You awoke in pain once again, restrained this time by I.V.'s and tubes connected to medical devices. You opened your eyes slowly as they adjusted to the light and the blur of your vision faded and you could clearly make out the white ceiling above you. You were in Bruce's lab atop a typical hospital bed and despite your discomfort, you smiled. You turned your head as movement caught your eye and you realized Bruce was standing with his back to you, fiddling with one of the machines around you.
"Am I alive, Doc?" You rasped and Bruce jumped as you interrupted the beeping of his machines.
"-!" He turned at once. "You are, thankfully." He walked over to you in your bed, his face changing from surprised to affectionate in a moment.
"So, can you unhook me from the robots or am I to stay here forever?" You asked, pulling at the tubes in your arms.
"Only if you think you can." He said concerned. "These machines are barely support, your body appears to prosper even without them."
"Then?"
"I only wanted to monitor you, better safe than sorry."
"So, what are you waiting for, set me free." As you said this, he went about removing the wires and tubes and you already felt better than when you first awoke.
You pushed yourself to a sitting position and turned yourself so your legs were over the side. You were now wearing a hospital gown, thankfully with a back and Bruce assured you that Nat had been the one who changed you and not Tony, laughing at the last part. You finally dared to stand up and taking one step forward, you realized it wasn't going to be that easy. Bruce was right there to catch you and helped you step into some slippers waiting for you.
"Can I see the others?" You asked.
"If that's what you want." He again assented, "Unless you would rather rest?"
"I didn't go through all that trouble getting up to rest." You said and he nodded, helping you limp out of the room. You felt a bit of strength return to you as you were led down the hall and you were anxious to see the other.
"Wait," You reminded yourself of what had happened, "How long was I out?"
"Just over a day." Bruce replied.
"And Loki?" You were nervous.
"Locked up...Below ground. Tony designed a special bunker down there for such a case..."
"You mean, the other guy?" You gave him a sympathetic look.
"Yes, but at least he's not the one in it." He brushed it off, pausing a moment before continuing. "We thought you had left but Nat pointed out that you didn't take anything."
"How long was I gone?" You realized you had no idea how long it had been since your last night in Stark Tower.
"Four days, we looked all over for you." He said, a hint of sadness. "Tony went out every night in his suit looking for you, Thor broke Tony's fridge with his hammer, and Nat even called your mother."
"My mother? How?"
"We didn't know whether or not she would know anything, but she was the only family we knew about."
"Oh..."
"Yeah, she said about as much." You rounded the corner, the ache in your head had nearly disappeared just as you reached the living room.
"-!" You looked up as Nat came running over to you, looking worried, and wrapped you in a firm but gentle hug as Bruce let go of you.
"I'm fine, Nat." You said as she prolonged her embrace a few seconds before finally letting go.
"It seems you've earned you nickname once more, Zombie." Tony announced as he appeared in front of you and you felt a new happiness at seeing him, which only grew as you spotted the others in the room.
Clint sat on the couch, a space, most likely recently vacated by Nat between him and Thor, who had that endearing smile of his plastered on his face. Steve had stood up from his chair and looked at you, a shadow of relief lined his features.
"Okay, everybody," You said to the room, "Calm down. I stand before you alive." You laughed softly before giving a small sarcastic bow.
"I told you!" Thor boomed. "She is the strongest of Midgardians."
"We never doubted that." Steve agreed.
"You all flatter me," You felt slightly light-headed, "But I think maybe I might faint if I don't follow the doctor's orders." You steadied yourself by grabbing Bruce's shoulder. "I need to sit down."
Steve offered up his chair and Bruce helped you over to it and you relaxed into the cushion, sighing in a new found peace. "So did you miss me?" You smirked.