Chapter 26
Disclaimer: I don't own anything. Everything belongs to their rightful owners.
AN1: Thank you so much for the support. Please leave a review/comment. There is a note at the end that you should read.
May 19th 2008
Two days have passed since Melinda arrived home from the mission in Bahrain, and ever since Tony, Bobbi, and Daisy are becoming more and more worried about her as it is perfectly clear that something horrible must have happened, and she's not okay, but Melinda isn't talking about it.
It's a Monday morning and Melinda is packing up her desk in the office she share with Clint, Phil, and Natasha as she is moving to the admin department.
"May, I didn't expect you to be back so soon." Phil admits, as he walks in the room with Clint and Natasha.
"Mels, what are you doing?" Clint asks, noticing what she is doing.
"I've transferred to admin." Melinda reveals.
"You're leaving fieldwork?" Phil asks, sounding shocked, as Natasha just looks at Melinda, reading her, and thinking about everything she knows about what happened, to try and figure out what actually happened and why Melinda is acting like this.
"You can't." Clint says, looking at Melinda in shock.
"Clint's right. You're a specialist, it's who you are, you just can't leave, we're a team." Phil objects.
"Shut up, both of you." Natasha says, having realised why Melinda is acting the way she is, as she knows the look Melinda has in her eyes all too well, and so she knows exactly what happened in that building in Bahrain, "This is Linda's choice, not anyone else's." Natasha says, "The Admin department is lucky to have you." Natasha tells her friend, giving her a supportive look.
"Thank you, Nat." Melinda says, feeling glad that someone is supportive.
"You don't have to thank me." Natasha says, as Clint and Phil exchange looks, "I'm going to miss having you watch my back." She admits, as while it took her a long time to trust Melinda, to trust anyone, and now she does, so it's going to be strange being in the field without her.
"I don't need to be in the field to watch your back." Melinda reveals, "I should go." Melinda says, before picking up her box, "Phil, Clint." She says, before leaving the office that has been hers for a very long time.
"What the hell just happened?" Clint asks, looking shocked.
"What just happened is Linda made the choice that's best for her, and if you two are the friends I know you are then you're going to support her." Natasha says, before leaving the office, leaving Phil and Clint feeling pretty confused about what the hell is going on.
Not far from the Triskelion Tony, who flew to DC after dropping Daisy and Peter at school, is arriving at Peggy's house, a house she is still living at despite her diagnosis.
Walking up to Peggy's front door Tony knocks, and waits. After a few moments the door opens revealing Peggy.
"Tony." Peggy says, before hugging her godson, "It's good to see you."
"It's good to see you too." Tony responds.
"Come in, I just made tea." Peggy says, letting Tony into the house and the two of them head to the kitchen.
A few minutes later Tony and Peggy are sitting at the kitchen table, both of them drinking tea,
"Now, what's going on, Tony?" Peggy asks her godson.
"What makes you think that I'm not just here to see you?" Tony asks curious, and Peggy just gives him a look, "I'm here about Mel."
"Has something happened?" Peggy asks concerned.
"Yeah." Tony confirms, "Mel was on a mission last week. She called me when things went south." He explains, "There was a hostage situation, Mel went in alone. Next thing I know Coulson's answering her phone and he's telling me that she had to be sedated because she reacted violently when the paramedics tried to check her out." Tony explains, "Ever since Mel flinches back when anyone goes to touch her, she doesn't sleep, doesn't talk, won't tell me what happened." Tony says, looking hurt, "I just want to help her, but I don't know how." Tony says, sounding upset, and the truth is he wants to help Melinda more than anything, "How do I help her Aunt Peg?" Tony asks, feeling like Peggy might know.
"Oh, my darling, you be there for her." Peggy tells her godson, realising that things must have been truly bad for Melinda to react how Tony is describing, "Your respect her boundaries, if there are things that Melinda reacts negatively then you stop doing them." Peggy reveals, "I don't know if Melinda will ever tell you what happened, you need to accept that she may never, and hard as it maybe you have to be patient, and supportive." Peggy explains to her godson.
"We take each other's hands, that's how we show support, but Mel looks terrified when I try to take her hand." Tony reveals, "I don't want to make things worse, I just want to help."
