Chapter 34
An: Hope you like this chapter.
October 8th 2012
A little over a month has passed since Daisy started her senior year and because of her workload she hasn't been home as much as normal which has resulted in Melinda, even with Bobbi, Mack, Kora, and Nat coming around when they can, spending a lot more time alone.
For Melinda it has been a pretty normal Monday in the admin department, or at least it was until Melinda got called up to Fury's office. If she was capable of feeling curious Melinda knows she would be extremely curious about what is going on.
Once she gets up to the floor where Fury's office is Melinda is allowed straight into Fury's office, which again would have added to her curiosity if she was capable of feeling curiosity.
"You wanted to see me Sir," Melinda greats.
"Secure office," Fury says, making the office completely secure as he knows that he does not want anyone to overhear this conversation. "May, what do you know about Project Tahiti?" Fury asks, as he suspects that Melinda knows at least something about it as when the technicians were altering Phil's memories they had to get rid of a lot of memories of Phil with Melinda since January because they had connections to Project TAHITI or Kree, but he doesn't know the reason why as they weren't able to 'watch' the memories, but knew they exist.
"Phil's alive, you brought him back," Melinda says, and Fury is a little creeped out by the fact that Melinda's voice is completely void of emotion, while Melinda knows she should be feeling overwhelming joy, but can't feel it. "What about the side effects?" Melinda asks, as she quickly searches her mind for everything she knows about how Kree biology interacts with regular humans.
"That's exactly why you are here," Fury informs Melinda. "Judging by what you said I assume Phil confided in you about the project?" Fury asks, wanting to know just what Melinda knows so that he can figure out where to start.
"He told me everything he knew when he was considering whether to have the project shut down," Melinda explains to Fury.
"Good, I don't have to catch you up," Fury says, looking relieved, though he still has a whole lot of question. "We used the Procedures on Phil, he's alive," Fury says, and Melinda knows she should be feeling like her broken heart is being heled, but she can't feel it, because she isn't close enough to Fury she can't feel anything. "Memory replacement has proven to be effected in other cases and so any memory Coulson has attached to Project Tahiti, or the alien race known as the Kree, has been removed, and his memories post New York are in the process of being replaced with less traumatic memory," Fury explains, and as he does Melinda know that she should be feeling dreed because of what Fury just said.
"All memories attached to Kree or Project Tahiti have been removed?" Melinda asks, and Fury realises that she seems far too unfazed about talk of aliens.
"Yes, they had to be in an attempt to give Coulson the best shot at not having side effects," Fury explains to Melinda. "The technicians removed memories through connections that existed and that connected to Project Tahiti and the Kree," Fury explains. "They were not able to view the memory, but they were able to tell that a lot of Phil's memories since January, all of which involved you, had to be removed. Would you like to explain that Agent May?" Fury asks curious.
"No," Melinda responds. "What do you want from me?" Melinda asks, as she knows that Fury would only have told her about Phil because he wants her to do something.
"Read this, this is everything that was done to Phil," Fury says, handing the file over. "I want you to evaluate what would be needed in a team and give me the assessment. When Phil returns to SHIELD next year I don't want him to be at the Triskelion or Hub, or anywhere else. I want him in the field, with a team, and I need you to figure out what that will look like," Fury explains to Melinda.
"Yes Sir," Melinda says, knowing that her answer to that will depend on what she learns in a conversation with Kora and Gordon. "I will get you my assessment once I have completed it," Melinda says, in a completely even voice. "Is there anything else, sir?" Melinda asks.
"No," Fury says, shaking his head as he is honestly beyond confused about Melinda's reaction to everything he just told her. "You're dismissed," Fury says and Melinda just walks out of his office, Fury wondering what the hell is really going on, as Melinda leaves.
After leaving Fury's office Melinda makes her way to the elevator, and once she is in the elevator Melinda leans against the side of elevator and takes several deep breaths. While she cannot feel the emotions that she should be feeling Melinda knows what she should be feeling and while she knows that Phil being alive is the best news ever she also knows that seeing, and interacting with a Phil who doesn't know they were together is going to be impossibly hard.
Not that long after she left Fury's office Melinda is walking into her apartment, as after what Fury told her there was no way she was going to stay at work.
"Gordon, I need to talk to you and Kora, now," Melinda says once she is sure that her blinds are closed, and seconds later Gordon and Kora appear in her living room.
"Mellie, what's going on?" Kora asks concerned.
"What do you both know about how Kree Biology interacts with regular humans, people without the inhuman gene?" Melinda asks, looking between her brother and sister as she has already wracked her brain for what she knows, but that doesn't mean Kora and Gordon don't know more.
"Not a whole lot, neither of us are scientists Mel," Gordon explains to Melinda. "What's going on?" Gordon asks, feeling confusion that Melinda would feel if she was close enough.
"In January Phil told me about a SHIELD project named Tahiti. He was in charge of it and recommended that it was shut down. It used Kree biology to bring humans back to life," Melinda explains, looking between her brother and sister.
"No," Kora says, her eyes widening as she looks disbelieving.
