"What does S.H.I.E.L.D. stand for, agent Ward?"

Coulson stood in the corner watching as assistant director Maria Hill grilled the potential recruit for his team. The guy was only second to Black Widow herself. Coulson entertained himself by the fact that the lightbulb in his corner had gone out before agent Ward had come in.

"It means someone really wanted our initials To spell out "SHIELD."

Guy makes jokes! That didn't deserve a poop on his interpersonal skills report. But hey, it's Maria Hill.

"It means we're the line between the world and the much weirder world. We protect people from news they aren't ready to hear. And when we can't do that, we keep them safe. Something turns up like this Chitauri neural link, get to it before someone bad does."

His reply was similar to something Coulson himself had said years before.

"I'm more interested in how this rising tide group found out about it. I thought they were just hackers. What changed?"

"Everything's changing. A little while ago, most people went to bed thinking that the craziest thing in the world was a billionaire in a flying metal suit. Then aliens invaded New York and were beaten back by, among others, a giant green monster, a costumed hero from the '40s, and a god."

Coulson puffed his cheeks, knowing Maria Hill's face had the slightest hint of blush only trained eyes could pick up on. Similar to how his own had been upon the mention of a certain costumed hero from the '40s.

"I don't think Thor's technically a god."

Oops. Potato potaato! Insulting the God of Thunder definitely got you a poop from Maria Hill on your interpersonal skills.

"Well, you haven't been near his arms. The battle of New York was the end of the world. This now is the new world. People are different. They have access to tech, to formulas, secrets they're not ready for."

"Why was I pulled out of Paris?"

"That, you'll have to ask agent Coulson."

"Uh, yeah. I'm clearance level six. I know that Agent Coulson was killed in action before the battle of New York. Got the full report."

Coulson fixed his collar at his intro and stepped into the light.

"Welcome to level seven."

Coulson lead them out to the conference room, telling his death story as they walked. As confidently as he told it, internally the more unsure he felt with himself. Maria was right; it changes every time he told it. His mind was slowly beginning to feel as if it might explode, but then he remembered:

It's a magical place.

"That's a superhero, agent Ward."

"An unregistered gifted."

"Another little present from The Rising Tide."

"How are they getting this stuff before us?"

Boy does this guy have an issue with the Rising Tide.

"Same way they cracked our RSA implementation. They're good. So I need better."  

Gosh! Doesn't that sound like something the Captain would say?!

"Agent Coulson has requisitioned A mobile command unit, to which you are assigned."

"Rising Tide is trying to draw us out. I think it's time they succeeded."

"You want me to cross them off?"

"Wow. No." Why did sound like if he had this same conversation with someone else, only ONE other person would respond like Ward did.

"I want to use them to get to him. This man's world is about to get very weird. He's gonna need some help."

"I'm sorry. I was trained from day one as a specialist. I go in alone. I get it done. Defusing a nuclear bomb I'm your guy. A welcoming committee? Not my speed!" Ward said, even with the same cold posture he could definitely expect seeing from HER.

Yup. This was totally the guy he needed for this team. Course this guy kept reminding him of HER. Ward was so up HER alley. The coldness, the ruthlessness, the 'not your welcoming committee' person. SHE had only welcome committeed one person. That person was Coulson himself.

"I know it's not what you want. Agent Hill did a very detailed assessment of your last three missions. Combat top grades. Espionage she gave you the highest marks since Romanoff.
Under "people skills," she drew a I think it's a little poop with knives sticking out of it."

Maria came to the defense of her drawing.

"What? It... That's bad, right? And given your family history, I'm surprised it's not worse."

Ward shifted uncomfortably.

Okay, past is a sour spot.

"But I think you're the guy for this. If I'm wrong, you go straight back to your bombs."

Oh yeah, this was great practice to go knocking on her door.

The doctor came in and cleared his roster. Ward was dismissed and Coulson was recommended more rest. But he'd definitely had enough of it. He needed to be in the field, even though he couldn't trust his own mind. Which was exactly why he needed her on this team, if for nothing else, just to maintain his sanity.

Coulson knew he never imagined to be doing this. Go knocking at her door. After all they had been through. But he couldn't trust his own self right now. His mind and body didn't feel like his own. And there was only one other mind he could trust himself to...

"Agent May!"

Of course she was the only one working long after hours. She wasn't a people person.

"No." She said, emphasizing her reply by stamping the document on her desk.

"So you've been briefed."

"I'm not going back in the field."

Another stamp.

"Yeah. You've got such a nice setup here."

The cubicle suited her well, but he knew her better than that. Better than she knew herself. Better than he knew her.

"You ever thought about adding a moat? I just need you to drive the bus," he just needed her to catch the bait. "Liaise ground transpo, some on-site supervision. This isn't a combat op."

"Then you don't need me."

"I do. 'Cause we'll be running ourselves." Cause I need you. "Picking the ops. Making the calls.
No red tape... This is where they actually make the red tape, isn't it? I always wondered."

She smiled.

Only Phil Coulson could get Melinda May to react to a joke. Not counting that guy.

"Melinda..."

"You're really just asking me to drive the bus?"

Of course she listens when he takes her name.

"I'm not asking. But it's a really nice bus."

***
But this one isn't!

Coulson and Ward were standing in an alley in front of a rickety old van. Glasses up, suits on, hands clasped. Men in Black 2.0. Ward slid back the door and the girl staring back at him, did something. As if he had known that face in another life; had memorized it since the first time he had seen it.

"What up?"

Ward bagged her and the feeling was gone.

Welcome to SHIELD team Six.