Chapter 16
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After about thirty seconds of everyone standing in awkward silence Melinda loudly clears her throat in an attempt to try and snap everyone out of their shock, which to her relief works.
"Right, sorry, it's good to see you Captain, great, amazing." Phil says, clearly amazed and unsure about what to say.
"Like I said it's good to see you Director. I'm glad you're alive." Steve says.
"Thank you." Phil says, looking and sounding completely amazed.
"I'm so glad you're back." Skye says running to May and hugging her, "I missed you." Skye admits as she hugs Melinda.
"I missed you too, Skye." Melinda admits as she awkwardly returns the hug.
"I'm kind of going by Daisy Johnson now." Daisy admits as she and Melinda break apart.
"Really?" Melinda asks, surprise to her voice.
"Yeah, it feels right." Daisy admits.
"Okay. Then I missed you too, Daisy." Melinda says giving Daisy a half smile.
"Hang on did Captain America, say that he's heard great things?" Hunter asks shocked, "Have you been talking about us, May?" Hunter asks, giving Melinda a look.
"Call me Steve, or Captain if you prefer." Steve request.
"We'll try to remember that." Bobbi says when everyone else just looks amazed about the suggestion.
"Maria said that Ward's rebuilding Hydra." Melinda says to Phil, ignoring Hunter's question.
"Yeah, we just got conformation." Phil says with a nod, "Did she tell you the other thing I told her?" Phil asks curious.
"That's why I'm here." Melinda answers, "What do you know?" Melinda asks curious.
"Let's go to my office and I can fill you in." Phil tells Melinda.
"That would be a great." Melinda says then turns to Steve, "I'll give you a tour once we're briefed." Melinda explains.
"Sure." Steve says and he and Melinda both grab their bags.
"You'll need your Lanyard." Melinda tells Steve as everyone starts to walk across the hanger.
"You already have a lanyard?" Mack asks surprised as Steve pull his out from his pocket.
"Maria Hill gave it to me." Steve explains and a few people are surprised by that.
"So have you been with the Avengers the last few weeks?" Daisy asks curious, "Did you even go on holiday?" Daisy asks Melinda it being clear that she want's answers about what is going on an even though he is trying to make it look like he's not Phil is listening in to the conversation so that he can get some answers about where his best friend has been.
"How about I fill you in about that later." Melinda tells Daisy not entirely sure if she intends to do that.
"I'll hold you to that." Daisy promises May as they all walk past the sensor and everyone puts their lanyard against it.
When they walk into the corridor Melinda notices, out of the corner of her eye, that he has stopped and is staring at the SSR logo on the wall.
"Captain?" Melinda asks curious in a concerned whisper.
"SSR." Steve says, "I know you said it was a converted base but I didn't expect it to be so…clear." Steve admits, an undertone of pain to his voice and Melinda realise that to Steve seeing the logo is seeing everything that was taken from him when he went into the ice.
"I should have warned you." Melinda says, being very well aware that everyone is looking at them, "Will you be okay here?"
"Yeah." Steve says with a nod after taking a deep breath, "Lead the way, Agent May." Steve requests and he and Melinda turn back towards the others who are making it seem like they weren't watching everything that was going on between Melinda and Steve.
"Everything okay?" Phil asks once Melinda and Steve have walked back over.
"Yeah." Steve says and Melinda nods.
"Okay, then let's go." Phil says, making an internal note to talk to Melinda, in private, at some point.
About a minute later Melinda, Steve, Phil, Daisy, Mack, Bobbi, Hunter, Fitz and Simmons walk into Phil's office, as they do Melinda puts her bag down on the table and once he sees that she has Steve does the same and take his shield off and puts it on the tablet too.
"So, what do we know?" Melinda asks.
"A few weeks ago we started to get hints that someone was rebuilding Hydra." Phil explains putting something on the screen, "This is all the individual cells we tracked, we think it's all of them." Phil explains, as he does Melinda and Steve both step towards the screen so that they can have a closer look.
"it's not." Steve says after a few seconds.
"Not what?" Bobbi asks.
"All the cells." Melinda explains, "There is more." Melinda informs the others.
"How can you be sure?" Hunter asks, as it seems like Melinda and Steve are completely sure of what they are saying.
"Because in the last few weeks we've taken down cells that aren't on this map." Steve explains.
"Hill hasn't mentioned that." Phil says with a frown.
"Maria doesn't mention a lot." Melinda reminds Phil.
"True." Phil admits, "It seemed that all the cells we've were organized, following specific orders." Phil explains.