"Fury informed me today that he used that project to resurrect Phil," Melinda explains and as soon as she does Kora and Gordon are shocked. "but to prevent side effects any memories Phil has about Protect Tahiti or Kree had to be removed or altered," Melinda explains, and as she does Kora has a horrible thought.
"Wait, you told Phil everything, and that's when you got together. Does that mean he doesn't remember that you were together now?" Kora asks concerned.
"Yes," Melinda confirms, and both Gordon and Kora know that if she could Melinda would be feeling pained. "That's why I need to know more about Kree biology, and how it interacts with Human DNA. The only place I am going to be able to get that information is Afterlife," Melinda explains.
"We can look, but Mel, you know who we're gonna have to ask," Gordon says, a little hesitatingly.
"I know," Melinda confirms.
"And you know what she's likely to say," Kora says, a little hesitantly.
"I know," Melinda confirms. "Tell Mom, that I am asking, that since I was seventeen I haven't asked her for a single thing, but I'm asking this. Tell her that Phil is the love of my life and I need to help him, and I can't do that without her help. Tell her that it would mean everything to me if she helped me with this," Melinda requests, knowing that if needed to help Phil she would ever go to Afterlife, but she knows she doesn't want it to come to that.
"We will," Gordon confirms.
"Mellie, are you going to be okay? When you see Coulson again, whenever that is, you're going to remember what you had together for five months, but he won't," Kora says to her sister, clearly concerned for her.
"I don't know," Melinda admits. "But I know what I will feel from Phil, even without his memories, and until I can figure out if telling him the truth will hurt him that will be enough," Melinda admits.
"Okay," Kora says, though she makes a note to keep visiting her sister more over the next few months.
"Why did Fury tell you what was done? From what you've told me that doesn't exactly sound like him," Gordon comments.
"Fury wants me to determine the requirements for a team for Phil, and while not knowing what we talked about he knows that a lot of Phil's memories about Project Tahiti involve me," Melinda explains to her siblings.
"So, he figured you already know so you might as well tell you," Kora realises. "What are you going to tell the others?" Kora asks curious.
"I'm going to tell Daisy as soon as she gets home from school," Melinda admits. "Bobbi and Mack are on a mission, but I'll tell them when they get back," Melinda says, even though she knows Fury wouldn't approve of that. "I feel what Phil's death is doing to them, I'm not going to keep them in the dark," Melinda admits.
"That's fair enough," Gordon admits. "Let's talk about what you know about this project Tahiti, see what we can make sense off," Gordon suggests.
"This will help," Melinda says, showing the file she has and the three of them sit down at the table and start to have a look.
For over an hour Melinda, Kora and Gordon have sat together around the table and read, and discussed, everything they know. As they have read all the documents Fury gave Melinda more than once the trio are all pretty sure that there are details missing as there isn't full accounts of the side affects others have been through, and because of Phil Melinda knows that the people who were given GH325 were carving things, but there is no records of what the carvings were in what Fury gave her.
"Okay, we need a scientist, one who understands Kree, Human, and Inhuman DNA," Kora comments. "Coz I mean, I don't know how to help Phil, but I can't help but wonder if this serum could help us," Kora admits.
"That's what I've been wondering since Phil told me about it," Melinda admits. "But right now, I can't think about that, I need to think about the best way to help Phil," Melinda admits.
"We know," Gordon assures her. "Look, we'll go back to Afterlife, talk to Jiaying, see what she knows," Gordon explains, and Melinda nods.
"Mellie, I'll make it clear how much you need this, do everything I can to get her to help," Kora assures her sister.
"Thank you," Melinda says, and both Gordon and Kora know that Melinda would sound grateful if she was capable of it.
"We'll let you know what she says," Gordon says, and after Melinda nods he and Kora both get up, leaving the file on the table, and once Kora is close enough to Gordon the two of them disappear.
Seconds after they were in Melinda's apartment Kora and Gordon arrive back at Afterlife.
"Together, or do you want to talk to her alone?" Gordon asks Kora curious as he knows that Kora will know best.
"Together," Kora says, as she figures it will be best.
"Okay," Gordon says and together the two of them head to Jiaying's office together.
When Kora and Gordon get to Jiaying's office they realise that she is already in a meeting, which is just ending, so they wait a couple of minutes and once the meeting is finished they both walk in.
"Everything okay?" Kora asks her mother curious as she and Gordon walk into the office.
"Yes, we were just discussing ways to help us remain hidden after what happened in New York," Jiaying explains, as that is something she has been rather worried about.
"Good, that's something we're gonna need to keep in place," Kora admits as she and Gordon sit down across from Jiaying.
"I had wanted you both to be in that meeting, but you couldn't be found. Where were you?" Jiaying asks curious.
"Mel called," Gordon explains.
"Is she okay?" Jiaying asks, clearly concerned, and as she asks she notices Kora and Gordon exchange looks. "What's happened?" Jiaying asks.
"As you know the man Mellie loves was killed before the Battle of New York, well it turns out SHIELD has a way to bring someone back to life using Kree DNA and that was used on Phil," Kora explains.
"Mel's desperate to figure out how to prevent side effects. Phil's not Inhuman so she is trying to figure out the possible side effects," Gordon explains.
