Bonding Time
Ok. So the transfer was taking a little longer than expected. And by a little longer he meant about two more missions worth of time longer. And so what if he was waiting for that before talking to her. It’s not like she was going anywhere. He was content watching her from a far. For now, anyway.
“Oh hello Agent Coulson!” Jemma shouted from inside of the lab.
Coulson jumped startled. He walked into the lab devote of everyone except Simmons. He had made sure that Fitz was occupied with new hacking technics Skye. Skye. The young woman that he has a father-daughter relationship with without even trying while he was too much of a coward to talk to his actual daughter.
“Hello Agent Simmons.” Coulson said walking over before leaning on a desk across from her. “How are you today?”
“Very good sir.” She said not even looking up from her microscope. “Is there something I can help you with Sir?”
“Actually there is. As C.O. I usually make it my duty to get to know my team a little bit better. I already have with Skye so I’m moving up by age.” Coulson said nonchalantly and the young woman looked up. “You know, their family life, why they joined S.H.I.E.L.D. you know the works.”
Jemma smiled ruefully. ‘Sir. Are we really going to do this?”
“I’m sorry?” Coulson asked confused.
“Not to sound like I am bragging but I am very clever. My IQ score is well into the 200’s. I also do have a very excellent memory. Sir, I remember you.” Jemma said, nervously.
“I’m not sure…”
“Please sir. I may not have been trained in espionage but I’m not ignorant of it either. I know that you are my father.” Jemma said, before going back to her microscope.
“Jem… Agent Simmons.” Coulson said.
“Sir.” She said crossly. “I do remember you! Please. I’m not asking for an explanation or anything of the sort. I just want to make sure we both know where we stand.”
There was a long pause as no one said anything. “Do you want to know what happened?” Coulson asked.
“If you’re willing to…” Jemma said warily.
“I was on an undercover op in Sheffield. That’s where I met your mother. We um…” Coulson said awkwardly. “Well you know. I left after the operation was over and we didn’t speak. A year later I was stationed at the S.H.I.E.L.D. base in England.”
“There’s a S.H.I.E.L.D. base in England!” Jemma exclaimed.
“There used to be. Apollo. It was decommissioned in 2001.” Coulson explained. “But I got a long weekend off so I went to Sheffield… only to find you swaddled in your mother’s arms.”
“Oh.” Jemma said.
“That was where your mother and I arranged for me to be around as much as I could without it becoming obvious to the world I had a child that could be used against me. I continued seeing you until you were 4 years old.” He walked over to her and gently grabbed her arm. “I remember you were such a well behaved kid. Prim and proper. Although the only time you gave your mother any trouble was when it came to potty training. You were five almost six if I remember your mother telling me correctly.” He said fully intending to embarrass her. He knew he was successful when her cheeks turned bright red. He rolled up her sleeve and traced a scar on her inner bicep. “Do you remember this?”
“No.” She whispered scared.
“I was with you and your mother one day when -then Commander- Fury about a man named Julian Sharpe. His brother, Hector was head of security in a drug cartel. When we were finally able to take them down and I was forced to kill his brother. He wanted revenge.” Coulson said, loosening his tie to show Jemma a similar scar on his neck.
“Julian opened fire into your living room, luckily it was just the two of us and I was able to protect you… This time.” Coulson said. “After Nick… Director Fury was able to find him, that was the last we saw each other. I kept an eye on you though. I didn’t stop caring. Then there was the time you gave me a heart attack by applying for field work. I knew that I needed to keep an eye on you and brought you to my team.”
“So... so Director Fury knows I’m your daughter?”
“Among some others.” Coulson said shrugging. “Speaking of, Agent Ward is transferring. The Agent who is replacing him is going to be training you.”
“Training me!” Jemma squeaked.
“The entire point of you being here is so that you’ll be safe. You won’t always be under my protection in the field if Peru is any indication. You need to be able to protect yourself.” Coulson said.
“You kept an eye out for me?” Jemma asked, touched.
“Of course!” Coulson said. “I’d imagine that you have questions?”
“Were you the reason that I got into S.H.I.E.L.D.?” She asked looking at the ground not looking at him.
