Chapter 37
Disclaimer: I do not own anything. Everything belongs to their rightful owners and I am not making any profit from this.
AN1: So because I have so many chapters written I am going to update every day for a week. Then update every second day the next week and so forth.
June 25th 2010. Melinda 43. Tony 40.
It has been three and a half years since Melinda and Tony spent New Year's together in Vegas and in that time Melinda has improved a lot, though she is still dealing with the aftermath of Bahrain every day and it's clear to everyone who knows her that she will never be the same. She isn't pushing Phil, Clint, Natasha and Maria away as much as she was right after Bahrain but it is clear to all of them that Melinda is distancing herself, but at the same time she is using her position in admin to help them whenever she can.
For the last three years Melinda has flow to LA at least one weekend a month and Tony has made more than a few trips to DC. Peggy's Dementia has worsen resulting in her needing more care. Melinda, Lian, and Mark visit as often as they can and Jackie, Antoine, Sharon and Tony visit when they can, but it's slightly harder for them, though they call frequently.
It is Friday night and Melinda is in her cubical at the Triskelion's Admin department getting a start on the following week's paperwork as she has nothing else to do. She is pretty sure that she the only one in the department still at the Triskelion so when Melinda hears footsteps behind her she is surprised until she realises that they are Phil's familiar footsteps.
"Yes Phil?" Melinda asks, not looking up from what she is doing.
"Every time." Phil says with an amused smile, "Are you flying to LA tonight?" Phil asks curious.
"No. Anthony is going To Vegas tomorrow for an award and then to Afghanistan on Sunday with Rhodey for a weapons demonstration." Melinda tells Phil, "Why?" She asks curious.
"It's been a while since we've spent time together, I thought we could do dinner." Phil tells Melinda.
"I thought you would have had plans." Melinda comments with the tiniest smirk.
"Who told?" Phil asks realising exactly what she is talking about.
"Nat…. And Clint." Melinda says before looking up at Phil, "And Maria." She adds.
"I swear for three of the best spies ever they are huge gossips." Phil comments.
"You're just figuring that out now?" Melinda asks.
"No, I've known for years." Phil comments, "And baring an emergency I have plans tomorrow night, so dinner?" Phil asks curious.
"Give me ten minutes?" Melinda asks and Phil nods so he walks over to one of the cubical.
Ten minutes later Melinda has finished what she wanted to finish and she is packing up her stuff.
"So I was thinking that considering the fact that it's most likely been a while since you've eaten anything but take out we could go back to mine, because I've lived with you, and known you long enough to know you don't have real ingredients in your apartment, and I could cook us a homemade dinner." Phil suggests.
"My eating habits aren't that bad." Melinda says rolling her eyes, "What's going on Phil? Really?" Melinda asks interested.
"I'll tell you when we're at mine." Phil tells Melinda as he got special permission just to tell Melinda so he can't risk them being overheard.
Half an hour later Melinda and Phil are at Phil's apartment and Melinda is sitting at the kitchen counter why Phil cooks.
"What's going on Phil?" Melinda asks why Phil cooks.
"Give me a second, don't want these to burn." Phil says referring to the steaks he is cooking. "There they should be alright for a while." Phil comments a few minutes later, then he turns to Melinda, "I have some news and it's not going to be official to Monday, but I got permission from Fury to tell you because I wanted you to know before anyone else." Phil tells Melinda.
"Okay?" Melinda asks.
"As of Monday I will be a level eight agent." Phil informs Melinda.
"Phil that's great." Melinda says with a small smile, which are basically the only smiles she can manage these days, "I'm happy for you." She informs him.
"You are?"
"Of course I am, why wouldn't I be?" Melinda asks surprised that he asked.
"Because up until now we've always got promotions at the same time, we've been equals and now we're not." Phil explains.
"Phil I am happy for you, honestly you deserve this." Melinda informs him, "We both knew this would happen eventually, you'll move up, just like you should, and I'll stay the same. But it's okay, and you shouldn't feel wired about sharing your good news with me."
"It doesn't have to be this way." Phil tells Melinda.
"Yeah it does, and you know it." Melinda tells him.
"I do." Phil admits with a sigh.
"This is a good thing Phil, be happy." Melinda tells him.
"I'm trying, but it's not the same when my partner's not by my side." Phil informs Melinda.
"Well now your partner is telling you to be happy so you better listen." Melinda informs Phil.
