A/N: Thank you for all the reviews, follows and favorites! Hope you enjoy the second installment!
Summary: Agents Melinda May and Phil Coulson are put on a new assignment to look after an object of unknown origin, an 0-8-4. The only catch is this 0-8-4 is a person. A fourteen year old girl who's spent her life in the foster system is now in more danger than ever. A man beast is hunting her and SHIELD has to make sure that it doesn't get close to her. AU, MCU characters will be used.
Chapter Two
Wednesday August 31, 2011 09:49 HOURS
Agent Hill didn't usually visit May while she worked, the woman was always very engrossed in her filing and did not like to be disturbed. Even when May hadn't shut down, Hill knew the older woman was always quiet and preferred to be by herself at times, but no one was bothered by that. Every once in awhile people needed a break from those around them. There was nothing wrong with that.
As Hill walked down the stairs and through the halls searching for May's cubicle, she continued to think over what she was going to say and how to best convince the older agent to say yes. For the last three years May had changed, she wasn't as willing to be with others and she had lost the happiness that used to fill her heart.
Everyone who was close to May knew her as this quiet, playful and badass agent who was always there when others needed help. Nowadays those close to her didn't know who she was anymore while everyone else knew her as the Cavalry. Hill knew May hated the name and whenever people called her the "title" she ordered them not to or face a consequence from her.
Hill rounded the corner of cubicles to find Agent May in the back looking over some files. The Asian woman, despite her smaller size, had an air about herself that showed confidence and strength. Yet as Hill looked at her former mentor, she only saw a shadow of who that woman was.
The conversation with Coulson had been easy, he was actually excited about this assignment. Hill knew convincing May would be more difficult. Hill glanced over her shoulder, she saw Coulson watching her with a concerned expression. If she needed backup in convincing May to say yes, she would send him in. Taking a breath, she kept walking.
"Agent May," Hill started as she stood on May's right.
"No," said May, her eyes focused on the papers.
Hill replied, "You don't even know what I was going to say."
May lifted her gaze to look at the younger agent and asked flatly, "Does it involve me leaving this desk?"
"Yes, but-"
"Then my answer is no."
Hill released a sigh, "May, hear me out on this. Please."
May was more than prepared to say no, but the pleading look on her former mentee's face stopped her. Deciding listening to what the young woman had to say couldn't hurt, she set her papers down.
"Fine," May said, "You got five minutes."
Hill's blue eyes sparkled in excitement, a look May had not seen since the young woman was still in the Academy. Whatever Hill wanted from her, it must be important to her or it was something not work related.
"Fury has an assignment for you, or well I have for you," Hill started, then paused studying May.
"I'm not going back in the field," May replied shortly.
"It's not a combat op," Hill told her.
"Then you don't need me," May said and started stapling some documents.
Hill walked around the desk and stood in front her, "May, I need you on this assignment. At least let me tell you what it's about."
"Fury warned me you were going to come," she told the young woman, "Didn't say why or about what."
"Then let me tell you," Hill pleaded, "You might change your mind."
May didn't respond, her focus was on the documents in her hands.
Hill took this as her cue to explain the assignment, "You will be undercover as a foster parent along with Coulson."
May's head snapped up at that, her face was still blank, but Hill could see the surprise in her brown eyes. Though May rarely showed her emotions anymore, people who had known her before the accident knew how to read her like a billboard. This was definitely not an assignment May had expected to hear from either Hill or Fury or anyone if she was being honest.
"A foster parent," May repeated the words, "With Coulson? What kind of an assignment is this?"
Hill explained in the briefest way she could think of, "This assignment is guarding an 0-8-4-"
"And this kid is the only lead you have for it?"
"No."
"The kid has it hidden away? Information? Leverage?"
"None of the above. May, the kid is the 0-8-4."
"What?"
May set her papers down, taking in those words. In all the times she had heard of an 0-8-4, they had always been an object of some kind, never a person. The last 0-8-4 she had heard of had been a Hammer, found in New Mexico a few months ago. That hadn't seemed too strange, but a child. A child was the 0-8-4.
