She's starting to think she's a magnet for alien viruses.
The team had been called out to a small village near the Amazon, where Fitz had jerked around at any noise or feeling, insisting that he was not ready to host a botfly, or be killed by some kind of wandering beast. Ward had rolled his eyes while Skye followed Fitz paranoid lead, despite putting on a confidant front and making tentative jokes. Its strange really, that out of everything that happened, that's what stands out to Jemma, when she thinks back on the mission, searching for what went wrong.
They'd finally arrived at their destination only to be informed that no, there was not in fact, any alien technology about. Jemma had been quite disapointed, really. She'd been looking forward to spending some quality mission time with Skye, especially since she had no clue how to approach the brunette in any other setting. It was no secret that Jemma Simmons was about as much a social butterfly as a hermit.
She didn't understand at first why she was so intrigued by the newcomer. She'd excused it for simple curiosity as to why Coulson would invite a civilian onto the team, but as her feelings and her denial grew, she found it harder to stop thinking about her, and it was beginning to interfere with her work. If there was one thing Jemma couldn't stand, it was not performing at 100%. That was something that had been drilled into her from a very young age, so Skye was really starting to irk the biochemist.
She'd very much like to blame Skye for her mistake. After all, as she was collecting samples from a nearby stream, Skye had laughed at something Coulson had said, and god, she had such a lovely laugh. Jemma had looked up to meet Skye's eyes when something had caught on her hand, but when she looked back down with a jerk and a frown, there'd been no sign of anything. Convinced she'd imagined it, she had finished collecting her samples and they'd headed back to the bus. After that, the last two days were completely blank.
…
Fitz had gotten up earlier than usual, a strange feeling lingering in his gut. Something was off, he could feel it, and absently he searched for any bumps on his skin as he poured his coffee, terrified that he'd been right to worry yesterday about being implanted with a botfly.
"Morning," Skye grumbled from the doorway, startling Fitz into jumping, coffee sloshing from his mug onto his hand, scalding him.
"A little warning woulda' been nice," he pouted mopping up the drink with a handkerchief.
"I said morning," Skye shrugged, still half asleep. "Where's Simmons at? She's usually in here like, right now." The girl looked exhausted and the pieces slid together in Fitz's head until he grinned and shook his head in amusement. Skye's only up this early to catch Jemma. Speaking of Jemma, Skye was right, where was she?
"That's a good question," he frowned, rubbing the back of his neck.
"What's a good question?" Ward had entered the kitchen silently, as always, and was already headed for the coffee.
"Simmons isn't up." Skye almost seemed to be pouting. "I guess its a good thing, she'll be well rested for all the 'bad girl shenanigans' I've got planned for today."
"What does that even mean?" Ward raised an eyebrow and sipped his coffee, leaning against the counter. "Besides, you're training with me in an hour."
Skye's face fell and she groaned. "Oh come on, do I ever get a break?"
"Not if you want to be an agent."
Fitz had tuned them out minutes ago, instead focusing on the girl he could see through the glass wall that separated the kitchen from the hall. The very scared girl, who was covered in bruises and looked shockingly identical to Simmons, but looked to be only fifteen or sixteen. He remembered this girl.
She turned her eyes on him, and vague recognition shone in them, and she took a few hesitant steps forward until she was stood I'm the doorway.
"Leo?"
Skye and Ward fell silent, staring at the teenaged Jemma in shock. Fitz had to force himself to move.
"Jemma, what's the last thing you remember?" He asked urgently, trying hard to ignore the bruises, but it was so hard when they looked so fresh.
"I just…you were walking me home…did you…?" She looked disoriented and uncomfortable, glancing at the other two in the room, her gaze lingering on Skye for a moment, only looking away when she realized she'd been staring, a blush rising across her cheeks. "Where ah, where am I?"
"You're on the bus. Uh…you must have been affected by something. You're meant to be twenty five now, Jem. Do you remember anything at all about this place? SHIELD?"
Jemma frowned, and shook her head. "No…that's fascinating though. To think of something that could revert ones age…well, it's brilliant!"
Ward blinked. "I'm getting Coulson." He got to his feet, cautiously sidestepping the now deep in thought Simmons.
"I'm just gonna sit here and watch the show," Skye grinned, leaning forward and trying to catch the teens eyes, having caught her earlier blush.
"Its not brilliant, Jem. Look at yourself." Fitz had completely ignored his friends, too concerned about his other half, who he knew for certain had been quite off the rails at this age.
Jemma glanced at herself in the glass and flinched. "Oh. I see." She took in the bruises and then turned an unnaturally bright smile back on Fitz and Skye. "I fell down the stairs." She aimed this both at Skye and Fitz, tilting her head and uncomfortably shifting her weight from one foot to the other.
Skye had grown up in foster care, and heard that lie too many times to count. Her eyes widened in concern for Jemma, wanting to hug her but knowing that she was a stranger to her. "I'm sure." She muttered, before getting to her feet and coming to stand in front of the smaller girl. "I'm Skye."
Jemma shied away a little, a pinker blush threatening to make an appearance as she took in the sight of the brunette. She was beautiful. And, Jemma reminded herself, way out of her league. "Jemma."
"I know." Skye smiled, reaching out and gently touching Jemma's shoulder, as though she was trying to reassure her. Jemma jumped a little at the contact and Skye's smile dropped and was replaced with a frown. "That is not okay, Simmons."
Jemma winced and looked at her feet, "I'm sorry." It sounded rehearsed, emotionless, dead. Skye thought she might kick something in frustration. That's not at all what she meant, she hadn't meant to upset her.
"No, no I mean-"
"No matter what you say, she's going to get upset." Fitz said softly, defeated, as if he'd already been through this, which Skye realised with a frown, that he had.
"She's safe here, though. You're safe Simmons, no one is going to hurt you."
Fitz watched curiously as Jemma lifted her head to look at Skye, something akin to hope shining in them. That certainly wasn't the reaction he'd been expecting. An accusation perhaps, playing dumb maybe, but instead Jemma was just searching Skye's face for any trace of a lie. It was almost intimate and he couldn't help but look away.
The moment was shattered as three agents strode in. Coulson eyed Jemma incredulously, before forcing himself not to groan at the situation. He had read Jemma's file when selecting her for the team, so he was well aware of her rather abusive past, and he'd offered her a chance to talk if she ever wanted to, but she always turned him down. Now he was faced with the reality of it and it wasn't pretty. She looked like she'd been dunked I'm purple and blue paint, the bruises covered most of her visible skin. Agent May gave her a quick once over, and for the first time, not that Jemma would remember, she gave her a gentle smile.
"Ward told us what happened. Do you think she'll be of use during this particular…setback?" Coulson aimed his question at Fitz, who shook his head in response.
"She's brilliant, but the body she's in now hasn't eaten in days and she's still in high school." He sighed, leaning against the counter. He hoped she didn't stay like this for long, getting her to eat would be hell.
Jemma seemed to find her voice because she crossed her arms and glared between the two men. "I'm right here."
Couslon's gaze softened, "I know. That was very rude of me. I'm Agent Coulson, Jemma."
