"Impossible"

It all started, Jemma supposed, when she was undercover. After Whitehall made it clear that he wished to weaponise the Obelisk, Jemma knew she had to contact a real alien. She had no idea how to get in touch with Lady Sif, and Thor was in London as far as she knew. She didn't have his contact information, and he had no reason to trust her. If Director Coulson had told the Avengers that he was alive, that would be one thing; as it was, Jemma was grateful that Maria Hill worked for Stark Industries. She could vouch for Jemma, get in touch with Thor, ask for his assistance, or at least further information.

There was no way they could let HYDRA to weaponise the effects of the Obelisk. She wasn't sure why not everyone at the navy massacre died, but she was willing to bet there were… not-good reasons behind it.

"This is Hill," she heard. Jemma spoke through her teeth to minimise the possibility of her lips being read if she was watched.

"Hello," she said. "This is Jemma Simmons."

"…Agent Simmons? Is there any reason you're calling me?"

"Yes. It's… our common enemy. I need advice on alien objects."

"Okay, I'm trying to work out what you're saying. Are you being watched?"

"I. Don't. Know."

"Was that an 'I don't know'?"

"Yes."

"Let me run this through… alright. Alien objects. Got it. What do you want me to do?"

"I'm… undercover."

"Should I just ask Coulson?"

Jemma covered her mouth, pretending to cough.

"Ask him about the Obelisk!" she hissed. "HYDRA wants to use it to commit mass murder. I don't know how long I can keep working there, dragging my heels, when I'm supposed to stay for as long as—"

"Alright, I'll do what I can," Hill said. "Is there any way to contact you?"

She straightened, and wiped her hand on her trouser leg. "On this number, not during work hours unless it's urgent."

"Sit tight, Simmons. We'll work something out."

Her eyes closed in relief. "Thank you."

They knew she was a mole. Damn it.

Jemma had barely run out into the hallway when she heard what sounded like robots approaching. Oh God; what was HYDRA doing with robotic guards? The head of security was marching towards her on one side. On the other side…

"Oh," she murmured to herself. Her phone rang, and as Iron Man raised his arms she ducked, and answered the call. "Hello?"

"Sent in the big guns," Hill said. "Coulson was being unreasonable. Said something about having the situation under control. But after it turned out that JARVIS transmitted our conversation to Stark…"

"Ah. I didn't think of that."

"You've never been to the tower," Hill said. "Stark's seen your picture. Is he there?"

"Right in front of me. Shooting at the others."

"Run towards him when he gives you the signal."

"What sign—"

Iron Man lowered his arms. Jemma glanced over her shoulders and saw that the wall beside the security team was littered with holes, and that they'd hit the deck. She looked back to Iron Man, who jerked his head. She nodded, sprinted that way, and pelted around the corner past him. There was… my God, there was Captain America.

"This way, Agent Simmons!" he said, grabbing her arm. He took her to the roof, and into a Quinjet, or something like it. She saw War Machine in the distance, Thor flying around – hopefully collecting the Obelisk, or destroying it – but she barely had time to think before she was being strapped into a seat.

"T-thank you," she said.

"I've been assigned guard duty to you," he said. "Natasha's getting information, Clint's been distracting the enemy, and—"

"Here now," Hawkeye said as he leapt into the Quinjet beside them. "To pilot us as soon as Nat gets back."

"Oh." Jemma looked around. "Uh—"

"Everyone else can fly," Captain America said. "You just sit tight, okay? We're taking you back to the tower. You'll see your friends in no time."

"Some of us are going our separate ways again straight after this," Hawkeye said, settling into the pilot's seat. "But we couldn't pass up the chance to take a shot at HYDRA."

"No, indeed," she said. "Uh, thank you for rescuing me?"

"That was Tony," the captain said, waving it off. "But you're welcome."

Jemma smiled, and settled back. The Black Widow arrived soon after, striding to the co-pilot's seat as the door closed behind them. It took a surprisingly short amount of time to reach Stark Tower. She shouldn't have been so shocked, considering who she was travelling with, and who had most likely designed the `jet, or at least modified it.

"You did a good job," Captain America said. Jemma perked up.

