Begin Again

Day thirty-eight

After the breakthrough, Fitz's memory was coming back in pieces. It felt to Jemma like he was picking up the glass shards of a broken window, cautiously and a little at a time.

It was that morining that he confessed something to her.

"I didn't eat the sandwich."

Simmons looked up from her book for a moment. "What?"

"When I went on a mission with Ward and you gave me a sandwich. I didn't eat it," he said sadly. "Ward threw it away."

Unsure of what to say, she opened and closed her mouth like a goldfish.

"I don't remember why. I'm sorry for not telling you," he said, guilt showing clearly in his face. "I shouldn't have lied."

"No, it's okay," she muttered and he relaxed, lying back on his pillows.

It was just so strange, how something that seemed to be such a big deal back then was just so meaningless now, small lies buried underneath the even bigger lie of omission that had carried them so far but yet nowhere. Why had she cared so much?

~*~

Fitz couldn't wait to leave the confinements of his bed at the Playground, ready for a change of scenery other than the plain white wall in front of him. He'd miss the field, of course, and he would never let the memories of their dance evanesce, but it would be nice to wake up every morning to a place that felt like home.

~*~

Jemma walked out of Fitz's room on the way to the bathroom, but crashed instead straight into Skye.

"Woah, steady," her friend said and Jemma looked up, a grin spreading across her face.

"Skye!"

"The one and only," Skye said. "How's our little monkey?"

"He's fantastic - fit as the proverbial fiddle, and well set to leave this place. So am I, as a matter of fact. He still walks with a limp and his dexterity is nowhere near what it used to be, but he's so much better now. His memories are gradually coming back - I doubt they'll ever fully return, but he's starting to become the old Fitz again."

Skye hugged her tightly. "I'm glad. And how are you? The last time I saw you you were crying in a bunk, I think."

"I'm okay. I just need to use the bathroom, but Fitz is right in there. I'm sure he'll be happy to see you."

She headed off down the hallway and Skye entered Fitz's room, lingering at the doorway for a little while. "Fitz?"

He took his head out of his book and looked at her. "Skye, isn't it?"

"Yeah," she said, feeling the dull ache that came with his responce. "It's good to see you again."

"It's good to see you too."

He was overly polite, his tone pleasant, but that was it. No smile, no joke, no anything else. I'll just have to get used to it, she thought bitterly, and felt a new wave of sympathy for Jemma.

"What are you reading?" she asked, treading on eggshells.

"Quantum Physics. It's really interesting," he replied, showing her the cover. "Jemma lent it to me. You're her friend, aren't you?"

"Yeah, and I'll be yours too if you want me to be."

Fitz smiled. "I'd like that."

Author's note

So I totally failed at the 'next couple of days' thing. Shoot me.

I wasn't emtirely happy with this chapter and I'm really happy that they're leaving the playground soon because it is so hard to keep coming up with new ideas for this and I'm glad it's ending soon. Congratulations if you have read this far.

I'm on instagram at @90_feet_down and @chloebennetedit if you want to check me out, I generally follow back!

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