Chapter 13
Disclaimer: I do not own anything. Everything belongs to their rightful owners and I am not making any profit from this.
March 1st 1986. Melinda 18. Tony 15
After she left her room, where Felix attempted to get her not to go, and Izzy just gave her a hug Melinda went to the motor pool where she called in the favour she was owed and left the academy.
It took less than an hour for Melinda to get to Springfield. Once she was there she went to an ATM and withdraws the maximum amount of money she could, one thousand dollars, which means between that and the cash she has she had over four thousands, already having planed a lie to explain the withdrawal if she is questioned. Once she has her money Melinda parked the car in the long term parking and got on the next flight to Miami.
It is early Saturday morning when Melinda arrived in Miami and the first thing she does is make a phone call.
"James, I'm here, where are you guys?" Melinda asks and James provides the address so as soon as Melinda is out of the airport she gets in a taxi and goes to the address.
It takes fifteen minutes for Melinda to get from the airport to where James said she would find him and Tony. When she gets to the hotel room Melinda knocks on the door and a boy who she realises must be James Rhodes answers.
"Melinda?"
"Yeah, James?" Melinda asks and Rhodey nods and lets Melinda into the room, "Where is he?" Melinda asks.
"Through here" Rhodey says and Melinda follows him to the bedroom part of the room where Tony is lying bruised and bloody.
"Anthony." Melinda says worried dropping her bag as soon as she sees him and rushing to his side.
"Melly." Tony says seeing her, "Glad you here." He says to her as Melinda sits down on the side of his bed, right next to him.
"Yeah, I bet you are." Melinda comments, "James can you pass me my bag." Melinda requests regretting that she dropped it and Rhodey does just that, "Also can you get me a bowel with warm water and a face towel?" Melinda requests and Rhodey nods and heads into the bathroom.
"What you going to do?" Tony asks.
"Clean of some of this blood so that I can see what you're injuries are like." Melinda informs Tony.
"I screwed up, and I can't tell Dad, I can't." Tony informs Melinda.
"Don't worry, you won't have to, that's why I'm here." Melinda informs Tony, "And everyone screws up Anthony, that's how you learn." She tells him.
"How are you here? I though you only got holidays for summer and Christmas." Tony comments.
"That is true, but it's the weekend. I got a weekend pass to come here." Melinda lies, not liking lying to Tony but it is the only option she has that won't make Tony feel guilty.
"Thank you."
"No need. I'll always help you Anthony." Melinda informs him as Rhodey walks back out from the bathroom and hands Melinda the towel and bowel of water.
"Here we go." Rhodey says as he hands it to her and sits on the end of the bed.
"I'm going to clean away this blood and then check you for injuries. If they are too bad then you're going to need to go to a doctor and there is nothing I can do about that." Melinda informs Tony.
"Do you have medical training?" Rhodey asks curious.
"I know a few thing." Melinda answers as last semester she had to do a basic first aid course at the academy.
For half an hour Melinda cleans the blood of Tony and asses his injures. Her best guess is that he has a few bruises, some minor cuts, potentially a fractured rib, and a very bruised eye and nose but nothing serious.
"Get checked out when you get back to school, but you should be okay to them." Melinda tells Tony and he nods.
"Now, tell me everything." Melinda requests as she puts the bowel she was using to clean Tony up on the floor.
"Well, Rhodey and I went and played poker with these three guys, I lost and I paid them back without a problem." Tony explains.
"Okay, then why did they attack you?" Melinda asks.
"I guess they found out who I am and they wanted more money, but I've already reached my maximum amount that Dad gives me a month, so they attacked me, like I said, I screwed up." Tony explains.
"Hang on, today's the first of the month. Can't you withdraw more now?" Rhodey asks curious.
"No, Dad doesn't release more funds to the first Monday of the month." Tony reveals, "And they want more money today." He explains
"If they want more money than we just use mine." Melinda says, "And none of this is your fault, you didn't know what a game of poker would lead to." She informs Tony.
"You have money." Rhodey says surprised.
"A bit." Melinda answers with a shrug, "And one of the perks of being eighteen is that no one monitors my bank accounts." She reveals though she is pretty sure that if she gives them reason S.H.I.E.L.D will check. "How much did you lose to these guys in poker?"
"Seven hundred a piece."
"Okay, where are you going to meet them to hand over the money?" Melinda asks.
"The alley behind a club, the Solar Blue. 9 o'clock tonight." Tony says and Melinda nods.
"You're going?" Rhodey asks, "Shouldn't we call the police, let them handle this?"
