Chapter 25
Disclaimer: I don't own anything. Everything belongs to their rightful owners.
AN1: Just a warning, this chapter is Bahrain, I apologise in advance. Please leave a review/comment.
May 15th 2008
Four months have passed since Peggy revealed she has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's and in that time Bobbi has celebrated her twenty first birthday with Sharon, and Trip in Vegas, before returning home to celebrate with her parents and siblings.
It is a Thursday morning and Melinda, Tony, Daisy and Peter are in the kitchen of their apartment together, having breakfast.
"Will you be home tonight?" Peter asks his mother curious, as he is starting to realise more about what his mother does, is starting to understand how dangerous her job is.
"I'm not sure Pete." Melinda admits, "I don't know how long this mission will be." Melinda admits, and Peter nods.
"Where are you going?" Daisy asks curious.
"Bahrain." Melinda answers, knowing that where she is going isn't classified, but what she is doing certainly is.
"Giving away operational secrets, that's not like you." Phil says, as he walks into the kitchen.
"Uncle Phil!" Daisy and Phil say together.
"Hey Daisy, Peter." Phil greats.
"You're early." Melinda tells Phil.
"A little." Phil says, as Melinda goes to get her bag, and Tony hands Phil a cup of coffee.
"Barton and Romanoff on this mission?" Tony asks curious, knowing that Maria has been promoted so she doesn't work with Melinda, Coulson, Natasha and Clint much anymore.
"No, it's Melinda and I with another team." Phil explains.
"Really?" Tony asks, clearly concerned, as he knows enough to know that Melinda and Phil only work with another team when they are dealing with something big.
"Dad? Is that bad?" Daisy asks, looking concerned, having been able to tell that her father is concerned, and once she speaks Phil and Tony exchange looks, neither sure how to answer, at least not with Daisy and Peter in the room.
"Your Mom's the best agent there is." Tony says, knowing that, and thinking that It's a way to avoid answering Daisy's question.
"She really is." Phil says, "On every mission she keeps me safe, she's a hero."
"Wow." Daisy and Peter say, both looking amazed, as Melinda walks into the room, having heard a little of what Phil said.
"We've got to go." Melinda says, as she walks over to Daisy and Peter, "I love you, have a good day at school." She says to Daisy, before hugging her and once she and Daisy break apart she walks over to Peter where she says and does the same thing before walking over to Tony, "I'll see you soon." Melinda says, as Tony puts his arms around Melinda's waist,
"I love you." Tony says.
"Love you too." Melinda says, before kissing him, and once they break apart Melinda, with Phil, leave the apartment together, and before long Tony, Daisy and Peter leave the apartment to, so that that Tony can take the kids to school.
Hours later, Melinda who was flying the plane that she, Phil, and the team who are with them, has landed it, after giving an agent back some music, walks over to Phil.
"This really a gifted individual?" Melinda asks Phil, not being able to help but think of Bobbi every single time they have a case like this, "What do we know?"
"Not much yet." Phil admits, "You know they're retiring this fleet?" Phil asks, looking around the plane that have been active about as long as he and Melinda have been agents.
"About time." Melinda says, with a sigh, "S.H.I.E.L.D's putting every dine into upgrading the Triskelion." Melinda comments.
"Well, not all the dimes." Phil says, and Melinda turns to look at him, and Phil moves a little closer to her, "Fury's quietly started a new Initiative." Phil reveals, keeping his voice quiet so that only Melinda can hear, "Instead of this catch-and-release with powered people we form a team, take earth's mightiest to find out if they're heroes."
"And you mention this because you want my help?" Melinda asks, assuming as much.
"Well, I know you've been wanting to spend more time with Daisy and Peter…" Phil starts to say.
"I'm staying in the field." Melinda says, as that's never been a question.
"Good, cause you'd be great, and that way, we could keep working together." Phil says, looking glad.
"Yeah." Melinda says, looking amused, "One mission at a time. Look alive." Melinda says, and the leader of the other team walks past.
"Agent Hart." Phil greats.
