This Inhuman had the ability to manipulate the temperature around him, a trait Fitz really didn't like. On top of that, his strength was incredibly good, only he used it to harm these agents. When the Inhuman came charging, Fitz pushed Jemma out of the way and was strangled, his feet three inches from the floor and his face turning blue. The Inhuman enjoyed punching the life out of Fitz and making his face bleed considerably. May used an ICER in an attempt to detain the Inhuman, but it was no use. In fact, the ICER only pissed off the Inhuman, and poor Fitz was left to take the brunt. He was thrown to the other side of the room into a pile of metal desks, and he layed there for a brief moment and tried to focus his vision as blood trickled down his face and neck.
"FITZ!" Jemma screamed for him and made an attempt to help her husband, but she, too, was picked up by the neck and strangled. Luckily, May distracted the Inhuman with a powerful kick to the stomach, and she continued fighting him while Jemma crawled over to where Fitz was laying motionless.
"Oh, Fitz!" Jemma yelled. She knelt down to saw her husband lying limply on the concrete floor and couldn't help but start to cry; she hated seeing him in pain.
"Yep, yeah. Agh, that is not what I was hoping for. Bloody brilliant," said Fitz as he sat up and rubbed his eyes with his hands. He was shaking in pain.
Jemma made an attempt to help him sit up and inspect his injuries when a flying desk was hurled toward them overhead. Fitz grabbed Jemma and pulled her close into his chest, arms around her head and back, protecting her. Luckily, the desk missed them - but just barely.
"FITZSIMMONS! GET OUT OF HERE! NOW! FITZ, GET THAT DEVICE WORKING!" shouted May as she and Daisy took turns punching and avoiding getting punched by the Inhuman.
"I've got an idea!" Daisy yelled as she delivered a damn good punch to the Inhuman's jaw. She motioned for May to follow her as the Inhuman rubbed his face and ran into a room with a single door.
"Get ready to open this for me!" Daisy shouted at May. After a rushed attempt to lure the Inhuman in a sealed-off room across the hall, Daisy was able to trap him, momentarily quake him long enough for her to escape, then quaked the door shut.
"This won't hold for very long! Fitz, now!" said May, her voice straining as she used all of her strength to keep the door closed. Using nuclear adiabatic demagnetization, something that could decrease temperature to one billionth of a degree in Kelvin, Fitz singled out this room and froze the Inhuman to an almost-absolute-zero temperature. The four of them watched through the window as the Inhuman's body turned an icy blue and froze, paralyzing him - it was like someone cast Petrificus Totalus.
Panting and out of breath, the agents smiled at each other in relief that they'd taken out another threat.
"Coulson, the Inhuman's been neutralized," said May through her comm.
"Good, we'll have a team come by and detain him. Nice work, team," Coulson replied.
Jemma smiled as she watched Daisy hug May in relief and turned to do the same with Fitz - only Fitz was about to collapse. He had taken one too many hits to the face before and his knees buckled under him.
"Fitz - hey!" Jemma reached out and caught him before he hit the cold concrete, and the last thing he remembered before blacking out is seeing The Doctor.
"Jemma, I'm fine, really. Just a few hits, but I've handled worse," assured Fitz when he awoke just before arriving at the Lighthouse.
"I know, but that's what worries me. You're acting too fine. You have blood all over your mouth and nose, and you can't keep your eyes fixed on me," Jemma said with concern. She knew she married a stubborn man, but she loved him more than anything and wanted to make sure he was safe.
Fitz had his blue eyes trained on something behind his wife, but he looked back every few seconds to let Jemma know he was listening.
"I'm just- I was thinking. About, uh, us. You, actually. I didn't want that Inhuman to hurt you, and I was just thinking about how glad I am to see that you're safe... even though he choked you," said Fitz. He looked at Jemma's concerned face reassuringly. "How's your neck?"
"It's fine, Fitz. But I'm more concerned about you. You passed out in my arms," said Jemma.
"I'm okay, really." Fitz tried giving her a weak smile to let her know he was doing fine.
Jemma sighed and tried to understand what Fitz was really thinking; she took his hands in hers and absentmindedly thumbed circles into his palms. "I want to believe you, but from what I saw, he got you pretty damn good. I was scared for you."
