I must warn you I know very little about heart diseases so if these things don't make any sense. Well you know... Anyway I finally know how I'm going to write this storyline. Seven more chapters and it's over. Don't want to keep you on your toes, but possibility is it could take a long time for me to write them. -Dreamycupcake

"Jemma."

Jemma Simmons turns quickly from her computer and faces Phil Coulson. "Director." She greets him with a small smile, but it fades quickly, when he doesn't smile back. She has seen this face before. It's the mixture of anger and sadness. Oh no.

"Something wrong?" The girl in a white coat asks carefully and finds her gloves suddenly very interesting. He exhales slowly. She's obviously avoiding his gaze.

"What's wrong with May?" His voice just above a whisper. Jemma meets his eyes, concern written all over them and quickly turns back to ther computer, when it beeps. That's when he grows desperate.

"She's sick. I know. Just tell me what she has and how are you treating her?" He asks upset. Jemma closes her eyes and exhales slowly, before turning to face him again.

"You know I can't tell you that." She says quietly, holding her compose, but sadness still shines from her eyes. The man in front of her, who she sees as a father figure and boss gets closer.

"It's May." His voice cracks, when he says her name. It's been painful couple of days. Seeing the state she has been and yet not being there. "I need to know." He whispers and gets a silent nod from her.

"I know." Jemma says quietly. "But I can't tell you. I made a promise."

He opens his mouth, but nothing comes out. That's when she inhales and smiles a little. "Now if you excuse me, Sir. I'm going to get some tea. There's some important-" She points the desk next to her. "papers I should lock in a cabinet before leaving, but since you are here and you are the Director-"

Phil sees what she's trying to do. "Jemma. I'll stay here until you come back." He says fast. Girl nods and gives his shoulder a gentle squeeze, before walking out the room. He grabs the files on the desk and searches May's name on them. It doesn't take long to find it. His hands shake as he opens her file. First page is medical information that he can't read so he turns the page. On the bottom of the second page Jemma has written a small note with a pen.

I made a promise to keep her condition a secret from everyone, including you, Director. I know you are reading this. It's the only way to find out what was wrong with her. Melinda May had an infection in her heart that she treated in Bahrain for a very long time. Infection got worse and lingered too. Infection wasn't just an infection anymore. It became a heart failure. She knew the risks she took. She knew she'd die to a heart attack one day. She, fighter that she always was, fought to the end.

Heart failure. Melinda has heart failure. She's gonna die. Just reading Jemma's note is painful. She has written it like she's already dead. It hurts. Hurts so bad. Phil looks up from the file. Jemma is back, but she's not looking at him. She's not seeing him do this. He puts the file back down on the desk and comes to stand next to the girl who warms hands with her teacup.

"Thank you." He whispers. She faces him with a smile. "I have no idea why you are thanking me. But you're welcome, Sir." She replies and walks back in her lab.

Love some feedback. -Dreamycupcake