"I'm sorry Mr. Fitz." His boss, John Casper said, while scribbling down notes on a clipboard. "Hey Nick! How's project 774 coming along?" His boss called, walking over to a blonde-haired scientist who was testing some chemicals.

"Please sir, I just need..." Leo Fitz trailed off as he struggled to find the right words to say. "I just need..."

"Look Fitz," John said, turning to him. "I know that you want to continue your research, but I cannot have you on the team after the accident. I'm sorry, but that's just how it is. I wish you the best of luck." John looked at him the way everyone looked at him. With pity. Most people just avoided him now. People who he thought were his friends now walked the other direction when they saw him coming. And now his boss had decided to cut him from the team.

"I understand sir." Fitz said quietly. John shook his hand, then walked away. Fitz stared after him, his hand trembling. He had worked so hard to get this job. He had left his home in Scotland so that he could attend a secret government college when three agents of the U.S. government had visited him when he was 15, telling him that he had a gift. He had been so close to making it. The project that he had been working on for the last 6 months. A weapon that could stun enemies for up to 24 hours. And now, he would never be able to complete it. His team, well, they weren't the brightest scientists. Fitz sighed and turned to leave.

"Fitz!" He heard someone call his name, and spun back around. It was Ryan Thrush, one of his research team members. "I heard what John was saying. But we need you Fitz! Here," Ryan looked around to make sure no one was watching, and handed him a folder. He dropped his voice to a whisper. "This is all of our research so far. I've copied everything, so no one will know that you have it." Ryan said. "If you are able to make the gun, I'm sure they will take you back!" Fitz stared at the folder in his hands, not sure what to say.

"I don't think that I can..." Fitz stopped again and motioned with his hands as he tried to express what he was thinking.

"Please try Fitz!" Ryan said. After the incident, Ryan had been the only person who had remained Fitz's friend. And now, he just might have given Fitz the key to getting his job back. He stared down at the folder, and the friends stood in silence.

"I'll try." Fitz said finally. Ryan and Fitz shook hands, then Fitz walked to the elevator, pressing the button to take him down to the first floor. He used to hate being alone, but ever since the accident, he discovered that being alone was better than trying to communicate with other people. The ideas were still there, filling his head, waiting to be shared. But he couldn't share them. Not anymore. He slid the folder into his jacket right before the elevator doors opened. Fitz walked through the lobby, out into the crisp autumn night. He crossed the street and proceeded to his apartment, which was only a few blocks away from the lab. He walked past the doorman, and went around a lady wearing a large fur coat. Fitz took the elevator up to his floor, and went to his apartment door. He pulled out his key, opened the door, and walked inside. He went in and sat down on his couch, putting his head in his hands, then closing his eyes. That's when the screaming started. A little girl, who was 11 years old.

"Leo! Help me!" She cried, tears streaming down her face. "Please help me!"

"No...no..." Fitz muttered, shaking his head.

"Leo!" Her screams echoed in his mind. The look of terror on her face, permanently stuck in his brain. He opened his eyes quickly, breathing hard. He looked around, but there was no one else in his apartment. The girl was just a memory. One that will never go away. Fitz leaned back against the couch, as tears ran quietly down his cheeks.