"We've got her, Phil." Hart says, "Gather up." He says, and as everyone walks over to see what is on the TV screen, "Meet Eva Belyakov, thirty five, index candidate." Hart says, "Russian intelligence has been pursuing her, Agents Coulson and May have been brought in to advise and make the approach." Hart explains.
"Thank you." Phil says, stepping forward, "We believe Miss Belyakov posses enhanced strength." Phil explains, "This is what happened when a Russian officer tried to stop her with his car." Phil says, showing an image of a crushed car, "Just a friendly chat to bring her in for elevation." Phil explains, "And if all goes well, we'd gain an asset before the Russians find her."
"The approach will be public, it's not ideal, but we go in now, or we lose our window." Hart explains, "Local military's not used to standing down, welcome to Bahrain, let's hope Belyakov cooperates." Hart explains, as the ramp opens.
"And if she doesn't?" Melinda asks, realising that they are dealing with someone who has basically the same powers as her daughter.
"Then I call in the Cavalry." Hart says, looking at the tactical team.
A little while later Melinda, Phil, Hart, and O'Brien, a tactical agent, have talked over the mission and as they have no other choice it has been decided that Phil will make the approach while Melinda is walking around the market place, keeping an eye on everything, including a little girl who look to be about Peter's age, who is dancing around touching people.
"Hello, may I?" Phil asks Eva, referring to the seat in front of her, "My name is Phil Coulson, and I'm here to help." Phil says, as he sits down, "My group specializes in helping people like you, who have gifts."
"And why should I trust you?" Eva asks, with a Russian accident.
"Because I could take you somewhere safe." Phil reveals, "I know you've been on the run, but S.H.I.E.L.D can protect you." Phil says, "You're not alone in all of this."
"Locals incoming." Melinda says, through the coms, "Gun, blue shirt." She realises.
"Agent O'Brien be sure they don't interfere." Phil says, through the coms, "Why don't we go somewhere more secure?" he asks, as O'Brien approaches the men.
"No, I like it here." Eva responds.
"Coulson, we're running out of time." Hart says through the coms.
"These men can't help you." Phil says, "Let's talk somewhere calmer." Phil says, and as he does there are screams and things quickly go south as Eva, the armed locals, one of whom is holding the little girl Melinda saw, O'Brien, and several members of his team are taken into the building with cries of "Do not follow us."
A little while later Melinda, Phil, Hart, and the members of the team that are left are working out of a van trying to figure out what is going on.
"The warehouse connects directly to the market." Hart explains, "Once they holed up inside, my men cut off both exits, the alley and the market entrance." He explains.
"It's a rat's nest in there." Phil explains.
"Coulson, we ID'd Belyakov's friends, local Militia street gang, basically. That's their stronghold." Hart explains.
"Okay, I'm gonna call Agent O'Brien, see if they'll negotiate." Phil says, calling O'Brien, and after few rings someone answers, "O'Brien, is that you? You okay?" Phil asks.
"Leave us alone." O'Brien says.
"Can you talk?" Phil asks, "Are you making demands? Put me on with Belyakov?" he asks.
"Just leave us alone." O'Brien says, before hanging up.
"'leave us alone'?" Phil asks, looking confused.
"Is he trying to warn us away, or…." Melinda starts to say.
"We tried it the nice way, it's time for my team to do its job. Let's move out." Hart says, and Melinda looks less than happy.
"Yes Sir." Hart's team says, and he and the remaining men move out.
"I should go in." Melinda argues.
"Let them do their thing." Phil tells Melinda, as the two of them climb into the van so that they can oversee everything.
Over the next ten minutes Melinda and Phil listen as Hart, and the rest of the agents are basically swallowed into the building, the two of them hearing cries of 'friendly fire' and leaving the two of them alone with no guns.
"There are multiple hostages, our whole damn tactical team." Phil says, through the phone to the person he is talking to trying to get him and Melinda some help, "We need emergency backup ten minutes ago." He explains.
"Tell them to send me in, I can fix the problem." Melinda says, completely believing that.
