So just in case you've just jumped in at this point, here are some things worth knowing.
Firstly: WARNING: S2E10 Spoilers.
With this By My Side story that you've clicked on, there's an ongoing story hidden in here after a bunch of one-shots. Here's a rough guide: Part 1 (ch9) in which the team starts a new nightly tradition to cope with their grief. Part 2 (ch10) in which there's a good shift in the fabric of Fitzsimmons. Part 3 (ch11) a homage to Fitz and the brewing of a good pot of tea. Part 4(12) in which Fitz bakes and Part 5(13) in which Coulson briefs them on their field mission - Science vs Skye and her "gift".
This chapter right here(ch14) is Part 6, in which Mack makes a very slightly off-colour suggestion and Simmons gets to overhear Feminist Fitz in rebuke mode. Part 7, which is next (ch15) is where Simmons rewards him.
FitzSimmons and Mack had been working from early morning until late into the night every day for a week. So many decisions needed to be made, and equipment invented or modified before they could start work on configuring the camper, that the benches in the garage were strewn with blueprints and notes and the holo-table upstairs was working overtime running simulations for them.
Jemma was in the middle of transferring piles of notes and plans from the garage to the lab so she was rushing back and forth, bickering good-naturedly with Fitz as she came and went.
"… and you should know that by now, Fitz! It only comes up in every version of Trivial Pursuit ever released…" her voice trailed off as she disappeared down the corridor. "Even the Barbie version!" was the last faint cry of protest they could make sense of.
Fitz chuckled to himself as he turned back to his workspace and refocused on the suspended chamber he was designing for Skye.
In an instant, Mack was at his side. "Ok," he rumbled. "I need to get your input while Simmons is out of the room."
Out in the corridor, Jemma, who was back to pick up something she forgot and just about to throw in another Trivial Pursuit themed barb from the doorway, closed her open mouth and listened.
"Talk to me about how we arrange the beds, Turbo," Mack went on, grinning. "We've got to maximise opportunities for the magic to happen between you and your science lady."
Jemma's mouth fell open again. It's true, she could be accused of being not all that quick on the uptake where innuendo was concerned, but Mack was unmistakeable. She felt cold all over. How Fitz would respond was suddenly the most crucial thing in the world. She checked her position to ensure she could see and hear them but they couldn't see her. Fitz was leaning against the bench, arms locked, head down. He heaved a sigh.
"Mack?" he ventured. "It's not like I'm some loser desperate for a shag, you know."
Mack nodded. "I know, I know. It's just that you're crazy about her, right?" He nudged Fitz with his elbow. "C'mon, am I right?"
Fitz shrugged.
"And you're going to be out there in the middle of the desert, alone with her for a whole month, with Skye unconscious for days at a time…" he raised his eyebrows at Fitz, waiting for him to catch on.
Fitz rubbed at the back of his neck. "Look, Mack, I appreciate the thought, but…"
"But what?"
"I don't know if you understand…"
"Oh, I understand, alright," Mack continued, grinning. "You like her, you just struggle to find the opportunity – well, help me make you an opportunity."
"No!" Fitz said, surprisingly sharply, and Mack took a step back.
"Mack," Fitz implored. "She isn't interested. I want to be a good man. And good men have to believe in a woman's right not to want to be with them."
"Huh?" Mack looked baffled. Outside, Jemma smiled to herself. Feminist Leo Fitz. She'd taught him well.
"I want you to talk to Jemma about how to organise our sleeping arrangements," he said firmly.
"But Fitz!" Mack was going to make him spell it out and Jemma was transfixed.
Fitz was almost shouting now. "Look, Mack, she doesn't love me! And I don't want to try and make something happen between Jemma and I while we're stuck out in the desert – out of boredom, or out of some advantage that comes about because you put our beds in the right configuration!" he fumed. "Jemma Simmons is the most precious person in the entire world to me! I want her to feel utterly safe. I want her to have all the privacy she needs. I want her to feel completely comfortable. I want all of the awkward, unsaid stuff to be as far away from the day-to-day reality of our relationship as it can possible get!" He suddenly sighed. "And if later in our lives, by some incredible turn of events, she falls in love with me the way that I'm in love with her?" He shrugged again speaking more quietly now, "Then I can't imagine the furniture arrangements will come into it at all. But I won't be making any moves, ok? I won't be the one starting that conversation. I wish I could reassure her that she doesn't have to worry about another love confession from me. If, in some parallel universe, she should ever decide that she wants to be with me, she's going to have to be the one to bring it up."
Mack had retreated a few paces back with both hands in the air. "Sorry, Turbo," he said quietly. "You're right, man."
"It's alright, Mack," he replied. "I know you're just looking out for me. But right now I have another shot at the friendship she and I used to have and I'm not jeopardising that for anything. Talk to Jemma about the beds, ok?"
Mack nodded, turning back to his work bench. "Whatever you say, man."
Out in the corridor, Jemma stood completely still, a smile on her face. Fitz didn't know it and as yet she had only twigged to the vaguest haze of possibility, but that incredible turn of events wasn't nearly as unlikely as he thought.
Apologies if I've maligned Mack here, but I just wanted to give Fitz a chance to show some feminist chops!