Agent Phil Coulson is the Best There Is

Late night communications

2012-11-25T19:58:21Z

There were certain things that Phil did not look forward to doing. Calling his boss to let him know bad news was one of those things. But as he sat in the safehouse, snow falling out the window, the quiet hum of electronics the only noise against the howling wind, he knew it was time. It'd been 28 hours since he'd last been able to track her movements. Contacting the boss at 24 was protocol on a mission like this. He knew where she'd been headed last and being incommunicado was not unheard of on a mission like this, but it was still noteworthy. Reluctantly, he switched channels on the comm to connect to a secure line to SHIELD.

"Agent Coulson here. I need to speak to the Director."

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Emails

2012-11-23T14:38:23Z

To: Nick Fury
From: Phil Coulson
Subject: Not What We Expected

Happy Turkey Day, Boss. Did Stark manage not to burn down the tower? Things will be taking a bit longer than expected. Widow is in deep and doesn't want to come out until she gets as much info as possible. Or until we have to pull her out.

To: Clint Barton
From: Phil Coulson

Did you forget to wear your cheer leading uniform or your lucky boxers yesterday? Is that why we lost? Tasha is safe but going deep. What do you know about flashbacks she's been having?

When do you ship out?

To: Tony Stark
From: Phil Coulson

Did you deep fry something yesterday without burning down the tower? How'd Rogers turkey come out? Have you put him in a French maid outfit or signed him up for culinary classes yet?

Btw, nice job with the Hawaii detour. But you forgot to invite me.

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If you feed them, they will come

2012-11-14T00:39:43Z

It had become habit since moving into the Tower, when picking up dinner, pick up enough for an army. If it wasn't for the fact that Steve and Darcy had culinary inclinations, Phil would recommend hiring a full time chef since they certainly went through enough food. He set down a few bags of food from the Greek place that he often frequented with Pepper along with a case of a local seasonal beer. Grabbing a beer and making his way to the common area, he sat down on the couch, laughing when one of the pups jumped up and put a head on his thigh.

"What? You're not getting any of my lamb, so don't even. But you're welcome to stay and watch tv," Phil said, turning on the tv so that the main screen was playing Amazing Race while he pulled up the latest briefs from SHIELD on his tablet.

Looking up when he heard footsteps, Coulson smiled at Clint. "Barton. There's food and beer on the table if you're hungry."

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Email

2012-10-18T18:24:59Z

To: All Tower Residents
From: Coulson, Phil
CC: JARVIS
Subject: Thursday afternoon/evening common area

Due to the Yankees/Tigers doubleheader today, the common area has been requisitioned for watching the game. Beer, soda, hot dogs, and snacks will be provided. All are welcome.

Delta team - consider this our weekly team meeting.

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Hump day Email

2012-10-10T15:01:10Z

To: Barton, Clint
From: Coulson, Phil
Subject: Up for a trip?

I'm headed back to Uzbekistan to rendezvous with Romanoff. Want to come along?

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time to show the world what you're made of - Email

2012-10-06T23:21:10Z

To: Stark, Tony; Romanoff, Natasha
CC: Fury, Nick; Hill, Maria;
Subject: Suit up.

We've recently come across intel about a deposit of uranium in Uzbekistan. It'd be beneficial if it didn't fall into the wrong hands. There may or may not be nuclear weapons in the arsenal. Given the situations in Iran and Syria, I'm sure you can understand why this is of utmost importance.

Quinjet leaves at 0500 from the helicarrier. I'll see you in the parking garage of Stark Tower at 0400.

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Should have gone command track [Coulson/Barton/Rogers]

2012-09-29T23:53:58Z

People would be daft if they thought Phil Coulson didn't have audio and video of what was going down on the ground in Dubai. Phil Coulson always knew what was going on. It was his job and he was damned good at it. Friday night had gone better than expected and he'd let Barton and Rogers know that when they'd gotten back to the hotel after dinner. He hadn't doubted Rogers' abilities, but he worried, like he did about all his agents. Saturday found him standing on the bridge of the Helicarrier, looking fairly imposing for a man who had been in a coma two weeks ago. He had briefly entertained the idea of borrowing one of Fury's coats to assume the "Officer on Deck" position of power on the bridge, but that wasn't him. Instead, Coulson stood on the bridge in his standard suit, comm over his ear and video and audio of Dubai playing on the big screens, multiple viewpoints. Most of the agents were wired with video and audio so Coulson would have as complete a picture as possible.

