Chapter 22

Simmons sat unsurely at their cafeteria table long after dinner hours with the gang planning the ski trip. She'd have to tell them, she'd have to tell them now or never.

Simmons looks at Fitz across the table.

"Guys." Simmons says interrupting a debate between Triplett and Mack. "I won't be coming on the ski trip?"

"Aw, but why not Jemma?" Bobbi asks.

"Because my internship starts up with Professor Raina, and she wants to leave tomorrow." Simmons explains.

"Aw girl, why do you have to bring this bomb on us now?" Triplett says.

Fitz pushes his chair back. He'd been expecting this news, but did he really have to get it now. Did Jemma really have to leave before the trip? She'd been so excited. Weren't her friends more important than her job?

"Good luck." Skye says sincerely. Ward sat beside her, not taking part in the conversation.

"When do you leave?" Mack asks her.

"Tomorrow morning, the specimen they're waiting for is expected to arrive in two days." Jemma explains. "Raina wants to leave early so we can prepare."

"But can't you wait three days till it actually arrives!" Fitz protests. "Are ski trip is only three, so it won't even have arrived while you're gone."

"I'm sorry." Simmons says sadly. "But it's just how things worked out."

Fitz sat there in silence not wanting to think about his best friend leaving, and the chance of him seeing her soon close to none.

"We have to throw a goodbye party, or something." Mack suggests.

"Don't bother." Simmons intervenes. "But thank you."

Bobbi goes and leaves the table, she comes back a few seconds later with a cupcake. "I don't have time to get a cake, but hopefully this will help." Bobbi gives Simmons the cupcake.

"Oh you don't have to do this." Simmons says all embarrassed.

"Yes, lets have fun tonight. Even though we have classes tomorrow, you don't, so let's keep you up." Triplett says earnestly. Simmons smiles, and the groups spends a long while hanging out and chatting.

XxXxXxX

Skye walks back with Simmons to the dorms. Her walk slowing as they reach their rooms. It was about 1am, and Jemma looked almost sad. Skye could understand, she was leaving after all.

"Are you okay?" Skye asks her.

"Yeah I'm fine; it's just I'm worried about everything that's all." Simmons takes a deep breath. "I mean the labs not that far, only an hour plane ride away. So maybe I could come back and visit you guys on weekends and stuff." Simmons looks close to tears. "I'm really going to miss everyone here." She says sadly. "And Fitz."

Skye walks over and hugs her. "Then go to him now. Go say goodbye now."

Simmons nods, realizing that Skye's advice is the right advice she needed to hear. "Thank you."

Simmons turns to walk away, but she looks back at Skye remembering last night. "I heard you." Jemma says.

"Hmm." Skye says not exactly sure what Simmons meant.

"Last night you were crying all alone, you were moaning as well." Skye frowns. "Your rooms right next to mine, I've been hearing you cry in your sleep."

"Ah well…"

"You don't have to tell me about what's bugging you, but please bring your worries onto someone. You shouldn't shoulder nightmares on your own, telling someone helps." Skye looks away, but nods to Simmons advice.

Simmons leaves to go find Fitz. Simmons goes by the cafeteria and notices a figure sitting at the table they'd just spent an hour talking at. Simmons frowns and walks over to it. Fitz is still there, sitting and looking out the giant windows at the moonlight.

"Fitz?" Simmons says. He turns, his eyes red from tears. "Oh Fitz." She says somberly, knowing her eyes look the same.

"I don't want you to go." He says. "Please Simmons you have to stay here with me; I don't know what I'll do without you."

"Fitz, I'm not going to be gone forever. I'm not dying, and I can even come visit on weekends."

Fitz frowns. "Yeah but it won't be the same." He complains. "It just won't be the same." Simmons walks over to sit beside Fitz.

"I know Fitz, but sometimes we need to change." She explains. "We can't just go living life in a routine."

Fitz kicks the table.

"What about our promise, as kids Jemma."

"Fitz we were just children." Jemma tries to pass off.

"We were thirteen, only a few years ago."

"Fitz, we can't stay together forever." Simmons hugs her shoulder. "But I'm sorry if you thought we could."

"I guess that's your answer." Fitz adds.

"My answer to what Fitz?"

"If we could ever be more than friends."

Simmons blushes. She looks away.

"Fitz I don't feel that way about you, we're childhood friends and nothing more." Her words hurt more than they should have, but Simmons felt it was the truth. Fitz looks away.

"I guess this is goodbye than." He says monotone.

"I guess it is." Simmons hated leaving on a bad note, but she didn't know what to tell Fitz. What was she supposed to?

Simmons turns to leave but Fitz catches her by surprise. He grabs her arm and forces her to turn around. When she's facing him he brings her face up to his and gives her a short peck on the lips.

Simmons immediately missed the sensation as he let go.

"If you can forget about that kiss I believe you don't feel the same!" Fitz shouts. "But if you can't forget, if you're at that lab and can't forget that kiss, than I know that you love me just like I love you!" Simmons backs up, touching her lip as if it were a delicate flower that had just bloomed.

"I hope you don't forget." Fitz whispers in his Scottish accent as he leaves the cafeteria. Simmons stands there still in shock.

XxXxXxX

Simmons waits at the front entrance. Her friends had gathered all wishing her goodbye. Bobbi and Skye give Simmons a large hug. Triplett and Mack do the same, and Ward just stares not a part of the group.

Fitz was not in sight.

Simmons looks desperately for him, but he's nowhere in sight. She sighs. "Do you want me to go get him?" Skye asks her.

"No it's alright, we said our goodbyes last night." Simmons brings a hand to her lip, hoping no one notices the meaning behind it.

"Jemma Simmons." Raina calls the car arriving for them. "Our plane leaves soon."

Simmons gives one last wave, before walking down the stairs and towards the car. The driver opens the door for Raina. Simmons looks back one last time trying to see Fitz. He wasn't there. She enters the car, with the driver closing the door. She looks at her group of friends, and there spots Fitz.

She spots him running down the stairs towards her. "Don't forget!" He shouts to her.

Simmons tries to role down the window to reply in response, but she stops. She frowns, knowing it would be unprofessional to yell in front of Professor Raina.

So the car drove off.

So a FitzSimmons chapter, CAN'T WAIT FOR TUESDAY! Let me know what you think! Review if you like :D