"We quickly managed to figure out that they were working under a new leader, but figuring out who that was took a little longer." Hunter explains.
"Talbot got some of the prisoners talking and they gave up access to the network they were using." Daisy explains, "Though that we were able to discover that Ward is rebuilding Hydra and that he put hit out on, you." Daisy asks looking at Melinda.
"How much am I worth?" Melinda asks curious, even though she knows that it is quiet morbid question she wants to know.
"Melinda!" Steve says, turning to look at her.
"You can't say that you wouldn't ask the same thing, Captain." Melinda admits, "Plus it will settle a debate Nat and I had." Melinda reveals.
"I'm not even surprised." Steve admits and Phil is thinking the exact same thing, and everyone else in the room is just shocked by how much Melinda is talking and about how comfortable Steve and Melinda seem to be together.
"So?" Melinda asks Daisy.
"One hundred million dead, extra twenty million if you are alive." Daisy explains, there being pain in her voice as after everyone she has lost she doesn't want to think about the possibility of losing May too.
"Okay, how does Ward have that kind of money?" Melinda asks, realising that Ward must be pretty desperate as that is more than she was expecting.
"Hydra money." Steve suggests.
"That's what we were thinking." Phil says, "Either that or a backer."
"It would have to be a rich backer." Melinda realises, "One who would have to have a personal grudge against us to put that kind of money in." Melinda says, causing Daisy to get an idea.
"You mean like someone who's shot one of us and who was beaten up by you." Daisy says looking at Melinda.
"Quinn." Melinda, Phil, Fitz and Simmons says, all having a eureka moment.
"Who?" Steve, Bobbi, Hunter and Mack asks.
"Ian Quinn. He worked for Garrett and worked with Ward. He shot me and after that May beat the crap out of him." Daisy explains, "He has the money and the grudge, Ward could have gone to him." Daisy says, thinking that even though Ward dislikes Quinn if he was angry enough with Melinda and all of them then he could have gone to him.
"Do you think you could track Quinn, like last time just so we could get an idea about whether he is working with Ward?" Phil asks Daisy.
"I can try." Daisy says before basically hurrying out of the room.
"Fitz and I will see if we can track anything Quinn's made lately." Simmons says before she and Fitz leave.
"We'll do what we can to help." Bobbi says before she, Hunter and Mack leave the office too, leaving just Coulson, May and Steve.
For a few minutes Melinda, Steve and Phil just stand in silence, none of them really sure what to say or do. As they are standing in awkward silence Steve locks eyes with Melinda and he realises that she and Phil need to get some things out in the open and the only way they'll be able to do that is if they are alone.
"You know it was a long drive." Steve says, breaking the silence, "I saw the kitchen downstairs do you mind if I grab something to eat and drink?" Steve asks Phil, being pretty sure that it is a lame excuse, but it's the best one he can think off.
"Sure, help yourself, Captain." Phil says, still not entirely sure that he can believe that Steve Rogers is in his office.
"Thanks you, Director." Steve says before leaving, as he does he picks up his bag and shield and gives Melinda a supportive smile, that only she can see, as he passes, telling her that he is there for her.
"So, you didn't feel like warning me about the fact that Captain America was coming with you?" Phil asks Melinda about a minute after Steve left.
"I couldn't exactly say so over the phone." Melinda points out, "And I kind of wanted to see how everyone would react." She admits.
"Of course you did." Phil says, honestly not that surprised by that, "So, you've been in New York for almost seven weeks? Did you even go away with Andrew?" Phil asks curious.
"I spent a couple of days with Andrew, we said what we needed to say." Melinda reveals, "But then I went to meet Nat for a drink and she got a message from Clint who was annoyed that she didn't' tell him that she was coming to meet me and so I went back with Nat to the Avengers Facility and I decided to stay." Melinda explains.
"Wow." Phil says, not sure what else to say, "You're not staying, are you? Once we get Ward you're going back to New York, aren't you?" Phil asks, as that's what it seems like to him.
"I honestly don't know." Melinda admits as coming back has reminded her how much she has missed Phil, Daisy and the others but she also loves being in New York, she loves working with the Avengers.
"Is this because of what happened? Because of me? Because I'm soo sorry, Melinda." Phil informs Melinda, "I was doing it too…." Phil starts to say, but Melinda cuts him off.
"Protect me, I know." Melinda says, finishing Phil's sentence before he can, "That's the problem, not anything else." Melinda informs Phil.
"What do you mean?" Phil asks confused.