"No." Melinda and Tony both say, "Anthony is underage if we call the police the first thing that will happen is Uncle Howard being called and that's the last thing any of us want." Melinda reveals, "I can handle this." She says and Rhodey nods, "Do either of you have a bag that you don't mind parting ways with?" Melinda asks curious.
"I do." Rhodey says walking over to the other bed in the room and tipping a duffle bag upside down and handing it to Melinda.
"What are you going to do with all your stuff?" Melinda asks.
"I have another bag and I can put anything that doesn't fit in with Tony's stuff." Rhodey explains and Melinda nods.
After getting the bag from Rhodey Melinda starts to pull everything out of her bag until the bag looks empty, once it is she lifts up the bottom to reveal a compartment where she put all the money she has.
"Where did you get that from?" Tony asks curious, "And how did you get so much money on the plane?"
"Both are a very long story connected to things I can't talk about." Melinda informs Tony as the bag is something that every cadet at the academy has been given and thanks to the material that the compartment that she put the cash in is made of she was able to get the money on the plane without raising suspicion.
"This gets added to the list of things you're going to explain to me one day." Tony says to Melinda.
"I know."
"Wait. That's all?" Rhodey asks surprised, "You're… Melly as you call her, has some awesome bag with a hidden compartment and you're not even curious as to why?" Rhodey ask.
"I am. I'm really curious but she can't tell me. I've accepted that." Tony explains, "You're going to keep money so that you can get home right?"
"Of course." Melinda responds knowing that for both her story that she plans to tell when she gets questioned and to get home she will have to make another stop at an ATM tomorrow but Tony doesn't need to know that.
"How much are you going to give them?" Rhodey asks curious.
"I'm putting three thousand six hundred in the bag." Melinda reveals, "That's more than they won at Poker and I'm going to make it clear that that is all they are getting."
For the next few hours Melinda, Rhodey and Tony spent time in Rhodey and Tony's hotel room. They talk, watch movies and even play board games and during that time Melinda becomes very grateful that Rhodey was assigned to be Tony's roommate as he doesn't treat him differently because he is a genius, he just treats him like a friend and she even finds herself starting to form a friendship with him as well.
"It's time." Melinda informs Tony and Rhodey at eight pm, "I'll be back as soon as I can and until I am don't let anyone into this room." Melinda says looking between Rhodey and Tony, "And you need to make sure it is really me before you let me back in."
"How are we going to do that?" Rhodey asks.
"When I get back ask me something that only we know." Melinda says looking at Tony who nods.
"I can come with you. I don't mind." Rhodey offers.
"No, both of you are staying here." Melinda says picking up the bag that has the money in it and walking to the door, "Remember what I said, lock this door." She tells them and she walks out.
Rhodey walks across the room locks the door then turns towards Tony, "We're not really going to wait here while she goes and faces three dangerous men alone are we?" Rhodey asks concerned.
"She can handle herself." Tony informs Rhodey, "But no, we're not." He says as he, with difficultly stands, "We're going to wait twenty minutes then go to Solar Blue."
After leaving the hotel Melinda travels the long way to Solar Blue, making sure that she isn't being followed the entire way. Before she goes to the alley behind the club Melinda caves the area to make sure that there aren't any surprises. Once she is sure that the area is clear she heads into the alley where the three men are waiting. The three men are all tall, clearly in their twenties, muscular and have a dangerous look to them.
"Keep walking lady, we've got business here." One of the guys says.
"I know you do. I'm your business." Melinda informs them, "Tony Stark couldn't make it, so you've got me instead."
"Have you got our money?" The second man asks.
"I do. I've got you twelve hundred each, and you're going to take that and never bother Tony again." Melinda informs the men throwing the bag to one of the guys.
"She's telling the truth." The guy who caught the bag of money says.
"That's a good start, but it's not good enough." The first man says, "Starks a billionaire we want more than a lousy twelve hundred bucks."
"Well that's all you're going to get." Melinda says taking several steps closer to the men.
"Listen lady." The first man says taking several steps closer to Melinda, "You're going to get us more cash or we're going to pay another little visit to Stark and this time we're not going to leave him in such a good state."
"No. You're not." Melinda says walking so that she is right in front of the man, her lack of height resulting in her head only reaching the top of his chest though she doesn't let that phase her, "You're going to take the money and walk out of this alley, never to look back. You are never to come anywhere near Tony Stark again."
"Oh yeah? Why should I do that?"
"Because it's in your best interest."
"Listen lady, you don't scare me." The man informs her, "In fact once I've dealt with you I'm going to pay a visit to Stark and let's just say it won't be fun for him."
