Hello! Welcome to the first chapter of Never Let Go :) This is first chapter is strongly influenced by the song "The Scientist" by Coldplay, and I think it may be a good song to listen to.

I'm sorry in advance for the quickness of this chapter. But this is going to be a short story, so keep with me! Enjoy :)

"I was just guessing at numbers and figures,

Pulling your puzzles apart,

Running in circles,

chasing my tail,

Coming back as you are,"

- The Scientist, Coldplay

Her world was crashing down around her.

It was like being frozen in time with her heart beating, unable to move or scream and just still. Suspended. Alone.

Hastily, her fingers rushed to rewind the footage. Hazel eyes re-watched the feed for the third time. It didn't change.

There he was, the love of her life, being sucked into a dark abyss – the Kree stone. That horrid creation, that demon. It took him from her.

A strangled sob escaped Jemma's throat as she turned and rushed out of the security room, leaving a confused hacker in her wake. Skye paced over to the screen, playing it much the same way her friend had. A hand shot to her mouth as stone cold dread crept to her fingertips like ice.

"Jemma!" she called, running after the distraught biochemist. Skye reached the hallway just in time to see a caramel head duck into the barrack area. She followed, running.

Skye didn't bother knocking, just barged right into her room. Jemma was curled up on her bed, small and frail with her arms wrapped tightly around her knees. Quiet sobs shook her chest, wracking her vulnerable body.

The Inhuman's heart broke for her. She crossed the room, sitting quietly on the edge of the bed and reaching out a hand. Her fingers brushed over Jemma's back, rubbing small circles in her blouse.

"It's going to be okay," Skye struggled to keep a light note to her voice, swallowing hard. "He couldn't have gone far, right?"

Jemma could only nod. She stayed in her little ball for a few more minutes until she felt strong enough to sit up against the headboard. Her eyes were rimmed red and her chest ached like it was hollow.

Maybe it was.

Skye gave her a watery smile. "He'll be back soon enough. It's not like it can just leave him somewhere . . . right?"

Jemma nodded again, wiping her eyes. "Yes . . . I'm sure he'll be back soon."

She waited two days for her love to come back. Forty-eight hours. Two-thousand, eight-hundred and eighty minutes. One hundred thirty-eight thousand, two hundred forty seconds. It felt like centuries without him in the lab – their sacred place. Jemma missed his smile and his reassurance. She longed to hear his stutter, a sign that it really and truly was him.

But she had to face it – he wasn't coming back on his own. It was up to her.

A week into his disappearance, the stress had begun eating away at her. Skye had to virtually force her to take care of herself. Jemma couldn't seem to keep anything edible down, and would rush to the restroom at random moments. Sleep became second in her search for answers, and not even the best creams could conceal the dark bags beneath her eyes.

She was determined to get Fitz back, but at what cost?

Jemma groaned in frustration. All this research had led to yet another dead end with nothing at all to show for it.

She was hunched over the computer in the lab, trying to come up with another piece of information but with no success. It was around six in the morning, and almost a full month after Fitz had gone missing.

Her typing continued until Bobbi finally stumbled into the lab in a half-asleep state. The agent valued her downtime, usually sleeping in a few hours later on some days. Such as was today, and with a sigh Jemma pointed across the lab to where a full coffee pot sat.

Bobbi grunted her thanks and hurriedly filled a rather large mug before collapsing in a chair next to the biochemist. A few sips later, the agent was fully awake and ready to hear what Simmons had found.

"Well?"

Jemma didn't look up from the screen as she replied. "The lead from last week is a blank. I think I've found another path, though . . ." her voice trailed off as her fingers stilled. The scent of coffee had fully hit her, and she jumped up and made a lunge for the bathroom.

Bobbi frowned sadly down at her mug before setting it on the lab desk and heading after the scientist.

OOO

Her face buried in the toilet bowl, Simmons began to recount everything she knew about morning sickness. There was no way the stress could be doing this to her this often. There had to be something else, like a problem with the Playground's water or something of the sort.

