Chapter 38
Disclaimer: I do not own anything. Everything belongs to their rightful owners and I am not making any profit from this.
September 20th 2010. Melinda 43. Tony 40.
It has been three months since Tony went missing, three months without a solid lead and because of that Melinda is done following the rules, she is done being cautious about what she is doing to find Tony, because of this she has just arrived at Tony's house in Malibu, because to do what she wants to do, something that is breaking more than a few S.H.I.E.L.D rules and federal laws, Melinda needs JARVIS'S help.
"Madam Melinda." JARVIS greets as Melinda walks inside the house, Melinda ignoring the pain she feels when she realises that Tony's not with her, or home, and he should be.
"Hey JARVIS. Sorry I haven't visited." Melinda says as she turns on the lights, as in the last few years just like Tony Melinda has started to treat Jarvis as more of a person than a thing.
"It is quiet alright." JARVIS responds as Melinda walks down to the lab and to one of the computer terminals, "Is there something I can help you with?" Jarvis asks.
"I hope so." Melinda answers, "If I left backdoor access to a computer open and gave you the computers IP address, and say that computer is connected to a large network, could you use that computer to access the network and any system it was connected to even if it was encrypted?" Melinda asks curious.
"Of course, depending on the encryption it may take some time, but it wouldn't be a problem." JARVIS answers.
"Good." Melinda responds as she starts to type on her computer, "This is the IP address for my work computer." Melinda informs JARVIS as she types, "It is connected to a large network and has access to systems and other networks that can hopefully find a lead on Anthony." Melinda tells JARVIS, "I want you to access everything you can and see if you can find a lead on a location on where Anthony may be being held."
"Of course." JARVIS responds, "But Madam Melinda you do realise what you are doing by asking me to do this, do you not?"
"Of course I do." Melinda responds, "But I don't care, Anthony is more important." She tells JARVIS, "I need to get back to DC, so if you find anything do a pop up on my work computer to let me know." Melinda requests.
"Of course Madam Melinda."
"Thanks JARVIS." Melinda says before leaving the house.
September 21th 2010.
It has been over twelve hours since Melinda gave JARVIS access to her work computer and by extension the entire S.H.I.E.L.D network and a pop up has just appeared on her computer with a potential location, so Melinda grabs her phone and calls Rhodey.
"Rhodey, I may have something." Melinda says before Rhodey even has a chance to say hello, "I'm sending it through now." She tells him.
"I've got it." Rhodey says about half a minute later, "Where did you get this lead from?" Rhodey ask curious.
"it's better you don't know." Melinda admits as she doesn't want to get Rhodey in trouble to.
"Melinda…" Rhodey starts to say but Melinda cuts him off.
"Trust me James, don't ask." Melinda says and Rhodey realises how serious she is by the fact that she called him James something which she basically never does.
"Okay, I won't." Rhodey responds, "I'll check it out."
"Thank you." Melinda responds, "I call again in seven hours, if the lead finds nothing then I'll be on the first plane to Afghanistan." She tells Rhodey.
"You're organization can't operate here." Rhodey points out.
"Honestly, I don't care anymore, I should have come out weeks ago." Melinda admits, knowing that she didn't because of Bahrain, what she became and the fear of becoming that once more.
"Melinda…" Rhodey starts to say.
"I'll talk to you in seven hours." Melinda says before hanging up as she knew what Rhodey was most likely going to say.
It has been an hour and a half since Melinda called him and Rhodey along with a team of soldiers are on a helicopter on their way to the location that Melinda gave them, because the trip is going to take a while Rhodey is looking out the window hoping that the lead Melinda gave them is good because he can't handle another disappointment, he wants his friend back.
It has been about forty minutes since Rhodey started to stare out the window when he notice a figure walking in the sand, as the helicopter gets closer Rhodey realises that it's a person, and a very familiar one at that.
"PUT US ON THE GROUND. NOW!" Rhodey yells.
It has been over two hours since Melinda spoke to Rhodey and ever since she hung up on him she has been waiting for the phone to ring, hoping that it will.
"Mel." Natasha's voice says, "Fury wants to see you." She tells Melinda.
"I figured this was coming." Melinda says picking up her phone and walking over to Natasha.
"What did you do?" Natasha asks curious, "Fury furious." She informs Melinda.
"I did what I had to do." Melinda informs Natasha.
