Chapter 26
Disclaimer: I do not own anything. Everything belongs to their rightful owners and I am not making any profit from this.
An1: I would like to give a huge thank you to SusanSmile who is helping me more than I can say, thank you. You're helping me make this story better.
January 31st 1998. Melinda 30. Tony 27
It has been five months since Melinda gave her recommendation in regards to Bobbi to Fury and Fury seemed to agree with it as he sent Bobbi to work with Izzy. In the five months that have passed Melinda, Clint, Phil and Maria have been very busy but Melinda has managed to call Tony at least once a week though she hasn't been able to see him.
It is Saturday and under normal circumstances that would mean that The Hub would be less busy than usual but since Clint Barton brought a Russian spy with him back from his mission The Hub is currently even more busy than usual.
"You take Clint, I'll go to Fury." Coulson tells Melinda knowing that Melinda has always been able to get through to him better than him.
"Yep." Melinda says and she starts running through The Hub halls intent on finding Clint.
It only takes Melinda a few minutes to find Clint as he is standing in the hall outside where she knows the person he brought back with her is being held.
"Mels." Clint says as soon as he sees her glad to see a friendly face.
"What were you thinking?" Melinda asks him.
"I know what she's done but I couldn't kill her." Clint tells Melinda, "She wants to change. She wants to make up for what she's done. Isn't it our job to help with that?"
"I've read the file, how do you know she's not manipulating you?"
"She might be." Clint admits, "But I don't think so. You didn't see her Mels, I don't even think a spy as good as her can fake that kind of desperation and pain. I think we need to help her and I need help convincing Fury of that. He respects your opinion and you've known each other a long time, he might just listen to you." Clint tells Melinda, "I understand if you have your reservations, I do and I don't blame you, but please Mels, help me help her, I need someone on my side." Clint says showing more desperation than Melinda has ever seen him show.
"I'll talk to her." Melinda tells Clint, "See I can see the same thing you can. I'm not making any promises though." She informs Clint, "I'll only talk to Fury on yours and her behalf if I think it's the right thing to do. I need you to get that before I go in there." Melinda informs Clint.
"I do." Clint assures her, "Thank you Mels."
"I haven't done anything yet." Melinda points out.
"You're trying, that means everything." Clint says to her and Melinda walks past him giving his shoulder a squeeze as she does and after showing her badge to the Agent outside Melinda walks into the room where Natasha Romanoff is being heled.
When Melinda walks in the room the first thing she does is show her badge to the agent standing inside.
"Leave us." Melinda requests and the Agent nod and leaves the room.
"Hello Agent Romanoff, My name is Melinda May." Melinda introduces.
"Of course they would send you to talk to me." Natasha responds and Melinda isn't at all surprised that Natasha knows who she is and it is also clear that Natasha is defensive, something else that Melinda expected.
"No one sent me. I'm here talking to you because a friend asked me to, but I can walk right back out if that's what you want." Melinda says sitting down across from Natasha, "He wants us to give you a chance and I've known him long enough to know that he is a good judge of character so tell me Agent Romanoff, why are you here?" Melinda asks.
"Because I've got red in my ledger and I'd like to wipe it out." Natasha responds and for over half an hour Melinda and Natasha talk.
Ever since Melinda walked into the room to talk to Natasha Clint has been pacing the hallway, worried about what is going to happen as he knows he's asking a lot for Melinda to even consider sticking her neck out for him.
About forty minutes after Melinda walked into the room she walks out and as soon as she does Clint rushes over to her.
"So?" Clint asks, "You saw it right? She wants to change." Clint says to Melinda.
"I need to talk to Fury, and you should come with me." Melinda tells Clint and they both head to Fury's office.
When Melinda and Clint are shown into Fury's office a few minutes later they find Coulson and Fury in the middle of a discussion.
"Agent May, where you have been?" Fury asks.
"Agent Barton asked me to talk to Agent Romanoff, so that's where I was." Melinda explains.
"And you're assessment?" Fury asks interested.
"I talked to her for over half an hour and I honestly think she wants to change." Melinda tells Fury and out of the corner of her eye she sees Clint's grin, "I know her skill and I know there is a possibility that she could have ben manipulating me, but I don't see it. She could have escaped that room in seconds if she wanted to." Melinda points out.
