Chapter 27
AN: Sorry about there being no update yesterday, I was out late and didn't get a chance to update. Hope you like this chapter.
October 30th 2008
Seconds after they were standing on the grass at the cabin, on an incredible island, Melinda, Daisy and Gordon are standing in Melinda and Daisy's apartment.
"Here you are, home sweet home," Gordon says as the trio appear in the apartment.
"Thanks Gordon," Melinda says to her brother and because she is still touching her daughter's shoulder Melinda can feel how glad she is to be home.
"You're welcome," Gordon says. "Remember, don't hesitate if you need…" Gordon starts to say.
"I know," Melinda says, with a nod, and Gordon takes a few steps back before disappearing.
Even though she cannot feel what she felt last time she was at her apartment Melinda can certainly remember it, she can remember the guilt, and the pain, and she knows that not going back into the field is the best decision for her for a whole lot of reasons.
"Are we going to go see Cols now?" Daisy asks curious.
"Coulson will still be at work, and first I have to call Fury," Melinda admits, as logically talking to Fury needs to be the first thing she does.
"It's been six months; do you really think he'll answer?" Daisy asks curious.
"I think he'll be too curious not to," Melinda admits, as she knows Fury well enough to know that. After admitting that Melinda walks over to where she left her secure phone before she left and if she could feel it Melinda knows she would be glad that it is still there.
Once she has the phone Melinda uses it to call Fury, calling his number that will be forwarded to what his current number is.
"May?" Fury asks, answering it, and Melinda can hear the surprise in his voice.
"I'm back, can we meet?" Melinda asks, and for Fury it is a shock to hear Melinda's voice so void of emotion.
"The park, forty minutes," Fury says, before hanging up, knowing that Melinda will know exactly what park.
"Did he agree to meet?" Daisy asks when she sees her mother hang up the phone.
"Yeah," Melinda confirms. "Go put your stuff in your room, we'll leave shortly," Melinda tells her daughter.
"Will do," Daisy says, before heading to her room.
After taking Melinda and Daisy home Gordon returned to the cabin were he collected Kora and the two of them returned to Afterlife. As they arrive back home Kora and Gordon look around, both feeling a little glad about being home.
"I'll see you later," Kora tells Gordon, as she knows exactly what she has to do.
"Yep," Gordon confirms. "Good luck,"
"Thanks," Kora says, before heading to her mother's office. When she gets to her mother's office Kora finds that Jiaying is in a meeting and so she waits a few minutes, until the meeting finally ends and the person Jiaying is talking with leaves. "Hey Mom," Kora says, walking over to her mother.
"Kora," Jiaying says, standing up and walking over to her daughter, and the two of them hug once they are close enough. "Welcome home," Jiaying says.
"Thanks," Kora says, as she returns the hug.
"How is Melinda?" Jiaying asks and Kora can tell how desperate her mother is for answers about her sister.
"Good, she's gotten control, and she can even use her abilities," Kora explains to her mother. "She's gone back to her life," Kora explains.
"To SHIELD?" Jiaying asks worried. "Melinda can't go back to SHIELD, it's not safe!" Jiaying exclaims, clearly worried.
"Mellie is making changes, and has a plan, to make sure it will be safe," Kora admits. "After Bahrain, the mist, her abilities, Mellie needs to go back to some kind of normalcy, she needs the people who matter to her, and for better or worst most of them are with SHIELD," Kora explains to her mother.
"Do you think she will ever be okay with coming back here?" Jiaying asks.
"I'm almost sure she will," Kora admits, as she knows when Daisy decides to come to Afterlife then Melinda will come too.
"Good," Jiaying says relieved. "Are you ready to help someone else? Or do you want a bit of a break?" Jiaying asks curious.
"Has someone else gone through the mist?" Kora asks curious.
"Not yet, but Lincoln will be going though soon. If you are willing I'd like you to work with him before he does, help him get ready, and then if appropriate be his guide afterwards," Jiaying suggests, as she knows that Lincoln and Kora get alone well and with the issues that Lincoln has she suspects that Kora is in a unique position to help him.
