8
Coulson stuffed the phone back into his pocket and smiled at the little girl leaning against May's hip. He looked from the child to May and then back again. May narrowed her eyes at the man, willing him to drop it and just walk away.
Skye stared at the stranger standing in the kitchen for a moment before looking up at May. "'Mi in trouble?" She squeaked a little above a whisper. "I'm sorry." She looked down at her bare feet.
May shushed the little girl without answering. "Things are little intense here right now, Coulson. I'm sure Morse or Rodriguez is available."
Coulson smiled and gave a tiny finger wave to the little girl while answering May. "On task, off the grid in Barcelona...the other's gone dark…"
Skye smiled back at this silly man. He was dressed like guys that worked in Mrs. Gibbon's son's office. She went there with her one afternoon when she had no school. All the guys in that office had jackets and ties just like this guy had, but none of them smiled and waved at her like him. She wriggled her fingers back without raising her hand. May didn't sound happy and she was still not sure she wasn't in trouble.
"Fury knows I'm on an indefinite leave…why?" May started.
"Cuz you're the best and he knows that too." Coulson answered before she had a chance to finish. He spoke to May but continued making eye contact with the little girl who stood before her.
May let out a frustrated sigh. She and the director had had a very long and sometimes heated discussion over her decision to become a single mother. She almost snickered at the fact that Fury had been furious. She didn't need his permission and certainly was not looking for his approval, just following routine and letting him know of a change in family status. It was something all agents were expected to do when something like this occurred. She was also totally prepared to submit her resignation should he object to the point it became an absolute denial on his part. Fury could pull something like that. He expected his agents, especially his best agents, to have no ties…no reason to question their missions or what might need to be done at anytime or to go anywhere without question. He expected no resistance from them for any reason…especially those brought on by family responsibilities.
Of course, Melinda May was a force to be reckoned with on her own and now she was taking on the Momma Bear protection persona so Director Fury had about a snowball's chance in the hottest region of Hell of changing her mind. After a lot of shouting and pounding and slamming the man dropped into his desk chair and listened to the entire story. In the end he relented…May liked to think that under all that bravado and machismos beat an understanding heart. Well, either that or she wore him down because she had no intention of giving up now or ever. The man agreed to help her in any way possible with the understanding she would remain as dedicated to her job as she had been since he drafted her into the academy.
May agreed, not to pacify the man, but because she intended to do just that right from the beginning. She'd02 grown up with a mother dedicated to her job and a father dedicated to her. She would be both parents and Skye would not suffer. Melinda May would return from every mission, completed one hundred percent. She would return to that little girl, safe and sound. She promised herself and she promised Skye.
When she requested this leave just after Thanksgiving, she fully intended to return after the New Year. She'd also agreed to cut the leave short if anything became so intense that her skills were needed. The fact that Coulson arrived at her door in the first time in forever made it pretty damn apparent that that was the case.
May let out a soft sigh, mentally running through everything she would have to do before 'grabbing her go bag'.
Coulson had stepped closer and squatted down in front of Skye. "Hey, angel eyes," he spoke softly.
Skye smiled shyly and leaned closer to May, reaching to take her hand.
"I bet you've come to live with May, huh." He stated more than asked as he tapped his finger on her chest. "I'm Coulson. What's your name?"
"Skye," the little girl spoke just as softly. "I'm May's Skye."
Coulson gave a gentle chuckle. "May's Skye, yes you are. You are May's Skye." He patted the top of her head as he stood and continued. "May works with me and I need her to come to help with a very important…"
"Enough, Coulson," May spoke through her teeth.
"Perhaps, Skye and I should step into her room for a moment." William spoke for the first time as he moved toward the child, extending a hand. "I believe I saw some of my favorite books there." He winked at the little girl. "Maybe you can read one to me."
Skye's smile turned to a pout. "I don't read so good, Yeye. I don't get all the words right cept for the little ones, but you could read a me."
Coulson stepped back, brushing off the chill of May's glare.
"I think we'll all step out for a moment." May snarled at the man. "We need to talk." She nodded at her father and turned to follow him and Skye down the short hallway.