"Maybe that's part of her plan." Maria who Melinda didn't even realise was in the room says, "Maybe she wants to gain our trust."
"Always a possibility." Melinda says, "But I don't thinks so. She put a defensive act at first but once we started talking it became clear that she's isn't just a spy and killer, but a kid who's only starting to comprehend the weapon that she was turned into and the horror she was forced to commit." Melinda informs the group, "She wants to change, but she cannot do that alone, she needs our help and I agree with Clint, we should give it to her." Melinda says to everyone.
"Well if two of my agents are defending this person so vigorously I should go talk to her myself." Fury tell the group, "Wait here until I get back." Fury says before leaving the room.
"Thank you Mels." Clint says giving Melinda a hug as soon as Fury walks out of the room.
"You're welcome, you made the right call." Melinda tells him.
"You really think that?" Phil asks curious as usually he is the one more open towards new people and Melinda is hesitant.
"I do." Melinda confirms, "She deserves a chance and we should give it to her."
It isn't to over an hour later that Fury arrives back on his office.
"Sir?" Clint asks.
"She will have to undergo assessments, but I am setting them in motion." Fury informs the group of four, "Agent Barton she will be your responsibility."
"Yes Sir." Clint answers.
"And Agent May both Agent Barton and Natasha Romanoff will be yours." Fury says.
"Yes Sir." Melinda says as ever since she defended Natasha she was expecting that.
"Dismissed." He says and the four of them leave the room.
Hours later Clint is still at The Hub watching out for Natasha as her various assessments are starting the following morning. Melinda and Coulson offered to stay but he said he would be fine so they went back to the apartment, Maria left several hours ago as she already had plans that Clint told her not to cancel.
"One hell of a day." Coulson says to Melinda as they walk into their apartment.
"Yep."
"You know I think there is a bottle of scotch around here somewhere, nightcap?" he asks curious.
"It's our place of course there is a bottle of scotch around, and yeah a nightcap would be good." Melinda responds as she walks over and sits at the kitchen bench while Phil searchers for the scotch.
"Why did you stick up for her?" Phil asks curious as he places the scotch and two glasses in front of Melinda not even a minute later as he sits down.
"You would have." Melinda points out as Phil pours the drinks.
"I know, but you're usually more cautious than me." Phil points out.
"I am." Melinda confirms, "But I stand by everything I said today. I talked to her Phil she needs help, a chance to be better, to have control for the first time in her life, and I truly believe that we should be the ones to help her, to give her that chance."
"Then I'll do whatever I can to help." Phil tells Melinda and they both nod and drink their drinks.
February 7th 1998
It has been a week since Clint brought Natasha into S.H.I.E.L.D and in that time she has been undergoing different tests and assessments and as such she is still not allowed to leave The Hub but has slightly more freedom than she did have.
Just like she does every morning Melinda gets up before five and heads to The Hub gym. She has been doing Tai-Chi for about ten minutes when Natasha walks in.
"Tai-Chi?" Natasha asks walking over to her as she wants to talk to someone other than Clint or a person who is assessing her.
"Yeah, I do it every morning." Melinda explains, "Usually no one else comes by the gym for at least another hour and a half." She informs Natasha.
"That must be nice, having no one annoy you." Natasha comments.
"It can be." Melinda responds.
"You know the other Agents talk about you a lot." Natasha comments trying to make conversation as she knows that Melinda defended her, and is part of the reason why S.H.I.E.L.D is giving her a chance.
"I know." Melinda responds, "I try and ignore the chatter as much as possible." She admits.
"Well I'm new here and because I have nothing to do between the tests I've been listening."
"Good way to pass time, but you should know that the S.H.I.E.L.D rumour mill isn't exactly accurate all the time." Melinda tells Natasha.
"So you didn't save Director Fury's life on your second mission ever?"
"I did, technically. The story is probably exaggerated though." Melinda admits, "So I was going to use the bag for like half an hour, but now that you're here would you like to spar with me Agent Romanoff?" Melinda asks.
"Natasha, and I would like that Agent May."
"Melinda." Melinda says and the two of them head over to the sparing mats.