"Of course," Kora says, without even needing to think about it, and Jiaying starts to explain some of the others things that have been going on at Afterlife.
About thirty-five minutes after Melinda called Fury Melinda and Daisy are waiting in the park where they are going to meet Fury. As they have been there for a while Melinda, who has been handling being around more than just three people better than she was expecting, is looking around for Fury. As Melinda looks around she sees Fury walking towards her and Daisy.
"Stay close," Melinda tells her daughter, as they walk towards Fury.
"Yep," Daisy says and Melinda and Fury walk until they are standing right in front of each other.
"May," Fury greats, and due to them being so close Melinda can faintly feel how happy Fury is to see her, which is good to know, but something she would rather not use to her advantage if she can avoid it.
"Nick," Melinda responds.
"Are you back?" Fury asks.
"Depends on your definition of back," Melinda responds, and Fury just raises an eyebrow at her. "I'm back in DC, returning to SHIELD, but not the field," Melinda explains. "Sir, I am requesting a transfer to the admin department," Melinda admits, and as she does she can feel how shocked Fury is, though the feeling is faint because they are not touching.
"Where have you been?" Fury asks.
"Where I needed to be," Melinda answers, purposely being vague.
"I could put you through a lie detector, ask the questions I want answers about," Fury reminds Melinda.
"Do you really think that would give you the answers you want?" Melinda asks, knowing that because she cannot feel her own emotions, she could beat any lie detector, but she would rather not demonstrate that fact.
"You went back to where you were before you joined SHIELD," Fury realizes, and Melinda doesn't answer, she just keeps her face completely blank, something which is easy to do when she isn't feeling any emotions.
For the next minute or so, to Daisy's amusement, Melinda and Fury stand less than a foot from each other and just stare at each other, it being clear that Fury is trying to get some kind of idea about where Melinda's been and what happened, while Melinda is giving away nothing.
"Transfer request accepted Agent May," Fury responds, being the first to break.
"Thank you, Director," Melinda responds.
"You'll start Monday," Fury says.
"Yes Sir," Melinda responds.
"Glad you're back," Fury admits and after smiling at Daisy he starts to walk away, but he only gets a few steps before he turns back around. "Coulson's not on a mission," he simply says, before walking away.
After Fury walks away Daisy walks over to her mother,
"That went well," Daisy comments.
"Yeah, it did," Melinda confirms, as even though she can't feel that she knows it.
"Cols now?" Daisy asks, looking excited.
"Cols now," Melinda confirms, as they start to walk out of the park together.
A couple of hours later Phil, who has had a day at SHIELD, which included more bureaucracy than he would like, is arriving back at his apartment. As he walks in he throws his keys into the bowel near the door, and as he turns on the light Phil realizes that his apartment is not empty.
"May," Phil says disbelieving, sounding shocked as he realizes exactly who is standing in his apartment.
"Hey Phil," Melinda responds, in an even voice and Phil, who can barely believe his eyes, hurries towards her and hugs her. While Melinda was expecting to feel strong emotion from Phil, and prepared herself for that, what she couldn't have prepared for is the sheer amount of love, joy, and relief she felt the second Phil hugged her. As she feels the love Melinda knows that what she spent so many years not letting herself believe is true, and she starts to feel overwhelmed by the strength of emotion she is feeling from Phil, what he is feeling towards her.
As Daisy is standing next to her mother, she recognizes the signs of her mother starting to get overwhelmed by emotions that she is feeling and so she knows what she has to do.
"Don't I get a hug?" Daisy asks, causing Phil to break apart from her mother, giving Melinda a bit of relief from the strong emotion.
"Of course you do," Phil says, before hugging Daisy.
"I missed you so much," Daisy informs Phil.
"I've missed you too," Phil says, as he kisses the top of Daisy's head and the two of them break apart. "Where have you been? Kora said you were going to your families cabin," Phil says as he and Daisy break apart, and he looks between Melinda and Daisy.
