Ophelia sat in her chair watching a small clock ticking "Simmons."
"Yes Dr. Garner?" She replied with the usual cheerful smile.
"We've been here for fifteen minutes and you haven't said a word. Your friends-"
"Coworkers." She corrected still maintaining a polite and cheerful demeanor.
"That's an interesting way to describe how you feel. Everyone I've talked thinks of SHIELD as a family."
"By everyone you mean Skye or Daisy that's what everyone is calling her now right? Well Daisy and Fitz." Ophelia said with hint do aggression.
Garner squinted his eyes clearly in deep thought "You seem to be harboring some aggression towards Daisy. Why?" Garner could tell by her long silence that she was holding something back something that could only be anger "Have you felt this way for a while?"
Try since the day I met her. Ophelia forced a smile "It's just I feel she gets coddled and special treatment. I mean haven't you noticed it always seems to be about her? Never mind she inadvertently caused the death of a fellow agent twice and has never been reprimanded."
"Are you talking about Triplett and Calderon?"
"Who else?" A weak laugh escaped her as she continued "I'm mean she should by all accounts be met with scorn and skepticism but no perfect Skye, I'm sorry Coulson's little pet Daisy is held up like a saint Fitz even protected her."
"I see this is about when he protected her secret."
Ophelia's nails dug into the arms of the chair "You could say that. I just find it inexcusable that she's held to different standards. I mean she was even allowed to stay on the team when we learned she was working with her hacker ex-boyfriend if it was up to me she would have been thrown in the fridge."
Garner to say the least was a little shocked to see Simmons this angry she always seemed so happy and chipper "Is there anyone else you feel this way towards."
Her grin widened "How much time do you have because I have issues towards everybody in this so called family. I mean we're not a family! Don't get me wrong I love Fitz but he doesn't see how the world really is."
"And how is the world really Simmons?"
"It's dark, cold, and violent. It will eat you if you let it. That's what Fitz doesn't understand he doesn't realize how things really work with groups like SHIELD. He doesn't realize its Coulson's fault he's damaged."
"I was under the impression that Ward sent you and Fitz into the ocean?"
Ophelia nodded her head "Yes but who was it that sent us into the lion's den? Are you familiar with the term sacrificial lamb Dr. Garner? It's when you send the most expendable asset to slaughter with no expectations of them coming back. That's what Coulson did to Fitz to us. He'd probably never admit it to anyone not even himself but that's why Fitz is damaged because we were sent without proper back up. We didn't even have a gun to defend ourselves! Yet Fitz for reasons I cannot fathom stays.
"He could do so much more with his life if he just left SHIELD. Among everyone I've met at SHIELD he's the only one that's genuinely good. He also sees the good in everyone even Ward. I find it confounding isn't that strange? I hate him for being so naive and having such a black and white if not innocent view of the world and yet I love him for it to."
Garner couldn't help but smile "This may surprise you but that's completely normal Simmons. When Melinda and I were together at first there were many things I couldn't stand about her but in time I realized being with someone wasn't just about loving them in spite of their faults but loving them for them in other words-"
"Taking the bad with the good." Ophelia added interrupting Garner "Yes that's a lovely notion isn't it? If Melinda had only reciprocated such sentiments. Maybe you'd both still be together."
"Clever."
"What Dr. Garner?"
"Opening up then subtly lashing out at me. I don't see that much. Usually people like Daisy for example deflect with humor. It's strange to see you react that way Simmons."
"Why?"
"You're always so nice polite and sweet at least that's what everyone I've met has said but so far the, you I've met or rather this version of you has done nothing but show deep seeded anger and displayed personality traits such as the lashing out. Traits I normally see in people in need of help."
"Yes I suppose that is disrespectful my father often was…" Ophelia stopped thinking of the monstrous acts done to her what Whitehall called discipline "very stern with me I can only imagine his disappointment were he here. He'd no doubt reprimand me as he often would when I was young. I often brought it on myself of course. You see I was a very willful child. Though before we're done I just want to ask Garner. Do you think Fitz hates me on some level?"
At first Garner was stunned he didn't know why she'd ask him that "Do you feel he hates you?"
