A/N: Sorry for the longish wait...I've been moving apartments and have been busy, but I think my schedule has evened out again and updates should be more frequent again =).

Jemma hummed to herself quietly as she examined the specimen slide and took careful notes in pencil on the notepad next to her. Her assigned work with Hydra was interesting at least, and it served to take her mind off the danger of her undercover mission. Honestly, she was glad that she was able to immerse herself in it as a distraction.

"Agent Simmons," a voice next to her suddenly said, making her jump.

Her hand flying up to her mouth to stifle the startled gasp, she turned and looked straight into Garrett's cold eyes. "Oh," she said, "You surprised me. What can I do for you, Agent Garrett?"

"Walk with me," he ordered, smiling a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes and made Jemma shiver.

"Yes sir," she replied automatically, her mouth dry. She started to pack up her equipment, but stopped when he shook his head and motioned her out into the hallway.

They strolled in silence for a while. Jemma's breathing sounded harsh and unsteady to her own ears as her anxiety rose. Garrett gave her the creeps and she hated being alone with him.

"Agent Simmons. I believe that I was right about you and Agent Ward," he suddenly said cheerfully, breaking the oppressive silence between them.

Taken aback over the topic of conversation, Jemma responded, "I'm sorry, what? Me and Ward?"

"I saw you yesterday."

Carefully controlling her reaction, she merely replied cautiously, "There's no denying that we are friends."

Garrett laughed deep in his throat. "More than friends by the looks you gave each other."

Jemma remained silent, not wanting to give anything away.

"I'm not saying that I disapprove," Garrett continued, then added with a malicious glint in his eyes, "but I just thought you should know that I saw Grant kiss Skye during your attempted infiltration."

Jemma scoffed. "You must have been mistaken." She kept her voice cold and squashed her feelings down into a small, painful ball.

"Hardly," Garrett chuckled. "Security cameras - I have a recording of it in my office. I'll show it to you sometime, since you are 'just friends.'" He left no doubt in his words that he didn't believe her story at all.

"Thank you for sharing that with me," Jemma finally answered stiffly. "May I return to my work now?"

"Oh yes," he agreed with a smirk.

Immediately, Jemma turned and nearly raced back to her station, her mind working a mile a minute.

She felt betrayed. And lied to. Hurt. How could Grant do this to her?

She wanted to believe that Garrett was lying, but the accusation was much too easy to prove. But why? Why would he kiss Skye?

She had no answer. Only pain.

She returned to her work, but her heart was no longer in it.

That night, Jemma had had more than enough. She deserved an explanation, and she was going to make Ward give her one.

Slipping out of her room just after midnight, she made her way silently through the labyrinth of corridors until she reached Ward's quarters.

She didn't knock.

Standing over his sleeping figure, she considered the best way to wake him without triggering his self-defense instincts. Touching him was out, as was throwing something at him. Talking was risky, but it was the option the most likely to work.

"Ward?" she asked quietly with a distinctive edge to her voice. "Wake up."

He didn't move.

Slightly louder, she tried again. "Ward. Wake up."

Again, he didn't so much as shift.

Sighing, Jemma stepped two steps closer and bent down slightly so that she was closer to his ear. She just opened her mouth and was about to call his name again when his arm suddenly shot out, grabbing one of her legs and yanking so that she fell backwards onto the stone floor with a thump, the wind whooshing out of her lungs before she had a chance to scream. Before she could regain her breath, Ward was on top of her. She could feel his even breaths on her face and the movement of her bare chest on top of her body.

A blush heated her cheeks, and she was suddenly very glad for the darkness hiding her expression from the very attractively muscled man lying on top of her.

Focus, she told herself sternly, pulling her mind away from the feel of his bare skin. Out loud, she ordered, "Get off me." The slightly breathless quality of her voice made her wince, but there was nothing she could do about it.

"Jemma?" Ward asked, surprised, as he got up, lifting his weight from her body and settling on his knees. "I'm sorry - I didn't realize…"

She cut off his apology. "You kissed Skye." Now her voice was as stern and cold as she had wanted it to be before. She rose to her feet and put her hands on her hips.

Ward winced, but didn't deny it.

"How could you?" she hissed, tears welling up in her eyes despite her vow to keep her emotions mostly out of the confrontation. She didn't want to seem weak in front of him.

"I was going to tell you," he started to say, but she stopped him again.

"You didn't, though. Garrett did."

He wouldn't look her in the eyes. "You're angry."

"Yes, I'm angry!" she practically yelled. "Why wouldn't I be?"

"It was an accident," he blurted out desperately, "An accident that I have regretted ever since it happened."

Opening her eyes wide, Jemma asked, "An accident? How can you accidently kiss someone?"

Moving to sit on his bed, Ward rubbed his eyes with his fingers. "She kissed me."

"You could have stopped her."

"I should have," he agreed, his voice resigned. "But I didn't."

"Why?" That was the only word that Simmons could force out before the tears starting spilling out over her cheeks.

Getting up, Ward took a couple steps towards her and stretched out his arms, as if he was going to hug her.

She shrank back, away from his touch. "No. Explain."

He sighed and ran a hand along his jaw. "The heat of the moment," he finally responded. "We were in mortal danger, and she kissed me." With a hollow laugh, he added, "It didn't really seem like the time to explain about you and I."

"I never should have come here with you. Never should have trusted you." Unable to say anything else, she spun around and left his room, her strides angry, the tears now falling freely down her cheeks.

She had only made it about halfway back to her room before she sensed, more than heard, a person following her.

Slowing, she tensed, preparing to defend herself if needed.

Without any warning, a hand shot out of the darkness behind her and covered her mouth, stopping her attempt at a scream.

Something hit her in the head.

Everything went black.

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