She remembered that nausea was usually brought on by fatigue, emotional stress, pregnancy, and allergies to different foods. Mentally ticking off allergies, stress and exhaustion seemed to be more likely.

As soon as the heaving seemed to have passed, she flushed the toilet and sank back against the cool tile. She pulled her phone out of her pocket and quickly searched for more information on morning sickness.

Jemma did not enjoy the results.

The exact cause of morning sickness is unknown. It may be caused by hormone changes or lower blood sugar during early pregnancy. Emotional stress, fatigue, traveling, or some foods can make the problem worse. Nausea in pregnancy is more common and can be worse with twins or triplets.

Her heart sank as she read more and more websites, all reinforcing the first. But there was no way she was pregnant . . . right? The last time she'd done anything with anyone was back before Fitz had . . .

Oh, no.

The rational part of her was quickly overcome by sheer panic. Her breathing became more and more rapid, and her hand clenched the phone so tight her nails left small crescents in the rubber of the case.

So that was how Bobbi found her, curled up against the bathroom wall close to tears. It was only after the agent had pried the device from her hands that she found the source of the young scientist's stress. Immediately, the older agent pulled her into an embrace.

Jemma didn't realize tears were streaking down her cheeks until Bobbi handed her a tissue, and she quickly wiped away the signs of distress. She offered her a watery smile as she began to stand up. "Well, I'm sure it's nothing. Just a coincidence, I'm sure."

Bobbi grabbed her forearm as she stood, and locked her own eyes with hers. "Jemma . . ." she warned.

Simmons shook her head, smiling a bit more realistically. "It's nothing, Bobbi. Just my nerves."

As she began to pull her arm away, Morse stood up and minutely tightened her grip. "I'm not taking any chances."

Jemma frowned as her friend dug in one of the bathroom's cabinets before coming up with a small hand full of white sticks. Her mouth was opening to resist, but Bobbi had already handed her the objects and released her grip.

"Bobbi, it's nothing, I promise!" Jemma tried to hand the tests back, but Bobbi had already stepped around her and out the door.

"Hurry up, Simmons. I'm not waiting all day." she called through the closed door, her tone taking on a more firm note.

Jemma sighed and ran a hand through her hair, staring at the pregnancy tests. There is no way this is happening. I'll just do . . . it, and show her there's nothing to worry about so I can get back to Fitz.

She nodded to herself, fingering a white stick. Nothing to worry about.

Never before had Jemma wished so much as she did now to have the calm of a field agent.

Bobbi was calmly sitting on Jemma's bed, watching the biochemist pace a hole in the floor. Her hands were ringing together, hazel eyes ever so often darting to the tests lying face down on the dresser. There were five in all, and the calm resolve she had possessed went out the window when she placed them on the wood.

Finally, what felt like hours later, the timer Bobbi had set on her phone pinged. Jemma virtually made a dive for the dresser, hand poised above the first test. Bobbi appeared at her side, and with one last look at her friend, Jemma flipped the test.

Her breath left her in a rush of relief, and she turned to Bobbi with a smile, holding up the negative. "See? I told you. Nothing to worry about."

Bobbi nodded, chewing on the inside of her cheek. "And the others?"

Jemma reached out, not at all haltingly, and flipped the second test.

Plus.

Her eyes widened, and she reached for the next one.

Plus.

And the next.

Plus.

Her eyes dilated beyond belief, her ragged breathing returning. Hands shaking miserably, tears appearing in the corners of her eyes, she slowly turned the last test.

Plus.

And she felt herself break. Bobbi was there immediately, holding her up. Jemma sobbed into her shoulder as her world came crashing down around her, piece by piece. Fitz was gone. The father of her child was gone – possibly dead. She was pregnant and alone with one of the most dangerous jobs in the world. Her parents were a continent away. Never in her life had she felt more broken and alone.

