Chapter 11
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January 22th 2004
It has been about a month since Christmas and after staying until the New Year Bobbi went back to The Academy and ever since she left it has become clear how much she is missed.
It is after dinner and Skye has been in in her room (that she still considers to be hers and Bobbi's) for the last hour rehearsing something she wants to ask her mother. Drawing on her courage Skye takes a deep breath and heads downstairs.
When she walks downstairs Skye heads to the office that Melinda and Andrew have been sharing since they moved into this particular house and knocks on the door.
"Come in, Skye." Melinda's voice responds.
"Every time." Skye mutters as she walks in, making a note to ask her mother to teach her how to do that too.
When Skye walks in her mother and step-dad's office she finds Melinda sitting at one desk and Andrew sitting at another, both of them working.
"Am I interrupting?" Skye asks, thinking that if she is then she has less chance of Melinda saying yes to what she wants.
"No." Melinda says, "What's up?" Melinda asks as he can tell that there is something that Skye wants to ask.
"Um so, in a couple of weeks is my birthday, or at least the date that's always been used as my birthday, and I'll be fifteen, kind of. Which means I can get my learners and I was wondering if you could start teach me to drive." Skye requests, talking faster than usual.
"Of course I can." Melinda tells her daughter, honestly surprised that Skye seems more nervous about asking about that than she did about asking for self-defence lessons.
"Yay! Thank you Mom." Skye says rushing over to hug her mother, "I'll let you get back to your boring paperwork now." Skye says and she hurries out of the office.
"I think you just made her day." Andrew comments.
"Yeah, I think I did."
March 4th 2004
It has been six weeks since Skye asked Melinda to teach her to drive and in that time Skye has had several driving lessons, along with her self-defence lessons, during which time Skye has learnt that driving isn't something that she is natural at in fact she has almost gotten into several accidents.
It is about lunchtime and Leo is sitting in his room working on a theory paper, having decided to stay home to do it, but as he works Fitz finds it rather difficult to concentrate because he is thinking about a decision he has to make.
"Knock, knock." A voice says snapping Leo out of his thoughts and he turns to see Clint, "I got your message, is something wrong?"
"No, I just want to ask you something." Leo tells his brother, "You've been working at S.H.I.E.L.D a long time now is it hard to keep our family secret? To pretend Mum's not our Mum to pretend Bobbi's not our sister or pretend that Nick's not… our Nick?" Leo asks curious.
"It is hard, but as hard as it is I love the work." Clint explains, "That makes the struggle worth it." Clint admits, "Why do you ask?" he asks curious.
"Nick came to see me yesterday he offered me a spot at the Academy; Science and Technology Division." Leo explains.
"That's great, Little Lion." Clint tells his brother with a proud smile, "And you're not sure what to do."
"I'm tempted." Leo admits, "S.H.I.E.L.D has the best technology and it's the place where I'll be able to do the work I want to do the most, but I don't know if I could keep the secret." Leo admits.
"I won't lie to you; it won't be easy." Clint admits, "But if it's what you want to do then you should do it." Clint tells his brother, "But maybe talk to, Mom, find out what she thinks." Clint suggests.
"Yeah, I'll talk to her tonight." Leo says, "I just wanted to talk to someone who understands what it would be like."
"I can't tell you what to do, Leo. You're going to have to decide for yourself." Clint says, "Keeping this secret when working in S.H.I.E.L.D isn't easy, but if it is something you want then you should go for it, just be prepared for how hard it will be."
"Thanks, Clint."
"You're welcome, Little Lion."
Hours later Leo is just finishing the report he is working on and decides to go down and talk to his Mom.
When Leo walks downstairs he sees Andrew sitting on the couch, but he doesn't see his Mom.
"Where's Mum?" Leo asks Andrew curious.
"Office." Andrew explains and Leo nods and heads there.
When Leo arrives at the office he knocks and waits.
"Come in, Leo." Melinda says and Leo walks in.
"Are you busy?" Leo asks, "Because I can come back if you are." Leo says.
"No, it's okay." Melinda assures her son, "Come sit down." Melinda says from the office couch and Leo walks over and sits, "What's going on?" Melinda asks her son.
