Chapter 15
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"Who's Ward?" Steve asks as he walks over to Melinda.
"Grant Ward, he was an original member of the team I put together, and a Hydra spy." Melinda explains, "He ejected Fitz and Simmons into the ocean in a medical pod causing Fitz to develop brain damage, he abducted Skye, twice, abducted and tortured Bobbi, killed countless S.H.I.E.L.D. agents and was behind the Fridge break out." Melinda explains, honestly she isn't afraid of Ward, she is annoyed and pissed off.
"What's his beef with you?" Clint asks, realising that there is something Melinda isn't saying.
"I was his primary target and I've beaten him every time we have fought, I was the one who put him in a cell for a time, and he blames me because he killed his girlfriend." Melinda explains, not knowing the last part for sure but guessing as it fits Ward's personality, before turning to Steve, "I need to go back to S.H.I.E.L.D. They're going to go after Ward and if he's put a hit out on me then I have to help get him." Melinda says, being pretty sure that this time she isn't going to let him live.
"I know." Steve says with nod and Melinda gives him a smile before she walks out. As soon as Melinda walks out Steve turns to Bucky who, because of how well he knows Steve, knows exactly what his friend is thinking.
"I know." Bucky says, "You do what you have to do, I'll be fine here, promise." Bucky assures his best friend.
"Thanks, Buck." Steve says before chasing after Melinda.
"Okay anyone else thinking Melinda took that way better than she should have?" Sam asks after a couple of minutes of awkward silence, "I mean Hydra's new leader put a hit out on her and she seems fine." He comments, not seeing how Melinda can seem so fine.
"Mel knows Ward." Maria says, "She knows what he is capable off." Maria explains, knowing that better than most.
"And she's not completely okay. She's pissed." Natasha explains, knowing that even though Melinda was attempting to hide that.
"Melinda, wait." Steve says as he rushes to catch up with her.
"I have to go back, Steve." Melinda tells him, "I spent months on a plane with Ward and didn't realise he was a spy. l let him live every time we fought and now he's rebuilding Hydra, I've got to go back, I have to finish this." Melinda informs Steve.
"I know." Steve says, "I'm not here to stop you Agent May, I'm here to tell you that I'm coming with you."
"Steve…." Melinda starts to say but he cuts her of.
"Just like I can't talk you out of going you can't talk me out of going with you." Steve says, "We're an us, Melinda that means we're in this together. Neither of us have to face anything alone, especially Hydra." Steve informs Melinda as even though he knows, without a doubt, that Melinda can handle herself he also wants to help her.
"Thank you." Melinda says before kissing Steve, "Leave in half an hour?" Melinda asks when they break apart and Steve gives a nod, "I'll see you in the garage, Captain." Melinda says before she and Steve split up and go in two different directions, Melinda going to hers and Natasha's rooms while Steve goes to his.
As Melinda walks she pulls her phone out of her pocket and dials Phil's number.
"Who is this? How did you get this number?" Phil's voice asks after only a few rings.
"It's May."
"May? Are you okay? Where are you?" Phil's voice asks it being clear that he is both worried about his best friend and incredibly glad to hear from her.
"I'll be back in a few hours, we can talk then." Melinda says before hanging up and continuing to make her way to hers and Natasha's rooms.
Melinda has been packing her bag, being surprised how far things have spread in the past six weeks, for a few minutes when she hears footsteps that she knows belong to Natasha.
"What didn't you say?" Natasha asks as she walks in and sits down on the bed.
"What?" Melinda asks, pretending to be confused though she knows, without a doubt, what Natasha is really asking.
"Don't play dumb, Mel, you suck at it." Natasha requests, "There was something about Ward that you didn't say, what is it?" Natasha asks and Melinda avoids looking at her, "Talk to me, Mel. Please." Natasha requests.
Hearing her friends' tone of voice Melinda sits down across from Natasha so that they can really talk.
"Before… everything. Ward and I handled an Asgardian Weapon called the Berserker Staff and it caused us to see our worse memories, we both needed to relieve stress afterwards." Melinda explains.
"You started to have sex." Natasha realises.
"It meant nothing to me, it was just a way to deal, and I would have never done it if I knew the truth." Melinda says stressing the never.
"I know." Natasha says, knowing that without a doubt, "You don't have to defend your actions to me Mel, you never have to do that." Natasha says, giving her a supportive smile.
"Right, so it turns out that his reason was to use that to try and distract me, so that I wouldn't figure out what he was doing, and I didn't even realise." Melinda says, knowing that she will never stop beating herself up for that.
"It's not your fault Mel, Hydra fooled us all." Natasha tells Melinda, "You couldn't have seen it coming."
"I should have." Melinda says, "He uses that to taunt me every time we fight and every time I let him live." Melinda says, "I'm not going to do that again." Melinda says, making a promise to herself as ever since she let Ward live the first time she has blamed herself for everything he has done.
"If you need backup or if you just want a friend call me, no matter the time." Natasha informs Melinda.
"I will." Melinda says, knowing that she is telling the truth.
