Twenty One

The following week had been a mad rush of recovery for McCoy. Between classes and everything else, he had been feeling more stressed than usual. The only consolation he had was that he would talk to Emily almost every night. She was usually the one who constantly reassured him that everything would work out in the end. Though that didn't make things any easier when the scores were finally released. Then there was the explanation he had to come up with when Pamela had reached him the morning school began.

"Is everything alright between you two?" she'd asked when she approached him in the hallway.

Everyone had been talking about how a stranger was brought to the prom, even though Emily wasn't technically a stranger. Because she graduated three years earlier, she didn't have to deal with senior year like them. Though he'd begun to notice that more than a few students were wary around her, especially since the rumors began.

"More or less," he replied after letting out a tired sigh.

It wasn't that he was exhausted from a day of classes or anything. The mental strain of studying for medical school had begun taking a toll on him. His father had recommended that he start studying ahead of the SAT's. Apparently medical school was difficult to get into for a good reason, and if he ever planned on enlisting in Starfleet, that made it much more challenging. Though he had no intentions of enlisting Starfleet, especially after hearing the horror stories Emily would come up with. He knew how competitive colleges were. A lot of graduates had been talking about enlisting in Starfleet, and he had little doubt most of them would drop out within a year's worth of classes.

"I'm glad to hear it," Pamela said with a sheepish smile. "I was worried I said the wrong thing when she started arguing with you… I didn't mean to encroach or anything."

"No, you're fine," McCoy reassured her without missing a beat. He frowned as he recalled how that argument began in the first place. He had no doubt in the back of his mind that Emily was the woman he'd chosen… even though they'd had a rocky start from the beginning of their relationship, she'd put him in his place on more than one occasion. Yet she was still caring and kind enough to look out for him whenever something went horribly wrong. And that was what he admired the most out of her. She'd been through hell and back, yet somehow she was still willing to look past his faults and accept him for who he was. "Emily's been through a lot over the years, even before we first became neighbors. I'm pretty sure that's why she reacted the way she did."

He only knew bits and pieces of her past. She rarely went into details for a good reason. Time and time again he tried pressing for more information, but Emily knew how to evade the subject. Truthfully, he couldn't blame her if it had anything to do with her stories revolving around Starfleet. Though he knew there was something deeper going on with her past. The fact that she'd suffered from traumatic events at such a young age left his gut wrenching with guilt. He hadn't helped much the first few weeks she and Coulson moved in. And he supposed that was part of the reason he'd forced himself to get to know her better. Pamela tilted her head to one side in surprise.

"Well, if she's anything like she has been, I'm sure she'll recover quickly," she remarked thoughtfully. "She doesn't seem like the kind of person to let anything get to her."

No, she certainly didn't. McCoy rubbed the back of his neck as he made his way back home. That whole day had been a whirlwind of trying to get last-minute tests finished. He was lucky his scores had come back as above average. He knew there were a few other seniors who had been struggling over the last couple of weeks, especially with the prospect of graduation around the corner.

He tried pushing the uneasy thoughts aside. Medical school was going to be difficult enough. About the only consolation he had was that Emily would be there for him. Maybe not physically, but they always found some way of keeping in touch. He'd always been warned that long-distance relationships were even worse than regular ones, but somehow they were able to make it work.

He was hoping to take a break somewhere between his hectic schedule once he got back home, but that didn't seem possible. McCoy rose an eyebrow when he realized his father was back early from his shift. More surprising still was that his father and mother were talking quietly in the kitchen. Worry was the first thought crossing his mind. Lord knew what would be said if they found out about that night with Emily. Sure, it was expected being they were both young and possibly stupid for being so reckless. But he knew damn well that if her father ever found out, there would be hell to pay for anyone involved.

"… sure it's a good idea to trust him with that kind of responsibility? It's a family heirloom for a reason, David."

McCoy stiffened at the mention of 'family heirloom'. He knew what his mother was talking about. His father had shown the object once when he was younger, telling him about the story of when he'd been in Wakanda for two years. Apparently it had been part of a mission's trip for doctors across the world, and his father had gotten the larger end of the straw. As a result of his hard work and dedication to improving their medical facilities, the king of Wakanda had given him a ring made of pure vibranium, a rare substance found only in the country itself. He'd always been fascinated with his father's story, more so when he knew how much meaning it held to him.