A few minutes after Natasha came to collect her from the admin department Melinda walks into Fury's office.
"Agent May, what do you have to say for yourself?" Fury asks.
"That I don't regret my actions." Melinda tells Fury, "That if I were given the chance to do this again the only thing I would change is that I would have done this weeks ago." She tells Fury, "I take full responsibility for my actions and I will accept any punishment you deem fit." Melinda tells him, "But, that being said, if in the next five hours I don't hear from Lieutenant Colonel Rhodes I am going to Afghanistan myself, even if I have to resign from S.H.I.E.L.D to do it." She tells Fury who spends about a minute looking at Melinda, both of them being in complete silence until the silence is broken by the ringing of Melinda's phone.
"You might want to get that." Fury informs Melinda.
"Hello." Melinda says answering the phone.
"Did you miss me?" Tony asks appearing on the screen.
"Anthony." Melinda says feeling more joy than she thought it was possible to feel after Bahrain, "Are you hurt?"
"We're on our way back to base the doctors will check then." Rhodey's voice answers.
"Good." Melinda answers.
"I'm alright Melly." Tony says, wanting to tell Melinda about the arc reactor in person, not over the phone.
"Well if you are alright then we can have a conversation about a call I got from the head of the Stark Industries board a few weeks ago." Melinda says not wanting to say more in front of Fury but realising that Tony doesn't want to talk about what how he is so a normal conversation would be best.
"You know now that you mention it I should probably get the doctor to check me out." Tony comments with a grin, making it clear that he is joking.
"That's going to happen whether you want it to or not." Rhodey's voice comments, "Melinda we're entering a restricted airspace we've got to end the call." He tells Melinda.
"Okay." Melinda says, realising that she has to, but really not wanting to.
"No, I don't have to hang up already do I?" Tony asks
"Sorry, you do." Rhodey informs Tony.
"I guess I'll see you when I get home." Tony says to Melinda.
"Yeah, see you then." Melinda says before hanging up, hoping that she can keep her word to Tony but knowing that there is a chance that she may not be able to because she doesn't know what Fury is going to give her as a punishment as she did break some pretty big rules by giving JARVIS access to S.H.I.E.L.D and even a few laws.
"At the Sandbox there are fifteen years' worth of files that need to be transcribed, indexed and made electronic." Fury tells Melinda, "I've been looking for an agent to do it and you've just volunteered.
"Yes Sir."
"As you know there is no communicating outside the facility and that is something you will follow, no exceptions."
"Yes Sir." Melinda answers, "Sir I know I don't have the right to ask and normally I wouldn't because I meant what I said about accepting my punishment, but I was wondering if it was possible to have thirty six hours to go to LA and see Anthony for myself before going to the Sandbox." Melinda requests.
"Request granted." Fury tells Melinda.
"Thank you Sir."
"Dismissed." Fury says and Melinda is half way to the door when she hears, "Agent May." So she turns back around, "Mr Stark needs to be debriefed, there is no way around it so I am sending Agent Coulson to talk to him."
"I wish Agent Coulson good luck with that." Melinda comments, knowing that most likely Phil isn't going to have much getting Tony to talk.
"Any insight you could provide will be a huge help." Fury tells Melinda.
"No." Melinda tells Fury, "I will never manipulate or use my relationship with, or Anthony himself, for this agency" Melinda informs Fury, "And don't ask me to Sir because we both know what I will choose if you force me to. If Anthony wants to assist S.H.I.E.L.D then it will be his choice, I will not influence that decision at all" She tells Fury, "Am I still dismissed?"
"Dismissed." Fury says, honestly not that surprised by Melinda's reaction.
September 22nd 2010
After Melinda left Fury's office she went to Peggy to tell her that Tony had been found before flying her plane to LA.
It is evening when Melinda, who is sitting on one of the couches in the living room, hears the door open and Tony's familiar footsteps.
"Welcome home sir." JARVIS informs Tony as he turns on the lights,
"Thank you kindly JARVIS." Tony responds.
"It's been a long time." Jarvis tells Tony, "Based on news reports I calculated your safe return at zero point two five percent." Jarvis tells Tony.
"Yeah, I missed you too." Tony says as the fireplace lights and Melinda realises that he hasn't realised that she is there.
"You have one thousand seven hundred and thirteen new voice messages." Jarvis informs Tony as Tony walks over to the windows, "How should I categorize for you?"