"I strongly advise sending our specialist inside, Agent May." Phil says, "No, there are agents inside. There's no time to wait." Phil says, and he sighs, "Yes Sir, yes sir." Phil says, before hanging up, "Yay for red tape, they want us to wait." Phil explains.
"For how long?" Melinda asks, sounding annoyed.
"The Bahrainis are pissed. I think they're about two inches from bombing the building and calling it a night." Phil explains.
"If they go in, it's gonna be an assault. People will die. I can do this. It's all about slipping in and pulling them out." Melinda explains.
"S.H.I.E.L.D is not authorized for any action." Phil says, and as he does they hear sirens, "Go." Phil tells Melinda who grabs her knife and runs off, as Phil climbs out and starts to face the incoming authorities.
"Oh, what are we saying this time?" Phil mutters to himself, "Nuclear? Bio? Eh, bio always works." Phil mutters to himself, as one of the men walks up to him, "My name is Phil Coulson, I represent the Strategic Homeland Intervention Enforcement and Logistics Division, and you are about to enter a quarantine site." Phil explains, and the men try to walk past him, "Colonel, you can't send your men in there!" Phil says, as he fights against one of the men, "A biological weapon was set off! Nasty stuff, flesh eating." Phil explains, "Weapon sale gone bad with the Russians, give my team time to assess." Phil requests.
"Did you say, 'biological weapon?" The solider asks.
"Yeah, I did." Phil confirms.
After Melinda leaves Phil she heads to the alley near the building, and even though she knows that it is a huge breach of protocol Melinda pulls out her phone and calls Tony.
"Mel?" Tony says, answering after a few rings, "You never call during a mission."
"I know." Melinda confirms, "Things have gone south, we're going off book."
"How south? How bad are things?" Tony asks, sounding terrified as he knows Melinda wouldn't call him during a mission unless things were truly bad.
"Hostage situation, our guys inside." Melinda explains.
"You're going in alone." Tony realises, knowing that because he knows Melinda.
"Yeah."
"Mel…" Tony says, sounding upset.
"I have to, they have a little girl." Melinda explains, and from that Tony knows that there isn't a person I the world who would be able talk Melinda out of this, "I love you Tony, and our kids, tell them for me." Melinda requests, "You, Bobbi, Daisy, and Peter are the best thing in my life, you…." Melinda starts to say, but Tony cuts her off.
"Mel, no, it sounds like you're saying goodbye." Tony realises, his voice breaking, "Mel…."
"I've got to go." Melinda reveals, stopping Tony before he can say more.
"I love you." Tony says, and there is more that he wants to say, but before he can Melinda hangs up.
After Melinda hangs up she puts her phone back in her pocket and climbs up the side of the building and into it.
Back in New York Tony is just sitting in his office, in horrified shock.
"JARVIS, I want to know every piece of news coming out of Bahrain, any piece of news that could tell me what's happened to Mel, official or unofficial. I don't care, I just need to know." Tony says, his voice breaking.
"Yes Sir." JARVIS answers.
"Come on, Mel, come home to me." Tony mutters, and as he does his phone rings, "Mel?" Tony asks, answering without even checking the caller id.
"Dad? What's going on?" Bobbi asks, sounding panicked.
"Do you know something?" Tony asks his daughter, wondering if she has already gotten the news about Melinda.
"Kind of." Bobbi admits, "I can't explain it, but I just got an overwhelming feeling, as clear as day, that's telling me Mom's not okay, that she's terrified and somethings seriously wrong." She explains.
"Really?" Tony asks, wondering what is going on, "Do you think it's your powers growing, somehow?" he asks, as that's the only reason he can think off.
"I don't know, maybe." Bobbi says, sounding uncertain, knowing that she has never felt something like this before, "Where's Mom?"
"On a mission." Tony answers, "She just called me, things have gone south, she's going in alone."
"Oh god." Bobbi says, knowing that things would have had to have gone truly south for her mother to call her Dad, "I'll dig around here, see what I can find. I'll let you know if I get another feeling." Bobbi explains.
"Okay. If I hear more I'll call you." Tony tells his daughter, "I love you, Bobbi."
"Love you too, Dad." Bobbi says, before hanging up.
