Chapter 36
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June 2nd 1996
It has three months since Clint, Natasha, Melinda, Tony, Rhodey and Coulson spent time together having fun and getting to know each other better and when they did it became clear that Clint fits in perfectly with the three oldest Carter-Stark's, Phil and Rhodey.
It's a Sunday afternoon and as she is on break for the summer Maria is doing what she spends most her time doing, playing hockey on the ice ring that was is in the back yard.
"HEY RIA." A voice yells and Maria turns and sees her brother standing at the boundary to the ring. Surprised, but happy to see her brother, Maria skates over to him.
"Tony, what are you doing here?" Maria asks confused.
"Wow, it's good to see you." Tony says sarcastically.
"Of course it's good to see you." Maria says, giving her brother a hug, "I'm just surprised." She explains.
"Well, be prepared to be surprised again." Tony tells his sister as they break apart and Maria just gives her brother a confused look, "So, I know how much you love hockey and so, after clearing it with Mom, I got us tickets to every final of the Stanley Cup, we'll be in our own box." Tony explains.
"You joking." Maria says shocked.
"Nope, I'm completely serious for once." Tony informs his sister.
"OH MY GOD, TONY! I LOVE YOU." Maria tells her brother before hugging him.
"I'm glad you're happy." Tony says.
"OF course I am. You're the best big brother ever." Maria informs him, causing Tony to smile.
"We're going to leave in a few hours if you can get ready by then." Tony says.
"Of course I can." Maria says, "Hang on the games are in different cities, where are we staying?" Maria asks curious.
"Hotels, with some private security." Tony explains.
"Got it." Maria answers, "Guess I better pack. Thanks Tony." Maria says smiling at her brother and as Maria removes her skates before hurrying inside. As he watches his sister go, seeming so happy, Tony realises that the small fortune it took to pay for everything and the hassle to organize everything is completely worth it to make his baby sister so happy.
September 13th 1996
It has been three months since Tony organized for him and Maria to go to all the games in the Stanley Cup finals and Maria had an amazing time spending over a week with her brother who she doesn't get to spend as much time with as she would like.
It is just after lunch on a Friday and Melinda is at Phil's apartment trying to convince him to agree to something.
"Come on, Phil. You should come." Melinda tells him.
"Come to Vegas with you, Tasha, Tony and Clint? No thank you." Phil responds, knowing for a fact that that's not going to end well and he doesn't want to be a part of that.
"Why not?" Melinda asks.
"Maybe because I don't want to spend the weekend playing baby sitter and trying, and more likely than not, failing to stop you four from doing something astronomically stupid." Phil explains.
"Always dramatic." Melinda tells him, rolling her eyes.
"It's not dramatic if it's true." Phil responds.
"So, is there anything I can do to convince you?" Melinda asks.
"No." Phil responds, "Go Melinda, have fun, and if you guys do get into some serious trouble I'm just a phone call away." He tells Melinda.
"Thanks." Melinda says, "We're leaving from the family air field in forty minutes if you change your mind." Melinda says and she heads to the door.
"Melinda." Phil says and she turns back around, "Have fun, let yourself have fun, you deserve it." He says and after giving Phil a half smile before she turns and leaves.
Hours after her conversation with Phil Melinda, Clint and Natasha arrive in Vegas. As soon as they climb out of the plane they find Tony waiting.
"You three ready for a weekend of fun?" Tony asks curious.
"Always." Clint answers.
"I've got us the penthouse at the hotel in the city." Tony says.
"Of course." Natasha comments
"And plenty of cash for gambling and other expenses." Tony says.
"You thought of everything didn't you?" Melinda asks her brother.
"Of course I did." Tony responds as the four of them walk towards the expensive Car that Tony has waiting.
"I'm driving." Natasha says.
"I figured that." Tony says as he throws the keys at Natasha, who easily catches them then, as everyone heads over to put all their stuff in the trunk, and then once everything is in the car the four of them speed off. As they do Tony is sure that to most people it would seem like Melinda and Natasha are completely relaxed, but Tony knows his sisters, he knows that they are aware of every single thing around them and prepared to fight if needed.