"After everything that happened, I needed to get away, I couldn't be here anymore," Melinda says, and because he knows his best friend so well Phil can tell that there is something different, something off, about her voice. "I've spent the last six months adjusting, dealing with everything that happened," Melinda explains as she would rather not outright to Phil, she knows she has to come close to doing so.
"And have you? Dealt with it?" Phil asks, not sure what to think as while he can't put his finger on why exactly he can tell that Melinda is different.
"I'm still working on it," Melinda admits. "Which is why I'm not returning to the field. I'm transferring to admin," Melinda explains, and Phil is shocked by the lack of emotion in her voice.
"There's something really different about you," Phil admits, trying to figure out what.
"There is," Melinda confirms.
"More than just what happened in Bahrain," Phil says, trying to put the pieces together.
"Yes," Melinda confirms.
"And if I ask for specifics, you won't explain, just like when I used to ask where you came from," Phil realizes.
"Yes," Melinda confirms. "And it's not because I don't trust you, it's because if you know everything you'd be in danger, a different kind of danger, and I won't do that to you," Melinda admits.
"You know I'd willing face any kind of danger for you," Phil informs Melinda.
"Doesn't mean I'm going to willingly put you in it," Melinda responds.
"You two do realize that I am still standing right here?" Daisy asks curious, honestly amused at how her parents are so clearly in love but just won't admit it.
"I'm sure Daisy would love to tell you some of the things she's been doing the last few months," Melinda says, changing the subject, and knowing that Daisy knows what she can and cannot say to Phil as they talked about it.
"I'd love that," Phil admits. "Clint and Maria are on a mission, but how about I call Bobbi, Mack and Nat to come over, and we can have dinner," Phil suggests, knowing that he will try again in the future to get answers from Melinda, but for now he'll happily talk to his daughter, who he has missed so much.
"That would be nice," Melinda says, and Phil goes to make the call.
Once Phil makes the call Daisy tells Phil the parts of being on the island she can talk about, the pool, swimming in the ocean, riding a quadbike while Melinda is still trying to deal with the overwhelming emotions she felt from Phil.
Half an hour after Phil arrived home, he, Melinda and Daisy are sitting together in Phil's living room listening to Daisy's stories. As Melinda needed an emotional break she is sitting a little further away from Phil and Daisy than she normally would.
"It was sooo cool I went snorkeling with Aunt Kora and I saw soo many fish," Daisy reveals, as at the time Melinda and Gordon were working together on some training exercises.
"It sounds like it," Phil comments, as there is a knock on the door. "That will be Bobbi, Mack, and Nat," Phil reveals.
"Can I get it?" Daisy asks excited, and Phil nods.
"She's grown up," Phil realizes, feeling proud, sad, and surprised all at the same time.
"More than you know," Melinda responds as Daisy opens the door to reveal Bobbi, Mack and Natasha.
"Daisy," Mack says, sounding thrilled and Bobbi just hugs her, without even saying anything.
"I've missed you so much," Bobbi says as she hugs Daisy, and Natasha kisses the top of Daisy's head before walking past.
"I've missed you too," Daisy admits, as she and Bobbi break apart and Mack hugs Daisy.
While Bobbi, Daisy, and Mack are reunited Natasha walks over to where Melinda and Phil are standing.
"You're back," Natasha says, honestly feeling beyond glad about that.
"I am," Melinda confirms, and Natasha moves forward and hugs her, as she returns the hug Melinda can feel that Natasha is relieved to see her, and she was worried about where Melinda was. For the first time, because Natasha is so good at hiding her emotions, Melinda realizes that Natasha considers her to be her sister.
"Somethings different," Natasha realizes as she and Melinda break apart. As they do thankfully, giving Melinda a chance not to answer, Bobbi hurries forward and hugs Melinda. Like when she hugged Coulson Melinda is hit with overwhelming emotions, she feels how glad Bobbi is to see her, how relieved she is that Melinda and Daisy are okay, and she knows, without a doubt, that Bobbi loves her like a mother, and Daisy like a sister.
