X marks the spot

The Force of Gravity

"The Centipede serum forces new cellular pathways like biological infrastructure. In doing so, it can also carry any element we feed it" Jemma said as she zoomed in on the test they had running. Doing anything she could to now have to look at the bones that belonged to her best friend's mother.

Jemma may not have been Daisy's right now - she wasn't sure, they hadn't talked yet. But, Daisy was still Jemma's.

"For example, Jiaying's healing DNA. Which we could deliver to, say, Coulson's ailing cells....Or Aaron's."

"Should work. It's just...."

"You can cross me off the list, for one." The two turned to the familiar voice. Seeing a very weak Aaron Johnson leaning against the doorway. He looked pale, but better than before. In the two's minds, for a moment they swore they saw Hive.

"Aaron..." Jemma breathed out in both disbelief and relief. He took a step in, only to stumble a little. As he did, Fitz went over to help him. Aaron, at first, declined it, slapping the hand away, before he realised he couldn't fully move on his own. He was weak. So, begrudgingly, he let Fitz help him.

"How'd you get out of your room?" Aaron let out a weak laugh at the question.

"Oh, Fitzsimmons. I have a knack for getting out of rooms I don't wanna be in....." Their silence made him roll his eyes, "Powers, I used my powers."

"That must've taken a lot to use." Jemma's voice held a little bit of both concern and scolding to them. Aaron, however, nodded at her observation.

"It did, I'll give you that." He sounded breathless. He looked dead, like a revenant. Just walking until he would finally drop. Just like Coulson. Jemma hated that the very link between the two came to her mind. She couldn't help it. Both her friends were dying. One wanted it, the other had already made his peace with it.

Plus, they both looked like shit.

"But, you were more worried about what Yo-yo said....the danger." Jemma affirmed Fitz's guess.

"Well, I've been thinking about that, and her warning was that trying to save Coulson ends the world, right?" Jemma only let her husband continue. Knowing where this was most likely going to go.

"But, what if – what if – what if we don't just try? What happens if we actually succeed?" Ok, that wasn't the way she thought it was going to go. Maybe everything was just slowly making her more jaded.

"Jemma, what if there's another way to frame this?" His voice held some hope. Some sort of hope that maybe they could succeed.

Fitz now asking a question for a procedure did make Aaron sigh and look away from the two. But, this time, the idea would do some good. Hopefully not hurt anyone.

"Coulson wasn't there in the future. You're saying we break the loop, not by allowing someone to die; but by making sure they live?"

"What if all we have to do is not fail?" As Jemma said, it was quite a leap. Jemma continued her observation, slightly teasing her husband for once being a man who didn't believe that time could be changed.

"Maybe it's time to be audacious." They shared a look. That look. The one that made Aaron roll his eyes; he didn't stop them though - his lowered opinion of them not withstanding.

Everything was coming true, Simon and Mack both stood side by side as they watched the news. Seeing the destruction start. Mack even verbalised the situation they were now in.

"Zephyr to Lighthouse. Mack, Simon, hell anyone!" Mack quickly turned, making his mic be used to reach the distressed Deke.

"Yeah, yeah. We read you buddy." Simon answered, Mack gave him a look as he too gave Deke the all clear on his end.