Chapter 20

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About a week has passed since Melinda took her first steps, ten days since Melinda first had her surgery, and ever since Melinda has been working on her physical therapy, and doing her best to get used to having a mechanical leg; which is what she is struggling the most with.

As Simmons, Bobbi, and the Science Squad have given the all clear, though with conditions, Melinda, Natasha, and Carol are in the gym sparing together; the three of them having locked the door as they don't want anyone to interrupt, or watch, as it being just three of them it makes Melinda more comfortable.

As Melinda, Natasha, and Carol are all highly trained the three of them fighting is a sight to behold, which is why other members of the Playground would want to watch, and the reason behind why they have the door locked. Even with Melinda's injuries neither Carol or Natasha are holding back as while they don't want to hurt her they also know that Melinda will be pissed if they go easy on her, and she would be able to tell.

Moving quickly Melinda does a mid-air cartwill and kicks Natasha in the chest, with her flesh leg, while moving into position to punch Carol; though Carol blocks it. Once she blocks the punch Carol swings back and punches Melinda, who blocks it as well, and then Natasha re-joins the fight and so the three of them all quickly start to fight one another.

After another couple of minutes of sparing together Melinda and Natasha has both been knocked to the ground.

"Not bad," Carol says, as she uses one arm to help Melinda back to her feet, and the other to help Natasha.

"Yeah, we lasted a couple of minutes longer than usual," Natasha comments, looking amused.

"Mel, you are stronger than you were," Carol notes, looking at her.

"Definitely," Natasha confirms.

"Yeah, I realised that too," Melinda admits. "Guess that is what the centipede serum did," Melinda realises, though she is glad that it hasn't seemed to affect her too much.

"Seems like it," Natasha comments, though she can't help but be worried about how Melinda is going to handle that as powers, or abilities, is something that Melinda has never wanted for herself, though she has become well equipped in recent years in helping and supporting people with powers; making sure they never feel ashamed or like everyone is scared of them. "You also had a lot more movement than I was expecting," Natasha notes, as a part of her was expecting Melinda's range of movement to be limited.

"Yeah, I think that was Bobbi and Hope's influence, designing the leg to make sure it is optimal for my fighting style," Melinda comments, feeling pretty glad about that as she knows she cannot afford to be on the sidelines for a long time.

"They definitely succeeded," Carol says, feel quite impressed. "Do you two want to go again, or do you need to rest? I forget how much stamina you have," Carol says, with a smirk.

Hearing Carol's comment Melinda and Natasha exchange looks, and then they both throw a punch at Carol, and due to her reflexes she is able to block both, and they start to spar once more.


For a while longer Melinda, Natasha, and Carol continue to spar together, and they have no intention to stop or at least that is the plan until they hear a loud knock on the door. Stopping mid-fight Carol jogs over to the door and opens it to reveal Daisy.

"Finally, I thought I was going to have to quake the door," Daisy comments, looking glad.

"What's going on, Daze?" Natasha asks curious, as she and Melinda walk towards the door.

"Fury's getting impatient. He wants a meeting in the office to talk about what to do next," Daisy explains, looking between the trio and knowing that they have been talking about what the next move should be, just like everyone else from the future.

"Okay, we'll be right up," Carol answers.

"Is everything okay?" Daisy asks worried, looking at Melinda in concern.

"Yeah," Melinda says, with a nod, before looking down at the leg. "The Science Squad did good," Melinda knows it will mean a lot to Daisy for her to use that name she created.

"Yay!" Daisy exclaims excitedly before running over and hugging Melinda. "I'm so happy for you, I love you," Daisy whispers to Melinda, feeling thrilled that Melinda is doing so much better than she was.

"Love you too," Melinda responds, and the two of them break apart.

"I'll meet you guys up there," Daisy says, before hurrying out of the gym.

"You guys good?" Carol asks, as she looks between Melinda and Natasha.

"Yep," Natasha says as she throws towels at Melinda and Carol, both of whom easily catch.

"Yeah," Melinda confirms, as she throws water bottles at Carol and Natasha, both of whom catch them with ease.

"Let's go do our leader thing," Carol says, and once she does the three of them head out of the gym, heading up to the office.


When Carol, Natasha and Melinda walk in the office together a couple of minutes later, they find Daisy, Phil, Fitz, Simmons, Fury, Maria, Steve, Bruce, Tony, Rhodey, Hand, Izzy, Mack, Sharon, Bobbi, Hope, Hank, Clint, Thor, Valkyrie, Trip, Hunter, Piper, and Davis waiting.

"Good you're here," Fury says as Melinda, Natasha, and Carol walk into the highly populated office. "everything is starting to settle down, we need to decide what to do next," Fury explains.

"I think it's gotta be Wanda, and Loki's sceptre. We need to get that away from Strucker and Hydra," Daisy comments, looking at Melinda, Natasha, and Carol.

