Chapter 30
AN: Thank you for the support. Hope you like this chapter.
Not long after Peggy received a call from nurse Schuetze she and Howard have woken Jarvis and Ana, who are staying with Tony and Natasha, and have travelled to Bellevue. Getting to the emergency room Peggy and Howard walk straight up to the triage desk.
"I'm Margret Carter-Stark, this is Howard Carter-Stark, we got a call about Lian, William, and Melinda May," Peggy says, knowing that chances are she doesn't have to introduce Howard.
"I'm Rebecca Schuetze, I'm the person who called you," Nurse Schuetze says. "Doctor Lachlan Sheridan is the physician in charge. I'll take you to the family room and get him," Nurse Schuetze says, standing up, and causing Peggy and Howard to exchange looks, as they know the news must be bad, as they follow the nurse.
Less than five minutes later Peggy and Howard are in the family room, waiting when a doctor walks in.
"You're the emergency contacts of William, Lian, and Melinda May?" Doctor Sheridan asks, as he walks into the room.
"How are they?" Peggy asks concerned.
"You might want to take a seat," Doctor Sheridan admits.
"Just tell us, Doc," Howard requests.
"There was a car accident," Doctor Sheridan says. "William was killed in the impact. Lian succumbed to her injuries shortly after she arrived here," Doctor Sheridan explains, causing both Peggy and Howard incredible pain.
"And Melinda?" Peggy asks, feeling the worse.
"She's alive," Doctor Sheridan answers. "She has sustained significant injuries. The next few hours are going to be crucial," Doctor Sheridan explains.
"Can we see her?" Howard asks, desperately wanting to do that.
"Of course," Doctor Sheridan answers, and he leads Peggy and Howard out of the family room and to the medical room where Melinda is. "I'll give you a minute," Doctor Sheridan says before leaving, and once he leaves Peggy walks over to Melinda's side.
"I'm so sorry, Darling," Peggy tells the unconscious four-year-old girl, tears coming to her eyes, as Howard picks up the medical file. "How bad is it?" Peggy asks concerned, looking at Howard.
"Bad," Howard says, as he flicks through the records, reading them as he does. "Peg, we should transfer Melinda to SHIELD Medical; it's her best shot," Howard says, as he knows SHIELD medical has things that regular hospitals don't, which is exactly what Melinda needs.
"Okay, let's do it," Peggy says as she wants Melinda to have her best shot.
"I'll go make the calls, talk to the doctors," Howard tells Peggy, before leaving.
"When you wake up everything's going to be different, and you're going to be in a lot of pain, but I promise you, Melinda, you'll never be alone," Peggy says to the girl. "And you'll always be loved, have a home, and a family," Peggy says, as she knows what she promised Lian and William and she has no hesitation in keeping it.
A couple of hours after Peggy and Howard woke up in the early hours of the morning to a phone call Natasha is walking downstairs and she is confused to find Ana, Jarvis, and Tony in the kitchen but no sign of her parents as she walks in.
"Good morning Miss Tasha," Jarvis greats.
"Where's Mom and Dad?" Natasha asks curious, causing Ana and Jarvis to exchange looks. "What is it?" Natasha asks worried.
"Your parents received a call this morning," Ana explains. "They had to go," Ana explains.
"You're being vague," Natasha notes, being pretty sure that that means nothing good.
"Miss Tasha. Your parents will explain what has happened tonight," Jarvis explains to Natasha.
"Okay," Natasha says, suspecting that she is going be distracted for most of the day as she imagines what could have happened, and she starts to pick at her breakfast, not really eating it.
A couple of hours after their daughter work up and started fear and question what has occurred Peggy and Howard are at the SHIELD medical facility with Melinda, who is still unconscious, but doing better thanks to the advance SHIELD medical tech.
"Peggy, Howard," A voice says and they look to see Michael at the door, holding a file. "How's she doing?" Michael asks.
"Better," Howard answers. "Our tech was able to detect injuries the hospital couldn't, and treat them, so she's stabilized," Howard explains, sounding very glad of that fact.
"What did you find out?" Peggy asks curious.
