A/N: Thanks to everyone who has reviewed so far! I'm still in Alaska (for another 10 days) and have poor internet, so I'm using it to post! I hope to catch up with all my review replies when I get home. I love hearing that so many are enjoying this little collection. I'm having fun (and so is my imagination)!

A/N2: Melinda May will be different early on in this story until Bahrain happens. Thank you to the reviewer who pointed out that this should work, since we know she did change. I also like the idea of May, Coulson, and Hill as buddies. I decided to flesh out some of the early days in my imagination, and work my way up. I still plan to focus on Maria, but this chapter is a little more of an interlude. The next few may be too- I'm trying to research military stuff so I don't completely miss the mark!

A/N3: I almost forgot! The inspirational song for the last chapter was 'Come With Me Now' by The Kongos. The Song of the Day for this chapter is 'Cherry Bomb' by The Runaways. Hope y'all enjoy my playlist!

A/n4: Implied Rape and abuse.

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No Time Hath She to Sport and Play

Chapter 2

She didn't mutter a word the first four hours they drove. Instead, she inclined her head towards the window- just pressed her forehead to the glass and simply stared. Phil glanced over occasionally with a worried eye, but Maria didn't seem to even register his attention. It wasn't until they pulled off the interstate and headed towards a drive-thru that she seemed to become aware of her surroundings. She blinked at the menu and turned towards him.

"What do you want to eat?"

Her mouth tightened, and her eyes darted back to the menu.

"Whatever you're having," she responded carefully.

Recognizing her unease at being dependent on someone, but knowing she probably hadn't had anything recently except the pizza from last night, he ordered two bacon, egg, and cheese biscuits, hashbrowns, and coffees for them both. They pulled out of the line, peeling greasy wrappers from the breakfast sandwiches, and munched in silence.

"Thank you."

She spoke so softly, he almost didn't hear her. He shifted his eyes from the road, and met her gaze briefly. He wouldn't say her expression was warm, but something in her eyes had eased now that Illinois was behind them. He took a deep breath. Might as well ruin what little connection he had made.

"I have something to confess," he started, and noted that she immediately tensed. "I called in a background check. It didn't go into details, but it gave me the gist-"

"Pull over."

It wasn't a request.

Something in the back of Phil's mind questioned why he was taking orders from a teenager, but nevertheless, he complied. His hands tightened on the steering wheel, as he guided the vehicle towards the shoulder of the road. He expected her to throw the door open and bolt when the car lurched to a stop, but instead she did the opposite and turned towards him, meeting his eyes head on. Her gaze was piercing, and he caught a glimpse of the commander she'd no doubt be one day. He prayed he hadn't fucked this up.

"My father is the CEO of a large company in Chicago," she paused, almost steeling herself for the words she was about to say. "And a gambling alcoholic."

"Maria, you don't have to-"

"I owe you," she said, her mouth tightening into a frown. "I pay my debts," she added firmly.

He didn't reply.

"He told me I was responsible for my mother's death, that the devil was inside of me. He was also a firm believer in corporal punishment. He was always careful to never leave a mark that might show, and who would suspect the popular, charismatic businessman when his hellion of a daughter showed up with a broken bone. It got worse when I started fighting back."

She let out a self-depreciating laugh, and he felt his fists tighten.

"He had racked up quite a bit of debt with the wrong people by the time I was nine. Those were the only times I was considered valuable to him," she said, her expression completely blank.

Phil felt the taste of bile rise up in his own throat, and forced himself to remain silent.

"He wasn't aware I was graduating early, until the high school called one day when he had left the office early. I was planning to leave before Christmas, to escape before the holidays and head east. He said I was an ungrateful bitch, and came at me with a letter opener."

Her fingers brushed over the collar of her shirt, pulling it down just enough to reveal a small knot of scarred tissue below her collarbone.

"I had a switchblade," she continued with a tiny gleam in her eyes. "He didn't try to find me after that night."

With that final sentence, she swallowed hard and threw back the rest of her coffee like it was a tumbler of whiskey before returning her gaze to the window once more.

Phil silently flipped his blinker on, and pulled back onto the interstate, lost in thought.

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They arrived in D.C. later that night no thanks to a backlog of construction, and Phil wasn't quite sure what to do with the brunette. He supposed he could get her a hotel room, or possibly see if she could stay with Melinda for the night. Then he remembered his partner was on a mission, and he hesitated slightly before turning to the girl beside him as he pulled into the gated community where he currently lived.

She was fast asleep.

