Chapter Thirty-Six

Steve entered the infirmary room, wincing when he saw that Remy was strapped down. She looked up at him, eyes red and skin pale as she took him in. Her camisole had long been removed and was replaced by a generic SHIELD t-shirt that hung loosely on her plump frame. Fury had told them what had happened, and after making a plan with Tony, the super soldier went to check on her first.

"They think I'm gonna hurt myself." She murmured weakly, jerking her wrists against the restraints. "I'm not gonna, though, so can you untie me, Steve? And where's Clint? Is he okay?"

"One thing at a time, Remy." He replied. Against his better judgment, he did remove the restraints from her wrists. No one told him that she was a risk and he felt these were a little overkill. The moment she was free, Remy sat up and swung her legs over the side of the bed, standing shakily on her two legs. He immediately grabbed her under her shoulder, trying to keep her standing up right. "You really need to stay still. I heard it was a nasty stab wound."

"Fuck that." She snapped hoarsely. It was clear she had done nothing but cry since being patched up a few hours ago. And she really shouldn't have been moving so soon, but she was determined to see Clint if he was on board. "I need to see him. Where's Clint?"

"You need to calm down first." Steve told her, looking down at her. "If the nurses come in and find that I've let you go, I'm in for a world of hurt."

"Clint." She whimpered. "Please. I need to see if he's okay, Steve. Please."

Steve sighed. "He's in the room across from you."

"Then why are we still standing here?" She snapped, trying to pull away to head to the door.

Rolling his eyes, Steve kept a firm grasp on her as he helped her out of the room. The door to the next room opened and he was a bit surprised to see Natasha sitting there. She looked up at the two, eyes sweeping over Remy's before she looked back at the bathroom door. Clint stepped out a moment later, drying his hands on a towel. He froze when he saw Remy, surprised to see her there.

Natasha stood up suddenly and looked at Steve. "Outside. Give them a few minutes."

He nodded, almost hesitantly, before following the assassin out of the room. Remy took a step towards him, but her legs seemed to stop working and she stumbled. Clint was fast, catching her before she hit the ground and pulling her upright.

"What the hell are you doin' here?" He asked gruffly, wrapping his arms around her. "You shouldn't even be on this boat."

"Shut up, please." She whimpered, burying her face in his chest, taking a few deep breaths. It was such a relief to be in his arms after what all had happened in the last few days. Remy looked up at him, eyes filling with tears. She choked back a sob, tightening her arms around him. "You're alive, right? This isn't a fucked up dream?"

"I'm alive, really." Clint chuckled softly, tightening his grip. She let out a whimper and he pulled back, looking down at her. "Are you injured? What happened to you, Remy?"

She kept one hand on him as the other lifted up her shirt, showing the wound on her side. Blood was already seeping through the bandage. "Loki. When... when he got... Ph-" She couldn't finish the sentence before tears began rolling down her cheeks. "Oh my God, what's going to happen, Clint?"

Clint pulled her back into his arms, being mindful of her injury as he pressed a kiss to her forehead. "Hey, listen, it's going to be okay. Just... just stay here. Stay in your room and when it's all over, I'll come back for you, okay? I promise."

Remy nodded, clinging to him for a bit longer. "I love you, okay?"

He didn't hide the surprised look on his face. "Re-"

"No, I do, okay, and this made me realize this so maybe it's stupid to say it right now, but don't say anything just because you're off to fight aliens." She wiped her eyes. "So when you come back maybe I'll say it again if you want, but just know that I love you."

Before Clint could reply, the door opened again. Steve and Natasha were standing there. "It's time to go."

"Wait, where too?" Natasha asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I'll tell you on the way." Steve replied. "Can either of you fly one of those jets?"

"I can." Clint replied with a nod. Steve looked at Natasha. She nodded, confirming what the archer was saying.

"You got a suit?" The Captain asked.

Clint nodded again. "Yea."

"Then suit up."

"Can I at least kiss him goodbye?" Remy asked dryly. Steve gave her a look and she rolled her eyes, turning her attention back to Clint. The kiss was quick and barely noticeable, but she needed it. She reached up to run her fingers through his hair. "Don't do stupid stuff, Robin Hood."

He grinned slightly and kissed her forehead. "No promises. Now go back to your room, Remy."

And with that, he followed his teammates out of the door. Sighing, Remy made her way back to her own room across the hall, laying back on the bed, sans the restraints. She just hoped no one else died in this foolish battle.

It felt like hours had gone by as Remy lay there in the bed. The only people to check on her were the nurses on staff to change her bandages or give her some pain medication. It was frustrating to be there, but in reality, she was useless in this sort of situation. She couldn't fight, work the computers, or fire a gun. Hell, she could throw the gun if needed, but that was it. Thankfully the threat had been removed from the helicarrier, but to know that the bigger threat was down on the ground and attacking the city? Way worse. One of the nurses had managed to give her information on what was going on and it made Remy feel even more terrified.

And then there was Coulson. He was likely in a body bag somewhere in this place. The thought sickened her and she couldn't believe he died right in front of her. In the hours since he died, she had cried several times, but for the most part just laid there on the bed, replaying the scene in her mind, wondering what the outcome would have been if something different had happened, like if they were just a few seconds later, would Coulson still be alive? Or if she had been the one carrying the big ass weapon, would Loki have taken her out instead, leaving Coulson mourn but carry on as an agent? She was standing right next to him when the scepter was shoved through his chest. Why didn't Loki use it on her instead? Why use the puny dagger and not take her out as well? It wasn't fair. Coulson was the better agent. He should still be alive and kicking ass while she was zipped up in a body bag.