"It wasn't an accident," Michael says, with a grave tone. "We're working on trying to figure it out, Lian had a lot of enemies, from both the CIA and SHIELD, so we're running down all the ones we know off," Michael explains.
"Do not let the CIA take over. This is ours," Peggy says, in a stern voice, knowing that she will get into a jurisdictional war if she ahs to, but she would just prefer not to.
"I know," Michael confirms, and as he does Melinda starts to stern. "I'll leave you too it," Michael says, before leaving, closing the door behind him.
"Melinda, Mellie, can you hear me?" Howard asks.
"Uncle Howard," Melinda asks, opening her eyes, and looking confused. "Where's Mom and Dad?" Melinda asks, confused about why he godfather is with her and not her parents.
"They're not here, Darling," Peggy tells Melinda.
"Aunt Peggy? Where are they?" Melinda asks, clearly confused, causing Peggy and Howard to exchange looks as neither are exactly sure how to tell her what they have to tell her.
"Darling, there's been an accident," Peggy tells her goddaughter.
"We were in the car," Melinda says, trying to make sense of everything.
"Yeah, you were," Howard confirms. "Like Aunt Peggy said, there was an accident," Howard explains.
"Melinda, your Mom and Dad didn't survive the accident; they died," Peggy says in a gentle voice.
"No!" Melinda exclaims. "No! I WANT MOM AND DAD!" Melinda yells. "I WANT MOM AND DAD!" Melinda yells again.
"I'm sorry, Mellie, they're gone," Howard says gently as Peggy moves and tries to hug her, but Melinda fights her at first, before finally allowing Peggy to hold her as she cries.
A little while later Melinda has cried herself to sleep, but Peggy is still holding her. As Peggy holds Melinda and Howard sits next to them, the door opens and Daniel walks in.
"Sorry to intrude, but we've got a situation," Daniel reveals.
"What kind of situation?" Howard asks.
"The Director of the CIA is here. He's demanding that we had over everything we've found, that the CIA is taking over the investigation," Daniel explains.
"Not bloody likely," Peggy says angrily.
"I figured you'd say that," Daniel admits, as Peggy gently moves Melinda out of her arms and puts her back onto the bed, before standing up.
"Where is Director Helms?" Peggy asks, as she walks over to Daniel.
"Down the hall," Daniel answers, and once he does Peggy leaves the hospital room, looking very much like a woman on a mission as she walks towards Director Helms.
"Director Carter," CIA Director Richard Helms says as Peggy walks towards him.
"Director Helms," Peggy responds. "You're not taking over this investigation," Peggy informs Director Helms.
"With all due respect Director Carter, Agent May was a CIA Agent," Director Helms says.
"Who had been working as a SHIELD liaison for almost fifteen years," Peggy reminds him, a jolt of pain as she realizes just how long she has known Lian and William. "Lian was one of my people, she was on my team, she and William were family," Peggy says an edge to her voice. "I'm not going to just hand over the investigation, and in case you forgot, CIA can't operate domestically," Peggy points out. "SHIELD will, I will, find out who killed Lian and William. I will not hand over the investigation," Peggy says, there being no room for questioning in her voice.
"You really are an incredibly stubborn Woman," Director Helms says.
"Yes, I am," Peggy confirms, not an ounce of shame in her voice.
"How's Melinda?" Director Helms asks, and from his voice Peggy can tell that he is actually curious.
"About how you would expect for a four year old who's just lost both her parents," Peggy admits.
"I will keep you informed of anything we find if you do the same," Director Helms informs Peggy.
"I can do that," Peggy confirms, and the two of them shake hands. Once they shake hands Director Helms heads out of in one direction and Peggy heads back towards Melinda's room, where Howard is waiting outside off.
"Did you know that next month if would have been fifteen years since we first met Lian?" Peggy asks Howard once she is close enough.
"Yeah," Howard confirms. "She instantly became family; I can't imagine her not being around," Howard admits, looking upset. "We need to make sure Mellie knows about them, how incredible they were, how much they loved her," Howard says, his voice breaking as tears coming to his eyes, as while he is going to miss his friends very much he knows it's nothing compared to what Melinda will go through.