"I know it's a big responsibility, but Leonard's proven himself time and time again," his father reassured her. "Besides, you've seen how close those two are. I don't doubt he's already made plans once he graduates from med school."

Heat immediately rose to his cheeks when he realized what they were talking about. Memories of his mother's reaction to the news that he was dating Emily were still fresh. She'd been ecstatic, especially since she knew how close they were even before reaching that agreement. His father had always approved, even before they reached that ultimate decision. After all, his father was the one who usually came up with some of their 'hiking trips', which usually involved Emily and her father joining them. Of course, he wasn't given the chance to say anything when his mother finally seemed to realize he was standing there.

"Lennie, you're back early!" she exclaimed in a tone that suggested he shouldn't have been there.

He nearly rolled his eyes at the nickname she used. He knew better than to snap at his mother. Back when he was younger he'd been terrified of doing anything she frowned upon. He'd heard enough horror stories from his cousins to know it was best to stay under her good graces.

"Classes finished early since they released the SAT scores," he explained after throwing his backpack on the couch. "What were you talking about?"

His father shared a knowing look with his mother, and McCoy knew in that moment that this had to be something important. He was well aware that his family had other secrets revolving around the very agency Emily signed up for. That was part of the reason he'd been reluctant to agree with her decision to join it. Yet he knew Emily would do whatever she could to prove herself, regardless of what he or anyone else thought.

"Leo, I think it's time we had a talk," his father let out a sigh once they seemed to reach a silent agreement.

He rose an eyebrow as his father stood up, gesturing for him to follow. McCoy threw his mother a wary look, but she simply gave him a nod of encouragement. His shoulders sank with guilt as he wondered not for the first time what was going on. If this had anything to do with that night, he knew he was a goner. Yet, something told him this was even bigger than what happened between them. Once his father led the way to the stables where the horses were kept, he finally turned to face McCoy. The serious look written across his face was enough for McCoy to stiffen and expect the worst outcome.

"If this has anything to do with prom night, I can explain—"

"Relax, Leo," his father cut him off before he could beg for forgiveness. Though that didn't stop the surprise from sweeping across his eyes at the mention of prom night. McCoy silently bit his tongue when he realized his father hadn't even known what occurred that night. "Your mother and I were discussing how we were going to work out your relationship with Emily." Almost at once, McCoy looked down at his feet guiltily. "I take it it's turning serious?"

"Something along those lines."

He rubbed the back of his neck, hoping to hide how utterly embarrassed and ashamed he was in that moment. He had been worried about taking things too far with her. After all, she still suffered from panic attacks and nightmares. While she wasn't nearly as bad as she had been when Coulson first brought her with him, that didn't mean they didn't still occur. Yet, his father just looked at him in amusement, taking McCoy by surprise once more.

"I know you used my credits to rent that room at the Sun INN," his father surmised. His cheeks only turned a deeper shade of red. He fully expected his father to ream him out for hurting her or taking advantage of her that night. But to his utter disbelief, his father let out a laugh. "At least you had the integrity to take her somewhere other than your house."

McCoy grimaced and looked at his father doubtfully, "I wanted to do something special for that night… I remember her Pa mentioning that's where they stayed before they moved in next door."

His father nodded in understanding and rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

"You really care about her that much?" McCoy just looked at him as if that was the dumbest question anyone could ask. Again, his father just laughed at his expression. "There's a few things you should know about the Coulson's before you go any further…"

"I know her Pa works for the agency," he suddenly blurted out. His father rose an eyebrow in surprise, and McCoy quickly clamped his mouth shut. He'd promised Emily years ago that he would never tell a soul. From the moment she told him about the agency and everything it stood for, he knew he'd planned on keeping it a secret for her. Not only because she stood for what she believed in, but because he cared about her as more than just a friend. "And she signed up for it a few months ago."