After getting through all of Friday night and most of Saturday without getting a call needing to get Clint, Natasha, Tony or Melinda out of trouble Phil figure that maybe he didn't give them enough credit, but then as his phone rings while making dinner Phil curses himself for jinxing it.
"Coulson." Phil answers while he stirs the sauce he is making.
"Hey Phil." Melinda says.
"I need to get on the next plane to Vegas, don't I?" Phil says as he turns off the stove.
"We'd appreciate it if you did." Melinda tells him.
"What happened?" Phil asks with a sigh.
"We got arrested, and need you to come down and bail us out." Melinda explains.
"You're Tony Stark and three federal agents. Can't you handle this yourself?" Phil asks as he is pretty sure that they should be able to
"Tony pissed off the offices, and Nat, Clint and I had concealed weapons and they wouldn't believe we were federal agents, even with our badges." Melinda explains.
"I'll be there as soon as I can. Do I need to bring anything else?" Phil ask.
"No." Melinda answers, "Just please try and keep it off Fury's radar."
"I'll try and 'll be there as soon as I can." Phil responds.
"Thanks Phil, I knew I could count on you." Melinda says gratefully.
"I'm your partner, you always can." Phil says before hanging up. Once he hangs up Phil sighs, because he was really looking forward to eating what he was cooking, before making sure everything is off and then collecting what he needs to make the trip to Vegas.
A little over eight hours after he received the call from Melinda Phil walks into the Las Vegas police precinct and straight up to the desk where the target is.
"I'm Agent Phil Coulson with the Strategic Homeland Intervention Enforcement and Logistic Division you're holding three of my agents and the suspect of their investigation and I want them released, now." Phil says to the desk Sargent, showing his badge.
"I'll have to get my boss." The Sargent says, leaving Phil alone.
Ten minutes later Phil is waiting outside the precinct and Tony, Natasha, Clint and Melina walk out.
"You four owe me. Do you know the what I had to do to attempt to keep this off Fury's radar?" Phil asks them.
"I'm going to guess a lot." Natasha says.
"Understatement." Phil says and honestly he isn't even sure he succeeded.
"Don't worry we'll make it up to you." Tony assures him.
"Oh yes, you will." Phil informs him.
"Come on Phil, let's go play some blackjack. It will cheer you up." Melinda says, putting her arm around Phil's shoulder.
"You've just been arrested do you really think that now's the best time for gambling?" Phil asks.
"It's always a good time for gambling." Tony says with a smirk as he's arm joins Melinda's around Phil.
"I've got to agree there." Clint says.
"I think you four are bad influences on me." Phil comments.
"And you're glad about that." Natasha tells him and Phil has to admit that she is right so together the group of five head back to The Strip, Phil hoping that this trip doesn't end with him having to get the others out of trouble, again.
December 2nd 1996
It has been almost three months since Phil got a call from the Vegas and to his relief they didn't get into any more trouble in fact they all managed to have some fun, but, unfortunately Fury found out what happened and was far from happy with them.
It's a Monday morning and Maria and Peggy, the only one home, having just finished breakfast the two of them are heading to the door so that Peggy can take Maria to School.
"You know; you've taught me to drive. I can drive myself to school." Maria tells her mother.
"I know you can, but I like driving you." Peggy tells her daughter and as she walks Peggy notices a figure pass by the windows near the back door and as soon as she sees that Peggy pushes her daughter behind the wall.
"Mom?" Maria asks, completely confused as Peggy reaches for one of the hidden guns and as she does the back door and front door are broken in.
"Get to the office." Peggy says as she fires at the four men that have broken in, "Lock the door behind you and call Fury. Tell him what's happened." Peggy says, knowing that he is the only choice as Natasha and Melinda are out of the country.
"But….." Maria starts to say.
"GO!" Peggy yells at her daughter and as Maria runs to the office Peggy covers her daughter, making sure that the people who have broken in are focused on her and not her daughter.
Not looking back at her mother Maria starts to run and she doesn't stop, or look back, until she is at the office. As soon as she is in the office Maria closes the door behind her and presses the button next to the frame which secures the office. As soon as the office is secure Maria hurries over to the phone and dials a number that she memorized a long time ago, Nick Fury's personal line.
"Hey Peggy, what's going on?" Fury asks.
"It's not Mom."