"Good luck with that." Melinda says sarcastically with a smirk. As soon as Melinda says that the man attempts to attack her but she doesn't get much further than attempt due to the fact that as soon as he tries Melinda blocks his attacks and throws him to the ground where he lays in pain. Once she has knocked the first guy down his friends try to and she incapacitates them both too.
"Like I said, you're going to walk out of this alley, take your money and never bother Tony Stark again." Melinda says standing over the three men, "Do we have a deal?"
"Yes." The first man says with difficulty and the other two nod.
"Good." Melinda says before walking away.
"That was awesome." Rhodey says as he and Tony come out from behind the dumpster that they were hiding behind.
"I told you to stay at the hotel." Melinda says both annoyed and angry, not just at them but at her herself as she should have realised that they wouldn't stay at the hotel.
"You should know that I never listen." Tony tells Melinda, "You okay?"
"Fine." Melinda responds, "We should get back to the hotel, we don't want go get caught here." Melinda says and both the boys nod, "How you feeling?" Melinda asks Tony as they walk.
"A bit sore, but okay." Tony admits, "Thank you Melly. I owe you so much."
"No, you don't." Melinda assures Tony, "You would have done the same for me."
"Yeah, I would." Tony confirms, "I will if you ever need me to."
"What are we going to do for food tonight?" Rhodey asks curious.
"What do you guys feel like?"
"Chinese." Rhodey and Tony say at the same time.
"That's fine with me." Melinda responds, "We'll eat and rest tonight and then we'll leave Miami tomorrow." Melinda informs them.
"We already have plane tickets back for tomorrow." Rhodey reveals and Melinda nods.
The following day after checking out of the hotel Melinda, Tony and Rhodey head to the airport. Melinda having gotten up early to withdraw more money so that she could buy a plane ticket.
"So did you get a flight?" Tony asks Melinda curious as she walks back over to them after talking to the airline.
"Not the one I wanted." Melinda reveals, "I'm on the last fight out tonight." She informs the boys.
"When do you need to be back?" Tony asks concerned.
"By tomorrow afternoon." Melinda lies knowing that with the flight that she is taking that there is a chance that she won't get back in time for the morning workout session.
"Will you make it back in time?" Tony asks curious.
"I should."
"So we've got a couple of hours to our flight, food?" Rhodey asks once they pass through security.
"Sounds good." Melinda says and the three of them find a restaurant that they all like to eat at.
March 3rd 1986
Once they finished their lunch together there was about an hour before Tony and Rhodey had to board their flight.
Melinda on the other hand had to wait several hours for her own flight and between the flight and her stopover she arrived back in Illinois about an hour before she had to show up to morning free choice workout so after she collected her car she drove back to the academy. Once she neared academy grounds she called the man who owed her a favour and he snuck her back in.
"We're even now right?" The man asks when she gets to the motor pool.
"Yeah, I filed the tank just like you asked." Melinda tells him as she hands him the key, "Now I've got to go, thanks." Melinda says before grabbing her bag out of the car and running off.
As she runs through campus Melinda sees student who like to get an early start already coming out of their rooms and warming up. After a couple of minutes she makes it back to her suite and she opens the door and walks in, as she does she finds Izzy, Felix and Phil all clearly ready to go.
"Mel, you made it back." Izzy says relived.
"Yeah."
"Were you able to help?" Phil asks curious.
"Yeah, I was." Melinda says, "I've got to get changed first so I'll catch up you guys." Melinda says and Phil, Izzy and Felix nod and leave the room while Melinda goes to her room to change.
Once Melinda is in her uniforms she walks over and stands just outside Garrett's door, waiting for him to come out instead of catching up with the others.
"You know with so many things being uncertain it's nice to know that without a doubt the one thing that never changes is you being late for morning workout." Melinda says to Garrett once he exits his room.
"What do you want May?" Garrett asks as the two of them begin to walk.
"A favour." Melinda says with causes Garrett to stop walking.
"You wait outside my room, mock me and then ask for a favour. What makes you think that I would ever agree to that?" Garrett asks curious.
"Because if you do I'll owe you, and we both know that me owing you one is something you desperately want." Melinda points out as one of the things that is traded most among the cadets if favours and Garrett has been trying to get a favour from her for years but he never has anything she wants.
"What will I have to do?"
"Agree first and then you'll find out."
"Fine, I agree to do you a favour in exchange for you owing me, now what do you want?" Garrett asks.
"If anyone asks I spent yesterday and Saturday with you in Miami. I arrived Saturday morning and because you didn't have room in the rooms you had I got my own hotel room and we were on different flights back." Melinda says to Garrett.
"Sure, I can say that." Garrett asks, "But why? Why did you do?"
