Chapter 13
Last chapter :) Thanks for reading and for all the support. I really appreciate it. :) I hope we get Philinda scenes tomorrow. Fingers crossed. XD
"Sir." Fitz, appeared on the doorway of May's medical pod, with a tray of food for Coulson, who hasn't left the agent's side. He approached Coulson and set the tray on his side.
"Thank you, Fitz." Coulson gave him a grateful smile.
"Simmons is on her way here." Fitz said to him, glancing at May.
"Okay." Coulson started eating.
"She's gonna be fine, sir." As Fitz left the pod, Simmons entered, wearing a tired smile.
"What is it, Jemma?" Coulson knows that look.
"Her condition is getting worse sir. Her heart should be repaired, but it seems that her body is not adjusting to it. And there seems to be...no sign of her waking up." Simmons gave Coulson the medical report she has checked over and over again. She was hoping the doctors miscalculated, Simmons hoped they were wrong.
"I'm sorry, sir." Tears were forming in her eyes, but Coulson just sat there looking more lost than he did a few days ago.
"I'll come back again, later." Simmons went back to the lab.
"You're still here Mel. I know you are. I'm not giving up on you. I can't. I promise you that I'll find a way to save you." Coulson stood and pulled the ring out of his pocket, and put the silver chain on her neck. That ring symbolized his promise to her. Coulson was not going to give up on May.
"Coulson." Skye felt bad for waking him up, but Coulson was sleeping in the chair again.
"Skye?" Coulson looked at her.
"Ward asked me to tell you, that we arrived in Canada. And we're going to go and pick up supplies from SHIELD HQ." Skye gave him a small smile.
"Okay." Coulson just nodded at her.
"AC. Get some rest. She won't like seeing you like this." Skye sighed.
"You know I can't leave her Skye, I just can't. Especially after what Simmons said." Coulson just tried to get into a more comfortable position in the chair.
"Alright. We'll be back in a couple of hours." Skye squeezed his shoulder, she knew what Simmons said. She was with Jemma when she was making the report.
"Sir! Sir!" Fitzsimmons ran to the medical pod.
"Yes?" He stared at them.
"We think we found something!" They said enthusiastically. And he followed them to the lab.
"It's GH-325. An experimental drug. It reportedly makes patients heal at exponential rates." Simmons showed him images of the miracle drug. He has heard about it before too, in his file. He couldn't make sense of it.
"Where is this drug?" He asked urgently.
"That's just it sir." Fitz started.
"The base where they created the serum has been destroyed 15 years ago, and they only recovered fragments of the drug's formula." Simmons finished the sentence.
"So, what are you saying?" Coulson couldn't take any more bad news.
"Basically, we are going to have to recreate the drug, based on the limited knowledge we have. But we'll do our best." Simmons looked determined. She knew she could do it.
"That's all I can ask for. Thank you." Coulson walked towards her, and hugged her. Simmons was really surprised, but happy to see Coulson cheer up a bit.
"It's our pleasure sir, anything to help May." Fitz answered for her, Simmons nodded. Coulson left the lab.
"Let's get started Fitz." Simmons smiled at her partner.
"Ward, are you okay?" Skye asked as they were loading the SUV with the supplies.
"Yeah, I'm fine." Ward, avoided her gaze.
"Stop saying that, 'cause you're not. I know you care about May too." Skye has had enough of people saying that they're okay.
"Of course I do, Skye. I hate being useless." Ward stared at her. Of course he cared about May, he cared about all of them.
"Hey, it was you who carried her all the way to the hyperbaric chamber. You've been taking care of me and Fitzsimmons. You've been on her bedside almost as much as I have. Those things mean something." Skye walked towards him.
"But they aren't enough. I just hate not being able to do anything for someone who has helped me through so much pain." Ward admitted silently.
"What?" Skye was surprised at Ward's confession.
"She's been helping me cope with the rage that Asgardian staff caused. May was going through her own past, but every time I snapped, when I felt like I was gonna hurt someone again. She got through to me. Taught me control, how to let it out without the violence. A person like that, someone who cares so much about people, shouldn't die." Ward started walking away, wanting to avoid the conversation. Skye held his wrist.