Before she had fully come to term with it, Bobbi had set them both down on the bed. "It's going to be alright, Jemma. You'll be fine,"

Jemma nodded hoarsely. "I . . . I just . . ."

Bobbi rubbed small circles on the back of her hand, trying to console the younger woman. Minutes passed, neither speaking. Finally, Bobbi broke it.

"Do you know who the father is?" she asked carefully, treading on thin ice. "Not that you have to answer, but they say it's better to talk-"

"Fitz." Jemma interrupted tearfully, her voice barely audible. "It's Fitz."

Bobbi seemed a bit taken aback. She'd had an idea, but the surety with which the biochemist spoke was astounding. A split second later, the wave of reality came crashing in for the elder agent. Fitz was gone, and though certainly not by his free will, he had left his pregnant . . . friend? Girlfriend? Love? Her heart broke more and more for the small woman next to her.

Jemma was suddenly speaking again, and Bobbi quickly jumped to soak up all she could.

"I-It wasn't something e-either of us had seen coming. A-After I saw you get shot, I realized h-how ridiculous we were being, n-not talking about the med pod. So I asked to t-talk. He agreed. A-After the attack, we were both in here, and we started w-well, talking. Then we w-were kissing, and . . ." her eyes were clouded and drenched with sadness. But somehow, she continued. "A few days later, we were with the rock. I couldn't stop smiling whenever I s-saw his face. F-Finally he asked me on a d-date. And the stone . . ."

Bobbi held her close, promising silently she would do whatever it took to get the child's father back. Jemma couldn't do this alone. She needed her other half.

She needed her Fitz.

Dear Fitz,

Today was a big day. Bobbi and I . . . bonded, I guess. It's been very stressful. But I think I finally found the cause of my morning sickness.

You have to remember the one night we had together. That one night when I invited you in to talk, and we . . . kissed. I thought that was all that would happen, but it turned into more.

I'm pregnant, Fitz.

And I'm so, so scared. It should be a joy, but all I can think about is the fact that you aren't here to hold my hand while we flip the tests, to snuggle with at night, to hold my hand while I break down. I'm breaking, Fitz. But the more I think about it, the more I realize something. You didn't leave me. You left a piece of you here, with me.

That's why I won't – can't – abort the baby. Every time it even crosses my mind, I see a little boy with your eyes staring up at me. I see a miniature you, with you holding my hand through it all. I see us becoming far more than friends, Fitz. But that's the thing – we already are. We always have been, but I've just been too stupid to realize it.

Please, Fitz. Come home to me – us. I can't do this without you. I need you by my side. I need your hand on my shoulder, your smile in the dark. Our child – it still amazes me to say it – needs you. Come home, Leo. Find your way back. Please.

I haven't told anyone yet. Aside from Bobbi, of course, but she promised to keep it a secret. You need to be here when I break the news, Fitz. I can't stand their charity by treating me like a pregnant teenager. I want this to be something joyful, something to be proud of and see their smiles when we tell them. We, Fitz. Not I, not Simmons. Us, FitzSimmons.

I don't know where you are, Leo. I fear for you. But you're strong. I know you're fighting wherever you are, trying to get back to me. I know. You wouldn't give up easily, not after everything we've been through. You will come home, and we'll be waiting.

Love,

Jemma

Okay, um . . . yeah XD I dunno where I got this idea from, but it completely wrote itself out. Like, every chapter is written and ready to be published so expect a week at the most between updates :)

A few other things: This is very quick moving, as mentioned prior. I'm sorry to say this was by far the cruddiest chapter, but I felt as if I couldn't drag it out.

Another point is that I'm fourteen. I've obviously not experienced a pregnancy other than my siblings, and the last time was when I was like eight. So I'm sorry that it won't be ridiculously on point. I'm just not all into looking around the internet for facts on this. I'm sure you could imagine my parent's fright if they were to see my search history XD Sorry about that!

But otherwise, I hope you guys'll leave a review! It's pretty cool to see what you got of this :) See you next chapter!