A new chapter! Yaaay! I've decided to try get this fic finished and my newest chapter is probably the most dramatic thing I've ever written. Hope you'll all enjoy it!


Leopold Fitz drew in a shaky breath, working to suppress his growing panic as he took in the frenzied eyes of the scientist before him. His mind ran in circles as he tried to find a way out of the mess he and Simmons were currently stuck in, but there only seemed to be one available option that he could see - play for time and hope that the others would find a way in.

"Dr Reid," he tried, desperation and honesty bleeding through in his tone, "we don't have a way to talk to our team - no comms, no phones…" He paused, taking a small step back and attempting to prop Jemma up a bit more as she leaned heavily against his side. Fitz held her tighter. "There's no way for them to know what's going on here."

"We'll have to wait then…" Reid told him slowly, his eyes unfocussed. "They'll realise you're missing right? And we'll wait for them to come and bring my research back to me," he said, nodding, as if trying to convince himself. "Then I can let you both go."

"We can't do that, we don't have time!" Fitz shouted, before taking a deep breath. He worked to get his temper under control, knowing that provoking Reid was not the best course of action. As much as he wanted to scream at the man, to punish him for hurting his best friend, he couldn't. Simmons was his priority, and right now she needed help. He glanced at her, noting with slight relief that the bleeding seemed to have stopped, although that didn't change the fact that she was potentially severely injured. Head wounds were never straightforward. This thought spurred the young scientist on, his desperation for Jemma's safety enough to keep him composed. When he next spoke, his voice was quiet, like the calm before a storm – the threat of something dangerous. "You're a doctor, and she is hurt. You… hurt her." He took another deep breath, fighting the urge to start throwing things. "She needs to get out of here… and if you let her go, she can tell them to bring the files back."

"And how do I know she'll come back?" Reid countered, frowning. "I know what you people are like - you get to decide who lives and who dies… you take what you need and don't look back," he paused, before his brow suddenly became smooth. "No… I can't trust either of you," he decided. Fitz felt his eyes widen and his body begin to tremble as the panic threatened to take over. He just needed a way to convince Reid that he was telling the truth and that he was willing to stay so Simmons could go.

"Please," he begged, "please, we're trying to help you - we took your files because they're dangerous." The engineer willed the man before him to understand, to be rational. "You're working with some very bad people and they won't hesitate before they throw you under the bus in order to get what they want."

"But they gave me time!" Reid yelled suddenly, causing Fitzsimmons to both take another cautious step back. "I need time to put this right. The treatment is only just working and if you take my research away… my daughter will die."

"Dr Reid," Simmons tried, her voice weak as she attempted to focus her eyes on the scientist, "there is no more time. I'm sorry but-"

"She's just a CHILD!" He cried, finally losing his cool.

Simmons exchanged an uneasy glance with Fitz as they shuffled backwards slightly further. The pair didn't need words to know what the other was thinking, and they both knew they were fighting a losing battle when it came to reasoning with Reid. He was too far gone, too invested, and was clearly clinging to the idea of getting his research back in an irrational attempt to hold on to his daughter's life. There was only so much the pair of young scientists could do to keep the man somewhat under control before he finally reached his wit's end.

Still Simmons tried, pleading with Reid desperately as she fought for consciousness, her compassion for his situation winning out over her own needs. "A developing child," she insisted, willing him to see sense. "You said it yourself, the serum is only just working - it has drawbacks."

"But you're condemning her," Reid hissed, running a hand through his hair. "Anima is six years old - she's barely had a life yet and it's already ending." He stepped towards Fitzsimmons causing them both to flinch slightly. "I can't let that happen… I won't let it happen," he continued. "If there's even a chance I can save her then I'm going to take it. Watching someone dying and knowing there is nothing you can do about it…." Reid trailed off, his hands balling into fists at his side as his eyes became unfocussed again.

"Dr Reid," Simmons began cautiously, trying to ignore the throbbing pressure behind her eyes as she spoke. "We're trying to help you… we're the good guys," she told him gently, echoing the words she knew Coulson always told people.

"Help?" Reid asked incredulously, his eyes snapping back into focus. "You people aren't helping – you've taken everything from me, and I… I wont let you go 'til I get my work back." He moved towards them, causing Fitz to reposition himself slightly in front of Jemma. "I can't let you go," Reid stressed desperately, his wide eyes searching Fitz's, as if begging him to understand.

"We can't wait that long," Fitz insisted, trying to keep calm as his heart hammered in his chest. "Maybe we can," he continued, hoping to appeal to Reid's compassionate side, "but she can't." The engineer took a deep breath in an attempt to keep his temper, and when he spoke again, his voice was low. "So either help us, or get out of my way."

Jemma gasped lightly at his words and Fitz felt her grip tighten on his arm. "Fitz, don't-"

"No," he said firmly, "I'm getting you out of here."

Jemma glanced up at her lab partner, surprised by the resolve clear in his whispered words, but his eyes were fixed on Reid, his expression a mixture of honesty and determination.

"This doesn't need to go any further," Fitz continued in a measured voice, his bright blue eyes beseeching.

"I'm sorry," Reid said slowly, dropping his eyes as he reached a hand into his pocket. It was one of those rare moments where, just for a second, time stood still, and Fitz allowed himself to hold on to the hope that they could still find a way out of their current predicament, even though deep down he already knew they'd lost.

Fitz felt his stomach drop when Reid pulled a handgun out of his pocket, and rushed to push Simmons behind him immediately, causing her to stagger backwards. He winced as he heard a gasp, presumably the sound of Simmons stumbling and hitting the floor as she was thrown off balance, but he refused to take his eyes off the threat before him. Reid was dangerous - a man with nothing to lose because, as far as he was concerned, he had already lost everything. Fitz knew something of what that felt like.

