So I'm apparently incapable of writing during the summer. Oops. But I felt the need to write a fix-it-fic after 4,722 Hours (who didn't). This is my take on what would happen if fitzsimmons rescued will and he stayed with the team. Also, this is considering that no theories about the episode are true (which I highly doubt, because it's not like Shield writers to not take advantage of our ignorance). Please review and follow my new tumblr ( captainofmanyships) Enjoy!

8,374 hours (or eleven months since Fitz's world fell to his feet)

Jemma,

Please don't follow me. Please don't look for me, or try to call (though I don't know why I'm telling you this because I know you will). I want you to be happy, do that for me, yeah? I know you love him, but I'm holding you back, and I can't bear to think that im hurting you. As long as im here, I'll hold you back, and I can't (even though I want to). Don't miss me, I'm moving on, please do the same. Goodbye, Jemma. Forget me, and know that I'll never forget you.

Leo Fitz sat at the mahogany bar, his third cold beer in his hand, and his eyes glossing over, starring through the dim lights at the many pictures that framed the wall in front of him. Today marked four months since he'd left SHIELD. He hadn't gone cold turkey, he still took a call from Coulson here and there (he wanted to help however he could), but four months since he'd last seen her. It's for the best, he'd told Daisy the day he'd walked out as she cried into his shoulder. It's for the best, he'd told Bobbi as she'd given him those sympathetic eyes, watching him watch them. It's for the best, he'd told Mack, who'd only starred straight ahead, jaw locked and eyes set, when he'd told him the news. It's for the best, he told himself now, when every fiber of his being screamed within to go back! Go back! after he had received the first call from Jemma in over three weeks. He'd hoped she's given up on him, but knew she hadn't, deep down. Sometimes Daisy called, he usually answered. She always avoided talking directly about Jemma, but ended every call with "I miss you, we all do", which is part of the reason he sometimes ignored her calls. He didn't need to deal with the overwhelming feelings of guilt that filled him to the brim when she said those six words. He was doing well, all things considered, and made sure to tell Daisy this when they talked because he know she was updating Jemma, despite his requests that their calls stay private. Some part of him wanted Jemma to think that he could make it on his own, though that would never be true.

"How's everybody?" He'd asked, during their last phone call, knowing full well she knew who he was really asking about.

"She's good, Fitz, not that you'd know. She says you're ignoring all her calls."

Silence, Fitz didn't have any excuses, and if he did, they wouldn't fix anything.

"Listen, I get it, ok? It's complicated. Hell, it went past complicated about seven months ago, but that doesn't mean you should block us out."

"I'm talking to you, aren't I?" He bit back stubbornly, knowing full well he was in for a lecture, and that he deserved it.

"You know that's not what I mean. I know that it hurts, and I don't know how you do it Fitz, but she needs you."

"Please, she doesn't need me, and we both know it!" He whispered angrily, not wanting to draw attention in the little restaurant he was in.

"Do you know how stupid that sounded? She needs you like humans breathe air, and in case you're still doubting, she asks about you all the time. I think…" There was a very loud intake of breath on the other end, before she continued. "I think Will might be leaving."

Fitz's heart dropped.

"I mean, he's just going on a trip to recuperate, get his bearings back and all, but still! He'll be gone for a few weeks, and Jemma's not going with him, so that's good news, right?"

"I think you should stop calling me, Daisy. I'm moving on." He replied, trying to shake the sudden feeling of hope that he'd felt for a few short seconds.

A dry chuckle reached his ears.

"Maybe you should stop ignoring her calls, I'm done being the middle man." After a few seconds of silence, a voice completely different from the one who just reprimanded him whispered, "I miss you. We all do. If you don't come back for her, do it for me. You're the closest thing I have to a brother," She paused before adding, "I'll call you tomorrow, Mack needs me in the garage for something. But please pick up her next phone call?" Again, silence. She sighed, "Ok, Fitz. You win," and hung up.

Jemma called again, a few days later, as Fitz sat in a bar on Elm street in Toronto. He felt the buzzing of a phone call in his back pocket, and expected to see his screen lit up with Daisy's picture, but instead was surprised to see Jemma's photo instead. Of course, he didn't answer, and instead watched as her face disappeared to be replaced by "1 new voicemail" written in small white letters. He couldn't even remember how long it had been since he'd heard her voice, he'd kept all her messages, but didn't listen to them. He was afraid that if he heard her voice, pleading with him to return to her, he'd come running back just to have his heart shattered before his eyes again. What had he ever done to her? Saved her, that's what. (Literally) Followed her to the ends of the universe for over ten years, and yet here he was, hiding from the one person he loved more than life itself. And he didn't listen to those voice messages, not until two weeks later, when he picked up Daisy's call just to hear her voice on the other end. He sat at the mahogany bar, his third cold beer in his hand, and his eyes glossing over, starring through the dim lights at the many pictures that framed the wall in front of him, when his phone buzzed in his back pocket. He pulled it out, and upon seeing Daisy's smiling profile picture, picked up the phone.