Ophelia just casually shrugged "I'd be surprised if he didn't. I mean he feels I abandoned him and he thinks it's because he's become different which by the way I don't completely buy he seems to have his moments when he's speaking quite clearly. Another thing that upsets me by the way. I mean so what if he has a speech problem. Not like it's the end of the world. I swear he has such an inferiority complex. He acts like he's lost an arm or a leg it's not like his balls got cut off! Yet he's clearly hell bent on wallowing in self-pity. I'm sorry I know I probably sound like a bitch but I just get tired of him acting like a child sometimes." She turned looked at her watch "I'm sorry but I'm afraid I'll have to cut our session short Dr. Garner. I'm having dinner with an old friend and I would hate to make him wait."
"I understand but next time I'd appreciate if you tried and open up about what you went through with that-"
Before he could finish she cut him off without warning "I'd rather not I'm trying to put that horrible time behind me. I'm sorry I understand that everyone is concerned for me but I'm just not ready. Oh and Dr. Garner-" he hesitated to speak she seemed on the verge of tears "I'd really appreciate it if you kept what I've said between us."
"Don't worry Simmons what we've covered is protected by confidentiality. Even if it wasn't I'd never violate a patients trust like that. Still I'll have to make a report to Coulson."
"I understand you have a good day Dr. Garner." They shook hands and Garner watched her leave. He picked up the phone calling Coulson.
"Hello Phil I thought you'd like to know about Simmons progress."
"Yes of course do you think she'll be alright?"
"Well she's clearly holding something back. I worry that she's not-" Garner paused trying to think of the right words "how she projects herself towards others. I think she has some deep seeded issues that are well hidden and I fear if she doesn't resolve these issues whatever they maybe they will only get worse and worse. Causing her to eventually snap."
"My god, is there anything we can do to help?" Coulson both surprised and concerned.
"Just keep an eye on her for now whatever trauma she's hiding it's way past anything she's likely experienced recently. That's not to say what she's experienced because of that alien artifact isn't a factor either it's just likely whatever happened pushed her issues to the surface." Garner explained.
"Alright thank you. I'll keep an eye on her."
Ophelia parked in front of an old warehouse she stopped to look around making sure no one had followed her. Once she was sure everything was clear she picked up a metal brief case got out of the car and walked towards the building. It was old and run down it was a miracle it hadn't been condemned.
After some more walking she made her way up some stairs to an old office where a man who seemed to be in his late thirties maybe early forties was waiting for her. He was tall muscular short brown hair. He also seemed to be upset "You're late."
"Sorry I was making sure no one followed me."
"Yeah well you really are pushing it Ophelia. Now what's your big job?"
"Have you heard how SHIELD is making a comeback?"
"Yeah so?"
"We are going to make sure they don't. You see-" She placed the briefcase on an old table "I recently went through something that reminded me of who I am and will always be. So I am going to do what I was set out to do. What Whitehall, wanted me to do Herman."
Herman scoffed "Why? From what I hear you have a sweet deal going."
She turned to face him giving him an angry glare "Because I'm not real Jemma Simmons isn't real it's just a lie, a lie I crafted for myself. A performance I've played so well I forgot I was even playing a part. Nothing but a dream. Do you know the story of the scorpion and the frog?"
"No."
"A scorpion asks a frog to carry it across a river. The frog hesitates, afraid of being stung, but the scorpion argues that if it did so, they would both drown. Considering this, the frog agrees, but midway across the river the scorpion does indeed sting the frog, dooming them both to die. When the frog asks the scorpion why, the scorpion replies that it was simply its nature." Ophelia explained. "Do you understand now? I am do this because it is in my nature. Come over here I have something to show you."
"You don't have to tell me that Ophelia." Herman laughed as he walked over. His eyes widened when he saw what was in the briefcase "Wow. I never thought I'd see this baby again."
"Yes it's a new suit. It will help you and your crew to achieve what I need."
"Which is?"
"Coulson has Daisy, Mack, Bobbi, and Hunter transporting a very shall we say… dangerous prisoner. You, your crew, and I are going to bust this prisoner out. I've made a few modifications to this version of your suit Herman. So if Daisy Johnson uses her powers against you well let's just say she'll be in for a real shock."
"Won't they recognize you though?"
"Won't matter when they are all dead." She smiled.