As soon as they start it becomes clear that to her that for the first time in a long time Melinda has some real competition in sparing as even though Maria is very very good, Melinda's been training her which means she knows all her moves. Natasha on the other hand is a complete wildcard someone that Melinda has never fought against before so neither of them know just what the other can do.
About an hour later the Gym starts to fill with people and Melinda and Natasha are on their third round. Melinda won the first, Natasha won the second and it's very very hard to tell who will win the third.
"Natasha, you've got another meeting with polygraph in five minutes." Clint's voice say while Melinda and Natasha are fighting so they both exchange a look and stop.
"Draw?" Natasha asks.
"Draw." Melinda responds with a smirk, "This was fun, and informative, would you like to do it again sometime?"
"I'd like that very much." Natasha responds, "I guess I better get to my appointment, see you around Melinda?" Natasha asks.
"Yeah, I'll see you around Natasha." Melinda responds and Natasha walks over to Clint, picking her stuff up as she goes.
February 21st 1998
It is two weeks after Melinda and Natasha spared for the first time, something which they have done many times since, that Natasha is finally allowed to leave The Hub.
"Where are we going?" Natasha asks curious.
"My place, Phil's cooking and we've got plenty of beer and I'm pretty sure Mels's picked up this completely amazing chocolate cake that she won't tell us where she gets it from." Clint explains.
"Coulson's cooking?" Natasha asks surprised.
"Yep." Clint says with a grin, "He's pretty good and as long as I don't try and help and destroy everything it tastes amazing." He reveals.
"Who else will be there?" Natasha asks though she is pretty sure she can guess.
"Phil, Mels and Maria." Clint answers, "And here we are, this is our building." Clint says and they walk inside.
When Clint and Natasha walk into the apartment about a minute later they find Coulson in the kitchen and Maria setting the table and Melinda sitting on the couch. So Clint and Natasha walk over to Melinda.
"Hey." Clint say siting down next to Melinda and stealing her beer to take a drink.
"Get your own." Melinda says stealing it back of him before he can.
"I was just going to take a sip." Clint argues.
"It's never just a sip with you." Melinda responds.
"Fine. Natasha would you like a beer?" Clint asks.
"Technically I'm not twenty one." Natasha points out.
"All of us would be hypocrites if we didn't let you drink because you were a couple of years shy of twenty one but's it's completely your choice." Melinda tells Natasha,
"Then yeah, I'll have one." Natasha says and Clint heads to the kitchen.
"Out. Out of my kitchen." Phil's voice says as soon as Clint puts one foot on the kitchen tiles.
"I just want to get a beer for me and Natasha." Clint tells Phil.
"You're not allowed in my kitchen, not after last time." Phil informs Clint.
"Fine." Clint says with a sigh, "Maria?" He asks.
"Two beers?" She asks.
"Yep." Clint responds and Maria walks over to the fridge and pulls out three beers and hands two of them to Clint.
"Table's set." She tells Coulson.
"Good. Food will be ready in about five minutes." Coulson responds.
"Awesome." Maria says heading over to the couch and sitting on the couch with Melinda and Clint while Natasha sits on the chair, "So what are we talking about?" Maria asks curious but before anyone can answer Melinda's phone rings
"It's Anthony, excuse me." Melinda says and as she does Clint and Maria exchange a look.
"I'm missing something, aren't I?" Natasha asks, noticing the looks.
"Yep." Clint answers and he and Maria start to explain all about Melinda and Tony.
"Dinners ready if you three are finishing gossiping." Coulson says to Maria, Clint and Natasha.
"Maybe you can answer this Phil, how many times has Mels gone to LA in the last few years?" Clint asks.
"I'm not getting involved." Phil informs Clint, "Dinner's on the table I'll go let Melinda know." Coulson says walking out of the room while Clint, Natasha and Maria head to the table.
When Melinda and Phil sit down at the table a few minutes later the five new friends start to enjoy dinner together and once they eat they sit around the apartment, talking and drinking until the early hours of the morning.
July 8th 1998. Melinda 31. Tony 28.
It has been five months since Natasha joined Phil, Melinda, Clint and Maria the five of them have become very close. Natasha even claimed the free room at the apartment for herself after about a month.