"Delete all." Tony requests.
"You know some of them might have been important." Melinda says, deciding to make her presence known.
"Melly." Tony says happily turning towards her.
"Hey Anthony." Melinda says and Tony rushes over to her and hugs her, holding her tightly, "I'm so glad you're home." Melinda says holding Tony just as tightly as he is holding her.
"I'm detecting the presence of electromagnetic energy in the house." JARVIS informs Melinda and Tony.
"Where JARVIS?" Melinda asks letting go of Tony so that she can be alert as she just got Tony back she won't lose him again.
"It's okay, it's me." Tony assures Melinda.
"What do you mean?" Melinda asks then she looks at Tony and notices the blue light on his chest, "What is that?"
"It's what's keeping me alive." Tony explains, "J, boot up the scanner." Tony requests, "I'll explain everything in the lab." He tells Melinda and she nods an they both head downstairs. "So you know the Arc Reactor." Tony says to Melinda as they walk down the stairs and into the lab.
"Yeah, it's what runs the Stark Factory, has for decades." Melinda answers.
"Well that is the same thing that's in my chest, except the one in my chest is mini." Tony explains as they walk into the lab and Tony presses a button on the control pad near the door to mute JARVIS without Melinda realising, "When I was taken I was too close to one of my bombs." Tony explains, "I got shrapnel in my chest." Tony explains, "But a man, a very, very, good man by the name of Yinsen saved me using a magnet and a car battery, but I knew that if I was going to get a chance to escape then I was going to need something more reliable stopping the shrapnel, so I made this and put it in my chest." Tony tells Melinda.
"Is it safe?" Melinda asks.
"Yeah." Tony says truly lying to Melinda for the first time in his life as if what he suspects is true he's going to be dead within the year unless he can find something to replace the core and he can't tell Melinda that, he won't.
"Anthony, is it really safe?" Melinda asks not being able to explain why but she knows that there is something Tony's not telling her.
"It's safe Melly, promise." Tony assures her.
"Good." Melinda responds, still feeling slightly uneasy but she trusts Tony so she doesn't say anything more.
"So Rhodey said that it's thanks to you that he was in the air in the first place yesterday and on a path that lead him right over me." Tony says to Melinda.
"I just gave him a lead." Melinda tells Tony, "But because of what I did to find that lead I'm going to be un reachable for a little while." Melinda tells Tony.
"Why what did you do?" Tony asks curious.
"Broke a few rules, and a couple laws." Melinda admits, trying her best to make it sound like it's not a big deal.
"Melly!" Tony says shocked
"I did what I had to do, and I would do It again."
"Is there anything you I can do to help?" Tony asks, "Do you need a lawyer?"
"No." Melinda tells him, "There's nothing you can do." Melinda tells Tony, "I just wanted to explain why you won't hear from me for a little while after tonight." Melinda informs Tony.
"How long?" Tony asks.
"I don't know." Melinda admits, "But I'll be back as soon as I can." She says and Tony nods.
"When do you have to leave?"
"Soon." Melinda answers, "I wish I didn't but I have to." She tells Tony.
"Because of me."
"No, because of my choices." Melinda tells Tony, "I didn't have to do what did, I choose to. That's on me, not you."
"So your really didn't love me leaving you in charge of the company?" Tony asks curious, deciding to change the subject.
"No, I really didn't." Melinda tells Tony, "I don't know anything about how to run Stark Industries, and it's not something I would want to do because I wouldn't want to screw up everything you and Uncle Howard achieved." Melinda tells Tony.
"I'm pretty sure I've just done that." Tony comments.
"No. you didn't." Melinda tells Tony, "You're doing the right thing, which is normally the hard thing, the board and investors will see that."
"Thanks Melly." Tony says once more giving Melinda a hug and for several minutes they just stand in the lab hugging.
"I've got to get going." Melinda informs Tony.
"Do you really have to?" Tony asks, not letting go of Melinda.
"I really do." Melinda says breaking the hug, "Until next time Anthony."
"Until next time Melly." Tony says and Melinda starts walking to the door, "Melly." Tony says once she reaches the door and Melinda turns back around, "Thank you for not asking what happened over there."
"No need to thank me." Melinda informs Tony, "I knew that if you wanted to talk about what happened you would and if you didn't you won't so there is no point forcing you to."