But there was nothing she could do now.

Remy rolled onto her back, staring up at the ceiling for a moment before closing her eyes. It was weird doing this, but her mind began searching for something. She read something recently about bringing someone back from the dead, but it could have been just a story she read. But it had been so scientific and medical in nature that it wasn't just a story. Was it... no, wait. Her eyes flew open and she scrambled off the bed, swearing as the pain medication seemed to turn her legs into jelly, causing her to collapse onto the floor. This wouldn't do, but she needed to find Fury or Hill and tell them. Maybe the information could somehow save Coulson.

Except that chance wouldn't come then. Two nurses came in at that moment and forced her back into the bed. They ignored her protests, saying that she was being taken off the helicarrier and back to the Triskelion, and that the battle was over so they needed to get the injured and dead back safely. If the battle was over, that meant she would see Clint soon, right? She prayed to whatever God was out there that he and the rest of the team would be safe and uninjured, and that this was truly all over. She couldn't handle this anymore.

The nurses kept her on the bed as they checked her over before one went off to grab a wheelchair. They then wheeled it from the room and down the hall to the deck with Remy sitting in it, though she was tempted to run off to find Fury and escape from the nurses. There was an awaiting quinjet there with several injured agents already on board. None of them spoke to her as she was helped from the bed and placed into a seat toward the front. It was fine by Remy. She didn't want to speak to any of them either, and the further from the door the better for her, lest she tried something stupid.

Nothing was going to return to normal now, especially with Coulson gone. Remy stared down at her hands as the jet started up to get ready to take off. Everything changed way to fast for her to absorb it.

"I do not need a babysitter." Remy hissed as Brock followed her to her car.

"You do not get a say in the matter." He retorted as he quickened his pace, snatching her keys from her hand before approaching her car. "Doctor said you shouldn't drive while you're on your medication, nor should you be left alone."

"I'm an adult who can take care of herself, dammit!" She snapped, trying to get her keys back. Brock rolled his eyes and held them above her head. She tried to make a grab for them only to recoil in pain. Okay, that was not a smart move.

"Get in your car. I'm driving you to your apartment." He ordered as he opened the car door for her. "This is only for a few days, okay?"

"Only until Clint gets released, right? And then you're gone." She grumbled as she carefully climbed into the passenger's seat of her car.

"Right, whenever that is." Brock replied as he rolled his eyes, shutting the door after her before going around to the driver's side. "I'll take that awful couch unless I can sleep on the floor."

"Go ahead. Lucky might even share his bed with you." Remy shot back, holding her side once she was buckled in. "Fuck, this hurts. Everything hurts and I'm ready for this to be over." She turned to look at him. "Seriously, a babysitter. Why?"

"Fury also ordered that you have protective detail." He replied as he started the car up and drove out of the garage. "And until Barton is cleared for duty you're stuck with me." Brock glanced at her and smirked. "Unless you want Rollins. He's a lot less friendly than me, sweetheart."

"If it was Rollins, he would have said fuck it and let me drive home on my own." Remy snapped, glaring at him. "And don't call me sweetheart."

"Rollins would have thrown you in the trunk." Brock said with a grin. "You're lucky to have me, so stop complaining. Fury is convinced that the Chimera Order freaks are ready to attack now given what just happened, so he's being cautious. And with Coulson dead, you're alone in that apartment, so just stop complaining and enjoy having a body guard, okay?"

Remy went quiet at the mention of Coulson, looking back down at her hands. It had been two days already and she still could recall every detail of the scene. From entering the room to Loki stabbing him, all the way up to Fury looking at her as he told the crew that the medics 'called it'. It kept her up at night as it replayed in her mind over and over again. She managed a few minutes of sleep here and there, but for the most part she kept awake, refusing to remember that.

Brock glanced over at her, noticing how quiet she became. "Hey, it's going to be okay."

She didn't respond as she stared at her hands. They felt sticky and wet, like they were covered in blood. His blood. Remy had never seen so much blood before and she never expected she'd see Coulson's. Her heart started racing and her palms felt sweaty. Instinctively she began rubbing her palms on her pants, trying to dry them off. It didn't seem to work. It felt like the blood was still there.

"Hey, hey!" Brock was talking to her now, reaching over and grabbing her hand. "Remy, come back to me."

She jerked her head to look at him. "What?"

"You zoned out there for a moment." He replied warily, looking her over as he let go of her hand. "We're almost to your apartment."

"Oh."

"Yea, oh." He pulled up to a parking spot on the street. "I was thinking of picking up some food from that diner on the corner. Is that okay? You probably need to eat food with all the shit the doctor's given you."

She shrugged. "Whatever works. You're the babysitter so you call the shots."

"Okay, stop referring to me as the babysitter. It sounds weird."

Remy leaned back in her seat, looking thoughtful. "Gee. I use to let the babysitter fuck me. That does sound weird."

"Hey!"

"Go get me a fucking burger, fries, and the biggest coke they have, babysitter." Remy ordered, pointing down to the diner. "I'll wait in the car, because who knows what could be waiting for me in my apartment."

Brock rolled his eyes and handed over the keys. "If something happens, honk the horn. I'll come to your rescue."

"Gee, thanks, babysitter."

Closing Note: A brief reunion and more Brock, because hey, I like that asshole.

If I were to do one shots with these characters, would folks be interested in that?