Remembering Freedom

Reassurance

Jemma's climb to conscious was like swimming from the depths of the ocean, the darkness was cold and oppressive as she tried to claw her way out. She needed to wake up...needed to see if everyone was okay, but her body just sunk deeper in the depths where nothing hurt. She almost let it happen, but then light pierced the shadows with a warmth even her body couldn't ignore and she finally opened her eyes.

She was assaulted by white, the sound of beeping and pumping loud in her ears and she panicked when she couldn't draw a breath. Her chest burned when she tried to breathe. Everything hurt...She had to breathe, she needed to breathe. She slowly reached up to her throat but found IVs tugging on her left arm, her other arm weighed down by a cast. She felt hands push her arms down. Remembering her nightmare, she began to struggle and Jemma had to blink a few times to realize that the man standing over her was wearing a SHIELD tactical vest with a quiver strapped to his back. Was that...?

"Agent Barton?" Her voice sounded gravely.

"Just Barton...or Hawkeye. Either one works." He gave her an amused look when she sat back with a groan. "You've been out for a couple of days."

Memories...images flashed through her mind of the minutes before she lost conscious. Running. Pain. Blue eyes and a flash of chromed metal. A gunshot... "Oh God...where is he? Where's James?" She didn't think to lower her voice until she started coughing and the pain in her chest flared up, originating from the point the bullet tore into her.

"Calm down...just calm down. He's fine. Tasha and Cap are watching him. Just breathe."

She nodded, trying to regulate her breathing, but the pain was making it hard. The machines must've notified the staff because two nurse rushed in to access the problem. After giving her some morphine to numb the pain, she was able to breathe, albeit shallower than before.

"Oh thank God! Jemma you're awake!"

Jemma was quickly surrounded by her mum's perfume and father's aftershave as they hugged her. She couldn't stop the tears. She hadn't seen her parents in what felt like forever and she couldn't help but let of a joyful laugh. "Mum...Dad...I've missed you so much."

"My dear girl." Her mother's voice cracked and she pressed a kiss to her forehead, familiar hazel eyes brimming with tears. "My dear sweet girl..."

Jemma couldn't help but flinch as her mum's voice morphed into the ever calm voice of Doctor Volkov. How did you do my dear...my dear...my dear... She tried to shake the voice from her head, the movement bringing frowns to her parents' faces, but she couldn't. She couldn't forget him...or what he made her do... Oh god...Anna...What would her parents think? What would they say if they knew? They needed to get away from her...she needed room. Shutting her eyes only brought her back to that cell... Come on my dear. We have something important for you...

She vaguely noticed Barton usher her parents away and tell then to grab the doctor. She felt his callused hand wrap around her shaking one and squeeze. "You are safe Jemma. Volkov is dead. He can't hurt you anymore." Another gentle squeeze. "You are safe. Your team is safe. James is safe."

James...The name drew her back from her panic long enough to notice that there was now a woman standing by her side. She tried to calm the pulse pounding in her ears so she could hear the questions being asked.

"What is your name?" The woman, or Doctor Hartman, asked.

"Jemma Simmons."

"Good. What year is it?" She was now shining a penlight in her eyes.

"2015."

"What are your parents' names?"

"Elizabeth and Robert Simmons."