A/N: Got this one done ASAP :) It's from Simmons' perspective, so there's understandable resentment towards Ward here.
So S3 is starting soon, and I have an idea for a S3 fic, but I'm unsure about whether anyone wants to read it. Several people I know aren't going to watch it and want to have nothing to do with the show beyond S2, so thoughts, guys?
Thank you to Alkeni, bmbb, VMars Lover, Serenity Shadowstar, Agent Daisy Skye Johnson, Brenda and guest for your reviews! :)
Brenda - don't worry, there isn't much trouble at the facility for them after that.
Guest - I hope this update is fast enough for you :)E
Enjoy!
Simmons walked into the infirmary late in the morning, doing final checks before she broke for lunch. Merely glancing over the mostly empty room, she almost missed Skye sitting by Ward's bed. She sat with her legs tucked close and her head resting on her hand, the arm propped up by the elbow on the arm of the chair. Her expression was a sad morose, and her entire body seemed slumped in its position. She was still dressed in her workout clothes and her skin held the sticky sheen of sweat; clearly, she'd just finished her session with May.
Sighing quietly, Simmons continued to the desk in the corner, grabbing a stethoscope from the cupboard before making her way over to her friend. Even now, with Ward unconscious and battered and with all his vitals heavily monitored on screen, Simmons tensed up as she got closer. Residual effects of past actions, she presumed. Perhaps she should work on getting past that, but whenever she thought back to those events, the memories felt too raw for her to even try.
Simmons shook off her thoughts as she rounded the end of the bed and stood beside Skye. Her friend already knew what Ward had done, and needed no more repeating of said actions than she did. She placed her hand on Skye's shoulder, getting the slightest twitch in response. Slowly, Skye turned her head to look at her, her eyes dragging from Ward's prone form. Simmons glanced his way briefly, finding herself still catching her breath at the sheer brutality of just one Hydra leader. Was Garrett ever this cruel? She wondered, then shook off that thought as well.
"Hey." Skye murmured. "I'm not in your way, am I?" Her eyes, full of aching sadness, caused Simmons heart to clench.
"No, no." she quickly assured her with a smile, the politeness not as bright as she was aiming for. "I was just checking in before lunch." Absently, her gaze roamed over Skye's body. Then her eyes narrowed. "Have you eaten breakfast this morning?" she asked sharply.
Skye flinched at the tone and accusation, Simmons almost taking back her words, but the sheepish expression and look away confirmed her suspicions.
"Skye." Simmons said in a warning tone. "I take it May doesn't know?" Skye shook her head quickly, her gaze darting to the door and back. Simmons, out of habit, followed her lead, but kept her expression in 'unimpressed' mode. She sighed loudly. "Skye, you can't malnourish yourself. At this point, Ward's getting more nutrition than you."
"He needs it." Skye muttered.
"That doesn't mean you don't." Simmons chided. "Now, are you going to come with me to the kitchen, or am I going to have to get Mack to carry you there?"
Skye's brow furrowed in irritation. "Fine." She grumped. "I'll go."
"Good." Simmons beamed in satisfaction, then slipped back into seriousness. "If you do this again, I'll confine you to your room. Understand?"
"Yes, mother." She said sarcastically, hauling herself out of the chair. She stopped as she stood, leaning over to brush some hair out of Ward's face and lightly kiss his forehead. It was one of the few places that remained unharmed. Mostly, anyway.
"Come on." Simmons hooked her arm through Skye's when the latter lingered, still watching the sleeping man. "If he wakes up, I'll let you know."
"If?!" Skye's head snapped up, looking at Simmons with horror.
"When." Simmons corrected herself, unable to bring herself to explain that it was entirely possible that Ward may never regain consciousness.
"Don't scare me like that, please." Skye half-slumped into Simmons' side, the biochemist struggling for a moment to hold her up.
"I just meant if he wakes up while you're eating." She assured the worried girl as she pulled her out of the infirmary. "If any of his vitals stray outside the small range that they're sitting in now, the equipment will send an alert to my phone."
"Sure." Was the reply, quiet and almost said like an afterthought. Simmons appraised her, shaking her head sadly at the distance her friend had retreated to since they rescued Ward.
Perhaps Kara can help with that. She mused, pulling out her phone. Sending a quick text to Kara, she kept hold of the device while waiting for a reply. It came within a minute.
Kara: Um, sure. Where?
Simmons smiled at the screen. Skye hadn't noticed, but since rescuing Ward, Kara had been making remarkable progress in her recovery. She could now remember little snippets of her life as a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent before the fall, and while she was worried about Ward, her experience with FitzSimmons' combined biochemical and engineering genius gave her faith that they would help the man just as much. Pursing her lips for a second, she typed in a reply.
Jemma: The kitchen. She didn't have any breakfast this morning, so I'm making her have a large lunch.
