It Is A Miracle
Jemma blinked her eyes open, disoriented at first because she couldn’t recognize the room. It took her a moment to remember where she was and why. She found herself with her head on Skye's shoulder, the other girl’s arm draped around her back.
“Hey, sleepyhead.” whispered Skye, positioning herself better on the pillow behind her.
"Morning," Jemma replied, her voice tinged with wonder. "You're talking. You’re okay…How is this possible?"
Skye offered a small, reassuring smile. "Seems like I am. I woke up feeling stronger. It's a bit miraculous, isn't it?"
Jemma nodded, her scientific mind already buzzing with questions and theories. But she allowed herself a moment just to be, to savor the quiet happiness of the moment. "It is. We'll have to run some tests."
Skye agreed. "Okay," her hand finding Jemma's. "My recovery accelerated while we were asleep. Should I worried?"
Jemma sat up slowly, her hand trembling slightly as it found Skye's. “I don’t know…We really should analyze your DNA to see if there’s been a change or…if the serum has had some late-stage effects we didn't anticipate.”
Skye nodded, squeezing Jemma's hand gently. "We will, I promise. But right now, I just want to relax with you for a little bit."
Jemma felt a smile spread across her face. The simplicity of the statement momentarily took Jemma's breath away. "I'm so glad you're okay. I was really worried, I couldn’t sleep thinking of what happened…how that piece of shit shot you…I-”
“But now I’m right here. And I'm not going anywhere," Skye assured her, the intensity of her gaze conveying the truth of her words.
Jemma's smile faltered slightly, a flicker of apprehension crossing her features as a sudden realization dawned on her. "Skye, there's something I need to tell you," Jemma began, her voice laced with a hint of nervousness. "Something I said to Triplett... and I'm not sure how you'll feel about it."
Skye's expression shifted to one of concern, her brow furrowing. "What is it? You can tell me anything, you know that."
Taking a deep breath, Jemma pressed on, her gaze locked with Skye's. "Last night, Triplett came to the lab, offering me a drink or something like that. He was... well, he was being Triplett, overly curious and a bit intrusive. I was so worried about you and stressed, and I just wanted to be left alone, without any interruptions or flirtation…”
Skye listened, her hand still holding Jemma's, a gesture of support and encouragement.
"I may have... implied that we were a couple. That you and I are together, in a romantic sense. I thought it would make him go away, and it did, but now I realize that wasn't fair to you, Skye. I'm sorry. I just didn't know what else to do," Jemma finished, her voice a mix of apology and earnest concern.
For a moment, Skye was silent, processing Jemma's confession. A myriad of emotions played across her face, surprise, contemplation, and then, unexpectedly, amusement.
"Jemma Simmons, you’re a genius. You use your unconscious fake girlfriend to chase away a guy who's hitting on you? Wow!" Skye's tone was light, teasing even, as a smile began to curve her lips.
Jemma blinked, taken aback by Skye's reaction. "I... yes, I suppose I did. But Skye, I'm serious. I shouldn't have lied, especially about something like that. It was wrong, and I understand if you're upset."
Skye's laughter, soft and genuine, filled the room, easing the tension that had built up in Jemma's shoulders. "Upset? Jemma, I'm not upset. I'm flattered, actually. And it's kind of hilarious. I can imagine Triplett's face."
Jemma's eyes widened in surprise, relief slowly washing over her. "You're not mad?"
"No, I'm not mad. In fact, I'm thrilled," Skye confessed with a mischievous glint in her eye. "It's going to be a fantastic distraction during my recovery. Keeps things interesting, doesn't it?"
Jemma, still a bit taken aback by the whole situation and Skye's unexpectedly positive take on it, managed a small, nervous laugh. "Interesting is one word for it," she said, her mind racing through the potential implications of their newfound 'relationship.'
Before Jemma could further process the situation, Skye's attention shifted suddenly, her gaze darting to something—or someone—behind Jemma. With a swift, purposeful movement, Skye gently pulled Jemma closer, her intentions clear in the split second before their lips met.
Jemma's eyes widened in shock at the sudden kiss, her mind going blank. It was a brief, soft press of lips, but it sent a wave of warmth through her, leaving her momentarily dazed. It was like someone had taken all the theoretical physics she loved and tossed them into a black hole. There was shock, yeah, but it was quickly swallowed by a rush of warmth that made her knees feel like they'd turned to jelly. Responding to Skye's kiss felt as natural as breathing, despite the whirlwind of panic and butterflies wreaking havoc in her stomach. As Skye pulled back, Jemma turned slightly to see Triplett rounding the corner, his expression one of surprise and quickly masked intrigue.
"Uh, sorry, didn't mean to interrupt," Triplett stammered, clearly taken aback by the scene before him.
Skye, ever the quick thinker, flashed a sly smile. "No worries, Triplett. Jemma was just giving me some…moral support."
Triplett nodded, still visibly trying to process the situation. "Right, of course. I'll just, uh, leave you two to it then," he said, backing away.
As Triplett disappeared from view, Jemma turned back to Skye, her expression a mix of astonishment and questioning. "Skye, that was..."
