Resurrection - Chapter 9
With a passing grade, the next challenge is much more difficult, and this time it's Phil Coulson's turn to take the test. It's personal, and the questions are going to be really hard to answer.
Chapter 9
“So, did I pass?”
Phil looked up, pushing aside the paperwork he was completing. Slowly he began nodding his head. “Yes. You passed. An ‘A+’ from me, and 5.9 from the East German judge.”
“What?”
“Oh. Sorry. I guess you’re a bit too young to understand that. It means you did an outstanding job. The news is that Three Channels has withdrawn their application pending further considerations.”
“And...what about Susan?”
“She’s been removed from the list. As far as I’m concerned, there’s no danger there. There’s just one more thing I want to do, and I think I’ll delegate that to you.”
“What?”
“I think it’s appropriate to tell her the good news. If I were her I’d be constantly looking over my shoulder, worrying that somebody is going to swoop in and haul her away again.” Skye nodded her agreement. “So…I want to write her a letter, to let her know that she’s off the list. She should be free to live her life...since you ensured she gets it back.”
“So, what does that have to do with me?”
“I’d like you to put the letter together. Don’t mention our contact with her, just suggest that I’ve reviewed the information and determined that she’s no longer a threat. Something like that.”
“Is this the kinder, gentler SHIELD?” Skye said with a grin.
“No. Not really. It’s more like the Skye version of SHIELD.” He grinned. “Isn’t that what you wanted?” he added, not at all sarcastically.
Skye just smiled. “Yeah. Something like that. I kinda like the Welcome Wagon version.”
“By the way, where are we heading?”
“Skye smiled. “You should probably ask Agent May. She’s the one on the stick.”
* * * * *
“You mind a little company,” Phil asked, quietly closing the cockpit door behind him.
“Knock yourself out,” Melinda responded, her face betraying a slight smile that suggested his visit wasn’t a surprise.
“So, where are we headed?” he asked, sliding into the co-pilot’s seat.
“Someplace you wanted to go,” she responded, telling him nothing.
“And...where is that?”
She changed the subject. “What you did back there. That was the old Phil Coulson. Are you really over your rage?”
Phil considered her words, starting to respond several times, and then stopping to reconsider his response. “Maybe I’ve learned something through all of this. I’ve said there were too many lies, too many secrets. The truth may well be that Susan Walker doesn’t represent a threat to anyone.” He grinned a little. “I’m not sure the mining folks will agree with that assessment, but I don’t think their opinion matters in this case.”
“You know, we always believed that the people we stored in the fridge were truly dangers to society, but I’m not sure they were. At least not by intent. I am sure Susan Walker never asked for those powers that made her special. She never intentionally misused them. I don’t think she ever even tried to gain control of them…at least not so she could use them as a weapon.”
“So, you are satisfied that Skye was right?”
Phil nodded. “I’ve come to believe that Skye is a pretty good judge of people. Back when we ran into Hannah Hutchins she kept telling us that the woman wasn’t the problem. We...well...I didn’t believe her. Not at first. But she saw the woman for what she was, scared, ashamed, and fearful. She figured out Tobias.” He nodded, somewhat to himself. “She’s good with that.”
There was a break in the conversation, largely because Melinda was waiting for the other shoe to drop. For a full minute or more Phil seemed to turn internal, thinking over things and perhaps reforming his own opinions. Finally he remembered his original reason for the visit.
“Where are we heading?”
Melinda turned her attention from the instruments, looking directly into Phil’s eyes. “Portland.”
His expression was hard to read, but his face did convey one thing clearly: Portland was not the answer he was expecting.
“What’s in Portland?”
“Not a what. A who.”
“Not....” Melinda nodded. “Why?”
“Well, we’ve decided that you need to get that out of the way.”
“It’s not in the way. She’s getting on with her life. I shouldn’t mess that up.”
Melinda looked at him again, reaching down for a small tablet computer that was sitting beside her. “It’s not up to you, but you did tell Fitz that you wanted to go back and make it right.”
Phil was caught completely off guard. “How...how did you know that?”