"Nick came to see me yesterday, and…"
"He offered you a position at the Academy." Melinda realises, knowing that Nick has given enough hints over the years about wanting to recruit Leo.
"Yeah." Leo says with a nod, "And I don't know what to do." Leo admits, "If I said yes, what would that mean, keeping the secret wise I mean?"
"As far as everyone would know you were raised by a single Mother; she was your only family." Melinda explains, "No one would or could ever know that you were adopted, or about your relationship to me, or Nick or any of your siblings." Melinda explains, "It may sound drastic, but…"
"No, I get it." Leo says, "It's too dangerous." Leo realises, "I don't know if I can lie every day."
"S.H.I.E.L.D's not your only option, Leo. Anything you want to do you could do it, you have the talent and the brain." Melinda tells her son, "You could work for anyone or even set up your own company." Melinda tells her son, "But if working for S.H.I.E.L.D is what you truly want to do I will do everything I can to help you, I will teach you tips on lying and I will work with you to make sure you have the cover story down." Melinda says, "But don't choose S.H.I.E.L.D If it's not what you truly want." Melinda tells her son.
"I need to think about this, it's big." Leo says.
"Yeah, it is." Melinda says as she puts her arm around her son and places a kiss on his head.
After spending while with his mother Leo headed back upstairs still unsure about his decision and as Melinda sits down on the couch herself she truly doesn't know what she want's Leo to choose. All she knows is that it has to be his choice and that she hates how torn he is and because of that Melinda spent most of the night sitting up in the office rather than sleeping.
"You look exhausted." Phil comments when Melinda walks to her desk in S.H.I.E.L.D in the morning.
"Yeah, it was complicated night." Melinda admits.
"Is there anything I can do?" Phil asks curious.
"No, but thanks." Melinda says as she sits down.
"No problem." Phil answers, "Do you want to talk about it at least?" Phil asks curious.
"My son's trying to make a decision, a big one and it's tearing him up trying to decide." Melinda explains, "I wish I could help him, but I can't." Melinda admits.
"Tell him to follow his heart. That can never leave you wrong." Phil tells Melinda.
"I'll remember that." Melinda says and the two of them exchange amused smiles.
A Week Later
It has been a week since Leo told his mother about the offer Nick made to him and ever since Leo has been trying to figure out what to do.
"How many pro con lists does that make?" Skye's voice asks.
"Five, and don't you knock?" Leo asks, not turning around too face his sister.
"Your door was open." Skye says as she walks over and stands next to her brother, leaning against his desk so that she can look at him, "You really don't know what to do, do you?" Skye asks her brother.
"I really don't." Leo confirms, "S.H.I.E.L.D has the best tec, that's undebatable, which would make it the best choice for me, and if I work for S.H.I.E.L.D I'll be building equipment that will help keep Mom, Clint and Bobbi safe, which is what I want, but…"
"It would mean lying every day. You'll never be able to tell anyone about your family or the truth about your childhood." Skye finishes.
"Yeah, I don't know if I can lie every day." Leo admits, "And what if The Academy is just like school and I make no friends?" Leo asks his sister.
"Okay first, you'll eventually make friends I know that because I know you, it's impossible not to like you." Skye tells her brother, "And second, I don't really have a second, but if you want to talk through everything I'm here."
"Thanks, Skye." Leo says gratefully, "But I think I need to decide this for myself." Leo admits.
"Okay, well I be across the hall, avoiding doing my homework, if you need anything." Skye tells her brother.
"Do you need help?" Leo asks his sister curious as honestly he could use a distraction.
"Nah, I know what I have to do, I just don't want to do it." Skye says as she walks across her brother's room, "I'll see you later, Leo." Skye says before walking out.
"See you, Skye." Leo says and he goes back to trying to make his decision.
It has been hours since Leo talked to Skye and he has finally made his decision, he's still not sure if he is one-hundred percent okay with it but he knows that it is the best option. Wanting to talk to his mother Leo heads down to the lounge room where he finds her doing Tai-Chi, because he doesn't want to interrupt Leo just sits on the couch and waits.
"Is everything okay, Leo?" Melinda asks a few seconds after Leo walks out, after she stops what she is doing.