"Yeah, the last thing we need is for Hydra to realise they has an infinity stone," Natasha comments.

"And we need to get Wanda on our side, her brother too," Daisy comments.

"Daisy, she's not the Wanda we knew, not yet," Melinda tells Daisy, using the most comforting voice possible.

"Yeah, but she can be," Daisy tells Melinda. "May, our Wanda told me that I could help her remember the Wanda we knew, and I need to believe I can," Daisy explains, her voice sounding vulnerable, and Simmons reaches over and takes Daisy's hand. "We need her, and you know that," Daisy tells Melinda.

"I do," Melinda confirms. "But it's going to be a risk," Melinda explains.

"True, but I agree with Daisy, that this is a risk we have to take," Sharon comments.

"The sceptre has an infinity stone in it?" Thor asks, being the only one not from the future to understand the significance of that, and Valkyrie nods. "Which one?"

"The mind stone," Natasha answers and once she does Thor gets a grave look on his face.

"Okay, for those of us who don't know, what are infinity stones?" Tony asks curious, looking between Thor and the people who came from the future.

"Basically, they've been around since the big bang, are six elemental crystals which control an essential aspect of existence," Bobbi explains, knowing it is the simplest explanation she can give.

"The Tesseract was one," Sharon explains, wanting to provide some context.

"That definitely seems like something Hydra shouldn't have," Rhodey comments.

"In this time are the sceptre and Wanda in the same place?" Hope asks curious.

"No, Wanda and Pietro would still be in the Artic and the Spectre is in Sokovia," Natasha explains.

"Which would mean it's the perfect time to get Wanda and the sceptre," Daisy argues, and as she does Melinda, Natasha, and Carol exchange looks.

"Three teams, one going to the Artic, one to Sokovia, and one here in case either team need backup," Carol explains.

"What are we going to face at each location?" Steve asks curious.

"A lot of Hydra," Melinda reveals. "And we're going to face resistance when getting close to the Artic base," Melinda explains.

"I can handle that," Carol reveals.

"I'm going to the Artic. I need to be the one who talks to Wanda," Daisy explains.

"I'm coming to the Artic too," Simmons reveals, looking at Daisy, who gives her a grateful look.

"I'll go to the Artic too," Melinda reveals.

"Mel…." Natasha starts to say.

"Melinda…" Carol starts to say.

"I think we just proved that I'm ready to fight again," Melinda says, looking between Carol and Natasha, and the truth is she wants to be there for Daisy, and Wanda, and she feels like she can help them both.

"Simmons?" Carol and Natasha say together, and once they do Simmons shifts awkwardly on her feet and looks to Daisy for help, and in response her girlfriend gives her a 'this is your problem,' look.

"I… I think…." Simmons says, sounding awkwardly, as Melinda, Carol and Natasha are all looking at her, all clearly expecting something.

"Okay, stop terrifying Simmons," Bobbi requests. "May, you're still hurt, but it would be a good test to see how the leg works in the field," Bobbi explains, and as she does both Natasha and Carol go to say something. "But you're gonna have to be careful, and be careful not to push yourself too soon," Bobbi explains, feeling like that is the best compromise she can come up with.

"Then it's decided, I'm going to the Artic," Melinda reveals, looking satisfied.

"Then I am too, I'll destroy the weapons so everyone else can land safety," Carol reveals, and as she does a brief look of disappointment passes over Natasha's face.

"I'm going to have to go to Sokovia, I'm the only the only one who knows the layout," Natasha explains, it being clear that she would much rather go to the Artic.

"So, three teams, any future concerns we should be concerned about?" Tony asks curious.

"Security will be heavier in Sokovia," Sharon says, knowing that.

"And Tony, until Daisy has a chance to talk to Wanda it would be better if she doesn't see you; so you should go to Sokovia," Natasha explains.

"Why?" Rhodey asks curious and once he does Natasha and Sharon exchange looks.

"Wanda and her brother Pietro are orphans," Natasha explains. "There parents were killed in Sokovia by a fake nock off of a Stark Weapon, for two days Wanda and Pietro stared at a bomb with Stark on the side, they blamed you," Natasha explains. "Our Wanda doesn't blame you, but this version of Wanda likely will," Natasha explains.

"Who is this Wanda? Why is she so important?" Hunter asks curious.

"Wanda is the reason we're here," Daisy explains.

"Wanda is an incredibly powerful person; she has powers and she died using those powers to send us back here," Hope explains, pain in her voice.

"Then we have to do whatever we can to help her," Izzy says. "I'd like to go to the artic," Izzy reveals.

"Okay," Carol says, with a nod. "So three teams, Artic, Sokovia, and backup here just in case," Carol once more says. "Artic?" Carol asks, and once she does Daisy, Hope, Melinda, Piper, Davis, Hunter, Bobbi, Simmons and Rhodey raise their hands. "Okay, plus me that's ten," Carol realises. "Sokovia?" Carol asks and Tony, Thor, Valkyrie, Natasha, Clint, Steve, Sharon, Fitz and Izzy put up their hands. "And everyone else will stay here," Carol realises.