"Mom, Mellie asked for your help," Kora informs her mother, and Jiaying is a little surprised by that. "She asked us to tell you that she was asking, that since she was seventeen she hasn't asked you for a single thing, but she is asking for this," Kora explains.
"Jiaying, Mel said to tell you that Phil is the love of her life, and that she needs to help him, that she can't do that without your help, that it would mean everything to her if you helped her," Gordon explains to Jiaying, and for a few moments Jiaying looks like she is considering everything that both Gordon and Kora have said.
"What do you know about what was done?" Jiaying asks, as she hopes this will be the first step in making things right between her and her oldest daughter, and once she does Kora and Gordon start to explain what they know.
A while after Kora and Gordon left Melinda is still sitting in the living room, but is now on the floor in front of the couch, reading through the file Fury gave her, doing her best to make sense of it, when the door opens and Daisy walks in.
"Hey Mom," Daisy greats as she walks in. "You're home early," Daisy notes, sounding a little surprised, as she walks over to her mother.
"Yeah," Melinda confirms. "Daisy, I need you to sit down," Melinda tells her daughter.
"That never means anything good," Daisy says concerned as she walks over to her mother and sits down on the couch. As Daisy sits down on the couch Melinda moves from the ground to the couch, next to her daughter. "What's going on?" Daisy ask her mother.
"Daisy, Cols is alive," Melinda tells her daughter.
"What?" Daisy asks, tears coming to her eyes, as she is clearly disbelieving, though she knows her mother wouldn't lie about this. "How?"
"In January Phil told me about a SHIELD project called Project TAHITI it used Kree DNA to heal injuries and illness, bring people back to life, it was shut down," Melinda explains to her daughter. "Today Director Fury informed me that it had been used on Phil, to heal the injuries Loki inflicted on him, bring him back," Melinda explains to her daughter.
"Is he okay?" Daisy asks, and because she is so close Melinda can feel the relief she should have felt as soon as Fury told her.
"That's what I am working on determining," Melinda explains to her daughter. "Phil recommended the project be shut down for a reason, and Fury told me today that any memories Phil had connected to Project Tahiti or Kree have been removed or altered," Melinda explains, and once she does Daisy gets a horrible suspicion. "Aunt Kora and Uncle Gordon are talking to Grandma to see what our people know about how Kree DNA interact with Humans, so that we can try to prevent any potential side effects," Melinda explains to her daughter.
"Mom, you said that Cols memories connected to the Kree have been removed," Daisy says. "Didn't you say that you and Cols were talking about our people when you finally admitted what the rest of us had known for a long time?" Daisy asks.
"Yes," Melinda confirms.
"Does that mean Cols won't remember that you guys were together?" Daisy asks, and Melinda gives a slight nod, but it is enough for Daisy to see. As Daisy sees her mother's nod she thinks, just for a second, that her mothers abilities may be a blessing as she can't feel the heartbreak that she would be feeling about that. "I'm so sorry Mom," Daisy says, before hugging her mother and even though Daisy is trying to control her emotions Melinda feels her daughters joy at Phil being alive, and her love, but she also feels the pity Daisy is feeling for her.
"It's okay, Daisy," Melinda tells her daughter. "You don't have to pity me," Melinda assures her, as they break apart.
"But you and Cols were finally together, and happy, and now he's not going to remember any of it," Daisy comments.
"But I will, and I know what I will feel from him when we see each other again; that's good enough for now," Melinda explains to her daughter as she has thought a lot about that in the last few hours.
"When will we see Cols again?" Daisy asks curious.
"I don't know for sure, but likely not for a few months," Melinda explains to her daughter.
"I'll be counting the days," Daisy admits.
"Me too," Melinda responds, and the two of them drift into silence as they sit together. Melinda thinks about everything she knows, and what she knows she will feel from Phil when they see each other again while Daisy is thinking about how she is feeling torn. While she is beyond happy to know that Phil is alive, and that she is going to see him again, she is sad for her mother, as even with her abilities Daisy knows it can't be easy for her to know Phil won't remember that they were together.
October 21st 2012
Two weeks have passed since Melinda found out Phil is actually alive and ever since Melinda has been trying to figure out what would be best for Phil, but because she is still waiting for information from Afterlife she hasn't handed in her recommendations to Fury. Due to Bobbi and Mack still being on their mission Melinda hasn't had a chance to tell either of them the truth about Phil.
It's a Sunday and like they often do Melinda and Daisy have pushed all the furniture in their living room out of the way and are sparing in the apartment.
"Not bad," Melinda tells her daughter as she helps her back to her feet.
"Could be better," Daisy says, and as she does there is a flash of light and both Gordon and Kora appear. "Uncle Gordon, Aunt Kora," Daisy says happily as she walks over and hugs them.
"Hey Dazey-Daze," Kora says as she returns the hug.
"Did mom find out anything?" Melinda asks, as soon as Daisy finishes hugging her aunt and Uncle.
"She did," Kora confirms. "But she wants to tell you in person," Kora explains. "Mom said if you're not willing to come to Afterlife, then you can meet at the Cabin, but she really wants to see you," Kora explains to her sister.