Twenty Three
The next few months had been all but a blur for Emily. Over the course of the next few weeks since the Manhattan, she had been assigned to keeping an eye on Tony. Within the span of those weeks, a funeral was held for Coulson. Everyone who knew Coulson had been there. She was touched by the amount of support she was given during the funeral; even a few familiar faces such as the Howling Commandos and their offspring showed up.
What surprised her the most was when McCoy arrived, and he spent the rest of that week with her, despite classes still going on. She was also moved by the fact that McCoy was willing to go out of his way to be there for her during Coulson's funeral. They'd shared a few thoughts here and there through their telepathic link, but otherwise they kept that part of their lives closed off.
Unfortunately, the presence of the Howling Commandos had caused quite a stir among the press. Dozens of reporters had shown up to get an interview with the Howling Commandos or a chance to get pictures. Though, Emily had a feeling they were even more curious with McCoy's presence. They wanted to know why a civilian had been around at the time, and why they were so close. Neither had been willing to admit that they were dating, even if that was the truth.
She was already in hot water thanks to Clint and Natasha ratting her out to the agency. Director Fury hadn't been the least bit surprised to find out that they were seeing each other again. In fact, he hadn't said anything about it at all. And his silence was almost as daunting as when he normally reamed her out for breaking protocol, which happened more often than she was willing to admit out loud.
Emily knew full-well that the press would never leave McCoy alone if they found out. She did warn him that the press would likely harass him when they found out the truth. At first, McCoy didn't want to believe her. But when he saw the reporters standing around the church where the funeral was held, he quickly learned otherwise.
She had been bracing herself for the constant questions that would follow after seeing the reporters. It was difficult trying to hide herself from the cameras, especially since she knew half of the Cadets at the Academy would question her credibility. McCoy had reassured her that Kirk hadn't given away her position, but the kid hadn't stopped planning to do so.
They have no reason to believe I'm working for the agency, she kept telling herself. The only revelation they really had was that Coulson was her father, and that he had been killed in the line of duty. She could only hope that would be enough to suppress their curiosity. Emily knew in the back of her mind that she would have to tell them sooner or later. Especially if Kirk decided to drag her down with him.
She couldn't shake off the feeling that he was just waiting for the right time. Given the way he acted during the battle and before the battle, she wasn't entirely surprised with that notion. Kirk certainly wasn't the type to give up on what he believed was right.
"She's part of the Avengers like the rest of us, but she took a stabbing in the stomach before we were able to take down Loki," Tony finally intervened after noticing that she had begun struggling with the reporters. One woman in particular had been interested in why she was there. She had the nerve to ask what sort of role she played in the team, if she played any at all. "Just because she wasn't part of the battle doesn't mean she's not part of the team."
Her shoulders sagged in relief when the woman was finally shooed away from the area. After that, the months went by in a blur. She and McCoy managed to keep in touch every now and then when they weren't busy. Apparently, Kirk hadn't simmered down about reporting her to the Council like they hoped.
If anything, her absence had encouraged the idiot to continue looking for ways to bring her down. His continuous threats were a painful reminder of why she couldn't have a normal life like McCoy or anyone else for that matter. Emily decided at that point it was better for everyone to avoid the Academy.
Emily shifted her focus on SHIELD over the next few months to compensate the lack of time she spent at the Academy. She still submitted assignments to her classes, and she still had the highest ranking in scores compared to most students. But, she knew that it would take time to return to the Academy.
McCoy had warned her that Kirk wasn't planning on backing down from what he had said at the Tower. He was determined to figure out a way of making Starfleet find out she had been working for SHIELD all this time. It was because of that warning that she decided to keep in touch with McCoy.
Their conversations led to some interesting and sometimes irritating topics. McCoy would constantly check in on her to see how she was doing emotionally, though she never provided a straight-out answer. By now he'd gotten used to her casual responses, though not without a warning that he would keep checking in on her to make sure everything was okay. She had to admit, she was touched by his devotion and need to make sure she was safe.