"Oh. Well, thank you. I mean, I did my best… I've always been told that I'm a terrible liar, so I have no idea how I made it this far. But I couldn't, in all good conscience, help HYDRA achieve their terrible ends, because I'm not HYDRA, and their work needs to be destroyed… and if I'd been k-killed before I could…" She lowered her head. "I needed to get as much information from HYDRA as possible. But I didn't have the opportunity to bring my hard-drive, so it's all lost."

"Not quite," the Black Widow said. "Something you want to tell us?"

"…About what?"

"About Phil Coulson being alive?"

"Uh…" She cleared her throat. "He was dead for nearly a week? How did you know?"

"Barbara Morse was undercover at HYDRA, as the head of security. She's got the hard-drive. You told her to take it, so she did."

Jemma blinked. "Oh. That's good! Isn't it?"

"But she's taking it to Coulson."

"We want to see him anyway, don't we?" Hawkeye said. "…That would be a yes, Natasha. We want to see him."

"I need to return to SHIELD anyway," Jemma said, gripping the edge of her seat as they landed at Stark Tower.

"SHIELD?" the captain said sharply.

"…Yes," she said in a small voice, giving him her best Bambi eyes. He sighed, so she must have succeeded.

"Time to go in," Hawkeye said. Jemma unbuckled, and followed the others out of the plane. All the flying Avengers and sidekicks landed around them, and she skittered back, startled and intimidated. War Machine was the closest, and Jemma's heart was still pounding with adrenaline when the face-plate retracted and she saw James Rhodes's face for the first time. He grinned as he lifted her hand to his lips.

"So chivalry just relocated to America," she said, feeling giddy. His metal-covered hand tightened and his smile froze. Instead of replying, he looked over his shoulder.

"Tony, get over here!" he hollered. As Iron Man approached, Jemma swallowed. Her legs nearly went from under her when Colonel Rhodes finally did speak to her. "Thanks to you, ma'am. More specifically, those words."

"Oh," she said weakly. "You… oh my. Really? But… but you're a superhero! You're a colonel and a superhero a-and—"

"What's up, honeybear?" Iron Man looked her over. "Well, aren't you adorable?"

Buoyed by the colonel squeezing her hand, Jemma licked her lips, flattered when Tony Stark's eyes followed the movement with obvious interest.

"Was that a rhetorical question?" she asked. His smile widened into a wicked grin.

"This is my favourite rescue ever," he said. "Dr. Simmons, isn't it?"

"Y-yes."

"Come with us. Gotta compare handwriting to make sure."

She understood. They all had trust issues, according to Director Coulson, and being two influential men – with Tony Stark a billionaire to boot – they had every reason to make sure it was legitimate. Handwriting was one way, and no doubt they had advanced technology, the likes of which Fitz… no. Still too early to think about… that. The Black Widow insisted on chaperoning them. Jemma smiled at her gratefully, although she remained nervous in the woman's presence. Their collective presence, really, for all that some of them tried to lighten the mood.

"This is our stop," Iron Man said, leading the way out of the lift. War Machine nudged Jemma from behind, and Agent Romanov walked beside her.

"You keep your hands off her until you have permission," she said. Jemma's eyes grew.

"If they need to—"

"You're a bio-scientist. You understand perfectly well that touch isn't necessary when visual confirmation can be obtained."

"They'll still want to check, and so do I," she said. "But thank you for being here."

While the men shucked their armour, Jemma removed her upper outer garments, covered only with a sensible bra. Which reminded her; she would have to return to her apartment, assuming it was intact, and retrieve whatever was left.

"Mind if I get a closer look?" Colonel Rhodes asked, gesturing at Jemma's stomach.

"No, of course not," she said, twiddling her thumbs unconsciously as he knelt before her, hands hovering near her hips but not touching. She tried not to move her stomach as she breathed heavily, nervously. Tony Stark walked behind her, and she wasn't sure whether he was bending over or kneeling down, but she felt his gaze.

"My writing," he said, and Jemma nearly slumped in relief. "Rhodey?"

"Yeah," the colonel replied. "Mine, too."

"Mind if we see samples of your writing first?"

She nodded. "Pen and paper?"

They were obtained, and she dutifully wrote what her possible soulmates dictated. While they studied her handwriting, she pulled on her blouse, hopeful but wary, and couldn't even summon a smile for Agent Romanov, who was typing on her phone.