The reply was a little quicker this time.
Kara: Grant won't be happy if he finds out about that.
This had Simmons sucking in a careful breath, drawing Skye's attention.
"Something wrong?" she asked.
"No, no, you don't need to worry." Simmons didn't even look up this time, biting her tongue to keep from saying anything more. It was endearingly sweet that Kara had such faith in her and Fitz's abilities, but Ward was ever a sore spot, even between them.
Jemma: Then we're all on the same page.
Kara: On my way. See you there.
Simmons finally dropped her phone back in her pocket, and smiled at a suspicious Skye. "Lunch, then?"
"Sure…" Skye drew the word out, but was interrupted by a buzzing in Simmons' pocket. Pulling the phone out, Simmons raised her eyebrow at the screen, telling her there was another text from Kara.
Kara: You don't mind if Fitz comes along too, do you?
Chuckling, Simmons flicked back a quick reply.
Jemma: No, of course not. I think he'll help, actually.
"What are you doing?" Skye moaned as Simmons pushed her through the doorway to the common room. "Stop being so sneaky!"
"Stop being so difficult." Simmons replied, sounding a little annoyed, but really, she was a tad amused. "You need to cheer up. Have a little faith."
"Says the scientist." Skye snarked as she plopped down into a chair at the nearest table to the kitchen. "No, scratch that. Says the alien-studying, ultimate genius, and leading S.H.I.E.L.D. scientist."
"I think you've made your point." Simmons said, exasperated, smiling at Kara and Fitz who had just entered. "Tea?" she offered.
"Yes, please." Fitz replied immediately. Kara hesitated for a second before shaking her head and sitting across the table from Skye.
"Is this what you were planning, Jemma?" Skye asked as Simmons turned around to fetch the mugs and teabags. Her voice sounded slightly distorted, and Simmons turned back around to see Skye holding up her head with her hand again. Kara was watching her, torn between amusement and worry. "A frientervention?"
"A what?" Fitz scrunched up his face in bemusement, tilting his head to this side slightly as he considered his friend's current state of mind.
"'Friend intervention'." Skye explained, barely making the effort to raise her left hand to make quotation marks.
"Oh."
"Yes, something like that." Simmons asserted confidently, refocusing on making her and Fitz's tea.
"Well, don't. I'm fine." Her words fell flat as all three of her friends looked at her with 'are you sure?' expressions. "I am!"
"Ri-i-ight…" Kara trailed off, eyebrow raised. "Is that why you've been moping and hardly talking to anyone?" Her sharp gaze held a hint of disappointment and Skye shifted uneasily. "We got Grant back, but that's not the end of our problems, Skye. Or even mine."
"I know that." She grumbled, protesting half-heartedly.
"Do you?"
"You've been training with May, but have you gotten anywhere in the last week with controlling your abilities?" Fitz piped up.
"…no." came the reply. "It's not like it's been a problem."
"And what of the times where it is?" Simmons countered from her place by the bench. "Skye, I've seen you when you can't get it under control. You don't have to be terrified by what you can do."
Skye looked at her, a mixture of emotions in her eyes. Simmons thought she saw desperation, confusion and hope swirling in the depths. "Who can help me?" she whispered. "No one here knows what it's like, what will work. May wants me to shove it down and harness it, but that just feels like bottling up anger."
"So talk to us." Kara urged, sort of leaning forward, like she was afraid she was pushing where she shouldn't.
"We'll find someone who understands." Fitz added, smiling.
"Perhaps we can find the other one who changed with you?" Kara asked. "What was her name?"
"Raina." Skye muttered. She wasn't holding out hope that Raina would be willing to help.
"That's actually not a bad idea." Simmons murmured, thoughtful.
Skye turned to face her, exasperated. "Please tell me you're not thinking about bringing her in for that."
"She already knew about your potential and what would happen. Who's to say she won't know how to control your powers?"
"She knew from stories from her grandmother and my father. Both of which are human." Skye shook her head. "She won't want to help, especially if she's struggling with her own 'gift'."
"That is a point." Fitz said.
"Thank you." Skye slumped forward onto the table again, expecting the matter to be closed.
"But is there really any harm in trying?" he continued, ignoring Skye's glare. "Besides, Hydra's still out there, and if they know she's powered…" he really didn't need to finish.
"Ugh, god." Skye groaned into the table top. "I don't want to have to rescue her from a Hydra facility as well."
"Well, then, it's settled." Simmons said brightly, placing Fitz's tea in front of him and acknowledging his thanks with a nod. "We should go tell May and Coulson."
"Right away." Skye tried to get up, but was shoved back into her seat.
"After you've eaten." Simmons smiled, but the intent behind it was clear. Or else.
"Ugh." Skye slumped back, her limbs spread-eagled over the seat.
A/N: Hope you guys liked it :) Reviews, please! They make my day!