Most of her work had been spent with Tony, trying to make sure he didn't get himself in trouble when an enemy known as the Mandarin became a problem throughout the country. Because of their work together, the media had gotten wind of her powers and what she was capable of. That made blending in much more difficult, something McCoy hadn't missed.
Communication between them hadn't been easy when she and Tony were on the run. But she still somehow managed to keep in touch, despite the distance between them. McCoy's dedication to ensuring that someone was keeping an eye on her meant more than she would ever admit out loud.
That Christmas had been difficult for both of them. It was the first Christmas she spent without Coulson, and Emily didn't realize until then just how hard it would be. The only consolation she had was the messages McCoy would send to her com when they weren't busy working. He had been worried about how she would handle it. Considering how close she and Coulson had been, she was once again touched by his concern.
She knew his classes hadn't gotten any easier since he was beginning his second-year at the Academy. And while he was technically a senior medical officer amongst the ranks of others, that didn't mean he knew everything there was to know about alien anatomy.
By the time she and Tony were finished taking down the threat of the Extremis soldiers and Killian, she was mentally exhausted. She and Tony had finally stopped by the hospital once Pepper was finished receiving the last of her treatments. When she was used as bait by Killian, that had been the last straw for Tony. Going after Happy had been one thing, but taking Pepper and then using her as bait made it that much worse.
"How's Pepper doing?" she asked as they walked alongside each other.
"Better than the last time you asked," Tony replied with a knowing look. "She's a strong fighter, like you. And since you were able to treat most of Happy's injuries, he won't be too terribly scarred. I just wish I could've taken down the asshole responsible for hurting him."
"Technically you did by taking down Killian," she reminded him. Tony rose an eyebrow in amusement as they finally reached Happy's room. He was still out cold thanks to the sedatives the nurses injected. Despite her best efforts at healing the worst of his wounds, Happy still suffered a great deal from the explosion at the Chinese theater. "Or Pepper did."
"Right… you know, I've been working on a modified version of your suit," he suddenly put in. Emily crossed her arms when she caught the hidden message behind his admission. She knew he had been hoping she would work for his company. After years of experience under her belt with the agency and a bit of experience in the field of engineering, she understood why. Yet she knew where her heart lay. "If you want I could offer some of the specs… I made it so that you can change the color scheme on it if you want. I've heard gold and red are very in season right now."
Emily's nose wrinkled at the thought of changing the color scheme of her suit. She was well aware of his need to wear such colors, though she was never fond of them. Red was too violent of a color, and gold was just plain tacky. Besides, she preferred blending in with her surroundings. It gave her an advantage over the rest of the crowd.
"I can think of a dozen reasons as to why I don't want or need a suit that changes color," she rolled her eyes in exasperation. Tony merely smirked in amusement as they finally stopped by a vending machine. Since they had begun working together more often, she began to notice a softer side of him that wasn't visible before. She suspected Pepper had something to do with that. "This isn't just another ploy at convincing me to work at your company, is it?"
His face seemed to falter slightly when he realized what she was implying. She grabbed a bottle of water from the vending machine and took a much needed swig. After spending most of that morning talking to McCoy through their telepathic link, it was strange to think that someone else wanted her to join them at the workforce as much as Tony did. Then again, she saw the benefits of combining their minds. Though she couldn't bring herself to admit that working alongside him would likely end in disaster.
"I'm just worried with how you've been handling these last few weeks," he finally admitted. Emily was taken aback by the concern in his voice when he looked at her thoughtfully. "I know you've been working harder than usual since the funeral, and I'm willing to bet this isn't just because of what happened to Coulson."
She grimaced and looked down at the floor as her thoughts suddenly drifted back to what McCoy warned her. Kirk hadn't backed down from his threat of giving away her position to the Council. She knew it was only a matter of time before he found the right opening. The only reason he hadn't so far was because she wasn't at the Academy at the moment, and McCoy had been holding him back.