Skye's smile softened, and she squeezed Jemma's hand reassuringly. "A bit of theatrics for the benefit of our audience. But, Jemma, if that made you uncomfortable, I'm sorry. I thought it might help sell our story a bit more convincingly."
Jemma took a moment, her heartbeat slowly returning to normal as she considered Skye's words. "No, it's... it's okay," Jemma finally said, her voice steady but quiet. "It’s just I’m…wow…your lips are very soft, you know?”
Jemma's admission slipped out before she could stop it. She felt her cheeks flush with embarrassment, but there was no taking back her words now.
Skye's eyes widened in surprise, a blush tinting her cheeks as well, but there was a playful glint in her gaze. "Well, I'm glad you think so, Jemma," she replied, her voice carrying a teasing lilt.
Jemma's heart skipped a beat at the playful response, but she couldn't help but feel a rush of relief. Skye wasn't recoiling in horror or laughing at her; instead, she seemed genuinely amused by the unexpected compliment.
"Yeah, well..." Jemma stammered, her cheeks burning even brighter now. "I mean, not that I've kissed a lot of people to compare or anything. It's just... you know."
Skye's laughter filled the room, light and infectious. "It's okay, Jemma. No need to explain. And for the record, yours are pretty soft too."
Jemma blinked, momentarily stunned by the unexpected compliment, before a shy smile tugged at the corners of her lips. "Thanks," she murmured, her heart fluttering with a mix of happiness and nerves.
Eventually, Jemma's curiosity on Skye's rapid recovery resurfaced, her mind teeming with hypotheses and questions. "We should start planning the tests. And maybe get Fitz involved; he'll want to see this."
Skye laughed softly, the sound of a melody to Jemma's ears. "Cool, my fake girlfriend is a scientist.”
Jemma couldn't help but chuckle and blush. "Yes, well, lucky for you. And did you know my fake girlfriend happens to be a pretty good hacker?" she replied with a smirk.
Skye grinned. "I guess we make a pretty good team, huh?"
"Yeah, we do," Jemma agreed, her voice filled with genuine fondness.
Moments later Simmons was already in the lab with her mind fully engaged in the task at hand. She carefully set the test tubes of Skye's blood on the lab bench, her hands moving with practiced precision as she prepared to analyze them. Beside her, Fitz stood ready, his own excitement palpable as he prepared to assist her in unraveling the mystery of Skye's rapid recovery. He was ready to help her, but also ready to ask her the thousand questions that had been spinning in his head since Triplett had told the group about her and Skye.
Fitz joined her at the bench, his eagerness matching hers. "Alright, Simmons, what's the plan?" he asked, a hint of excitement lacing his words.
Jemma flashed him a quick grin. "We need to dive into these samples and see what's going on with Skye's blood," she explained, already reaching for the microscope.
Fitz nodded eagerly, his fingers dancing over the keyboard as he pulled up the necessary data. "Got it. Let's see if we can uncover any clues," he replied, his voice brimming with enthusiasm.
As they worked, the lab hummed with activity, their voices rising and falling in a symphony of scientific inquiry. Jemma and Fitz exchanged rapid-fire questions and hypotheses, their minds ablaze with possibility.
"Have you noticed anything unusual in the preliminary scans?" Fitz asked, his eyes glued to the computer screen.
Jemma shook her head, her brow furrowed in concentration. "Not yet, but I'm hoping the blood work will shed some light on Skye's rapid recovery," she replied, adjusting the focus on the microscope.
With each test they ran, each result they analyzed, the pieces of the puzzle began to fall into place. They discussed their findings passionately, debating theories and brainstorming new avenues of exploration.
"This is incredible," Fitz breathed, his eyes wide with wonder as they reviewed the latest data. "I've never seen anything like it."
Jemma nodded, her heart racing with excitement. "I know, it's like Skye's biology is rewriting the rules," she agreed, her voice tinged with awe.
And as they continued to work, their collaboration was fueled by a shared sense of curiosity and determination.
"We're getting closer," Jemma said, as they poured over the latest results.
Fitz grinned, a sense of pride shining in his eyes. "We'll figure this out, Simmons. I have no doubt about it," he replied, his confidence unwavering.
As Jemma meticulously tidied up the lab bench, carefully stowing away the equipment they had used, Fitz's voice cut through the air, pulling her attention back to the present.
"Hey, Simmons," Fitz began, his tone hesitant but curious. "Can I ask you something?"
Jemma looked up, a small smile gracing her lips. "Of course, Fitz. What's on your mind?" she replied, her curiosity piqued.
Fitz hesitated for a moment, his expression thoughtful. "I was just wondering... how are things with you and Skye?" he asked, his voice tinged with a hint of uncertainty.
Jemma blinked, momentarily caught off guard by the unexpected question. "Oh," she said, her mind racing to catch up. "Um, well, actually, it's incredible. Skye can talk now, Fitz! It's amazing. We had a conversation earlier, and she was perfectly coherent. It's a huge step forward in her recovery."
Fitz's brow furrowed in confusion, his expression turning puzzled. "That's not exactly what I meant, Simmons," he clarified, his voice gentle but insistent.
