(no subject)

[shes_biochem]

She'd had to bribe Bobbi to take her off the ship with a whispered insistence that she is not up to no good, she doesn't need protecting, and if she really must know, she's seeing a S.H.I.E.L.D. approved entity, given that Sam had helped immensely with everything that had happened when HYDRA had surfaced. Bobbi had given her a strange look, but had taken her where she'd needed to be, which is where Simmons is currently waiting on the sidewalk, holding her clutch in her hands a touch too tightly (maybe because she's got an icer in there and she's not sure she wants the host to find out when he takes it away).

She's dressed casually for this, a black shirt and jeans, but she can't help but feel nervous for some reason she can't exactly put her finger on, but she knows that it's making her slightly anxious, and she hardly does well when anxious. She tries to tell herself that it will all be perfectly fine. It's just dinner and a drink or two. There's nothing wrong with that, now is there? Besides, it's DC and there are agents all over.

And she slightly suspects that Bobbi isn't going to leave her alone tonight until she's sure Simmons will be okay.

Comments

[on_your_right]

"Well, I should take you shopping," Sam says, placing his hand at the small of her back and guiding her inside the restaurant.

"How have you been?"

[shes_biochem]

"I don't know how much use they'd have. I pretty much constantly wear the labcoat these days," she admits, glancing around them as she realizes they're in a very public place and talking honestly probably isn't going to happen. "I'm well enough, I suppose," she says, though her eyes are haunted. "Unfortunately, while I was on vacation in Puerto Rico, one of my friends unexpectedly passed," she says, hoping Sam knows enough about what's going on to read between the lines.

"It's left us all a bit changed," she adds.

[on_your_right]

"Sorry to hear that," he says softly. Sam can read between the lines well enough and he doesn't want to put Jemma in a bad place.

"Well, maybe I can take your mind off it for a little while?"

[shes_biochem]

"I think a drink is the very first order of business," she announces with firm determination, given that she honestly thinks there's little better that could do the job to get her to forget about Skye and Tripp and all other manner of horrible things that might befall them because of that awful city.

[on_your_right]

"Yeah, sounds like a good business plan to me. Solid. What's your poison?"

Sam wants to make this a memorable night, even more so than normal since Jemma seems to have a lot going on. He wants to help make a good memory for her.

[shes_biochem]

"Beer," Simmons decides with a firm nod of her head. She's always been somewhat simple when it comes to drinking because they could really only get a limited amount in the Boiler Room, and besides, she'd been thirteen at the time of joining. Even a thirteen year old eager to rebel didn't really have much of a taste for anything else. "I could use something to eat, too. I keep forgetting," she confesses.

"Grief does funny thing to one's stomach, I think," she adds, quietly.

[on_your_right]

"It can," Sam says gently. "Let's try not to think about it tonight and just take a break. I think it'll be good for us both. It will be good to just think about us and a good time for right now."

[shes_biochem]

She's not entirely sure she knows how to turn her brain off, given that the grief has been so present through her whole life. Still, she can't get consumed by losing Tripp because she thinks she might spiral if that's the case. "Maybe you should pick the topic of conversation?" she suggests.

[on_your_right]

"Work is off-limits," Sam says. He thinks that's going to be best for the moment. "But if you want to talk about any science you've been doing, that'll be okay. I don't want to ban you completely from that. We're just old friends catching up and...maybe a little more?"

[shes_biochem]

"I don't think the science is a good idea either," she admits, because the science ties into what's been happening at work. The trouble is that she really has no life outside of work and this is making her truly aware of that. "What about films? What sort of films are out there?" she asks, having been thinking too much about Puerto Rico to hear the last bit of what he'd said.

[on_your_right]

Sam laughs. "Haven't been to the movies in so long that I couldn't even tell you. Though, if you're up for it, we can catch a movie after dinner and find out if there's anything worth watching on the big screen right now."

It's been a long time since he's had a movie date with a girl and it might be nice to have some low-key, no pressure time with Jemma.

[shes_biochem]

"I might fall asleep on your shoulder from exhaustion, but I'd like that," she admits with a soft smile, picking at her fork and napkin a few more times than strictly necessary, idly working at the plate. "So, what are we in the mood for? Beer? And something else? Maybe a burger and chips?"

