Back to the Moments

The perils of a life

Here's Chapter 3! This one really just flowed so I really hope you enjoy it!

I still don't own Shield ;)

20th December 1982

It was a strange thing how quickly things became normal for a human. Phil had only been at the academy for a couple of months but there was nowhere else he wanted to be. It was home, no matter how much he still got lost when classrooms changed last minute and the fact that he still didn't know half of his teacher's names.

There was a routine to each week and one facet of it that he now truly enjoyed and looked forwards to (who was he kidding it was his favourite part of the week) was the combat class he was on his way to currently. Once a week he went to the Operations school with a rapidly dwindling cohort of Communications kids and, each time, he paired up with Melinda May. It was by choice now, and despite the fact that he always had a slight panic in him that for some reason she wouldn't want to work with him each time, she always gave him a welcoming smile and started punching him as soon as he hit the mat.

Today was no different.

At least by now, he knew to duck and very occasionally he would manage to land a punch back on her. That was a huge success, to manage to punch Melinda May. He wasn't to admit that he lived through getting punched again and again simply to see the particular proud smile she gave him when he managed to get her back.

When he was back in his dorm room trying to deal with his bruises he always told himself that he went through this so as to protect himself in a fight but it was really for the rare occasion that Melinda May would give him that particular smile.

They weren't really friends, he knew, they merely paired up in one class a week. But he always found himself hoping she at least found the time they spent together at least slightly enjoyable. If she didn't, it was really pathetic that he found it being the favourite part of his week. He was ducking under a quick backhand when the men entered the room. A gentle looking smiley man who he knew to be the headmaster of Communications and a serious looking man, almost twice the size of him who he supposed was the headmaster of Operations. He hadn't met him yet. The man he knew looked unusually serious as well, but he didn't take all that much notice until they came to stand by his and May's mat. Their one sided fight came to a standstill as they exchanged a look to see if either of them knew what was going on, panting in equal exhausted measures.

'Mr Coulson?' One of the men checked quickly. As Phil responded he found himself wracking his brain for anything he could have possibly done but couldn't find anything that came to the forefront of his mind, heart rate beating erratically.

'Please come with us for a moment.'

He have May another confused but apologetic look and received one in return with a shrug as he followed them out of the room. They led him into a small office down the corridor and handed him a folder filled with some forms and information.

'I'm sorry...' the rest of what was said blurred into a rumbling white noise as she shock of what he was reading set in. 'Take all of the time you need.'

In a complete daze he turned and walked out of the room, when he got into the corridor crumbling to the floor, knees to chest. His heart felt as if it might explode from his chest, beating ridiculously fast. For a long moment he just stared unseeingly at the papers in his hand.

'Coulson?' The voice came from somewhere above him and he looked up to see Melinda May, who still refused to use his first name. 'You okay?'

When he didn't respond she sat down next to him, accidentally catching sight of what the papers he clutched so tightly divulged. Her intake of breath was sharp and she instinctively grabbed his hand, squeezing it tightly.

'Oh, Phil... I'm so sorry,' she breathed out, her voice gentle.

'It's fine,' he responded automatically, looking at her. This was totally contradicted by the tears that now blurred his vision.

'You don't have to be. It's your mum.'

He let out a long breath and the hand that wasn't holding his came round his shoulders.

'I can't believe she's gone,' he whispered, voice cracking. A hot tear slipped uncontrollably down his cheek which he furiously wiped away.

'Let yourself cry Phil,' was her only response as she gently laid her head on his shoulder, holding him tight. Her small frame was surprisingly comforting and her hair smelled of apples where it tickled his face.

She sat there in that quiet hallway for an hour, just letting him cry.

A/N Just a slightly sadder note but it should bring these two sweethearts together a bit so that's always good! Poor Phil and so close to Christmas L

Please review and let me know what you think! It makes me want to write more and that's always good and if you have any ideas you can let me know and I'll give you full credit!

Thanks for reading!

Tabi x