"That, you don't get to ask." Melinda tells him, "So you'll say that?"
"I already said I would." Garrett informs Melinda, "Now both of us are very nearly late."
"Not if we run we're not." Melinda says before running off.
Once Melinda and Garrett get to where the other third years are Garrett goes to his friends and Melinda goes to Izzy, Felix and Phil.
"Why did you arrive with Garrett?" Phil asks curious.
"I needed to talk to him about something." Melinda explains, "And if you guys are willing, if you're asked I need you to say that Friday night all I told you was that I was going to Miami for spring break, that I needed some time away."
"Of course we can do that." Phil answers before anyone else has a chance to.
"Thanks Phil."
Melinda, Phil, Felix and Izzy have been having breakfast together for five minutes when Felix notices one of the instructors walking towards the table.
"Guys, incoming." Felix informs them and the others look up just as the agent arrives.
"Cadet May you are to report to Agent Rickers's office immediately."
"Yes Sir." Melinda says standing up and walking away, Coulson, Izzy and Felix watch her do so with worried looks on their faces though there is no doubt in any of their minds as to why she is being summoned.
A couple of minutes after she left the cafeteria Melinda arrives at Rickers office and as she knocks she prepares herself for what could be the end of her career as a S.H.I.E.L.D agent. A career that hasn't even really begun.
"Please sit Cadet May." Rickers says and Melinda does just that, "Now we have to have a conversation about you leaving campus without permission. Going to Springfield then according to your bank account going to Miami, which is interesting considering your name wasn't on any flight manifests." Rickers says to Melinda, "Why?"
"After a kidnapping attempt before I was eleven I was taught to be cautious about who I told my name to because it could be dangerous if the wrong people found out who I am, so I used a fake name to fly to Miami for two reasons; the first was due to safety concerns, and the second was because I saw it as a training exercise in pretending to be someone I'm not." Melinda explains.
"Why did you go to Miami in the first place? And how did you get off campus without permission?"
"Getting off campus without permission is relatively easy, as I am sure you are aware." Melinda comments and the look that Rickers gets on his face confirms that, "When the sign up sheet came out last week I was sure I was going to stay here over the days we had off but then Friday night I felt like I needed some time away so I flew down to Miami and spent Saturday and Sunday with John Garrett several of his friends."
"I assume Cadet Garrett can verify this?"
"Yes, he can."
"And the money you withdrew. Why did you withdraw so much?" Rickers asks interested.
"I withdrew the money in Springfield to pay for the my plane ticket and expenses for the weekend but then I had to withdraw more money in Miami because I had to pay for my hotel room, because Garrett didn't have room and I paid the clerk extra to not ask for name or ID, I thought it would be best like that." Melinda explains, using the lies she came up with earlier as she knew the kind of questions she would be asked.
"Yes, it would have been." Rickers comments looking up from where he is writing down things, "I will return shorty, I need you to wait here until I do." Rickers informs Melinda.
"Yes Sir." Melinda responds and Rickers leaves, assumingly to question Garrett.
For over twenty minutes Melinda sits in Rickers office and waits, the entire time she wonders whether Garrett is going to stick to his side of the deal or whether he is going to sell her out. Realistically she knows that there is a good chance that he will sell her out but she also knew that Garrett was the one person she could use as a alibi as he was the only person that she is relatively close to who went to Miami, other than Tony and he couldn't be her alibi as she knows that Howard and most likely Peggy are going to question her when she gets back to the Estate.
After exactly twenty four minutes, Melinda knows because she counted, the door opens and Rickers walks back in and sits down.
"I have spoken to Cadet Garrett and your roommates and they have confirmed your story, so I am confident that you have been telling me the truth." Rickers informs Melinda who feels relief, "But there is still the matter of you leaving campus without permission and not just to go on a beer run, but to fly across country. That is a large violation of the rules and as such you will be punished."
"Yes Sir." Melinda says as she was expecting a punishment, she has prepared herself for one, she would have been more surprised if she got away without one.
"You will receive an official warning in your record and for the rest of the year you will be on probation." Rickers informs Melinda, "Anymore violations of the rules will be dealt with seriously, do you understand?"
"Yes Sir." Melinda responds.
"Good." Rickers responds, "Yesterday all third and fourth years were informed that they would be a talk on potentiality today, it is currently going on in the south lecture theatre. That's where you need to be ASAP."
"Yes Sir." Melinda says before getting up and leaving the office.
After leaving Rickers office Melinda runs to the South lecture theatre thinking about how easy she got off as considering what she did she was expecting a worse punishment.
