Title: Teammates
author: Cindy Ryan
spoilers: all
notes: This is an AU version of 0-8-4
summary: What if one of the team had been injured during the hijacking?
Agent Grant Ward could feel exhaustion tugging at him. He knew he should rest. The bullet graze he'd taken earlier wasn't helping matters either. However, Grant found himself staring through the glass partition that separated the medical unit from the rest of the Bus. Looking at the one teammate that was in worse shape than all of them.
One that shouldn't have been in harm's way at all if he'd done his job correctly.
Jemma Simmons looked incredibly small and frail in the hospital bed. The top of her skull was covered in white gauze down to her eyebrows. An IV ran from her right arm. Bruises were starting to appear on her
forearms and neck. The young scientist had been injured when they'd attempted to retake control of the plane from the Peruvians. Jemma had lost her balance after the three had separated the tether and slammed against the
right wall. Jemma had been unconscious when they'd finally arrived at Slingshot. There it was determined the young woman had also endured a broken left rib which had nicked a lung. Surgery had been preformed at
the secret S.H.I.E.L.D base and Jemma had been returned to the Bus for recovery. The doctors had told the team the surgery had gone well and they expected a full recovery.
Grant looked around the medical room and spotted Leo Fitz leaning against the left wall by the door. The young man hadn't moved towards the bed since Jemma had arrived. It was if Fitz was in a self imposed punishment vigil. Feeling responsible for his partner being hurt. When in reality it had been Grant's call to go ahead with the crazy plan. Skye, Fitz and Simmons had looked to Grant and May for guidance and in the end he'd let them down. The plan was only partially successful. They'd freed themselves from the hijackers but at a cost.
Fitz caught Ward's attention once more. The young scientist was uncharacteristically solemn and quiet. The worry and fear on Fitz's face when he'd realized Simmons was injured was something that would stay with Grant a long time. Despite what Skye thought Grant did know his team. He'd made it a point to read up on his colleagues as soon as he'd had the opportunity. Ward didn't know what exactly the bond was between Fitz and Simmons. Friendship, siblingish, partners. Whatever it was the more time Grant spent with them he found himself a bit
envious. They were the definition of teammates something Grant hoped the rest of the team would become.
"How is she?"Phil Coulson asked quietly as he came to stand at Ward's right.
"Same, hasn't woken."Ward replied.
"Fitz?"Phil inquired his gaze tracking to the scientist.
"Hasn't approached her at all."Grant reported.
"Happens with partnerships."Phil stated solemnly."One feels responsible for the other being injured even if there was nothing they could do to prevent it. He'll come around. They'll be finishing each other's sentences in no time."
"Yeah."Grant agreed as he rubbed a weary hand along the back of his neck.
"You should get some sleep."Phil ordered as he turned from the window."Going to need you sharp tomorrow."
Grant looked at his boss. "Why? What's happening tomorrow?"
Phil smiled. "That's the beauty of this job; you never know."
Coulson left and Grant looked back at Fitz and Simmons. Fitz had finally moved to Jemma's bedside. Leo stared at his friend for a long moment before taking a seat in the visitor's chair. For the first time in hours Grant smiled. Things were looking up. With a yawn Grant turned and left heading back to his quarters. Maybe he should get some
sleep.