Out Of Time

eighty-eight

"He has his good days and bad days," May replied. "I don't know which one today is though." May walked out.

"You need me, boss? Or can I unpack and await orders?"

"You can unpack," Coulson answered. "And, you might want to check in with Fitz yourself. He might cheer up upon seeing you."

~~~

Unpacking didn't take Y/N very long. She tried to keep a lot of her needs things on the base. She grabbed a few bottles of beer before heading to the lab, where she found Fitz alone. He was frustratedly running a hand through his hair. It was hurting everyone to see Fitz like this. Ward tried to drown Fitz-Simmons. To safe Simmons life, Fitz forgo oxygen, causing him to have a traumatic brain injury. He was slowly getting better, but still struggled to form sentences.

"Hey, Fitz," Y/N smiled, walking up to him.

"Y-Y/N," Fitz greeted with a stutter, not moving from what he was working on.

Y/N sighed. This wasn't unfamiliar territory to her, she was dating a man that spent most of his time hutch over something in a lab. It just hurt to watch them do it, trying to find a way to fix or ignore reality.

"I brought some beer," she told him. "I thought that you might take a break with me."

"Can't," he answered. "I'm trying to um... I've been trying to get... uh..." He snapped continuously as he tried to form the words. "Yes! I'm trying to figure out cloaking for the Bus."

"Do you need help?" Y/N moved closer. "I've spent enough time with Tony in his lab to probably led a useful hand."

"N-no... I'm fine."

"Can I at least stay and watch?"

"I said I'm fine!" He shouted, throwing what he was working with off the table. "Just leave! I don't need your pity..."

"Fitz," Y/N reached out but her hand was swatted away.

Fitz walked away, leaving Y/N standing in the middle of the lab.

~~~

Y/N found her way into the Bus' command center, where her and Skye were trying to figure out some drawings Garrett had been messing with. Skye was laying on the table while Y/N was standing, leaning up against it, staring at the screen.

"It's a little bit strange," Tripp said as he entered, carrying a beer for each of them. "I mean, they're exactly the same." Skye sighed as she sat up. "You really think they were just twins? Come on."

"Are you on about the Koenig's again?" Y/N asked as she took a beer.

"I've heard all your theories, Tripp," Skye said, taking a beer and drinking it.

"And Koenig's always mentioning other brothers," Tripp continued. "Every day, another bright. If he bring up one more brother, I don't know what I'm gonna do."

"Coulson said we can trust him."

"There's something fishy going on there, man." He took a swig of his beer. "You two will go crazy staring at this crap. What is it again?"

"Not sure," Y/N replied. "Something Garrett was messing with."

"Coulson put us on it a month ago, searching deep web contacts," Skye explained, sliding off the table, "even Rising Tide and Stark's database, looking for a match. We've got nothing."

Tripp chuckled, "There he is." Both the women turned to see Coulson headed in their direction. "Happy to see you, sir," Tripp continued.

"Agent Triplett, Skye," Coulson greeted.