The majority of S.H.I.E.L.D still treats Natasha as an outsider and are very suspicious of her, but Melinda, Clint, Phil and Maria have been doing their best to treat her like one of them.
It is Wednesday evening and Melinda is the only one in the apartment as Phil is still at The Hub finishing paper work and when she left Clint, Maria and Natasha were in the gym. Under normal circumstances Melinda would have joined them in the gym but because it is Phil's thirty second birthday Melinda headed right back to the apartment so that she could get something organized for him.
Because of the fact that she can't cook Melinda has gone to all the places that they usually get take away from and picked up all of Coulson's favourites as well as going to a local bakery where she picked up a specially made Captain America birthday cake.
Melinda has just finished putting all the food out on the table when the door opens and Phil walks into the apartment and he sees what Melinda has done.
"You didn't have to do all this." Phil tells her.
"I wanted to." Melinda informs him.
"Is that what I think it is?" Phil asks spotting the Captain America cake.
"Yep. I ordered it special for you." Melinda explains.
"Thank you." Phil says and he hugs Melinda.
"You're welcome. I also got you that disgusting Indian food that you love." Melinda informs Phil.
"You can't stand the smell of that." Phil says with a grin remembering the time when Melinda threw his food out the window because of the smell.
"It's your birthday and you love it, I can handle the smell for one night." Melinda tells him.
"Thanks Melinda." Phil says with a grin and before either of them can say anymore the door opens and Clint, Maria and Natasha walk in.
"What's all this?" Maria asks.
"Phil's birthday dinner." Melinda explains.
"You got the Indian crap? Are you going to throw it out of the window again?" Clint asks curious as he was there when Melinda threw Phil's dinner out of the window one night.
"That was once, I'm never going to hear the end of it am I?" Melinda asks.
"Nope." Clint and Phil say with grins.
"You threw food out the window?" Natasha asks trying to understand what the other three are talking about as Maria doesn't look surprised but she also looks a bit confused.
"Yeah. When we were living in our old place. It smelled like crap and I wanted it out of the apartment and out of the window was the quickest way." Melinda explains.
"It's a good thing that it was like two am so no one was walking below the window." Coulson comments.
"Are you kidding that would have been amazing." Clint says with a grin.
"Now that we're all here I would like to propose a toast." Melinda informs everyone picking up one of the beers that is on the table, "To Phil, Happy Thirty Second Birthday."
"Happy Birthday Phil." Clint, Natasha and Maria repeat.
October 9th 1998
It has been three months since Phil's birthday and in that time Natasha has truly became a part of the little team and family that Melinda, Phil, Clint and Maria have formed. It is the first Friday night that they have had of in months and because of that the five of them are sitting in their living room watching movies and Phil, Maria and Natasha are trying to prevent Melinda and Clint from throwing popcorn at each other.
"So why are we watching this?" Clint asks as they are watching a very bad movie that he cannot even remember the name of.
"Because we need at least one good mocking movie a marathon, this is it." Melinda answers and before anyone can say anything her phone rings so Phil pauses the movie, "Hello?"
"Jacks? I can't understand you." Melinda says and Coulson, Clint, Maria and Natasha exchange worried looks, "When? Oh god. I'll be there as soon as I can. He is? Good. See you soon." Melinda responds and as she hangs up the others notice tears in Melinda's eyes.
"What happened?" Coulson asks concerned.
"Uncle Gabe had a heart attack, he didn't make it." Melinda reveals, "I need to talk to Fury and get to DC." Melinda says quickly standing up.
"I'll take you to The Hub, then the airport." Natasha offers.
"Thanks Nat." Melinda says heading to her room to pack a bag.
October 10th 1998.
When Melinda arrives at the DC airport fourteen hours later she is surprised to find her mother waiting for her.
"Mama." Melinda says happily giving her a hug.
"Melinda."
"How's Aunt Peggy doing?" Melinda asks curious and concerned.
"As well as she can be." Lian answers.
"We're going to Aunt Peggy's right?" Melinda asks.
"Yes." Lian answers, "As soon as he got the news Mark brought Sharon around and Tony, Jackie, Frank and Antoine flew in together last night."
"Good. That's good." Melinda answers, "We're you already in DC?" Melinda asks curious.