"Thank you." Tony says and Melinda nods and exits the lab. Once he is sure that enough time has passed that Melinda would be out of the house Tony walks over to his computer and unmutes JARVIS, "I just truly lied to Melly for the first time ever, didn't I?" Tony asks.
"Yes Sir, you did." Jarvis informs Tony, "Continued use of the core will kill you, and very soon." Jarvis informs Tony, "I recommend telling Madam Melinda when she returns."
"I can't." Tony says knowing that in the last four years Melinda has been through so much, been through so much pain that he won't add to it, not when there is a chance that he could find a way.
November 28th 2010
It has been over two months since Melinda and Tony said goodbye to each other in the lab at Tony's house and in that time Melinda has been at the Sandbox and because she wasn't allowed outside communication or even internet access she has no idea about what Tony has done. Or she has no idea until she is on a plane back to the states, on a laptop and sees the news reports, so she grabs her phone and calls a number.
"Coulson."
"What the hell happened?" Melinda asks.
"So you're out of exile I see." Phil comments.
"Don't get cute Coulson, what the hell happened?" Melinda asks, "And where were you? I know Fury sent you to LA."
"I was with Pepper trying to arrest Obadiah Stane, who if you've read the news reports, was the one in the larger suit." Phil informs Melinda.
"Obie? Are you sure?" Melinda asks surprised.
"Of course I'm sure." Phil responds, "What is it Melinda?"
"I've known Obadiah my whole life." Melinda explains.
"Oh, I'm sorry."
"Yeah." Melinda responds, forcing herself not to think about the betrayal she's feeling, because she knows Tony will be feeling worse, "I'm guessing you tried to give Anthony a cover story that he ignored." Melinda comments.
"Yep." Phil answers, "How you put up with him I'll never know."
"You've got to get to know him, he's different once he lets you in." Melinda tells Phil, "And he's worth getting to know, trust me."
"I do." Phil responds, "Do you want me to send you the file?"
"Please." Melinda responds.
"Sending it through now." Phil tells Melinda, "Oh just a warning Fury was planning on going to see Stark, so I don't know how well that's going to go."
"Great." Melinda says with a sigh.
A few hours later Melinda has arrived in LA and has just been dropped off at Tony's house by taxi. She is walking up to the door when it opens and Fury walk out.
"Sir." Melinda says surprised.
"Agent May." Fury greets, "Report to the Triskelion a week from tomorrow."
"Yes Sir." Melinda answers, "How much does he know? What can I tell him?"
"He knows enough." Fury tells Melinda, "I have talked to him about the Avengers Initiative and whatever you tell him is up to you." He tells Melinda, "But I believe it is time Mr Stark becomes fully aware of the world around him." He informs Melinda, "Goodnight Agent May."
"Goodnight Sir." Melinda responds and she walks inside and heads down to the lab, "I am Iron Man?" Melinda asks as she walks in the lab and sees Tony working on the Iron Man suite.
"You sound like your boss." Tony tells Melinda.
"Well the good thing about that is that we are finally able to have a very long, overdue conversation." Melinda informs Tony.
"So you're a S.H.I.E.L.D Agent, you always have been?" Tony asks turning around and walking over to Melinda.
"Yeah." Melinda answers with a nod, "I'm an admin officer now and before I was a level seven Specialist which means now I'm the only admin officer with a level seven clearance." Melinda explains.
"Level seven clearance, is that a good thing?" Tony asks interested.
"Depends on your definition of good." Melinda answers, "There are ten clearance levels. The higher you get the fewer agents have that clearance." She explains.
"So very good then." Tony says, "Do you have a badge?" Tony asks curious.
"Here." Melinda says grabbing her badge out of her back pocket and throwing it at Tony.
"Nice." Tony says with a grin once he has a look, "So this is what you used to get us out of trouble that day?"
"Yeah." Melinda answers, "So how close is the truth to your theories?"
"I always knew, without a doubt, you worked for an agency I just wasn't positive about which one, though S.H.I.E.L.D was high on my list." Tony explains.
"You knew about S.H.I.E.L.D before this?" Melinda asks surprised.
"Yeah, since about the mid-nineties, I just didn't mention it because I knew you couldn't confirm it if you did work for them" Tony explains, "What made you choose S.H.I.E.L.D?"
"It was the right fit for me." Melinda answers.
