X marks the spot

Missing Pieces

A knock sounded at Aaron Johnson's door. He opened his eyes, sighing. Getting sleep while on this mission was something that was a rarity, along with the fact that time in space didn't exactly match. So, in conclusion, his body clock was all kinds of fucked.

Sitting up, the knock occurred again. He put his hands to his neck and rolled it around it, doing at least some exercise.

He then got up, feet swinging over the side of the bed and touching the cold floor. He stood up, wearing some old jeans and shirt that he had partially outgrown, but worked for pyjamas.

Opening the door, Jemma Simmons was on the other side. She seemed a small bit nervous, with her fingers intertwined. It was something that the younger Johnson did not think he'd see again his friend; she was active, she had a motive now, she had a job to do and she almost seemed apathetic to their methods on her goal.

Aaron was behind the goal; he'd come to space after all. It just...it scared him a little.

"Can we talk?" Was all she asked.

He closed the door again, his head knocking against it, he sighed before he opened it. Jemma entered, not saying a word. As Aaron shut the door, she looked around the room as if it was one of the planets they had landed on.

"What's up?" He asked, leaning against the now closed door, head cocked to the side as he tried to gauge his friend and see what type of talk this could be. She sat on his bed, eyes not meeting him as she tried to think of a way to talk about whatever the issue was that was eating at her.

Aaron just waited, knowing that when Jemma Simmons – especially in this state – wanted to say something, you listened.

Finally, she looked up, meeting his gaze with a look that held a guilty look in them, "I'm sorry...for what Fitz and I did when you were with Ruby." Was what she said.

Ah, that whole thing.

Aaron waved it off, "I didn't exactly go at it with much grace either, Jem."

"I know... It – It's about how Fitz and I were ready...to be so ready to let you go to save the world." She was trying her best to get the words out. Aaron pitied her a bit, it wasn't like he was good at this either.

He moved closer, sitting next to her on his bed, "I don't blame you, if that's what you're worried about, Jemma," He put his hand other one of her's, the one with the wedding ring on, "It was a tough decision, we'll have more of them. It's not like we're gonna escape them." It was morbid, but true, so was the life of a SHIELD agent.

Jemma and him both met eyes, now on an equal level, "I know we are. We're in one right now. I just...How many more times do you think we will be? How many more times will it be like the....the -- the water planet?"

Aaron tilted his head up a bit, yeah, that was a tough one, "To be honest, I think as long as we're agents, Jem. Sad as it is to say, it's the life we signed up for," Now, it was Jemma who could see that her friend had something on his mind. She was the one who now waited, only watched as his eyes seemed to skip through several emotions, before they met her gaze once again, this time with a softness in them, "Maybe after all this; after we find Fitz and mini me, maybe you and him could settle down, huh? Maybe you can be the ones to get out?" His voice was soft too.

"'Get out'?" She echoed back to him.

He breathed out through his nose, annoyance at himself rising, Jemma could clearly see that, "Daisy and I...these are our lives, Jem. I mean, I know you and Fitz devoted yourself to SHIELD too, but that SHIELD's died and been reborn so many times. With your skill set, you could be whatever you wanted to be, settle down in a cottage somewhere – or, I mean, anywhere." Jemma couldn't help the smile at his slip up, she squeezed his hand gently.