"Let him loose."
Jemma's words echoed through Leo Fitz's tortured thoughts as he stood in the Bus's medical unit. The Peruvian solider had held onto the strap that had tethered Leo to Jemma. The only logical solution had seemed to be to unlock and set the man free to his fate. Little did Fitz know that move would forever alter how he saw working in the field. In that split second the strap was released and so were Jemma and Leo. The artifact unbalanced Jemma and she was slammed against the wall from the force of the wind Her scream would visit Leo's nightmares for days to come. That was of course if he was ever able to sleep again.
With a sigh Leo leaned back against the wall. Jemma would be the first to tell him it wasn't his fault. That she knew the risks; that it was her idea. However, being her friend and partner Leo should've come up with something better. Something more genius that would've saved them at the very least prevented the only person who understood him from ending up in a hospital bed. Some partner he was turning out to be.
Even though Leo knew Jemma had been as apprehensive as he about going into the field. He also saw her excitement at every new experience. This was pure science to her being on the 'frontier'. Everything had changed with the battle of New York. Jemma had wanted to use that change for the better. That was what made her such a good person, a good friend and the best asset S.H.I.E.L.D had.
Leo looked at Jemma's still form and felt his heart skip. The doctors had assured them that she'd make a full recovery. The surgery to repair a nicked lung caused by a broken rib had been routine and uneventful. Every person was different; everyone had their own recovery time. Jemma would wake when she was ready they'd said. The risk v.s reward argument was one he and Jemma often had. She had proclaimed that the reward was worth whatever danger they'd face in the field. The artifacts; new technology, aliens whatever they came across would be worth being terrified. Despite himself Leo had started to see her side of things. Until he'd used an artifact to save them. To blow a hole in a plane at thirty thousand feet. A calculated risk; one he thought he could contain. Leo had thought that no matter what they faced in taking back the plane that he'd be able to use science to protect them; to protect his partner. That logic had failed him and in turn he'd failed Jemma.
Making a decision to face his failure Leo crossed the room. He stopped at the foot of Jemma's bedside. He knew Ward was watching through the glass partition and possibly Coulson. That didn't matter. What was important was Jemma's recovery. Leo had heard that patients got better faster if they knew even subconsciously that someone was there. Taking a deep breath Leo sat down in the visitor's chair. Friendship was about being there for each other; good or bad. He knew Jemma wouldn't be angry with him that wasn't who she was. Leo would just have to find a way to be a better partner. It was what she deserved.