Melinda smiled slightly. “Sitting down on the bottom of the ocean, waiting to die, Fitz and Jemma talked about a lot of things. He told her about the conversation, and then she shared that when we, when Skye and I tried to help her. She was devastated when we were going to clear out his bunk space. So, we talked. A lot. Skye almost singlehandedly put her back together that night.”
“I do want to go back. I want to...to clean it up. She deserves to know…to know more. I don’t think this is the right time though.”
“Phil, it will never be the right time. Never. You’ll always find a reason to avoid doing it, but...it’s out of your hands.”
“What do you mean?”
Melinda handed him the tablet. “Skye found this earlier. It’s going to be in the news. It’s probably on the internet already. Wouldn’t this be better coming from you?”
He took the tablet and glanced down at the screen. It was clearly a small piece from The Washington Post.
In a surprise development we have been able to confirm that S.H.I.E.L.D. has been re-established. While there are, or will be, new rules for oversight, the basic functions of the secret spy agency remain unchanged. Alexander Pierce has been jailed due to his association with Hydra, and the former director, Nicholas Fury, is reported to have died Although it is unconfirmed, several sources have stated that the new director will be Phillip Coulson, a high-ranking agent who was deeply involved in the defense of the city of New York.
He looked up, his mind rolling and heaving as he slowly absorbed the implications of the story. It wasn’t about the public knowledge. It certainly wasn’t about his fears or concerns related to the escapees from the fridge. It wasn’t even really about his relative anonymity being shattered. It was all about Portland. Oh God! What’s she going to think? How can I possibly explain this to her? I’m going to destroy her world.
Without thinking he turned to face May, his expression revealing everything. “What can I say?”
“Phil, you know what to say. You tell her the truth. No more lies, remember? You already know what to say, and I think you know how she’ll respond. But...I’m not the person to tell you what to do. If you honestly want some help beforehand, talk to Skye. Talk to Simmons...erm...Jemma. Ask her what Fitz said...when they were trapped down under the ocean. There will be tears, but she’ll tell you if you ask.”
Slowly the Director of SHIELD raised himself uncertainly from the seat, his body moving almost without conscious control. Stunned might have described him, but in truth it went much deeper than that, for he found himself in completely uncharted waters...deep, cold, and utterly dark. Unbidden a single thought surfaced: I wanted to die; they should have let me die.
Chapter 9
“So, did I pass?”
Phil looked up, pushing aside the paperwork he was completing. Slowly he began nodding his head. “Yes. You passed. An ‘A+’ from me, and 5.9 from the East German judge.”
“What?”
“Oh. Sorry. I guess you’re a bit too young to understand that. It means you did an outstanding job. The news is that Three Channels has withdrawn their application pending further considerations.”
“And...what about Susan?”
“She’s been removed from the list. As far as I’m concerned, there’s no danger there. There’s just one more thing I want to do, and I think I’ll delegate that to you.”
“What?”
“I think it’s appropriate to tell her the good news. If I were her I’d be constantly looking over my shoulder, worrying that somebody is going to swoop in and haul her away again.” Skye nodded her agreement. “So…I want to write her a letter, to let her know that she’s off the list. She should be free to live her life...since you ensured she gets it back.”
“So, what does that have to do with me?”
“I’d like you to put the letter together. Don’t mention our contact with her, just suggest that I’ve reviewed the information and determined that she’s no longer a threat. Something like that.”
“Is this the kinder, gentler SHIELD?” Skye said with a grin.
“No. Not really. It’s more like the Skye version of SHIELD.” He grinned. “Isn’t that what you wanted?” he added, not at all sarcastically.
Skye just smiled. “Yeah. Something like that. I kinda like the Welcome Wagon version.”
“By the way, where are we heading?”
“Skye smiled. “You should probably ask Agent May. She’s the one on the stick.”
* * * * *
“You mind a little company,” Phil asked, quietly closing the cockpit door behind him.
“Knock yourself out,” Melinda responded, her face betraying a slight smile that suggested his visit wasn’t a surprise.
“So, where are we headed?” he asked, sliding into the co-pilot’s seat.
“Someplace you wanted to go,” she responded, telling him nothing.
“And...where is that?”
She changed the subject. “What you did back there. That was the old Phil Coulson. Are you really over your rage?”