Due to the strength of Bobbi's overwhelming emotions it is a good thing when Melinda and Bobbi break apart from their hug. After they break apart Mack hugs Melinda. Even though Melinda considers Mack to be her family Melinda is surprised, at least she would if she was capable of feeling surprised, to feel the strength of his relief, and love, and she realizes that Mack considers her to be his sister.
"Where have you been?" Natasha asks as Melinda and Mack break apart.
"On an island," Melinda answers, knowing that Natasha is the person who is most likely to push for answers and likely won't accept her reasons not explaining.
"I searched for you, found absolutely no trace," Natasha admits, knowing that she searched several islands.
"I know," Melinda answers, and her tone causes Bobbi, Mack, and Coulson to frown, as they can all tell there is something off about Melinda.
"Melinda, are you okay?" Bobbi asks curious as like Phil she can tell that there is something different about Melinda.
"What's happened over the last six months have changed me, I am different now, but I am okay," Melinda says, knowing that. "I've taken the time I need to adjust to this new me, so has Daisy, I understand if you all need time as well," Melinda says, as she looks between the members of her family.
"I'm just glad you're home, I don't care that you're different," Bobbi informs the person she sees as a mother as she is sure that nothing could change how she feels about Melinda.
"Same," Mack says, and Phil nods. While both of them want to know what happened to Melinda, they respect her enough to respect her privacy, and know that Melinda only keeps secrets for very good reasons.
"Nat?" Melinda asks, looking at her.
"May you disappeared," Natasha says, pain in her voice. "I searched for you, none of us had any idea if you were alive. I don't do well when people I care about aren't okay, I just want to know why you disappeared," Natasha admits.
"I left because it was what I needed, because I couldn't be in DC," Melinda admits, knowing that there is a chance that no explanation will be good enough for Natasha. "Just like how I can't return to the field," Melinda reveals, deciding to give them something else to focus on.
"You're leaving SHIELD?" Bobbi asks, sounding shocked.
"No, just the field," Melinda reveals. "I'm transferring to admin," Melinda says.
"And you're just okay with that? There's no emotion in your voice," Natasha says, sounding shocked, finally realizing what is off.
"It is what it is," Melinda reveals, and Daisy takes pity on her mother, as she knows that her mother won't say much more than she already has.
"What have mom and I missed while we were gone?" Daisy asks curious. "We were on beautiful deserted island, but I want to know what was going on at home," Daisy explains.
"How about we share stories while we wait for food," Phil suggests, as they have ordered delivery which won't be long.
"Sure," Melinda answers, and Bobbi, Mack and Natasha nod. A
As the family of five adults and one teenager talk and share stories it is clear that everyone is glad that Melinda and Daisy are back, but it also clear that Natasha isn't going to just drop all the questions she has, and that Phil, Bobbi and Mack are extremely curious as well.
After a few hours of having an incredible time with their SHIELD family Melinda and Daisy are arriving back to their apartment.
"That was really fun, I'm really glad to be home," Daisy admits, as she and Melinda walk into the apartment.
"That's good," Melinda says, knowing she would be feeling glad right now if she was capable of doing so.
"Mom, what if Nat keeps asking questions?" Daisy asks curious.
"I'll figure something out," Melinda responds. "Are you looking forward to spending tomorrow with Cols and Saturday with Bobbi and Mack?" Melinda asks her daughter curious.
"Yep," Daisy confirms, grinning from ear to ear, and as she does yawns.
"I think it's time you go to bed," Melinda tells her daughter.
"Yep, night Mom," Daisy says, walking over to her mother. "I love you," Daisy says, as even though her mother can feel the love she is feeling she always wants to say it.
"Love you too," Melinda responds, and once she and Daisy break apart Daisy heads to her room while Melinda just looks around her home.
Even though Melinda can't feel what it means to be home she knows that she is relieved, and she knows without a doubt that she would be glad to be with her SHIELD family again if she could feel that.