“I was another weight that added to the fact that you got in, but it comes down to your accomplishments.” He said. “OK that’s the last one. You’re asking me questions about myself, I’m going to be asking questions of my own.”
“Oh oh- ok.” Jemma said.
“But let’s move to my office. Less of a chance to be overheard.” He said putting a hand at the small of her back ushering her out of the door.
Once they were situated with a cup of tea and a glass of scotch they began again. “Did you love Mum?” Jemma said before she could stop herself. “I mean… did you love my mother.”
After a moment of pondering Coulson answered. “No.” He really didn’t want to start this relationship with lies… more lies. “I cared for her. Deeply. But I was a 25-year-old kid who didn’t know how to balance S.H.I.E.L.D. and a personal life. I couldn’t love someone while having my foot in the job.”
“Oh Ok.”
“You’re disappointed?”
“No I figured that it was something like that. I honestly don’t think she loved you either.” Jemma said before she could stop herself.
“Although one thing we could agree on is that we both loved… love you. A lot. You should’ve heard her on the phone when she found out you were going into the field.” Phil chuckled. “I believe it’s my turn. So speaking of love lives, Agent Fitz?” He said leaving the question open ended.
Jemma turned bright red and shook her head. “What? No! Fitz is my partner. Just my friend! Absolutely no romantic feeling there!”
“Oh. Good. I wouldn’t want to walk around and find anything happening with you and some guy. I kinda do have to make up for your teenage years.” Coulson said lightheartedly.
“Oh! No sir!” Jemma said. “You won’t have to worry about me and Fitz. Or me and Agent Ward or this new field training agent. Speaking of which, would this count as question if I asked about him?”
Coulson smirked to himself as he realized the implication Jemma was insinuating. “Oh. So you and Skye huh?” He asked and her eyebrows shot up before she started to poorly defend herself. “Jemma!”
“There’s nothing between me and Skye!” Jemma lied badly.
“Jemma…”
“Ok well…” Jemma began.
Jemma always thought those cartoons that showed the character’s heart beating out side of their chest utterly ludicrous. Until she met Skye. Fitz picked up on it quickly as well. Jemma could tell that he also had his crush but he backed off for her. It was an unspoken agreement between the two of them that Jemma got first pick because of the more limited dating pool.
Skye flopped down onto the couch and with the wine in the mix Jemma couldn’t tell you if you offered her world peace what she was talking about. Just how radiating Skye looked Finally, she was staring Jemma right in the eyes and she just went right for it. Jemma cupped Skye’s face before leaning in and planted her lips on Skye’s.
When Skye stiffened Jemma realized that she made a huge mistake. “Oh I’m so sorry!”
“Simmons.”
“It won’t happen again.”
“Simmons.”
“I understand if you don’t want to talk to me again!” Jemma said having cleaned up all her things and was ready to retreat to her bunk. “I completely…”
“JEMMA!”
Jemma was startled and froze. Skye grabbed both of her shoulders and started talking. “I’m totally flattered and you’d totally be at the top of my to do list if I rolled that way.”
“I’m sorry I had no idea that…”
“Of course you didn’t.” Skye said. “Babes, just because I’m straight doesn’t mean I’m disgusted or weirded out. Let’s just forget it ever happened!”
“Oh. I’m sorry.” Coulson said after the story was explained to him.
“Well it happens.” Jemma shrugged “Ok. My turn… Is Agent May my step mother?” She asked causing him to start belly laughing. “Ok I guess that answers that.”
“Coulson…” May’s voice came through the intercom. “We’re 15 minutes out from the Sandbox. They need your confirmation code.”
Coulson wiped his eyes and hit the comms button. “I’ll be there right away Agent May.” He turned back to Jemma. Your training officer is going to be an Agent name Bobbi Morse who I trust with my life. Be in the cargo bay at 900 hours tomorrow. Do like you did with Skye. Tour and get situated.”
“Yes sir.” Jemma said nodding and getting up. At the last moment she shot back across the room to enveloped him in a bear hug.
“We’ll continue this tomorrow at the same time?” Coulson asked and Jemma violently nodded her head. He then kissed the top of her head. “Get going.” He said slightly pushing her to get out of the office.
After she left he heard May’s voice pip up from comms. “If you start referring to me as Agent May-Coulson I’m going to feed you your tie.”