Bleeding Out

Part One

Jemma had no sense of time. The days seem to blend together with the nights into a never ending wait. Seconds passed like hours and hours passed like weeks. Although Fitz had only been in the coma for three days, Jemma felt like it had been three years. She hardly noticed her team's presence as they talked to her, brought dinner to her, and waited for her to come back to reality.

It was a rainy Saturday when Jemma heard approaching footsteps. She removed her gaze from Fitz's calm, sleeping face and towards the entrance of the medical room. Skye was standing at the door, looking past Jemma, and towards Fitz. She came in and pulled up a chair next to where Simmons was sitting on Fitz's bed.

"Has he gotten any better?" Skye asked, but it was more of a statement, for she knew what the response would be.

"No," Jemma replied, morosely.

They sat in silence for a moment before Skye sprung up. The sudden movement startled Jemma, and she jumped up too. For the first time in what seemed like forever, Jemma made eye contact with Skye. What she saw terrified her. Some part of Jemma refused to recognize the girl in front of her. This girl looked pale and about forty years old.In other words, not Skye.

"Let's get drunk!" These words popped out of Jemma's mouth before she could stop it. Skye's eyebrows began to move; first up, then down, then they furrowed together.

By some silent agreement, the girls moved out of Fitz's room, through the Bus, and into the kitchen. Skye opened the fridge (the type that keeps food cold, not prisoners) and took out a steel flask.Jemma grabbed two glasses, waiting for Skye to pour. Nothing come out of the flask. Skye groaned and shook it again, the the result was the same.

Jemma sighed and prepared to sulk back into Fitz's room. Skye had other ideas, and jumped in front of her. "Let's go out and get drunk."

Jemma hesitated. Fitz needed her. But so did Skye.

~~~~~

Skye stared up at the swirling lights, her drink clutched tightly with her hand. For days she'd been seeing him everywhere. In the hallways, the training area, the lab, everywhere. It hurt not on;y mentally, but physically too, like he'd actually stabbed her in the back.

But what was the worst was whenever she saw him, she saw HYDRA.

Movement flashed in the corner of her eye and on instinct, her head turned. A dark-haired man with a leather jacket stood with his back turned to her. Skye's breath left her lungs in one gasp. She waited for him to dissolve into the air like all the others had, but when he didn't, a fierce beat began to pound out in Skye's chest. It was him. It was really him.

Ward.

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A/N

Thank you for reading!!! If you've gotten this far, you're pretty cool. If you stick around for the next part (there will be a next part, and a next part, and potentially a next part) then you're even awesomer, if that's even possible, given how awesome you are right now. This was written by me in collaboration with my dearest friend, Ami-mi. So please leave a comment and let us know what you think! We'd love to hear from you. And we also love votes too. Is it shallow to love votes and comments? Does anyone actually read the a/n?? Whatever. Bye!! And thanks again for reading!

~Jacqui