One Sketch At A Time

Chapter 4: Coulson

      "Hey, Phil, you may want to see this."

      Coulson looked up from his paperwork to May, who came into his office carrying a large black notebook. "Where did you get that? What's wrong?" He asked her, seeing the way she held it, full of resentment.

      "I think Simmons gave it to Amelia." She answered.

      "Why?" He asked, wondering why she was showing it to him.

      "It's a sketchbook. You haven't seen her always with it? She draws all of us. She also writes." May explained.

      "You think Amelia has bad intentions?" He asked with alarm. He really wasn't looking forward to another H.Y.D.R.A. standoff.

      "Probably not. But look, Phil." She handed the book to him, and turned the cover.

      Amelia's full name was free handed neatly on the first page. Underneath, the S.H.I.E.L.D. emblem was drawn very well. He turned the page and marveled at the drawing of the entire team. Wow, Amelia could draw. They were all arranged in a very threatening group, ready to take down whatever was about to attack. The drawing was labeled: This is the family I have found in S.H.I.E.L.D.

       "Why do you think this is..." Coulson stammered when he turned the page. This explains why Melinda brought this to me. He thought, staring at the drawing of just him and May. They looked so happy, Melinda's hair was pulled back in a low ponytail and strands framed her face perfectly. Her smile was aimed at Coulson, whose arms were folded and smiling back. May wore her usual black straight jacket, and in the picture, she looked like a model for the tight clothing. (Not that she already didn't, in Coulson's opinion.) One hand was on her hip, giving her a sassy look, but in an amusing, loving way. Her other hand was placed gently on Coulson's upper arm. They looked ready to conquer the world. In a good way, of course.

      "Wow. She is good. Does S.H.I.E.L.D. have a division for art? Because she would pass." He joked.

      May threw him a disapproving look, and turned the page for him. It portrayed Fitz-Simmons at their desks. They were back to back and standing between their work tables. Jemma and Leo were holding hands and Simmons had her hand on her microscope, Fitz had his free hand on his cluttered desk.

      The following drawings were just as stunning. Some were only outlines, most of the team. Many stood out to Coulson, such as the sketch of Elena and Mack, guns ready. The one that featured Daisy peeking over her hacking computer. The pages were turned far to fast for Coulson. But she stopped at the outline that was obviously May in her yoga. She looked so peaceful. "That's the last one." May told him.

     "Your right May. This is something I would have wanted to see." He told her.

"I want you to read what she wrote under the one with just us. It's interesting." She asked.
 
    "Which one?" He joked, flipping back through the 50-some-odd drawings, pausing at about 20 that featured just the two of them. May rolled her eyes. "The first one." She instructed.

    Phil went back to the first one, with him and May smiling at each other, the one he liked. He glanced down and silently read the small printed paragraph. "Read it out loud, Phil." May told him.

     "This is Mr. Coulson and Mrs. May. They lead a team of agents that protect the world. I don't mean that saying the agents need instructions, but they need the leadership and example..." He wavered, knowing what came next. He continued, " I may not know much about them, but I know they need each other." Coulson finished.