One week earlier.
Jemma had just gotten back from another disastrous date. Why was it so hard to find a decent date these days? Are there no eligible women left in LA. She took out her keys ready to open her door, but before she could get the key in the lock, the door sprang open, and there on the other side stood her roommate. Her excitable, like a puppy, bouncing on his feet roommate.
"So. How was it, was it great? She was great wasn't she? I bet you had a wonderful time. I told you I'd find you the perfect woman. Huh, didn't I tell you? When are you going to see her again?" He stood there grinning at her, his little face full of pride and excitement, waiting for her to tell him how much she enjoyed the date.
"It was..fine. She was fine."
He scoffed. "Fine? Wine is fine, Jemma. And bloody disgusting I might add. Alison is not fine. She's..she's perfect and-and funny and smart. Okay, not you and I smart, but smart nonetheless."
Jemma just rolled her eyes, sitting down to take off her shoes, oh how her feet were killing her. She hated heels.
"If you like her so much, you go out with her."
She rubbed the bottom of her feet, sighing in pleasure, all she wanted to do was climb into bed and sleep for the next 12 hours or so.
Fitz sat down on the coffee table in front of her, "She's a lesbian, Jemma. I really don't think I'm her type. What was so wrong with her anyway? Too charming, too pretty? Oh, wait, was it her impeccable manners and her ability to hold a stimulating conversation."
He threw his hands up in the air in exasperation. "Psh. Fine." He grumbled before moving over to the couch and bringing her feet into his lap so he could rub them for her.
She lay back, her eyes slipping shut as Fitz's fingers worked on her feet. "Thank you. And it wasn't her, not really. We just didn't click you know? There was no spark. There wasn't really anything. To be honest I think we were both bored."
Fitz looked at her and when she finally opened her eyes to acknowledge him, he spoke. "Do you ever stop to think you might be the problem and not the women you go out with?"
Jemma gasped in shock and dug her heel into his stomach, smirking slightly when he let out a grunt of pain. "You take that back right now Leopold Fitz! I am perfectly sweet and charming when out on a date. I am positively delightful!"
He raised a disbelieving eyebrow at her, "Positively delightful. Right." He drew out the last word, earning another foot to the gut. "Ow! Jemma that hurts."
"That's the point Fitz."
Before they could start arguing more, there was a manic knocking at the door. They both looked at each other, puzzled, it was almost midnight, who the hell could that be? They stood up together, Fitz grabbing Jemmas hand as they made their way to the door.
They put the safety chain on and then slowly opened the door, their heads peering out, Jemmas on top, Fitz underneath her. The person on the other side of the door turned around and, in any other situation would have laughed at the sight of them. But instead, she stood there crying, and shivering even though it wasn't cold out.
"Skye?" Jemma questioned and quickly closed the door and unhooked the chain so she could open it fully and let their friend in. "Skye, what's going on, what's wrong?" Jemma had ushered Skye into the apartment while Fitz locked up.
"They let him out." She sunk down into an armchair, holding her head in her hands. "He came by, he was drunk again. He started yelling and throwing things.." She took a breath and looked at Jemma with watery eyes. "I can't escape him, Jem. He's always going to find me."
Jemma moved to sit at Skye's side, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "Did he hurt you?" Skye nodded and then burst into tears again, burying her face in Jemma's side.
Jemma tightened her grip and held the girl as she cried. She looked over to Fitz who was standing just behind Jemma, his jaw working because of him grinding his teeth. The only noticeable way Jemma knew he was angry.
Beyond angry really. She was too. But according to Fitz she was what he called a scary angry. She was calm but underneath she was coiled and ready to strike. She'd never liked Ian Quinn. He was a smarmy, egotistical, violent criminal. Jemma once walked in on him beating Skye, he'd had her by the hair and had dragged her around like a ragdoll, threw her to the floor and kicked her.
Jemma had pepper sprayed him and called the police. After that, Skye and Jemma had packed up Skyes things and she stayed with Jemma and Fitz for a little while until she found herself a place. But he found her. He always did. And every time he did he either trashed the place or beat her or worse. And right now Jemma knew by Skye's reaction that this could be categorized as worse.
Ian Quinn had been locked up three months ago for drug possession, he wasn't supposed to be out yet. In those three months Skye had moved four times. His friends always found her, or she'd feel like she was being watched. Every time something happened they'd call the police. They'd come take a statement and assure them they'd do everything they could. They soon discovered that everything was nothing. They could never pin anything on Ian Quinn. Nothing would stick, he was that slippery. One detective wanted to nail him though. He'd been after him for a while for gunning down a teenage boy. So whenever they called 911, he eventually showed up.
And that's what happened an hour or so later when the police had took statements and then took Skye to the hospital for a rape kit.
Jemma had went in with her, as well as the female cop that had responded to their call. Fitz was outside pacing the hallway and annoying the the other cop who was waiting for his partner.
"Sir? Please, maybe you should have a seat."
Fitz stopped mid pace and turned to face the officer. "A seat? How the hell am I supposed to sit at a time like this? My friend is in there, being made to relive her attack. Again! She's gone through it three times already and now they're doing god knows what to her and you want me to have a seat?!"
The officer put his hand on Fitz's shoulder and looked down at him, softening his voice. "Look I know this is a rough time, everything we're doing is to help." Fitz shrugged the hand of off his shoulder and stepped back. "Great job you're doing. Letting a convicted felon back on to the streets." Before he could get himself in trouble, someone cleared their throat behind him, gaining his attention.
"Detective Ward?"
Grant Ward was a Detective in the Robbery-Homicide division. He was tall with slick dark hair, and a face that bore little to no emotion. Sometimes his façade would crack and you could see the emotions swirling in his dark eyes. He was broad shouldered, and obviously worked out. Skye once described him as firm. Fitz agreed with her. He also agreed that he was incredibly attractive.
Jemma on the other hand, thought he looked like the stereotypical tough guy cop that was on every police procedural show on TV. Which Skye and Fitz had to agree, he kind of was. They joked about it a lot. But they also knew Grant Ward was a lot more than just a tough guy cop. He was the guy that helped them, listened to them. And wanted Quinn off the streets just as much as they did. They'd grown to care for him and he them.
"Mr. Fitz. How about me and you go get some fresh air." It wasn't a question, Fitz knew. Grant was giving him a chance to pull himself together before he said or did something to land himself in trouble. Without a word, Fitz trudged along behind Ward until they were outside of the hospital.
"What the hell was that in there. Are you trying to get yourself arrested?" Ward towered above him, glowering, waiting for Fitz to speak.
"I-no. I just.." He trailed off and ran his hand through his hair. "I'll apologize, everything is just a mess right now. Why is he out Grant?"
There weren't many people Ward let call him Grant. He could count on one hand the people who did; His mom, though he never really spoke to her much, his grandmother, who he visited every weekend, his boss, though she rarely did, and now apparently, Leo Fitz.
"He's out on probation. I've already spoken to his parole officer, we're gonna pick him up at his next appointment. He won't get away with this Leo. I promise. He's not going to hurt her ever again."
Grant leaned his shoulder against the wall, his arms folded across his broad chest. Fitz nodded in understanding, and sighed. "I hope you're right. I don't want to think about what could happen if he ever gets to her again."
Ward knew all too well what could and probably would happen if Quinn ever got his hands on Skye again. He was determined not to let that happen. "Come on, let's go see what's going on. Then I'll drive you guys home."
