Author's Note: Um...so this is why I hate writing fanfic during canon. I think how things should develop and then...BAM! Canon changes. In lieu of the season finale: elaborating on my earlier story about Fitz/Skye's relationship previously entitled "A Few Drams Under Par." Italics denote flashbacks.

Disclaimer: No own.

At the bottom of the ocean, Fitz was at war with himself. As much as he wanted to tell Jemma how he felt, he knew she didn't feel the same. And he had been ok with that. From the moment he had seen Jemma though, he had been smitten. But Fitz never had a friend, let alone a romantic interest. So he buried his feelings so deep that he almost forgot about them; he was just ecstatic that he had a friend. All those feelings resurfaced in a torrent the first time he thought he was going to lose her forever. And that moment when Jemma smiled weakly at him as she let the tailwind force her from the cargo ramp…

As Fitz thought, he looked at Jemma (as she was still unconscious). The possibilities and the math were running through his head, naturally. Simultaneously, his night with Skye kept flashing in front of his eyes. "I'm not gay but…I may have a thing for Simmons." Somehow, telling Jemma how he felt now seemed like betrayal; betrayal the magnitude of Skye's stupid message that told them that Ward was Hydra.

Fitz yelled as Skye grabbed him by his shirt and pulled him into a storage closet. Fitz straightened his rumpled shirt, "Hey jackass." Skye started, giving Fitz a shove. "Why didn't you tell me you were also into Simmons?"

Fitz blustered, "We're not…Not Jemma…She's my…best friend."

Skye gave Fitz another shove, but less forcefully.

"Seriously Fitz. We've been living for months on this Bus together. It's obvious."

Fitz fiddled with the buttons on his cardigan. "Well…when you told me you liked her…"

Skye turned her back to him. "See this is why I shouldn't have said anything." Skye said as she threw her hands up in exasperation.

"I'm ok just being her friend. I don't want things to change…"

Skye turned her back to him. "Fitz, I've never really had friends like you or Simmons. And I'm not 100% sure how this is supposed to work. But one thing I am sure of is that I won't risk our friendship over this."

Fitz's head was always doing the math. Math made sense to him, not the confusing and contradictory interactions of humans. Which is why he still couldn't get Ward's face out of his mind as FitzSimmons slowly drifted backwards: out of the plane and into the ocean. Nor could he get Skye's face out of his mind when she let him in on her secret. But here they were: stuck, math dictating their future, a future of running out of air. Depth of water, water pressure, oxygen, rate of respiration; the variables were already in play.

Fitz stared at the floor. He wished more than anything that he had been able to turn back time and stop Skye from entering that damned mansion by herself. Today he had to deal with his best friend (love interest) trying to smoother a grenade to save himself and his other best friend (also interested in aforementioned best friend). Then his 'other best friend' was shot twice in the stomach and first best friend (everyone's love interest) was attempting to save her life. And now his family (minus his mum) was waiting.

When he watched Simmons dismiss herself, he knew, deep down, that Simmons would never reciprocate feelings because she had them for someone else. But this was all mindless speculation because right now, his best friend needed to be comforted.

He was going to die. That's the way math worked. There was no begging or bartering with math. There just wasn't enough oxygen for two brains to function. Of course Jemma had to live, he loved her too much – he wouldn't be able to handle life without her. He was already on the edge since his big brother, the one he trusted most with his life had betrayed them, hell, he tried to kill them. Jemma would hurt, sure, but she had Skye, and they could be happy. Even if Jemma couldn't admit her feelings to herself, he knew.

"I never had the courage…" Courage was a good reason; believable. He just couldn't lose another friend…

. . .

Simmons cornered Skye in the passageway. "What secret did you tell Fitz and not me?" Skye stood, toothbrush in mouth, looking around desperately for some escape. Simmons placed her hands on her hip and glared at the hacker. Fitz called for Simmons. In the brief second she turned to tell her best friend to shove off, Skye made her break. Simmons growled in frustration as she saw Skye's pod door close.

Simmons was racked with guilt. Guilt because she walking around while Fitz was lying on a bed, just like Skye had been not terribly long ago. She felt a reassuring hand on her shoulder. Obviously it wasn't Fitz, since she was currently watching a machine breathing for him. She was pulled into a hug and, for what felt like the millionth time, broke down.

"That…stupid…" Simmons choked out. Skye patted her back soothingly. Simmons suddenly broke from the hug, smacking Skye in the arm. "Wa?" Skye exclaimed, confused.

"First you're on that table, literally dying; making me bring you back to life half-a-dozen times. Now Fitz, because he wanted to show how much he cared about me, tried to die…" Simmons pushed Skye, tears still coming. "Why do you two keep doing this to me?"

A weakness overcame Simmons and she sank against the wall, exhausted. Skye, however, felt irrational indignation wash over her. "You're one to talk!" Simmons looked wearily up at Skye. "First you take a swan dive out of a moving plane, then you try and smoother a fucking grenade with your body! And now you're telling me we're reckless? How do you think we feel, having to watch, watch Jemma, as you nobly sacrifice yourself? Especially considering how Fitz and I…" Skye trailed off.

"Fitz and you what?" Simmons pushed herself off the wall. Skye turned her back avoiding Simmons' gaze. "Is this what you two have been hiding from me? Skye, answer me. You two owe me at least that."

"We owe you nothing Simmons." Skye shot back. "Some things are just meant to be secrets."

"Said the former Rising Tide member. Where are those ideals now?" Simmons retorted. She had no idea why she was being both petty and vindictive at the same time, hitting Skye where she knew it would hurt.

And she could tell she had hurt Skye deeply. Skye arms fell limply by her side and she seemed to curl into herself. "I have a new set of ideals, ones that involve me protecting my family." Then she walked away, leaving Simmons dumbstruck in the hallway of the medical facility.