He saw the first rogue gunman shortly after Clint. A muscle in his jaw moved as he considered saying something to Barton, but thought better of it as Barton went into action. After more than a decade of working together, Barton usually didn't need a voice in his ear, he just needed someone watching his back. The were smooth in neutralizing the threat. They worked well together - Rogers staying in character and restraining his abilities and Barton deadly as ever with his aim. The corner of Coulson's lip went up a tick as he watched them in action. There was something inspiring about watching elegance in combat, watching people using their gifts to the best of their abilities.

The rogue gunmen. Coulson's fingers were flying over the screens, running facial recognition on the gunmen. There must have been a traitor among Malashenko's men. That was the most likely explanation. A few orders later and SHIELD's crew would be searching to ID and account for all of Malashenko's men. It didn't look like Malashenko had deliberately double crossed him, or if he had - he was an incredible actor and Coulson didn't think him capable of it. Once he saw that Barton and Rogers were safely in the car on the way to the airfield, Coulson muted his end of the comm - unless one of them needed him. Giving orders to the SHIELD agents, Coulson put everyone to work and made sure the jet would be waiting and ready when they arrived.

Once the jet was airborne, Coulson refrained from pacing and made his way to the entrance of the flight deck, grabbing a pair of headphone ear protectors from a flight mechanic to await the jet. The official debriefing could wait until after they'd both cleared medical, but Coulson wanted to be there to meet them when they landed. It was one of the little things he did. Even though he knew both Barton and Rogers were okay, he refrained from smiling until the jet landed and he saw Barton and Rogers walking towards him.

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Email to Col Nick Fury

2012-09-27T22:04:12Z

To: Col. Nick Fury
BCC: Hill, Maria; Romanoff, Natasha; Barton, Clint; Stark, Tony; Potts, Pepper
Subject: Helicarrier

Your bunk is comfy, sir. I can see why you like it.

( picture )

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Just a friendly visit [Phil / Tony]

2012-09-25T19:02:49Z

He was walking. It tired him, but he could do it. That was the important thing. He wasn't sure if Fury would let him go to Dubai if he was wheelchair bound. Today's walk took him to Stark's lab, where he knocked before entering, though it was more of a courtesy than anything else.

Entering into the lab, he smiled when he saw the dog scampering with a tool in his mouth. This was certainly a change from Stark's normal working environment.

"Impressive. Granting JARVIS a hologram body."

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Email - Video killed the radio star

2012-09-23T19:28:03Z

To: Rogers, Steve
From: Coulson, Phil
Subject: Archive footage

Steve-
I've compiled some footage for you. Might have gone a bit overboard, but I've classified them according to mission type and chronologically. This will give you an opportunity to see how a variety of our agents function on the job.

Hope you're enjoying your weekend.

[Attached is instructions on how to access the database / playlists Coulson has set up for Steve - easily a few days worths of video. Included are some snippets of Hill, Barton, and Romanoff intermingled among the other. ]

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going through the checklist [Steve/Phil]

2012-09-20T20:28:47Z

It had been a fairly long day, but Phil was feeling good, if tired. He'd enjoyed his chat with Georgia and had done some more work after that before his next PT session. His muscles burned in a way that reminded him of boot camp, but it reminded him that he was getting stronger and that he could do this. After another shower, he dressed in a pair of slacks and a button down shirt because, really, how many days in a row could he be expected to wear sweats or exercise clothes for things other than PT?

Heading up to the common area, Phil planned to catch up with his tablet and a snack. Wheeling himself in, he was pleasantly surprised at the music and moreso to find one Captain America relaxing in the common area. Well, he'd been meaning to chat to the other man.

"Good evening, Cap- Steve," he corrected himself. "I'm not interrupting you, am I?"

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Email

2012-09-20T16:05:22Z

To: Col Nick Fury
From: Phil Coulson
Subject: Missing Items

I've gotten hold of most of my things, switched my status as an agent back to active - don't argue, I can handle Barton & Romanoff from a chair as long as I have a secure line - and working and getting moved in to Stark Tower. I request Hill stay on there as well. More eyes the better. I'm sure we can make room for you if you don't want to sleep in your office.

There's one thing though.

You wouldn't happen to know what happened to my Captain America trading cards, would you? I've heard some rumors.

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behind every successful man, is a woman doing all the work. [phil/pepper]

2012-09-20T02:51:58Z

Phil arrived at the restaurant earlier than planned and was grateful that he could manoeuvre the wheelchair in without a problem. Pepper had probably called ahead. He'd have to thank her for that. Getting settled at the table, with a glass of sparkling water, Phil pulled out his tablet to see if he could get some work done while waiting for Pepper to arrive. He'd dressed up for the occasion, not quite managing his standard suit, but at least getting into dress slacks and a button down shirt.

