14: FORWARDS
THE NOT TOO DISTANT FUTURE…
It took Coulson half an hour to force himself out of bed, just like it had been for the past week. Ever since that terrible, gut-wrenching day; the day S.H.I.E.L.D. lost one of their own.
He couldn't remember exactly when he'd started wearing ties again. At first he stopped because he had yet to master his false hand, but once he got comfortable with it he'd started up again. Today, he didn't put on a tie. He threw one what he could find and headed straight for his office – giving no orders and talking to no one.
The Bus reeked of grief. It was everywhere, like an infection. Not everyone was present when the fallen agent had taken their last breath, but they all felt like they had been. They'd all been cut and it appeared as if this was a wound that would never heal.
Coulson sat at his desk, wishing there was a way to go back in time. Had he just made a few little changes, decided against some actions…everyone he loved would still be safe. Be alive.
There was a knock at the door to his office. It had been a while since he's spoken so had to clear his throat first.
"C-Come in."
The young man entered the room with a cautious smile, tentatively walking up to the desk.
"Sorry to interrupt you, sir."
"We all know I wasn't doing anything important, Agent Gutierrez."
"I'm still sorry." Joey said softly.
"What do you need?" Coulson asked.
"I was just…I was asked to deliver this for you to sign off. It's the update to their file to say that…to say…"
"To update their status as 'deceased'. Thank you, Joey. Is that all?" Coulson asked, taking the file from Joey's hand and slamming it onto the desk.
"No, sir. I'll leave you to it." Joey sighed, heading for the door.
"How is everyone doing?" Coulson asked suddenly.
"…As you'd expect them to be doing. Some are being strong, some are in pieces. Dr Garner's busy with grief counselling. Lincoln's not getting out of bed. Hasn't left his room in three days." Joey explained sadly.
"Understandable, given the circumstances. It wasn't his fault."
"It wasn't yours either."
"Wasn't it?"
"…It was a heroic act. They died a hero." Joey said.
"You can't even say their name." Coulson sighed.
"Neither can you."
Saying nothing more, Joey walked out as Coulson tried his best not to cry again.
…
"Hey, you."
The soft voice filling the lab gave Fitz the biggest amount of comfort he'd felt in days. He was sat at his desk barely concentrating on some blueprints, turning around to see Jemma timidly looking at him.
"I told you not to work today." Fitz said glumly.
"I didn't want you to be alone. Now's not the time for loneliness." Jemma said, walking up to his desk and sharing the seat with him.
Silence.
"I don't know what to say." Jemma said, tears in her eyes.
"Me neither." Fitz said, taking her hand in his as she silently cried into his shoulder.
"It's not fair."
"I know."
"…No one's talking." Jemma said, wiping her eyes on Fitz's sleeve (he didn't object to it).
"It's hard to face everything that's happened." Fitz said.
"Do you remember when we first signed up for Coulson's team? He said it'd be dangerous. I never expected it to be heartbreaking." Jemma said, another tear falling down her cheek, Fitz wiped it away with his thumb.
"We just have to do what we always do." Fitz said.
"What's that?"
"Our best. We have to stop them."
"I'm not sure we can, Fitz." Jemma sighed sadly.
"If we give up, then…then…then they died for nothing."
"…I…I…I miss…" Jemma began before crying again, Fitz wrapping his arms around her and growing tearful himself.
"Me too." He whispered, kissing her hair as a tear fell.
"I can't lose anyone else. I won't let that happen. If anything happened to you I -"
"-Jemma, we're all safe. I'm not going anywhere. If anything we both know you'd cope better without me than if I lost you." Fitz said.
"Don't say that." Jemma said, her fingers playing with Fitz's collar.
"It's been decade already, and I wanna be stuck with you for quite a few more yet." Fitz smiled slightly.
"Me too." Jemma said happily, leaning in and kissing Fitz passionately.
"I'm still getting used to that." Fitz grinned and Jemma chuckled lightly.
"Me too." She said, fixing Fitz's hair with her index finger before kissing him again.
…
The lifeless body lay on a cold metal table for hours before anyone entered the room. Eventually, two men in suits walked in and observed the corpse in detail.
"And it's no longer radioactive?" The first man asked.
"All clear. We had some boys run all the tests." The second replied.
"I still don't know if we should be doing this." The first said cautiously.
"This is what R.E.S.C.U.E. was founded for. We're doing what Maya always wanted us to do. Even without her we have to do our jobs as members of R.E.S.C.U.E." The second retaliated.
"I know, but I feel like we're twisting her wishes."
"If we succeed with this, we'll be in the history books."
"…Okay. Send them in. Start the experiments." The first sighed nervously. The second man picked up the walkie talkie clipped to his belt.
"Operation 284 is a go. Now we begin."