Once she arrives at the lecture theatre Melinda starts to look for an empty seat and when she spots Phil, Izzy and Felix she realises that there is an empty seat next to Phil so she walks over and takes it.
"Hey." Melinda whispers to Phil as she sits down.
"Hey." Phil responds, clearly glad to see her, "How bad?" Phil asks concerned it being clear that he, Felix and Izzy aren't really listening to the talk, most likely because they have all heard it before.
"Official warning and probation." Melinda responds.
"That's great." Phil responds exited, "I mean, it's not great, but it's better than what it could have been." He quickly explains.
"Yeah, it is." Melinda responds.
"Huh, guess you're going to have to go easy on the pranks for a while." Felix comments.
"Shut up." Melinda says with a look of amusement on her face, "Have I missed anything good?" she asks curious.
"Of course not. It's the same speech we've heard at least three times." Izzy answers.
"Who's winning tick, tack, toe?" Melinda asks curious.
"Felix." Phil and Izzy answer together
April 13th. 1986
Even though she has been on probation for over a month for Melinda not much has changed, except for the fact that she hasn't pulled any pranks though Izzy did pull one for her. Garrett hasn't called in his favour but honestly Melinda knew when she made that deal that he wouldn't call it in unless it was something big.
It is a Sunday and because Melinda, Izzy, Felix and Phil all have an important test first thing tomorrow they are all in the places where they study best, studying and preparing themselves for the group study session they are having later. Izzy is in the living room of the suite with the TV on. Phil is in his and Felix's room with a record on. Felix is in the library, and Melinda is down in the motor pool sitting on one of the workbenches. Melinda finds the motor pool on of the best places to study as it reminds her of the lab at the Estate and on Sundays no one is there.
Melinda has been studying for several hours when she suddenly hears her phone ring which confuses her because she told Tony that she was going to spend the day studying so not to call her to tonight.
"Hello."
"Mel." Jackie's very familiar voice says though the second Melinda hears it she know something is wrong.
"Jacks? What's wrong?"
"I'm calling about Amelia."
"What happened? Is she okay?" Melinda asks concerned.
"No." Jackie answers, "She's dead. She died during childbirth."
"Oh god, I'm so so sorry Jacks." Melinda tells her as while she wasn't what you would call close with Amelia she knows Jackie was.
"She started bleeding, the doctors tried to help but there was too much blood." Jackie reveals.
"That sometimes happens doesn't it?"
"Yes."
"What about the baby?" Melinda asks, "Is it okay?"
"She, and apart from the fact that she has no parent's she's fine. Completely healthy." Jackie reveals.
"That's a good thing, right?"
"Yeah, it is." Jackie says, "I know Amelia would be happy that her daughter is doing so well."
"What's going to happen to her?" Melinda asks, "With her Mom being dead and her Dad being MIA?"
"Ever since she knew that she was going to be a single mother Amelia started to make sure her wishes were clear about what would happen to her daughter if something happened to her." Jackie reveals, "She wanted her daughter to be raised by family. Mark's taking her in."
"He is?" Melinda asks slightly surprised
"Yeah." Jackie responds, "He's spent more time with Amelia than anyone the last few months and he said that he wouldn't let anyone else look after her. It's not going to be official for a few weeks but the social worker seems to think It won't be a problem, he currently has temporary guardianship."
"At least Amelia's wishes get respected." Melinda says, trying not to show that she is upset because she knows that if she does then it will make Jackie more upset, "Let me know when arrangements have been made. I don't think I can make it but I want to send something."
"Of course." Jackie responds, "Do you want to know her name?"
"Of course."
"Sharon. Sharon Amelia Carter."
"That's a lovely name." Melinda informs Jackie, "But just Carter? Not Carter-Jones?"
"Mark said that Amelia was a Carter so that's what her daughter's name should be." Sharon explains.
"Makes sense." Melinda says with a nod even though Jackie can't see it, "Have you called Anthony?"
"Not yet. I thought he would take the news better if it came from you." Jackie explains.
"Probably true." Melinda admits as she hears Jackie clearly trying not to cry, "Cry Jacks, don't hold it." Melinda says and that's just what Jackie does.
For over half an hour Melinda listens as Jackie cries and occasionally says things. Melinda completely forgetting about studying.
"I should let you go." Jackie finally says when she stops crying.
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah."
"Call if you need anything." Melinda requests.
"I will. Bye Mel."
"Bye Jacks." Melinda says before hanging up, feeling an overwhelming sense of sorrow as she does, then, after taking a deep breath Melinda picks up her phone and dials another number,
"Anthony, its Melly." Melinda says when Tony picks up, "I have some news, and it's not good."