"She'll be okay. I know she will. It's May." Skye tried to give him a reassuring smile, and Ward just nodded. He closed the trunk and made his way to the driver's seat.
"It worked." Fitz was stunned, but their 5th attempt at testing the drug showed regenerative properties. He checked the monitors just to make sure, and it was true, the drug worked. They could save May.
"Yes, but we don't know if there will be long term side-effects Fitz. We can't just give this to May, right away..." Simmons began pacing around the lab.
"Simmons!" They heard Coulson shout from the medical pod.
"Oh no." Simmons entered, followed by Fitz. Simmons checked all the equipment monitoring May's condition.
"What's happened?" Coulson asked Simmons, but then they heard it.
"She's coding." Simmons reached for the defibrillator.
"Charging." Simmons pressed the button, and shocked May. It didn't work. The situation was far too familiar for Coulson.
"Charging." Simmons tried again, and this time it worked.
"Alright. She's stable, for now." Simmons felt relieved, so did Fitz, but Coulson got more agitated.
"Simmons, the drug?" Coulson had to ask.
"We were able to replicate it. But sir, we can't just give May a drug with unknown ramifications." Simmons expressed her concerns.
"She doesn't have much time left, Jemma." Coulson looked at her, determined to push through with the drug. It was their only hope left.
"Fitz, we have to give her the drug." Simmons suddenly said, after thinking about it over and over. Fitz jumped at the sound of her voice, but he answered quickly.
"Not enough time has past. You said so yourself, we don't know all the side-effects, we don't even know if its effects will last." Fitz said calmly. He wanted to save May too, but the drug had the potential to cause more harm, than good.
"We have to do it Fitz, or May will die." Simmons said grimly.
"Jemma..." Fitz started, but Simmons grabbed the vial with the drug, and made her way to the pod. Fitz followed.
"Sir." Jemma entered the pod and showed Coulson the vial.
"Okay." Coulson gave his permission. Simmons injected the drug into May's bloodstream.
"What's happening?" May started convulsing, and the machines were going crazy. Coulson and Fitz held May down, but then it stopped. Simmons checked the machines.
"Her heart is repairing itself. She's healing." Simmons smiled at them.
"It worked." Fitz smiled at her.
"It really worked." Coulson said quietly, and he tears formed in his eyes. He did his best to blink them away, but to no avail. Simmons and Fitz, came closer and gave him a hug.
"Sir, she's going to be okay. She's really going to be okay." Simmons said.
May woke up to intense pain. Her chest felt like it was burning. But other than that, everything else felt normal. The lights were dim, she could tell she was in some type of medical pod. May only turned her head a little, and she could already see him. Coulson. The real one, hopefully. Sleeping on the edge of her bed. Just the sight of him brought a smile to her face. May moved her hand so she could touch his cheek.
Coulson could feel a warmth on his face. It feels like May's hand, it was probably just a dream. But he can't help but call out to her.
"May...come back." Coulson whispered.
"I'm still here, soldier." May said softly.
"Mel..." Coulson still thinks it's all just a dream, but May stroked his cheek. Coulson's eyes snapped open.
"Mel?" Coulson held the hand on his face, and slowly stood. And he just stared back at her, his eyes brimming with tears.
"Hi." May said, and gave him a small smile.
"Hi. You're awake." Coulson felt so relieved, that feeling alone was overwhelming. He kissed May's forehead.
"I am." May said
"I should call Simmons." Coulson hurried to the lab, only to find the members of the team gathered their with smiles on their faces.
"Agent May, you're awake. Thank God." Simmons was followed by Fitz, Ward, Skye and Coulson.
"Are you in any pain?" May nodded. Coulson and Fitz looked worried. This could be a side effect of the drug.
"Alright, I'll just adjust your pain medication. I don't have to do any tests tonight, so we'll leave you two." Simmons smiled at her. May looked at the team.
"Thank you Jemma." Coulson said, as they left.
"You were asleep for a while." Coulson stood next to her.
"How long?" Simmons already exchanged her oxygen mask, with the ones that don't cover her mouth, so she could talk to them.