"Maria? What's wrong?" Fury asks as he already starts to run out of his office, knowing that Maria wouldn't be calling him unless something had happened.
"People have broken into the house. Mom's fighting them and she said to call you." Maria explains.
"Are you okay?" Fury asks concerned.
"I'm in the office. I don't know if Mom's okay." Maria explains.
"I'm on my way. I'll be there as soon as I can. Just stay in the office." Fury tells her, knowing that the office is the most secure place in the house.
"Okay." Maria says, "Just get here Nick." Maria requests.
"I will. I'm on my way." Fury assures her as he hangs up.
After she hangs up with Fury Maria moves and crouches down behind the desk and waits, having no idea what else to do as she isn't her sisters, she doesn't know how to fight, she just sits hoping that she has some kind of idea what is going on soon.
For a few minutes Maria sits until he hears footsteps, and as she does she moves and hides underneath the desk. As she hides Maria starts to think up everything she could do to defend herself as she hears the secure lock on the door open.
"Maria, it's okay. You can come out." Peggy says and Maria gets out from the desk and she sees her mother standing in the doorway looking petty okay.
"Mom." Maria says, getting up and running towards her mother and hugs her, "Are you okay?" she asks worried.
"I'm okay." Peggy assures her daughter as she hugs her. As she hugs her daughter Peggy becomes incredible grateful that Maria didn't see anything to bad and that she wasn't hurt as all she ever wants is her children to be safe.
February 7th 1997
It has been two months since people broke into the house and ever since Peggy has noticed that Maria has been more dedicated to both school and hockey training, like she is trying to do better at everything, which has resulted in Maria being the best player in the state for her age group as well as being an incredible captain to her team.
Even though she suspected that her siblings wouldn't be able to come to the awards ceremony Maria still told her them about it, honestly she is even surprised that her mother is sitting beside her, though she is wearing a wig and contact lenses to change her appearance.
"And the under eighteen top female player of the year is… Maria Hill." The presentation says and Maria smiles at her mother before she heads up to the stage.
"Congratulations Maria." Her coach who presented her award says as he hands Maria her trophy.
"Thank you Coach." Maria responds, accepting the trophy and as she takes it she looks out at the audience and she sees her mother's smiling, proud face, and then she looks towards the back of the room and she feels her smile grow as she sees her three older siblings hiding in the shadows, something which makes her feel so incredible as she knows that it is a risk and yet, her siblings are still here for her cheering her on.
April 20th 1997
It has been two months since Maria won an award for playing hockey, after which Maria's sibling and Mom took her out for a celebration dinner that Tony bought out a restaurant for, which made her realises, without a doubt, that her family is incredible.
Ever since the men broke into the house in December Maria has realised that next time something like that happens, and she is sure that there will be next time, she has to do something, which lead her to make a decision, a decision which has led her to head outside where her sisters are training, it being the first Sunday in a while that they are home.
"Ria, do you need something?" Melinda asks her sister as she and Natasha each block the others attack.
"Yeah, can I talk to you guys?" Maria asks curious and hearing that the two oldest Carter-Stark siblings stop what they are doing and turn to look at their sister.
"Sure. What's up?" Natasha asks.
"After what happened in December I realised something." Maria explains, "I realised that I don't want to hide under a desk next time, because we all know there will be a next time, there always is in our family. I want to be able to help Mom. I want to be able to defend myself." Maria explains.
"You want us to teach you self-defence." Melinda realises and Maria nods.
"Please." Maria adds, causing Melinda and Natasha to exchange looks.
"It won't be easy." Natasha tells her sister.
"And you'll have to listen to what we say." Melinda adds.
"And you can't expect to have our skills right away. It's going to take a while." Natasha tells her sister.
"I know. I know things take time, but I want to try, I want to learn." Maria tells her sister, "I'm ready to learn." She explains.
"Okay." Natasha and Melinda say together.
"We're going to start by teaching you some stretches then we'll get into some other stuff, okay?" Melinda asks.
"Okay." Maria confirms and together Natasha and Melinda start to instruct their sister, and together the three Carter-Stark sisters start to work on self-defence, Maria learning while Natasha and Melinda teach.