"Well, that saves me from having to explain a few things," his father let out a sigh of relief. They both took seats on a bale of hay after that. McCoy had a feeling that his father was about to tell a long-winded story of how this all transpired in the first place. "I know that you're aware of the agency and that Phil works for said agency, but I doubt she's told you about the agreement we came up with years ago." His brows furrowed together in surprise as his father looked at the floor thoughtfully. "He came into the hospital one day with a severe injury. He was lucky to be alive at the point he showed up, practically begging me to keep what happened a secret. I only agreed to it so long as he promised not to get himself hurt again like an idiot."

He almost laughed as his father paused for a moment, as if reminiscing the day he and Coulson met. He could already imagine the moment like it just happened. McCoy was well aware that his father had been there when Emily was brought into the ICU years before they met. The fact that it was his father who'd treated her injuries at the time told him it was fate that brought them together.

"That doesn't explain how you've gotten involved with the agency," McCoy pointed out.

The moment he said that was when his father threw him a look of surprise. He'd known for some time that his father also had ties with the agency. Maybe he didn't work as a full medical officer, but his father usually dealt with some of the stranger sides of the agency. Emily had told him stories about visiting the hospital sometimes with her father, and his own father was usually the one who would greet them.

"It was after meeting Phil that I chose to enlist in helping out," he explained. McCoy couldn't help but wonder at the fact that everything was somehow connected. His father was the one who told Coulson about the house next door being for sale. And his father was the one who encouraged him to be friends with Emily, despite their differences. "When he told me about a case he was working on I jumped at the opportunity. Didn't expect that case to be a kid. She was your age when they brought her in. Then he finally talked about adopting her."

He'd known at the time how much his father had looked after Emily when she was first brought in. He remembered hearing him talk to his mother about it that one night. His father had looked utterly exhausted and mentally drained. Even his mother had admitted that maybe they should have talked about taking her home with them. McCoy was suddenly grateful they hadn't - that would have ruined any chances they had at dating. Yet it also explained why Coulson had jumped at the opportunity to move next door.

And that's when you told him about the house, McCoy realized.

For a moment, he wasn't sure what to say as everything became clear. His father had somehow been more involved with their relationship than he first realized. The more he thought about it, the more grateful he was that his father had pushed him. His life had changed for the better when he chose to get to know Emily better.

"This doesn't have to do with your story, does it?" he suddenly asked when his father pulled something from his pocket.

"No, it doesn't," his father nodded in response. He gave McCoy an odd look before offering a smile, one he'd seen enough times whenever his father was around his mother. "Do you care about Emily?"

His question caught McCoy off guard. Of course he cared about Emily. Hell, she was the first person to show there was more to life than living up to everyone's expectations. Then there was the fact that she was willing to accept him for who he was, and not for everything he achieved. He suddenly felt as if his father was testing him, and he swallowed hard at the thought.

"More than anyone I've ever met," he finally replied.

When his father gave him another odd look, McCoy found himself wondering if he said the right thing. But his father suddenly did something that caught him off guard. The object he'd pulled from his pocket was suddenly revealed, and McCoy's jaw nearly dropped in disbelief.

"You know I wouldn't normally hand this ring over if there wasn't a good reason for it," his father began after revealing said object, "Your mother and I were discussing whether or not it's a good idea to trust you with this ring. But if she really means that much to you, I want you to take it."

McCoy swallowed hard when he took the ring, suddenly feeling a heavy weight on his shoulders as he held it for the first time. His father was entrusting him with a priceless family heirloom, something that few people were lucky enough to boast about. He realized with a start that this wouldn't have happened had he been with anyone else. He was also aware that in that moment, Emily meant more to him than he would ever admit out loud. And he was going to cherish the moment his father finally trusted him.

.

.

'Tony's been looking for a new secretary for nearly a year now. He hasn't bothered letting anyone in, but he sure as hell sleeps with all the women he interviews,' — Rhodes

Emily rolled her eyes as she read the message Rhodes sent her that morning. She knew Tony had been looking for an assistant or a secretary to help out with the financing and scheduling for his company for months now. She hadn't realized until then just how bad it was until Rhodes warned her. Years of putting up with him taught her that Tony would be too stubborn to find an assistant who knew what they were doing.