"I'm fine, Tony," she reassured him. "Believe me, Leonard's been keeping me in check since the funeral, and even before than. He knows what I've been through during our time apart."
It was his turn to look equally surprised that McCoy found out that truth. She hadn't told him everything, just minor details of what happened when Clint found her that morning. He knew she had an eidetic memory, which meant she was leaving out important details. Luckily McCoy knew better than to push her too far, and she was grateful he'd backed down for the time being.
"I still think it's strange how the two of you are able to stay in touch like that," he shook his head in annoyance. "And I still hate the guy for what he did to you."
"And yet somehow you're still willing to put up with us being together," she retorted with a knowing smirk. Tony just rolled his eyes at her remark, though that didn't stop him from returning the gesture. He too had begun to notice a change in her. Ever since she and McCoy started keeping in touch more often, she seemed happier than she had been in years. "At any rate, I need to get going… the boss wants me to file a personal report which means an in-person visit."
"Sounds like a fun time," Tony wrinkled his nose in disgust at the thought of seeing Fury again.
"Like you need to tell me," she rolled her eyes before glancing in the room Happy was in. "Tell Happy I said hi when he wakes up."
Tony nodded in agreement to that, knowing full-well she would want that much at least. Once that was established, she wasted no time in making her way back to D.C. She knew Fury would want a full report on what happened during her time with Tony.
He didn't need to know that she and McCoy had been keeping in touch most of the time. After McCoy made it perfectly clear he wasn't going to sign up for the agency, they'd made arrangements to at least keep an eye on him and Kirk.
Imagine Kirk's surprise if he found out they're spying on him, she nearly rolled her eyes as she reached Fury's office.
She tried pushing away those uneasy thoughts aside. Whatever issues Kirk had with her would hopefully pass in time. He wasn't one to back down from a challenge, especially when he saw someone like herself as a challenge. She could already imagine the backlash she would receive from the rest of the Academy if he told the Council that she worked for SHIELD.
Fury was already waiting for her when she arrived, as per-usual. Whenever he wasn't out on the field or checking out the many bases scattered across the UN, this was where he spent much of his time. Emily narrowed her eyes when she noticed the paperwork and files scattered along his desk.
Most of the files themselves were old and based off of the team. She knew he was keeping the agency updated on their whereabouts. Then there were the two files based off of Kirk and McCoy. Emily almost snorted when she noticed that McCoy's file was much larger than Kirk's, which looked as if it had just been started.
"I'm sure you're aware of why I asked you here today, Coulson," Fury cut right to the chase when she reluctantly sat down across from him.
"Well, it can't possibly be a personal visit since I haven't completely disregarded your sorry ass," she retorted without missing a beat.
If he wasn't annoyed with her before, he was now. Emily almost smirked when she caught the eye-roll that followed. Fury knew when she was toying with him. It was a tactic she used on everyone who grated her nerves.
"Let's hope that sarcasm serves you well at the Academy, Coulson," he snapped after deciding enough was enough. Emily froze when Fury gave her a look that dared her to argue with him. "Look, we've been working too long on this case to let it go so easily. You're already in it this deep, and you have McCoy to keep your ass in line."
Emily snorted at the thought of McCoy keeping her in line, and she could almost feel his amusement matching her own. Even he knew how stubborn she was… nothing would stop her from achieving her goal once her mind was made up.
"I think it's safe to say that even Leonard knows he can't hold me back," she deadpanned. "And let's not forget the fact that Kirk has made it perfectly clear that I'm not welcome anywhere near the Academy."
"Kirk is another problem for another day," Fury reminded her. Emily grimaced when she realized what he meant by that. "This was and always will be just another mission, Coulson. Don't forget that."
For a moment, she didn't know what to say as she finally took the Starfleet pin he'd taken when she was reassigned. She knew in the back of her mind that Kirk wouldn't back down from his challenge. He was determined to bring up her involvement with the agency, whether she liked it or not. The only thing she could do was hope and pray she reached Admiral Marcus before that happened.