"Good." Natasha says and Melinda once more stands up and continues to pack.
In his room Steve is also packing a bag of stuff he will need and just like Melinda he hears footsteps and he looks up to see Bucky walking in.
"So I guess Hydra really does keep growing back heads." Bucky comments.
"Yeah, they do." Steve says, "Buck, if you need anything I'm just a phone call away."
"Right back at you." Bucky responds.
"Look Buck, I know you're just starting figure things out and I'm…." Steve starts to say but Bucky cuts him off.
"Don't even start, I get why you're doing this, and you're making the right choice." Bucky says, not wanting Steve to feel guilty about going with Melinda because of him.
"Thanks." Steve says as he continues to pack.
Because they both have a lot of experience in packing in a hurry both Melinda and Steve and are all packed in fifteen minutes. Due to the fact that they were ready so quickly both Melinda and Steve have the idea to meet the other by their room and in doing so they end up meeting in the middle, Melinda holding a single bag and Steve holding his shield and a single bag.
"I was just coming to see if you were ready." Steve informs Melinda, who gives an amused half smile.
"I was doing the same thing." Melinda admits.
"Great minds." Steve says with a smile.
"Yeah, guess so." Melinda says, some amusement to her voice, "So I was thinking that we could drive a motorbike or two to the base." Melinda suggests.
"Sounds good to me, and ones fine." Steve informs Melinda, "Melinda, I know this is your team and that S.H.I.E.L.D. is your turf which is why I'll follow your lead on this, follow your orders." Steve says as he thought about that while he was packing and he realised that he'll be in Melinda's world for this, they won't be in the world they have grown to share.
"I'm not in charge of S.H.I.E.L.D, Phil is." Melinda says, not sure what to say to Steve's offer as honestly she can't imagine giving Steve orders.
"That might be true." Steve says stepping towards Melinda, "But I don't trust Coulson, I trust you." Steve says, completely meaning his words, "So what I said stands." Melinda is so shocked by Steve's words that she just gives a nod while she tries to think of the right thing to say,
"A team, equals." Melinda manages to say after about a minute, "How about we try that?" Melinda suggests.
"I'd like that." Steve says and the two of them exchange a smile as they drift into silence.
"So, I guess we should get going." Melinda admits after a couple of minutes.
"Yeah, we should." Steve says and the two of them head down to the garage.
A couple of minutes after Melinda and Steve leave the corridor they walk into the garage they find Maria, Clint, Natasha, Bucky, Fury, Pietro, Wanda, Sam and Rhodey waiting.
"Did you really think we would let you two go without saying goodbye?" Clint asks noticing the surprised looks on Steve and Melinda's faces.
"Guess not." Melinda says as she and Steve walk over to one of the motorbikes.
"Of course we wouldn't, and we have parting gifts." Maria reveals.
"Really?" Steve asks, there being surprise to his voice
"Yep." Maria says, "For one you're going to need this." She says handing a lanyard over to Steve.
"You have extra lanyards?" Melinda asks Maria, honestly more surprised than she should be, as Steve accepts the lanyard.
"No, I just have one for every Avenger." Maria explains.
"Makes sense." Melinda says as she straps her bag to one side of the motorbike.
"Why do I need this?" Steve asks he straps his own bag in place while keeping his shield.
"You won't be able to get on or off base without it and Billy will constantly ask to see it." Melinda explain and Steve gives a nod while he puts it in his pocket.
"And here." Clint says handing Melinda over a cell phone, "Completely untraceable, just in case." He explain and Melinda nods.
"Thanks." Melinda says a se shoves the phone into her back.
"You're welcome." Clint says as Tony hurries into the room.
"Good, you haven't left." He says as he heads over, "I have something for you." Tony explains as he hands Melinda a folded outfit.
"What's this?" Melinda asks as she unfolds it to find what looks like the tactical outfit she always wears except everything except for the leather vest seems to be made out of some different kind of material and there is an Avengers Logo on the shoulder, exactly where her old outfit had a S.H.I.E.L.D. one.
"Upgraded tactical outfit. It's got more ballistic protection, more heat and cold resistant, and looks better, if I do say so myself" Tony explains, with a smirk, "I was going to give it to you your first mission after being cleared for field work, but I figure now works to." He explains.
"Thanks Tony." Melinda says, feeling grateful as she knows for a fact, thanks to Natasha, that Tony only makes stuff for people he considers to be her team.
"It's not a big deal." Tony says with a shrug, "Good luck, both of you." Tony says looking at Steve while Melinda puts her new outfit in her bag.
"Thanks Tony." Steve says.
"Come home soon, both of you." Sam informs Melinda and Steve, both of whom give a nod.
"We should get going." Steve say and Melina nods so to say one last goodbye Steve walks over to Bucky, Sam and Tony, while Melinda walks over to Clint, Maria, Natasha and Clint.
"I know what you have to do May, but be smart about it." Fury tells Melinda as he knows Melinda well enough to know that she is likely to go in all guns blazing to get Ward rather than thinking it through.
"I will." Melinda assures him.