He managed to catch up on some emails before he heard the distinctive clicking of Pepper's heels on the floor.

"Miss Potts. Radiant as ever," Phil said, his face brightening when he saw her. "You'll have to forgive me if I don't get up."

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Email

2012-09-19T00:55:03Z

To: Pepper Potts
From: Phil Coulson
Subject: Miss Me?

I'm not sure which of Fury's email distribution lists you're on, but I'm sure you've heard the news by now, and no, it's not a joke. The how is still up in the air.

More importantly, when can you carve out some time in your schedule for a lunch date with yours truly?

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finding the prodigal son [Phil/Clint]

2012-09-18T23:42:40Z

Phil had managed to keep down solid food for lunch, which was a victory. In physical therapy, he'd managed to walk five steps on his own. That was three more steps than yesterday. He'd found Natasha and talked to her, now he needed to find the other half of Delta. A simple inquiry with JARVIS told him that Clint was in his quarters. Phil took the elevator up to Clint's door. He could ask or cajole JARVIS to opening the door for him, but he preferred to give Clint the benefit of the doubt.

He knocked on the door and waited, hoping Clint would open it.

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Daddy's Home [Natasha/Phil]

2012-09-18T20:45:32Z

Natasha was antsy. After Clint had dropped her off at her floor, she'd realized she hadn't wanted to be alone and she'd gone down to Clint's floor. Surprised to find it empty, she'd felt an odd feeling in her gut as she wondered what to do. Clint was her default, her safe space, her sanctuary. Phil wouldn't mind if she crashed his place, but he was still recovering from a coma and in a wheelchair. Not to mention, she didn't even know what floor he was on. So she'd gone down to Bruce's floor and crawled into bed with him. Bruce, of course, had given her pain killers and checked her over, splinting her broken arm and cleaning out her various cuts and scrapes. It had been a lengthy process, but after they'd taken a bath together and then gone to bed. She'd managed to sleep, curled up in Bruce's arms with Dog snuggled up against her. She'd let Bruce x-ray her arm in the morning and check her over again. She'd left him in the lab with a kiss before heading up to the common area with Dog. She could use some coffee and biscotti and maybe there were some dog treats as well. She wouldn't put it past Steve or JARVIS to make sure there were things for the pups in every room.
( Black, the way you like it )

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Coma!Coulson [Phil/Fury]

2012-08-21T02:17:02Z

Coulson was back in the Buenos Aires. The place where his team first became a team. He was in a safehouse, watching Barton stalk the Black Widow. Sao Paulo had been a disaster. The Black Widow had killed her hit, but in doing so, triggered a bomb that blew up the hotel where a charity ball was being held. Hundreds dead and thousands injured. She'd escaped them in Sao Paulo though they'd managed to catch up with her again in Buenos Aires. From a professional standpoint, he had to admire her. She was deadly, lethal, and beautiful. She could convince a mark they had the upper hand and kill them before they knew what was happening. She could get into a room, make the kill and get out before anyone noticed or suspected anything was amiss. Her skill with weapons, with espionage. She was a threat to be neutralized.

The black and white surveillance video shows Romanoff entering the market square, trailing her mark. Coulson could see Barton in position on a rooftop.

"Barton, if you have the shot, take it. I repeat. Kill order is on. Neutralize the Black Widow," Coulson told Barton over the comm.

"Affirmative," came the whispered answer over the headset and Coulson allowed himself a small smile. Barton was deadly with his bow. If he had a kill order, a kill was made. The man didn't miss.

Coulson saw the disturbance a few seconds after Romanoff and Barton. The mark, a local political leader, had a child in his arms as he began to make the speech.Scanning the television screens, he saw Romanoff in position with the gun raised.

"Barton, make the shot and get out."

Coulson knew they had take Romanoff out before she killed another innocent. Then the unthinkable happened. Barton lowered his bow. Coulson cursed, but kept the communicator on mute. He knew better than to distract his agent during a hit. Barton was drawing something else, Romanoff was turning and shots were fired. Both of them went down. He saw Barton clutching his shoulder and Romanoff sway on her feet. A tranq. Not a kill.

"Barton! The order is kill! Take out the Black Widow! I repeat, you have a kill order!"

**********

The rhythmic beeping and humming of electronics was all the noise that was heard in the room. Coulson lay on the bed, in a room in a S.H.I.E.L.D. facility located somewhere in New Jersey. He'd been there, comatose, since they'd brought him in from the helicarrier. Fury had called the death on the helicarrier, but medics had later revived him, just barely, and since then he'd been in this room while S.H.I.E.L.D. tried to figure out what to do with a comatose agent.

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