Facing My Fear
Fitz realizing it was only a few months before Jemma and him left for their vacation he was excited but also scared, he hadn't faced his fear of swimming yet. So he decided to asked Mack for a favor.
"Mack I need your help with something" Fitz asked walking in the garage one day at the base.
"What is it "turbo" Mack asked. (turbo was a nickname he gave Fitz after they first met).
"I was wondering if you could be my life guard while I face my swimming fear" Fitz said.
"sure man, anything to help you, when do we start?" Mack asked.
"Now, I leave with Simmons on vacation in a few months and I need to kick this fear" Fitz said giving Mack the location of the nearest swimming pool.
They get there in an hour or so, Mack could see Fitz with his head down and shaking.
"Fitz are you sure you're ok Simmons will understand if you don't go through with this, she knows what you went through"
"I'm fine Mack, just nervous she made it past her experience and loss of Will on the planet, I think I can handle swimming" Fitz said.
"Yes but Fitz she didn't suffer brain injury and loose brain cells" Mack said putting his hand on Fitz's shoulder.
"True but I'm fully recovered and stronger then I was, plus I'm finally with the woman I love and I'm going to do this for her, it's the least I can do" Fitz said smiling.
"Ok man let's get started" Mack said.
Fitz came back from the restroom wearing swimming trunks and an old tank top. He got to the edge of the pool was ready to get in but froze, he saw his reflection in the water, and thought back to the day of his injury. Next thing he knew Mack was jumping in the pool.
"Mack what are you doing?" Fitz asked.
"Some people face their fears better without just a life guard but with someone to experience it with them, come on "turbo" I'm here, you will be fine"
Fitz nodded, and walked in the pool slow, he moved slow and wasn't going to get his head went. This lasted an hour or two before he couldn't take it anymore.
They came back to the pool every day for several weeks and each time Fitz got more confident and the swimming sessions lasted longer, there were times where Fitz would freeze and wanted to give up but Mack was there and gave him the confidence and understanding to help him continue. Finally, after a month Fitz was swimming head under water with no fear. The last session he asked Jemma to come along but didn't tell her why.
"Fitz what are we doing here?" She asked.
"Jemma you know medically how my injury changed me and how I recovered, but you don't know that with it came my fear of swimming" He said, taking her hands.
"Oh Fitz, if I would have known I would have signed us up for something different"
"Don't worry about it, for the last month Mack has been helping me face my swimming fear and I can happily say I'm cured" Fitz said smiling.
Jemma smiled and without warning or a change of clothes, grabbed Fitz and they jumped in the pool, both started laughing, and she grabbed him and gave him a passionate kiss saying, "I love you more than the world"
"I love you more than life itself" He said returning her kiss.