'Do you want me to come over and run the interview process with him?' — Coulson

'Please and thank you; I'm pretty sure he's giving Obadiah an ulcer,' — Rhodes

She struggled not to smirk at his expense. She'd met Obadiah once when she and Tony were discussing suits. The older man hadn't been interested in what they were talking about, but his interest in her had sent a shiver of alarm through her. It didn't take a genius to know he was more interested in her intelligence rather than anything else. Luckily Tony shooed him away before things could get anymore awkward.

'I'll bring Leonard with me since it's the weekend. I'm sure Tony won't mind giving extra accommodations,' — Coulson

As she sent the message, she could already imagine the eye-roll that would follow. Rhodes knew her well enough to know that she wasn't above breaking a few rules. McCoy had never been to California before, but he had seen Tony and Rhodes in the past. Though truthfully, that had been nearly four years ago. She shook her head in amusement at the thought, though her amusement was short-lived when she heard a cough from behind.

"Who's Rhodes?" She whirled around in time to see Clint giving her a smug look. One quick punch across the chest was all it took for him to stagger backwards, groaning in annoyance. "Damn you have a mean swing."

"He's a friend of mine," she retorted. "Him and Tony have been good friends since the day we met."

"You seem to have a lot of male friends," Clint remarked with a sly grin.

That was enough for her to raise an eyebrow in surprise. She realized with a start that he was right. Most of her friends happened to be men… unless she counted McCoy's mother and Maria. Both were more like family to her than anything else. The more she thought about it, the more she began to wonder the irony of that notion. Back when she was younger men had terrified her. She could still remember shrinking away from Doctor McCoy more often than she wanted to admit. Eventually he managed to win her over by building trust, but even then that was something he didn't take for granted.

"When we first met Tony was one of the few people to accept me for who I was," she explained warily. "He never once judged me based on what I was or what I could do… and Rhodes pretty much came with the package."

Clint rose an eyebrow in surprise when he realized what she meant by that. It felt good to be treated as though everything was normal. She knew she was far from the most normal person in the world, so it was a pleasant change. It wasn't until McCoy finally began to accept her as more than just a friend that her life had begun changing for the better.

"Sounds like they're good friends," he said thoughtfully. Emily gave him a thoughtful look when she guessed what he was thinking. "So what does that make us?"

She was taken aback by his question. He had become a good friend over the last few weeks. Despite how annoying he could be at times with his prodding, she knew he meant well. She was beginning to realize that it was possible to make more than a couple of friends and keep them close. She couldn't hide the small smile that followed as she elbowed him playfully.

"Well, if you keep this up then maybe I'll let you be my friend," she retorted cheekily. Clint just smirked in amusement as he realized what she was implying. "I take it this has something to do with the way you tried sneaking up on me?"

"I was wondering what you and McCoy did for prom night," he admitted with a laugh. "I mean, it's been a couple of days and you haven't talked about it."

Emily pursed her lips together at the thought of telling him everything. She was well aware of the fact that Coulson had asked the archer to keep an eye on her when he couldn't. That notion alone was enough for her to nearly roll her eyes in exasperation. The fact that Coulson didn't trust her with the agency was what annoyed her so damn much.

"He took me to the same place Papa and I stayed the first time we moved to Georgia," she explained after rolling her eyes at his expense. Clint crossed his arms in surprise as he realized where this was headed. "And if I was being honest with myself, he was amazing… he never tried forcing himself on me."

If anything she had been the forceful one that night. Embarrassment suddenly swept through her as she recalled how she'd almost lost control. It was only until McCoy pointed something out that she finally regained her composure and let him take the lead. The last thing she wanted was to put him in an uncomfortable position.

"Glad to hear it. I would've had to have used him for target practice if he tried hurting you," he gave a dry chuckle.

Emily returned the gesture with a laugh of her own. She knew he was being serious, despite his lighthearted nature. Considering Coulson had pretty much dragged him into being her 'guard dog', she wasn't entirely surprised he took that role seriously. She just hoped they didn't plan on killing each other the next time they saw each other.