.
.
When they finally returned to the Academy later that week, Kirk thought that their lives would return to somewhat normal. He had been hoping for a sense of peace of mind when they got back. But word of the Avenger's and their battle spread across campus faster than anticipated. Kirk hadn't missed how everyone started talking about the team and the mysterious woman who had been with them when Loki was returned to Asgard with Thor. None of them knew that it was Coulson wearing a disguise. None of them except for himself and McCoy… and McCoy had been drooling over her.
He wasn't sure what was worse… the fact that she was out in the open and no one saw how dangerous she was, or the fact that McCoy had been drooling over her of all people. He knew the doctor had been fond of Coulson before this mess started. But when he managed to hack into SHIELD's database, he had been hoping McCoy would see just how dangerous she really was. If anything, that only seemed to seal their relationship.
Kirk knew that too much had happened between McCoy and Coulson for them to ignore each other. He should have known better than to think that things would go his way.
He knew that the rest of the Council needed to know about Coulson's dark and bloody past. Letting her work on a Starship would lead to disaster. Yet that didn't stop him from thinking of how her profile had looked before he and McCoy were taken into custody.
She had been through hell, even before she took that path. And a small part of him did feel a little guilty for wanting to take her out with the Council. But that didn't stop him from feeling an ounce of loyalty to the people who actually cared about their job.
Fortunately McCoy was nonetheless wiser to the notion that he wanted to start an investigation. He had no doubt that McCoy would throw a fit if he found out. The doctor clearly still had feelings for her, despite everything she had done. He knew this was the right thing to do… he kept telling himself that as a way of convincing himself more than everyone else.
"It's good to know they still serve the same crappy coffee they always have," McCoy complained when he sat down across from Kirk with a mug of coffee in hand.
Kirk almost grinned at the doctor's complaint, knowing full-well that wasn't the only thing he complained about at the Academy. Hayes sat beside McCoy, hiding her own smirk of amusement while digging into a sandwich absentmindedly.
"You'd think they would listen to the amount of emails you've sent them over the last couple of years," she remarked dryly.
"You should try the shop down the street some time," Kirk suggested. He'd grabbed a plate of salad for himself, ignoring the fact that he was highly allergic to some of the fruits they chopped into it. "They've got some of the best coffee in the city, and it's reasonably priced."
Before Hayes could make her own comment on the idea of paying for her drinks, McCoy suddenly flicked a pineapple that was precariously dangling next to Kirk's fork. He hid a bashful grin when he realized how close he had been to eating the fruit.
"Last thing I need is to save your sorry ass from an allergic reaction," he practically growled once Kirk finished scraping off the last piece. "Again."
"I suffer from one reaction and you always end up complaining about it," Kirk rolled his eyes nonchalantly.
Though in McCoy's defense, his reaction had scared the crap out of the normally stoic doctor. McCoy hadn't realized at the time just how suckish his immune system was until that incident. One hypospray later and another horrible reaction had led to hours in the medical center, with McCoy worrying sick over whether or not Kirk would survive the night.
McCoy was ready to say something when a figure caught his attention from the corner of his eye. Both Kirk and Hayes were too preoccupied at the moment to notice said figure. But, Kirk eventually caught sight of McCoy's eyes lingering a bit too long on the figure in question.
Kirk glanced at the man warily when he noticed the longing written across his face. He nearly rolled his eyes at the sight, realizing why the doctor was so intent on staring at the figure that just arrived in the mess hall. Though, what really caught his attention was seeing how much she changed in such a short time.
It had been a good two years since she left the Academy. In that time-frame, her figure had become leaner and far more muscular than it already was. Kirk couldn't help but eye her for a few more seconds after noticing that it looked as if she'd fallen into harder times. He glanced at McCoy once more, not missing the way the doctor had finally torn his gaze off of her. He knew nothing good would come out of her returning to the Academy. It was only a matter of time before he found some way of telling the council about her involvement with SHIELD.