"Yes Ma'am." Phil responds with a smirk, "The steaks are almost ready."
"Good. I'll set the table." Melinda says getting up.
June 28th 2010
It has been three days since Melinda and Phil had dinner together, a dinner which half way through Clint, Natasha and Maria joined in on.
As it is currently one am Melinda is asleep, or she was until she is woken by the ringing of her Stark Phone.
"Hello?" Melinda asks answering it and she see Rhodey on the screen, "Rhodey? What's going on?" Melinda asks.
"Melinda, I have some bad news." Rhodey tells her, not wanting to be the one who tells her but knowing that he owes it to her to make sure she hears it from him.
"What's happened?" Melinda asks sitting up straight, "Please Rhodey, just tell me." She requests when after about a minute he doesn't say anything.
"On the way back to base after Tony's weapons demonstration our convoy was attacked." Rhodey informs Melinda.
"How bad is he?" Melinda asks keeping her voice steady and not trying to fear the worse until she knows.
"That's the thing, I don't know." Rhodey admits, "When the convoy was hit Tony was taken. We didn't see where, or by who." Rhodey reveals and as he does Melinda can feel herself physically hurt, a pain that feels worse than all the times she has been wounded and even hurts more than when she started to accept her feelings after Bahrain.
"Who's looking for him?" Melinda ask, refusing to show how much pain she is feeling.
"Everyone here." Rhodey answers, "Your cousin Mark is actually one of the officers in change." He tells Melinda.
"Good." Melinda responds, "I'll head into HQ, see what I can find. See what we can do." Melinda tells Rhodey.
"I thought your organization wasn't allowed to operate here at the moment." Rhodey comments as for about a year and a half SHIELD hasn't been allowed to operate within certain countries in the Middle East.
"We're not, but that doesn't mean that there is nothing we can do." Melinda tells Rhodey throwing off her blanket, "I'll have my phone with me at all times, keep me updated." Melinda requests.
"Of course." Rhodey responds, "I've got to call Pepper and other people from the company now, I thought you deserved to know first."
"Thank you."
"I'm sorry I couldn't protect him." Rhodey tells Melinda thinking that maybe if he was in the Humvee with Tony he could have stopped him from getting taken.
"It's not your fault Rhodey, I'm sure that you did do and are going to do everything you can." Melinda informs Rhodey.
"I did, I will." Rhodey promises Melinda, "I'll talk to you later."
"Talk to you later." Melinda says as she gets up and starts to get changed as quickly as possible.
Half an hour later Melinda has arrived at the Triskelion and heads straight to Fury's office as even though it is two am she has no doubt that he is still there.
"Come in Agent May." Fury's voice says as she knocks on his office door.
"Do we know anything?" Melinda asks as she walks in.
"Who called you?" Fury asks interested as knows that there are a couple of people who could have called and he is curious as to which it was.
"Lieutenant Colonel James Rhodes." Melinda answers, "What do we know?"
"At the moment not much." Fury answers, "We know Stark's convoy was attacked but we don't know by who, what the objection was or if Stark is alive."
"Are you sending Agents to Afghanistan?" Melinda asks.
"No. I have orders from the World Security council not to." Fury informs Melinda, "But I am going to have agents working from here trying to find out what happened and I am also going to have agent's closer working." Fury tells Melinda, "For now, at least, that's the best I can do." He tells Melinda.
"I understand." Melinda says biting the inside of her mouth to stop herself from saying what she is really thinking, "I know I'm not a Specialist anymore and I don't really have the right to ask but I would appreciate it if you would keep me updated, Sir." Melinda requests.
"Of course Agent May." Fury says and Melinda nods and heads downstairs planning on using both her clearance and all the contacts she has acquired to find anything about what happened to him or where Tony could be.
It is a few hours later when other SHIELD agents who work in the Admin department at the Triskelion arrive and a couple of hours after that when Natasha walks up to Melinda's desk.
"I just heard. What can I do?" Natasha asks, both her and Melinda ignoring the whispers of the other admin officers.
"Reach out to your contacts, see if they know anything." Melinda says looking up at Natasha, "Please."
"Consider it done." Natasha responds, "Is there anything else I can do?" Natasha asks it being clear that she isn't asking if there is anything she can do professionally but personally.
"Not right now." Melinda tells her, "But thanks."
"I'll let you know if I hear anything." Natasha says and after exchanging a nod with Melinda she leaves.
