~~~

"A true friend is the person that sees the pain in your eyes while everyone else believes the smile on your face."

// WACHABUY.com //

I scowl as I march down a crowded S.H.I.E.L.D. hallway. My girlfriend and I just got into another fight. I refuse to be part of her inhuman dream team. I'm only here part-time as a medical doctor. I already have a job at a prestigious hospital, but apparently my work saving lives on a daily basis isn't as important as being part of a super powered task force. It's total bullshit. She just doesn't understand, no one does except maybe Jemma Simmons. And yes, I see the irony of it all. The irony that a woman plucked out of high school for an early graduation and then got her two PhD's at a S.H.I.E.L.D. Sci-Tech academy, would understand my reasons for not wanting to be on an inhuman task force while my girlfriend, a former anti-establishment hacker can't... It's honestly fucking hilarious. I can't believe she actually told me to quit my job as a fucking doctor if my work hours wouldn't allow me to be on her task force. I clench my jaw to keep a leash on my electricity. I love Daisy, I really do, but this? Days like this make me wonder why I put up with her. She's shown me over and over that she doesn't respect my thoughts or my feelings or even my fucking occupation. She doesn't even ask me about my day anymore. I'm not paying attention to where I'm going, I'm too busy seething over my relationship problems that I almost don't notice the tiny woman that slams into my chest. I instinctively grab her waist to keep her from falling and check for any injuries.

"Dr. Simmons?"

Jemma's face is pale like all the coloring has been sucked out and her eyes are unfocused as tears slip down her cheeks. She looks traumatized, like her whole world is falling apart. Our eyes connect briefly before she crumples to the ground. I quickly scoop her up into my arms alarmed. I cradle her to my chest, how light she is disturbs me. She should be heavier than that. Her bones are too prominent beneath her skin. What the hell scared her so bad? I quickly rush her to medical and order one of the nurses to get Coulson down here immediately. I gently lay her down on a medical table before hooking her up to a high tech monitor that will send her vitals to a medical grade tablet.

I call over another nurse and order her to set up a patient file on Jemma.

"Jemma Simmons, approximately early 30s, female, elevated heart rate, pale, showing signs of shock, patient fell unconscious five minutes ago, cause of shock to-be-determined. Patient should wake up on her own, but she will be monitored closely just in case."

After the nurse finishes writing, she puts Jemma's chart in a pocket at the end of the table.

"Let me know when the director gets here, I'll be monitoring her vitals."

The nurse mutters an acknowledgement before rushing to do as she's told. My mind runs through the possibilities of what could have happened. No bruising or signs of assault, she could've been threatened or maybe she had a fight with Fitz. I quickly call Fitz using the med-bay phone.

"Hullo?"

I watch Jemma carefully, ready to drop the phone and jump into action should her condition take a nosedive.

"Fitz, this is Dr. Lincoln Campbell. This is gonna be an odd question, but did you get in a fight with Jemma recently?"

I hear worried breathing on the other end of the line before he answers.

"No... But Coulson did call her into his office earlier this mornin'. Why? Is something wrong?"

I hum as I wonder what Coulson could have possibly done to her to cause this. I feel the rage start to buzz in my veins as stare at her. She looks so tiny and vulnerable. It makes me want to hurt someone, specifically Coulson, for scaring her so badly she went into shock.

"Thanks. Nothing's wrong. Have a good day."

I sigh and brush a strand of hair out of her face. Nothing's wrong yet. According to her file, I'm not legally allowed to share anything about her medical condition with anyone except with her boss and only what he needs to know. I hope Coulson has a better answer for me. Hopefully his answer won't convince me to give in to the desire to break that slimy bastard's nose. I don't trust him. Not. At. Fucking. All.

"Dr. Campbell, the director is here."

I nod before dismissing Marcy. Once she's gone I turn my attention to Coulson who looks shocked to see Jemma unconscious on a medical table.

"Director Coulson, would you like to tell me why Jemma Simmons passed out in the hallway looking like she'd seen a ghost."

Coulson clears his throat uncomfortably before my girlfriend bursts in the door and runs to Jemma's side.

"What happened! Why is Jemma unconscious?"

I glare at her pointedly, now is not the fucking time to interrupt. She shouldn't even be in here.

"The Director was just about to tell me before you interrupted us. Daisy, you shouldn't be in here. This is a private examination room."

Daisy scowls at me while Coulson looks incredibly uncomfortable. I give him a hard stare which he surprisingly wilts under. Guilt?

"It's personal, I can't just-"

I stop him with a look before turning to my girlfriend.

"Out."

Daisy gives me an offended look before opening her mouth to protest before I shut her down.

"Doctor-Patient privilege. You can tell me and I'm duty-bound to keep quiet sir. Daisy don't fucking try me today. I will have you thrown out. If you care about Jemma at all you will let me do my job."

Daisy gives me one last venomous look before marching off and slamming the med-bay door as she leaves. I scoff, very mature.

"Simmons' work visa has expired. She's being deported back to England promptly at 6:30AM on Monday. She didn't take it well."

I stare at the director horrified. I may not have been Jemma's biggest fan in the beginning, but now... Well, now I understand her better. I don't like the idea at all. Jemma's place is here. She's worked her ass off and paid in blood, sweat and tears. Jemma Simmons is a big part of why I accepted a job here. Other than my girlfriend who I can't seem to stop fighting with lately. Jemma is someone I care for. We're not quite friends, but she's always been good to me and when I speak she listens. Even if we don't always agree on everything, she's brilliant, funny and she respects me. It also hasn't escaped my notice how terrified she is of flying and the depression she tries to hide from everyone. She has major trauma going untreated and I'm pretty sure I'm the only person in her life that's noticed, that's not too busy to care. Again the irony considering I'm a full-time doctor, one of the On-Call surgeons and I'm a part-time S.H.I.E.L.D. agent.

"How can we prevent this?"

Coulson raises a brow incredulously.

"Dr. Campbell, I appreciate your willingness to find a solution, but unless Jemma is legally married to a U.S citizen before Monday morning, there's really not much we can do. I have no doubt Jemma will be able to reapply for a work visa and get back here within a few months. Yes, it's shocking, but it's honestly nothing to worry about."

The Director simply shakes his head as if to say oh Jemma for getting herself so worked up over nothing. I'm really considering frying that SOB or at least giving him a little zap of electricity. I scowl and the lights start flickering before I feel slim fingers wrapped around my wrist. I look down to see my patient trying to sit up.

"Hey, no. Jemma lay back down. You passed out in the hallway."

Jemma just gives me a look and shakes her head.

"I'm getting up. I-I don't have much time. There's so much to do..."

She starts muttering to herself as she unhooks herself from the machine monitoring her vitals. I give her an obnoxiously peeved look that I know for a fact always makes her laugh. She doesn't even smile. I help her up before ordering her not to move and to let me drive her home. It's worrying how easily she accepts.

"C'mon Doc, let's get you home."

She gives me a watery smile that makes me want to hurt someone. Again. I really need to get these violent impulses under control. And now is not the time to wonder why my girlfriend's best friend brings out the overprotective alpha male in me.