Happy new year! I bet you thought I had given up with this story. I was very busy during December so... but anyway.. Here we go! - Dreamycupcake

Phil Coulson runs down the stairs as fast as he can. Now that he has time he's more than anxious to talk with May. The moment Trip turned to look at him with worry, after blasting the biggest damn explosion on their ex secret base. He knew it was serious what he was going to say next. The thing is he left after just hearing her name. Trip knew something about her and he didn't want to hear it from him. He desperately wanted to hear it from her.

"There." Jemma says after putting the needle aside. "Put some pressure on it." She mumbles and turns back to the blood she had taken from her.

Door opens and Jemma gets startled. Phil looks around the room, there's that man whatever his name is, leaning against the table where May is sitting on. May looks at him concerned. He's out of breath again. Did something happen?

He then points a finger at the man beside her. "You. Out." He says between breaths and Michael looks at her. May nods and he leaves. Phil walks hesitately to by her side and sees Jemma must have taken blood before he entered the room.

"Phil?"

He meets her searchful eyes then back on her hand where she pressed with her fingertips.

"Jemma." He says and younger woman turns. "Yes?" She asks awkwardly while holding a small tray.

"Give us a minute."

"Phil." May snaps with a higher tone of hers. She couldn't believe this. Why is he like this? Oh he better not know of her condition. Trip better have not babbled or he's a dead man.

Jemma looks at the two. They look like an old married couple who seem to explode into an argument any moment and she really doesn't want to witness that. Again.

"Sure." She smiles to the pair, turns away and mutters quietly to herself. "Out of my own lab..why not..."

May hops off the table and Phil keeps his eyes on her. He's in her personal space again. Clearly trying to block her way out.

"What is this about?" May looks at him angrily. She can't deal with him right now. She's tired, probably hungry and now dizzy.

He blocks her way again. "You tell me." He stares her down. She sighs and leans to the table. "Michael is waiting for me." She says quietly, hoping he'll give up.

"Then he waits." He says bitterly. He doesn't like this Michael person. He seems to be a very imporant person in her life and the fact he doesn't know him at all makes him wonder. Does he know her at all?

She looks up at him and his eyes soften. It's exactly what he feared. She's not well. Her eyes have lost that something in them, her lips are pale and dry too. It's like life has drain from her.

"May..." He whispers.

She closes her eyes hoping the room would stop spinning.

"Please talk to me."

Melinda May feels that little tuck in her heart as she hears his broken voice. She has felt pain, but this is the worst. She had feared this might come to this. Him seeing her like this. This is exactly what she tried to avoid and yet here she is. Closer to him than she has been in months. If only she could find words to lie to him again.

"No." She hears his frustared inhale and feels him back away from her. She opens her eyes and looks down to the floor. She can't face him now or she'll break down right in front of him.

He doesn't know what to do. She's not telling him anything. It makes him even more angry that this Michael must know since he was just here by her side. Even Trip knows. The guy looked terrified so she must have threatened his life if he told a soul.

"Fine. Fine." His voice steady. No emotion at all. It's like he just said hi to a stranger without smiling. He stares at her, but she won't look at him so he walks away.

She hears the door close behind him and she lets out a sob she had been supressing. Covering her mouth with her hand. Tears falling to her cheeks as she whimpers quietly. She wanted to be near him so badly and yet her protective instics screamed to stay away. Worst case could be that he'll watch her die slowly right before his eyes and she can't have that. She can't do that to him.

You're probably thinking about the man with the picture thing. I hope I can shed some light on that one in the next chapter... So no. Nothing is certain yet.