"J, any relevant news?" Tony asks, needing to know more, needing to know that the women he loves, the love of his life, is okay.
"There are unconfirmed reports that there as been a biological weapons attack." JARVIS reveals.
"That's a cover if I've ever heard one." Tony mutters, and as he does he tries to think of any way to find out what is going on a way, to get some accurate information, and he gets an idea, so he makes another phone call.
"Romanoff." Natasha's voice answers after a few rings.
"Romanoff it's Tony." Tony says.
"Stark? Since when do you call me?" Natasha asks exchanging a look with Clint, who she is with.
"It's about Mel." Tony explains.
"What's happened?" Natasha asks, hiding how concerned she is.
"She's on a mission with Coulson and she called me. Said things have gone south." Tony explains, speaking fast, "Is there any way you can find out more information, any news?" he asks, clearly demonstrating how terrified he is.
"Yeah, I can try." Natasha says, wanting to get information for both Tony and herself, "I'll let you know as soon as I know something." Natasha promises.
"Thanks Natasha." Tony says, before hanging up, "Please be okay, please be okay." Tony mutters to himself, needing Melinda to be okay.
A few minutes after Melinda called Tony she has made her way into the building, and she found Agent Hart, O'Brien and the other agents, but as they are clearly being controlled, Melinda locked them in a room and has headed down stairs so that she can fight Belyakov, fighting several men as she goes.
Once downstairs Melinda makes her way into what seems like the main room of the building, where Melinda is knocked flying across the room.
"I feel all their pain, and I grow stronger." Eva says, as she grabs a chandelier and Melinda starts to get up. As Melinda starts to get up she sees the little girl she saw earlier hiding behind some crates,
"Stay back, honey. I'll get you out of here." Melinda says, "It's gonna be okay." Melinda tells the little girl before she stands up.
"I've had their pain. Now give me yours." Eva says.
"Come on, I've got plenty to share." Melinda says, as she and Eva start to say, Eva swinging the chandelier at her, which Melinda dodges, and the two of them fight, Melinda managing to hold her own a little as she is kicked, hard, in the stomach, which basically throws her across the room.
As Melinda gets back on her feet, feeling pain and cramps in her stomach which she knows she has to ignore, several of the men who are working with Eva enter. Seeing the men Melinda grabs a lamp, which she breaks off both ends off, and starts to fight, using the lamp as a stick as she fights Eva.
"Feel enough pain yet?" Melinda asks, "Let everyone go and this can end." Melinda says.
"No, I want more." Eva says.
After Eva speaks Melinda and Eva continue to fight, during which time Melinda gets flipped to the floor. As she once more gets up to her feet, continuing to ignore the pain she is in, she starts to fight without one of the men, who shoots her in the leg as they fight, but that doesn't stop her from fighting, managing to take him down.
After Melinda takes down the man she starts to fight Eva once more, who with her strength, once more knocks Melinda down to the ground, and using that Melinda is able to use the stick and impales Eva with it, killing her.
After Eva is dead Melinda collapse on the ground slightly, and more men come into the room, clearly still being control,
"She's dead. Snap out of it!" Melinda says, as she tries to get up, but between the pain in her stomach, and the gunshot wound in her leg, she finds it rather difficult.
"I like the pain." The girl says, coming out from behind crates and the second she sees her Melinda realises that the girl has powers, that she is the one controlling the men, and the second she comes to that realisation Melinda can't help but be reminded of Bobbi, who was about the same age as this girl when Melinda found her.
"You killed mother." The girl says, a she waves her hand, killing the men as easy as breathing, "And now there is so much pain." The girl says, as she waves her hand and kills more men, "I like all their pain." The girl says, as more men come in, "I'm scared, I want to leave." The girl says, looking upset.
As the girl looks so scared part of Melinda wants to move forward and embrace her, tell her everything is going to be okay, but after everything she has seen over the last few minutes Melinda knows that she can't do that and so she moves back.
"Please, take my hand." The girl says, sticking out her hand, and as she does Melinda flashes back to when she said the same thing to Bobbi, as more men, this time S.H.I.E.L.D agents that are being controlled, come into the room.