"And before, it, what did you do?" Tony asks interested
"A lot of different things, trained a few people, worked mostly with the same people one of whom you've met." Melinda explains, "But mainly I was sent in when everything has gone to hell to get people out or to end it altogether." She explains.
"Is that what happened?" Tony asks not needing to say more for Melinda to understand what he is asking.
"It was in Bahrain." Melinda answers, "Me and a team when in to investigate something and things went bad, really bad." Melinda says and Tony just walks over and gives her a hug.
"So Mr Agent guy, you know him?" Tony asks a couple of minutes later when they break apart
"Yeah." Melinda says, "You know his first name is Phil." She tells Tony.
"As in the Phil you've been talking about since you've started working for S.H.I.E.L.D?" Tony asks.
"One in the same." Melinda answers, "He's a very close friend, in fact not counting you I would consider him to be my best friend."
"Huh." Tony says surprised, thinking that maybe he should get to know Agent better, "Want to have a look at my suit?"
"Sure." Melinda responds and they both walk over to the Iron Man suit. "I'm sorry about Obie."
"Yeah, so am I." Tony responds and they both drift into silence, both of them staring at the suit, "So I think I like Pepper as more than a friend." Tony informs Melinda a few minutes later.
"Oh? When did this happen?" Melinda asks, refusing to let her voice betray the fact that she is feeling like a blunt knife is being stabbed into her chest.
"I don't know exactly." Tony admits, "We almost kissed while you were gone, and I don't know, when I was over there there were two people that I wanted to get back to the most, you and Pepper." He tells Melinda, "And I guess I realised what I feel." Tony reveals, "But I don't know what to do, she means a lot to me and I don't want to ruin our friendship, because just like you and Agent, not counting you, she is my best friend, well her and Rhodey." He admits.
"Do you like her?" Melinda asks ignoring her own pain and instead focusing on what is best for Tony and what he wants.
"Yeah, I think I really do." Tony admits.
"Then go for it." Melinda tells Tony, "You deserve to be happy and you could be happy with Pepper." Melinda tells Tony.
"So you think I should see if I can make a relationship with Pepper work." Tony says.
"Yeah, I do." Melinda responds, feeling that even though she's realised she's in love with Tony he deserves to be with someone who is good for him, someone who is good, and that's Pepper, that's not her.
"Okay." Tony says with a nod, "Chances are I'll screw this up."
"Chances are you won't." Melinda informs Tony, "So what can you tell me about this suit of yours?" Melinda asks curious, partly wanting to change the subject and partly really wanting to know about the suit, "Don't worry I've made it clear that my bosses aren't to use me to get to or manipulate you and if they even try I wouldn't let them." She inform Tony.
"I never even considered that you would." Tony informs Melinda and he starts to explain all about his Iron Man suit.
November 30th 2010
It has been two days since Melinda arrived in LA after her time at the sandbox and because Tony is at Stark Industries dealing with the fallout of Obadiah and what happened Melinda is in the gym at the house training.
"Can I help you with something Pepper?" Melinda asks after Pepper walks into the gym and has been watching Melinda train for a couple of minutes.
"I was actually hoping we could talk." Pepper says.
"Sure." Melinda answers, pretty sure that she knows what Pepper wants to talk about, "What did you want to talk about?" Melinda asks curious.
"I was actually thinking we could go to lunch, JARVIS said you haven't eaten since breakfast."
"Sure, just give me twenty to quickly shower and change." Melinda says and Pepper nods.
Forty minutes later Melinda and Pepper are sitting at a little restaurant that they have been to before and both like, having just placed their orders.
"So what did you want to talk about?" Melinda asks curious even though she is positive that she knows.
"Ever since he got back Tony and I have been getting closer and a few weeks ago we had a moment." Pepper tells Melinda.
"I heard."
"I figured you would have." Pepper tells Melinda, not even surprised, "I like him Melinda I really do, but I've spent enough years around you two to know that I don't want to get in the middle of something."
"You're not." Melinda assures Pepper.
"Are you sure?" Pepper asks as the last thing she wants is not to get in the middle of something.
"Positive." Melinda answers, "Anthony and I, are just Anthony and I that's just what we are, you've spent enough time around us to know that." Melinda says and Pepper nods, "More than anything I want him to be happy and loved and with you he will be, which is I've always hoped for him." Melinda tells Pepper, not even lying as she truly means what she says and does believe that Pepper is much better for Tony than she can ever be, "Just try not to hurt him." Melinda adds.
