From wakandaperthshire (sentence meme): "Shut up, I am a delight!"

This is basically the only thing I've been able to write since I arrived in California this summer. Thank you procrastination!

Jemma sighed in dismay as she examined a piece of paper laying on the desk in front of her. "Really, Agent Ashby? This was all you documented in your last inventory sweep?"

The young lab technician shrugged. "Sorry, Dr. Simmons, we've been running out of supplies for a while now due to budget cuts and lagging deliveries. I'm afraid there's not much we can do about it."

"You've got to be joking," Jemma groaned, and her hands instinctively rose to massage her temples. "We needed half of these reagents yesterday! When will the next delivery arrive?"

Upon discovering that the next delivery would be the next day (containing disposable items such as latex gloves and pipette tips instead of the chemical reagents she really needed), the corners of her mouth pulled down into a deep frown. "Good god, that sets our progress back at least two days. Why didn't you tell me sooner?" she demanded, shooting an accusatory glare at Agent Ashby.

"I-I only just found this out yesterday." Dr. Ashby threw his hands up in surrender. "I swear, if I had done it a day earlier, I would have-"

"Okay, I get it." She waved off his excuses. "I'll have a word with Dr. Fitz on increasing inventory checks to twice a week. You are dismissed."

"Are you sure? Maybe I can-"

"No!" Jemma barked, causing the agent to take a cautionary step back. "I mean," she adjusted. "It's been a long day. Go back home and get some rest. You've done enough."

Fitz observed from his own desk as Dr. Ashby moped out of the laboratory. "Rough day?" he asked, his eyebrows scrunching in concern.

"You can say that again," Jemma grumbled. As much as she tried, she couldn't peel her eyes off of the abysmal numbers in front of her, much less relive everything else that had gone wrong in the lab lately. And all the worrying certainly did nothing to mitigate her pounding headache. "More like a rough week. Since when did we hire such incompetent lab technicians?"

"Jemma." Fitz crouched down behind her, resting his forearms on the back of her chair. "Are you sure it's the assistants and not you?"

"Me?" she cried out, indignant. "Why in the world would it be me?"

Fitz winced at the shrillness of her tone. "Well for starters, you're a smidge more defensive than usual. And that's the third time you've snapped at someone today." He pointed at the doorway. "Dr. Ashby practically sprinted home after you yelled at him!"

"I didn't yell at him," Jemma huffed. "I merely explained the dire of our situation and expressed some frustration. And it doesn't help that the new Director is funneling in more funds to build a new headquarters by taking away money from the science division!"

"Don't worry, I'm searching for other job options." Jemma's eyes closed as Fitz pressed his fingertips into her tense shoulders. "Dr. Radcliffe may have a place for us in his lab, said we're welcome to collaborate with him anytime."

His reassurance caused her to relax into his touch and she leaned her head back, slowly feeling the tension release its hold. "Jemma…" Fitz's tone was slow, hesitant, tracing the thin line of condescension. "Are you on your-" He glanced around the room before whispering in her ear. "Period?"

"You don't need to say it like it's Lord Voldemort, you know," Jemma snapped. She whirled around to face him. "And really? You want to discuss this now in front of our esteemed coworkers?" Even she could hear the unnecessary sarcasm in her voice by now, but she held her ground and chose to ignore the revelation.

"They're leaving for the day," Fitz responded, exasperated. He gestured at the remaining agents cleaning up the lab. "Come on, you know you're overreacting."

"And what makes you think that?"

"I've known you for ten years, Jemma. You're a bit of a nightmare on your period."

"Shut up, I am a delight, thank you very much!"

Her best friend shot her a pointed look. "Okay, you may have a point," Jemma conceded. "I'm sorry."

"I don't think I'm the one you should be apologizing to." Fitz's "subtle" nods towards the lab technicians did not go unnoticed.

Sighing, Jemma lingered at her desk, pondering a bit before reluctantly standing up. "Attention everyone!" she called out. Startled, the other agents stopped what they were doing. "I have an announcement to make!"

As soon as she observed their reactions, Fitz's point clicked in her head. A couple of the lab assistants waited curiously for her to continue while some of the younger agents cowered in the corners, hoping to escape her attention. She wrung out her hands before continuing. "I know this week has been quite rough, and I have realized that I haven't been facilitating a proper, supportive work environment. If I have been excessively harsh to you since the start of this week, I apologize for my behavior."

Fitz nudged her from behind and she narrowed her eyes at him before relaxing her posture, trying to maintain her professional composure. "During our next meeting, I will bring in tea and pastries to commend our most recent discoveries. Make sure to spread the word to your coworkers that have already departed today."

A collective murmur spread throughout the lab. "Not so fast!" Jemma interjected. "I expect all of you to fully contribute to our discussions as usual, as unpreparedness will not be tolerated. I'll see you all next week."

Solemn nods exuded their thanks and Jemma was relieved to see a few more smiles among the agents that hadn't been present before. Bowing her head, she walked brusquely out the door, unable to see the wink Fitz flashed at his coworkers behind her.