.
.
"You do realize that if Kirk finds out you're here, we'll never hear the end of it," McCoy remarked as he walked alongside Emily.
She nearly rolled her eyes at the tone of his voice. After nearly two years of working on side-missions with SHIELD, it felt good to be back. She'd spent the afternoon talking with Uhura and her roommate, an Orion known as Gaila. The two of them had become good friends over the time she spent at the Academy, despite the distance she put between herself and the Academy. McCoy would often use whatever time off he had to visit her or keep in touch with her. Then again he didn't really need to take time off whenever they used their telepathic link. Emily found that far more useful than an ordinary com.
It was his way of making sure she was safe during her missions. They never had enough time to actually get intimate, but at least they were able to keep in touch with each other. She knew it wasn't easy – between work and everything else, making time for someone was difficult. But McCoy of all people understood those risks. He'd taken them in strides, despite the warning she sent him each and every time. Tonight was no different as they walked side-by-side back to her apartment.
The only real difference was the fact that they were together for the first time in months. Or that they had time to be together for that matter. Emily was grateful for the notion. As annoyed as she was for going back to Starfleet, she was also grateful to have more time with the man she had fallen in love with years ago.
"I'm still trying to figure out a way to convince him that I had a reason behind keeping my position a secret," she admitted with a guilty smile. McCoy threw her a knowing look; it hadn't been easy having to explain everything to Kirk when they were on the Hellicarrier. The kid refused to believe her pleas, even after she admitted why she joined SHIELD in the first place. "I understand why he's so angry with me, but… I wish there was an easier way for him to figure out why I didn't tell him. Trust isn't exactly something that's handed out so easily."
"Considering everything you went through, I'm not surprised by that," McCoy rolled his eyes knowingly. "I'm surprised you trusted me after all these years."
Emily couldn't hide the coy smile that followed when they reached her apartment. It didn't take long for her to open the door to find that nothing had changed. It was like she hadn't left at all. McCoy reassured her that he would keep the place clean during her absence, and she was forever grateful he'd taken the challenge. While the agency had more than enough agents who could clean the place up, she felt more comfortable knowing it was someone she trusted taking care of the place.
"Couldn't possibly be that southern charm of yours, could it?" she hummed in amusement.
She wasn't going to put in the fact that it had been easier than ever to fall for the same man she'd dated for the last ten years prior to this mess. So much had been left unsaid between them after they fell apart. But McCoy was making up for that mistake, and he still went out of his way to make sure things were more than okay between them.
McCoy just offered a lopsided grin – the very grin that she had fallen in love with. His hands were already exploring her chest after he carefully lifted her shirt. Two years without physical contact had been difficult for both of them. She hadn't realized until then how much she yearned to feel his hands against her bare skin.
His hand carefully grazed the area where a new scar now covered her chest. The stab wound where Loki struck her down turned into a nasty looking scar. While McCoy did his best to ensure that it didn't scar completely over, there was only so much he could do without a regenerator. Still, that didn't stop him from leaning down to kiss the area where the scar was.
"And here I thought it was more than just my bedside manner you enjoyed so much," he remarked with a dry laugh.
She laughed along with him as he pushed her towards the couch. She wasn't above having sex on the sofa. Hell, it wouldn't be the first time that had happened, and she doubted it would be the last. The only difference here was sensing the urgency in McCoy's rough movements. He was already making quick work of the suit she normally wore, not bothering to take his time like he normally did.
His lips trailed along her neck, tenderly sucking on the spots he loved the most. He paid special attention to her sensitive area. She let out a soft moan as his tongue glided along her skin, tasting every area possible. Shivers of pleasure swept through her, and she wanted nothing more than for him to take her at that moment. It didn't help that the connection they had only fueled the flames. McCoy must have felt the same fire as well, because there almost seemed to be a new sense of urgency within his kisses.