"Let's talk about game plans," Natasha says, and once she does the group start to go into planning mode.


A while later the group have come up with a plane and the teams who are leaving are getting ready to leave. As they will be leaving very shortly Melinda is doing a final check of the bus's system, something which she doesn't trust anyone else to do. As much as she loves the Bus Melinda can't help but think about the fact that she misses the technical advances of the Zephyr. Even with how focused she is Melinda can tell the second that Phil walks up to her.

"This Wanda, she matters to you," Phil says, being able to tell that. While he can tell that she matters to others too, he is more curious about the relationship Melinda has with her.

"She does," Melinda confirms, deciding to tell the truth because it is Phil she is talking to she decides to be honest. "I loved her, considered her to be my daughter, and I never told her," Melinda reveals, even though she tries to hide it Phil knows her well enough to be able to tell how effected Melinda is.

"She knew," Bobbi says, as she walks towards Melinda and Phil. "May, you may not say it, except to Daisy who needs to hear it, but that doesn't mean we don't know how you feel," Bobbi reveals, knowing that Daisy needs to hear Melinda say how she feels about her because after so many years in the Foster system she doesn't trust herself when it comes to how she thinks people feel about her.

"I still should have said it," Melinda admits, and as she does she realises something. "Bobbi…"

"I told you, you don't have to say it," Bobbi assures Melinda, who just gives her a look, one that Bobbi is very familiar with. "Go ahead," Bobbi says, with a shrug.

"I am so proud of you. I trusted you to protect Simmons in Hydra because I trusted your skill, but now you're one of the people I trust the most," Melinda assures Bobbi. "You are family to me, a daughter, a friend, I love you," Melinda says, to the complete shock of Phil.

"I love you too," Bobbi says smiling as she can't help but think of the differences between this version of Melinda and the Melinda she knew in 2014 of the original timeline.

"Um, did you need something Bobbi?" Phil asks, still trying to get used to Melinda being so open, though he truly enjoys seeing her like this.

"Yeah, I wanted to ask that I be paired with Daisy," Bobbi explains and Melinda gives her a look which tells her to keep explaining. "Daisy and Wanda are my sisters. We all know that this isn't going to be the version of Wanda we all know, but that's why I have to help Daisy. Our Wanda was so sure that Daisy would be able to help her past self remember who she was, and If she can then I want to he there, want to help, and if she can't I want to be there even more," Bobbi explains, hoping that Melinda understands. "I know there are other things I could be doing, but I feel like this is what I have to do," Bobbi explains.

"Okay," Melinda says, and she and Bobbi exchange knowing looks and nods. Once they do Melinda turns back to the equipment she is fixing.

"Need some help with that?" Bobbi asks curious, and Melinda nods, so she walks over and together the two of them start to work together.


A little while later the Bus and the aircraft are all ready to go and while everyone else are either on the aircraft of the team they are apart of, or in the Office in the playground, Melinda, Carol, Natasha, and Phil are standing in the hanger.

"Everything ready?" Phil asks, looking between the trio.

"Yep," Natasha confirms as Melinda nods.

"The one thing we haven't figured out is what we are going to do with the infinity stone," Carol points out, realising they should have thought of that.

"I might have an idea, but I need to talk to Brunn," Melinda admits, knowing she will also have to talk to Daisy, but Brunn would be first. "For now let's just focus on getting Wanda, Pietro, and the sceptre," Melinda comments.

"Yeah, that's going to be hard enough," Natasha comments. "Let's move out," Natasha says and after exchanging looks with Melinda, Carol and finally Phil she heads onto her spaceship.

"I'll keep the lights on," Phil says, looking at Melinda and Carol, both of whom look amused before they head onto the bus.


On the bus, in her bunk, Daisy is sitting alone, thinking about her best friend and how different things are going to be, while also hoping that they are the same. Because she is so distracted Daisy doesn't even hear footsteps, something which is extremely odd for her.

"Daisy," Bobbi says as she knocks on the door to the bunk, causing Daisy to look up and see Bobbi, Simmons and Hope standing together. "Can we join you?" Bobbi asks curious.

"Sure," Daisy answers, and once she does Simmons, Bobbi, and Hope walk over and sit down next to her, Simmons and Bobbi sitting either side of her while Hope sits next to Bobbi. Once the trio are sitting in the bed they all drift into silence as they sit together.

Having left Phil Melinda and Carol are making their way through the plane, heading to the cockpit and as they do Carol notices something.

"Mel," Carol says, and once Melinda looks at her she gestures to where Daisy, Simmons, Bobbi and Hope are sitting together.

"Come on, let's bring our daughter home," Melinda says to Carol and the two of them head up to the cockpit.