July 17th 1997
It has been three months since Maria asked her sisters to teach her self-defence and ever since then the two of them, and even Clint, have been teaching Maria whenever then can and to the pride of both her sisters Maria is picking up things very quickly.
It is a Thursday night and Tony is in his home lab working on some new prototype inventions for Stark, honestly Tony always prefers to work on things at home rather than at the company as he is more in control of the area.
As Tony is so focused on what he is doing he doesn't even notice someone running down the stairs until the door to his workshop is thrown open after the right code is entered.
"Mel? What are you doing here?" Tony asks, shocked to see his sister barging into his lab, especially considering she is wearing her tactical gear and has a gun holstered on her thigh.
"I'm not here. I need a favour and I don't have time for you to ask questions." Melinda informs her brother.
"Okay, what do you need?" Tony asks, figuring that things must be big, or bad, or both for Melinda not to answer.
"How long do you need to fix this?" Melinda asks, handing an object to her brother.
"Tracking receiver?" Tony asks, looking at the object that has particular damaged and even has a small bit of damage looking like from a bullet, and Melinda nods, "I can fix it in two minutes, five at the most." Tony tells his sister.
"Do it." Melinda asks and Tony starts to work while Melinda paces.
"I'm guessing that you're tracking something important." Tony comments as he starts to work.
"Oh yeah." Melinda confirms.
"You going to explain what your tracking?" Tony asks as Melinda continues to pace.
"No. It's too complicated." Melinda explains, pausing to look at brother, "I just need to get back to tracking as soon as possible." Melinda explains.
"Got it. I'm doing my best work for you." Tony tells his sister.
"Thank you." Melinda says gratefully and while Tony continues to work Melinda continues to pace.
"Okay. got it." Tony says two and a half minutes later, "Tracker is up again." Tony says showing her the repaired tracker with the location of the person Melinda is tracking clearly on it.
"Tony you are brilliant." Melinda tells her brother.
"Why thank you." Tony responds as Melinda takes the tracker off him.
"I need another favour."
"Vehicle?" Tony guesses.
"Bike, fastest you've got, and I can't guarantee that you'll get it back in one piece." Melinda admits.
"I've got the perfect one." Tony says, leading Melinda over to the bikes and over to a specific road bike, "Fastest I've got and if you need a bit extra speed press this." Tony says, pointing to a button, "But be careful, it will give quiet the kick that you have to be ready for." Tony explains.
"Got it. Thanks Tone." Melinda says, giving her brother a hug before she climbs on the bike and speeds off.
"Good to see you too, Mel." Tony says with an amused look on his face, wondering just what his sister is up to.
October 15th 1997
It has been three weeks since Melinda burst into Tony's lab, had him fix a tracker and then borrowed his bike, which he did get back in pretty good condition not counting a few bullet holes, and to his annoyance he still has no idea what his sister was doing that required his help.
Together Melinda, Phil, Clint and Natasha are on a Scorpion mission in South America, a mission that has quickly gone south and now Natasha, Clint, Melinda and Phil are fighting for their lives.
"So, this was what Fury was talking about when he said this would be dangerous." Clint says as he constantly fires arrows.
"You think?" Melinda asks sarcastically.
"We need get to better cover." Phil comments.
"Yeah, I'm with Phil on this one." Natasha comments, as the four of them continue to fire.
"Back door. It's going to be tough, but if we move as one we might just get through there." Melinda says.
"We move in three." Phil tells the others, "One, two, three." He says and they all start to run. Thanks to the fact that they are all very good shots all four of them are able to continually fire as they run. Clint gets to the door first and breaks it in so that Natasha and Melinda can get in too, just as Phil runs in he gets hit and falls to the ground.
"PHIL." Melinda yells as she hurries over to him.
"I'm okay." Phil tells her.
"Sure you are." Melinda says sarcastically as she has a look at Phil's injury, which seems to be a pretty bad hit to the side, something which would have been prevented by a vest if Phil was wearing one.
"We need to get out of here. We're sitting ducks." Clint says as Melinda presses down on Phil's wound, "Mels." Clint says putting his hand on Melinda's shoulder, "Nat is getting a vehicle. I'll carry Phil." Clint says and Melinda nods so he hands her his bow before picking up Phil.
