"We'll find a way out, I promise you—"
"It's fine."
"But it's not," Fitz insisted.
They'd been transported to wherever they were. Jemma didn't even know. Ward had said something about what he wanted her there for, but she hadn't absorbed it. Maybe it was because she just really didn't care or maybe it was because she wasn't ready to think about it or maybe it was just because she couldn't cope with what was going on. Whatever it was, she was in this numbed state.
She just stared at the wall.
"They're going to come for us."
He was trying to be optimistic. Jemma just couldn't bring herself to join in with the same thought even though she knew that it was true. The others, they wouldn't stop looking for them. Or at least, she didn't think so. It wasn't like they'd been transported to another planet. There would have been video, or at least she thought it reasonable, of them being taken from The Playground and the HYDRA attack.
Coulson would come for them.
"We should sleep, Fitz," Jemma said as she started to position herself so that she was lying on her side on the floor. She was so that her back was to a wall and her eyes could see the door. The weapon that she'd brought back from the planet was still in her position and her grip wasn't loosening.
"There's a bed."
Was there?
It was then that she realized that she really hadn't been observant of what the room they'd been shoved into contained. Sitting back up, Jemma looked around and took it all in. The room wasn't so large, but it was just large enough for two people to be able to have their own separate space within that singular space. A beautifully made bed that looked big enough for both her and Fitz. There were nightstands near the bed with lamps. A rather large set of drawers that had a mirror attached to it against one wall. There was a couch at the end of the bed and she realized that there was even a set of chairs at a small table. The room even was attached to what seemed to be a small bathroom.
Ward really did seem intent on keeping them around, but keeping them somewhat comfortable. They were all used to living on The Bus or at The Playground, so this was actually fairly roomy. Jemma just didn't know if she really wanted to give Ward the satisfaction of sleeping in the bed and using what he'd provided for them.
She hated him.
"I can't…" she started to explain and couldn't finish.
"The bed's going to be a lot more comfortable than the floor," Fitz explained.
"I don't mind it."
"I can take the couch."
Sweet Fitz.
"I won't be able to sleep knowing you're sleeping there on the floor, Jemma," he explained.
Bless him.
"Fitz—"
"Please, Jemma."
And she couldn't deny him after that. Collecting herself, she got to her feet and moved slowly to the bed. He was already removing the decorative pillows and setting them all neatly together. The comforter was a teal and blue that was beautifully embroidered. It really wasn't something that you'd correlate with kidnapping. Nonetheless, that didn't make this any less what it was.
Kidnapping.
Being held captive.
Being held against their will.
"He's trying to mess with us," she whispered as she watched as Fitz pulled the comforter back, she could tell that it was thick (though not overly thick). The sheets revealed under were a perfect teal that matched the color in the comforter and as her hand came into contact with them she knew that they were high quality. The sheets were so soft and smooth and just so enticing. They were practically begging her to crawl between them.
"I know."
Their eyes met and she just stared at Fitz for a long moment. "You do?"
"Of course I do."
"Don't sleep on the couch," she requested in a whisper, their eyes never leaving each other's. She sat on the edge of the bed, the side that was closest to the door. Jemma knew that Fitz was just trying to protect her, but if Ward tried something…she didn't need Fitz to protect her…all of those months alone had taught her how to protect herself when needed. This time wouldn't be any different. Her back to him for a moment, she sucked in breath and kicked off her shoes before turning back to him and sliding her hand to the empty spot beside her. "Sleep here."
"Jemma I don't think that's a good idea."
"Why?"
"I—well, and I—and I—well—"
Jemma just stared at him and waited for a valid reason as to why he couldn't sleep in the bed next to her, clothes completely intact like adults. She knew that if something happened in the middle of the night that she should have her shoes on, but there was something deep inside of her that wanted to believe that they weren't in danger (however naive that was). "Leo…I just…I want you close."
"I'm not leaving you, Jemma," he promised as he sat on the edge of the bed and just stared at her. There was so much that passed between them in those precious moments. So much that was left unsaid, so much that didn't need to be said. "I'm always going to be right here…right here next to you."
"Good," she whispered and pulled her legs up onto the bed and allowing her head to hit the pillow. It was hard for her to almost force herself to relax, but she knew that she was could also help in protecting them. Jemma watched as Fitz finally seemed to be sitting in the bed next to her.
They DID need to sleep.
Once she was certain that he wasn't going to fight her on sleeping next to her, she pulled the weapon she'd forged on the other side and slipped it so it was safely concealed under the edge of the pillow where she could easily grasp it and grab it, if the need arose.
"Ward, he—"
"He's twisted, Leo," she said gently and quietly, not looking over her shoulder and yet she felt the bed shift. "I suppose we should just play along until the others come…"
"They will come," Fitz replied almost automatically and with far too much confidence.
She'd had that hope.
On the other side.
It had been six and a half months, though, until she'd been dragged back to Earth.
"What if something's happened to Hunter and May?" she asked, thinking about how that had been the reason why everyone had gone. It had been the reason that Coulson hadn't been able to leave Bobbi behind, she wouldn't let him…it was Hunter. Jemma could understand her need to be with the team. "What if Ward is behind it?"
"Are you saying that maybe Ward is trying to grab everyone?"
Jemma didn't know honestly, all she knew was that Ward couldn't be trusted. She knew that when they first found out that Ward was HYDRA, that it had been extremely hard for Fitz to grasp that…to accept it. She was fairly sure that he'd done both now, but she knew that it was still hard to be around Ward…especially with how he was currently acting. "I don't know…all I know is that he wants us—he wants me…for something…and how he's acting like nothing's happened between all of us…I just—"
"I suppose…we should just think of this like how it was when Gonzales tried to take over…we play along for right now…until it's safe to do anything else."
And Fitz was right.
This was like Fury's Toolbox.
There just wasn't an option to leave after being debriefed. They could do this because they were together. She and Fitz could do anything, endure anything, as long as they were in it together. "We'll be together," she reminded.
That was really all that mattered.
She felt Fitz settle into bed next to her, never asking whether he should turn off the lights. Jemma really didn't think either of them were going to sleep. There was no way she could sleep, maybe close her eyes and rest…but no sleep. Curling up on her side, she gripped the weapon she had under her pillow and stared at the door.
Eventually someone would come.
She just hoped that it would be their team.
Jemma just knew that she and Fitz wouldn't be able to survive six and a half months of this. Being around Ward in his twisted state, it was like psychological torture and she didn't know if she could endure it after everything she'd already been through. She and Fitz had been through more than enough over the last year and a half. This was just too much.
"We should go on vacation somewhere," she whispered as her eyes didn't leave the door.
"Home?"
A smile formed on her lips for a moment. "Home to England?"
"I mean, parents…but it would be nice."
He was right.
"It would be."
Proper tea.
Proper tea time.
"I wouldn't mind marathoning something," she whispered a moment later.
"Anything you want, Jemma."
Her and Fitz.
Quiet.
Whatever they wanted the world to be.
That was what they both needed right now.
It wasn't because Jemma wanted to give up her life in SHIELD because she didn't…she just needed this time. She had no idea what Andrew's response to it might be, but she didn't really care. This was something that she felt like she needed to do. Something that she AND Fitz needed to do after everything. SHIELD would still be there when they got back. The team would still be there. Coulson would still happily welcome them back. Coulson would understand, if anyone would…it would be him, right?
"It's settled then," was her whispered response before the room was enveloped in an extended silence as they both just lay there and rested in the light.
Dreading.
Waiting.
Hoping.
TBC...
