Dawn of a new era

Chapter 17

She landed at the shield base in San Diego, dressed in her funeral dress and shoes. She walked off with her backpack, leaving the rest of her things in Rise. She'd either be leaving tonight or in a few days- depending on if she made her presence known. She took a cab to the venue, not wanting a shield car to draw any attention when she had yet to make up her mind. She slipped in with a group of what seemed like old church ladies and quickly made her way to the bathroom when she spotted Bobbi heading towards the group she had hidden in. She did her makeup and hair quickly, stashing the bag in the ceiling tiles of the bathroom before making her way back out to the main room.

She recognized quite a few shield agents, mostly department heads and a few cadets. There was also the old church ladies, who were all sitting and whispering in a group, Dawn assumed those were aloras mums friends. Then there were a few girls who looked to be about Bobbis age, though they weren't agents or shield personnel at all, Dawn assumed they were Alora's highschool friends and steered clear of them. She saw Bobbi, Lance and her mum all at the front, and Bobbi's mum. She wasn't exactly anxious to see anyone, she couldn't lie to Lance. Well she could, but it ate her up and made her feel like her insides were being lit on fire.

Dawn sat at the back, watching as Ms. Morse sat down with all her kids in the front, she counted them all silently, 11 including Bobbi. Madeline hadn't come, but there was a new one who looked to be about 3.

The funeral started, Dawn listened to each and every story, admittedly she didn't know Alora that well, they'd met in passing and at Bobbi and Lance's wedding, but other than that she didn't know much about her. She was here for Bobbi though, and for Lance. When Bobbi walked up to speak, Dawn ducked her head a bit, hoping ot keep herslef a secret, but when Bobbi froze up mid sentence, she was staring right at her. Dawn offered a small reassuring and consolidating smile and waved a little. There was no getting out unscathed now.

Once the funeral was over, Bobbi walked directly to the yongest Hunter and crossed her arms. She wanted to hug her, she wanted to slap her, she wanted to lock her in a tower so she'd never disapear again. No tower would hold Dawn, sh eknew that. She was too scrappy. "You came" She said- well breathed, it quieter than a whisper, but so dinstinct.

Dawn nodded, scratching the back of her neck, she frowned slightly when she felt her hand come back wet. A quick glance at it before tucking her hands into her dress pockets told her that she'd broken skin and would now have to deal with scabs on the back of her neck. "I only just checked my messages yesterday" she said, keeping her vioce soft and quiet. She knew Lance would be around somewhere, they'd left shield thanks to some russians and had been travelling the states together, and then visiting Bobbi's family when the news came that Alora was being pronounced dead.

"You've been radio silent for a year. We couldn't find you, your mum was going to call the police and report you as a missing person. What happened?" Bobbi asked worriedly, eyes flitting through the room. If her mother heard her talking about shield things while at her sisters funeral.. There would be hell to pay. Bobbi waved Lance over, who's eyes went wider than a puppies at the sight of Dawn. He ran over and hugged her so tight, she thought he might squeeze the ears building up in her out of her eyes for everyone to see.

"Daybreak!" He exclaimed, using the childhood nickname turned alias- which of course alerted her mum to her presence. "Nloody hell, where have you been? Are you okay? You look sad"

"It's a funeral Lance" she interrupted, he hardly registered it. His baby sister was back!he was so scared he'd have to put on one of these sad funerals for her, so scared he'd never see her again.

"Were you kidnapped? Held hostage? Why didnt you answer my texts! Or emails, or phone calls? I tried everything! We all did.. Why did you ignore us? Why did you hide?" It was really hard for him not to hate shield. Shield had taken Bobbi away from im, every time. Every time shield got in the way. First it was just with Bobbi, he could deal with that. But now it was his sister too. His baby sister. The one who wasn't even 21 when she hid.

"No, no.. nothing like that. I just.. After Hydra took over I needed time" She didn't explain that she had been working for Coulsons Shield, that she had been doing missions, or that she had definitely maybe threatened Coulson to keep his mouth shut about her to everyone. "I only checked my voicemail yesterday, and then I flew here two hours later and landed three hour ago" she was still in Lance's arms, and she'd be lying if she said she wanted to be put down, she'd missed her brother so much. She'd missed telling him everything, like she used to. Now she had so many secrets, so many hidden things. She gently pushed on Lances shoulder, smoothing her dress when he put her down.

As Diana walked over- more like glided angrily- Dawn felt a cold sweat prickle her back. Her mother was fierce, she's a force to be reckoned with, Dawn got that from her. But she's also bloody terrifying when she wants to be, particularly towards her children. Never Bobbi though, Dawn and Lance have a joke that Bobbi is her favourite child. "Dawn Isolde Hunter" uh oh. Full name. Dawn looked at her mum sheepishly, offering her a small smile. "You scared the living daylights out of me, child. Don't disappear like that again. I'm used to weeks- months even. But never a year" she shook her head and pulled Dawn into a hug- who had forgotten how much her family likes to hug people in her time in Croatia. For a little bit, Dawn felt at peace. She had her family around her, and for a few seconds, she forgot about the things she was hiding. She forgot about her powers, about Croatia, about Max, Calypso. She forgot about everything. And it was nice, and then it all came crashing back to her. She physically withdrew from her mom, her body stiffening up as she stepped out of the hug.

Bobbi furrowed her eyebrows, watching her ex-sister in law's demeanour change so much. Usually, she was full of energy and was cracking jokes, making fun of herself and everyone around her. She was always so cheerful. This wasn't the Dawn Hunter from a year ago, something had happened. She wouldn't push, not right now. But she'd figure out what happened, and she'd help her, eventually.