July 7th 2010
It has been a week and a half since Melinda got the call from Rhodey informing her that Tony was missing in Afghanistan. In that time, apart from going back to her place on the first day to grab changes of clothes and things she may need, Melinda hasn't left the Triskelion as when she is not doing her normal duties as an admin officer Melinda is spending every free moment trying to find a lead on where Tony could be. When she needs to sleep, which isn't that often, Melinda sleeps on one of the couches. She also showers in the gym and eats out of the cafeteria which is open basically twenty four hours.
It is after midnight and Melinda is at her desk working every lead she has while Phil, Melinda, Natasha and Clint watch on concerned from the entrance to the admin department.
"We need to do something." Phil comments, "We need to help her."
"What can we do?" Maria asks, "The only thing that will help her right now is Stark being found alive and well and none of us can give her that."
"We need to do something." Clint says, "Did you know she hasn't left the Triskleion since last Monday?"
"No." Phil says surprised, "Why hasn't Fury done something?"
"Because she's still getting all her work done." Natasha reveals, "She's just spending every free moment she has trying to find leads on where Stark could be." She explains.
"Okay, we need to do something." Phil says, his voice even more determine than it was a few minutes earlier.
"So you've said." Clint says, "And I agree, but we need ideas." He comments, "Because Maria's right, there is only one thing that will truly help her and none of us can give her that."
"I've got one." Natasha comments, "Phil, Clint you two are going to take Melinda back to her place and stay with her." She tells them, "Makes sure she gets something decent to eat and sleep." She says, "Maria you and I are going to keep working on whatever leads it is that she is currently chasing down."
"That's a great idea, but how are we going to get her to agree?" Phil asks as he knows that it will be basically impossible.
"Leave that to me." Natasha says as she walks over to Melinda's desk.
When Natasha arrives at Melinda's desk, the others not too far behind her, they find Melinda on the phone.
"Yeah. I talked to them a couple of hours ago, still nothing. I'm working on it." Melinda says then looks up and sees Natasha, Clint, Maria and Phil, "Pepper, I'll talk to you later. I've got to go." She says, "No. just some friends of mine here. Yeah. I will. Talk to you later." Melinda says before hanging up the phone, "No." she says to Natasha, Phil, Clint and Maria.
"You don't even know what we are going to say." Clint tells Melinda.
"True." Melinda admits, "But I know it's going to have something to do with trying to get me to go home and that's not going to happen." She tells them.
"Give us a minute." Natasha says to Phil, Maria and Clint with a sweet smile.
"Sure." Clint says and he, Phil and Maria leave the room rather quickly as while they would love to stay when Natasha gives that smile and asks something, you do whatever it is that she is asking, it's for your own good.
"Nat…don't…please." Melinda request once the others are out of hearing range.
"The fact that you are asking me not to say what you know I am going to say tells me that you need some time, and you know it." Natasha informs Melinda.
"I can't take any time, not when Anthony is missing." Melinda tells Natasha.
"Why is that?"
"Because he's my Anthony and I'm not resting until he's back." Melinda tells Natasha.
"Do you not realise you're in love with him or do you just ignore it?" Natasha asks curious.
"What?" Melinda asks looking at Natasha surprised.
"Oh, you don't realise it." Natasha says with a grin, "Sorry for bursting your bubble."
"I'm…." Melinda starts to say but Natasha cuts her off.
"I am seriously not going to listen to you say you're not in love with him when you so are and everyone who knows you knows it." Natasha tells Melinda, "But I am going to say is that you're not going to be able to find Stark if you don't look after yourself and from everything you've told me about Stark, your relationship and a few conversations I've had with your niece, he wouldn't want you to do this to yourself. He would want you to eat more than the small bits of food you've been getting from the cafeteria, sleep more than the couple of hours you get on the couches, and shower somewhere other than the gym." Natasha informs Melinda, "But if that doesn't convince you then think about this, how would you feel if you missed something that could help you find Stark because you haven't been looking after yourself?" Natasha asks.
"I would never forgive myself." Melinda admits then sighs, "What's your plan?" She asks as she knows that Natasha wouldn't have approached her without one.
"Clint and Phil will take you home, they will make sure you eat something tonight, get some sleep and have a decent shower and breakfast in the morning." Natasha tells Melinda, "Why they are doing that Maria and I will stay here and go through whatever it is that you are doing." Natasha explains, "Maria and I will stay and go through whatever it is that you are doing." Natasha tells Melinda, who looks hesitant, "Mel you ned to take some time to look after yourself, but I understand that you need to make sure every potential lead on Stark is being followed, this way you have both." Natasha explains.
