Chapter Text
Melinda left her meeting with Mack in a huff. She was sick and tired of dealing with the bull shit and bureaucracy. After Shield fell, she had stayed for Phil, to help him set things right and take down Hydra. Now that Phil was gone, she often considered retirement. The only thing keeping her in Shield was Daisy, but she was capable of taking care of herself now. Plus, Daisy was off in space more and more often these days anyway.
She was passing by Daisy’s bunk when she heard muffled cries coming from within. Melinda quickly entered the code on the door’s keypad, and let herself in to check on the girl.
Daisy was still weeping into her pillow and didn’t notice Melinda had entered.
“Dais?” she asked softly. “You ok?”
The younger agents sniffled noisily, but didn’t bother to roll over. “Fine,” she said unconvincingly, her voice thick with emotion.
“Like hell you are,” Melinda said, sitting on the edge of the bed and putting a gentle hand on Daisy’s shoulder.
Daisy sobbed again. “I just- I miss him, May.”
Melinda nodded, knowing exactly who she meant - Phil. “Me too.”
Daisy finally turned to face her, propping against the headboard as she did so. “And we’re going back to space tomorrow, and I’ll be away from you-” she inhaled shakily. “Simmons is so different now, and I just- I feel so-” she shook her head. “I’ve never felt so alone, May. I got used to having family around, and since Coulson. And Fitz… I just feel completely alone. ” Daisy crumbled again as she looked to Melinda for an answer. “I just don’t know how long I can keep doing this, May.”
May’s heart broke for Daisy. She knew first hand what the girl was feeling - the loss, the despair, the loneliness- because she felt it, too. Had felt it every day since Phil died, and even before he died- when it had been difficult at the end.
“Come here, Dais,” Melinda said quietly as she opened her arms.
The gesture was all Daisy needed, and she slid over next to May, laying her head on May’s shoulder as she continued to cry.
Melinda didn’t know what to say to make Daisy feel better- doubted there was anything that would- so she just murmured soft reassurances to Daisy as she held her close.
“I’m sorry,” Daisy said after a few minutes as she pulled away slightly. “I know emotions aren’t really your forte.”
“It’s alright, Daisy,” May said, wiping a tear from Daisy’s cheek. “And if space gets to be too much, you know I’m only a phone call away.”
Daisy nodded. “I know.”
May studied her for a moment longer, knowing Daisy was still upset. “And I’ll be right here waiting for you when you get back.” She pulled Daisy in for another hug, kissing the top of her head softly.
“Thank you,” Daisy sighed, holding tightly to May again.
Melinda made an impulsive decision, something she didn’t do often. “Daisy, why don’t you take a shower and put on your pajamas while I make you some tea?” she suggested. She was taking a page from Coulson’s book and offering Daisy whatever comfort she could when everything seemed dark.
“Can you put milk and sugar in the tea for me?” Daisy said in a small voice.
“You got it,” Melinda said with a chuckle, as she gently untangled herself from Daisy’s arms. “Go shower, and then come to my bunk, ok?” she said with a soft smile.
Daisy walked into May’s room and sat at the small table in the corner, figuring May was still making tea for them. She’d been here before, but not since right after Coulson had died and looking around, she noticed May had changed a few things since then.
There were a few photos from Tahiti in frames on the bookcase - one of May in a red bikini and Coulson in a pair of aqua-colored swim trunks with bright pink flamingos (interesting choice) and one of May in a sundress ( really?! ) and Coulson in a pale-blue button up. Her heart ached seeing Coulson again. God, she missed him.
On the nightstand, she saw another photo she hadn’t seen before, and she went over to investigate. Tears pricked at the back of her eyes, and she nearly started crying again. It was her - back when she was Skye - laughing at something with Coulson, May in the background looking irritated with them.
“Here’s your tea,” May said from the doorway leading in from her kitchenette.
Daisy placed the photo back on the nightstand and sat on the edge of May’s bed. “Sorry, I wasn’t trying to be nosy.”
Melinda chuckled. “You? Nosy? Never would’ve thought,” May teased. “Any idea what was so funny?” she asked, gesturing to the photo as she sat next to Daisy.
“Not a clue,” she replied with a sad smile. “Where’s the photo from?”
May shrugged. “Found it on a shelf in Phil’s office.”
They sipped their tea in silence for a moment, both of them remembering good times with Coulson, the memories now bittersweet.
“Thanks for the tea, May,” she said softly. “And the company.”
“I’ll miss you while you’re in space, Daisy,” May said suddenly.
Daisy nodded. After a moment, she found herself blurting out a decision she had made while she was in the shower a few minutes earlier. “After we find Fitz, I want some time off. And I think I want to go to China. To learn about my heritage.”
“Really?” May’s eyebrows were arched high in question.
“The only problem is that I don’t speak the language,” she continued, hoping May would see where she was going with this.
“Mmmm. Could be an issue,” May said without giving away whether she knew what Daisy was getting at.
Daisy took a long sip of her tea before continuing. “If you’re going to make me say it, I’m wondering if you might want a break from Shield, too- if you might want to go with me?” She asked, hoping May would agree. May was the one person she cared about most in the world, and Daisy thought they could both use a distraction.
May sighed and propped herself back on the headboard. “I’ve actually been thinking of leaving Shield, Daisy.”
This was news to Daisy for sure. “Like… permanently?”
“The only reason I stayed as long as I did was for Phil. And for you.” May sighed heavily, patting the bed next to her and Daisy took the invitation. “I trained you well. You can take care of yourself in the field. You don’t need me to stick around, do you?”
Daisy fiddled with the sleeve of her t-shirt, on the verge of tears again, her emotions were all over the place today. She had already lost her father figure when Coulson had died, now she was going to lose her mother figure, too? May was going to leave her?
“I still need you, you know,” Daisy mumbled. “Maybe more now than I have before.”
May pulled her close and Daisy curled into her wrapping her arms around May’s waist. “I’m not leaving you, Dais. I’m just leaving Shield.”
It didn’t make her feel much better. The last time May had left Shield, they had no contact for months.
As if May could read her mind, she said, “I promise you aren’t going to lose me, too. We’ve been through too much.” May paused briefly before continuing. “Look, you find Fitz, and I’ll take you to China after you get back, ok?”