"TELL ME EVERYTHING!"

          Those three words had gotten Jenna beyond epic stories of Jemma and Fitz's crazy lives as S.H.I.E.L.D agents — the woman had taken Jenna into the house she and Daisy had settled into, and whilst the latter, who was apparently a badass Inhuman called Quake, was out to convince someone to join their side, the two best friends had stayed behind. Whilst seated on the couch, sipping on tea, Simmons told Jenna everything about her life as an agent, and what kind of crazy adventures she had gotten through. Apparently, she had ended up on a whole different planet, almost died on multiple occasions, went undercover as a H.Y.D.R.A agent and kicked plenty of ass. It all sounded insane to Jenna, but luckily, Simmons was still alive and well — even if she had been replaced by a life model decoy in their real world, and killed off in this twisted version of reality.

          As for Fitz, it seemed he was no longer the same, innocent boy Jenna remembered from their days at the academy. Although she had lived without memories of the past in this place that Jemma called The Framework, she still wore the aries necklace around her neck, and occasionally she held it in her hand and smiled as warm nostalgia kicked in. She had never been able to explain it, but now she knew — even when they were worlds apart, Fitz walked with her, stayed by her side. However, much had changed since he had given it to her. He had been through than most people ever should, from a brain damage to losing Simmons to an alien planet. And apparently, a person he had considered his brother had betrayed him — betrayed them all.

          Even worse, according to Jemma, that very same person was in the Framework as well. Jenna didn't know who it was, but only the sound of him was repulsive. Who would ever betray their team, especially if Fitz and Simmons were part of it?

          "I've really missed you. And I promise, we'll save you too. Some of these people aren't real, but Fitz for example, is being held captive. He thinks this world is the real one, because he was programmed to do so. By a woman named Aida — not even a woman, really. A life model decoy. A.I.D.A stands for artificial intelligent digital assistant", Jemma sighed then, shaking her head whilst lowering her empty tea cup onto the coffee table. "She's human here, apparently", she added grimly, and although it wasn't amusing in any way, Jenna couldn't help but smile — she could tell Simmons wasn't a fan of this Aida, and well, she didn't really blame her.

          "So... you think she's holding me captive, too?", Jenna wondered quietly, and offering an unsure shrug as a response, Simmons looked over to her best friend and let her lips curve up into a sympathetic smile.

          "I don't know. I suppose it would make sense — I haven't heard from you in a while in our world. Though I'm not sure how you can remember in this reality, but I am so glad you do. I'd hate to be on opposite sides with you. Like we are with Fitz right now", Simmons pouted, and nodding, Jenna agreed wholeheartedly. She was glad to have Jemma, but at the same time, she was determined to get Fitz back. She just wasn't quite sure how easy it would be, considering the small Scottish boy who could barely form a full sentence without stuttering once upon a time, was now second-in-command for HYDRA. But, if there was one thing Jenna had learned, it was that giving up wasn't an option.

          That was a lesson her father had taught very early.

          Before the two scientists could talk more, the door suddenly opened and their gazes turned to it, hoping for the best but always expecting the worst. In a world like this, you could never know what was going to happen. But, luckily, instead of meeting an untimely demise, they found themselves staring at Daisy, and a man that Jenna did not recognize, but Simmons clearly did.

          "I'm so glad to see you, sir", Jemma greeted him, and although he looked a tad too casual for the image that Jenna had formed in her head, she put two and two together and assumed this was the former director of S.H.I.E.L.D, and the boss of Simmons, Fitz and Daisy. Eyeing him curiously, Jenna then stood up from the couch like Simmons had done, and after taking the tea cups to the kitchen, the blonde offered her hand for the man. It was unusual for her to be so bold and direct with people, as it was more her style to shyly cower away, but this wasn't real, was it? Therefore, she decided that all awkward silences and embarrassing encounters didn't count.

          "Phil Coulson, right?", the blonde broke into a smile, "I'm Jenna Rivers."

          Eyes widening, the man shook her hand eagerly. "Oh! Pleasure to meet you. I've heard so much about your work. Awesome", Coulson returned the happy expression, and already silently bonding, they both nodded at each other as they let go. He proceeded to gush over the fact that in the real world, he had a robot hand — which, admittedly, was quite cool — and when Daisy pointed out that here, he made his own soap, he agreed with, "I do. You should too."

