Disclaimer: I do not own Agents of SHIELD. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
Author's note: This story contains spoilers for Season 2 of Agents of SHIELD, but deviates from canon.
*****
She could do this. She could totally do this. After everything she had been through over the last few days this should be easy. Hell, after what she had gone through in her life this should be easy. After all, this was just finally telling the girl she loved, or at least really, really liked, that she liked her. Loved her.
No, it was maybe, probably, definitely true, but loved would be coming on too strong. Liked was fine, or better yet she could confess to a crush, because until the other girl actually knew about it, that's all it technically was. Just a crush she was too cowardly to act upon. But not anymore.
*
"Hey Jemma, can I talk to you for a second."
Turning to see her friend Jemma smiled, "Of course Skye."
"Erm, actually it's Daisy now." Daisy softly corrected, and then when Jemma gave her a look she added, "I've decided to embrace my heritage."
"The one your parents left you?" Jemma frowned, quickly adding, "I'm so sorry Skye, I mean Daisy, that just came out. I didn't mean it. It's just-"
"Weird, I know." Daisy admitted, "But... I just searched for them for so long, and now... I can't have a relationship with either of them, so this seemed the only way to keep them with me. Or at least my Dad."
Jemma nodded, "Because he saved you."
"Exactly." Daisy nodded, then after a beat added, "It's still weird, isn't it?"
"Hey, you don't need to justify everything to me." Jemma smiled softly, "I'm your friend. I'll always support you. No matter what."
"Yeah, about that..." Daisy began, before realising to her horror that she'd completely forgotten the speech she rehearsed, "Like I said, I wanna talk to you about something."
Jemma waited for a few seconds for her friend to continue, then when she didn't she gently pushed, "About what?"
"I, erm... I..." Daisy mumbled for about a minute.
"It's okay, Daisy. Can tell me anything. You know that, right?" Jemma asked softly.
Daisy did know, and that was why this was so hard. Jemma Simmons was the perfect best friend, the kind she had always wished for but until she joined SHIELD never had. Someone kind, loving, caring. Someone who was always there for her when she needed to talk, but gave her space when she needed it.
Someone who knew everything about her. Or almost everything. Because there was one very significant thing Jemma didn't know, something Daisy had been keeping to herself and she didn't think she could keep it in any more, but once it was out there that would be it. There would be no going back, and one way or the other she would ultimately lose this perfect best friend.
Desperately hoping it would be worth it Daisy opened her mouth and tried her best to speak from the heart, "Jemma... I, I... WHAT THE-"
Before Daisy could even finish swearing in shock the large black rock they had been standing next to turned into a liquid form, broke free of the containment box SHIELD had been keeping it in and swallowed herself and Jemma. It was the weirdest thing she'd ever seen/experienced and she had seen and experienced some bizarre things over the past few years.
She hadn't even had the chance to use her powers or ran away before being covered in the unpleasant liquid. No, that was true for the latter, but possibly not the former, Daisy briefly cursing herself for not saving herself and Jemma when she had the chance.
Then all of a sudden the weird alien device spat them out, but not where they had just been, but in some kind of desert. Which didn't really matter right now. All that mattered was saving Jemma, Daisy desperately scrambling to try and catch her falling friend, only to once again fail her.
Again there wasn't much she could of done, but Daisy couldn't help think she could of done something as they crashed down onto the sand. For better or for worse they ended up falling down a sand dune, which meant more falling, but at least the force of the descent was slowed down so while their ultimate landing was painful it was not fatal.
They both lay there for several long minutes gasping for breath, then Daisy cautiously opened her eyes to look up at the sky. It was a clear night so she saw stars, although they didn't look quite right to her. Particularly the part where there were TWO freaking moons!
Sitting up with a fright Daisy looked around frantically, then back of the sky and to see she wasn't mistaken before looking at Jemma, who seemed even more terrified then she was. Wanting to be strong for her friend Daisy then did her best to calm herself, remembering everything May had taught her about controlling her breathing and taking at least five seconds to think before saying anything.