[on_your_right]

"Burger sounds perfect," Sam says. "But the food isn't really why I'm here. It's more about the company, if you don't mind me saying that."

He's had a thing for Jemma for a while and now that she's finally out with him, Sam feels comfortable enough to be open about that.

[shes_biochem]

Simmons finds herself blushing. She honestly can't remember the last time she's actively been on a date with anyone and it sets her a touch at unease because she doesn't really do this -- especially not with people who know all about her secret job. "Normally, I wouldn't even think of dating, because how do you manage when you can't tell the truth?"

"But you being who you are, I can," she says. "It's a big relief, Sam."

[on_your_right]

"Yeah, no need to hide your day job from me," Sam says warmly. "Don't have to be anyone but yourself."

She's a beautiful girl anyway but there's something just...amazing about how Jemma looks when she's blushing. He wants to reach out and cup her cheek or something but he resists. No sense in scaring her off.

[shes_biochem]

"My day job is frequently still scary to the people who know what I do," she warns, given that the lab isn't always a very safe space for people who have squeamish stomachs. "Dissection, strangely, isn't everyone's idea of an easy, good job."

[on_your_right]

"Not really," he agrees. "Saw my fair share of casualties in the service, though. Flew in, got 'em out. Didn't let it bother me when I saw things that would make your toes curl."

Sam reaches out and touches her hand. "I'm glad you came out with me tonight. I've wanted to do this for a while."

[shes_biochem]

"Probably not my toes," she admits, shrugging when it comes to the sad truth of the matter. "When it comes to our ship, I'm the next best thing they have to a medic. I get the injuries," she says, and even when they're her best friends, she gets to cope with them. She's glad for the touch of her hand, though, needing to get her mind off that.

"I'm glad I came too. I almost didn't," she admits. "I got a bit scared."

[on_your_right]

"Scared? You have to have known that I had a thing for you," Sam says, incredulous that she might be unaware of it. There's just no way. How could she be unaware of the crush he's been nursing on her for months now?

"I just hadn't...made the move yet."

[shes_biochem]

Simmons gives him a slightly scared look. "The last two men I thought I could develop feelings for ended up badly injured or dead," she says, and she knows that he's got something for her, she knows. But the trouble is that that spells something of a death sentence, as far as she's concerned.

"I don't want you hurt," she says.

[on_your_right]

"I can take care of myself," Sam promises. He thinks he's as capable at that as anyone. "I'm on the Avengers B-team, you know? I've hung with Captain America. I can keep myself safe. Besides, I worry about you, too, but that doesn't mean I want to miss out on a chance at being with you just because something bad might happen."

[shes_biochem]

"And one of those men was the grandson of a Howling Commando," Simmons replies, her words tinged with stress. She doesn't mean to end anything before they even start, but there's a somewhat ill settlement in her stomach as she wonders whether dragging Sam into her world won't just hurt him.

She rubs at her face. "And I lost Fitz after what happened. I know he's still alive, but I've lost him and Tripp. I know we're only just starting, but I don't want to lose you too."

[on_your_right]

"Look at me, Jemma," Sam says, reaching for her hands. He doesn't know that there's anything he can say to ease her concerns but maybe he can prove to her that it's worth the risk.

"I think you're worth the risk. I know there's a chance you could lose me. There's a chance I could lose you, too. But that doesn't mean I don't want to try at all."

[shes_biochem]

"Our lives would be so much easier if we worked for some boring corporation," she admits, thinking that everything would be so much easier, but she'd never trade it in. Even if she hadn't gone into the field, this would have affected her.

There's really no running away from it.

[on_your_right]

"It would," Sam agrees. "But it would be so boring that we'd always feel like we were missing something, I think. I don't want to live like that. I still want to do good whenever I can."

[shes_biochem]

"From all the news I've read, you have been," she says, with a touch of flirtation in her voice. "I know that there were so many conflicting reports after Hydra came to light, but once the dust settled down, every gossip magazine and legitimate publication was all over you."

"I can't imagine what that must be like," she admits, so used to operating in the shadows. "Though, I suppose telephoto lenses and speculation can only go so far."