Coulson watched for a moment, then cleared his throat. "I'll just wait here." He looked at his watch, tapped it twice then called after May. "Wheels up in less than an hour…"
xx
Melinda used every ounce of her resolve not to slam the bedroom door off its hinges. She let out several huffs of breath as she paced across the room and back. Skye squeezed William's hand, pulling closer to him.
"Is May mad at me?" The little girl's voice cracked as she spoke to her grandfather.
He smiled at her and shook his head. "No, no bao bao, Melinda is just upset over the arrival of her friend."
Skye scrunched up her nose and shook her head. "I don't think he's her friend, Yeye. She's too mad." She looked at May who still paced across the room and inched a bit behind her grandfather.
"Melinda," William patted Skye's shoulder as he took a step toward his daughter. "It is not worth the turmoil you are creating for yourself and I believe you are frightening the child."
May stopped and peered past her father at the small child pressed against the side of her small desk. Her eyes wide with uncertainty as she nibbled her thumb nail. May let out a long breath and ran a hand through her hair, slipping it behind one ear. She drew a breath and forced a smile. Stepping around her father she spoke softly to the little girl.
"Skye, I am so sorry…" her voice cracked just enough for her father to hear before the little girl rushed into her open arms.
"I'm sorry, May." Skye squeaked as she snuggled into the embrace.
May stood, bringing the small girl up into her arms and placing a kiss on her cheek. She cringed at the warmth still there. "You don't have to be sorry, Skye. You did nothing wrong." She pulled the little girl closer and looked to her father.
"I believe you owe Phillip an explanation." He spoke without admonishing her. It was simply a fact.
May looked at Skye, still wrapped around her like a small monkey. She kissed the back of the little girl's head as she swayed side to side. "Are you sure about this baba?"
"I have much experience with a small girl, even one that misses her mama. We will be fine, Mellie." He smiled back at her as he reached for the child.
May kissed Skye again, frowning at the feverish warmth against her. "She's still warm, baba. I can't leave her when she's sick."
"I will be sure to administer the medicine and I believe your kind neighbor has medical experience. Does she not?" He smiled at his daughter's reluctance to release the child.
Skye lifted her head from Melinda's shoulder. "Mrs. Gibbons was a nurse fer a long time then she got tired." She informed William.
He reached out and took the little girl, amazed at how light she felt. "I believe you mean retired, sunnu." He smiled and she nodded.
"She still knows how to do nurse stuff," Skye nodded. "But she's tired so she don't shot nobody no more."
"Is that so?" William smiled. Skye nodded as she squirmed to the floor and turned back to May.
"Where does Carson want ya ta go?" She asked then chewed her lip. "Could I come with ya?"
May took the little girl's hand, led her to the bed and motioned for her to sit. Skye bounced onto the mattress. May looked at her father and suddenly realized how difficult it must have been for her mother to say goodbye so many times. She'd resented her mom for so long, for the choices she made and the time they'd lost. William gave a discreet nod and May returned it before taking both of Skye's hands in her own.
"Coulson," she corrected, "needs me to go with him to take care of some very important business. We'll have to go very far away and I might be gone longer than a few days."
"Maybe a week?" Skye suggested, blinking at the tears forming in her eyes.
May brushed away one drop with her thumb and smiled weakly. "Maybe a little longer and maybe not, it depends how long it takes to accom…finish what we need to do." She explained.
Skye drew a shaky breath and swallowed the sob she felt rising. "You'll come back?"
"Always," May smiled again. "I will always come back to you. I promise."
A small smile tickled the edges of Skye's mouth. She knew how May felt about promises. They talked about it a lot. You don't promise nothing 'less you're gonna do it. Skye knew that and May never broke her promises, not from the very first one.
"Do I gotta go back ta the Sisters til ya come back?" Now the fear crept back into her voice as she mostly mumbled to her chest.
May shook her head and tugged the little girl closer. "Never, Skye, never ever…you will never go back there…you'll stay right here in your home…our home."
Skye blinked a few times and shrugged her shoulders still refusing to look up. "By myself?" She wondered.
"No, no, kid, no…" May laughed as she pulled the child into a hug. "Yeye is going to stay right her with you. He's going to help you get all those decorations up and take you to Carl's and get you to school and make sure you do your homework and wash behind your ears and do your chores and everything you do every day."