"Then you figure out how to be supportive in another way." Peggy explains, "Tony I know how much you love Melinda, you've just got to keep loving her, in the way she can accept right now." Peggy explains, "Don't give up on her, even if she tries to push you away."
"I never will." Tony confirms, and the two of them drift into silence.
A few hours later Tony, who had lunch with Peggy as well, is arriving home, knowing he has a little while before he has to go pick Daisy and Peter up at school.
"Dad." A voice says as Tony walks in the living room and she sees Bobbi, who hurries over to him.
"Bobbi." Tony says, hugging his daughter, "It's really good to see you."
"It's good to see you too." Bobbi admits, as they break apart, "How's Mom?"
"We should sit down." Tony says, and he and Bobbi walk over to the couch, "I'm not going to lie to you, Little Bird, your Mom's not good." He admits.
"Everyone at S.H.I.E.L.D is talking about what happened, Mom's become even more of a legend than she already was." Bobbi admits.
"What are they saying?" Tony asks, wanting to know
"A lot different things." Bobbi admits, "It seems like everyone has a different story, the only thing that everyone agrees about is that she saved agents in Bahrain, they're calling her The Cavalry." Bobbi explains, "Dad, what really happened?"
"I don't know." Tony answers, "Your Mom won't talk about it, and she flinches at any physical contact, especially if anyone tires reaching out to her." Tony explains.
"I knew it was bad." Bobbi admits, "After I called you I knew Mom was hurt, and that she wasn't okay, but I wasn't expecting this." She admits.
"How did you get that feeling?" Tony asks.
"It just kind of happened." Bobbi admits, "It was all a sudden I knew Mom wasn't okay, and was terrified, I never felt anything like it before." She reveals, "A strange advancement of my powers is the only thing that makes sense, but I'm not exactly sure how that could have happened."
"There's a lot about your powers that we've never known." Tony admits, "The theory has always been that you got your powers from an attempted recreation of the super soldiers' serum, but it was different, maybe the difference caused this to develop." Tony says, trying to think like a scientist.
"Yeah, maybe." Bobbi says, looking uncertain, "Guess I'll have to see if I develop anything else." Bobbi admits and the two of them drift into silence, both worrying about Melinda, and wondering how and why Bobbi's powers seem to be changing.
Hours later Peter and Daisy, who were both very happy to see their sister, arrived home and four of the five members of the Stark-May family are having diner together.
"Sir, Mrs Stark-May is home, she has headed to her office." JARVIS reveals.
"Thanks J." Tony says, and as she does Peter and Daisy exchange looks, "I'm going to take your Mom some dinner." Tony says, looking between his children.
"Let me, Dad." Bobbi says, wanting a chance to talk to her mother, and so she puts some food on a plate, "I want to talk to mom."
"Good luck." Daisy mutters, as Bobbi gets up and heads out of the room.
After leaving the kitchen Bobbi heads straight to her mothers study, where she opens the door,
"Mom, it's me." Bobbi says, as she pushes the door a little, and walks into the study.
"Bobbi." Melinda says, looking at her daughter in surprise, and for a second Bobbi thinks she sees a flicker of fear, something which causes her heart to sink, as her mother has never once been afraid of her, "I didn't realise you would be coming home tonight."
"I have some time between missions." Bobbi reveals, "I brought dinner." Bobbi explains, as she walks over and places the plate on the table, and sits down on the chair on the other side of the desk.
"Thank you." Melinda says, but then she doesn't look up from what she is doing.
"Mom, if you want to talk, I'm here." Bobbi tells her mother, "I love you."
"I need to focus on this." Melinda tells her daughter, feeling like she doesn't deserve her daughters love.
"Okay." Bobbi says, standing up, "I'll be with Dad, Peter, and Daisy, once you get your paperwork done you should join us." Bobbi says, before exiting the study, closing the behind her, and as she walks to the living room she isn't surprised to find her mother waiting.
"How'd it go?" Tony asks concerned.
"Not good." Bobbi says, "I don't know what happened, but she's not mom anymore." Bobbi says, tears coming to her eyes, and having no idea what to say Tony just takes a few steps forward and hugs his daughter.
