Thank you so much for your support! Small caveat: I have had to write more medical type descriptions than I actually know about, so if you happen to be in the medical field and you read these coming chapters and laugh because they are so inaccurate, it wont hurt my feelings if you correct me. I would welcome the input! I hope you continue to enjoy!
Steve hesitated at Natasha's doorway. He looked between Nanali and Natasha, "What do I do?"
Nanali put her hand on Steve's arm reassuringly. "Let her hear your voice. She is in this position because she thought you were worth protecting Captain, let her know she was successful. Let me know if there are any changes." With that she walked off down the hall, leaving Steve alone with Natasha.
He walked into her room, suddenly uncertain despite how persistently he had tried to gain entrance to see her. Natasha was tucked under blankets, a pillow beneath her head. She would have looked like she was sleeping, were it not for how pale she was, and the IV putting blood back into her body. Her bare shoulder revealed the tip of one of her wounds which was now stitched closed. He glanced up at the bag providing Natasha with blood she had lost. "Rogers, Steve" was scrawled across it. The bag was almost gone.
Steve took Natasha's hand in his. It was so small. With her eyes closed and her small frame utterly still she looked so vulnerable. Steve stared at her, pondering that idea. He had never thought of her as vulnerable before.
He squeezed her hand, "Nat, I don't know if you can hear me but… I need you to fight through this." He paused and rubbed his forehead, trying to find the words. "I trusted you before all this. Even though we disagreed, even though we were on opposite teams. I told you once that I trusted you to be the one to save my life when it was on the line, and I meant it. But I didn't think it would ever come to that Nat. Now it has and…" he paused frustrated. "I really need people around me that I can trust. I need you not to go out in a blaze of selfless glory just because you feel like it's your duty to do so to make up for your past. I've lost too many friends already. You need to wake up."
Steve looked at her for a moment, then pulled up a chair and sat at the edge of her bed, "Barton says you think I'm some sort of… I don't know.. emblem of good or something. But this is the truth. I'm just a man that the super serum lent strength to. I get lonely, I need my friends around me, and those people are far and few between. I need you with me Nat. I want you with me. Please fight!"
Steve anxiously watched Natasha's face for any sign that she had heard him, but she remained motionless. He wrapped her hand in both of his, resting his forehead on top. His mind was dull with grief, he was exhausted, the lack of blood in his own body making him more tired than usual.
"Natasha," he whispered, "Please stay with me. Don't become another name on the list of people I've lost." Steve stood then and leaned over her, pressing a kiss to her forehead. Her skin felt cool under his lips. As he sat down a wave of exhaustion overcame him. Draping his arm over her knees, he put his head down, one hand still holding hers as he fell asleep.
Deep in Natasha's veins, a change began to take place. Soon every cell in her body was thrumming with energy and motion on a molecular level….
"Vision, are you receiving these?" Tony's voice came through Visions earpiece.
"I am, they are uploading as we speak. Good work sir." Vision focused intently on the screen before him as footage from Natasha's capture began to pop up on the screen. He grimaced as he saw them, playing in thumbnails on the master screen. With a twitch of his fingers he selected one and threw it to the big screen for the others to see.
Wanda, Bucky, and Falcon cringed as Natasha crumpled under the force of the Constrictor. Clint stood abruptly and began to pace, looking from the screen to the ground with a scowl. He looked over at T'Challa, who was watching the screen as though witnessing every detail was some sort of penance.
"You are part of why they caught her, T'Challa." Clint glared at the Black Panther, arms itching to swing at him. T'Challa dropped his arms to his side, palms up.
"You are right Clint. If it would make you feel better to strike me, I would not blame you."
Vision, without looking up from his work cut in, "I think we've had quite enough conflict between brothers don't you?" Clint looked at T'Challa, breathing purposefully through his nose. T'Challa met his gaze, his expression sorrowful. Clint sat back down.
"I can't believe they did this.." Wanda said into her hand, her eyes wide as she watched. Vision threw another clip onto the screen, Ross standing above Natasha who struggled to breath. Her body covered in purple bruises. When Natasha screamed, Wanda gasped and dropped her gaze.
"Believe it my dear. Human beings are capable of great cruelty." Visions eyes were glazed with unshed tears. Tony's voice spoke again, Vision turned it up loud enough for everyone to hear.
"Vision, I want you to format these clips along with the ones you can pull from my suit to create a video that will pull the heartstrings of America. Highlight Natasha's sacrifice, compare it to all of our sacrifices that we've made over the years in defense of the innocent. I want a close up on Steve's grief, Natasha's pain, Ross's cruelty. It is imperative that this works. After we air this, I want there to be not one American left on the side of the government. It's time to show them the price we pay for our service to them."
Vision nodded, his face grim. "I will begin immediately. There is a science behind emotion, I will see what I can tap into."
"I knew you would." Gunfire sounded from wherever Tony was, "Gotta go! Be back soon." His voice faded out with a click.
"I think that's quite enough for one sitting," Vision said, noting everyone's stricken expressions. He switched the feed off. The team looked at each other in silence. Finally Bucky stepped forward, addressing T'Challa, "If this is going to work, there can be no incident that causes the public to doubt our honesty. I can't even trust my own mind. T'Challa, I need you to put me back under."
T'Challa looked at him solemnly, then looked around at the group. "We are a team now are we not? I believe the decision should be everyone's." Wanda looked at Bucky with concern, "For how long? Steve needs his friends right now…"
"He doesn't need them spying on the inner workings of his team and trying to kill him," Bucky retorted.
"Can this even be done?" Vision looked to T'Challa, who nodded.
"I can put him under and transport him to a safe location where my scientists can begin to research a way to free him of his Hydra tech."
"That's what I want." Bucky said firmly.
"I think that might be best," Falcon said cautiously. The rest of them nodded. T'Challa looked around and then spoke to Bucky, "I will begin the necessary preparations." He left the room.
Bucky sighed, "I'll break it to Steve."