Skye settled into May's hug and nodded at each task mentioned. May going away for a long time was scary, but staying here with Yeye was better than going back even though Sr. Regina and Sr. Jeremy and even Polly were gone. May patted her back then ran her hand up and down as well.
"How about you let Yeye read the book you pick out while I talk to Coulson." May smiled down at the little girl then brushed a hair from her eyes. She leaned close enough to touch her forehead to the little girl's. "Then we check your temperature and talk to Mrs. Gibbons before I have to leave."
Skye wrapped her thin arms as far as they would go around May. "I wish you didn't have ta go." She whispered.
"Me too," May whispered back.
William stood leafing through the pages of a small book. He held it up. "I think I would like to know how this story is told. I have heard it many times as a child."
"I like that one," Skye sniffled as she sat up.
May rose as William slipped into the spot she left. "Then we shall enjoy it together." He smiled as he opened the book. "Far away from here following the Jade River there was once a black mountain…."
Melinda listened to her father's story voice for a moment before she drew a deep breath, opened the door and stepped into the hall.
xx
The kitchen was empty…quiet. William's half empty tea cup still set where he left it.
"Never took you for one to go all holly and ivy." Coulson's voice came from the parlor where he stood looking up at the huge decorated tree.
May stepped into the room, barely making a sound as she padded across the soft rug. She stood with her arms across her chest. He glanced at her over his shoulder offering a half smile-half smirk.
"Well at least not…" He spread his arms wide and leaned back a bit in awe of the tall tree twinkling with hundreds of tiny lights.
She didn't respond. Coulson turned and smiled as he looked her up and down. "Nice look, by the way…kinda," he thought for a moment, "homey."
"Shut up, Coulson." May growled. "How dare you come into my home and…" her wrath was just beginning.
"Hey," he held up a hand. "I called…left messages…called again. You left me no other options."
May merely glared.
"I wouldn't be here if it wasn't urgent." Coulson's tone changed, became serious. "I think you know that."
May let out a frustrated breath and averted her gaze to the lightly falling snow outside the double glass doors of the balcony. She could still see Skye out there, mesmerized by the glistening tree. "Things change, Coulson." She spoke without looking at him.
Smiling, Coulson walked toward the kitchen. He turned and let out a soft chuckle. "That's apparent." He waited for a reaction that didn't come. The man looked toward the archway that led to the hall way. "Guess you did something about that missing piece of your heart."
"I couldn't leave her there, Coulson. I don't think the kid would have survived," May paused and let out a long breath. "And if she did, what the hell kind of person would she be in ten…twenty years?"
"Certainly not the one she'll be after growing here with you." Coulson smiled
May dropped the arms she'd held tightly across her chest and turned toward him. "I thought I'd have more time…" She shook her head and let the comment drop.
Coulson pursed his lips and let out a short breath. "Rumor has it you put in a request to ride a desk."
"Yeah?" May replied, leaving the 'what of it' unsaid.
"You know Fury's never gonna let that happen," he smirked, then added, "neither will I if I have any say in it."
May let out a spurted laugh. "And what makes you think your opinion matters?"
Coulson shrugged. "Oh, I have a bit of influence in matters that involve my partner."
"Partner," May pishawed. "Since when are we partners?"
Coulson looked at his watch and held up one finger, silently counting to himself. He lowered the finger and replied, "Exactly four hours ago…right before Fury told me to get my partner's ass in gear whatever it takes…" He raised his eyebrows, turned down the corners of his mount and gave a quick shrug. "He was speaking to me about you so…"
May rolled her eyes and shook her head. "What is so damn urgent neither of you can leave me alone?"
Leaning against the kitchen's archway to the dining area, Coulson let out a short breath. "Stark's got some kind of what not machine stashed in some castle in Romania. Intel says some unsavory characters have their eyes on it and S.H.I.E.L.D.'s powers that be want it out of there."