[on_your_right]

"It's not so bad. I think they're after me more to get a look at Steve," Sam admits. It does flatter him, though, that Jemma has been following him in the press. How long has that been going on?

"Is it going to be an issue with...us?"

[shes_biochem]

"What, Captain America?" Simmons asks, some confusion on her face. "I've met him once or twice, at the Nexus. He seems like a perfectly handsome man. I'm not sure why it would be an issue, though. We all work or worked for the same greater cause and I'm certainly not attracted to Steve Rogers. I'd have to join a very long line if I were," she jokes.

[on_your_right]

"No, I just mean...you know. If people want to take my picture or something. It's only happened a couple times," Sam insists. "And I usually say no because that's not my thing but I just want to be sure you're not, you know. Bothered by that kind of thing."

He feels like he's completely ruining this date and he's not sure how that happened.

[shes_biochem]

"I don't know if my director would be happy with my picture getting out there," Simmons admits, given that they're meant to be working undercover at times, but her time at Hydra has come, gone, and spectacularly done none of the things she'd hoped to achieve, so does it truly matter? "Still, maybe you could ask him? I don't know that he would say no to you."

[on_your_right]

"Never asked someone's permission to date a woman but for you? Yes," Sam says firmly. He thinks it's worth it to get to spend all the time with Jemma that he wants.

"I've had a thing for you for a long time. I'm willing to jump through any hoop I need to for this. As long as you have a thing for me too?"

[shes_biochem]

"A long time?" Simmons echoes, not entirely sure she had seen it coming for a long time, but she certainly doesn't want to dissuade him from liking her, for a long time. "I've grown to like you very much too," she says. "For a long while, I didn't see it or think about it, because of Fitz, but I started to allow myself to think of it, too."

"And I do like you."

[on_your_right]

"So, we'll see where it goes? I'm happy to just take it easy and get our feet wet," Sam says. He's hopeful about this, encouraged by Jemma's response, and he hopes she won't let fear get in the way of what looks like it might end up being a very good thing.

"We can go as slow as you want."

[shes_biochem]

"I like the idea of taking this slow and seeing how it goes," she admits, feeling relieved that they're not going to rush into anything. "Besides, I could really use this escape," she goes on, knowing she's on the cusp of rambling, but she keeps stopping herself. "With everything that's been happening, I need that more than anything."

[on_your_right]

"I'm all about being that escape for you," Sam promises. "As much and as often as you want to get away, I'm your man."

It's been a while since he's felt this strongly about anyone and he's glad that Jemma seems to share some of those feelings.

"You want to get the check and get out of here?"

[shes_biochem]

"Or maybe one more drink," she hopes to persuade him, because she's enjoying her company with him and she doesn't want to get up too quickly. At least, not when they still have so much time to relax. "It can't hurt, can it?" she wheedles, offering Sam her best flash of teeth and hopeful smile.

[on_your_right]

"I'm never going to turn down a drink with a beautiful woman," Sam says, relaxing and waving down their waitress to order two more.

"That would be operating against my own interests."

[shes_biochem]

"You know, I think you're the first person since Tripp to be so flattering," she says, mustering up his name as she works to get past the grief that lifts to even think about him. "I miss him a great deal," she confesses to Sam. "Did you know he was the grandson of a Howling Commando?"

[on_your_right]

"I didn't," Sam openly admits. "But that's a hell of a record. I'm glad to be compared to someone like that. Even if, you know. I don't want to be compared, exactly."

He worries about the comparison, mostly because he doesn't want to come up wanting.

[shes_biochem]

"He's not really around anymore," she says quietly, given that Tripp is gone and that's the reason for all of this. "We were just friends, by the end," she clarifies. "Things in our lives were too messy if we were to get involved, but I was happy for his friendship."

She reaches out for his hand, squeezing it lightly. "I don't mind getting a bit messy now, though."

[on_your_right]

"I'll cheer to that," Sam says, squeezing her hand back. He thinks if things are going to get messy, he wants an amazing woman like Jemma by his side while they sort through it.

"I think it's going to be good, Jemma. You just have to trust me."

[shes_biochem]

"I can do that," she says, even though there had been a time when she hadn't been able to trust anyone thanks to Grant Ward, but those times are long past now and she's moving on. She's more than ready to move on.