"Yeah, don't stop your Tai-Chi." Leo informs his mother.
"It's okay." Melinda says and she walks over to her son and sits down next to him, "Did you just want some company, which is completely okay, or did you want to talk?" Melinda asks her son.
"Talk." Leo answers.
"Okay."
"If I choose S.H.I.E.L.D and keeping the secret is too hard or I realises it's just not something I can do; can I leave?" Leo asks his mother.
"Of course." Melinda answers.
"Okay. Then I think I'm going to say yes to, Nick." Leo tells his mother.
"Okay. if that's what you want." Melinda tells her son, "I meant what I said, I can start to teach you ways that will make it a little easier to keep this secret."
"I'd appreciate that." Leo says and that's exactly what Melinda does.
August 14th 2004
It has been five months since Leo decided that he is going to give S.H.I.E.L.D a chance and in that time Melinda has been doing what she can to help Leo get ready. Another thing that has happened in that time is Skye failing her driver's test which lead to her being less than happy for a while, although Melinda has realised that Skye is seemingly happier when she is doing self-defence lessons with her, something which she has gotten pretty good at.
It is a Saturday and Bobbi has chosen to use the weeklong vacation that she has to spend the last week before Leo leaves for the academy with her siblings, so that they can all have some time together. By May the following year Bobbi will officially be an Agent and with Leo starting at the academy Melinda, Clint, Bobbi, Leo and Skye all know that this may actually be their last time to spend real time together and they hate it.
"I'm home." Bobbi calls as she walks into the house and before she can ever get more than a few steps she finds herself getting hugged by her mother, "I've missed you, Mom."
"I've missed you too." Melinda responds as she hugs her daughter tightly as she has, unknown to anyone except Nick, been keeping an eye on how Bobbi has been doing and she is incredibly proud of her daughter.
"Where is everyone?" Bobbi asks as she and her mother break apart.
"Andrew is seeing a patient, Clint will be here soon, Leo had to go get something and Skye is up in her room." Melinda says and because she knows her mother Bobbi realises that there is something that she isn't saying.
"What's going on, Mom? Is everything okay?" Bobbi asks concerned.
"it's Skye." Melinda says, "She's not dealing with Leo leaving soon too well." Melinda explains, "I've tried talking to her, so has Clint, Leo, Andrew, and Nick but she still spends most of her time shut off in her room, even more than she used to." Melinda explains as Skye has even skipped her last couple of self-defence lessons which tells Melinda how far from okay Skye is.
"Oh, Kye. I'll go talk to her, see if I can get through to her." Bobbi says, feeling worried about her little sister.
"Thank you, Bobbi, and I'm glad you're home and not just because you might be able to get through to Skye, I've missed you soo much." Melinda tells her daughter.
"I've missed you too." Bobbi says before she heads upstairs, honestly Bobbi is worried that she doesn't know how to be a big sister anymore after all the times that she had to pretend that she wasn't one.
After leaving her mother Bobbi gets upstirs and as she does she realises that she doesn't know what room is Skye's, which is just reminder of how much things have changed, so she just starts to open doors. As she opens the first door Bobbi realises that it is Leo's room so she closes the door and checks the room next to it, which turns out to be the bathroom, and then Bobbi checks the room across from it and as soon as she does she knows it's Skye's.
Looking around the room Bobbi isn't sure what she feels when she realises that there is two beds in the room and it is clearly divided into two halves, it's like Skye has just been waiting for her to come home.
Wondering why Skye hasn't said anything Bobbi looks around and sees that her sister is lying on her bed with headphones in and the laptop on her stomach, and so Bobbi walks over and sits down next to her and takes of the headphones, causing Skye to jump.
"Bee. When did you get home?" Skye asks, clearly surprised to see her sister.
"Just a few minutes ago." Bobbi explains.
"Oh, I'm glad you're back." Skye tells her sister.
"Yeah, so am I." Bobbi responds, "What's going on, Kye? Mom said you've been shutting yourself in here more than usual."
"It's nothing." Skye says as she purposely turns away from her sister.
"You're lying, it's clearly something, what's going on Kye?" Bobbi ask her sister as he purposely pokes her sister to try and get her to talk to her.
