May blew out a sigh as she finished a stack of paperwork and put it aside. Glancing at the clock, she saw it was still only 11:30 in the morning. The base was quiet - well, as quiet as a base for an organization tasked with protecting the Earth from both terrestrial and extraterrestrial threats could be. There was the familiar steady hum of activity downstairs: lab equipment whirring and pinging, the buzz of work-related and casual chatter, and occasional shouts and grunts audible as agents trained in the gym.

She was sequestered away from most of it, being up in the Director's office as she did her work. She stared at the empty high-back office chair across from her: she knew Coulson wouldn't mind if she used his chair while he was gone, but it didn't feel right somehow. Besides, being across from his seat reminded her of those days long-gone when they were mission partners and they would always sit across from each other as they laughed, joked, and did their work together. Even though he wasn't sitting in it, it gave May a sense of normalcy and a feeling that he was there with her, as weird as it was.

Coulson was away on another recruitment mission somewhere halfway around the world, and checking in on different international SHIELD bases as well. She, of course, was acting Director while he was away. She had to get through the paperwork and write official reports detailing their latest missions for archiving and analysis. And although she liked the solitude, the tediousness of the paperwork made her wish she was teaching or demonstrating combat techniques downstairs.

She glanced at the phone for the umpteenth time that hour; Coulson had said he would call and check in every couple of days, but it had been a week since they had last talked. She knew he was busy and just the nature of their work in itself was top secret and often quite lonely, but she couldn't help but worry. It wasn't because he was incapable of protecting himself, and he also had a whole team of agents accompanying him. But after his death in the Battle of New York, she could never shake the feeling he wasn't completely safe unless she was there, watching his back.

The shrill ring of the phone startled her out of her thoughts, and she quickly picked up.

"Hello? May?" Came the voice of the person she was just thinking of.

"Coulson," May couldn't keep the relief out of her voice. "You should have called at least three days ago."

"Good to hear from you too," and May could hear the smile in his voice. "How are things over at the base?"

"Not too different," May replied, sitting back in her chair and relaxing, now that she knew he was at least safe enough to call. "Nothing too crazy. Small missions here and there, no one seriously injured or dead so that's a win. Juggled some calls from the government, managed to get them to wait until you got back" - Melinda smiled as she heard his good natured groan - "and the new agents are really improving in their combat and training. Our team is working them hard, but it's paying off."

"And how is our team?" Coulson asked, as she knew he would. Technically, the whole base was 'their team', but May knew he meant the 'Bus kids', and the ones who fought with them to reestablish SHIELD right after the rise of Hydra.

"Fitz and Simmons are leading up some new inventions for weapons as well as some fancy gadgets for base and plane defence. Don't even ask me what they are or how they work because I have no idea. Lots of science-y jargon" - Coulson chuckled - "and Mack is busy overseeing and organizing the new recruits into teams, keeping the base organized, all the logistical stuff. And of course, Daisy and Elena are recruiting and training the new Inhumans and helping them feel more at home. Daisy especially is intent on having "team bonding" activities almost every night for everyone on base." May rolled her eyes and from Coulson's laugh, she could tell he noticed it from her voice.

"I don't envy whoever's job it is to drag you to those things," Coulson joked. "But I'm glad things are going well. You know you're the only one I would trust to run things while I'm gone. Well technically, even while I'm there too."

"I know," May replied, her voice sobering to match his sudden switch to a serious tone.

"Are you doing okay though, May?" Coulson asked. "Have I asked too much of you?"

May pondered this thoughtfully, though the obvious concern in his voice warmed her heart. It wasn't the first time she was in charge while he was gone, but this had been the longest time he'd been away from base at one time, almost three weeks now.

"I know you're on important business so I don't mind," May shared haltingly. She wasn't really one to talk about her feelings, and she knew Coulson could read as much from what she didn't say, as what she did. "And nothing too major has happened since you left. Just come" - May almost said 'home', but the word got stuck in her throat. It felt too intimate to use, even though for most SHIELD agents, herself and Coulson included, SHIELD was their home. But perhaps using it in this context, she didn't want to imply herself as part of that home, in case he would pick up that she thought he was her home…but why was she overthinking all this? This was Coulson. "Just come back soon, Phil," May finished, trying to cover up her stumble.

She could practically hear his thoughts turning in his head, as if receiving and processing all that she said and meant, in her tone and inflections and silence.

"I will, Melinda," Phil replied softly, and she could almost see that gentle look on his face she was sure he had on. They sat in silence over the phone for a couple more moments, as if they were really sitting together in person and just enjoying the other's company. Of course, it wasn't the same.

Coulson finally broke the silence "I should probably get going. Should I get some takeout from Hong Kong for you?"

May laughed despite herself. "You'll eat it all before I even get to see it."

She could feel Coulson's grin and just knew he had that twinkle in his eye. "I miss you too."

"I didn't say that," May retorted back.

"You did," Coulson said, May sensing that his grin was growing wider. May smiled too, treasuring their closeness and how at times they could almost hear each other's thoughts.

"Take care."

"You too."

May put the phone down, and she wasn't sure how long she spent staring at the empty chair in front of her, when Daisy knocked softly on the door and let herself in.

"Hey May, there's a comm coming in downstairs, but the source isn't someone we recognize so we thought we'd wait for you," she explained. Then, she saw the look on May's face. "Darn, did I just miss Coulson? Was hoping to get a few words in on your guys' next call."

"What makes you think that?" May replied automatically, but Daisy just smiled. May knew the younger agent had a lot of affection for Coulson and saw him as the father she never had. And she knew Coulson saw Daisy as a daughter, and May had to admit that she herself also felt a special protectiveness and kinship with the younger agent.

"I just know," Daisy grinned. "But until he comes back, we've got work to do."