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028.
Betrayal
(Set during episode 1.20, "Nothing Personal".)
. . .
Taking Fitz aside after the reveal, Jemma's reminded of his sixteen-year-old self. The brilliant but vulnerable boy she'd instantly taken under her wing.
She lays a comforting hand on his still-shaking shoulder. But he's not angry anymore.
His expression screams hurt and betrayal and it makes her heart ache more than his earlier loss of control.
"Are you alright?"
It's a stupid question because he isn't, and she knows from the pain in his eyes that his mind's on another, similar event.
The day his father left and never came back.
His features harden. "Let's find the bastard."
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029.
Thick As Thieves
(Academy Years)
. . .
Fitz knew his mum would take a shine to Jemma — he'd only told her good things about the biochemist-in-training, after all. But quite how well they'd get on, he hadn't anticipated.
"What are you two giggling about?" he asked on joining the ladies for breakfast the morning after his and Jemma's arrival in Glasgow.
Jemma smiled at him without a trace of the jetlag that made his bones feel leaden.
"Your mum's just been telling me some stories about your childhood."
Fitz groaned, feeling his face grow hot. "Mum! You promised you wouldn't."
Moira innocently sipped her tea.
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030.
Come Back
(Post-S1 Finale)
. . .
He might come to, but medical background or no, Jemma isn't naïve enough to equate 'awake' to 'okay'. Because there's every chance that, when or if Fitz opens his eyes, the intelligence burning behind them will be gone. Extinguished, never to be rekindled.
"He's a fighter," is Skye's response to her concern. So unscientifically straightforward. So certain. "Talk to him. He'll come back. All of him."
Jemma talks until she's hoarse. Whispers, screams, sobs, swears. But still, there's nothing.
Exhausted, she rests her head on his shoulder.
"Come back," she pleads as her eyelids grow heavy. "Come back to me."
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