"I miss you, okay." Skye says sitting up, "I miss you, and even Clint's not around quiet as much so I miss him, and now Leo's leaving too. I get it we're growing up, you're all adults and that this is just what happens, but I miss you! And I hate it." Skye says, honestly a part of her, a small part that she will never admit to, hates S.H.I.E.L.D for taking her siblings away, but at the same time she can't wait until she joins her siblings and mother in S.H.I.E.L.D which is something she knows she definitely wants to do.
"Oh, Kye." Bobbi says hugging her sister
"I'm being stupid." Skye admits as she buries her head into her sister's shoulder.
"No you're not. It's okay to miss us, to not want us to go, and I'll try to keep in better contact." Bobbi tells her sister.
"Promise?" Skye asks.
"Promise."
August 21st 2004
It has been a week since Bobbi came home and ever since Skye has been spending more time out of her room, partly because she wanted to spend as much time as possible with her siblings before they go.
It is Saturday once more and it is now the day that both Leo and Bobbi leave to go to their respective academies.
Skye is in the bathroom just finishing doing her hair before she heads downstairs for the goodbye when she hears,
"Skye." Being said by Leo and a knock on the door.
"Come in, it's okay." Skye tells her brother and the door opens and Leo walks in, "I thought we were doing the big goodbye downstairs in five minutes."
"We are." Leo says, "But I wanted to give you this." Leo says handing Skye a piece of paper which she unfolds and reads,
"I thought Nick said no emails, or at least very infrequent." Skye says to her brother when she reads what's on the paper.
"He didn't define infrequent, and this way we have a way to communicate that is pretty secure." Leo explains, "I still want to talk to as much as I can, Skye." Leo informs his sister.
"I want that too." Skye informs him, "I'll miss you, Leo." Skye says before hugging her brother.
"Miss you too." Leo responds as he returns the hug, "I love you."
"Love you too." Skye responds and the two of them break apart, "We should head downstairs."
"Yeah, we should." Leo says and that's what they do, Leo knowing without a doubt that this is the worse part of leaving, saying goodbye to his family.
November 20th 2004
It has been three months since Leo left for the academy and in that time Skye has been trying to get used to being the only one home with her mother and Andrew but she finds it very, very difficult, though Melinda has been trying to help her daughter and Clint has been around a little more, something which has made Skye very happy.
It is a Friday night and Skye is doing what she does most Friday nights, sits on her computer and hacks, something which lately has gotten her in a bit of trouble with both her mother and Nick, though she has realised that the ladder is very impressed with what she has done. She is in the middle of disabling the encryption on something when she gets an email from Leo so she quickly closes what she was doing and goes to the email as she hasn't heard from her brother in a little while and the last time she talked to him he said that he was considering leaving, and she wants to know if he has made up his mind.
Dear Skye,
I'm sorry it's been a while since I've written but I've been busy. I finally got a chance to talk to that girl I was telling you about, we were paired in Chem Lab and she may even be smarter than me! It's nice to have someone to talk to. I know you, Mom, Bobbi and Clint tried but it wasn't the same, not that I wasn't thankful.
How are things at home? You're not hacking into anything you shouldn't, are you? How's Mum? And are you and Andrew still getting along? I got an email from Bobbi the other day, she seems to be doing good and Clint broke into my room last week, gave me quite a scare, but it was nice to see him.
I miss you Skye. I can't wait to see you at Christmas.
I've got to go; I'm meeting my friend for a study session. I'm staying, Skye, and you were right about me making a friend, feel free to say I told you so. I'll talk to you later.
Love Leo
As Skye reads her brother's email she can't help, but Smile and at the same time she feels an ache in her chest as she really misses him. Ignoring the ache Skye presses replies and starts to respond.
May 4th 2005
It has been six months since Skye got Leo's email about him managing to make a friend at the academy and in that time Skye has exchanged weekly emails with her big brother, most of which include Leo telling her all about his friend, they were doing more at first but Nick told them to cut down as it was a security threat, and Bobbi, probably through Clint, who Skye knows visits both their siblings, got the email address that Skye and Leo have been using and so they have been exchanging emails to; though they have decreased lately because Bobbi Is doing her final assessments before graduating.
