Of all the flights Fitz has ever been on; family vacations, his first trip to the States, the Bus, this one has been, by far, the longest. He hasn't said a single word on the ride across the Atlantic, a choice that hasn't gone unnoticed by Coulson. His announcement that he would be informing Jemma's family of her disappearance quickly turned into an offer to be at Fitz's side as he delivered the news. This is how it has to be, isn't it? Fitzshould be the one to tell them. Tell them that their only daughter has vanished, nowhere to be found, and not even he could do anything to find her.
The guilt eats away at him more than anyone within their tight-knit little group could ever imagine. Fitz believes he could have prevented this had he not been so bloody set on punishing Jemma for leaving him like she had. He should have just taken her to that dinner. If he had.. If he had, well, she would still be here with them.
"It's not your fault," Coulson says, interjecting into Fitz's many self-deprecating thoughts. Fitz hums in response, his focus remaining on the tufts of clouds that are so easily cut through by the wings of the commercial airliner they find themselves in. "There was nothing you could have done to prevent what happened."
Dry laughter is emitted, and it's as if he can read Fitz's mind. A hand lifts to drag a finger along his temple, scratching an itch that's nonexistent, before he turns to look Coulson. "You don't know that."
Coulson nods his head once in a sign of understanding; understanding that he knows that deep down Fitz is right, he doesn't know, but also he nods because he understands that he needs to say no more. He's here if Fitz needs to talk, needs to cry, needs to do whatever it is that he needs to do until he can come to terms with what's happened to Jemma. She's not dead. At least not to Fitz. He may have exhausted every lead for now, but there will be more in time. He'll find her, no matter the cost. Of all the missions, all the Inhumans S.H.I.E.L.D. currently scrambles to gather before they wind up dead in the streets, victims of their own mutations, she is his mission now. Turning to look back out of the window, the familiar view of England's countryside coming into full view, Fitz listens as the wheels of the plane make their descent before locking into position. Informing Jemma's parents of her disappearance will be difficult, but this will not be the last time he sees them, not if he can help it. No. If Fitz can help it, he will be back, and he will be back with her.