"I… I don't want any more trouble, I swear, I just want to finish my work," Reid explained, dragging his tortured eyes up to meet Fitz's as he handled the gun, seemingly reluctant to actually point it at them. "I need those files back," he continued in a shaky voice. "I'll do whatever it takes… they'll come back if one of you is in trouble right?" he asked desperately.

"Right," Fitz said, trying to stay calm and throwing logic out of the window as he agreed. He had to convince him. This was his only chance to get Jemma to safety, even if it meant he might not make it out. "So, you can let her go and I'll stay here with you," he continued, his voice measured. "Just let her go… and you can have your files back."

"You're lying!" Reid shouted, drawing the gun up with shaking hands to point it at Fitz's chest. "No… no, no, no… you both stay here," he told them, tears now falling from his dark eyes.

"Listen," Fitz began, trying to reason with him as he moved slowly closer. "I know you're desperate, and we'll get your files back… I promise." He was directly in front of Reid now, the barrel of the gun almost touching his chest. "Jemma can go get them, but only if you let her out."

"Please," Reid begged. "Please stay where you are, I really don't want to use this."

"FITZ, NO!" Simmons' tortured cry came from the other side of the room as Fitz gripped the barrel of the gun, digging it further into his chest as he stared at the man in front of him. The man who currently had his finger on the trigger.

"She needs help," Fitz said slowly, trying his best to ignore Jemma's desperate protests, hoping she would stay where she was. "You're a good man," he continued, "she's bleeding, just let her go and I promise I'll stay, I'll help you I promise… Just let her go."


Back on the bus, Coulson felt tense beyond belief. His heart hammered in his chest as he put the final arrangements into place. He'd briefed the strike team and the specialist agents were now en route to Chromo-labs, ready to take Reid into custody. Publicity was hardly an issue anymore given the true nature of the work going on there.

The senior agent gripped the edge of the console, bowing his head slightly and sighing heavily. His whole team was out there, hurt, lost, alone, and there was nothing he could do but talk them through it. Coulson mentally berated himself - what had he been he thinking? He took a deep breath, preparing himself for what was about to come next, before straightening once again.

"Is everybody clear on the plan?" He asked of the empty air. "Once Skye blows the doors, May will get Fitzsimmons out and back to the car that Ward will keep running. I want you all back here as quickly as possible."

"Copy that," May replied instantly.

"Ward?"

"Copy."

"Yep, got it," came Skye's voice.

Coulson nodded to himself, momentarily spurred on by the voices of his teammates. "May," he continued, "backup's on its way, but I cant tell exactly when it'll get to you. They'll deal with Reid, but I think it'd be better all round if our team's out of the way as soon as possible."

"And if Fitzsimmons are injured?" May asked, straight to the point as always. It was obvious she didn't approve of the plan, but right now, there were no other options, and Coulson refused to leave Fitzsimmons without backup for a moment longer than necessary.

Agent Coulson set his jaw, not wanting to think about it. "We'll cross that bridge when we come to it," he stated firmly. He could practically feel the remaining three agents flinch as they all considered the possibility of what they might discover on the other side of that wall, and Coulson found himself wishing that it was him rather than May having to find out. "Ready Skye?" He finally asked, clearing his throat. "We need to do this now."

"Yeah, but it's gonna be big Coulson," Skye said. "The doors will explode in both directions, probably got a range of 20ft at least."

"We don't have any other options!" He told her, willing this justification to make the decision easier. "May, get out of its vicinity."

"Just get the damn thing open!" She ordered. He watched her tracker move along the corridor on the screen before him, his knuckles turning white as he continued to grip the edge of the console.

"Coulson?" Skye asked.

"Do it now Skye."


"I know what it's like, you know?" Fitz's shaking voice was soft as he talked to the broken man holding the gun against his chest. "To watch someone dying and not be able to do a thing to help," he admitted, his shining blue eyes bleeding honesty. He thought of that day when Simmons had thrown herself out of the plane - he knew what it felt like to be powerless; he just had to make Reid understand that. "You must know how much that hurts - to see someone you care for suffer and not being able to help them. Let me help Jemma now," he begged.

Reid frowned. "I don't want to hurt you… but… how can I trust you?" he asked desperately. "You all lie, all the time. No, she'll go and they won't come back… no." He shook his head. "I can see because I know… I know what you're doing."

Fitz tried to keep his expression neutral as he listened to Reid figuring out his plan. He stared at the scientist, considering how looking at him was almost like looking in a mirror…. staring at a guy pushed too far by his desperation to save someone he loved. And Fitz's heart sank as he realised that Reid could see it in him too - that he'd do anything for Jemma. Even put his life on the line to save hers.

"You don't care about yourself," the unhinged scientist said slowly, his expression clearing as he finally put the pieces together. "But… you care about her," he continued, shifting the gun to point it at Simmons.

Fitz gasped, turning halfway towards Jemma to see her where she was frozen, positioned on the floor halfway across the lab. A girl in a red dress, beaten and bloodied, with tears pooling in her eyes. He reached out a hand to her, but he already knew it was pointless. There was nothing he could do.

"Tell them to bring my files back or…" Reid paused, fighting to get the words out without sobbing. "Or I'll… shoot her."

"I've told you, I can't do that!" Fitz exclaimed, finally losing it. "We have no comms, no way to-"

"Then find one!" Reid yelled back. "I am not losing my daughter to this… I can fix this."

"There's no way!" Fitz begged, watching with horror as the scene unfolded before him. His whole body trembled as he realised he was powerless to stop any of it.

"Well then… I'm sorry. I really am."


So…. worth it? Let me know what you think!