Hi everybody! This is a series of mostly linear one shots and will be updated sporadically. Please comment below as I greatly appreciate feedback! Enjoy!
Prolouge
A couple sat anxiously in the nearly deserted hospital waiting room in the wee hours of the morning, a sleeping young girl who could be no older than three,cradled in the woman's lap. They had gotten a phone call from a police officer nearly an hour before informing them of the tragedy. It was supposed to be a quiet night. They were just supposed to babysit while James and Holly had an evening out, taking no longer than a few hours. No one could have ever imagined the little girl's cries of protest as her parents walked out the front door, begging them not to go, would be justified.
Dr Leo Hash strolled into the room, struggling to keep a neutral look on his face. He had always hated this part of being a surgeon. He could deal with horrific injuries crossing his operating room, some surviving while others weren't as fortunate. He knew that he couldn't save everyone no matter how hard he tried and prepared himself everyday as his shift started. Informing their families however… that was an entirely different story. His eyes turned to the woman who with one look seemed to already know what he was going to say.
Dr Hash took a breath before speaking, "Ma'am I'm sorry to inform you but both your brother and sister-in-law didn't make it through surgery. I am sincerely sorry for your loss."
The woman felt tears well up in her eyes, her lips tugging downwards into a trembling frown. Her big brother, nearly her last familial link gone forever, leaving his baby girl behind. He hadn't even got to see his only sister walk down the aisle, the wedding still a couple months away.
She felt her finacé wrap his arms around her as her tears turned into heart wrenching sobs as she clutched the sleeping little girl tighter. At the change in position the girl sleepily blinked open her vibrant green eyes. She rubbed her eyes tiredly and yawned before locking eyes with her aunt.
"Auntie Laura?" she questioned, "Where's Mama and Daddy? Unca Clint, why is Auntie Laura cryin'?"
Laura pulled her niece close, pushing away her heart break for just a moment, "Oh sweetie, Mommy and Daddy for hurt really badly and they had to go away."
The three-year-old cocked her head in confusion, her big green eyes staring into her aunt's brown ones.
"When are they coming back?"
"They can't come back sweetie," Laura answered, her voice cracking slightly, "They had to go live in heaven with Gramma and Grandpop."
Realization dawned on the little girl's face as she too burst into tears. Her parents left her, they were gone forever and nothing could bring them back. Her entire world had shattered in an instant.
Clint could only watch helplessly as his love and her niece cried themselves to sleep in the stark waiting room. He absolved in that moment, as he watched them hold each other for comfort, to never let his future niece, ever spunky Karina, to feel as alone he had all those years ago as an orphan, destined to grow up with no parents and no family. He refused to let that happen to someone he cared about, no matter what anybody had to say about it.
In that moment, amongst tragedy, Karina Michelle Wells ceased to exist and the Barton family gained a new member.