"If you need back up just call." Maria says and Melinda just nods as she and Natasha exchange a look, neither of them needing words.
"Good luck Mel, don't get killed." Clint tells her.
"I'll do my best." Melinda says and Clint hugs her.
"We've got your back, no matter what." Sam tells Steve.
"I know. Thanks." Steve says gratefully.
"Don't do anything too stupid." Bucky informs Steve, he is sounding completely serious.
"I'll try not to." Steve says, being careful to make sure that it doesn't sound like a promise as he knows that's one he can't make.
"You'll do better than try." Bucky says and Steve can't help but give an amused smirk.
After spending a few minutes saying goodbye to everyone else Melinda and Steve both walk over to the motorbike.
"Are you ready to go?" Steve asks and Melinda gives a nod. At Melinda's nod Steve puts his shield on his back and Melinda climbs on the front of the while Steve climbs on the back, "Don't get into too much trouble while we're gone." Steve informs the others.
"Right back at you." Tony responds and with one last look at the others Melinda and Steve speed off.
"Hasn't either of them heard of helmets?" Rhodey asks curious as they speed off.
"No." Bucky, Natasha, Clint and Maria says, amusement in all of their voices.
At the Playground ever since hearing from Melinda Phil has been sitting in his office trying to digest everything. Realising that he needs to let everyone else know what is going on Phil presses the intercom on his phone.
"Billy, can you send everyone up to my office please." Phil requests.
"Sure, Director." Billy says.
"Thanks." Phil says and while he waits for the other's Phil can't help but look down at his prosthetic hand. It may have been over six weeks since he got his hand replaced but he's still struggling to get used to it.
A few minutes after Phil asked Billy to send everyone up the door opens and Skye, Fitz, Simmons, Hunter, Bobbi, and Mack walk in, Bobbi limping slightly as even though she isn't using crutches anymore and she has had surgery on her knee and is doing rehab she still isn't able to walk without a limp.
"Has something else happened?" Skye asks worried.
"No, but I heard from May, she's on her way back." Phil explains.
"Is she okay?" Simmons asks, feeling relief that they have at least heard from May
"I'm not sure." Phil admits, "All she said is that she'll be back in a few hours and that we can talk then." Phil explains.
"I'll make sure the sensors alert us as soon as someone enters base, even with a lanyards." Skye informs everyone.
"Thank you." Phil says and Skye nods.
"Did you need anything else, Sir?" Bobbi asks curious.
"No, that's all." Phil tells them, "You can go." He says and everyone else leaves his office.
It has been about half an hour since Melinda and Steve left the Avengers Facility and ever since they have been speeding along streets though Melinda has been sure not to use main freeways so that they have less of a chance of being notice.
"How many road rules are we and have we been breaking?" Steve asks Melinda, saying it basically right into her ear so that she can hear him.
"Do you really want the answer to that?" Melinda asks curious.
"I don't know, do I?" Steve asks.
"No, I don't think you do." Melinda admits.
"Realistically what are the chances of us making it to the base in one piece?" Steve asks curious.
"Pretty good." Melinda says, "I know what I'm doing, Captain." Melinda informs Steve as she turns to look at him.
"I don't doubt that." Steve admits, smiling back at Melinda, "Eyes on the road!" Steve says and Melinda turns back towards the road with an amused smirk on her face.
About three hours after Coulson called everyone to his office he, along with Skye, Bobbi, Hunter, Fitz, Simmons, and Mack are standing in the hanger waiting for May.
"Are you sure that it's May?" Phil asks Skye curious, wanting to be sure.
"It was her lanyard." Skye says.
"It is her." Hunter says and everyone turns to see Melinda riding in on a motorbike.
"She's not alone." Phil notes, though he can't see well enough to notice who it is on the back of the bike.
"OH MY GOD." Skye says shocked about a minute later, when Melinda and Steve are closes enough for everyone to truly see who is on the back.
"That can't be who I think it is." Mack says, sounding completely shocked.
"It is." Phil confirms, sounding shocked and completely thrilled.
"No, it's not." Hunter says, disbelieving.
"Oh yes it is." Bobbi confirms.
"Captain America." Fitz and Simmons say, sounding completely amazed.
As the group of seven watch as Melinda comes closer it is clear that all of them are torn between amazement, joy and complete shock about what they are seeing. They stare for about a minute until Melinda stops the right in front of them.
As she climbs off the bike it becomes clear to Melinda that everyone is too shocked for words and Phil looks like Christmas has come early so she decides to get the introductions out of the way.
"Everyone this is Captain Steve Rogers." Melinda says as Steve walks over from the other side of the bike so that he is standing next to her, "Captain, you know Phil Coulson and this is Agent Skye, Dr Jemma Simmons, Dr Leo Fitz, Agent Bobbi Morse, Agent Lance Hunter, and Agent Alphonso Mackenzie." Melinda introduces, pointing to everyone as she introduces them.
"It's nice to meet you all, I've heard great things." Steve says telling the truth, "And it's good to see you again, Director." Steve says, but he gets no response as everyone looks too shocked to say anything.