"If anything looks promising call me, no matter what." Melinda tells Natasha, not having the energy to argue with her.
"I will." Natasha assures Melinda.
"You three can stop eavesdropping now." Melinda says raising her voice so that Clint, Phil and Maria can hear.
"We weren't eavesdropping, I resent that you accuse us of such things." Clint says and he receives identical looks from Melinda and Natasha, both of them looking not too impressed.
"So did you agree to Nat's plan?" Phil asks curious wanting to help Clint by getting the attention of him.
"Yeah I did." Melinda confirms.
"Good." Phil says with a grin, "Then how about we get going." He suggests and Melinda nods.
"Remember, call me." Melinda says to Natasha who nods.
July 14th 2010.
It has been a week since Natasha convinced Melinda to spend time away from the Triskelion, two and a half weeks since Tony went missing and in the last week Melinda has still being spent most of her time at the Triskelion but she does leave when computers are running searchers that are going to take a long time to have some food, get some sleep or pick up some more clothes.
It is about midday and because the computer search Melinda is running will take a few hours Melinda decides to go visit Peggy because she hasn't visited in a while and around the middle of the day is when Peggy is the most lucid.
Just like she has a hundred times before Melinda stops and talks to the nurses about how Peggy is doing before she walks into her godmother's room.
"Melinda." Peggy says happily when she sees her goddaughter and Melinda realises that it's a good day as more than once she has walked into Peggy's room and Peggy has though she was her mother.
"Hey Aunt Peggy." Melinda says sitting down on the chair next to her bed.
"Oh dear, what's wrong?" Peggy asks her goddaughter.
"Why do you think something's wrong?" Melinda asks curious, not wanting to admit that her godmother is right.
"Because to anyone who knows you your face is easy to read." Peggy tells her goddaughter, "Tell me what's going on Melinda, I may be able to help." She says reaching out and grabbing Melinda's hand.
"Anthony is missing, in Afghanistan, and I have no idea if he's alive." Melinda tells Peggy.
"Oh Melinda." Peggy says giving her hand a squeeze.
"It's been seventeen days." Melinda tells Peggy, "I've been doing everything I can think to try and find him, but I've got nothing." She informs Peggy, "And I hate it." Melinda tells Peggy a tear starting to come to her eye.
"Come here." Peggy says moving slightly on the bed to make room for Melinda, Melinda just looks surprised at her godmother while giving her a 'are you serious?' look at the same time, "I mean it Melinda Qiaolian May, get over here this instant." Peggy instructs using her, 'Director Carter' voice.'
"Yes, Ma'am." Melinda says and she climbs up the bed and lays next to her godmother who puts her arm around her.
"I wish I knew what to say right now, but I don't." Peggy tells Melinda, "When the person you love is missing and you don't know if you're ever going to see them again, it hurts. It hurts in such a way that can't be described." Peggy tells Melinda, "So while you are here, for however long you are, you don't have to pretend that you are alright, because I know better, I know exactly what you are feeling." Peggy tells Melinda.
"I'm not giving up until I find him, I don't care what it takes." Melinda tells Peggy.
"I know." Peggy says knowing that now isn't the right time to bring up the fact that at some point in the future she may have to.
"Aunt Peggy do you still wonder if he will be found?" Melinda asks curious a few minutes later.
"I wonder every day." Peggy admits, "But I realised a long time ago that if he is found then most likely he wouldn't be alive." Peggy tells Melinda, "But there is something that I didn't tell anyone, not Howard, or your Mom, or Jarvis, or Gabe." Peggy admits, a sadness to her voice, only saying what she is about to say because she knows Melinda needs to hear it, "There is a part of me, a part that's not that small, that still believes all these years later that one day Steve will be found and that he will be okay, that he will get to live everything that was taken from him." Peggy informs Melinda, "I believe this because when I knew him Steve showed me more than once that he was capable of miracles, something with what I do, with what we do I never let myself believe were possible." She tells Melinda, "What I'm saying is the time may come where you have to give up, but let yourself believe that he is going to be found, let yourself believe in the miracle even if it doesn't seem like it because it will help."