"Yeah, 'cause I just took a beating to the bloody face," complained Fitz. They bounced in their seats as the Quinjet landed at the base, giving Fitz a sense of relief that he didn't have to finish this conversation.
"Well you're still handsome as ever," Jemma said as she smiled. She stood up, hands still clasped tightly around Fitz's, and kissed his cheek. "I just want you to be safe," she said.
"I know you do, and I want you to be safe, too," said Fitz. They briefly shared a moment looking at each other sweetly before the back hatch opened, signaling that their moment was over. "I'll go unpack the Dwarves, and then I'll meet you in the canteen for dinner?" Fitz asked her. It wasn't too often that he and Jemma got to share meals together, so he cherished the times that they could.
"Of course," she smiled. She leaned in for a kiss and thoroughly enjoyed the familiar feeling of her lips hugging his. She watched as he stepped off the Quinjet, then finished packing up a few things from the mission.
"Does Fitz seem a bit... off to you?" asked Jemma to Daisy.
"He's- Fitz. He's just being stubborn, but I'm sure he'll come around," said Daisy as she stuffed an ICER into the back of her waistband. Daisy noticed the worried look on her friend's face and tried comforting her. "He's probably just being modest. I'm sure he'll come out about it soon. Don't worry." Daisy tried giving Jemma a reassuring smile, but it didn't seem to work.
"Yeah, I suppose so. Thanks, Daisy," said Jemma. May was already on her way inside after shutting everything down on the Quinjet as Daisy and Jemma made their way inside the base just in time for dinner.
"Ah, there you are. I was wondering when you'd be coming along," said Fitz as he stood up and kissed Jemma on the cheek. "I already finished unpacking my hardware, so we can go get some food if you'd like."
Jemma couldn't help but feel that Fitz was somehow lying to her, but she shook away that feeling because she knows that Fitz, her husband, would never lie to her... would he?
"Yeah, sure," she responded. They got their food from the canteen and sat down together, enjoying every last minute they had where they weren't being punched or strangled or somehow separated. That time being away from Fitz in space was hard for Jemma because she didn't know his condition or whether he was safe back on Earth. When he saved her and the team, he got shot by a Kree, and she had to be the one to save him. It was scary for her to watch it happen, and now that she's found him, well, she was determined not to let anything happen to him.
Jemma noticed Fitz's hand tucked under his cardigan while they were eating and asked him about it.
"Just a few bruises, but I'm fine," he said after swallowing his spaghetti.
"I really think you should let me look at you, Fitz," said Jemma.
"What, right now?" he asked. "You are looking at me. Bruises and all."
Jemma smirked. "Yes, but I meant under your clothing. Preferably your chest?"
"Jemma, if you wanted me to undress, all you have to do is ask," Fitz said as he laughed. Jemma gave him a look.
"What, now you're comfortable talking about that?" she asked him.
"We're married. And it's not like we haven't done it before," he said.
Jemma smiled smugly. "Hmm, really? Because I distinctly remember you freaking out the last time I even mentioned having sex with you. You walked away all cute and awkward-like because you were embarrassed."
"Ohh you know what- I'm gonna make you regret that." Jemma couldn't help but laugh at that comment, and Fitz noticed. "Just you wait."
When they finished eating, they left the canteen and headed for their bunker. They walked hand-in-hand until they reached their door and walked inside.
"So? What're you gonna do, exactly?" Jemma smirked again. She set her badge down on the dresser and closed the door when she turned around and saw Fitz standing right in front of her.
"This," said Fitz as he grabbed her from behind and kissed her for a few seconds. He broke the kiss and stared at her chocolate-brown eyes in awe of her beauty. "I-" she started to say, but before she could finish, Fitz was already kissing her again. He put one hand on her waist and the other on the back of her neck, pulling her to him even closer. Jemma cupped his jaw with her cold but gentle hands and kissed him back, thoroughly. Fitz couldn't help but wish he'd done this years ago, back when they were on the Bus, or even at the Academy. He took in the warmth of her body pressed up against his own and kissed her passionately. Every ounce of love he had was being poured into her, as if the years he spent silently loving her, silently wishing he could grab her and kiss her, were being made up for with this one moment - and it was a damn good kiss.
