Begin Again

Day twenty-three

"So the speech therapist is coming in three days, and the physiotherapist will be working with you next week for however long you need." Simmons said, rearranging his pillows.

"So does that mean I can get out of bed soon?" Fitz asked eagerly.

"Most likely, you have been doing really well lately. But take it easy, all right?"

"Yeah yeah, you're not my mother." He grumbled, but the smile hadn't worn off his face. "I'm kid-ding. I'll do what-ever you say."

"Why, though?" Simmons asked. "You've been so quick to trust me, why do everything I say?"

Fitz thought for a few seconds. "Be-cause you seem like someone I shou-ld trust."

"Why?"

"The way you talk, and laugh, and always seem so con-cerned about me. And you seem so familiar."

"I do?" Simmons raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah, it's like I knew you from a past life or something."

"Oh Fitz, you did."

~*~

"May?"

Fitz had gone to sleep again and Simmons was sitting by his side, once again tapping morse code on his hand with her thumb.

"I have a day off, and I thought you might use the company." She scowled as if a day off was the worst thing that could have happened to her. "He's alright, then?"

Simmons smiled. "He's fine. He's doing really well."

The corner of May's mouth twitched upwards a little. "He's fighting for you, you know."

"He said that I looked familiar this morning." Simmons stood up, adjusting a few of the tubes still surrounding his sleeping body to give her something to do.

"You've spent almost every minute of every day beside him. He will remember you."

Because I'm pretty sure that every minute of every day, you've been stuck in a lab right beside me.

She felt her throat close up. "Simmons? You okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine." She said, and rushed out of the room before succumbing to her tears.

~*~

May, of course, followed her.

"No, you're not. And I wouldn't expect you to be." An arm snaked around her shoulders and she leaned into the woman. "You've been through a lot."

"Not as much as you."

"But in some ways, more."

They were silent for a moment.

"One thing I've learnt is that sometimes you don't realise that you're drowning while you're trying to be everyone else's anchor." May said softly.

"What do you mean?"

"You're Fitz's anchor. You're holding him up, supporting him, bringing him back. You're saving him over and over again."

Simmons wiped a tear from the corner of her eye. "I suppose you're right."

"But you're forgetting about yourself."

"I can't afford to think if myself, not when he's like this."

"Take a shower. Do your hair, freshen yourself up."

"The water - "

May offered her a smile. "I'll be right outside if you need me."

"Thank you." Simmons stood up and went to get a towel, but May's words stopped her.

"You'll be okay."

"I know."