"You're my best friend, Phil."
"And you're mine."
"Which is exactly why we'll both do whatever it takes to protect each other, but lately all that's been resulting in is one of us getting hurt." Melinda explains.
"I know." Phil says, with a sigh, "I don't want us to keep hurting each other." Phil explains, his voice being completely serious.
"Neither do I." Melinda says, "But I also know that neither of us will stop doing what we have to protect each other which means there's a good chance that we're just going to keep getting hurt." Melinda reveals.
"So you're going to go back to New York." Phil realises, it hurting him to admit.
"I honestly don't know." Melinda admits an she and Phil drift into silence.
"So um, there's a few things you should know." Phil says, wanting to desperately change the subject.
"Okay." Melinda says and Phil starts to tell Melinda everything she doesn't know.
Steve has been downstairs for over ten minutes making himself something to eat, feeling like he should at least act like what he told wasn't a complete lie when he sees Daisy and Hunter walk over out of the corner of his eye.
"Yes?" Steve asks as he turns to face them.
"So you said that you've heard great things, what exactly did May tell you?" Daisy asks curious.
"That you're good people." Steve says, deciding to say the things that May said that she would be okay with the team knowing. "And that you all matter to her."
"May actually said that?" Hunter asks surprised.
"She did." Steve confirms and Daisy and Hunter are shocked by that, "More than once." Steve says as he picks up the plate of food he made and walks over to the table and sits down.
More than a few minutes after Steve sat down at the table he hears footsteps and he looks over at the stairs and sees Melinda walking down so he stands up and walks over.
"Are you up for that tour now?" Melinda asks when she sees Steve, needing a distraction.
"Sure." Steve says and he and Melinda walk out of the common area.
For about a minute Melinda and Steve walk down the corridors of the Playground in silence, Steve taking notice of everything just in case. Once they are somewhere where they can't be seen from the others Steve turns to Melinda.
"Are you okay?" Steve asks curious.
"Yeah, I'm fine." Melinda says, "I think." She adds an uncertainty to her voice.
"Are things between you and Coulson okay?" Steve asks curious as even though Melinda didn't admit it he knows that she was worried about how things with Coulson would be. In response Melinda just gives a shrug as honestly she isn't sure.
"So this tour, how about we start with the gym." Steve suggests, being pretty sure that some sparing could help Melinda feel better.
"If we start with the gym you're probably not going to see anything else." Melinda informs Steve, realising exactly what he is trying to do.
"I'm okay with that." Steve says and he and Melinda exchange nods and they both head to the gym.
Within a few minutes Melinda and Steve are in the gym and sparing together.
Steve and Melinda have been sparring with one another for about an hour when Daisy finds something that she wants May to see so she has gone in search.
After searching a few other places Daisy heads to the gym when she walks in and sees what Melinda and Steve are doing Daisy can barely believe her eyes.
"Oh my god." Daisy says completely shocked and she pulls out her phone and sends a message to Bobbi, Coulson, Hunter, Fitz, Simmons and Mack saying " IN THE GYM!." Once Daisy has sent the message she puts her phone in her pocket and continues to watch Melinda and Steve.
About a minute after Daisy sent the message she hears footsteps and Phil, Bobbi, Hunter, Fitz, Simmons and Mack, walk in all six of them attempting to make it seem like they didn't hurry down.
"You weren't kidding." Hunter comments shocked when he sees what is going on.
"I wouldn't kid about this." Daisy informs him.
"They've done this before." Bobbi notes, "They know how the other fights." She explains.
"Okay I knew May was good, but wow." Mack says, completely shocked about how well Melinda is doing against Steve.
"We've got an audience." Steve says to Melinda while they spar.
"I've noticed." Melinda says in response as she ducks and then kicks, "We'll stop after this round." Melinda suggests.
"Yep." Steve says in response and he and Melinda keep going.
For the next few minutes Daisy, Phil, Bobbi, Hunter, Fitz, Simmons and Mack watch while Melinda and Steve spar, until Melinda gets knocked to the mats.
"You win this round." Melinda informs Steve as he helps her up.
"Yep." Steve responds.
"Sk-Daisy did you need something?" Melinda asks as she stands up, needing to correct herself half way through saying Daisy's name.
"Um, right, yeah, I might have a lead." Daisy reveals.
"On Ward or Quinn?" Melinda asks.
"Could be both, or neither, not quite sure, but I've got a hit on a potential Hydra location." Daisy explains.
"Show me everything." Melinda requests and everyone heads back to the common area.