"Stark?" May sneered, "that moron playboy jerk that's always got his face plastered on some check out newspaper?" She drew a deep breath and silently counted to ten. "Fury sent you to pull me away from my sick kid and my father who I haven't seen in almost five years to rescue some Casanova from a self made disaster?" Now she was livid, clenching both fists at her side and ready to storm into Fury's office to demand not only a full explanation but his signature on that request effective yesterday.
Coulson remained calm, holding out a hand and stepping slowly toward her. "Take it easy, May. Stark's not even in the picture…not the one you mean." He paused for a moment allowing her to breathe before he stepped any closer. She was volatile and more than once she'd knocked him on his ass just out of frustration. "Maybe you should keep your voice down, huh?" He looked over his shoulder toward the bedroom doors. "Don't want to upset the little one. Do you?" The man kept his voice low and measured, hoping she'd come around.
May continued breathing rapidly, her eyes fixed on something far away. Coulson swallowed imagining what she might be envisioning and hoped he wasn't part of it.
"Howard…Howard Stark…" he clarified. "According to Carter's records, they stashed some stuff there at the end of the war figuring it would be safe or forgotten, but it seems something there is on someone's radar. We aren't sure who or why, but for the good of everyone S.H.I.E.L.D. wants it out. They've labeled it an 0-84."
"Great," May hissed through her teeth. "And what exactly does this 'what not' do?"
Coulson let out a nervous laugh. "Huh, funny you should ask. They aren't really certain and the former director's memory is a little fuzzy on the issue, but Stark had some nasty stuff in the works before he left Europe."
"The damn thing is over fifty years old…probably rusted into small pieces by this time." May growled.
"Time doesn't seem to affect this kind of stuff…usually works right through the rust." Coulson thought out loud.
"Perfect," May growled.
"It's not the kind of stuff we want getting into the wrong hands." Coulson sighed.
Moving toward the stairs that led to her room, May snarled, "just whose hands are we talking about?" She continued on her way.
"Russians, Al-Qaeda, North Koreans," he shrugged looking at her back as she reached the door. "Of course it could be an unknown…anything's possible."
May drew a deep breath, closed her eyes, pushed opened the door and stepped inside before exhaling.
xx
"What if she don't come back?" Skye asked, staring at the door and clearly not listening to her grandfather's reading of a Chinese myth.
William smiled and closed the book. He knew the child had not been paying attention, but tried to keep his voice at a level it would block out whatever was going on in the living room. He patted his hand gently on the little girl's leg.
"When May was a little girl she would ask the same question each time her mama would leave." He smiled at his already accepted and endeared granddaughter.
Skye swung her feet back and forth over the edge of the bed, still staring at the door. She nodded. "Did her?" She looked up at her grandfather. "Come back, did her?"
William nodded as he wrapped his arm around the child and pulled her closer. "Yes, little one, she did and," he tapped Skye's nose causing her to blink twice. "And hopefully it will not be long before you meet your Nainai."
"I gotta nya nya?" Skye's eyebrows rose as she sat back wide eyed.
Again the man nodded, looking down at Skye. "I am sure she will be just as surprised as you, sunnu." He chuckled at the joke the little girl would not understand.
Skye nodded back and slipped off the bed. She padded across the floor and stood next to her desk, staring at the door again. Absently she picked at the corner of the tablet that lay there. "Is she gone now?" Skye blinked several times then rubbed the back of her hand across her eyes.
William rubbed his hands across his thighs as he stood and stepped behind the child. "May would not leave without telling you, little one. She is still here." He rested his hands on her shoulders.
"Lotsa times people just go away." Skye spoke in a small voice.
William pulled the chair from the desk and sat down. He turned the child toward him and held her hands in his own. He'd need to learn a lot about this small person and her distrust of such simple things. "Do you believe what May tells you, Skye?"
The little girl smiled despite her quivering lip. She pulled one hand free and quickly brushed away a tear. It wasn't so easy to stop them like she used to do at St. Agnes. But things didn't matter then. Nobody really cared about her and she didn't expect them to care. It was easier that way. You didn't get disappointed if you didn't expect anything. You couldn't lose anything if you never had it. But she did have something…she had May and that meant everything.
Skye nodded then swallowed and squeaked out a whispered, "yes."