June 13th 2008
A month has passed since Melinda went on the Bahrain mission and with the more time that pasts the clearer it becomes that Melinda isn't okay, a she isn't sleeping, and won't let any of her family touch her, not even Tony.
It is a Friday afternoon and Tony is trying to wrap up some work so that he can get out of the office to pick up Daisy and Peter, both of whom are realising how not okay Melinda is and they both hate that fact.
"Tony, everyone's ready for the meeting." Pepper says, as she walks into Tony's office.
"What meeting?" Tony asks, looking confused.
"The meeting where you explain the designs you submitted for manufacturing last week." Pepper explains.
"That's today? I though it was next week." Tony says, sounding surprised as he has been so focused on looking after Daisy and Peter, and trying to help Melinda, that he must have lost track.
"No, it's today, and everyone's waiting." Pepper explains.
"I can't go. I have to go pick up Daisy and Peter." Tony informs Pepper.
"Tony you can't cancel this meeting, people have flown in from all over the country to be here." Pepper explains, "Can't Melinda pick them up." And before he can stop himself Tony huffs at that, "Tony, what's going on?" Pepper asks concerned, as in the last month she has noticed that something seems to be bothering Tony.
"Mel's not okay." Tony reveals, "Things went bad on a mission about a month ago. I don't know what happened, Mel won't talk about it, but she's been different ever since, she even left field work." Tony explains, "She's been avoiding me, and Peter, and Daisy, so even if I called her I don't know if she'd come." Tony admits, truthfully, he isn't overly sure if Melinda would answer his call, "I know the meeting is important, but I need to go pick up Daisy and Peter."
"I'll pick them up." Pepper offers, being pretty sure it is the best choice, "I'll take them back to the apartment until you're done with the meeting."
"Thank you Pepper." Tony says, looking grateful.
"You don't have to thank me, Tony." Pepper says, before leaving the office, and after Pepper leaves the office Tony leaves, heading to his meeting.
A little while after Pepper left Tony's office she is waiting at Daisy and Peter's school, waiting for the two youngest Stark-May children, to finish school. Finally, Pepper sees the two of them walk out together.
"Daisy, Peter." Pepper calls, waiving at them, and they walk over to her.
"Pepper? Why are you here, where's Dad?" Daisy asks, surprised to her, and a little bit suspicious as she was expecting Tony, who didn't say that he wouldn't be able to pick them up.
"There was a meeting, so your Dad got held up at Stark." Pepper explains, "I offered to come pick you two up and take you home."
"Okay." Peter says, with a nod, and Daisy can't help but feel a little bit suspicious as her father is usually the only person who picks them up.
"What did you give me for Christmas last year?" Daisy asks, putting her arm in front of Peter and stopping him from walking, it being the first question she can think of to verify that Pepper is actual Pepper.
"Rock band, for you and Peter to share." Pepper reveals, not at all surprised by Daisy's question. Having got Daisy and Peter rock band as they had been asking for it since it came out, and so when she asked Tony and Melinda what to get them they suggested that.
"Okay." Daisy says, nodding, and believing it is Pepper, "We can go." Daisy says.
"Okay." Pepper says, with a nod, and she, Daisy and Peter head to Pepper's car
A while later Daisy is in her room, doing her homework, when she hears a knock on the door,
"Yeah?" Daisy asks, and the door opens and Peter walks in, "What's up Pete?"
"Can I stay in here? Or are you busy?" Peter asks curious.
"Of course, you can stay." Daisy tells her brother, who walks over and sits down on Daisy's bed. Seeing what her brother is doing Daisy walks over and sits down next to him, "Do you want to talk?" she asks curious.
"School ends soon, and I'm not looking forward to summer." Peter admits.
"That's because you're a nerd." Daisy says, trying to joke, and Peter gives her a look, "I'm kidding Pete, why not?"
"Because usually during the summer we have fun with Mom and Dad… and Bobbi, but with the way Mom's been lately, I don't see that happening." Peter admits.
"Yeah, me either." Daisy says, putting her arm around in her brother, "But we'll have fun, okay, you and me, promise." Daisy assures her brother.
"Pinkie promise." Peter asks, sticking out his hand for Daisy.