"9 days." Coulson said quietly.
"What happened to the girl?" Coulson was surprised at the question, but answered her right away.
"She's being held at The Fridge." That was all she needed to know.
"Are we on the bus?" May already knew the answer, but she needed to know why they were there, instead of a SHIELD medical facility.
"Yes. After you had surgery, to repair the damage. Your condition didn't improve and it actually started declining. The doctors...made me choose whether I should pull the plug or not." Coulson looked down.
"I couldn't do it Mel. So, I had you transferred here. I thought we could find another way." Coulson held her hand.
"How did you save me?" May said, also wondering if what she saw while she was unconscious was really just a drug-induced dream.
"The doctors were wrong. Your surgery did work, it just took a while for your body to adjust." Coulson hated lying to her, but she shouldn't have to deal with the knowledge of how they brought her back just yet.
"You should get some rest." May noticed the bags under his eyes, and just the way he carried himself. Coulson probably hasn't slept that much the past week.
"I'm fine." Coulson gave her a small smile.
"You're not. You should sleep on your own bed. I'm awake now, Phil. And the team could keep me company." May tried to reassure him.
"I just don't wanna wake up tomorrow and find out that this was just a dream." Coulson's voice broke.
"I'll still be here tomorrow." May squeezed his hand.
"I love you Mel." Coulson leaned in, and kissed her.
"I love you." May replied, when they broke apart.
"Coulson." Coulson got woken up from his sleep, because of a phone call.
"It's Hill. How is she?" Hill asked worriedly, she hasn't heard from them for days.
"She's awake." Coulson said happily.
"That's good. I actually called about the file. Have you read it?" Hill turned from concerned friend to Commander Hill fairly quick.
"Yes." Coulson almost whispered.
"You tell her?" Hill asked.
"I haven't yet."
"Why?"
"I'm not ready to tell her yet. The whole reason she recovered was because of that file. The experimental drug." Coulson admitted to his long-time friend.
"Oh. She's going to find out you're hiding something from her, Phil. This is May we're talking about." Hill said bluntly.
"I know."
"Coulson?" Hill started talking again.
"Yeah?"
"Your team will be given a few days off." That was surprising.
"What? Why?" Coulson couldn't think of a valid reason.
"Compliments of Director Fury. We both know you all need it." Coulson could swear Maria was smiling.
"Thank you." Coulson told Hill.
"You're welcome." Hill dropped the call.
"Good morning." Coulson entered the pod, and was surprised to see Skye and Ward there, eating breakfast with May.
"Good morning." May replied, giving him a small smile.
"Morning, AC. You finally get some decent sleep?" Skye smirked at him. Ward chuckled. It was good seeing his team happy again.
"I did." Skye took that as cue to clean up the mess they made during breakfast with May, and made their way out the pod.
"See you later, May." Skye smiled at the agent. May surprisingly smiled back.
"How was your sleep?" Coulson asked her.
"As good as I can get, I guess." May said.
"It's good to see you with Skye and Ward. It's new." Coulson smiled.
"Me with Ward isn't really surprising, but I guess dying, or almost dying makes you realize a few things. One of them is that I care about every single person on this team, especially you, and I guess it's time I stopped pretending I didn't." May was referring to her dream while she was out.
"What?" Coulson was surprised at her answer, and his smile got wider.
"Agent May! Really good to see you up. We're going to run some tests today." Simmons burst into the room, wearing a smile on her face. Followed by Fitz.
"What kind of tests, Jemma?" Coulson shifted to his worried face.
"I'm just gonna start with a blood sample, and scan her body. To see if there is any damage to her heart remaining." Simmons answered.
"Okay, how are you feeling Agent May?" Fitz asked the agent.
"Like my lungs are on fire." May said.
"Side effects of the surgery, they told me it takes a while before it subsides. Like I said, the pain meds should work." Coulson already told Fitzsimmons to not mention the drug yet.
"Thank you." May felt grateful, but something was off.
"Oh good, aside from the pain, it seems like the damage has been completely repaired." Simmons was relieved.
"That's good news." Coulson smiled at May.