          With that, Daisy began to explain what had happened, and what was about to happen. HYDRA had come looking for them, and now, they needed to move. Jenna was just as confused as Coulson was — the two women talked casually about things that probably made sense to them, but the two Frameworkers simply looked between them and tried to figure out what was happening. However, they did mention a name. Grant Ward. It earned a grimace from Jenna, although she wasn't quite sure why — it was just a natural reaction, and once Simmons saw it on her face, she directed Jenna an approving smile. Yet another thing she didn't understand.

          "We should try to get Fitz on our side", Jenna eventually spoke up, all three heads turning to her direction as she rested against the kitchen counter and nodded to confirm her own words. "Simmons and I could, for sure, talk some sense into him. Besides, I feel like I haven't seen him in forever. I miss him, and I'm sure that somewhere, deep down, he misses me too", she defended her opinion, and nodding in utter agreement, Simmons placed a supportive hand on Jenna's shoulder. Daisy narrowed her eyes at them, finding it rather odd to see Simmons so friendly with someone that she had never seen before — she did believe that Jenna was a good person, but admittedly, it was strange as she was... well, a stranger.

          "Okay, but let's just keep in mind that he's not who he used to be. He's a really important person at HYDRA, and as much as I appreciate your enthusiasm and optimism, and your willingness to help, I don't think that's the way we should do this", Daisy disagreed, respectfully of course, but it still frustrated Jenna. She wanted — no, she needed to see Fitz again. It had been too long, hell, she didn't even know how long, but she couldn't spend another day clutching onto her necklace and merely the memory of Fitz.

          Luckily, Simmons had her back. "Yes, he's important at HYDRA, which means he has resources! Not to mention Framework expertise, which we'll need to get out of Radcliffe's... HYDRA snow globe", she grimaced at her own words, but despite their uncomfortable nature, the name Radcliffe was yet another one that made Jenna react. That one she actually knew, but before she could point that out, Coulson had done it for her.

          "Holden Radcliffe— the scientist?", he questioned, and digging through his bag, he ranted about how he had seen Radcliffe on the newspaper, and when he whipped out the cut out piece, Jenna nodded — it was the very same thing she had read, the same man she knew as a fellow scientist. She had never met him though, and that was because no one had seen him after that photo had been taken, which was something that Coulson pointed out as well.

          "Nobody's seen him since this photo was taken", he informed sadly when Simmons suggested finding him and asking for his help, to get them out of the Framework. But, all hope wasn't lost just yet.

          Daisy began to pack her bag as she gestured at the three of them. "You guys meet up with Ward's contact, I'll go back to the Triskelion and get a location on Radcliffe", the fake HYDRA agent put together a plan, and Simmons was about to argue with Daisy going back to the headquarters, but before she could, Jenna had intervened with a careful smile on her lips.

          "Actually", she began, "I was thinking I'd... you know, come with you", but instead of the respond she hoped for, both Simmons and Daisy blew up with worry and disagreement, highly doubting if that was a smart move. But, relentlessly, Jenna continued to defend herself. "Guys, all due respect, this world is my expertise. Or have you forgotten the fact that I'm a filthy rich, successful, famous scientist here? Look, you can get us in, and I'll play it off like I'm there for business. I'll make sure no one catches you, and it also gives me an opportunity to get closer to Fitz. I can get to him, I know it, okay?", the blonde explained, and she could tell from the looks on their faces that she was right. And they hated it.

          Shrugging, Simmons looked over to Daisy. "She has a point. And we'll be less noticeable if there's only two of us meeting with Ward's contact", she voiced her opinion, and nodding in gratitude, Jenna turned to the woman as well, eyes gleaming with excitement.

          "I know we just met, but trust me. I can do this", she pleaded, and eventually, Daisy sighed and gave in. It earned a victorious smile from Jenna, who eagerly high-fived her best friend, making Simmons grin as well.

          And although Jenna knew that infiltrating HYDRA was no casual stroll in the park, she couldn't help but be excited. After all, she was finally going to see Fitz for the first time in too long.

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hiii guys, and sorry that it took me forever to update! i'm in the middle of finals week so school is keeping me busy, but i finally got the inspiration i needed to write + some cool ideas for what's to come. hopefully, by the end of the week, i'll be able to write more again (:

next chapter, we'll see more of evan, and yes, jenna will finally meet fitz again!!

leave your thoughts ❤️