"Then she will tell you herself." William smiled, hoping the little girl would do the same. "And I will stay with you until she returns." He placed a hand over his heart. "This I promise and I have taught my daughter how important promises are."
Again Skye swiped at a tear. "What if the case lady comes fer me?"
"I am sorry, sunnu, I am not familiar with the case lady, but you have no worries. No one will come for you. I will keep you safe." William patted her hand.
Skye nodded, but she was not convinced. Suddenly decorating a Christmas tree did not seem like the most important thing. Now, she wasn't sure Christmas meant anything at all. Maybe celebrating it with a little plastic tree and paper ornaments was okay.
William squeezed the little girl's hand and stood. He'd heard nothing from the other room for a few minutes. "Come, let's see if May and Coulson have settled their disagreement." He winked at the little girl as they walked toward the door.
xx
Coulson turned at the sound of William entering the room. Skye stepped from behind him and frowned at the man she wasn't quite sure she liked. He seemed nice, but he was taking away May and that was not good.
"Hey," the man greeted her softly. He'd been looking at their tree when they came into the room. "This is a great tree." He jerked a thumb at it. "I don't think I've ever seen one so big."
Skye merely blinked. Coulson looked to William who smiled a unsure grin back.
"Did you pick this one?" He nodded toward it as Skye shook her head.
Coulson could see the little girl had been crying and her cheeks were flushed a little more than they should be.
"Sure is a beauty," he drew out as he turned back to admire the tree, "great decorations." He nodded.
"Me and May choosed it at the Christmas tree park." Skye spoke just above a whisper. "Yeye gived us the ormints. 'Cept that one…" she pointed toward the red lantern with the golden tassels.
Coulson moved closer and pointed to the ornament, silently motioning 'this one?" Skye nodded.
"May buyed it fer me to put onna tree."
"Excellent choice," Coulson nodded. He moved toward the couch and sat down then patted the cushion beside him.
Skye looked up at William who nodded and gave her a gentle push toward the seat. She looked up at Coulson expectantly.
"I want you to know, I would not take May away from all this if I didn't really need her. She's very important." Coulson attempted to explain.
"She's 'pornt here too." Skye replied.
"She's gone away before, hasn't she?" He asked, knowing May had been on at least two missions since the day they spoke in the gym.
Skye shrugged then nodded. "Ownee one day and then two…I sleep at Mrs. Gibbon's partmint."
"Well, she'll only be gone a little longer this time." Coulson smiled.
"A week is a long time," Skye frowned. "It's seven days. That's a lots morren one." She rocked back and forth squeezing the edge of the cushion tightly.
Again Coulson looked to William. Seven days was a long time for little girl, another seven would be a life time and Coulson had no way of telling how long this would take. Hell, they could land in the morning and have the damn object by lunch or they could waste weeks searching. He didn't even know what the hell it looked like. No one did.
"Yeah, it is. Isn't it?" Coulson mimicked the little girl's look. "How 'bout I make sure she calls you every chance we get."
"Promise?" Skye looked up with the worst puppy dog eyes Coulson had ever witnessed.
He swiped his finger over his heart twice. "Pr…"
"Don't." May's voice preceded the thump of her go bag hitting the hardwood floor by a second.
He looked to her with the word still on his lips.
"Don't make promises you can't keep. I won't do that to her…ever." She barked at the man who snapped his lips shut and gave a quick nod.
Hell, in twelve hours they could be in the middle of nowhere and cell service sucked in Eastern Europe, but there was always the Sat-phone…unless they had to go dark or… No, May was right. There was no way to promise the kid they'd keep in touch.
"Sorry, angel eyes," Coulson frowned as Skye dropped her head. "Hey, you okay…you don't look so good." He reached out a hand and patted her shoulder.
Skye didn't answer. Coulson jumped a second before the little girl threw up…a second too late. He stood and held on to his own stomach as the warmth seeped through his trousers.
A moment later, Skye was sobbing. William was rushing forward with towels and May was whisking the little girl away.
"It is nothing that cannot be cleaned." William assured May as she disappeared down the hallway. He turned to Coulson. "I believe you should tell the car that waits in the garage that you will need more time."
Coulson swallowed hard and pulled out his phone.