"Not them." Melinda asks, knowing that she can't let that happen, that she has to protect her agents, "Let them go, we can fix this, we can help you." Melinda says, believing that, believing that they can help this little girl, "Just don't…" Melinda says, as she continues to move back.
"Take my hand." The Little Girl asks, "Give me your pain." She says, walking towards Melinda, "I need a new Mother. I'll take your pain." The girl says, as Melinda continues to move back and as she does she feels the gun that was used to shot her.
"Stop." Melinda tells her, "Don't… just put your hand down and stop." Melinda says, hoping that she can get the girl to stop as she wants to help her, but she also wraps her hand around the gun, "Everything's gonna be all right." Melinda says.
Outside Phil has managed to calm the Bahrain officials down, but it is clear that they aren't going to give up and as Phil tries to hold them back he hears a single gunshot, after things have seemed to calm down, and so he goes running into the building.
When Phil and the Bahrain team get into the building Phil pushes pass them and finds Melinda, bruised and bloody, holding the dead body of the little girl.
A few minutes later Phil is helping Melinda out of the building, Melinda being unable to walk herself.
"Hey, every agent who walked out of that building is alive because of you." Phil says, as he helps Melinda towards a waiting ambulance.
"That girl, I…. I couldn't save her." Melinda says, as her voice breaks, "I…. she didn't understand, I tried." Melinda says, as she and Phil get to an ambulance.
"It's all right. You have to let the girl go, Melinda." Phil says, "Let the girl go." He says, as Melinda breaks down and starts to cry, as Phil hugs her, "Okay, okay, we'll get though this." Phil says as he just holds his friend.
About an hour later Melinda and Phil are at a little hospital, Phil is wide away while Melinda had to be sedated after she reacted violently when the paramedics tried to examine her. As Phil sits by his friend's side he realises that Melinda's phone is ringing, and normally he would just let it ring but when he sees Tony on the caller ID Phil reaches over and answers it.
"Mel? Are you okay? What happened?" Tony's worried voice says.
"Tony…" Phil starts to say.
"Coulson? Where's Mel? What happened?" Tony asks, sounding terrified.
"A mission went south." Phil reveals.
"I know that, Mel called me. Is she okay? Why are you answering Mel's phone?" Tony asks his voice hurried.
"I don't know the details, May's hurt, it's not serious." Phil quickly says, knowing that but not knowing the specifics of how she is injured as the doctors wouldn't tell him, "But she reacted violently when the paramedics tried to treat her, they had to forcibly sedate her."
"Why? What happened?" Tony asks, sounding worried.
"I don't know." Phil answers, wishing he did, "She saved our Agents, but something must have happened, I've never seen her like this, never seen the look she has in her eyes" He reveals.
"Oh." Tony says, honestly hot sure what else to say and terrified about what could have happened to Melinda, "I'm coming to Bahrain, I'll be there as soon as I can." Tony tells Phil, needing to be with Melinda.
"No, don't." Phil tells him, thinking that it would be a bad idea, "May's injuries seem minor, I'm pretty sure that when she wakes up she'll be given the all clear, and we'll be on our way home. There will be no point for you to fly all the way out here."
"Okay." Tony says, not liking it but realising that Phil is right, "When Mel wakes up tell her I called, that I love her." He requests.
"I will." Phil says, "Bye Stark." He says, before hanging up.
Twenty four hours later
Ever since Tony talked to Phil he has been preparing himself to see Melinda again, not sure what else to except after what Phil said, especially considering he hasn't spoken to Melinda because she isn't answering her phone, but thanks to Natasha he knows that she will be arriving home tonight.
It's a Saturday evening and Tony is pacing back and forth in the living room, just waiting for the elevator doors to open and Melinda to walk out.
"Dad?" A voice asks and Tony turns to see Daisy and Peter standing at the entrance to the corridor which leads to the lab, gym, and stairs, "Is something wrong?" Daisy asks, looking concerned.
"Has something happened to Mom?" Peter asks, sounding just as concerned as his sister.
"Mom should be home soon." Tony answers.