"We will," Peggy says, before hugging her husband and together they both mourn the two people who they love dearly.
A while later Howard is arriving home, and considering everything that has happened, and the fact that he called ahead, he isn't at all surprised to find Jarvis waiting in the foyer.
"The world has lost two incredible people," Jarvis tells Howard once the front door has closed.
"Really has," Howard confirms.
"How's Miss Melinda doing?" Jarvis asks concerned.
"Her physical wounds will heal, but I don't know about the rest," Howard admits, pain in his voice. "She screamed for Lian and William, cried herself to sleep. She was still asleep when I left, Peg's with her," Howard explains. "Where's Tash and Tony?" Howard asks.
"Living room, with Ana," Jarvis answers.
"Can you get the room next to Tony's ready for Mellie?" Howard requests. "Peg and I promised that we would take in Melinda if anything happened to Lian and William," Howard explains. "I don't know how long she'll have to stay in medical yet, but I want her to have someplace that is hers when she comes home," Howard explains.
"Of course, Sir," Jarvis answers, without hesitation.
"Thanks Jarvis," Howard says, before heading to the living room.
When Howard gets to the living room he has to pause for a second as he watches Tony and Natasha play LEGOS with Ana. While he has no doubt that Natasha must suspect that something is going on, he is glad that they are so happy, and sad about the fact that he is going to ruin it for them, and so he just watches them.
"DADDY!" Tony yells happily as he spots his father.
"Hey Pal," Howard says, walking over to his son and picking him up once he is close enough. "Did you have a good day with Jarvis, Ana and Tash?" Howard asks his son curious, as Ana leaves to give them privacy.
"Yep," Tony answers. "Where Mommy?" Tony asks curious, as Howard carries him over to the couch and sits down.
"Tash, can you come here?" Howard asks, and Natasha walks over and sits with her Dad and brother.
"Is Mom okay?" Natasha asks worried.
"Mom's okay, she's with Melinda," Howard explains.
"Why?" Natasha asks, looking confused.
"Early this morning there was an accident," Howard says, knowing that is the best way to explain what happened. "Aunt Lian and Uncle William were killed," Howard explains, causing Natasha to get a horrified look on her face.
"Killed?" Tony asks confused, and even with how much of a genius he is Howard isn't surprised that the two year old doesn't understand.
"It means they're gone Pal, and they're never coming back," Howard explains, once more trying to think of the simplest explanation.
"Don't want them gone," Tony says, sadly.
"I don't want that either, Pal, but they're gone," Howard explains sadly, as he looks over at Natasha. "It's okay to cry, Kiddo," Howard says, as he can see Natasha trying not to.
"I'm going to miss them," Natasha says, before she allows herself to cry, and as she does Howard moves and puts an arm around her, holding both their kids as they cry.
At SHIELD Daniel is working hard at his desk, despite the late hour, when Jack walks up to him.
"Danny, there's nothing else we can do tonight," Jack says using the gentle tone he only uses with Daniel, or one of the kids.
"I can't just go home and do nothing," Daniel admits, as Jack sits down next to them. "They were family," Daniel says, pain in his voice.
"Yeah, they were," Jack confirms. "Which is why we owe them our best work, and you can't do that when you're exhausted," Jack explains.
"When you were hurt, and we didn't know if you were gone to make it, Lian never left my side," Daniel admits, doing so because they are alone. "She told me that it's a sad world we live in where you have to hide and be ashamed of who you love. She said that no matter what I never had to feel that way around her, that I could always talk to her, and never be afraid to be myself," Daniel admits.
"And that's when you two became best friends," Jack realizes, as he always knew Lian and Daniel seemed especially close.
"I have to find out who killed her, William too," Daniel says, as he owes that to his friend.
"I know," Jack says, as he reaches over and takes his boyfriends hand.
"And I know Peggy and Howard are taking in Melinda, but I need to be there for her too," Daniel says, as he feels like he owes that to his friend.
"We will," Jack promises, and the two of them drift into silence as they hold hands.
In a different part of shield Rose is in the firing range, firing at the target, and desperately trying to give herself something to focus on. Finishing the last of her magazine Rose puts the gun down and takes off her ear protection.
