Ch 23

When I woke up, I noticed that everyone was asleep. One of the nurses quietly came into the room and asked how I was feeling. I told her that it wasn't me that I was worried about, it was the little boy and my family.

"You are too selfless for your own good. You know that?" Tony whispered.

"So, I've been told. You all should go home, get some rest and clean up. I'll be fine." I answered.

"We are not going to leave you, ever." Steve said groggily.

"I'm telling you all to go home, get some decent food, and some decent sleep." I stated.

When they refused to leave me alone for a few hours, I decided to call in the big guns, Pepper.

"Can some one hand me my phone or a phone?" I asked.

Steve handed me his. I knew Pepper's number by heart, I waited for her to answer.

"Steve, I am about to go into a meeting." Pepper greeted.

"Right phone, wrong person." I laughed.

"Bella! Are you okay?"

"I'm good, but I need some help."

"What do you need?"

"None of them will go home and take care of themselves."

"I'm on my way." With that we hung up.

"You had to call her. We are so dead." Tony complained.

"It's not my fault that you didn't listen to me. Pepper and I have to worry about you idiots taking care of yourselves. I-I…" I struggled to catch my breath.

I tried to reach out and grab Steve's hand. Why can't I breathe? What is going on? I felt tears roll down my face.

"Bells, can you hear us?" Tony asked. I nodded my head.

"Can you not breathe?" Brue questioned. I shook my head no.

"I need to open up her airways. Clint go find the doctor; I need to intubate her." Bruce rushed.

He went to some drawers and pulled something out. Bruce pulls out a tube and some other things.

"Bella, I need you to relax. This tube will help you breathe, you just have to let it." Bruce explained.

I did as I was told, and relaxed or tried to. I trust Bruce with my life, I trust them all with my life. I know I'll be okay. I just hope nothing bad happens. I felt the tube go down my throat. I knew I had to relax and let Bruce put that tube down my throat, but I freaked out a little. I couldn't hear what Bruce said, but before I knew it, I was drifting off. They must have sedated me.

~STEVE'S POV~

I watched helplessly while Bruce sedated her and put the breathing tube down her throat. By that time, Clint came back with the doctor.

"What did you do? You are not allowed to treat any patients here." The doctor fumed.

"I don't care about the rules. I care about the welfare of my family and my patients. Bella wasn't breathing, so I did what any doctor would do. If you have a problem with it, we will take her to our own med bay." Bruce passionately said.

"What happened?"

"She was talking fine, then she couldn't breathe. I do not know what caused it." Bruce answered.

The doctor nodded his head, and I watched as he examined Bella. I excused myself and headed to the roof. Once I got there, I couldn't help it, I screamed and started to cry. I punched a section of the wall. I completely broke down. I felt a pair of arms wrap around me. I looked up to see Nat.

"Do you want to talk about it?" she asked.

I nodded, and went to explain how I was scared of losing her. How I loved her. I let all my emotions out. The anger, the sadness, the helplessness, the worry, and the fear. After I was done, I felt a little better. I thanked Nat.

"Can we go back to her?" I questioned.

"Of course. I'll get everyone to give you a minute alone with her." She offered.

I smiled and thanked her once again. We walked back to Bella's room. As promised, Nat made everyone leave. I walked in, and looked at her. She looked so much worse than what she did earlier. Bella was hooked up to a ventilator and tons of wires. I sat in the chair next to her bed, and grabbed her hand. I let out a few more tears.

"I haven't felt this helpless in years. Since, Bucky fell from that train. I love you Isabella Swan, more than I have loved anyone. I need you to get better, because I don't know what I would do. I don't know what any of us would do if you were gone. I know you are strong, so I need you to fight. You have to wake up, you have to get better. I love you." I cried.

After a few more minutes, I let them know that they could come in. We all just sat there, waiting. Waiting for Bella to wake up, for her to get better, for her to come home.

AN: Hey everyone! Happy early Memorial Day, hope everyone has a great weekend. Thanks for reading! ~Lots of love, Ariel