Within fifteen minutes of Clint picking up Phil Melinda, Natasha, Clint and Phil have gotten to a hospital and Phil is being treated why Melinda, Natasha and Clint are in a waiting room.
"Why don't I go get us some tea, and coffee." Clint offers as he can tell that Melinda isn't okay and he knows that Natasha is the best person to talk to him.
"That would be good." Natasha tells her partner and Clint gets up and leaves while Natasha walks over and sits next to her sister, "You heard the doctor, his chances are good. We got him here quick."
"I know." Melinda says.
"But?" Natasha asks and Melinda avoids looking at her sister, "Talk to me, Mel." Natasha prods.
"He's Phil. It doesn't matter that it's been seven years since we've been together, he's still in my heart, he always will be." Melinda tells her sister, "I know what this job is, and I know what we face every day, but he's Phil. He's my partner, and even if we're not together I can't lose him, Tasha and I hate facing the possibility" Melinda explains, "I, I just…. He's my partner."
"I know." Natasha says, reaching out and squeezing her sisters leg, and the two of them drift into silence.
A few hours later Phil is out of surgery and Melinda is sitting by his bedside waiting for him to wake up.
"Hey." Phil's voice says.
"Hey." Melinda says, moving to look at him in the face.
"How bad?" Phil asks curious, a little bit of pain being present in his voice.
"Hit your spleen. They had to resect half of it." Melinda explains.
"Ouch."
"Yeah." Melinda says, "Why weren't you wearing your vest?" Melinda asks.
"You and Tasha never wear your vests." Phil argues.
"That's because it limits our movement too much when we fight hand to hand." Melinda explains, "You need to start wearing your vest more." She says.
"I will if you will." Phil argues.
"Phil." Melinda says in a warning tone of voice, "I can't keep you safe out there if you won't keep yourself safe."
"How about we keep each other safe." Phil suggests, "After all isn't that what partners do?"
"Yeah, it is." Melinda says, "You've got a deal."
"Good." Phil says and the two of them drift into silence, both of them thinking about how neither of them want to lose the other.
January 16th 1998
It has been three months since Phil was shot and since then he has healed enough to return to the field and he has been attempting to wear his vest more.
It's a Friday night and Melinda Clint and Natasha are going out to dinner together after a long week.
"So why didn't Phil join us?" Clint asks curious as they walk up to the restaurant.
"He said he was busy." Melinda explains.
"Phil has a social life?" Clint asks surprised as they walk into the restaurant, "He has other friends?" he asks, sounding mildly offended.
"I know. shocked me too." Melinda responds.
"Maybe we should go somewhere else." Natasha says, causing both Melinda and Clint to look at her surprised.
"You've been talking about eating her for a week." Clint reminds his partner.
Realising that Natasha must have a reason to not want them to eat their Melinda scans the restaurant and as she does she sees exactly what is behind Natasha's change of heart.
"You know, I'm not hungry. You two enjoy yourselves." Melinda says before she turns and leaves.
"Okay, what?" Clint asks completely confused and Natasha moves his head to look in a specific direction, where Phil is having dinner with a woman, clearly on a date, "Ohhhhh." He says, drawing out the word, his eyes widening.
After leaving Natasha and Clint Melinda heads straight back to the house and straight to the punching bag which she starts to hit.
Melinda has been out the back for a few minutes when she hears footsteps and Peggy walks out.
"I thought you were going to have dinner with Natasha and Clint." Peggy tells her daughter.
"I changed my mind." Melinda responds as she continues to hit the bag.
"Mel, is something wrong?" Peggy asks her daughter, but Melinda doesn't answer, she just continues to hit the bag, "Mel?" Peggy asks concerned, walking over to her.
"Clint, Tasha and I walked into a restaurant and Phil was there, on a date." Melinda explains.
"Oh Mel." Peggy says sadly.
"I don't know why it stung. Phil and I haven't been together for a long time." Melinda tells her mother.
"You still love him though, that's why." Peggy tells her daughter.
"I want him to be happy." Melinda tells her mother, "He deserves to be with someone who will love him in the way he deserves and that's not me, not now, not when I still see our baby girl every time I look at him." Melinda says sadly.