Their lips unembraced each other as they caught their breath, and Jemma smiled a beautifully radiant smile up at him. "I could get used to this," she laughed. "We-" Fitz cut her off again by kissing her. "I-" she started again, but Fitz kissed her. "What're you-" Kissed.
"Can't have you saying any more embarrassing things about me, now can I?" said Fitz as he smiled down at her. His cheeks were red as he was nervous; he'd never really shut her up by kissing her, but he liked it, and she seemed to think it was cute.
She smiled happily. "Well then, guess you'll have to keep me quiet," breathed Jemma into Fitz's mouth as she grabbed his cardigan and leaned forward to continue their kiss. Fitz spun her around and gently pushed her backwards as she fell onto the bed. He got on top of her and started to kiss her some more, and she grabbed his head and pulled her down to him. He was remembering their very first time doing this - after they'd tried to recruit Radcliffe for S.H.I.E.L.D. work. What a disappointment that turned out to be, what with the Framework and a new, fake life. Was it fake? Or is The Doctor just who Fitz is deep inside? Did that make him a bad person? Was this just the beginning of a long line of terrible deeds to be done by him?
"Fitz? Are you okay?" asked Jemma. Fitz had stopped kissing her moments ago but didn't realize it. He was just hovering over her, but his eyes were welling up as he stared at something behind Jemma. He stood up quickly and tried thinking of something to say, but before he could, Jemma spoke. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you feel forced or like you had to prove something to me. I didn't mean to, I was just teasing. Is there anything I can do to help?"
"Hmm? No, no, you're fine. You didn't upset me at all. I'm fine. Just... uh. Bending over like that - it hurt my ribs, is all. I'm fine." He tried giving her a reassuring smile, but she just looked at him sadly.
"You sure you're okay? You don't look too well. Your breathing is uneven and your hands are shaking. You-"
"I said I'm fine, Simmons! Just-" Fitz sighed. He shut his eyes tightly and put his hands over his face. When he opened, he saw Jemma sitting there, taken aback. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to snap at you just then. I'm sorry."
"Hey, it's okay. Come here," said Jemma in a soft voice. Fitz walked to where she sat and placed himself beside her. "What's going on? And don't lie to me, please. It's insulting." She took Fitz's hand and clasped both of hers around them tightly and looked deep into his ocean-blue eyes. She wondered if, behind those eyes, there was a tidal wave coming, or a tsunami. Maybe this was the calm before the storm. Either way, she knew something was bothering him.
Fitz took a deep breath and started. "It's.. The Doctor. I can't get him out of my head, and I keep hearing his voice... my voice... and I saw him just before I passed out today... I've been seeing him since we left the Framework." Fitz looked very troubled after admitting these words.
Jemma looked at him, full of sadness. She knew being The Doctor in the Framework was upsetting for Fitz, but she didn't know to what extent. He didn't like talking about it, and after all, May had been Hydra in there just as much as him, and she was fine. "When you hear his voice-" she started.
"-my voice," interrupted Fitz.
She sighed. "When you hear The Doctor's voice, what is he saying to you?"
"He... he says I'm weak. That I'm not capable of doing what's necessary to get things done because... because I won't hurt people." Fitz was staring at the floor, purposefully avoiding eye contact with his wife for fear that she would be disappointed in him. "He said I'm not the same person I was before my accident, before the bottom of the ocean... he said my hypoxia lowered my intelligence and made me an inadequate member of this team. And..." His voice trailed again off as his eyes welled up and his lips began to quiver. Jemma put her hand to his cheek and gently wiped a hot tear away with her thumb. "...and he said that I am not deserving of you." Fitz completely broke down after saying this last bit, as if he'd been holding all of this in for years. Jemma pulled him into her arms and he sank right in, almost falling off the bed.
"Hey, come here," she said as she tried to position both of them against the headboard of the bed, hoping to make Fitz more comfortable. With their feet stretched in front of them and now under the white cotton comforter, Jemma stayed sitting up as Fitz collapsed into her chest. She took her fingers and ran them through his curly, dark blonde hair and stroked his back with her other hand. "He's just a voice. He can't hurt you as long as you don't let him. Look at me," she said.
