AN: So here we are. From the start this was a Leo Fitz story and his development after starting of in Hydra. Many times I wanted to expand it onto all characters but I felt that it would lose the depth and the personal approach that would give us an insight into his struggle. As you have read you could have seen that this was about him finding who he was and what does he stand for. I hope that sometime in the future I will manage to write a continuation of sorts that will be based from Ward POV and how he deals with his choices. Mostly I'd like to thank to all those who gave this story the time of day and found it's lure to their liking.

So nothing more left to be said but thank you and I hope to see you on another story and a new adventure. Enjoy...

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Chapter 10

Once, when Fitz was little he wanted to be a police officer. An awkward kid who never belonged wanted to be the one to uphold the peace and protect those around him. That was until he got his first fire truck then he wanted to be a fireman. A kid, who didn't know better, took to being a fireman as a way to help those in need.

That was all done when he got his first computer, then a scientist was born. It happened right along his first experiment and he knew that was all he ever wanted to do. Still, despite of all that he never had real friends, only people he went to school with. Those people turned into people who he went with to college and then into colleges.

It wasn't until he was recruited into the Hydra organization that he had found a friend. Ward was in his stoic and unimpressed demeanor the first person who valued Fitz more than his work. He liked that Fitz wasn't by the book, his quirky personality that led to cheap jabs and bad jokes. He was happy for a brief period in life.

His mom were proud, he was making strides career wise and he had a friend he could rely on. Albeit that friend never divulged anything he didn't want, but still they shared a bond. A bond of never belonging anywhere and keeping a distance.

It all changed to an even better course when they went to Shield, where he met his other family. People who appreciated him as Ward did, but were more open to share and sympathize.

There he found love.

Here and now he felt as leaving himself to his thoughts had never been a good thing but at least he could hear a steady beat from somewhere and it echoed all around his head.

He could even hear a voice.

"Hey Fitz came to see how you are doing today. Jemma says you are much better. Probably even awake at moment's notice."

It was a woman's voice. It's echo familiar but he couldn't place it.

"You wouldn't believe all we went through in these couple of months. Managed to take down Hydra, don't know how you feel about that. You're okay, but those other members are bananas. We also got some new members; they help out where they can. Some of them had a change of heart when they saw who they were working for."

A sigh escaped her and he felt sad for some reason, like this person's sadness reflected his own.

"Garrett went nuts, but also wasn't the clairvoyant we searched for. He was whatever he needed to be to obtain power. Also he managed to be blasted by Coulson which was a delicious plus in my book, the bastard."

They had won, that was good, but he still couldn't place the voice even thought he could remember all of them.

"Ward was the one who got his ass kicked by Melinda May. Man that woman can throw down. On the other hand he helped me escape when Garrett and Reina wanted to do some experiments on me. I can't think about that now. Managed to rendezvous with Coulson and his team from Providence and with some back up we kicked their asses."

She was silent for a moment before she continued.

"Ward is a real monster for what he did to you guys. Still can't believe he had done that. The way that man makes me feel sometimes... Also, haven't told anyone how I feel about Ward yet. Can't stomach the sympathy I guess. The heart wants what the heart wants, right?"

He tried to reach out and wake up, but could get himself to move in that direction. Just stuck in a complete darkness.

"Maybe I should stop rationalizing his every move and just accept what he is. A monster. It doesn't matter that he helped me escape or that he basically left the back door open for us to hack into their base. It doesn't matter that he spent months before saving my life and getting under my skin."

A quiet sob could be heard and somehow he understood her pain. The betrayal stings to this very moment no matter how much he tried to force himself not to feel. To be like agent Ward.

"I guess I'm the stupid one. Some Shield agent I am, or was. Shield is no more, even though I had my badge for like three seconds before it was garbage."

She seemed to gather herself and he felt her stand up.

"Anyways I'll leave you be. Get better soon, not for my sake but for Jemma. She is a wreck. I always saw you as one entity, doing everything together like you did. You were basically one person FitzSimmons. Get back to that, okay?"

In the next moment he heard the door close and again he was left to the sound of a beat echoing in the distance.

He was left with the information on the outside and he wanted to be up there as well. It was pressuring him and he wanted out. Suddenly he felt a stabbing headache and in the next moment he opened his eyes to a blinding light that made him quickly snap them shut.

After a moment he blinked again and soon the picture became clear on where he was. He was in a hospital.

It looked like a simple room, nothing out of the ordinary. A bed, few machines, a chair next to it and a heartbeat monitor. The sound that echoed before becoming apparent. He slowly tried to sit himself up and felt the heaviness of his body, his muscles sour from not moving them and now he felt like a child learning to do it all over.

He took a small cup of water and drank it. His throat had felt raspy and parched.

The sound of the door opening was enough to grab his attention. There she was, holding a rather strange machine in her hands and talking on about it, not actually looking at the bed.

"This will help you recognize the tone of voice better. I have placed all the lectures that held interest to you and by playing them I hope it will get your mind to cooperate. I know if nothing than out of annoyance so you could correct them. I feel like you always…"

That was when she noticed that he was up, a blank face and the device was clattering on the floor. The bits and piece falling from it. She hadn't moved.

"Hey."

The raspy tone hadn't left. Not using your voice will make you sound like a cigarette addict of 90 years.

"Oh."

That was all it escaped from her as she still stood rooted to her spot. Not knowing what else to do he decided to mention the positive.

"I am glad you are okay Jemma."

That was all it took for her to get to him and kiss him like there was no tomorrow. It left him dazed and he lost all ability of coherent thought. Simply he was lost.

After she decided to let him go only for a moment so she could say "How could you ever think I didn't feel the same?"

He only shrugged his shoulders, once more the soreness could be felt.

"I just assumed."

She quirked an eyebrow at his antics and a smile spread on her face. She was happy.

"That is a weak theory for a scientist, shouldn't you conduct an experiment first before you conclude anything?"

Before he could rattle of his explanation she kissed him again, this time he was ready and simply enjoyed the comfort of being here with her. That it felt like fireworks was just gravy. She looked him in the eye and he knew the words before she said them.

"I love you, Fitz."

Because he was an idiot he got to say.

"Well I concluded that from the experiment moments ago."

Because he was her idiot, she smiled. He knew the things aren't' resolved. Many things stood before them, but he was willing to fight and learn. Now he could say he was where he belonged.

"I love you too."

They enjoyed a moment of simple happiness before a stampede of footsteps could be heard and in came Coulson, May, Skye and couple of blokes he didn't know. All of them had weapon drawn.

"We heard noise, thought it was trouble."

Skye only stood for a second before saying.

"I knew they were making out."

The laughter followed. Yep like a one happy dysfunctional and sometimes evil family.

He smiled back at Jemma and she just looped their hands as the others came to join them. His family nonetheless.

The End

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Hope you enjoyed it. If the inspiration strikes I hope to be writing the said continuation, but for now I'm leaving it here. As always please leave a review if you have any thoughts or comments that you would like to share.