Chapter Four
Thursday September 1st 12:37
"Phil, it's not even one o'clock yet," May said exasperated.
All morning Coulson had been full of anticipation and restlessness. When they had come to the house last night with some of their items and groceries, Coulson had talked nonstop about today. If May hadn't known any better, she would have believed he was a real foster father excited to meet their foster child. The minute he woke up this morning to find May in the kitchen all he could think about was picking up the girl. Right after he told her good morning, the second thing out of his mouth was when can we get her?
Coulson released a sigh, "I know, I know. But we can get her any time we want."
"Hill told us to wait until later," May reminded him.
Coulson frowned, "No she didn't. She said wait until the afternoon…. it's afternoon."
If May could roll her eyes any harder, she would have, "Phil-"
"Melinda please," Coulson begged, "Can we get her now? It will take us forty five minutes to get there then forty five minutes to get back. So technically we won't bring her home until at the latest 3:00."
May thought about it for moment. It wouldn't be a terrible thing to get the girl earlier than planned and Coulson really wanted to go. His blue eyes were pleading with her to say yes, persuading her with the slight sparkle they held. May didn't want that look to disappear. It always gave May comfort to know that Phil Coulson would always be himself. For several seconds May and Coulson sat in silence. Coulson was leaning forward in anticipation, watching May intently. He really wanted to get the girl as soon as possible and was prepared to get on his hands and knees in order to beg more effectively.
Before he had the chance, May caved, "Alright, alright we'll go, but I'm driving."
Coulson jumped out of his seat so quick May had trouble keeping an eye on him as he raced out of the living room. A hint of a smile formed on May's face as she grabbed the keys off the coffee table. Coulson was such a child sometimes. It never ceased to amaze May how one minute he could be a professional agent to a giddy little boy in a matter of seconds. May walked into the garage to find Coulson already in the passenger seat with his seat belt on.
"Really," May said as she climbed into the GMC.
Coulson smiled sheepishly, "I'm excited is all. This will be fun."
May put the keys into the ignition while Coulson clicked the garage door open, "If you say so."
The drive had been spent in three ways. Coulson was talking, the radio was on while Coulson was talking or both of them were quiet. Coulson did try not to talk too much because he knew May liked the silence, but it was hard. Besides talking kept him distracted from how nervous he was about this. Of course he was still excited but he was also very afraid. What if she didn't like him? What if she hated them? Would she want to get to know them? Would she turn them away? Would he be enough for her? Could he make her stay enjoyable? Coulson didn't have an answer, but he hoped for the best.
May would have been lying if she said she wasn't nervous. She was nervous to meet this girl because of the possible danger she could become. However May knew from reading the reports from 13 that nothing out of the ordinary had happened with Mary Sue. This put May's worries at ease. Perhaps SHIELD was wrong about her. The forty five minutes ended too quickly for May.
"There it is," Coulson said as May parked the car across the street, "St Agnes Orphanage."
"It looks like an abandoned church," May stated dryly.
Coulson had to nod in agreement, "Just a little. Maybe they have a thing for the vintage look."
May rolled her eyes, "Come on. Let's go."
Coulson and May exited the car and walked to the orphanage. As they made their way to the building, the few children who had been outside stopped their games to stare. Coulson felt a pang for them. All these kids needed was a home. He wished he could give them one. May felt uncomfortable with so many children around, but she schooled her face not to show it. Hopefully they could get the girl and leave as soon as possible. Side by side, the two stood on the stairs. Coulson pressed the doorbell. Neither of them were surprised to hear church bells. Half a minute passed before a nun, roughly around the age of forty, opened the door.
"Hi," Coulson said with a smile, "My name's Phil Mayson and this is Melinda. We're here to pick up-"
"Mary," the nun said with a smile, "Please, come in."
May and Coulson followed the nun inside. Though the inside looked more refurbished than the outside, it still reminded May of an abandoned church.
The nun spoke as they walked down the hall to her office, "My name is Sister Francis. I have the paperwork all here for you."
The three of them entered the office. There were two desks on either side. On the right was another nun who was buried in paperwork while the other desk on the left was empty. The nun on the right lifted her head.
"I didn't know we were having visitors today, welcome to St Agnes," said the nun, "I'm Sister Gertrude."
Coulson smiled at her, "Thank you. I'm happy that my wife and I were able to come on short notice."
May tried not to flinch at the word wife. It flowed easily off of Coulson's tongue, though he was always better when it came to taking on undercover identities. May refocused on the conversation.
The nun, Sister Gertrude, returned his smile, "I'm glad you could come. It warms my heart when prospective parents come. Might I ask, are you here to meet some children or here to pick up someone?"
"Pick up," replied Coulson.
"Who," inquired Sister Gertrude.
Coulson thought for a moment, "Mary Sue."
Sister Gertrude's smile in fell an instant, "Mary Sue Poots?"
Coulson nodded frowning at the nun's change in demeanor, "Yes."
"Is that a problem," May asked in a flat tone.
