Treat or trick, read my fic, give me some reviews to read, if you don't I don't care, I'll pull down your underwear. Just kidding! I won't actually, but I would love some reviews. Even if you're just telling me whether you've heard the non-parody form of that rhyme before. Now, on with the story! And be warned, I got about 7.5 pounds of candy tonight so my writing may be jittery for the next week or so while I have all that sugar in my system. Enjoy!
I sat holding Nights' hand. Tony had shown up three hours before with the permeolycine and helped the doctor administer it to Nights. So far she was doing well; the bleeding had stopped fifteen minutes after it entered her system and her color was starting to return. She still hadn't woken up though.
"How is she doing?" Tony asked, walking into the room with two cups of coffee. I couldn't help but smirk as I remembered the expression on the doctor's face when Tony walked into the ER in full Iron Man regalia. I took the coffee.
"She seems to be doing fine. She still hasn't woken up yet though," I said.
"The doctor says she's responding really well. The waking up part is in doubt though. Doctor seems to think that the brain damage is too significant for her to manage it," Tony said, taking a sip of his coffee.
"What?!" I demanded.
"Yeah, turns out it wasn't just her brain stem that was effected. Sure, it's what received most of the damage, but there was a significant amount of damage elsewhere. So we're not entirely sure she is going to wake up."
I sat, stupefied. No, she's going to wake up, I tried to tell myself. "Why hasn't the doctor said anything?" I asked.
"We're still not sure. He doesn't want to worry you unnecessarily so he's waiting until we've got some more definite information. But there's a very good chance she's not going to open her eyes again," Tony said, his tone finally showing some sadness.
"She's not going to wake up again?" I asked. Tony sighed.
"I don't know Steve. I don't know. It all depends on how much damage there is. Her brain was practically melting you know," he said.
"But she'll find a way to wake up, won't she? I mean she can't just lay here for the rest of her life. She wouldn't stand for that."
Tony laughed sadly. "She certainly wouldn't like it, but we're not even sure she's conscious enough at this point to notice."
"Isn't there some way to help her wake up, even if her brain is damaged as bad as you say?" I asked. Tony tapped his fingers on his thigh, looking off into space, thinking. He sipped at his coffee before turning back to me.
"I might be able to think of something. But it would probably require surgery and it probably wouldn't be pretty. And there's a chance it'd be really overkill."
"Sounds like you already have something in mind," I said.
"I might. But it'd be really risky and the chances of it actually working without killing her or something are even smaller than the permeolycine's chances were."
"But there's a chance?" I asked.
"Tiny. But hey, this is the devil princess we're talking about here. Knowing her, she'll find a way to wake up at the worst time possible and scare the shit out of all of us. Hell, she's probably about to chuck a pillow at my head and then roll over and tell us to shut up," he said.
We both turned and looked at Nights, silently waiting for the pillow to fly and her voice to fill the room with the "Damn right. Now can it!" that we both prayed was coming. It didn't come. I sighed.
"If she couldn't wake up, would you do it? Would you perform whatever surgery or procedure it is to save her?" I asked.
"If it came to it. But, like I said, it'd be really dangerous," Tony said.
"'Dangerous is just another way of saying "worth it"'," I quoted. Tony smiled.
"One of her sayings?" he asked. I nodded. He clapped me on the shoulder.
"Hang in there Cap. She'll figure something out," he said.
"Thank you," I said.
"No problem. Now, do me a favor, Clint, Natasha, Banner and Sam are all out there wanting to see you two and they sent me to ask if that was okay. They may have also threatened to dismember me if I came back with a "no" so would you mind saying yes?" he asked. I smiled weakly.
"Tell them one at a time," I said.
"Great, I'll go get them," Tony replied, making his way to the door.
"Tony," I called after him. He turned back.
"Yeah?" he said.
"Thank you. For bringing the permeolycine yourself and so quickly. She'd be dead if you hadn't done that."
"I doubt the little demon would allow herself to die in such a tame manner as having her brain liquefy and fall out her nose. But you're welcome!" he said, leaving the room as I chuckled. I turned back to Nights, brushing some of her long hair out of her face.
I kissed her forehead. "It's going to be alright Nights. Like Tony said, as soon as it's completely inconvenient, you're gonna find a way to wake up."
"Ah, Mr. Rogers, I was wondering if I might have a word," the doctor from earlier said.
"Of course," I said, standing up as the man entered the room and shut the door. His expression was grave, his presence oppressive. I could feel my stomach dropping to my shoes before he even opened his mouth.
"Mr. Rogers I'm going to be frank. I'm afraid that the brain damage your daughter has suffered is extremely extensive. While the permeolycine will probably keep her alive with regular doses, I highly doubt she will wake up. Especially not any time soon."
I sighed shakily. "Are you sure?" I asked.
"As sure as I can be in such matters and cases. There's a chance she'll wake up, but there's more chance that the earth's magnetic poles will change again in the next week. I'd prepare yourself for the reality that's she's opened her eyes and spoken a word for the last time. I don't believe that she will ever get out of bed again."
"Is there anything I can do?"
"I'm afraid not. Only time will tell. But you need to prepare yourself for the possibility now," he said.
"And she'll never get off the permeolycine?" I asked.
"Most likely not. I'm not sure why things in her brain reacted suddenly like they did but the permeolycine should keep it from happening again. But we're going to have to monitor that as well. It may change."
"So we really don't know anything right now?"
"Your daughter is a very unique case. All we can do is guess right now and see what the future brings." I chuckled sarcastically.
"Isn't that true? I'm beginning to understand her hatred of waiting now," I said. The doctor smiled sympathetically.
"I know it's hard. And I hope everything turns out well. But it's better to think that everything won't turn out well, then you'll be prepared." I nodded.
"Can her friends come see her?" I asked.
"Of course. Hearing and olfactory capabilities are usually the last to go so she may actually hear them," he said.
"Thank you doctor."
"No trouble. We'll do our best to help her Mr. Rogers," the doctor said.
"I know you will. Thank you," I said. The man left and I turned, looking at Nights.
"You can do it. You can wake up," I said. She didn't give me any response.