Chapter 31
Rest in Peace. Coulson didn't know what Jasper was thinking. He had ordered flowers for Victoria's funeral, before they even confirmed she was dead? But the ribbon John was holding definitely said rest in peace, and a couple of Stark's employees were dragging four large peace lilies to the door. Did anyone ever order a peace lily for something besides a funeral? Peace lilies. Should he let Victoria see those or would they give her a heart attack to wake up with flowers generally intended for a funeral surrounding her?
"The roses are nice. And the orchids. Aren't those expensive? She would probably like all of that." Well, maybe not the card on the arrangement of orchids that said "With Deepest Sympathy." "Hey, am I allowed in yet?"
"Not until the lockdown is lifted." Coulson said. "You don't want to risk the flu, do you?"
If the flu was bad enough that Vic was actually letting how badly she felt come through in her voice, then he really, really would rather not get it, but all of the shots Shield got couldn't possibly be defective, could they? Maybe he had got one that actually worked? And maybe he couldn't actually see Vic, but surely there was something he could do, fetching, or carrying and leaving things outside the door for her? Or diverting her grumpiness onto him instead of onto Coulson's girls once she was feeling a bit better and realized she was going to have to stay in her office on bedrest for the immediate future while things in her building were going nuts. "I'm willing to take a chance. How many defective shots could that company have sold to us?"
"Do you really want to know?" Tony said as he carried another box of supplies through the door. "Because at last count it was over 2000 shots they're saying don't provide protection and climbing."
2000 and climbing, not good, but still, how many people worked for Shield anyway? The odds had to be better than one in five that he would have got a good shot, right? Although to be on the safe side next year, he was going to follow Phil's lead and head for the local pharmacy come flu time.
"Stay outside. Sort through the flowers and make sure there aren't anymore funeral messages on them before we even think of letting Victoria see them." Coulson ordered, before waving to Stark. "This way. I think Fitz is in the cafeteria. He'll know where you need to put the supplies. He felt a cold chill wash over him as he thought of introducing Stark to the young engineer. So many ways a meeting like that could end in disaster, and possibly in a fire. "So, would you like to tell me why you had to call the bomb squad four times in one week?"
Pepper said we had to, to be on the safe side, even though I was sure that I knew how to fix the problem. And I was right, wasn't I? You haven't heard about any explosions at Stark, now have you?" Tony said.
"They might have heard about severe mental trauma amongst your staff, though." Bruce said. "Having to hear the announcement over the intercom that it's probably nothing, but to please evacuate the building in a calm, orderly manner, and then mentions of the bomb squad four times in one wepek does not help the mental health of your employees."
"But nothing blew up!" Tony said as the entered the cafeteria.
"Fitz!" Coulson called, causing the engineer to look up from where he was glaring at the still sleeping form of Edwin Tuttle between bites of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, heavy on the jelly. "We've got the supplies you need here!"
"You… Wait, you're Tony Stark!" Fitz's eyes went large as he spotted Stark and he came rushing over, practically tripping over sleeping people in his haste. Tony Stark was actually here to help them? How amazing was that?
Stark and Fitz together. Coulson felt a chill. "Fitz, you are in charge." He said. "Remember that this building belongs to Agent Hand, and she is going to want it back in one piece, so if Stark suggests trying anything to see what happens, don't do it. If he suggests trying anything and says you might need a fire extinguisher first, don't do it. Fix the building, no fancy stuff, just fix it. And Stark, I know how many limbs and fingers Agent Fitz had before you arrived. I expect him to have the same number when you leave."
"You faked your death and made me spend two hundred dollars on flowers? And now you're trying to tell me what to do again like nothing happened?" Tony complained. "I'll have you know that I've never broken a person. Except for Henderson in human resources, and that was an accident during a fire drill. What kind of person do you think I am?"
"Fitz, just remember you're young. You have a lot to live for. I'm sure I can get Victoria to help convince accounting to approve a monkey." Coulson said before turning to Bruce. "You wanted to check our people, right?"
"Talk to Agent Simmons first, and then check whoever you need me to." he said with a nod.
"What do you need me to do?" Steve asked. He was still upset about the situation with Coulson and Fury, but seeing the sick people in the cafeteria, he pushed it aside to deal with later.
"If you could take food around? There's a cart somewhere with oatmeal, bowls and a list in the hall." And maybe it would help improve morale, to have Captain America delivering their food and helping them? It would definitely improve his!
Agent May had heard the plane landing, and then the doors opening downstairs, and she was on her way down to see if the director had actually sent them some help when her phone rang. "Mom?"
"Melinda? Have you seen the paper this morning?" her mother asked.
"I've been tending sick people, and which paper?" May asked.
"The Associated Press picked it up. It's in all of the major papers. Melinda, I know you said Victoria was alive when we talked yesterday." Her mother said. She could only assume that she had taken a turn for the worse during the night. "I'm so sorry that she didn't make it. Director Fury wrote a lovely eulogy for her, though, and the President is planning to award her the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously. I think she would have appreciated that after all of her service to Shield."
"Fury…. And the president? Mom, Victoria is not dead! I think she might have even been awake a bit ago when I passed her office. I think I heard her talking." Fury had put Victoria's eulogy in the paper, and the president was giving her posthumous awards? Instead of getting this situation fixed, it was getting worse! "Mom, I'll call you back. I've got to talk to Coulson."