Coulson glanced at May with curious look. May quickly looked from him back to Sister Gertrude. The nun did not look particularly pleased about the mention of Mary Sue which intrigued May. Perhaps this nun knew something about the girl that would give May some more insight. A file only told so much.
"I hate to ask, but are you certain Mary Sue is the girl you want," Sister Gertrude said a bit hesitant.
Coulson blinked, "Why would you ask?"
"Mary Sue is troublesome," Sister Gertrude replied.
"Gertrude," Sister Francis said with a frown.
"It's the truth," Sister Gertrude stated, "She causes trouble wherever she goes. Has little respect for authority, has a history with stealing. Honestly that girl has been in so many homes because she refuses to do as she is told."
"Mary Sue hasn't had it easy Gertrude," Sister Francis reminded the other nun.
"That doesn't excuse what she did yesterday," Sister Gertrude pointed out hotly.
Sister Francis replied, "She did that out of self defense."
"So she says. She's always getting into fights," replied Sister Gertrude, "The point of the matter is, Mary Sue is a difficult child. Only experienced foster parents should take her. Maybe one day some foster parents can tame her."
"Tame her," May said lowly.
Coulson watched May very carefully. He knew that voice. That was her, I'm doing my best not to lose my temper voice. Despite May's aversion to kids, Coulson knew that because of her childhood she had a soft spot for "troublesome" kids. She did not like the way this nun was talking about this teenager. Though May still knew about the potential danger this girl could bring, that didn't mean she deserved to be talked about in this way. Not to mention May had seen the teenagers file. Because of SHIELD she had been placed in over twenty-one foster homes since she was brought here.
"She's not an animal," May seethed, "And shouldn't be spoken about in that way by anyone regardless of what she's done. Aren't you nuns supposed to be caring and loving to God? How does that work if you manage to talk about a teenager so cruelly when she only wishes to find a home?"
Sister Gertrude opened her mouth to reply, but the icy glare May was giving her caused the nun to reconsider. After several moments of uneasy silence, Coulson turned back to sister Francis.
"So what paperwork is left for us to fill out?"
Sister Francis replied as she pulled out the papers, "Only your signatures on a few pages is needed. Then you can take Mary with you once you're done."
Coulson and May took their seats in front of the desk and signed the papers. It did not go unnoticed by May that Coulson was watching her with that barely see-able smile. She chose to ignore him and focused on the paperwork in front of her. After a few minutes all the papers were signed and Mary Sue was now their charge.
Sister Francis smiled at them, "I've read your files Mr and Mrs Mayson. I'm glad you'll be looking after Mary Sue. She's truly a wonderful girl."
Coulson offered a smile of his own, "We can't wait to meet her, right Melinda?"
May smiled, the action feeling foreign to her, "Looking forward to it. Will we go to her or do you call her in?"
Sister Francis opened her mouth to reply, but a knock on the door interrupted her. A boy around the age of twelve walked inside. His skin was incredibly pale, almost snow white in Coulson's opinion.
"Hello Donnie," Sister Francis greeted, "What can I do for you?"
"I was wondering if you had tape," Donnie asked a bit hesitant.
The boy looked away from the nun to look at May and Coulson with wary brown eyes. Unlike the other children they had seen, he wasn't looking at them with wonder or hope, but with caution.
"Of course," Sister Francis said, "Donnie is Mary Sue in her room?"
Donnie shook his head no, "She's outside in her usual spot."
"Would you mind bringing Mr and Mrs Mayson out to see her," Sister Francis asked.
Donnie raised an eyebrow. He looked at May and Coulson again, his gaze narrowed slightly. It wasn't out of jealousy or anger, May noticed. He was trying to see if they were a threat or not, it was protective.
"You're here to foster Mary," Donnie asked.
Coulson answered him, "If she'll let us."
Donnie scrunched his brow at the response, but made no verbal comment at the stranger's words.
Instead he nodded, "She's this way."
Donnie exited the office with May and Coulson following a few steps behind.
September 1st 1:30: Outside
Mary was sitting in her "hiding" spot in one of the trees on the right side of the orphanage. Gertrude had sentenced her to her room, but Nancy told her to go outside and enjoy the warm air. That it would be good for her lungs. So outside Mary went and went to her usual hiding spot. It wasn't difficult to get up there. Unless of course you didn't know how to climb a tree. There was a certain way to get up the tree that had taken Mary days to learn when she was younger. Once she found the way, she would sneak away from the orphanage and climb onto the thick branch that could hold her weight hidden behind the leaves.
While she sat there above the ground and out of sight she could relax. No one would yell at her here. No one would bother her here. This tree was one of the few places where she could pretend like the world didn't exist. It was nice. Especially with the little opening above her that allowed her a view of the sky. Everything else in her life was always changing, but the sky was the one thing that remained. No matter where she went, the sky was always there. If she could physically change her name, she would change it to match the sky. Maybe Skylar or Skye. Either one was better than Mary Sue Poots.
"Mary," she heard a voice call.
The teen groaned dramatically, as if she were dying, which amused the twelve year old and, unknown to her, the other guests.
