When Jemma woke, there was a soft murmur and a rather loud… purr. "Pgrowl?" was her breathy greeting when she opened her eyes to look into the green eyes of Fyodor. The Russian Blue Cat kneaded the blanket next to her, and Jemma held out her hand. He sniffed and then leaned towards her so she could stroke his silvery fur.

"Hello, handsome," she whispered.

The cat murmured and then chirped his appreciation.

"Should I be jealous?" Felix asked as he put down the book he was reading. He was in a recliner next to the bed and he closed the book with a soft thud and a very fond smile. Fyodor murmured in response and it sounded like "Yes."

"He does have whiskers," admitted Jemma. "Soft whiskers. They don't give me rug burn, unlike someone else in the room."

Felix loudly exhaled his mock hurt as he rubbed his stubbled face.

"He has a very cute tail." And for added snark, she added, "Plus his little black nose."

Blake laughed and then touched her forehead. "No fever, that's good. You slept most of yesterday and I was worried as you were a little feverish. What are your plans for today? Marathon? Swimming the Upper New York Bay?"

"I think both are doable, plus a quick bike ride around Central Park," she retorted.

His expressive face made her giggle.

"Very well, I think I could possibly manage a walk to the living room," she admitted. "They tell me the malaise is normal, but I feel completely wiped."

"How about the kitchen, and I could make waffles?" He traded.

She sat up, ran her hand through her hair and then stretched. She caught sight of Blake's zippered hoodie, so she spontaneously decided to wear it. "Mine."

"It's a little big," he teased even as she pulled it over her head.

"It's warm. It smells like your cologne, so MINE."

"It will take time for you to regain your strength," Felix reminded her as she gracelessly wilted after breakfast.

"I'm so sorry, we don't get a great deal of time together, and the last few times I've not been in tip top shape," Jemma tiredly protested as he assisted her to the couch.

Skye had decided that every time they were in 'port', she'd buy Jemma a naughty magazine. Cosmo. Redbook. Playgirl. Faithful reader Jemma read them voraciously, even though she always felt a trifle sad afterwards. They all promoted the idea of plenty of hot sex as the cornerstone to a relationship. While the sex with Blake was blistering, they didn't get very many moments together and she sometimes wondered why he seemed content with it. He wasn't seeing anyone else, he just seemed…. comfortable… Always delighted to see her, but… still far too understanding about her frequent long silences and her strange schedule.

Almost like he was relieved by the very irregularity, the very unpredictability of it. He didn't thrive on it, because he always seemed elatedly surprised when she appeared at his door, as though disbelieving that she was there, but … something was odd.

"It's ok," a far too understanding Felix assured her as she made herself comfortable on the couch. "You just rest. I'll do the dishes, and then I'll be back."

He put a pillow under her head, lifted her feet up and then covered her with a throw once she was asleep.

She woke abruptly when she heard Felix's phone ring. Her head hurt… in the rude awakening type way, not the headache of the Chitauri Flu, and the taste of her mouth was distinctively unkissable.

"Blake," he answered. Long pause. "I know you wouldn't call me on my day off unless it was pretty bad. Stop apologizing, alright? What's happening?"

Long period of silence except for a whispered, "Oh shit."

Another long pause.

"I can leave here in ten minutes. You're getting me in casual Friday gear even though it's Tuesday morning. I don't have time to grab a suit, color coordinate my tie and press a shirt."

Long pause.

"See you in an hour."

He slowly exhaled.

"Time to make the doughnuts," he stated. "Jemma, I've been called into work and I'm not sure when I'll be back as it's a seven alarm cluster fuck involving an old friend. I'm sorry. Would you mind feeding Fyodor while I'm away? His box is clean so you don't have to deal with that. If you get called into work, just text me and just leave him a big bowl of dry food and copious amounts of clean water. Don't let him cajole you into too many treats. He won't starve if you don't give him a bag of those fish flakes he loves. "

She sat up and stretched. Felix had his back to her as he was opening a small safe. He pulled out two loaded gun holsters and began to attach them with an experienced ease. She realized anew that he was left handed based on where he placed his guns.

"I didn't mean to eavesdrop," Jemma began.

"You weren't," he stated. "I didn't leave the room and I knew you'd overhear. Just made it quicker for me to leave as I didn't have to explain that I got called into work. It's pretty bad, so I need to go now. Here's a spare set of keys to my apartment, so you're not trapped here. You can have whatever you can find the fridge and freezer."

"Any varenyky?" She asked.

"The freezer is full, naturally," he assured her. He leaned down and kissed her. Naturally, she melted against him.

"I'm sorry," he whispered when they broke apart. "You know how it is, job calls, I answer. The list of places that deliver is in a binder by the toaster."

"Any idea when you might be back?" she asked.

"No."

He took his motorcycle which enabled him to beat the DC traffic, and earned him several one finger salutes from various automobiles stuck and going nowhere fast. Breaking his personal bests, he managed to be in the 'Wanding Station' of the HUB within thirty minutes of the phone call. His personal armament earned him an arched eyebrow of disapproval from the Guard who Wanded him, but his clearance level permitted him to pack, so he did.