About fifteen minutes after everyone left the gym everyone is up in the common area and Daisy has explained everything that she has found.
"So, what do you think?" Phil asks Melinda, wanting her opinion as he knows what he thinks.
"I think it's our only lead and we have to look into it." Melinda admits.
"That's what I was thinking." Phil admits, "Captain, what about you?" Phil asks, having to fight to keep his voice calm.
"It's Agent May's choice, and I'm with her whatever she chooses." Steve says to the shock of everyone, with the exception of Melinda, in the room.
"Okay." Phil says, it being clear that he is shocked and as he says that he starts to wonder, even more than he was already, just what is going on between Melinda and Steve, "We'll leave for the location in twenty." Phil says, "Bobbi…" Phil starts to say.
"Stay here, monitor everything, let you know what I find." Bobbi finishes, "I know, Sir."
"Okay, Daisy, Hunter, Mack, gear up." Phil says, "And I have something to show you." Phil informs Melinda.
"Okay, I'll meet you in the hanger once I've changed into my tactical gear and shown Captain Rogers where the bunks are." Melinda informs Phil.
"Sure." Phil says and Melinda and Steve pick up their stuff and leave the room.
"Okay, is anyone else thinking what I'm thinking?" Daisy asks curious once Melinda and Steve's footsteps have died away.
"That they're shagging? Oh yeah." Hunter confirms.
"Really do you have to say it in the obscenest way possible?" Simmons asks.
"Yes." Bobbi says, "It's what he does."
"What do you think, Sir?" Daisy asks Coulson curious, being pretty sure that she is testing her luck.
"I think that you all have a mission to prep for and you should get on it." Phil says before heading up to his office. Honestly Phil is thinking the same thing as Daisy but he doesn't want to admit it.
"So these are the bunks." Melinda says a few minutes after she and Steve left the common area, "This is my bunk." Melinda says pointing to a bunk, "And this should be empty which means you can use it." Melinda says opening another door, a door right across from hers, to reveal a clearly unused bunk, "It's pretty basic but…."
"I've had worse." Steve says,
"I don't doubt it." Melinda says with an amused smile.
"So what do you think Coulson wants to show you?" Steve asks curious.
"I don't know, but he does owe me a plane so maybe it's that." Melinda explains.
"He owes you a plane?" Steve asks confused.
"Yeah we had to blow up the plane I had been piloting for almost two years to get the intel on Loki's sceptre." Melinda explains, "I considered it to be my plane." Melinda explains.
"Of course you did." Steve says with a fond smile, "So I'll head down to the hanger in twenty minutes so that you Coulson can talk." Steve tells Melinda.
"That would be great, thanks." Melinda says and Steve gives a nod.
Fifteen minutes later, Melinda has changed, after spending a lot of time trying to decide which tactical outfit she would wear, into the outfit that Tony gave her and is waiting just inside the hanger for Coulson.
"May." Phil greats when he walks out into the hanger.
"Phil, what did you have to show me?" Melinda asks curious.
"Follow me." Phil requests and as he does he notices what's on Melinda's shoulder, "Is that's what I think it is?" Phil asks, being surprised to see the Avenger's logo on his best friend's shirt.
"Yeah, it was a parting gift from Stark, and because of that it was in the top of my bag, made it easy to get to." Melinda explains.
"Huh." Phil says, not really sure what else to say.
"Didn't you have something to show me?" Melinda asks.
"Right, yeah, follow me." Phil says and he leads Melinda across the hanger.
About a minute later Melinda and Phil arrive at a new plane, a plane that looks like a combination of the bus and a Quinjet.
"So, what do you think?" Phil asks curious, "We're calling it, Zephyr One." Phil reveals.
"I think I still miss my plane, but this seems like a pretty good alternative." Melinda admits, "Want to give me the grand tour?"
"Of course." Phil says and both he and Melinda head into the plane
"So, what's your verdict?" Phil asks curious once he has shown Melinda the entire plane.
"Not bad, not bad at all." Melinda says as she looks around and as she does Steve, Daisy, Hunter and Mack walk into the plane.
"Everyone ready to go?" Phil asks the group, as he internally fanboys when he sees what Steve is wearing.
"Yes." Daisy, Steve, Hunter and Mack say.
"Then lock it or lose it, wheels up in two." Melinda says before heading to the cockpit, being interested in seeing how the plane flies and internally wondering how the mission will go, wondering if she will finally get a chance to put the bullet that he so richly deserves into Ward's head.