It is a Wednesday and Skye is really not looking forward to going to school, and not just because she is the new kid again, something which was easier to deal with when she had her siblings around. Because Melinda is on a mission Skye managed to convince Andrew that she has a free period first up which has allowed her to get a couple more hours of sleep, but Skye knows that if she doesn't get up and head to school soon then her mother, and probably Nick, are going to be alerted and she doesn't want that.
"SPEEDY." Skye hears Clint yell from downstairs as she lies in bed and tries to convince herself to get up. Confused about why her brother is there Skye gets up and forces herself to go downstairs.
"What's going on, Clint?" Skye asks her brother from the stairs when she gets downstairs, still wearing her Pyjama's.
"Nothing. I thought we could hang out today." Clint tells his sister.
"I would love too, but I have school and if I miss any more days then Mom is going to be pissed." Skye explains as she only just got her laptop back after the last time she skipped school.
"Mom will never find out." Clint tells his sister as he knows how much his sister has been struggling with school and knows that she could use a break.
"Yeah, she will. The school will call." Skye tells her brother.
"Not if they get a call fist." Clint says as he pulls his phone out of his pocket, does something with it and the house phone starts to ring, "Answer it." Clint tells his sister and she walks over and does just that.
"Hello." Skye answers.
"Hi, Skye." What sounds exactly like her mother's voice responds, though Skye knows it is Clint.
"Okay, that's awesome." Skye tells her brother.
"I thought you would like it." Clint says, sounding like Melinda though the phone, "So, do you want a day off?"
"Desperately." Skye says hanging up.
"Good. Go get dressed and I'll make the real call." Clint says and Skye walks back over to the stairs, "Speedy." Clint says when Skye is about half way up and Skye turns back around and faces her brother, "When you get back down here I'll teach you to forge Mom's signature, just in case." Clint informs his sister.
"You're awesome." Skye tells her brother.
"I try." Clint responds with a smirk and Skye heads upstairs while Clint calls his sister's school pretending to be their mother.
About two hours later Clint and Skye are sitting across from each other on a sandstone fence at a beach eating hot chips.
"This is so much better than school, thanks, Clint." Skye tells her brother, gratefully.
"You're welcome." Clint tells his sister, "But you know if you talk to Mom and tell her how much you hate school she won't force you to keep going. She will help you figure out something else." Clint tells his sister.
"I know. But I want to keep going." Skye says as she knows that even with her family connections she can't join S.H.I.E.L.D without a high school diploma, "It's not as bad as I'm making it sound." Skye assures her brother.
"Okay. if you're…sure." Clint says trailing off as he sees someone who is shocked to see get out a car.
"What's going on?" Skye asks and she turns to see what her brother is looking at, "Who's that?" Skye asks curious as a red haired woman walks towards them, "Wait. Is that Natasha?" Skye asks hopefully as she has wanted to meet Natasha since her brother started talking about her.
"Yeah, it is." Clint confirms,
"Does she know?" Skye asks curious as things are about to get very complicated if she doesn't.
"She hasn't come out and said it, but we both know that she does." Clint explains, "Hey." Clint says to Natasha once she is close enough to hear.
"Hi."
"Natasha I would like you to meet my little sister Skye, or Speedy as I call her, Speedy this is Natasha." Clint introduces.
"It's nice to meet you. Clint talks about you all the time." Skye tells Natasha being thrilled to meet Natasha, actually she is very happy that Clint actually introduced her as his sister as she was half expecting him to come up with some lie.
"It nice to meet you too, Skye." Natasha says, meaning that as even though he hasn't come out and said it she knows how much Clint's family means to him, "All the time?" Natasha asks Clint amused.
"What are you doing here, Nat? Do we have a mission?" Clint asks, wanting to change the subject.
"No. you missed work and so I tracked you." Natasha explains, making it sound like it's no big deal, though honestly after learning how many people want Clint and his family dead she couldn't help but be concerned.
"Oh, everything okay I'm just helping Speedy ditch school." Clint says, "Don't tell my Mom." He adds, though he very much doubts that Natasha will.
"I won't." Natasha assures Clint.
"Why don't you join us." Skye suggests as she really wants to get to know Natasha better, "If you don't have anything more important to do that is."