"Why do you think I started heal..." May started asking but Coulson cut her off.
"Simmons." Coulson already knew what May was going to say.
"Yes?" Simmons' eyes widened a little. She really was getting better at lying.
"How long do you think the pain will last?" Coulson asked suddenly.
"At least a couple more days. I recommend bed rest of course, so no flying for a little while." Simmons turned her attention back to May.
"Alright. Director Fury already gave us a couple of days off anyways." Coulson said nonchalantly.
"Really, sir?" Fitz was surprised.
"That's good. Then I can pay close attention to Agent May's condition." Simmons said.
"Thank you, Jemma." May squeezed the scientist's hand. Simmons smiled at her, and made her way out of the pod.
"Fitz! Help me back at the lab." Simmons yelled.
"Oh, alright. Bye, Agent May." Fitz smiled, then ran after Simmons.
"She lied." May said, once she was sure they were alone.
"What?" Coulson saw it coming, but he didn't think she would know something was wrong, this fast.
"Simmons is not a very good liar. The pain isn't caused by the surgery is it?" May looked at him with steely determination in her eyes.
"What are you talking..." He started.
"Don't lie to me, Phil." May cut him off, and she glared at him.
"It's not because of the surgery, it's a side effect of a drug that brought you back. It's what fixed the damage to your heart. The doctors couldn't repair everything. Simmons found some intel on a drug, GH-325, and she replicated it."
"What kind of drug?" May hated him lying to her, but he must have good reasons.
"It's just supposed to make you heal faster." Coulson said.
"Where did she even get intel like that?" May wondered.
"I gave it to her, well Maria gave it to me. It's the file on TAHITI, on how they brought me back." Coulson sat down next to her bed.
"Phil..." May wanted to comfort him, but just sitting up was hard enough.
"You didn't need to know, so I told them not to tell you." Coulson looked at her sadly.
"Phil, they told you about TAHITI, are you okay?" May wanted to hold his hand, give him a hug, do something to make him feel better.
"I got my answers, that's enough for now, and I have you, so I'm more than okay, Melinda." Coulson smiled at her, despite everything he truly was okay.
"When you left, I noticed that this was around my neck." May pulled on the chain.
"I know you were afraid of losing me, but I imagined a better proposal." May smiled at him.
"Well then, I guess I should give you the proposal you deserve." Phil reached out to take off the chain, and get the ring.
"I didn't say you had to do it right now, Phil." May smiled and held his hand.
"Why not now?" Coulson had that determined look on his face. He was going to do this, now. He got down on one knee, even though May was only sitting up.
"Melinda Qiaolian May. I have loved you since our first week at the academy. I know I've done a lot of stupid things in the past. Lied to you. Left you all alone, but still you took me back. I know I am never going to meet anyone like you again, and I don't ever want to lose you. You're my best friend, and you're my partner in every sense of the word. I know that with our job, we can't guarantee that this will last forever, but as long as I get to spend every day with you, I know that we'll all be okay. I love you Mel. So, will you marry me?" Coulson got that all out.
"Get up, Phil." May pulled him, and kissed him on the lips. Coulson can feel the passion she was trying to express.
"Was that a yes?" Coulson asked, when they broke apart.
"Yes, you idiot. Of course, it's a yes." May smiled at him, Coulson was the happiest person right now.
"Was it like you imagined." Coulson asked.
"Well, I imagined flowers, maybe candles, dinner..." May teased.
"You talk a lot." Coulson smiled at her, and pulled her towards him again.
"Should we tell them we can see them from the lab." Ward asked the rest of the team.
"Leave them be, Ward." Simmons had hearts in her eyes.
"They deserve this." Fitz smiled at the couple.
"They do. But Ward and Simmons owe me $20." Skye said suddenly.
"What?" Simmons and Ward looked at her.
"You still remember that bet?" Fitz smiled at her.
"Of course, I do." Skye laughed.
The End
This is the end of the fic. hope you like reading :) I'd like to thank Agent084 for telling me to finish this. I probably wouldn't have been able to finish this fic, if you hadn't pushed me, so thank you, really. :)