"Hey."

A shaky laugh sounded from the other end, and suddenly he felt his hands go cold.

"I didn't think I'd ever hear your voice again." Her tone sounded broken, but still sweet, still as British as she was before.

"Jemma," was all he could muster, his stomach doing summersaults inside his body, and something salty stinging his eyes.

"I figured since you never answered when I called, I'd use Daisy's phone. Weird, calling her that," she chuckled again, clearly trying to mask the pain laced into her voice. "How are you?"

He didn't answer. Suddenly he felt his breath stuck in his lungs, and clenching his fists, he breathed heavily trying to regain control of his thoughts.

"Fitz, I know you feel that I don't care, but-"

A laugh found its way out of his dry throat, cold and so unlike what Leo Fitz had ever heard from himself before.

"Don't, Jemma. Just-…Just leave me alone. I can't talk to you right now."

"Why? Why can't you just give me one phone call? One! I've called you a hundred times, and left thirty messages and you don't even care, do you?" She raised her voice and willed her words to convey just how much pain she felt.

"I left because I care, Jemma! Why can't you accept that? Why can't you just move on with him and leave me be?"

"I'll never accept it. I'll never stop calling, ok?" She sniffed on the other end, and though he couldn't see it, wiped a few tears away. "I need you to hear me out. I need you to come back."

Fitz squeezed his eyes tight, fighting the urge to call a cab and order a drive to the nearest airport, just so he could hold her in his arms and tell her he wasn't leaving. But he knew she was better off without him. Better off with the man who'd saved her life when she most needed it. If she really loved him she wouldn't have fallen for Will. He gave her hope when Fitz couldn't, and for that he was forever in debt. So he opened his eyes, and as clearly and bravely as he could, said to her,

"I'm sorry, Jem. Please just- just know that im sorry, but I'm holding you back from him." And then, he hung up.

That night, he sat on his hotel bed, head in his hands, cursing everything he knew that kept him from his best friend. It was at this moment, that he opened his cell and decided to hear the messages she's left him over the months.

Hello, Fitz. Please tell me this is a prank. You're coming back tomorrow, right? There was a sudden sob that made Fitz's heart clench. Please, Fitz! I need you, ok? I'm not better off without you, i know this is messy, but im trying. I just need time, and your help. You've been beside me this whole damn time, remember? So please don't leave now.

Hello, Fitz. Hope you're well. It's only been a few days, but we miss you. There's lots going on here, but the lab's not the same without you. There was a pause before, Um, well, I just wanted to check in and say that, I still need you, so please come back. Alright, that's all. Bye.

Hello, Fitz. Daisy said you answered her call. You know I'll always love you, Leo. You're my best friend. You gave me hope when I was lost. And, I know I keep saying it, but I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you, I never do. I've always needed you, and I don't know what to say to convince you that I really need you here. Goodbye, Fitz.

He cringed, her voice sounding more and more desperate with every message, but it was the last one that really got to him.

Hello, Fitz. I've said everything I know of to make you come back, but you won't. So im sorry. I'm sorry that I can't be the person you need me to be. I'm sorry that I keep hurting you. I love you, ok? If I could do it all again, I would. You're too good, you know that? Bobbi accidentally let slip something you did while I was gone. She wouldn't tell me exactly what happened, so I asked Mack. You were stupid, Leo, going in there with that gun. If the team hadn't gotten to you when they did, you would have been taken. You never gave up on me, and I did, and im so, so sorry. You deserve to be happy, and clearly that can only be without me in your life, but can I just have one call? I really miss you, Fitz. I'm sorry for everything I've done to you.

For the rest of the night, Fitz sat at the end of his bed, wondering where things had gone so wrong.

Hello, Jemma. I'm sorry I hung up on you, and that I didn't call until now. I- I need you to know that I never meant to hurt you. I didn't leave because of you. I left because I thought- I think that you're better off without me, because you love him, and I don't want to get in the way. But, if it's ok with you, I won't give up on us, on our friendship. I'll come back, if you really want me to. I know things are weird, and maybe they'll always be weird. But it'll be a better weird if we're friends, eh? And if I get in the way, I'll leave, just say the word. If you really want it, Jemma, I'll come back. Bye.

Leo Fitz starred up at his ceiling, resolving to get the next flight back tomorrow. He didn't know how things would work out, but somehow they would. Jemma may never feel the same way about him that he feels about her, but at least they would still be friends. At least, they'd still be beside each other, the whole damn time.

"Hello?"

"Fitz! Finally, I've been calling for three hours, I was worried sick, where have you been?" Daisy's voice ripped at his eardrums, still sore from the long flight.

"I just got off the plane."

"Oh. Where are you now?"

"Home. I decided to come home."

He didn't think his ear would ever recover after the shriek that followed.