"Leonard…"
Embarrassment swept through her when she let out a half-moan, wrapping her arms around his neck as he leaned further into her. By now, McCoy had already pulled off his shirt, and the feeling of skin against skin was almost too much for her. McCoy certainly wasted no time in taking charge, and when she saw his erection, she could see why that was the case.
"I'm not gonna last much longer," he whispered, the warmth of his breath against her ear sending shivers of pleasure through her.
She couldn't help but groan at the feeling of his callous hands brushing against her inner thighs. She knew where this was headed, and after giving a quick nod, McCoy suddenly thrust into her hard and deep. Emily bit back a gasp of surprise at the sudden intrusion, but it didn't take long for her to adjust.
"Hell, you're beautiful," McCoy groaned as he began thrusting in and out of her.
She thrust her hips forward to meet his, timing it perfectly. Beads of sweat were already rolling down his cheeks as McCoy pounded into her. Emily had to bury her face into the crook of his neck, relishing the feeling of his length buried deep within her. It had been too long since they had this kind of contact. Too long since they were connected like this. And Emily was only just beginning to realize how much she missed it.
"Faster!" she practically shouted as she felt herself reaching her climax.
Her moans were the only sounds McCoy listened to at that moment, and he couldn't hide the triumphant grin that followed as he did just that. Her moans turned into a quiet groan when she finally reached her climax. For a moment, she nearly forgot to breathe when the feeling of McCoy's warm lips brushed against her neck.
McCoy didn't last much longer after that. A few more thrusts followed as he captured her lips with his. Their tongues fought for dominance as he pounded into her for a few more seconds before finally releasing his warm seed into her cavern. Both let out embarrassingly loud moans after that.
Her shoulders sagged in relief when she recovered from her initial orgasm. It took a few seconds for either of them to recover before they moved into a cuddle on the couch. McCoy wrapped his arms around her torso, tenderly kissing her as they relaxed. She let out a sigh of contentment as she allowed herself to relax into his arms.
"I've missed this," she admitted while nestling herself deeper into his bare chest.
"You and me both, darlin'," he replied with a heavy sigh of his own. Emily couldn't hide the sheepish smirk that followed when McCoy tenderly kissed her forehead. "Last couple of years at the Academy haven't exactly been the same without you."
"I'm sure you were able to find some way of keeping yourself busy during that time," she remarked with a coy smile. McCoy just rolled his eyes when their eyes met. "I was asked by Professor Spock to join his crew during the Kobyoshi Maru tests."
McCoy made a face at the mention of the Kobyoshi Maru. It was a test to determine how a Cadet in the command track would react when they were put under pressure. She'd seen some of the results from the test after Cadets were finished, and not all of them had ended well. Then there was Kirk.
He'd taken the test once and failed it miserably. Then he had the audacity to take it a second time, and when he failed again, everyone hoped that would be enough encouragement for him to step back and let someone else embarrass themselves. But nope. Kirk truly was one of a kind.
"Don't get me started on that pile of horse shit," McCoy scoffed in annoyance. "God knows the kid's been dragging me and Hayes into every test he takes, and he's scheduled to take it a third time."
Emily rose an eyebrow in surprise.
There were few Cadets who shared the same tenacity as Kirk. It amazed her that the programmers were willing to let Kirk take the test a third time, let alone a second time. But maybe Spock secretly enjoyed watching him fail so miserably.
"Doesn't he have anything better to do than allow others to embarrass himself in public?" she asked curiously. "I mean, he does know the test is unbeatable, right?"
"This is Kirk we're talking about," McCoy reminded her with a roll of his eyes. "Kid doesn't know when to quit, and something tells me he'll be up to no good this time."
She chewed the bottom of her lip anxiously at that. She knew Kirk wasn't above embarrassing himself constantly if it meant proving a point. But he also planned on dragging McCoy and everyone else into his mess. Something in the back of her mind kept telling her that this was only going to end in disaster, for everyone involved.