"Would you mind?" Natasha asks looking between Clint and Skye.
"Not at all." Clint says and Skye nods in agreement.
"Okay." Natasha says as she steals a chip from Clint and eats it, causing Skye to laugh.
Hours later Clint is dropping Skye back home after the two of them spent the day with Natasha, during which her brother and his partner taught her a few things that Skye is sure will be useful in the future.
"Did you have a good day?" Clint asks his sister curious.
"Yeah, it was great." Skye says tells her brother, "Natasha's pretty awesome." Skye says as she found herself getting along really well with her brother's partner.
"Yeah, she is." Clint confirms and seeing the look on her brother's face Skye smiles.
"Thanks, Clint. This was just what I needed." Skye tells her brother.
"You don't have to thank me, Speedy, I just did what any big brother would do."
"Any big brother would use secret spy equipment to pretend to our mother so that I could skip school?" Skye asks.
"If they could." Clint says with a nod, "Just let me know if you need another day off." Clint tells his sister.
"I will." Skye says, "I should get upstairs and get started on pretending to do my homework before Andrew gets home." Skye tells her brother.
"It probably would be a good idea." Clint says, "I love you, Speedy."
"Love you too." Skye responds and she gets out and heads into the house, knowing that it is the best day she's had for a while.
After dropping his sister of Clint heads back to his apartment and he isn't surprised in the slightest when Natasha is sitting on his couch.
"You've got a fan." Clint informs Natasha, "Speedy thinks you're awesome." Clint informs his partner.
"Skye's pretty great. I was glad to spend time with her." Natasha informs Clint, telling the complete truth.
"So, you know about my family." Clint says as he walks over to Natasha, "I take it you also know why it's a secret."
"I do." Natasha confirms, "I'll keep your secret, Clint." Natasha says knowing that she will put Clint and his sibling lives in danger if she doesn't.
"I never doubted that you would." Clint says and the two of them drift into silence.
Three Days Later
It has been three days since Natasha meet Skye and not long after Clint and Natasha's conversation about keeping his secret that they got sent on a mission, a mission that they have just returned from.
"Okay, why are you doing this?" Natasha asks Clint curious as they scale the side of a building at The Academy in a security camera dead zone.
"Because I haven't seen my little brother in a while." Clint informs Natasha, "The better question is why are you follow me?"
"Someone has to make sure you don't get into too much trouble." Natasha explains, "Plus I want to meet your brother."
"Okay, then. We're here." Clint says, as he is about to knock on the window.
"You're going to give your brother a heart attack." Natasha informs Clint.
"Nah, he'll be fine." Clint says as he knocks.
For a couple of minutes Clint and Natasha wait until the window is finally opened.
"What are you doing?" Leo asks his brother shocked.
"Saying hello. You going to let us in?" Clint asks his brother curious.
"Right, yeah, sure." Leo says as he steps out of the way so that Clint and Natasha can climb in. As soon as Clint climbs in he hugs his little brother.
"It's good to see you, Little Lion."
"It's good to see you too." Leo responds, "Hi." He says to Natasha, confused about why she is there although he is pretty sure that he knows who she is.
"Hey."
"Little Lion I would like you to meet Natasha Romanoff. Natasha this is my little brother Leo." Clint introduces.
"It's nice to meet you." Leo says, realising that his guess was right.
"Yeah, you too." Natasha responds.
"So, climbing in through my window for a visit?" Leo asks his brother.
"Your room has a camera dead spot." Clint explains "It makes it easy. I'm going to look into that." He explains, as that could be potentially dangerous for Leo, "Have you eaten?" Clint asks curious, and Leo shakes his head, "Want to go to dinner with Natasha and I?"
"I won't have to climb out the window will I?" Leo asks.
"Nah, you can walk out. Nat and I will have to go out the window." Clint says.
"Then sure."
"Great." Clint says, "We'll meet you down in carpark one." Clint tells his brother who nods and while Clint and Natasha once more climb out the window Leo walks out the door looking forward to spending time with his brother and Natasha as he's missed Clint in the last year and he knows that Natasha is important to his brother so he very much looks forward to getting to know her as well.