Screaming.

That's the first thing Fitz jolted up to when he woke in the middle of the night. He sat up in bed, staring out in the darkness as his chest swiftly. The screaming soon faded out of his head, and he wiped his brow, which was damp with sweat, as he ignored the aching in his side.

It took him a moment to realize he could hear faint sounds of crying.

Jemma.

Fitz quickly scrambled out of bed and headed to the adjoining room. The doors separating their rooms were opened, and through the dark he could see her tossing and turning in bed, still crying out softly. He headed over to her bed and sat down next to her, shaking Simmons awake. She bolted upright, eyes wide with panic as she gasped for air. Fitz pulled her into him, feeling her shudder.

They both stayed silent for a few minutes before Simmons mumbled, "Sorry for waking you, Fitz."

"You didn't wake me," he assured softly. "I was having nightmares, too."

Once more, silence engulfed the pair. Neither of them bothered asking what the night-terror was about. They were both still recovering from the whole ordeal.

Tumbling through the air and splashing into the ocean; being surrounded by water as they kept sinking down…

Fitz felt the breath catch in his throat and he squeezed his eyes shut, trying to forget about it, his side now aching even more. He didn't realize he held Simmons a little closer, and if she noticed, she didn't say anything about it or try to pull away from him.

He wanted to stay and protect Simmons, even though he knew he couldn't fight against a nightmare they both shared, but he had to go back to his bed. Neither he nor Simmons wanted to play twenty questions with Skye if the hacktivist decided to use the other key card she stole from Simmons to get into the room. They both knew Skye would not leave them alone if she found them sleeping together; sexual or not.

"Goodnight, Simmons," Fitz whispered before reluctantly pulling away from her.

"Goodnight, Fitz," she called softly, watching him leave her room.

Fitz crawled back into his own bed and stared up at the ceiling, unable to fall back asleep. They were extremely lucky to get out of that box alive. They were lucky that the quarter tracker still worked despite it being crushed under his weight when they were falling. They were lucky that their team found them and not HYDRA.

He didn't want to believe Ward was evil, but after he let them fall, Fitz realized there was no hope for Ward. Ward had the opportunity to help them and take down Garrett, but he let them down.

Fitz got up once more and headed into the bathroom, flicking on the lights. He turned on the faucet and splashed water onto his face, trying to clear his head. However, it only made it worse, and he quickly shut off the water, drying off his face with a small towel as he focused on calming his ragged nerves.

He hated the fact his fear was dictating his life. It was stupid, but he couldn't brush it off.

Sighing heavily, Fitz turned off the light and headed back to bed. The pale light of dawn was shining in the small cracks between the curtains, and he knew sleep was now impossible. Sitting at the edge of the bed, he stared down at his hands. Swallowing heavily, he remembered his hands red with blood as he and Simmons struggled to stop the bleeding from a gash in his side; the same side that was now making him uncomfortable.

It was worth it, though. Simmons wasn't the one bleeding out in front of him. It was worth taking the blow for her.

A knock on the wall startled him, and Fitz looked up to find Simmons lingering in the doorway of their rooms. "Mind if I keep you company?"
"Of course not," he replied, and Simmons walked over, sitting next to him and gently leaning against him.

"Saw your light on," she whispered softly. "Everything okay?"

Fitz almost told her everything was fine, but knew better than to lie. They were both still in shock. "No, I'm not," he admitted quietly. "I can't even get my face wet."

"Neither can I," she said, gently taking his hand into hers.

Silence lapsed between them, but it was comfortable silence.

Fitz was tempted to tell her about his nightmares, just like they used to do back at the academy, but didn't want to worry her. He didn't want to burden her when she was already having her own night-terrors.

He had a feeling that was also why Simmons didn't tell her nightmares to him.

Simmons gasped suddenly, and Fitz instantly wrapped his arms around her comfortingly. "Sorry," she murmured, obviously embarrassed. "I drifted off and I saw…" She didn't need to say anymore, he knew what she was going to say.

"Remember back at the academy, how we always told each other our nightmares?" Fitz asked, and Simmons nodded. "I-I think it would be good to start that again… if you're comfortable with that, I mean. We don't have too."

"I want to," she replied, her voice sounding stronger. "It's a good idea, Fitz."

They pulled themselves onto the bed so they could face each other. Fitz offered to start, but he took a moment to gather his thoughts. "It's always the same," he whispered, unable to look up at Simmons so he stared down at the blankets. "Ward is watching us as we fall out into the ocean, but you tear your side open instead of me." His body shook, and Simmons took his hands. He gazed up at her, and his shaking stopped. "Your blood was everywhere, Jemma, and I couldn't stop the bleeding." He looked down again, tears pricking his eyes. "But you didn't die. We're saved, but it's Garrett who finds us, not Coulson. Then he… he shoots you…" Fitz's voice cracked and he stopped talking, handing his head as silent tears rolled down his cheeks.

Simmons pulled him to her, gently running her hand through his tangled curls. Fitz closed his eyes, feeling safe with her. He wrapped his arms around her as well, letting her gather her thoughts as well. He wouldn't push, and if Simmons didn't want to talk, he was fine with that.

"We're running, trying to escape the HYDRA agents," she began, her voice low. "We run into Ward, but we don't open the door in time." Her body shuddered, and Fitz pulled away, holding her close to him this time. "He shot you in the back as the door opened, and you pushed me inside before the door slammed shut." Fitz gently rubbed her back, feeling her body tremble as she started to cry. "I couldn't open the door again, and he shot you again in the head before opening the hatch and watching as the box fell out."

They sat there in silence, holding each other close as they both silently cried. It felt good to get it off of his chest, but it still hurt to say it.

"We're both safe now," Fitz assured softly and Simmons nodded, pulling away and giving a small smile.

"Yes we are," she agreed, letting her forehead rest against his. They were both calmer now that they finally revealed what their night-terrors were about. "I was so afraid I lost you," she murmured. "I thought the bleeding was never going to stop."

"It did," he whispered, giving her a small smile. "How's your head? I know you hit it pretty hard." He remembered it, too. It frightened him when he saw her head slam against a corner of something, and he was afraid it caused bleeding inside her skull. It didn't, thankfully, but it was still scary.

"Better," Simmons replied. "Still a little sore at times. What about your side?"

"Better as well, but also sore." He took her hands in his, squeezing them softly. "Thank you."

"Thank you?" Simmons echoed, her brow furrowing in confusion.

Fitz nodded, his smile growing a little bit bigger. "You saved my life."

Realizing what he meant, her gaze softened, and she returned his smile. "No, I should be thanking you. I know you took that blow for me." She leaned in and kissed his cheek, startling Fitz. "See you at breakfast," she whispered, pulling away and heading back to her room.

Fitz sat on his bed, dumbfounded as he rested his hand on his cheek which was tingling from her kiss. His smile widened, and he scrambled to get dressed.