TRASH - UPDATED 10-15-2015 / 3
CHAPTER TEN
The following morning Dossi woke first surprised that she'd actually fallen asleep, and then with a smile to discover that May was sleeping beside her snuggled with her back against Dossi's hand. She watched her quietly as she slept wondering what had happened to change her so much... wishing she hadn't been such a successful undercover agent so that maybe, just maybe, she could have been there for her friend. Her heartfelt sigh woke May and her head lifted slowly from the couch.
"It's only 4:30... you have some time left to sleep." Her head went back down and her breathing shifted.
When May woke the next time, Dossi joined her for Tai Chi. They moved effortlessly, in perfect sync as though this was a routine that they performed together every morning. Then May made breakfast for both of them. Skye wandered in as they were putting their breakfast dishes away.
"Thank you," May told Skye. A smile crept across Skye's face. May looked at Dossi and tipped her head. Dossi followed May to the cockpit. May originally took control away from the autopilot, but after a while she turned it back on. Together they watched the clouds and said very little to each other, merely sharing the comfortable presence of the other. They did take the moment to exchange contact information even though both were fairly certain that the information would never be used. Dossi watched as May landed the bus at HQ and they left the cockpit together. As they reached the common room Simmons walked up to them. She handed March a paper bag.
"What's this?" March asked.
"In case you... change your mind... about the pain." Simmons told her.
"You have a good heart," March told her. "But I can't take this. It isn't my way." She pressed the bag back into Simmons' hand. "Thank you for caring."
Simmons smiled at her sadly and backed up against Fitz. Coulson joined them as they walked down the deck and up to Agent Hand. March looked to Coulson and smiled at him shaking his hand, then she looked to May, watching her just a little bit longer. Then she lightly touched May's left shoulder blade, their eyes locked, and Dossi winked at her. They smiled at each other and March crossed to stand beside Hand.
Fitz brought the box of living metal out of the bus and over to the waiting technicians. Then he moved back to his place with the others. Skye, Ward, Fitz and Simmons stood behind Coulson and May as Hand turned over their next orders. Coulson and May turned to go back into the bus, but Skye broke formation, rushed past them and bounded down the ramp to March. Skye pulled her into a tight hug as May watched.
"Thanks for all the stories, I wish you could have told me more," she said softly.
"Maybe May will, someday," March kept her voice equally low, but she reached around Skye and rested her hand against her left shoulder blade, with just the right hint of pressure.
"I hope so... I want to know," Skye repeated the gesture, understanding, then she crossed back to Coulson's side and started up the ramp.
May looked back at March, offering her a minimal shake of the head and a hint of a smile then she turned and headed up the ramp. Moments later the phone in March's pocket vibrated. She pulled it out and read the message:
'Mom,' it began. 'I... am part of a family now.'
Dossi typed back: 'I love you Minda. I trust that you'll find a way to let them in.'
'I'll... try.'
EPILOGUE
Six days had passed since they left HQ. May looked at the tablet she held and her eyes narrowed.
"Ward," there was something odd in her voice. "I need a sparring partner, now. Are you up to it?"
Ward shrugged his shoulders. "Sure."
He pulled himself from the chair and followed her down to the dock. Skye, also hearing the oddness to May's voice, followed but stayed on the walkway above in the shadow. She watched as May went after Ward with a ferocity that she'd never seen before... and somehow she understood. She hoped that Ward would be able to keep up with her; this was going to be a hard day. And maybe, just maybe, she'd have to be bold enough to try the gift that Dossi had given her.
Phil Coulson could hear the fight all the way up in his office. He picked up his tablet to watch them spar but found instead a missive to both himself and May titled simply March. He opened the email. It was from Agent Hand.
"My apologies. An email is the wrong way to tell you this, but you need to know. Dossi March was a hero today. The east wing of the Reardon Children's Hospital caught fire while Dossi was there visiting the children. She was able to get a group of 14 of them to safety before the firemen arrived, then went back in three more times to bring out four more children safely. She collapsed on site and was rushed to the Reardon emergency room where she succumbed to smoke inhalation. She will be missed. Melinda, I am truly sorry for your loss. Agent Victoria Hand."
Phil sat back in his chair. It was a good way to go, he decided. When his time came again, he hoped this time it would be while doing something equally brave. Sighing, he rose as he removed his tie. Then he stripped from his traditional attire and put on something he could fight in. Hopefully Ward had worn her down some, but Coulson knew that this time Ward would need the rescue... and judging from the sounds of things as he moved closer... it would be soon.
End