"Pinkie promise." Daisy responds, and the two of them drift into silence as they sit side by side, Daisy still having her arm around her little brother.
June 23rd 2008
Ten days have passed since Pepper picked up Daisy and Peter from school, and they have both finished school for the year. It's late on a Monday evening and both Peter and Daisy are in their beds asleep while Tony is sitting in the living room waiting for Melinda to come home.
A while after Tony started to wait the doors to the elevators open and Melinda walks out,
"Tony." Melinda says, sounding surprised, honestly, she purposely came home late so that she could avoid talking to Tony.
"I know you don't want to talk, and I'm not going to push, not tonight." Tony admits, as he walks over to Melinda, who notices his specific word choices, "Seven years ago today we vowed to be there for each other in times of need, and to soothe each other in times of pain, that's all I've been trying to do, Mel." Tony admits, "I love you." He says, stopping a couple of steps from Melinda, "I got dinner, keep it warm." Tony explains, "We don't have to talk, we can eat in silence if you want, but how about we have dinner together, it's our anniversary after all." Tony says, trying to get Melinda to open up to him, even if it's just a little, "Please Mel." Tony says, after a few moments of Melinda not saying anything.
"Okay." Melinda says.
"It's in the kitchen." Tony says, "After you." He says, and they both head there, and proceed to eat dinner together in total silence.
June 30th 2008
A week has passed since Melinda and Tony's anniversary and soon after the small glimmer of hope that Tony had, the hope that maybe this would be the start of things changing, disappeared as Melinda has continued to act in the same way she has for the last month and a half.
It is a Monday evening and Daisy is in her room hacking into stuff and talking to other hackers online, when she hears a knock on her door.
"Come in." Daisy says, and Tony walks in, as he does Daisy closes her laptop, "What's up, Dad?"
"I wanted to talk to you." Tony reveals, as he walks over, and as he does Daisy wonders if she has accidently started to hack something that could get her in serious trouble.
"Oh?" Daisy asks, trying not to give away what she is thinking.
"Your birthday's in a few days, I was wondering what you'd like, and what you'd like to do." Tony explains to his daughter, "We can do whatever you want."
"Thanks Dad, but the only thing I want not even you can get." Daisy tells her father, telling the truth.
"I wouldn't be so sure about that, name it." Tony tells his daughter.
"I want Mom back, the way she used to be." Daisy tells her father, looking upset.
"Oh, Tiny Toni." Tony says, moving towards his daughter, feeling his heart break for her, "I know things have been differently lately…" Tony starts to say.
"They suck." Daisy corrects.
"Yeah, they do." Tony confirms, "Something happened to your Mom, Kiddo, and she's trying to deal with it." he admits.
"I know that, and I know it must have been bad, but I miss her." Daisy explains, "Don't you?" she asks looking at Tony.
"Yeah, I do, Tiny Toni, I really do." Tony says, putting his arm around Daisy, honestly feeling completely useless at the moment, a feeling that he isn't' familiar with, but as he remembers what Peggy told him so he knows he has to be patient with Melinda, "I know it's not as good, but how about for your birthday I show you the new state of the art laptop Stark is working on." Tony suggests.
"Can I try it? Keep one?" Daisy asks, looking hopeful.
"I think I can twist the arm of someone in the R&D department." Tony reveals, and Daisy grins, "I know it's not what you want Daze, and it's not fair, but right now we've just got to be patient with your Mom." He explains, Daisy nods, and the two of them drift into silence as they sit side by side, Tony hating that his daughter is in so much pain.
September 1st 2008
Two months have passed since Daisy's birthday, where Tony did as he said he would and took her into Stark where she did in fact get a state of the art laptop from Stark, which she saw get made, and ever since Daisy and Peter have been on summer vacation, a vacation that hasn't been as enjoyable as it usually is, despite Tony's best efforts.
It's the night before Daisy is going to start the seventh grade, while Peter starts the second, and Daisy is attempting to fall asleep when she hears her door open.
"Daze, you awake?" Peter's quiet voice asks.
"Yeah." Daisy says, and once she does she hears Peter walk across the room and climb onto her bed and sit down next to her, "You okay?" she asks, as she sits up properly, and covers her brother with her blanket as it is a little chilly.