"I spent a lot of time in Afghanistan, I know the area, I know the people the good and the not so good, and I know what's most likely happened to Anthony, but I also know him." Melinda tells Peggy, "I know that if he is alive and there is a way for him to get free then he will find it and I need to make sure that a team is there when he does." Melinda tells Peggy, "Every time a lead falls through I feel like I'm failing him." Melinda tells Peggy, "And I can't fail Anthony, I just can't because….He's my Anthony and he's never once failed me." Melinda tells Peggy, "I need to find him." Melinda says starting to cry.
"I know." Peggy responds, "Let it out Melinda, I'm here." Peggy tells Melinda as she tightens the arm she has around her goddaughter.
July 14th 2010
It has been a week since Melinda in her godmother's arms crying before putting on her 'Agent May' face and returning back to work and dedicating everything she has to trying to find Tony, keeping Peggy's words in her mind as she does.
It is Lunch time and because all the other admin officers are on their lunch break Melinda is all alone in the Admin basement.
"Mels." Clint's voice says.
"I can't do lunch today Clint." Melinda says as for the last few years she and Clint have been doing lunch together once a month, just the two of them, and today is the day where that would have occurred.
"I know." Clint responds, "That's not why I'm here." Clint says pulling a chair over to Melinda's desk, "Phil's not expecting me back upstairs for two hours, which means I have two hours to help you find leads on Stark." Clint tells Melinda, "So what can I do?"
"Help me go through these files." Melinda says referring to the large pile of files, "It's all S.H.I.E.L.D's intercepts in the area for the last year. I'm making notes of all known locations where he could be being held and groups in the area near where he was taken and then once I'm done with the list I'm giving it to an agent in sat support who owes me a favour." Melinda explains.
"Why does an Agent in sat support owe you a favour?" Clint asks curious.
"Don't ask."
"Got it." Clint says, "Are these files in any order or do I just grab one and get started?"
"Grab one and get started." Melinda tells him, "Once you're done they go on the pile on the floor." She instructs Clint who nods.
August 9th 2010
It has been six weeks since Tony went missing and Melinda, Rhodey and everyone else who are looking are no closer to finding him than they were six weeks earlier.
It is about three pm and Melinda is listening to wire taps and other listening devices that haven't been transcribed yet trying to find a lead on where Tony is when she is distracted by the ringing of her Stark Phone, because it is the way she is keeping in contact with Rhodey, Mark, and Pepper Melinda has taken to keeping her phone on her at all times.
"Hello."
"Hello, is this Melinda May?" A vaguely familiar voice responds.
"Yes. Who is this?" Melinda asks confused as very few people have this number.
"Ms May, my name is Gregory Forman and I am head of the bored at Stark Industries, we've meet several times over the past twenty years." Forman explains.
"Right we have." Melinda answers, realising why the voice sounds familiar, "What can I do for you Mr Forman?"
"I am actually calling you to ask what the board can do for you." Forman responds, "As you know it has been six weeks since Mr Stark's convoy was attacked and without a call for ransom we have to assume that Mr Stark has perished." Forman says, "And as such as the head of the board it was my responsibility to look into what contingencies are in place given these circumstances." Forman explains, "And it appears that if something were to happen to him Mr Stark named you his successor." Forman explains, "So Ms May, how would you like the board to proceeded?"
"Anthony name me his successor?" Melinda asks surprised as she has never had any interest in the company something Tony was well aware of.
"Yes. How would you like to proceed?" Forman asks.
"As if Anthony is coming back." Melinda says not needing to think about it, "Until further notice I want Stark Industries and the board to continue to function as if Anthony Stark is coming back and returning to position of CEO, understood?" Melinda asks.
"Yes Ma'am." Forman responds.
"Good. Goodbye Mr Forman." Melinda says before dialling Pepper's number.
"Have you got a lead?" Pepper answers with.
"No." Melinda answers, "But I did just get an interesting call from Gregory Forman."
"Tony didn't tell you he put you down to take over if something happened to him." Pepper realise.
"No he didn't." Melinda confirms, "I told him to keep running the company as if Anthony is coming back, but I don't know enough to know if they do that." Melinda admits, "But you do." Melinda tells Pepper, "You've been working at Stark Industries for over ten years and you keep the company running." She tells Pepper, "So would you mind keeping an eye on things? Make sure the board doesn't do anything that Anthony wouldn't approve of."
"Of course I will." Pepper answers, not having to think about it, "Melinda, do you think they'll find him?"