"Sorry to interrupt one on one time with your girlfriend," Vic murmured as she met him postWanded. He lengthened his stride, but only slightly, to match her ground eating pace. Thank God, he was tall and had long legs, as he had witnessed Jasper Sitwell jogging behind Hand on more than one occasion. "And don't protest that she's not your girlfriend. It's far more than a booty call. Refusing to acknowledge that is rather demeaning for the person involved."

"Agreed. I just don't see her enough to call her my girlfriend," protested Felix. "Besides, makes me feel like I'm back in grade school."

Vic snorted a very unladylike snort.

"Try that shit on someone that doesn't know you as well as I do. By the way, two guns and a knife, Felix?"

"What you called me in for made me… feel the need for diligence. And I noticed that you've got your Sig on. The knife has sentimental attachment, Izzie gave it to me when I stood up for you two."

"I set up the room for you. You've got coffee ready and I've turned on the air filters so you can smoke without setting off the alarms. I'll provide lunch, dinner, whatever you need. You just let me know, as my gut instinct says that Shaw's in trouble in Siberia. I've also reassigned Claire elsewhere so you can focus."

He nodded, even as he mentally flipped the switch in his head to speak his mother tongue. He couldn't afford to miss a single nuance. Not when Charlie needed help.

It felt odd at first, being alone (Sorry, Fyodor!) in Felix's apartment. It wasn't hotel-like but it still wasn't home, so her first solo sleep was uneasy as she woke at the slightest noise. Fortunately, the cat was low maintenance, as her energy level was still quite non-existent especially after her sleepless nights. A thorough brushing left Fyodor purring happily and Jemma absolutely knackered. Suddenly, it was merely enough to eat and sleep. When she felt a burst of energy, she'd take a brief stroll on Felix's treadmill… only ¾ of a mile, not her usual run in the morning! Colllapse in exhaustion and sleep a few hours, wake, check her emails, repeat ad naseum.

She had just finished taking a shower when her phone rang. Since it was Skye, she decided to answer.

"Hi! I'm not interrupting any serious fagging am I?" Skye asked.

Huh? Sometimes Skye's use of British Slang seemed to be limited to bootleg Harry Potter movies.

"Fagging? Do you mean shagging?"

In the background, she heard Fitz explain, "Shagging is sex. Fag is a cigarette. Fagging means a younger person doing a senior person's chores."

"Whatever, how's the sex?" Skye asked.

"He got called into work and I haven't seen him since Tuesday morning."

"It's almost Thursday evening," protested Skye.

"I know, but … I can't say anything. However, why are you calling?" Jemma asked

"New assignment. We're landing at the HUB tomorrow at 0500. New assignment, so AC wants to know if you were well enough to return?"

"I'll need to get medically cleared, so I'll make an appointment. However, I'll will see you tomorrow no matter what."

Felix Blake was bleary eyed, strung out on caffeine and mentally the consistency of a McDonald's French Fry that had been floating, neglected, in the vat for a week or so. Yes, burnt to a crisp. He reviewed the details of his analysis one last time with Victoria Hand (Shaw needed to get out Siberia STAT) and then he was dismissed.

"Is she still at your place?" Vic asked.

"No idea," he admitted as he slumped into his chair. "Never called, didn't want to find out that she decided on a hotel. Christ, I'm beat. I think I better call a taxi."

"No, Izzie will drop you off at your place. She'll meet you at Exit B. Take tomorrow off as you've earned it."

"Need to rerun the data again, see what changes have happened. I owe Shaw that," an exhausted Blake protested.

"Her team is being assigned to retrieve Shaw, so she'll be here tomorrow," Vic warned him.

"I'll get here before the crack of dawn and won't leave it until after she leaves the Hub."

Fortunately Izzie was prompt, so she met him at Exit B.

"Shit, you look rough," she cheerfully teased him.

"Thanks for the ride. I'm just too exhausted to think straight, let alone drive my bike home," he admitted. As he put on his seatbelt, he noticed something in the backseat. "Flowers? From Vic? Is she getting soft?"

"Well, yes, but no. She asked me to pick them up for you so you can give them to Jemma."

He didn't have the energy to pretend annoyance. Tomorrow, he'd tell Vic to stay the fuck out of his personal life. Today, he'd just try not to fall asleep in the car. Sometimes, being fifty really sucked as he used to be able to pull a series of allnighters without being this physically compromised.

"I like her," Izzie informed him. "She's good for you, so… hopefully this will smooth everything over."

Jemma had just finished vacuuming his apartment, when she realized that Felix was there, watching her. He looked exhausted and beaten, as his eyes were blood shot and his shoulders were slumped. In his left hand, there was a small bouquet of flowers.

"You're here?" he quietly asked. "I didn't think you'd be here."

"Then you bought the flowers for Fyodor?" she teased. "How long were you here, watching me vacuum?"

His smile was a tired grimace as he handed them to her. "Long enough to put my guns back in the safe. You need to be more aware of your surroundings."

"Go to the bedroom," she ordered. "I'll put these in water and then I'll put you to bed. Felix…. I have to leave tomorrow."

He nodded his head.

"I understand," he admitted. "You look well-rested at least."

"I am," she purred. "However, you look exhausted, so I think I'll help you fall asleep. By the time I'm done with you, you'll be completely and utterly exhausted. It's time for me to take care of you."