"I don't know." Peter admits, "You know Bobbi hasn't come home much lately." He comments, sounding sad.
"I know." Daisy confirms, "I think it hurts her to see how Mom is, and so she's been staying away." Daisy admits.
"I miss her." Peter reveals.
"Me too." Daisy says, putting her arm around her brother, knowing that Bobbi calls all the time, but it's not the same, "You excited for school to start tomorrow?" she asks, purposely trying to change the subject, trying to distract Peter.
"Yeah." Peter says, looking excited, "Me and Ned are in the same class. It will be great." He says, speaking about Ned Leeds, his best friend.
"Yeah, I'm sure it will be." Daisy assures her brother, honestly being very glad that he has managed to make a best friend, something she hasn't done, though she does have not so close friends, "You know if anyone ever gives you a hard time…."
"Come find you and you'll deal with them, I know." Peter says, smiling up at his sister, "Thanks Daze."
"You don't have to thank me, I'm your big sister Pete, it's my job." Daisy assures her brother, as the two of them drift into silence, and before long both the Stark-May siblings are fast asleep.
October 16th 2008
About six weeks has passed since Daisy and Peter started school again, something which has turned out to be the perfect distraction for both siblings as being so focused on school helps distract them from what's going on with their mother.
It's a Thursday afternoon and Tony, Bobbi, Daisy, and Rhodey are at Peter's school as there is a science fair and Peter has a presentation.
"Second grade science fair, he's even more of a nerd than you." Daisy tells her sister.
"Hey, this nerd is managing to do a biology degree while working full time, nerds are powerful." Bobbi tells her sister.
"If you say so." Daisy says, as Tony and Rhodey exchange amused looks, both of them in complete agreement with Bobbi, as they continue to walk, until they finally reach Peter's display.
"Dad, Uncle Rhodey." Peter says happily, hugging both of them, "Bobbi." Peter says, looking amazed.
"Hey Pete." Bobbi says to her brother, who hugs her, tightly, it being more than clear to Bobbi that he has missed her.
"I've missed you." Peter says as he hugs Bobbi.
"Missed you too." Bobbi assures her brother as they break apart.
"What no hug for me?" Daisy asks her brother, clearly teasing.
"I saw you half an hour ago." Peter tells his sister, as he looks around, "Mom not coming?" he asks, looking at his father.
"Sorry Kid, she got held up in DC." Tony explains, hating that he has to say those words as he knows how much Peter wanted Melinda at the fair.
"Right." Peter mutters, honestly not surprised after the way things have been lately, but still disappointed.
"You know this looks really cool." Rhodey says, looking at Peter's display, "Do you want to tell me about it?" he asks curious.
"Sure." Peter says, with a grin, and he starts to explain all about his display and as he does Tony mouths a 'thank you' to Rhodey, feeling grateful that he was able to distract Peter.
November 18th 2008
Just under five weeks has passed since Peter's science fair, and six months have passed since Melinda's mission in Bahrain that changed everything. It's been six months of Melinda avoiding the people who love her the most, of her barley sleeping, and having nightmares, of her flinching away from any physical contact and of her pulling away from her children and family even more, something which is just hurting them. Even though Tony is trying to be patient with Melinda it is getting harder and harder for him to do so as he can see how much Daisy, Peter, and even Bobbi who is avoiding coming home, not that she'd admit that, are hurting; not to mention how much it is hurting him to see the woman he loves in so much pain and being unable to help her.
It's a Tuesday morning and Tony is driving Daisy and Peter too school, as he drives Tony notices that both Daisy and Peter seem to be quieter than normal, as normally they would be talking, or singing along to the radio, but instead they are siting in silence.
"Tiny Toni, Kid." Tony says, "You okay?"
"Sure." Daisy answers.
"Yeah." Peter answers, and it is clear to Tony that both his kids are lying.
"Daisy, Peter, talk to me." Tony says to his kids, and as he does he sees, thanks to the rear-view mirror, Daisy and Peter exchange looks, "Please." He adds.