"Your friends from SHIELD will be here soon," she said. "Coulson, Agent May, Agent Skye, and Agent Triplett."

"Not Fitz?" Jemma asked. The woman shook her head.

"Friend?"

"My best friend through most of our academy training," she replied. "He sustained brain damage, and… I found it difficult to cope. He didn't want to see me, and he'd confessed to having feelings for me even though we're not soulmates, and I see him more as a brother, and… and Director Coulson needed me undercover, so I went, because it was easier…" She wiped away an embarrassing tear, and pulled herself together. "I can understand why he wouldn't want to see me."

"We can't let you go back."

She turned, frowning at Iron Man. Both men looked serious. Her heart sank.

"It isn't my handwriting on your… on you?" she asked, a bit too cowed to say 'bodies'.

"It is," he said. "Which is why we don't want to send you back to SHIELD."

"Is it really any safer here?" she said, arching an eyebrow. The colonel snorted.

"No," he said. "But we…" He cleared his throat. "Want you. If you're not here…"

She brightened. "You want me?"

"You're our soulmate, doc."

"Jemma. You should… being my soulmates, you should call me Jemma."

"I want to be there when you tell Coulson who your soulmates are," Agent Romanov said. "It's something I have to see."

"Not if it gives him a heart attack," Jemma muttered.

It didn't. Give Coulson a heart attack, that is. His eyes widened considerably, however, and Jemma worried about him until he loosened his tie and coughed.

"Okay," he said. "Unexpected development. Is that why we're here?"

"You know damn well why you're here," Clint said.

(Yes. Jemma was now on first-name terms with the Avengers and their friends.)

"Ah…" Coulson's lips twisted into a rueful smile. "I was going to tell you when the time was right—"

"And when was that supposed to be?"

"Barton—"

"Don't you 'Barton' me, Coulson!"

While they argued, Rhodey and Tony led Jemma to the couch and seated her between them. Skye and Trip sat opposite, while May was Coulson's bodyguard, in case Clint and Natasha were especially peeved that he'd kept his resurrection secret from them.

"So you're gonna stay here," Skye said, looking around. "I mean, it's a nice place and all, but we're your team."

"I know, and I'd love to return with you," Jemma said. "But HYDRA will be looking for me, and I don't want to draw attention to SHIELD. Our forces are weak enough. I don't want to be any more of a burden. And… I'm sure Fitz is coping much better without me around." It hurt to say it, but she was sure it was true.

"Well, he's better now," Trip said. "Not great; his hands still shake, he still has… trouble with words. But Mack's helping him. They've become besties." Jemma winced, and he backtracked. "Of course, you'll always be besties with Fitz, but—"

"No, I understand. He's moved on, and it's time I did the same."

"Or SHIELD could just move here," Tony said. "Somewhere nearby, maybe? You won't want to put up with me all the time, and Rhodey's still got his work, and I've got mine. But we don't want to see you just once a week, or whenever we can get time."

"And we'd both feel better if we knew you were safe," Rhodey added. "Safer, that is."

She huddled back against their warm arms, smiling to herself. "I'm going to worry like mad whenever the two of you do anything dangerous, you realise."

"You're gonna be doing an awful lot of worrying, Jemma," Rhodey said, stroking her knee. She met his eyes.

"I know," she said. "It's become par for the course since… long before SHIELD fell."

"We'll be extra careful now that we've got you to come home to," Tony said. "I'll try to limit my self-destructive behaviour."

"And I'll take as much leave as I can," Rhodey said.

"I don't think DC's going anytime soon," Skye remarked. Jemma glanced over the back of the couch and saw him standing there, his arms crossed and his shoulders hunched as he glared at Natasha and Clint.

"I suspect not," Jemma said, and she turned back. "Well. Sandwiches, anyone?"

"Our super soldier and alien-god-whatever-Thor-is will be so glad to have you around," Tony said.

Sorry I haven't updated until now. My mother had surgery today, and she's coming home tomorrow, so I've been distracting myself with fan fiction since I finished work. Unfortunately, more the reading fan fiction while movies are playing in the background than the writing fan fiction. Oops.

Please review! Ship requested by ozhawk.