Phil considered her words, starting to respond several times, and then stopping to reconsider his response. “Maybe I’ve learned something through all of this. I’ve said there were too many lies, too many secrets. The truth may well be that Susan Walker doesn’t represent a threat to anyone.” He grinned a little. “I’m not sure the mining folks will agree with that assessment, but I don’t think their opinion matters in this case.”
“You know, we always believed that the people we stored in the fridge were truly dangers to society, but I’m not sure they were. At least not by intent. I am sure Susan Walker never asked for those powers that made her special. She never intentionally misused them. I don’t think she ever even tried to gain control of them…at least not so she could use them as a weapon.”
“So, you are satisfied that Skye was right?”
Phil nodded. “I’ve come to believe that Skye is a pretty good judge of people. Back when we ran into Hannah Hutchins she kept telling us that the woman wasn’t the problem. We...well...I didn’t believe her. Not at first. But she saw the woman for what she was, scared, ashamed, and fearful. She figured out Tobias.” He nodded, somewhat to himself. “She’s good with that.”
There was a break in the conversation, largely because Melinda was waiting for the other shoe to drop. For a full minute or more Phil seemed to turn internal, thinking over things and perhaps reforming his own opinions. Finally he remembered his original reason for the visit.
“Where are we heading?”
Melinda turned her attention from the instruments, looking directly into Phil’s eyes. “Portland.”
His expression was hard to read, but his face did convey one thing clearly: Portland was not the answer he was expecting.
“What’s in Portland?”
“Not a what. A who.”
“Not....” Melinda nodded. “Why?”
“Well, we’ve decided that you need to get that out of the way.”
“It’s not in the way. She’s getting on with her life. I shouldn’t mess that up.”
Melinda looked at him again, reaching down for a small tablet computer that was sitting beside her. “It’s not up to you, but you did tell Fitz that you wanted to go back and make it right.”
Phil was caught completely off guard. “How...how did you know that?”
Melinda smiled slightly. “Sitting down on the bottom of the ocean, waiting to die, Fitz and Jemma talked about a lot of things. He told her about the conversation, and then she shared that when we, when Skye and I tried to help her. She was devastated when we were going to clear out his bunk space. So, we talked. A lot. Skye almost singlehandedly put her back together that night.”
“I do want to go back. I want to...to clean it up. She deserves to know…to know more. I don’t think this is the right time though.”
“Phil, it will never be the right time. Never. You’ll always find a reason to avoid doing it, but...it’s out of your hands.”
“What do you mean?”
Melinda handed him the tablet. “Skye found this earlier. It’s going to be in the news. It’s probably on the internet already. Wouldn’t this be better coming from you?”
He took the tablet and glanced down at the screen. It was clearly a small piece from The Washington Post.
In a surprise development we have been able to confirm that S.H.I.E.L.D. has been re-established. While there are, or will be, new rules for oversight, the basic functions of the secret spy agency remain unchanged. Alexander Pierce has been jailed due to his association with Hydra, and the former director, Nicholas Fury, is reported to have died Although it is unconfirmed, several sources have stated that the new director will be Phillip Coulson, a high-ranking agent who was deeply involved in the defense of the city of New York.
He looked up, his mind rolling and heaving as he slowly absorbed the implications of the story. It wasn’t about the public knowledge. It certainly wasn’t about his fears or concerns related to the escapees from the fridge. It wasn’t even really about his relative anonymity being shattered. It was all about Portland. Oh God! What’s she going to think? How can I possibly explain this to her? I’m going to destroy her world.
Without thinking he turned to face May, his expression revealing everything. “What can I say?”
“Phil, you know what to say. You tell her the truth. No more lies, remember? You already know what to say, and I think you know how she’ll respond. But...I’m not the person to tell you what to do. If you honestly want some help beforehand, talk to Skye. Talk to Simmons...erm...Jemma. Ask her what Fitz said...when they were trapped down under the ocean. There will be tears, but she’ll tell you if you ask.”
Slowly the Director of SHIELD raised himself uncertainly from the seat, his body moving almost without conscious control. Stunned might have described him, but in truth it went much deeper than that, for he found himself in completely uncharted waters...deep, cold, and utterly dark. Unbidden a single thought surfaced: I wanted to die; they should have let me die.