Chapter 22
AN: Thank you for such an incredible response to the last chapter. It means so much to me.
After traveling for a while, and making sure that Melinda got checked out by medical, Phil, with Melinda who seems numb to the world walking beside him, are approaching Melinda's apartment. As they walk towards the apartment Phil is more than a little glad that Daisy would still be at school.
"You're almost home," Phil says, and it is almost like May doesn't hear him, which is something that has become rather familiar to Phil since the two of them left Bahrain. Finally, they get to the apartment door and Phil opens it, letting both him and Melinda in.
While Melinda goes straight to her room, taking no notice of who is in the apartment, Coulson realizes that it is not just Bobbi sitting on the couch, but Kora too.
"Kora?" Phil says confused, though he would be lying if he said he wasn't glad to see her, as he really thinks she might be able to help Melinda; at least that's what he desperately hopes.
"Hey Coulson," Kora says, in a sad tone, and between the tone and the fact that she looks unfazed by the fact Melinda looks so far from okay, that she walked into her room without saying a word, and that he is helping her, Phil realizes something.
"You know what happened. How do you know what happened?" Phil asks confused as both Bobbi and Kora stand up.
"What happened?" Bobbi asks, sounding confused, looking between Kora and Phil, as it becomes clear that Kora isn't going to answer Phil as honestly, she isn't sure how to.
"The mission went south, badly," Phil explains. "I don't know exactly what happened. May won't talk about it," Phil admits, it being clear how worried he is.
"Daisy finishes school in less than an hour," Kora says, glancing at the clock, as she needs a chance to change the subject. "You two should get her, keep her away from the apartment for a few hours," Kora suggests.
"No! I'm not leaving May!" Coulson objects.
"Me either," Bobbi says and Kora can't help but smile softy as she is glad that her sister has people who care about her so much she also knows that right now neither Bobbi or Coulson can help Melinda.
"Since Mellie left home I was hoping that she would find people who care about her, and I'm glad she found the two of you; but there are things going on that you don't know, things that I'm not in a position to explain," Kora admits. "But what I can say is that if she was thinking straight Mellie wouldn't want Daisy to see her like this. I'm going to try to help my sister, but the only way I can do that is if I know Daisy is looked after, and I know that she will be with you two," Kora explains, looking between Bobbi and Phil.
"Kora, will she be okay?" Phil asks, and as she does Kora can appreciate just how much he cares about her sister.
"I don't know," Kora admits, it being hard for her to do so. "But I'm gonna stay here as long as I have to help her," Kora says before heading into her sisters bedroom.
"What the hell Phil?" Bobbi asks as she and Phil watch Kora go.
'I don't know," Phil admits, with a shrug, looking lost. "Thing went south, May said she could fix the problem, and it's like she left herself inside that building," Phil explains, and Bobbi has no idea how to respond to that, and she is truly feeling beyond worried for Melinda.
Walking into her sisters room Kora finds Melinda sitting on the edge of her bed, just staring out of the window with a vacant expression on her face, making enough noise so that Melinda knows it is her Kora walks over and sits down next to her sister, purposely not sitting too close as she isn't sure how Melinda is going to react to that. For a little while the twins just sit in silence as Kora wants to give Melinda a chance to talk when she is ready; even if it might take a while as she knows her sister well enough to know that no good will come from pushing her.
"Why?" Melinda asks, finally breaking the silence. "Why did Mom let her go through the Mist? She was just a little girl," Melinda says, her voice not even sounding like Melinda's usual voice.
"She didn't," Kora explains to her sister. "Eva wanted her to go through the Mist, Mom evaluated Katya, to see whether she would be suitable when she was old enough, but she wasn't. Mom told Eva that Katya wouldn't be going through the mist, so Eva stole Terriagin and left Afterlife," Kora explains. "Mom and Gordon went looking for them," Kora explains.
"They didn't find them," Melinda tells her sister. "I tried to help," Melinda says, needing Kora to know that.
"I know you did," Kora tells her, and she goes to reach out to take her sisters hand, but Melinda flinches away, which makes Kora's heart sink. "Mellie when Daisy gets home let's go. Let's go back to Afterlife, all three of us," Kora says, feeling like what could help Melinda right now is being around their people, and seeing that they don't hate her for what she had to do.
"No," Melinda tells her sister, shaking her head.
"Mom told me to come to you, to help you, I don't see her turning you away from Afterlife right now," Kora tells her sister, honestly feeling like this is what's best for Melinda.
"Kora, I killed two of our people. I don't deserve to ever step foot in Afterlife again," Melinda informs her sister, it being clear that she believes what she is saying.
"Mellie…" Kora starts to say.
"What I did was unforgivable," Melinda says, and feeling the need to get away from her sister Melinda heads into her bathroom. As she watches her sister go Kora curses in Chinese as she realizes this is going to be even harder than she though.