Donnie's laugh filled Mary's ears, "Hate to bother you, but-"
"If you say Sister Gertrude wants to see me, tell her she can kiss my ass," Mary instructed with a grin.
Mary could hear the smile in Donnie's voice as he said, "I would love to, but I've already gotten three slips this week."
Mary looked down to her right to see Donnie standing at the bottom of the tree. From her view the leaves sat right above his head, hiding the two people from view. Though the two listeners could make out her figure through the trees, they did not have a good view pf her face.
Still oblivious to the listeners, she said, "I get more of those slips in a week than you've gotten in your life."
"If you insist," Donnie replied grinning, "Anyway there are two foster parents here and they want to meet you."
Mary's smile disappeared, "What? Why?"
Donnie shrugged, "Don't know, but I do know they asked for you specifically."
Mary raised an eyebrow, "That's a terrible sign. Must be the fuzz."
Donnie weakly chuckled, then sobered, "I don't think so. They just said they wanted to foster you."
Mary didn't respond. Why would foster parents come looking her? A horrible thought about someone recognizing her from her time spent with Robbie filled her mind. Had one of those guys she swindled from found her? Mary quickly shook the panic away. No one would be able to recognize her or find her from there. They never saw her face and she never gave her name. Sure they called her Hacker Girl, but that was it.
Taking a breath, Mary sat up and swung her legs over the side. With a quick push, she was falling to the ground and landed in a side lunge position without an issue. The tree branch she had been sitting on was roughly eight maybe ten feet off the ground. A bit dangerous for her to jump from, but she had jumped from higher places before without a scratch.
Her brown waves fell over her face from the fall which warranted a small laugh from Donnie. She moved the hair out of her face as she stood up and opened her mouth, but no sound came when she saw two people behind Donnie. A caucasian man and Asian woman stood a few feet away from her behind the twelve year old boy. Had they been here the whole time? Mary blinked at them.
"Uh hi," she said then looked pointedly at Donnie, "A little warning would have been nice."
Donnie replied defensively, "I did say they were here."
"Not that they were right behind you," Mary pointed out.
Donnie smiled, "My bad."
Mary playfully shoved him, "Get going fish."
"Bye," Donnie drawled still smiling.
A moment later, it was only Mary with two strangers who apparently wanted to foster her. The idea seemed odd. Why did they want to foster her? There must have been some kind of trick or hidden gain that she didn't know.
"Hi," greeted the man as he extended his hand to her, "My name's Phil Mayson."
Mary stared at his offered hand for a long time. She could tell Phil was worried she wouldn't take it, but right before he could lower his hand, she shook. His grip was definitely strong and warm.
The woman extended her hand to, Mary took it without hesitation this time, "Melinda."
Mary watched them with a curious gaze. Phil seemed to be watching her with an almost hesitant stance and expression. He seemed unsure about this. Melinda on the other hand was studying her, that much Mary could tell from her. No doubt judging her small size and rather large clothes. Or maybe because they were both Asian. Mary wasn't sure.
Phil smiled at her, "It's nice to meet you.. uh my wife and I were wondering if maybe you would like to come home with us?"
Mary's eyebrows raised at the question. Why was he asking if she wanted to go with them? Usually it was she would just leave with whoever the nuns sent her with. This must be a trick question.
"What," Mary said dumbfounded.
Melinda repeated her husband's question in fewer words, "Would you like to come home with us?"
Mary spoke with a confused expression, "I'm not sure I understand. Why are you asking? Usually it's just we're your foster parents, let's go."
Phil answered, "I- We believe the choice should be yours to make. After all, this is about where you will go. If you don't want to come with us, you don't have to."
Mary slipped her hands into her jean pockets unsure of how she was supposed to respond. She knew absolutely nothing about the two of them except for their names and the fact that they did want to foster her, which was still strange. Could she say no and they leave? Though it was tempting, she feared that they were giving her the option to be polite.
Even if she did say no, they would have her leave with them anyway. Mary didn't get any strange vibes from them and they seemed alright. Perhaps she could say yes and see how this foster home worked out. Besides, it wasn't like she had a reason to say no and she really didn't enjoy staying at the orphanage with all the other kids here. Especially after the incident yesterday.
"Okay," Mary said a little unsurely, "That would be fine."
The relief on Melinda's face and the sigh from Phil did not go unnoticed by Mary. Had they been worried she would say no? Why would they be? If she had said no, then they could have just gotten another kid.
She let a smirk form on her face, "Worried I'd say no?"
"Only a little bit," Phil told her with an easy grin.
Mary released a quick laugh, before sobering up a bit, "I do have one condition."
Melinda quirked an eyebrow, "Which is?"
"Don't call me Mary Sue. Or use the last name Poots," she said a little more confident, "I won't answer."
"What should we call you then," Phil asked her curiously.
What would they call her? What did she want to be called? Mary looked up at the blue sky over her head for a moment. That was it. The corners of her mouth twitched as she said, "Skye. Call me Skye."