Fitz looked up momentarily and Jemma almost began crying herself when she saw his tear-stained eyes. "You are not weak. You are not dumb. You are the strongest person I've ever met, and the smartest person I've ever had the pleasure to call mine. You're the most incredibly brilliant person I know, and I wouldn't trade you for anyone. And you're more than deserving of me. We're made for each other. Every atom in our body is psychically linked to each other because we're meant for the other one. You're perfect to me, and you always have been. You create things from the genius of your mind and the goodness of your heart, and it's beautiful." She kissed him softly on the crown of his head and whispered, "I love you, and I wouldn't trade you for anything. You're my brave scientist."
Fitz seemed to have stopped crying some time ago, but she hadn't noticed; he wasn't much of one to show emotion. He sat upright and rubbed his eyes for a moment before resting his head on her shoulder. Jemma thought of all the times it had been the other way around, where she was the one being comforted by him. It felt nice to be able to comfort him now. "Thanks, Jemma. You're the best. And I love you too." He forced a smile, but he was genuine about it.
After laying there for a while with Jemma holding Fitz, just taking comfort in each other's presence, they decided it best that they get some rest after a mission-day (though it seems like everyday is a mission-day now). Jemma layed back to put her head down next to Fitz's and pulled the comforter up to their neck, as this was a chilly night. Plus, there was a comforting feeling of having a blanket on, like it was somehow being protective. She rested her head on Fitz's shoulder and placed her hand on his firm chest. Her body was pressed tightly next to his, Jemma on her side and Fitz on his back. Fitz wrapped his arm around Jemma's waist and placed his hand over hers where it lay on his chest as he looked down at her and smiled. He kissed the crown of her head and whispered a gentle "I love you" before dozing off comfortably.
The next morning, Jemma woke up being the little spoon to Fitz and smiled happily at the feeling of his hand over her waist in a protective manner; it kept her from inching further to the end of the bed and falling. Even in his sleep he wants to protect her! Jemma looked at the glowing shape of the alarm clock that lay on their nightstand and saw that it was 5:58. It should go off at 6, so she soaked up every last ounce of cuddling that she could squeeze out of her husband before starting the day. Two very short minutes later, Jemma shut off the alarm clock and looked at her still-sleeping engineer. Fitz should be up at this point as well, so she tried to wake him. "Fitz, come on, wake up." She turned herself around to face him and smiled because she doesn't get the chance to wake him like this all too often; she wondered what possible techniques she should use to pry him from his slumber. She peppered his face with kisses - no response. She blew raspberries into his neck - nothing. She even tried tickling his neck, but still - nothing. She began to grow curious if this was a joke he was playing with her, so she decided to kiss his lips (even if he was playing with her, there's no way Fitz could not break into a smile after being kissed by Jemma Simmons). She decided that the best way to wake him now is to lightly throw herself on top of his chest and startle him in a playful manner. She got up and turned back toward the end of the bed to lift the comforter. When she turned around to see the full of Fitz's body, she was horrified at what she saw. She looked down at herself, she wore it, too. Blood. Everywhere. It stained the sheets and his shirt and her torso and his- wait. His shirt. Why does his shirt have so much blood on it?
"Fitz? Hey, Fitz, come on. Wake up! This isn't funny, please! Wake up!" Jemma frantically tried to see if he was still messing with her. After deciding he wasn't conscious, her doctor's instincts kicked in. She immediately grabbed his wrist and checked for a pulse - there was one, so he was alive, but it was ever so faint. His pulse was weak, and given the generous amount of blood soaking her husband's front, that meant he was bleeding out.
From what? Find the source, Jemma. She thought to herself.
She forced Fitz's eyes open and shined her phone's flashlight into them. No response from his pupils. This was serious. Was this because he got hurt from the mission yesterday? Had Fitz really lied to her about being completely fine? But he wasn't bleeding yesterday like this even immediately after getting thrown. So what was going on?
Jemma quickly sent out an emergency distress call to the base and waited what felt like ages for a med team to arrive. She lifted his shirt to find the source of the bleeding and applied pressure there to slow it down.
"Hang in there, Fitz. I'm gonna help you. Please, just stay with me," whispered Jemma through her tears. "I love you."