Deciding to give Melinda a bit of time alone Kora heads out into the living room and she is a little relieved to find that Phil and Bobbi have left to get Daisy as she really doesn't know how she is going to talk to them about everything that has happened.
"Gordon," Kora says, and seconds later Gordon appears.
"How bad?" Gordon asks concerned.
"Bad," Kora answers. "I don't know what to do, Gordon," Kora admits. "Once Mellie's made a decision, she doesn't regret it. She always sure of herself, but now it's not only that she doubts herself, but that's she's not herself anymore," Kora admits.
"Everything Mel's done… for her entire life, is protect our people," Gordon reminds Kora. "She killed two of our people, Kor. She didn't have a choice, and considering everything it is probably the right choice," Gordon explains.
"You really think so?" Kora asks, feeling surprised by that as Gordon has been very vocal about making sure every inhuman gets every chance to learn to control their abilities, and all the time and patience they need.
"From what I've been able to find the mist warped Katya's mind even more than it already was. She was too young to handle it, she was controlling people, making them do horrible things long before Bahrain," Gordon admits as he is working on retracing Eve and Katya's steps to find out more about what they did. "Mel did the right thing, what she had to do, but that doesn't make it any easier; she's going to need time and support," Gordon admits. "She needs to know that even though she may be hating herself we don't hate her," Gordon admits.
"That's exactly what I've tried to get her to see," Kora admits, with a sigh. "I suggested Mellie come to Afterlife, with Daisy, she said no," Kora explains.
"That's not overly surprising," Gordon admits.
"She said that she never deserve to set foot there again," Kora explains, and once she does Gordon's face drops. "Exactly," Kora says, not needing Gordon to say anything because his face says everything. "I have an idea, and I think it can help Mellie, but It goes against everything she want's, in fact I think I would be betraying her," Kora admits, it's something she wouldn't even be considering if things weren't so bad.
"No," Gordon says, assuming he can guess what Kora is thinking.
"Mom could help Mellie, Gordon. She might be the only one who can, but if Mellie won't go to Afterlife then Mom has to come here; which means she'll find out about Daisy," Kora points out, as she is pretty sure that if Jiaying were to come to the apartment there would be no way to hide Daisy from her.
"Your Mom's not the only one who can help Mel, Kora, you can," Gordon tells his friend.
"Really? Coz it doesn't feel like it," Kora admits.
"Kora you've been helping Inhumans with trauma for years, and you know your sister better than anyone. If there is anyone who can help Mel; then it's you," Gordon explain believing that Kora is the best person to help their sister.
"What if I can't?" Kora asks curious as she really isn't sure that she is going to be able to help her sister.
"Then we'll re-discuss bringing Jiaying here; but we're not there yet," Gordon admits, and Kora signs, realizing that Gordon isn't going to just stop.
"Can you stay?" Kora asks curious.
"Not right now. I'm still doing checks to see what risks we have because of Eva," Gordon admits, as the biggest thing he is trying to do at the moment is find the left over Terrigen that Eva stole and make sure it doesn't cause anyone to transform, as from what they have figured out Eva stole more Terrigen than she has used. "But I'll be back when I can," Gordon explains.
"Okay," Kora says. "Come back soon, it might help Mellie to see you," Kora says, completely understanding why the person she considers to be her brother and best friend, can't say.
"I will," Gordon says, before leaving.
After Gordon leaves Kora looks around the room and feeling a little lost Kora heads to the kitchen as cooking relaxes her, and it could help Melinda to eat.
After cooking for a while, and still not overly sure how she is going to help her sister, Kora puts what she made on a plate and takes it into her sisters' room. As she walks into the room Kora realizes that her sister is no longer in the bathroom but is actually back sitting on her bed and staring out of her window. Honestly, Kora isn't sure whether to feel relieved, or even more concerned.
"I made some food," Kora tells her sister as she puts it on the bedside table closest to Melinda.
"I'm not hungry," Melinda informs her sister.
"I doubt that, I'm pretty sure it's been a while since you've eaten," Kora comments, as she assumes Coulson wouldn't have been able to get her to eat. "I cooked, you always liked my cooking maybe you cay try a few bites," Kora suggests. "Or you know, a bit more, I made sure I made something you love; and you like to eat after a mission, and..." Kora says, honestly trying to say everything she can think of.
"If I try some will you shut up?" Melinda asks her sister as she really doesn't want to talk.
"Yep, but I'm still going to sit with you for a while," Kora informs her sister, and feeling a little like a child Melinda grabs the food that Kora made and starts to eat it while Kora sits down near her sister. Honestly, Kora is pretty sure this wasn't the best strategy but it was the only one she could think to get Melinda to eat and that's what's important.
For a while Kora sits with her sister in silence. To Kora's relief Melinda eats all the food that Kora made, but that doesn't mean Kora worries about her sister any less. As she sits with Melinda Kora hears the door open. Assuming that it is her niece with Coulson and Bobbi, Kora gets up and heads out into the main room; having no idea how she is going to explain to Daisy everything that has happened.