"Rose," Michael says, walking over to his wife.
"Hey," Rose says, turning to look at her husband, and the second he sees her it is obvious that she has been crying.
"I'm going to miss them too," Michael says, before just hugging his wife, and the two of them just cry together as they hold each other, mourning the loss of their friends.
Up in the main conference room the very large desk is covered in files. As he walks past the room Hank sees his wife and so he walks into the room.
"What are you doing?" Hank asks as he honestly though that Janet already went home.
"This is every case Lian worked as SHEILD Liaison," Janet reveals. "Her killer has to be in these files, and I'm going to find them," Janet informs Hank.
"So I assume you're not going home," Hank realizes.
"I can't," Janet admits. "We might not have known Lian and William as long as the others, but they were still family, and I'm not going to just sit back and let the people who killed my family get away with it," Janet says, her voice full of determination.
"I'll take the left side of the table," Hank says, sitting down.
"Thank you," Janet says, as she sits down.
"Like you said, they were family," Hank says, and the two of them get to work.
Far away from SHIELD, at the house he shares with Gabe and Step Dugan is sitting at the kitchen table, with a bottle of whiskey, two glasses, and a picture from last Christmas. A picture of all of their family.
As Dugan stares at the picture and drinks the whiskey out of one glass, Gabe walks in and sits down across from him.
"How's Steph?" Dugan asks, as Gabe pours himself a drinks.
"Sad, I'm not sure if she completely understands what is going on," Gabe admits. "Honestly, I'm not sure I do," Gabe admits, downing his drink.
"Tell me about it," Dugan comments. "Yesterday we were joking with Lian about who was going to get the best score in the weapons evaluation, today she's gone," Dugan says sadly.
"You two bet a bottle of a whiskey on it," Gabe says, remembering, his voice full of sadness.
"She as so sure she was going to win," Dugan comments. "Lian was a warrior, a solider, she deserved a soldiers death, not dying in a car unable to fight back," Dugan says angrily.
"Yeah, she did," Gabe confirms, and the two of them to drift into silence as they drink and think about their fallen friend.
At the Carter-Stark Estate Howard has put both Natasha and Tony to bed and is walking into the kitchen were Ana and Jarvis are sitting, a solemn feeling in the room.
"I am going to miss them very much," Ana says as Howard walks over and sits down with them.
"Me too," Jarvis says.
"Same," Howard confirms.
"Agent May, Mr May, were always a pleasure to be around," Jarvis comments.
"They really were," Howard confirms.
"It wasn't an accident?" Ana asks curious.
"No. We don't know who was behind it, but we know for sure it wasn't an accident," Howard says, knowing that they will all do whatever they have to do to find out who killed William and Lian. "I need to get back to Peg and Melinda, if Tony or Tash…." Howard starts to say.
"We'll call," Jarvis promises.
"Thank you," Howard says gratefully.
"Give Melinda a hug for us," Ana requests.
"Will do," Howard confirms, before getting up and leaving.
At the New York SHIELD medical facility Peggy is sitting by Melinda's bed, when she notices the young girl opening her eyes.
"Hey Mel," Peggy says to the young girl.
"Aunt Peggy," Melinda says. "It wasn't a dream?" Melinda asks sadly.
"I'm sorry Darling," Peggy tells her in a sad voice, causing Melinda to once again get tears in her eyes.
"What's going to happen to me, Aunt Peggy?" Melinda asks, her voice breaking.
"When your were born Uncle Howard and I promised your parents that we'd look after you if anything happened to them," Peggy explains. "So you're going to come live with us," Peggy explains.
"Okay," Melinda says, with a nod, not sure what else to say.
"You'll never me alone, Mel. we love you, and we'll make sure you never forget your parents, or your culture," Peggy assures her, already planning to learn to speak Chinese, something which Howard already knows.
"I don't want to forget them," Melinda admits.
"You won't, I'll make sure of it," Peggy promises, and she moves to hold Melinda once more, and the two of them drift into silence, Melinda feeling an incredible amount of pain while Peggy desperately wants to protect her from the pain that she is feeling.