"Yes." Lian answers, "I'm going to start taking a step back in the coming months." Lian reveals.
"You're retiring?" Melinda asks surprised.
"In a way. I'm going to be taking on more of a consulting roll." Lian explains.
"Okay." Melinda says still rather surprised by the news.
Half an hour later Melinda and Lian arrive at Peggy's house and they walk right in, as they do Melinda walks right over to her Godmother who is sitting with Mark and Frank.
"I'm so sorry Aunt Peggy. So sorry." Melinda informs her Godmother, giving her a hug.
"Thank you Melinda." Peggy responds, sitting stiller and sounding stiffer than Melinda has ever heard her.
"Jackie and Tony are upstairs in Jackie's old room and Antoine took Sharon out to get some food." Mark informs Melinda when he notices her looking around.
"Thanks." Melinda says gratefully before heading upstairs.
When Melinda knocks on Jackie's door about a minute later Melinda's worry for Peggy has increased as she has never seen her godmother like that.
"Who is it?" Tony's voice asks after she knocks.
"It's me." Melinda answers simply.
"Come in."
When Melinda walks into Jackie's childhood room she finds Jackie sitting at the head of her bed and Tony sitting at the foot.
"I'm sorry Jacks, I'm so sorry." Melinda tells Jackie giving her a hug.
"Thanks for coming." Jackie responds.
"Of course. There was no way I wouldn't be here for this." Melinda tells him.
For a while Melinda, Tony and Jackie just sit in silence, none of them really saying anything as even though they have been through this with Tony's parents and with Jarvis none of them really know what to say.
"Mom? I got you a burger if you're hungry." Antoine's voice says about twenty minutes later.
"Come in Antoine." Jackie says and he walks in the room.
"It's your favourite, if you're hungry." Antoine explains.
"Thank you, I am." Jackie says taking the bag of food from her son, "How are you doing?" She asks Antoine who just shrugs. "Sit." She requests and Antoine sits down on the bed next to his Mom, Melinda having moved from her places so he could, "I know how much you love your Grandpa, how close you are to him. It's okay to talk about that." Jackie tells him, "it's okay to admit how sad you are, or whatever you are feeling." She tells him.
"I hate this." Antoine suddenly says, "I miss Grandpa and I know I'll never see him again and I hate it." He informs his mother, "I miss him Mom." Antoine says looking at his mother sounding so much younger than the fifteen year old he is.
"Oh sweetie." Jackie says and she reaches out and hugs her son who begins to cry.
Realising that they should give mother and son some privacy Melinda and Tony get up and leave the room.
As soon as they are out in the corridor Tony pulls Melinda into a hug.
"Hey." Tony says as he hugs her.
"Hey." Melinda responds.
October 16th 1998
It has been six days since Melinda arrived back in DC after getting the news that Gabe has died and in that time Melinda, Tony, Frank and Lian have been doing everything they can to help Peggy, Mark, Jackie, Sharon and Antoine.
As it was Gabe's wish for a simple funeral, but as a veteran he was deserving of a full military funeral so the two were combined a simple military funeral with just friends and family present.
Melinda, Tony, Frank and Lian stood together feeling useless as they watched Peggy, Mark, Jackie, Sharon and Antoine all through the funeral, all five of them in so much pain.
Once the funeral ended one by one the guests left roses on Gabe's coffin until it was only Melinda, Lian, Peggy, Tony, Jackie, Frank, Mark, Sharon and Antoine left.
"I want to go." Sharon says once they have been standing around in silence for a while, "I don't want to be here anymore."
"Okay, we can go." Melinda says as she and Tony are going to look after Sharon and Antoine for the night to make things easier for Mark and Jackie while Lian stays with Peggy, "What about you Antoine? Are you ready to go?" Melinda asks.
"Yeah." Antoine says after looking at his grandfather's coffin once more.
"Then let's go." Tony says and after Sharon and Antoine say goodbye to the rest of their family Melinda and Tony lead them out of the cemetery.
After leaving the cemetery Melinda and Tony take the kids back to the estate where they order food and put movies on, doing whatever they can to help Antoine and Sharon just wishing that there was more they could do for their parents and grandmother.