"Dad, that's not an answer to Peter's question." Daisy realises, walking towards her father.
"The truth is I don't know." Tony admits, not wanting to lie to his children, "Something happened on the mission Mom and Uncle Coulson were on, I don't know the details, but I do know that according to Uncle Coulson Mom wasn't seriously hurt." He explains.
"When did you say Mom will be home?" Peter asks, sounding worried.
"Soon." Tony answers and once he does Daisy and Peter walk over and sit on the couch, and just wait.
For the next few minutes Tony continues to pace back and forth while Daisy and Peter just sit on the couch and wait, until finally the elevator doors open and Melinda, limping slightly, walks out.
"MOM!" Peter and Daisy yell, and they run towards their Mother. As they are so focused on their mother Daisy and Peter don't notice the look of terror on Melinda's face, but Tony does, he even notices Melinda looking like she is going to push Daisy and Peter away.
"Daze, Pete." Tony says, as he walks towards Melinda, Peter, and Daisy, and Daisy and Peter break apart from their mother.
"Mom?" Daisy asks, being able to tell that something is wrong, while Peter just looks confused, not quiet understanding what is going on.
"Why don't you guys go upstairs." Tony suggests, watching Melinda, and their kids, and being able to tell that Melinda is not okay.
"Okay." Daisy says, after looking between her mother and father, "Come on, Pete." Daisy says, and she leads her brother upstairs.
"It's okay, Mel." Tony says, walking towards Melinda and having no idea what else to say, "It's me, Daisy, and Peter." He says, sticking out his hand to take Melinda's, but the second he does he realises that that is a huge mistake as Melinda flinches back, and looks even more terrified than she did when Peter and Daisy ran towards her, "Mel?" Tony asks concerned, putting his hand down.
"I need to have a shower." Melinda says, before hurrying upstairs, or as fast or technically goes as fast as she can with her injured leg.
"What the hell happened?" Tony mutters to himself, as she watches Melinda go.
About an hour later Tony is waiting in his and Melinda's bedroom, just waiting for her to come out of their bathroom, where she has been since she hurried upstairs. Finally, after what feels like forever to Tony, Melinda walks out of the bathroom.
"Mel, what happened?" Tony asks, not moving towards her as after what happened he is pretty sure that would be a bad idea.
"I….. I can't." Melinda admits, shaking her head.
"Okay, when you want to talk I'm here, I love you." Tony tells his wife, feeling pretty useless and not sure what else to say.
"I'm leaving fieldwork…. I can't do it anymore." Melinda admits.
"Really?" Tony asks, sounding surprised as that was the last thing he was expecting, and Melinda nods,
"I'm going to transfer to Admin." Melinda reveals.
"You'll hate that." Tony says, knowing that.
"It's for the best, I can't leave all together, but can't stay in the field, not anymore." Melinda admits, as she fights a yawn.
"Okay." Tony says, deciding that they will talk about it in the morning, and the two of them drift into silence, as Melinda walks over and climbs into bed.
Even though he really wants to hold Melinda Tony is pretty sure that it would just end badly and so he just lies down next to Melinda, with a gap between them bigger than it's ever been.
Hours later Tony suddenly wakes up and at first he isn't sure what wakes up until he hears moaning and realises that Melinda is tossing and turning.
"MEL, MEL WAKE UP." Tony says loudly, about to shake her awake, but he stops himself as after the way Melinda reacted earlier to touch Tony knows that that won't be a good choice, "J, full light, and alarm, just in here." Tony request, knowing that it will be a shock, but hopefully a less distressing than him shaking her awake, and seconds later it works as Melinda sits up in shock, "Cut the alarm." Tony says, "Mel, it's okay." Tony says, "You're home."
"Tony… Tony." Melinda says, trying to get her baring's.
"Mel, talk to me, please." Tony asks, "I want to help." he admits.
"You can't." Melinda admits, "You should get some sleep. I'm going to go stay in Bobbi's room tonight." Melinda says, before getting up and leaving, before Tony can say anything, and as Tony watches Melinda go he wishes, more than anything, that he could help her.