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The faint hum of the LMDs' gears echoed in the sterile room, a sound that was somehow both comforting and terrifying. Daisy Johnson sat on the edge of a hospital bed, her fingers absentmindedly tracing the lines of a bandage on her arm. The bullet wound that had nearly taken her life felt like an afterthought now. It was the least of her concerns.
In her mind, the past few days had been a blur of pain and confusion. The team, the real team, was gone, replaced with LMD versions of themselves. It had felt like a nightmare. But through it all, there had been one constant. Jemma Simmons. Her steady presence, her quiet insistence that everything would be okay, had kept Daisy from falling apart.
Jemma was here now, beside her, her hand resting lightly on Daisy's shoulder. Her warmth was a reminder that, no matter how impossible things seemed, there was still a thread of reality to cling to.
"I should have been there," Daisy murmured, her voice tight. "I should have—"
"No," Jemma cut in softly, squeezing her shoulder gently. "Daisy, you were there when it mattered most. And you’re here now. That’s all that matters."
But Daisy could feel the weight of her guilt pressing down on her chest. If she hadn’t been so reckless, if she hadn’t insisted on going after the truth, they wouldn’t have been in this situation. She wouldn’t have been shot. They wouldn’t be preparing to enter the Framework, a twisted simulation designed to trap their minds in a false reality.
"I’m sorry," Daisy whispered, looking up at Jemma. "I never meant for any of this to happen."
Jemma met her gaze, her eyes filled with an understanding Daisy had always found so comforting, but tonight, it was mixed with something else—fear. Fear of what might come next, fear of losing Daisy to the Framework.
"You don’t have to apologize," Jemma said, her voice steady, though Daisy could hear the strain in it. "We’re doing this together. We’ve always done this together, haven’t we?"
Daisy nodded, her heart aching. Together. That word had always been a promise, a bond that was unbreakable, no matter what they faced. But now… now it felt fragile, as if even the slightest misstep could shatter everything.
"I just don’t know if I’m strong enough to do this," Daisy admitted, her voice barely a whisper.
Jemma’s hand moved to Daisy’s cheek, her touch warm and reassuring. "You are stronger than you think. We all are. This... this is just one more obstacle. We’ll get through it like we always do. Together."
Daisy closed her eyes at Jemma's words, leaning into her touch. She wanted to believe it, she wanted to feel the certainty that Jemma always seemed to carry. But the doubt lingered, gnawing at her, because this was different. The Framework wasn’t just a fight they could win with their powers or their courage—it was a psychological trap, one that could destroy them in ways they might never recover from.
"I don't want to forget," Daisy said, her voice breaking. "I don't want to lose myself in there."
Jemma’s expression softened, and she sat down next to Daisy, wrapping an arm around her. "You won’t. I’ll make sure of it. No matter what happens in the Framework, you’ll remember who you are, and I’ll be right there with you. You’re not alone."
Tears welled in Daisy’s eyes, but she blinked them away, not wanting to show weakness—not now, not when they were about to face something so dangerous. She had to be strong. She had to be strong for Jemma, for the team, for the world. But in this moment, she allowed herself to lean into Jemma’s embrace, taking comfort in her presence.
Jemma’s voice was soft, almost a whisper. "Daisy, I know this is scary. I know the thought of what’s coming next is terrifying. But we’ve always faced the unknown, and we’ve always come out the other side stronger. This will be no different."
Daisy took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. "You’re right," she said quietly. "I just… I need you to promise me something."
"Anything," Jemma said, her voice thick with emotion.
"If I lose myself in there," Daisy began, her throat tightening, "if I forget who I am… please, pull me out. Don’t let me stay."
Jemma’s gaze softened, and she cupped Daisy’s face gently, forcing her to meet her eyes. "I promise, Daisy. I will never let you go."
A silence fell between them, the weight of Jemma’s promise settling over both of them. They had no idea what awaited them in the Framework, but for the first time in what felt like forever, Daisy didn’t feel entirely alone. She had Jemma by her side, and that was enough.
Daisy let out a shaky breath and nodded, the fear in her chest easing ever so slightly. "Okay. Let's do this."
Jemma smiled, the expression small but full of determination. "Together."
And with that, the two of them stood, side by side, ready to face whatever the Framework had in store for them.