The Before [Prequel- Part 1]

Leaving

(A/N- I know that at this point in the show, because Jemma already mentioned that she knows she's related to Deke a few chapters ago, that Fitz should technically be in the holding cell, and Coulson should be at General Hale's base with Talbot and Creel, but I changed it up a little bit, and as of this chapter, it's just a few days after Coulson closed the rift, and they haven't gotten the Gravionium off the Principia yet. I just thought I should clarify before we moved forward. 😁)

~~~Loki's pov~~~

"Coulson, she can't stay here. It's not safe." I insisted, talking to the Shield agent in a hallway near the infirmary.

I had to get Catherine out of this place before anything else happened. Especially if Thanos received Maw's information.

But he only repeated what he'd been saying for the entire conversation. "Loki, like I've been trying to tell you for the past ten minutes, the infirmary is safe. We have constant surveillance going, and not one new anomaly has shown up on this floor. There's little to no chance of anything happening. I don't think you understand that we are doing everything possible-" I cut him off, my anger starting to get the better of me.

"And I don't think you understand that I am not willing to take that chance!" I raised my voice a bit, now annoyed.

And as if to prove my point, seconds later we heard gunshots coming from the very place where the man in front of me had assured me that my wife and unborn daughter would be safe.

My blood instantly ran cold and within a millisecond, I had teleported to the infirmary.

To my immense confusion, the first thing I saw was Daniel Whitehall stumbling into a wall, slowly turning to vapor, with three gunshot wounds in his chest.

I turned around and saw Catherine sitting straight up in the hospital bed, her face white with fear, and a gun in her hands aimed at the anomaly.

I breathed a sigh of relief as I looked over her quickly, noting that she wasn't physically harmed in any way and then immediately went to her side.

The last time she saw Whitehall was well over two years ago when he pretended to kill me and tried to kill her. Not fond memories, I'll say that much.

Thankfully, she wasn't hurt, but her breathing was still erratic and I could tell the encounter had shaken her up.

She looked over at me but didn't lower the gun. Her guard was still up.

"It's me," I assured her, my hands raised in surrender.

She raised a brow, not convinced at all.

Not that I blame her. She was attacked by a fear anomaly that looked exactly like me just a few days ago.

"It's me. I swear. Anomalies wouldn't be able to speak with you telepathically." I explained and she instantly lowered the weapon.

She chuckled in frustration and put her head in her hands. "We have to get out of this place. These anomalies are getting to be too much."

As she said that, Agent Coulson ran in, and I've never wanted to say 'I told you' so much in my entire life.

No chance of anything happening? Really?

~~~Catherine's pov~~~

Whitehall? Really?!

I know I should probably be more scared than I am right now, but the truth is I'm just glad I was able to shoot the bastard.

Even though Loki killed him over two years ago, I always wanted to have some fun, get some closure, and kill him myself.

In a way, this was really just some sick form of therapy.

Is it odd that I actually took some comfort in watching the anomaly turn to vapor and disappear?

Maybe.

What was definitely odd was the look Loki gave Phil when he rushed into the room. I guess he heard the gunshots too.

Loki was just silently glaring at him, and Phil's expression was one of slight fear and defeat.

To further prove my point, he ran a hand over his face, exasperated. "Alright, decision made. The Lighthouse isn't safe for you, and you and Loki need to return home as soon as possible."

Ummmm.....

Look, it's not that I disagree. I do need to leave here ASAP. But Phil wasn't one to turn to retreat as a first option. I thought I'd have to practically beg him before I was cleared to go back home.

"Agreed." I nodded, much to both Loki and Phil's surprise. "It's not safe for me or the baby to stay here anymore. I need to get home."

The pure shock on both their faces was enough to make me laugh for at least a year.

I'll be the first to admit this is extremely out of character for me. I'm usually the stubborn one who never stops working, and refuses to take care of herself.

But this time, I wasn't just making a decision for myself. I made the choice to leave for the baby and her safety. That's what mattered.

~

After debating for a few minutes on how to proceed, Phil gathered everyone in the command center to announce our departure.

Since I was feeling a lot better, I wanted to walk around a little, which is why we were saying our goodbyes in the command center instead of the infirmary.

And to be completely honest, Loki had to keep his arm around me the whole time to help me stand.

Once Phil had told the team the situation, we had a good thirty minutes of goodbyes.

Daisy really didn't want me to leave, but she understood why I had to. The same went for Jemma, May, Yo-Yo, and Fitz.

Mack agreed with Phil that this was the best decision to make logically, but he was still sad to see me go.

Phil was acting strangely. When we said goodbye, he was acting as if it was the last time he'd ever see me.

Before leaving, we all made an agreement that as soon as they figured this fear anomaly thing out and prevented the Earth from cracking apart, they would contact us and we would meet up.

What I didn't know was that this would be the last time I'd see the team for another four and a half years. And it would be the last time I'd ever talk to Phil Coulson in person ever again.

(A/N- Annnnd with that, we have ended Season 5 of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.!!! Now, what would you like me to update next? Should I start publishing the Ragnarok chapters? Or should I update the sequel?)