"I'll do my best." Pepper responds and Melinda nods, "So Phil's your friend?" Pepper asks curious a couple of minutes later.
"Yeah, ever since I was sixteen and started out." Melinda tells Pepper.
"Wow, that's a long time."
"Yeah it is."
"When do you go back to work?" Pepper asks curious.
"Monday, and when I do, thanks to Anthony, I'll have a huge stack of a paperwork waiting." Melinda says.
"Why thanks to Tony?" Pepper asks curious.
"I'm the only person in the admin department who has the clearance to oversee the paperwork that this would have caused." Melinda explains.
"Ah, right." Pepper says as the food is placed on the table.
"Thank you." Melinda and Pepper say.
"Do you have to get back to work or do you have some time?" Melinda asks interested.
"I have some time." Pepper answers.
"I've got to go do some shopping, frankly I've been avoiding it for several months, but would you like to join me?" Melinda asks curious, "I would like the company." She admits as she does consider Pepper a friend, and she is pretty sure there will never be a time where she doesn't.
"I'd like that." Pepper says with a grin, "You know we should call Jackie, see if she wants to join us." Pepper comments as though the last few years the three of them have become quite close.
"Yeah, we should." Melinda confirms.
December 5th 2010
After going shopping with Jackie and Pepper all three of them returned to Tony's house where they had dinner with Tony, Rhodey and Frank. After that Melinda spent the next few days with mainly Tony but also, Jackie, Rhodey, Pepper and Frank, during the time Melinda spent with Tony she explained a lot about what SHIELD is and what she does.
It is Sunday night and Melinda has just landed in DC and she is surprised to see Phil waiting.
"What are you doing here?" Melinda asks curious.
"I thought I would pick you up, plus I have something to show you." Phil says with a grin as they walk through the terminal, "So how was it with Stark?" Phil asks curious.
"Good. Really good." Melinda answers.
"Did you tell him?" Phil asks curious.
"No."
"Melinda." Phil says, "You deserve to be happy. You should let yourself be happy and loved." He tells her.
"Anthony told me he likes Pepper, and I know she likes him, so I'm not going to say anything, not now, not ever." Melinda informs Phil.
"Melinda…" Phil starts to say but Melinda cuts him off.
"Anthony deserves to be with someone who can make him happy, someone he loves, someone who will be good for him." Melinda tells Phil then she lowers her voice, "He deserves to be with someone who isn't broken and that's not me." She says.
"You're not broken Melinda." Phil tells her.
"Yeah, I am, and he deserves better." Melinda says as they enter the car park, "What did you want to show me?" Melinda asks making it clear that she doesn't want to talk about her and Tony anymore.
"It's just down here." Phil says walking faster and Melinda follows until Phil stops, "Look." Phil says and Melinda turns and sees a red corvette and when she sees it she can't shake the feeling that she has seen the car before.
"I think I've seen this exact car before." Melinda says as she runs her hand across the back.
"That wouldn't surprise me, Lola here was your godfathers." Phil informs Melinda.
"Lola?" Melinda asks giving Phil a look.
"Yes, Lola." Phil tells Melinda.
"If this car was Uncle Howard's then how did you end up with it?" Melinda asks.
"About seven months ago I was looking through the old S.H.I.E.L.D storage lockers and I found it so I talked to Fury and he said if I got it running again I could have it." Phil explains.
"How did S.H.I.E.L.D get it in the first place?" Melinda asks, "After Uncle Howard died basically everything went to Anthony." Melinda says.
"S.H.I.E.L.D already had it, its S.H.I.E.L.D tec. It can fly and is a weapon. From what I learnt, after he took over Pierce made sure that it stayed in S.H.I.E.L.D." Phil explains, "So, want to go for a trip in a flying car?" Phil asks with a grin.
"Somehow I think if we flew a car through the city we would get caught and I'm already on thin enough ice with Fury as it is." Melinda tells Phil.
"You really are." Phil confirms, "But I wasn't suggesting that we drove it through the city, I was suggesting we take Lola somewhere where no one else is."
"Maybe next time, I just want to get home." Melinda tells Phil.
"Okay, to your place it is." Phil says.
"You don't have to drive me home."
"I don't mind." Phil assures Melinda who nods and they both climb into Lola, Melinda putting her bag on the floor.