"Aunt Kora!" Daisy says excited as she runs to her aunt and hugs her.
"Hey Daisy-Daze," Kora says, as she hugs her niece. "Did you have a good day at school?"
"Yep," Daisy confirms. "What's happened to Mom? Cols and Bobbi were purposely trying to keep me away from here," Daisy explains, showing how much she has grown as she is able to tell that. "So, what's happened?" Daisy asks looking between Kora, Coulson and Bobbi. While she is worried, she knows that if her mother had been hurt, or worse, she would have already been told, but that doesn't mean she knows what actually happened.
As none of the adults were expecting that the trio exchange looks as none of them are really sure what to say, or in Kora's case she isn't sure how much she should say.
"How about we all sit down and talk," Phil suggests, and once he does he, Daisy, Kora and Bobbi walk over to the couch and sit down together, as they went Kora shut the door that leads to Melinda's room as she thinks it is the best choice. While Daisy and Kora are sitting on the couch properly Bobbi is sitting on the edge of the couch while Phil sits on the chair. "Daisy, as you know your mom and I went on a mission," Phil explains.
"Yeah," Daisy confirms.
"Something happened, I'm not sure exactly what, but it's effected your Mom," Phil explains, looking at Kora for help because he assumes that Kora can fill in some of the blanks, though he can't help wonder whether she will.
"Daze, your Mom did what she had to do, and what she did was the right thing considering the circumstances," Kora says, thinking that due to her conversation with Gordon, and that she has spent a lot of the last few hours thinking about it. "But what happened has affected her, a lot, and she's dealing with what happened," Kora says, feeling like she cannot tell Daisy quiet as much as she would like with Bobbi and Coulson around.
"What does that mean? Is Mom okay?" Daisy asks confused.
"It means she needs our support Kiddo," Bobbi tells her, as she reaches out and puts her hand on Daisy's shoulder. "Your mom just needs us to be there for her, and help. We need to be supportive, and show that we care," Bobbi explains. "Do you think you can do that?"
"Yep," Daisy says, with a nod. "Can I see Mom now?" Daisy requests, as that's what she really wants.
"Yeah, but Daze you need to know that she may not react in the ways you'd usually expect," Kora explains.
"Okay," Daisy says, with a nod, feeling uncertain about what her aunt means.
"Okay, come on," Kora says and both she and Daisy get up and head towards Melinda's room. "No matter how your Mom reacts never doubt that your Mom loves you; because she does, more than anyone," Kora tells her niece, in a quiet voice.
"I know," Daisy says as she will never, ever, doubt that, and the two of them walk into Melinda's room.
Feeling worried about how this is going to go Kora hangs back by the door, which she has closed, while Daisy walks over to her mother.
"Hi Mom," Daisy says, not really sure how to react, as she sits down next to her mother. As she sits down the first thing Daisy realizes is the vacant look on her mothers face which is something she has never seen before. "School was good today," Daisy informs her mother, having no idea what else to say, and Melinda doesn't really react. "My computer Science teacher asked if I want to plan a lesson for the other students; I said I would think about it," Daisy admits. "Mom, can I hug you?" Daisy asks curious, and Melinda gives her the most hesitant of nods. Feeling glad, and acting extremely careful, Daisy hugs her mother. "I love you, and while you're not okay I'm going to be okay. I have Aunt Kora, and Uncle Gordon, and Cols, Bobbi, Mack. I'll be okay," Daisy assures her mother. "I just want to make sure you are," Daisy says.
Even with the pain, and guilt, she is feeling Melinda feels incredibly glad for her daughter; her words mean more to her than she can admit. As Kora also heard what Daisy said she can't help but smile proudly.
"I love you too," Melinda says, in a voice only loud enough for Daisy to hear. Though across the room Kora, because she knows her sister so well, can tell that Melinda is getting rather uncomfortable with everything that is going on.
"Hey Daze, did you have dinner with Coulson and Bobbi?" Kora asks curious.
"Yep," Daisy says as she breaks apart from her mother.
"Okay, how about Desert?" Kora asks curious.
"Chocolate please," Daisy requests, as she realizes what her aunt is doing. "Mom do you want chocolate too?" Daisy asks curious.
"No," Melinda answers. "Have fun with Aunt Kora," Melinda tells her daughter.
"Okay," Daisy says, and she gets up and walks over to her aunt.
"You okay, Daze?" Kora asks, in a quiet voice, once Daisy is right near her.
"I don't know," Daisy admits, and wishing there was more that she could do Kora just puts her arm around her nieces shoulders as they head out of the room Kora hating the fact that the people she loves are in so much pain and there is nothing she can do to help them.
For the rest of the night Kora, Phil, and Bobbi do what they can to distract Daisy from what is going on while all three of them are extremely worried about Melinda.