"You and Phil will always be connected Melinda, and you'll always feel something for him, but that doesn't mean that what you said isn't true." Peggy says, "The fact that it hurt you to see Phil on a date, doesn't mean you don't want him happy, because I know you do. It just means that you miss once you once had together." Peggy says.
"All the time." Melinda admits, as it's her most constant happy dream, her, Daisy and Phil together and happy once more, and she and Peggy drift into silence.
"Maria and I have already eaten, but how about we go whip something else." Peggy tells her daughter.
"Sure." Melinda says and the two of them head inside, Melinda trying not to focus on the feeling she's had ever since she saw Phil with his date.
February 28th 1998
It has been a little over a month since Melinda saw Phil on a date and ever since she has been pretending to be happy when he talks about his new girlfriend, something which has gotten a little easier.
It is about lunchtime and after lying to her mother about where she was going Maria is waiting for someone at one of her family's other DC properties.
Just as she checks her watch to find out the time Maria hears a knock on the door so she walks over and, after checking through the peep hole, she unlocks it and lets the person, Nick Fury, in.
"Nick." Maria greats.
"Maria." Fury responds as he walks in, "What did you want to talk about?"
"What? No small talk?" Maria asks amused as they head into a sitting area.
"No. What did you want to talk about? And why did you want to talk here of all places?" Fury asks Maria.
"I want to join S.H.I.E.L.D." Maria says, "So, I want to start the application process so I can start once I graduate." Maria explains.
"I see." Fury comments, realising that he should have seen this coming, "Why do you want to start once you gradate when, from what I've heard, every school both here and in Canada that has a hockey program wants to offer you scholarships?" Fury asks.
"Should have known you'd ask about that." Maria mutters, "I love hockey, and I could make a future out of it, but I want to join S.H.I.E.L.D, I want to protect people, just like the rest of my family." Maria explains, "I was sheltered growing up, I know that, but I still noticed, and experienced a lot. I know what everyone in my family has sacrificed to protect others family and I want to do that too, I have to." Maria explains as considering who her family is she feels that it's her duty to S.H.I.E.L.D.
"You've been training with Natasha and Melinda?" Fury asks.
"Clint too on occasion." Maria answers.
"Have you talked to your mother about this?" Fury asks, suspecting that he knows the answer.
"No." Maria answers, looking sheepish.
"Talk to your mother, then we'll go from there." Fury informs Maria.
"Okay." Maria responds.
"Do you need a lift home?" Fury asks, knowing that even at her age Peggy would kick his ass for not offering.
"If you don't mind." Maria responds.
"Not at all." Fury says and the two of them head out of the house.
Not long after she left the other house with Fury Maria arrives home and because she figures that it would be better to get it over and done with Maria heads straight to her parents' office.
"Can I come in?" Maria asks from the open doorway.
"Of course you can." Peggy responds and Maria walks over and sits across from her mother, "Did you have a good time out with your friend?" Peggy asks her daughter.
"Um, I didn't exactly go out with my friends." Maria admits.
"I know." Peggy answers and Maria gives her a surprise look, "I used to lie for a living. I usually know when I'm being lied to."
"Good to know." Maria says, "I um, went to meet with Fury." Maria explains, "I want to join S.H.I.E.L.D."
"I see." Peggy responds, "What about collage?"
"I know I'm a great hockey player and I could play pro one day, but joining S.H.I.E.L.D, protecting people, is more important." Maria explains.
"There is no reason for it to be either or, you can go to college, play hockey, then join S.H.I.E.L.D there is nothing that says you have to join S.H.I.E.L.D right after high school." Peggy tells her daughter.
"I know, but if I go to college, if I play hockey then chances are that I'm going to become known, and that will make being a S.H.I.E.L.D agent harder, and I don't want that. I want to be a good agent, a great agent." Maria explains and then she decides to tell her mother her eventual goal, "I want to be the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D one day, just like you." Maria says, causing Peggy to smile back at her daughter.
"Okay. If you're sure." Peggy says.
"I am." Maria assures her mother.
"Then there are some thing you need to know." Peggy tells her daughter and she starts to explain thing about S.H.I.E.L.D that Maria doesn't know, things she needs to know if she is serious about joining S.H.I.E.L.D