Kitty wrestled, fought, clawed her way through the pain, through the blinding terror. Heart racing painfully in her chest, cloth over her face blocking out any remaining light in the already darkened room and slowly suffocating her, she couldn't even gather herself enough to scream, to call for help.
She threw back an elbow, making contact, and her attacker stumbled back, dragging her along until he shifted his momentum and shoved her against the dresser, knocking the wind out of her. She grasped for the edges to orient herself, gain her footing, but rough hands pulled her back, whatever she'd left on top of the dresser that morning crashing to the floor. She was thrown against the wall, and an arm flung out for balance found the window, her fist smashed through the glass. Then something hard, solid, cold connected with the side of her face, and light exploded behind her eyes, pain robbing her of any conscious thought. Then again. And again.
Kitty landed hard on something soft – her bed – and tried to roll over, to shield herself, before she was caught around the waist and slung to the floor. Chest heaving, trying to drag in air through the fabric over her mouth, lightheaded from the pain and lack of air, she could only cry out weakly when a booted foot kicked her in the side, her ribs taking the brunt of the impact. She lie on the floor in the abrupt silence that followed, writhing in agony, groping ineffectively at the covering on her face.
Then one sound broke through the haze, the familiar jingle of a belt buckle, and Kitty could feel her assailant's presence looming over her. Her breath caught in her throat, and a chill washed over her body as she instinctively curled up on herself.
She could taste the blood and the fear, and a new rush of adrenaline coursed through her as she felt her legs being pulled down from her chest, knees shoved apart. A fist to the side of her face shattered her focus, the back of her head connecting with the unforgiving floor.
Kitty couldn't—Not again – please, no….
Distantly she heard pounding footsteps, frantic shouting, a large crash and then—
Gunfire.
The figure over her tumbled to the floor, his strings suddenly cut.
"Miss Kitty?" Festus…. Instantaneous, overwhelming relief. Then he was there, pulling her into his arms, safety, freeing her from the suffocating cloth and a nightmarish fate. Kitty shuddered. And suddenly she couldn't stop crying, clutching at Festus like a lifeline. It had all happened so quickly, and it could have—
Kitty focused on Festus, his comforting arms, gentle touch, stroking her hair while he rocked back and forth. Thad was there – he told her the man was dead. Festus murmured reassurances. In the background Sam's voice faded as he ran down the hall.
Time passed, she wasn't sure how long Festus held her. Thad carried the body out of her room. Slowly she quieted, and by the time she had calmed enough to stop crying Sam had returned with Doc.
A/N: They say necessity is the mother of invention, and I'm hoping it's also the mother of inspiration - the next chapter should be coming soon! If you couldn't tell or hadn't guessed, this is a missing moment from "The Avengers". I can't find the episode to fact check myself, though, so I'm going by memory! If I remember something incorrectly and get some facts wrong, please let me know so I can make the corrections :)
A/N 2: random question: in "Whelan's Men" Matt says that Kitty promised him she wouldn't deal anymore - does that happen in an episode that I just can't remember? Do we know when/why she promised that? Or can I use some creative license in another story I'm planning? Thanks!