The Before [Prequel- Part 1]

Ebony Maw

The tired scientist walked over and started to run a few tests while she explained. "For the past two days, he's been using his magic to keep you and the baby stable. This has been the first time he allowed himself to rest. He was afraid if he didn't keep healing you, something would happen."

My mouth fell open in shock. That much magic use could've killed him!

"I don't understand. Why would he risk that? Surely I wasn't that bad..." I trailed off when I saw the saddened look on Jemma's face.

"What do you remember?"

Those four words, delivered in that tone, made my anxiety skyrocket.

"I was in the supply pantry and I was attacked by a fear anomaly. Loki destroyed it, and then I blacked out." I stated what I could recall.

"Yes, but you also momentarily died." She revealed, her voice quiet.

I... What? I momentarily did what?

My eyes widened in disbelief. "What?"

"Loki rushed in here with you, and you were barely conscious, so I'm not surprised you don't remember." She sighed, carefully removing an IV from my arm. "He said you were attacked by a fear anomaly and were badly hurt. We were able to stop the bleeding once he healed your back because when the anomaly slammed you into the wall, it fractured your lower spine. Thankfully, it was a simple fix, but you lost a lot of blood. At one point, your heart stopped and... And we weren't sure if either you or the baby were going to make it."

The room felt like it was spinning around me as I processed what was being said.

My heart had stopped. That darkness that felt like it was swallowing me whole was me dying. I almost...

"We honestly weren't sure if you would wake up. There was a good chance you would slip into a coma, but Loki's magic prevented that." She said, now just sitting at the foot of the bed, done with whatever tests she had been running.

No wonder he sounded so fearful when he reached out to me telepathically. He was scared I would never wake up.

Alright, one thing's for sure. After all this is over and we get back home, he is getting a well-deserved break from all this. Meaning I am staying on bed rest, no questions asked. I'm not risking any further damage.

"Jemma, the baby's okay, right?" I asked, my voice quiet but filled with anxiety.

She smiled, which I took as a good sign. "She's completely healthy. Loki made sure of that. Honestly, I don't think I've ever seen him so panicked."

I looked back over at him sadly. He was so worried. He deserved to take some time to rest.

"So, I've been out for two days?"

My friend nodded. "A little over. You were unconscious for a total of fifty-six hours."

"And the team? How did you guys solve the fear dimension issue?" I questioned, knowing that Phil had been pretty clear that he would be the one to close the rift.

"It was closed. Coulson set off the gravity device and got out in time. Unfortunately, there are still a few fear anomalies that keep appearing, but we're figuring it out." She explained, playing with a ring on her finger.

Wait.

"Jemma?" I raised a brow. "Did anything else happen? Specifically between you and a certain Scottish scientist."

That ring better not be what I think it is.

"Well..." She took a deep breath, her hand on the back of her neck. "Fitz and I may have... Sort of... Gotten married..." She spoke slowly, the hesitation in her voice obvious.