accused, "Guess you don't have to care as much if someone willingly becomes the guinea pig, huh?"
"Skye," Coulson warned.
Fury wasn't amused. "First you're upset that I'm keeping secrets, now, because I'm ready to tell the truth. You people need to make up your minds because, I believe, Agent Coulson has already made up his. Unless you all want to join me on the list of people making decisions for him?"
Everyone on the team looked conflicted, like they wanted to object, but knew that they couldn't.
Coulson turned to them, his voice reassuring, "You don't need to protect me from this. We came here for the truth and that's what I'm getting. No matter what."
I will finally tell you in the next chapter, I promise!