Realization dawned on Jemma, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. "Oh," she said again, this time with a nervous laugh. "I see. You mean...What do you mean?”
Fitz's expression darkened, a flicker of hurt crossing his features before he masked it with a forced calm. "I mean…your relationship with Skye, Jemma," he replied, his tone clipped but controlled. "I thought we were friends, that we could talk about these things."
Jemma's cheeks burned with embarrassment and regret. "Fitz, I'm sorry," she began, her voice soft. "I never meant to... I just didn't know how to handle it, and I thought..."
Her words faltered as she struggled to find the right explanation, her mind racing with excuses that felt inadequate now. Jemma wasn't good at lying and now she had to lie to her entire team. She knew that if Fitz knew that she and Skye were a couple, it meant Triplett had told the rest of the group about it. A little lie was becoming something too big to control. But she had to do it, she didn't want to be seen as a liar.
Fitz's expression softened slightly, but the hurt still lingered in his eyes. "I understand that it's complicated, Jemma. But I thought we could trust each other, that we were more than just colleagues," he said, his voice tinged with disappointment.
Jemma's heart ached at the hurt in Fitz's words, knowing she had let him down. "We are, Fitz. We are more than colleagues," she insisted, her voice earnest. "And I do trust you. I just... I didn't know how to tell you about me and Skye. I was afraid..."
Fitz sighed heavily, his shoulders slumping with resignation. "I get it, Jemma. I do. But it still hurts," he admitted, his voice heavy with emotion.
Jemma reached out, placing a gentle hand on Fitz's arm, her eyes pleading for forgiveness. "I'm so sorry, Fitz. I never meant to hurt you, you know I consider you my best friend." she whispered, her voice thick with remorse.
Fitz met her gaze, his expression softening as he saw the sincerity in her eyes. After a moment, he nodded, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "I consider you my best friend, too." he replied, his voice filled with warmth.
Relief flooded through Jemma, and she pulled Fitz into a tight hug.
As they embraced, a soft clearing of the throat broke the moment, and both Jemma and Fitz turned to see Skye standing at the doorway.
Jemma's expression shifted from relief to annoyance as she stepped back from Fitz, her hands on her hips. "Skye," she began, her voice tinged with frustration. "What are you doing out of bed? You're supposed to be resting."
Skye shrugged casually, her grin widening. "Hey, I was just feeling a little cooped up in there," she replied, her tone light. "Besides, I wanted to be involved in my blood analyses. I didn't want to miss out on the fun."
Jemma's lips formed a thin line as she regarded Skye, her irritation evident. "This isn't a joke, Skye. You were shot, remember?" she scolded, her voice tinged with concern.
Skye's smile faltered slightly, replaced by a more serious expression. "I know, Jem. But I feel fine, really," she insisted, her tone earnest.
Jemma felt a warmth spread through her chest, her heart fluttering at the sound of the nickname. She approached Skye, placing a hand on her forehead to feel if she had a fever. Then she ran her hand over her cheek, caressing it gently.
Fitz's eyes widened in surprise, letting out a nervous chuckle. "Uh, yeah, definitely not stealing anyone's girlfriend here," he said, his tone laced with awkwardness.
Skye giggled, wrapping her arms around Jemma's hips. “Believe me, Fitz. It hadn't even crossed my mind.”
Jemma rolled her eyes at Fitz's attempt to lighten the mood, but she couldn't help but feel a small smile tug at the corners of her lips. Despite her annoyance, she couldn't stay mad at Skye for long, especially not when she was standing in front of her with that mischievous grin on her face and her arms wrapped around her body.
"Fine, but promise me you'll take it easy," Jemma said, her voice softening as she looked Skye in the eyes.
Skye nodded, her smile returning. "I promise, Jem. Cross my heart," she replied, her tone sincere.
Jemma sighed, her frustration melting away as she realized there was no arguing with Skye when she had that determined look in her eye. "Alright, but if you start feeling tired or in pain, you go straight back to bed, understood?"
Skye nodded repeatedly, before kissing her hand and heading down the hall. "Yes, ma'am!" she exclaimed, a playful gleam in her eye.
Jemma shook her head with a fond smile, knowing that Skye would always be Skye, no matter what. She watched her fake girlfriend walk away, when Fitz's voice woke her from her thoughts once again.
"So, Jemma, are you... I mean, with Skye, does this mean you're lesbian? Or bisexual? Or pansexual? I don't actually know what the proper term is," he asked, his voice tinged with genuine confusion but also a sincere desire to understand.
Jemma's eyes widened slightly at the question, a blush creeping up her cheeks. She hadn't expected Fitz to be so direct, nor had she fully processed her own feelings to give a clear answer. "I... Fitz, I think I’m a lesbian. I’m still figuring it out. I didn’t really have experience with…I mean…” she admitted, her voice a mixture of honesty and uncertainty.
Fitz nodded, his expression softening, showing his support. "That's okay, Jemma. You don't have to have all the answers right now," he assured her, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "I just want you to be happy, you know? Whoever you are, whatever you feel, I'm here for you."
Jemma felt a wave of gratitude towards Fitz. His unconditional support meant the world to her, especially at a moment when everything seemed so complicated.