He swung into a parking spot, and turned back to study his passenger. The lines on her face had smoothed, her face peaceful. She was curled into her oversized sweatshirt with her head resting against the door. Her lashes were long, he noted randomly. Rubbing his face, he unbuckled and gently brushed her shoulder. She jolted awake with a gasp, her lips parted and eyes wide. She blinked hard and refocused, and her face locked down into a blank mask once again.

"I'd be happy to take you to a hotel, if you'd feel more comfortable. We got in later than I expected."

"I'm fine here," she replied.

His brow furrowed as she got out of the car and stretched before reaching in and grabbing the violin he'd forgotten about. She followed him quietly as he led her up the steps to his small town home. He unlocked the door and flicked the light on before gesturing for her to enter. She took one step in and immediately started cataloguing the place he noticed with a small smile. He was relieved he had cleaned up before heading to Chicago.

"I'm going to go get cleaned up," he told Maria. "Make yourself at home."

She nodded, absorbed in the selection of books displayed in the living room. Still feeling a little bit frazzled, he headed upstairs to figure out what he was going to do next. Thirty minutes later, he had changed out of the suit into khakis and a polo after a hot shower. He shuffled down the stairs feeling much more in control, only to stop at the smell of tomato sauce. He slowly headed towards the kitchen.

"I figured we were both hungry again," Maria said with her back to him as she stirred something on the stove.

"I, uh, it smells wonderful! I didn't even know I owned a pot that big...or had food here," his voice trailed off.

"Your pantry is well stocked. It's ready, so help yourself," she replied with the same seriousness she held about her all day.

He just nodded, and helped himself to a big plate of spaghetti.

"Are you sure you're okay staying with a strange man after everything-," he said halfway through their meal.

She gave him the same look she displayed earlier when she thought he was being an idiot.

"I trust you," she simply stated.

He had to work hard to keep from gaping at her.

"Why?" he finally dared to ask.

She stared at him long and hard, and he matched her gaze. After a few moments her lips curved up into the first smile he'd seen from her.

"You blushed when I rubbed up against you in the alley yesterday."

He dropped his head, and fought to keep his entire face from turning red. She took pity on him and carried her plate to the sink, but not before he saw a small mischievous shine in her eyes.

Dear God, he was in trouble.

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Phil was awakened the next morning by a sharp knock at the front door. He jumped off the couch, leaving a pile of pillows and blankets and opened the door with a yawn. Melinda May looked back at him, unimpressed.

"Jeez Coulson, did you sleep on the couch?"

"Good morning to you too, sunshine," he retorted as she stepped into the foyer.

"You didn't answer your phone. I thought I was going to have to pick the lock."

"Good God May, how much coffee have you had this morning?" he said blinking owlishly at his partner.

"A triple espresso- we got in early," she replied with a shake of her hair.

He shook his head.

"Well, keep it down. Maria's still asleep."

Melinda just raised an eyebrow. Phil threw her a dirty look and headed into the kitchen.

"We got in too late for me to take her over to Quantico. Besides, she's going to need some stuff," he responded after pouring himself a cup of strong coffee.

"So you're voluntarily going shopping?" she asked quizzically.

Phil rolled his eyes.

"What do you suggest, oh wise one?" he said witheringly.

"I'll take her. I have today off anyways.

"As long as she's comfortable with it, fine."

"As long as I'm comfortable with what?" a voice asked from the doorway.

Phil and Melinda turned to look at the girl that was studying them both warily from the doorway. Melinda smiled slightly at the way the brunette was surveying the situation. Coulson was right. Fury would like this one.

"Maria, this is Melinda. We work together. I thought you might like to pick up some stuff before we head to base."

Melinda watched as Phil addressed the girl who continued to stare emotionlessly at both of them. Phil seemed to grasp what was going through Maria's mind and continued to speak.

"If it makes you feel better, you can pay me back later, but you're going to need more than what you brought with you."

Melinda held back a laugh as Maria narrowed her eyes at him, before turning to her.

"When would you like to leave?"

"Whenever you're ready," May said with a small smile as Phil gave them his credit card with a sigh.

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Melinda dropped her back off a few hours later with a wink towards Phil. He just shook his head slightly, and helped Maria with the numerous bags that had been unloaded. The brunette softly thanked him again, and disappeared upstairs while he made sandwiches. She returned twenty minutes later with two packed duffles that she set by the door. Hesitantly, she headed towards him with the violin case back in her hands. He turned towards her, and noted she was chewing on her bottom lip ever so slightly.

"This," she started and then paused. "I don't think I should take this on base," she said after a moment.

"I'd be happy to keep it here," he said warmly, sensing how hard it was for her to ask for something.

His stomach fluttered when she rewarded him with another small smile, her hand running over the worn case.