"Is the kid enhanced, how old are they," May asked looking at Hill.
"The rest is classified," Hill said with a sigh, "Unless you agree and I think you should. We need someone with your skills."
May leaned back in her chair for a moment, warning bells ringing in her mind. The last time she had dealt with an enhanced child, things had not gone well. Take my hand. Could she really put herself in a situation with another potentially powered person who had no control over it? And if the child did have powers, would she be able to make the hard call again?
"I don't think-" May started, but trailed off shaking her head.
No, she couldn't do it. This assignment was too close, way too close to something she could never forget. It was better for everyone that she stay here in her cubicle, in her desk surrounded by paperwork that needed to be filed away. Images of twisted and confused brown eyes staring back her made shivers travel through her body. No, she couldn't do it.
"Melinda."
May turned her head to look at the new voice to enter the room. It was none other than her oldest friend and pain in her ass, Phillip Coulson. He looked the same since the last time she saw him which was only a month or two ago. Same shimmering blue eyes, his dark hair was thinning on his head which, years ago, would have made her smirk. Now, she only saw it as an observation.
"Reconsider," Coulson said coming around the desk to stand by Hill, "This will be fun."
May didn't say anything, only stared at Coulson trying to make her point without having to say the words. No one knew the choice she made, no one knew what went down in that building three years ago. Coulson had an idea and put the pieces together, but he never approached her about it. When she was ready, she would tell him. If it wasn't soon, he was okay with that.
"Give us a minute," Coulson said to Hill with a gentle smile.
The young woman nodded and walked away from the two agents without a word. If anyone could get Melinda May to do anything, it would be Coulson.
"Nice setup you have here," he commented with a smug smile, "Ever thought about building a moat?"
"Coulson," May said, her voice dropping low.
Coulson only smiled wider, "May… Do this with me. Hill thinks we're the best for this assignment."
"Watching an 0-8-4 is one thing, but a child 0-8-4," May said, still a little stunned at the idea.
Coulson shrugged his shoulders, "First time for everything I suppose. There won't be any combat."
"You can't guarantee that," May replied, she looked away, "Besides, me and kids don't get along."
"Good thing it's just one," Coulson teased, his smile still giddy.
May started putting together more papers as she replied, "No."
Coulson frowned. He knew this assignment would remind May of what happened, but he was certain this would be good for her. All she ever did anymore was file papers away, stay home and hide from the world. Perhaps this would be a good opportunity for her to come outside for a little while. Coulson leaned forward, his hands pressed on her desk.
May stopped her work again to look up at Coulson, his face not but three inches from her own. Shimmering blue eyes stared into glossy nut brown ones. Brown eyes that used to be filled with such fire, such life and excitement were now a dull flame or a dimming ember. Coulson hated it. He blamed himself for sending her in there all those years ago. It was because of his choice that May had lost herself.
"You can't stay behind this desk forever Mel," he told her gently, "Do this assignment with me."
"Phil," May started, but Coulson wouldn't let her continue.
"Let me offer you a deal. Three weeks."
"Three weeks," May echoed with an eyebrow raised.
Coulson nodded, "If after three weeks you're still uncomfortable, then you can leave and I won't press you to stay."
May stared up at Coulson with a thoughtful look, considering the idea. The idea of having to deal with this assignment, not to mention the potential triggers she could get while caring for this kid. May didn't even want to think about how she would have to deal with this kid everyday. The more she thought about it, the more she thought agreeing to do this was a bad idea, yet she considered his words.
If she did decide to say no, who would be there with Coulson? What if this kid was more of a threat and he was caught off guard? Would he be able to make the tough call? Would she be able to make it? Maybe she could or maybe she couldn't, but she knew that leaving Coulson alone with a possible threat and another agent did not sound good to her. She always had his back, she would have it this time.
"Make it two," said May with a stern look.
"Seventeen days," Coulson bargained, "Give me seventeen days and you got a deal."
