After 3x09 I feel like this is the Skimmons moment that we all need. Or maybe it’s just the moment that I need. I just need some Jemma and Daisy interaction and what better way to do that than have Daisy play doctor to our poor, brave Jemma?
"Normally our positions are reversed, you know."
"I know. Isn't it ironic?"
"I hope you aren't going to take the opportunity to seek a little payback."
Daisy looks appropriately offended by the comment. "I would never! Though it is a little tempting. I mean, Dr. Simmons is pretty pokey."
Jemma huffs out a breath, ready to defend her honor, but she immediately regrets the simple act of breathing and winces. The smile disappears from Daisy's face and her brow furrows and she steps forward. Her hand hovers just above Jemma's side, desperate for contact but afraid to actually press skin to shirt fabric.
"Well someone needs to get you patched up." Daisy says decisively. "And Bobbi is busy so I guess you're stuck with me."
Jemma manages a smile, weak and strained and Daisy tries to pretend like she doesn't notice the way that she's gritting her teeth. "I should be all right." She protests. "It feels mostly like bruising, maybe a small fracture…not much we can do for those anyway."
Daisy narrows her eyes. "You aren't really making me feel better here, Jem." She remarks. "Fractured ribs sound pretty serious."
For a moment, Jemma starts to shrug. She catches herself pretty quickly. "I'm not sure, of course. And we don't have time to do a full medical diagnosis; we have more important things to attend to."
She starts to move but Daisy holds up her hand, placing it gently on Jemma's shoulder. "Not more important than you." She says softly.
Jemma's expression hovers between grateful and annoyed. "There isn't much we can do." She points out again. "I will be fine. I can wait."
Daisy shakes her head. "And you said I was stubborn." She mumbles. "Look, I might not have two degrees in biochemistry but I think I can handle putting a few Band-aids on those cuts."
Since she set eyes on Jemma, Daisy feels like her eyes have been drawn to the injuries that she can actually see on her. The gash on her forehead, the bruise blooming across her cheek, the speckles of blood that peek out from beneath her shirt collar. She keeps staring at these things with the same ferocity that she feels when tracing the curve of Jemma's nose with her eyes or how she can't help but watch the rise and fall of her chest. Fitz is gone but Jemma is still here, centimeters away and she's selfishly grateful for the turn of events that took him but spared Jemma. Of course she feels guilty for thinking it but it doesn't change the relief.
Jemma sighs, another sound that Daisy is grateful for. These are the sounds of her still alive and here.
"Fine." Jemma grumbles and she shifts like she wants to pout or cross her arms over her chest but the aching in her bones won't let her.
Daisy rolls her eyes. "I'm sure you'll survive, Dr. Simmons."
The field med kit is hardly impressive, though Daisy figures that it's better than nothing. Honestly, she wishes that she had some bubble wrap that she could just tuck Jemma into but she knows Jemma well enough to know that she would never abide being hidden away, kept on the top shelf. They've had this argument before, framed like playful bickering to hide their fear for one another's safety. They just aren't built for staying out of the line of fire, as frustrating as that is.
Jemma presents herself for doctoring, sitting stoic as Daisy swabs her split skin and bruises with alcohol. Daisy tightens her jaw, grinding her teeth together. Ward. This is all his fault. If only she'd been a better aim with the gun that time…but that's not entirely true, of course. She could have easily put the bullet where it mattered but she'd been afraid. And now Jemma is hurt and Fitz is gone and she could have stopped all of this.
"I'm sorry." Daisy says, lifting her eyes to meet Jemma's. "Jemma…I…I'm sorry."
Jemma looks at her, surprised. "Why are you apologizing?" She asks. "You don't have anything to be sorry for."
That is an oversimplification that Daisy wishes could be true. "I should have gone with you and Fitz. I should have…" She shakes her head, tossing the bloody alcohol wipe aside. "If I had been there…I could have done something. I could have stopped Ward from hurting you."
Jemma puts a hand over her own, a soft and gentle touch that Daisy loves. She longs for it in her sleep, a ghosting touch when Jemma reaches for her in dreams; she longs for it while they kiss, the twist of her fingers in her hair.
"This isn't your fault, Daisy." Jemma says and there's a sharpness in her voice that Daisy knows isn't directed toward her. "This is all Ward's fault. And mine. Ward knew how to use me against Fitz."
Daisy scoffs. "Yeah, Ward is pretty good at that." She mumbles. "But Jemma…if Ward had taken you back there…or done something to hurt you…" She tightens her fingers into her palm, pressing her nails to skin.
"I keep telling you that I'm fine." Jemma tells her. "Especially now that I'm in the hands of such a talented doctor."
She's teasing her and Daisy rolls her eyes because she knows that's what Jemma wants. It only figures that Jemma is trying to make her feel better when she's the one suffering from the bodily injuries.
They lapse into silence as Daisy finishes cleaning her visible injuries, gently pressing Band-aids over them and smoothing them down. Her fingers linger, gently, a hovering touch, still unwilling to be the cause of any more hurt. If only they were miles away from all of this; she might not able to wrap Jemma in bubble wrap and hide her away from the world but maybe they could both hide away for a while underneath the covers at some fancy hotel.
At Daisy's command, Jemma lifts up the bottom of her shirt, showing Daisy the nasty bruises that spread across the curve of her ribs toward her stomach. Daisy narrows her eyes. "I'm going to kill Ward."
"Later. First we have to get Fitz back and make sure nothing else comes through that portal."
Jemma winces when the tips of Daisy's fingers brush across her skin. "I'm sorry." Daisy pulls her hand away quickly. "I didn't-"
Jemma reaches for her hand, threading their fingers together. "Stop." She says softly. "This isn't your fault. I'm fine. I'm here."
Daisy leans forward, burying her face against the crook of Jemma's neck, letting her nose bump against soft skin and scratchy bandage. Jemma smells like sweat and fear and shampoo and Daisy's own soap, stolen from the shower that morning. Or yesterday. Daisy can't keep it all straight anymore.
She wants to hold Jemma, to pull her close, but she's too afraid to do more damage. Instead, she just presses a soft kiss to her neck and then lifts her head. "We'll get Fitz back."
"I know." Jemma puts a hand on Daisy's shoulder, letting her eyes close and her forehead rest against Daisy's. "I know. I just…I feel like our friendship has been quite dangerous for him."
Daisy smirks at her when Jemma opens her eyes. "Don't say that. He just loves you. And so do I."
Jemma smiles, sincerely, softly. Daisy kisses her, sincerely, softly. There's so much she wants to say to Jemma, her brave, strong, unstoppable Jemma. But the silence that envelopes them seems too precious to break just yet. And so she waits, savoring their closeness and the relief that comes from knowing that she's okay, that she's here. That they're here together.