"Does Mom not love us anymore?" Peter asks, his voice sounding young and vulnerable, and as he is so shocked Tony has to slam on the breaks to avoid hitting the car in front of them, as he grew up thinking that one of his parents didn't love him, so he never wanted that for his children. Realising that it's probably not a good thing for him to be behind the wheel of a car right now Tony pulls over and turns of the car. Once the car is off Tony turns around and faces Daisy and Peter.
"Of course, your Mom loves you, both of you." Tony says, looking between his two youngest children, wanting them to believe that as he knows in his heart that it is true.
"It doesn't seem like it." Daisy admits.
"Daze, Pete, your mom loves you both, and your sister, more than anything in this world." Tony says, knowing that without a doubt, "Things are bad right now…" Tony starts to say, but Daisy cuts her off.
"Things have been bad for months." Daisy says, "She hasn't been Mom in months." Daisy reveals, "I know you said we have to be patient, and I'm trying, but I miss my Mom, and I just want her back." She says, looking upset.
"Me too." Peter admits, "Its like Mom died on that mission, and an imposter took her place." He says, looking upset.
Looking between his kids Tony opens and closes his mouth several times, trying to think of the right thing to say, but he doesn't know what to say, all he knows is that his kids are hurting, and that kills him, "I…. should get you to school." Tony says, realising that he has to talk to Melinda, and will right after his meeting at Stark, and he turns back to the front of the car, which he once more starts.
Hours later Tony, who's meeting ran longer than he was expecting, arrives home and he knows that Melinda has a forced day off, so she may actually be home, and if she is then they should have enough time to talk, even if it's only five minutes, before he has to go pick up Peter and Daisy.
"J? Mel home?" Tony asks.
"Yes Sir, Mrs Stark-May is in the study." JARVIS answers.
"Okay, tell me when I have to leave to pick up Daisy and Peter." Tony requests, as he walks towards the study.
"Mel, we have to talk." Tony says, as he walks into the study, where Melinda is working on something.
"I can't right now, I've got to get this done." Melinda says, wanting to avoid talking to Tony as he'll keep being supportive, keep saying he loves her, which is something she doesn't think she deserves anymore, not after what she did, not after what they lost.
"I don't care." Tony admits, and Melinda looks up from what she is doing, due to the tone of voice Tony used, "Mel, I love you, and I'm trying to support you, I know you need time, I understand that, but Daisy, Peter, even Bobbi they don't." Tony tells his wife, "They think their Mom doesn't love them anymore." Tony says, the pain clear in his voice, "They miss you Mel, so much, and so do I." Tony reveals, "Mel, Bobbi doesn't come home anymore because seeing you like this hurts her, and Peter and Daisy just want their mom back. Please, stop pushing us away." Tony begs, and as he does Melinda becomes sure of something she's been thinking for the last few months, that Tony and the kids would be better off without her.
"I don't want to hurt them, or you." Melinda admits.
"Then stop pushing us away, please." Tony says, "Just let us in, talk to us."
"I can't." Melinda admits.
"Can't or won't?" Tony asks, there being an edge to his voice.
"Sir, it's time to go pick up Miss Daisy and Mr Peter." JARVIS says.
"Thanks J." Tony says, "Think about what I said, Mel, please." Tony says, before leaving the study, leaving Melinda to run over everything Tony said.
A while later Tony arrives back home with Daisy and Peter, and as soon as they walk into the apartment Daisy and Peter head up to their rooms.
"J? Where's Mel?" Tony asks, knowing they need to continue their conversation.
"Mrs Stark-May is not home, but she left something for you in the Lab." JARVIS reveals.
"Okay, thanks J." Tony says, heading to the lab.
About twenty seconds later Tony gets to the lab and he starts to search for what Melinda left him, and it doesn't take long to find what he is looking for, but the second he does his heart sinks, as lying on the bench that Melinda usually sits on is what Melinda never takes off, her wedding and engagement ring, both of which are sitting on a note in Melinda's handwriting. Picking up the note Tony sees it's short, and just simply says,
'You and our kids deserve better, I'm sorry.'
AN2: I'M SORRY, I'M SORRY. This chapter is painful, and I don't want to give away spoilers, but all I can say is don't give up on Melinda and Tony.