May hummed over the offer for a few moments. It was still longer than she wanted to be involved, but she figured it would be better than trying to negotiate with him for shorter time and saying no all together didn't seem like an option anymore.
"Okay."
Coulson's eyes brightened at her answer and May began to wonder if she had just made a terrible mistake.
13:24 Hours
She leaned back against the large white pillow, trying to get herself to relax and calm her unsteady nerves. Despite what she said and how she acted, yesterday morning had left her utterly terrified and leaving her with the haunting smell of smoke in her lungs. The doctors had explained to her that too much smoke had gotten into her lungs, which explained the pain in her chest, hoarseness of her throat and the coughing. The only thing to help alleviate the discomfort she felt was the nasal cannula resting on her upper lip, pumping oxygen into her lungs.
Even though the little tubes were irritating under her nose, her chest felt lighter and the coughing had ceased since last night. The coughing had been the worst yesterday afternoon because she just could not stop coughing. It was when the blood came up to that the teenaged girl began to panic. The nurse from last night, Julie or Julia had been her name, had helped her calm down a little. Telling her it was nothing to be concerned about because the doctors would fix it.
These doctors would take care of her. She didn't believe them, no one would ever take care of her except for herself. This morning a new nurse came instead of Julie. This nurse was younger than Julie with curly blonde hair that cut off above her shoulders. The new nurse, whose name escaped Mary, entered the room wearing the standard white uniform with a tray of food. Mary frowned trying to think of the woman's name. It started with an S, that much Mary knew.
"Afternoon Mary," said the nurse, Sharon, "I got some more water and finger sandwiches, don't worry they're plain this time."
Mary nodded to the nurse to show she was grateful. Sharon was nice enough, talked with her about what was going on during one of the soap operas and kept her up to date on her condition which the teen appreciated.
Sharon Carter, more commonly known as Agent 13, was one of the top agents in undercover operations and one of the best spies in the business compared to agents like Romanoff. Originally, when Fury asked her to check on a child periodically, she was worried as to why he would send her to do such a small thing. However he told her recently why the check ups were needed.
Most of the time Sharon observed her from a distance. Either a woman in the park or passing her in the neighborhood. This was the first time Sharon actually spoke to the girl. The purpose of her coming today had been to get a look at her medical files to see if anything abnormal came up. Also to monitor the girl in general as well as the environment she was in. So far, everything appeared normal to Sharon. Sharon set the tray down on the little bed table on Mary's right.
"Do you have any chest pain," Sharon asked, "Headaches, nausea, dizziness?"
Mary thought for a moment before responding, "No headache or nausea. My chest still ach-"
Mary leaned forward as coughs shaked her body, making her shoulders tremble and chest burn. Sharon placed a hand on Mary's back, the girl flinched at the touch and her shoulders tensed. The agent made a mental note of the response and slowly retracted her hand away, much to Mary's relief. She was never a fan of people touching her, regardless of the reason.
"Aches," Mary forced the word out, she coughed again, "My throat st-still hurts and this c-c-cough."
The teen took a deep breath, forcing herself not to cough again. Sharon picked up the glass of water on the side and handed it to the teen, who accepted it without an issue. The cool liquid brought instant relief to her hoarse throat.
"Thanks," she mumbled handing the empty glass back to the nurse.
Sharon offered her a smile, "Of course. The cough will most likely be gone by tomorrow. Have you taken any of the antibiotics?"
Mary shook her head no in response.
"Make sure you take some after you eat," Sharon instructed.
Mary ignored the order, "D-Do you know anything about the others? About Miles?"
Sharon frowned at the question. She didn't know much about the situation involving the girl. All the agent knew was exactly what she needed to know. The girl, Mary Sue Poots, is an 0-8-4 who needed to be checked on because of a close call the previous day. That was all Sharon knew. As for the others in the teen's question, she honestly didn't know.
"I don't know," Sharon answered honestly. At seeing Mary's deflated expression, Sharon amended, "But I can go check for you." The teen's brown eyes brightened tremendously. Though she tried to hide it, Sharon could see the smile in her eyes.
"Thanks," Mary said.