It didn't really help, Daisy exclaiming angrily to no one in particular, "Where the fuck are we?"
"I, I don't know." Jemma replied timidly as she looked around at their surroundings.
*
After a few minutes of understandably freaking out Jemma did her best to clear her head and think rationally. The mysterious alien rock had clearly been a portal, and the room it was in was under 24-hour surveillance so it was all but a guarantee that the others now knew what was happening and trying to do something about it.
Which she was sure to tell Skye, or Daisy as she was now going by. Also the easiest way to be found was to stay in the same place, especially in this case. Which she also told... Daisy. Over and over again. So they waited. And waited, and waited, and waited, until even Jemma was feeling agitated.
Of course the other girl got there long before her, once again whining, "How long has it been?"
"Oh, about five minutes since you last asked!" Jemma snapped, before saying, "I'm sorry Skye, I mean Daisy, I'm just a little-"
"On edge? Yeah, I get that." Daisy said grimly.
"I was going to say frightened." Jemma admitted after a brief pause.
"Hey." Daisy said loudly, softening her voice as she moved closer to where Jemma was sitting, "Hey, I won't let anything happened to you. I promise."
"That's sweet." Jemma smiled softly, "But you can't make that promise."
"I can." Daisy vowed forcefully.
"Skye." Jemma said softly, "We have no idea where we are, except another planet. We have no idea what could be lurking behind every corner, or if there's anything we can eat or drink, or even if the air and gravity are sustainable for more than a few hours."
"I don't care." Daisy promised forcefully, taking Jemma's hand, "I, I... I don't know how, I admit that, but somehow I will keep you safe. I promise."
For a moment the two women stared at each other, then Jemma cleared her throat, prompting Skye to awkwardly let go of her hand, which threw Jemma off for a moment, but she quickly recovered, "Yes... well, I... erm, water. If we are going to survive we need to find water. The human body can survive without food for weeks, but only survive for a few days without water."
"I know." Daisy said, "But aren't you the one who said we had to remain in the same place so the others could find us. Like, half a dozen times."
"I did." Jemma admitted, "But at this rate all they'll find is our dead bodies."
"Good." Daisy said, jumping up and stretching before quickly adding, "I mean about the leaving thing, not... not, the other thing. I just mean I was getting a bit antsy, and-"
"It's okay Skye, I know what you mean." Jemma smiled as she got up, before closing her eyes and cursing, "Dammit, I meant, Daisy. Sorry, sorry, sorry."
"It's okay, we're kind of in a traumatic situation here." Daisy smiled, before looking around, "So which way should we go?"
"Well..." Jemma started reluctantly, "We might stand a better chance if we split up-"
"No way Jose!" Daisy quickly exclaimed, "Like you said, we have no idea what's out there, and I'm the only one with powers, so I'm not leaving your side. Ever."
"Daisy, I-" Jemma began.
"No buts Jemma!" Daisy insisted, "Nothing you say will get me to leave."
"I think you're right." Jemma said very quickly, then adding a little slower, "I was going to say, we might stand a better chance if we split up, but as we have no idea what's out there I'd rather stay with you."
"Oh." Daisy murmured, feeling foolish, "So... which way should we go?"
"Oh, right." Jemma blushed, also feeling foolish, "I don't really know. The constellation is completely different here. Or at least it looks like it. So all we can do is pick a direction and hope for the best."
"Okay." Daisy nodded, and then wanting to make sure Jemma didn't take on the burden of making a possibly deadly mistake pointed in a random direction and offered, "How about that way?"
Jemma shrugged, "It's as good as any."
*
The next 24 hours were spent mostly walking. At first they tried to talk to each other to keep their spirits up, and Jemma used her phone to document the extraordinary things she could see, but as they continue to find nothing but miles of sand and rock Jemma suggested they conserve their energy.