"I think I'm not giving up to we do." Melinda responds.
August 23rd 2010
It has been two weeks since Melinda received a call from Gregory Forman and it is officially two months since Tony went missing, because Fury has started to catch on that Melinda isn't leaving the Triskelion much Melinda has taken to bringing work home with her.
It is about nine pm on a Monday night and Melinda is sitting on the floor of her apartment with files surrounding her when she hears a knock on her door. Thinking it is the food that she ordered Melinda gets up, grabs her cash and goes to the door but she is surprised when she opens it and standing on the other side isn't her food but Phil,
"Phil." Melinda says surprised, "Come in." she says letting him into the apartment.
"So I see you're bringing work home with you now." Phil comments when he sees the file.
"Yeah, well Fury's noticed how little time I've been spending away from the Triskelion I thought it would be best." She explains, "What are you doing here?"
"I wanted to see how you are doing." Phil tells Melinda as she walks over and sits back down.
"How do you think I'm doing?" Melinda asks.
"I don't know." Phil admits, "That's why I here, to see how you're doing and help." Phil tells Melinda.
"I appreciate the offer but I don't need any help." Melinda tells Phil.
"Yes, you do." Phil says walking towards Melinda, "He's been missing for two months Melinda, without a ransom, we both know what's likely to have happened, even if you won't admit it." Phil informs Melinda.
"No." Melinda says standing up.
"Melinda…" Phil starts to say but Melinda cuts him off.
"No." Melinda tells him, "My agent side is screaming at me telling me what's most likely happened but I'm not listening." Melinda tells Phil, "I'm not listening because he's my Anthony." Melinda says, getting upset, "And I know that you never underestimate him, because he's a genius and a miracle worker and he will always surprise you." Melinda informs Phil, "I know what you want to say but I'm not listening because I am not giving up." Melinda tells Phil, "There is only two ways I give up, one is when he returns home and the second is when his body is found and I'm not going to accept a body." Melinda tells Phil, "So please don't tell me that I know what happened because it takes everything I have to force myself not to think about that." Melinda tells Phil, "If you want to help me then just go because you here looking at me like that isn't helping, it's making it harder." Melinda says saying more in one go that Phil has heard he say since before Bahrain.
"Melinda…" Phil says walking the steps that separate them.
"Just go Phil, please." Melinda requests her voice breaking.
"I'm not going anywhere." Phil says putting his arms around her and hugging her, "I'm here."
"We said we would always be there for each other, he's coming home, I know it." Melinda tells Phil as she is stiff in his arms, not returning the hug, "I need him to come back to me." Melinda admits starting to cry, hating that she is admitting what she is saying, that for the first time since Bahrain she is truly showing Phil, someone who was once one of the people in the world she was closes too, but is now someone she's pushed away the most, what she is feeling, "I love him and I'm scared I'll never be able to tell him." Melinda reveals.
"I know." Phil says tightening the hug, as he's known basically since he first meet Melinda what her feelings for Tony were, "You know Stark better than anyone else so if you say we shouldn't underestimate him then I won't and I will help you do whatever it takes to find him."
"Thank you." Melinda says as Phil removes his arms as he realises Melinda is getting uncomfortable.
"You may not be a specialist anymore, but we are still partners, Melinda. That means I've still got your back." Phil says and they hear a knock at the door.
"That will be my food." Melinda says walking to the door.
"No it won't." Phil informs Melinda, "its rest of our team." He says as Melinda opens the door to reveal Clint, Natasha and Maria.
"The five of us were a team for a long time." Phil says, "And teammates are there for each other, and right now you need us to be there for you." He says.
"So we're going to be, because we know we haven't been doing a great job of that lately." Maria says, as for the past month all four of them have been busy on missions so they haven't really been there for Melinda, with the exception of Clint coming down to admin during his lunch break, "We're going to do whatever it takes to help you find Stark."
"Thank you." Melinda says as she lets Maria, Clint and Natasha in.
"So I'm guessing you've got a system here." Natasha says walking over to the piles of paperwork.
"Yeah I do." Melinda says walking over and sitting down.
"Then let's get to work." Clint says and that's what they do.
AN2: So I know this chapter Melinda seemed more passive than she would have likely been but I did that for a reason. I did that so that you could see the emotional side to her, and what Tony truly means to her. Next chapter you will see Melinda being very far from passive, which I very much enjoyed writing.