The Past Haunts us- BOOK TWO

Chapter 15: Assembled

"Is that-" I looked at Pepper who was sitting across me on the couch.

"Wasn't he-"

"Hold on." I reached out for my phone and dialled her phone number.

"Look, Stark. I'm outside. I don't need you asking questions on the phone."

Suddenly, the doorbell rang.

"Boss. It's Maria Hill."

Pepper stood up, "He did die, right?"

"Uh, yeah. Stabbed through the heart by an Asgardian scepter." I replied, "Open the door, FRIDAY."

"Already done, boss."

Maria walked into the room with a tired expression, "Look, before you say anything. That's Coulson. He's dead. He died five years ago."

"He did. He wasn't supposed to be on camera." She said under her breath.

"So that's him." Pepper stated.

"Yeah." Maria rubbed her head, "Now, if you excuse me. I'm gonna sort this mess."

"But we were at his funereal. He was buried in-front of us."

"Fury decided to bury those secrets when he decided not to bury Coulson."

"Is he- Is he okay?"

"Right now? Yeah. Or at least I think so."

"Can we meet him?"

She sighed, "I'm leaving tomorrow. Pack what you need for an hour long flight and a night stay. You both are welcome. But where we're going... a lot of violence."

"The army base?" I guessed.

She snorted, "Oh, you wish."

                           —————————

The flight was long, and so was the 30 minute long drive after that. What confused me, was that we parked in front of a bar. I raised an eyebrow at Maria and she shook her head. Pulling the door open, I walked inside. Pepper had stayed back, saying she had some work to do. She walked over to a secluded room and sat into the seat. I sat across from her.

"Buckle up." She told me.

I looked down at the seatbelt and buckled up.

Mari nodded at the bartender and suddenly, we were  pulled into the ground.

"What the fu-"

We stopped and I looked at Maria, "What the hell?"

She sighed, and unbuckled her seatbelt, I followed.

She walked over to the keypad and entered the password. I had the decency to look away as she did so.

"Maria, I-" An old voice greeted us.

"Shut it, Phil. I've had a bad day. I don't need it to get worse."

"Mr. Stark." He looked at me.

"Agent Zombie." I sarcastically replied.

"I deserve that." He nodded.

"How's my goddaughter?"

"Daisy? She's good."

"Actually, I need to talk to you about something." Maria stopped walking, "Not here."

Maria sighed and looked at me, "Find something to do. Don't bother anyone who doesn't want to be bothered."

I nodded, "Who doesn't want to hang out with me?" I pointed to myself.

"Find FitzSimmons. They're in the lab." Coulson told me.

"Yes, sir."

———————————-

"What is it, Phil?"

"I- I think something is wrong with Melinda."

Maria raised an eyebrow, "Well, two days ago, we were eating dinner. Just the two of us. She smiled. And something was off."

"You called me on a hunch?" She exaggerated that part.

I sighed, "Maria, I know her smile and that isn't her."

She nodded and bit her lip, "Where is she?"

"Well, she's-"

—————————
Entering the lounge, I felt different. I felt different vibrations from someone in the room. However, there wasn't anyone else except me and mom.

"Mom?" I looked expectantly at her, hoping that she'll walk away from the tablet and towards me.

"Daisy?" She didn't look up from whatever she was doing.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah. Why?" She looked up.

"No, it's just-" I paused, "I think dad was looking for you."

"Okay?" I raised an eyebrow at her, "Fine, I'll go find him."

"I'm gonna come with you." She raised an eyebrow, "I needed to ask him something."

That seemed to satisfy her because she followed me as we tried to find dad.

Oh, I hope the problem is my vibrations and not her.

We found dad in a room near the entrance.

"Dad?" He jumped.

"Jesu- God, Daisy." I looked at the other figure in the room.

"Aunt Maria?" She waved a hand.

"Hey, kiddo."

"Phil? Maria? What are you guys doing in here?" Mom looked at them.

"You're an LMD." Maria answered.

"I'm sorry?" Mom raised an eyebrow.

"Melinda, you-" his voice cracked at the end.

"I, what? Phil?"

"You-" he took a deep breath.

"You've been replaced by an LMD. You have your memories but you're not you." Maria answered.

"What-" Mom had a haunted look on her face as she looked at us.

"I-"

"I'm sorry, Mel." Dad whispered as he injected mom with a dose.

"I'm sorry." He repeated as mom fell on the floor.