Chapter 54: A Terrible Tragedy
Warning: This chapter may be a little unsettling. Nothing graphic but just unsettling details implied.
Brigid awoke but instead of finding herself safe in her hospital bed, she was once again trapped in the dark and terrible Raft prison. Instead of being surrounded by Loki and her babies, Brigid was alone. An ocean of terror flooded over her as she found herself bound to a bed, a collar once again around her neck. Sweat broke out over her as Secretary Ross entered her cell once again.
"Get out! Get out!" she cried.
"We never finished where we left off," Ross said.
"Loki will kill you for this, if I don't first," Brigid spat.
"You and your husband will spend your days rotting in here for what you've done," Ross said. "but first, let's continue where we left off."
Ross cut away her tiny smock, even as Brigid struggled like a caged beast. "No, no!"
"My love, my love, you're dreaming, please wake!" Loki's cries beckoned Brigid back from her terrible dreams.
Alas, Brigid did not wake. She continued to thrash about in her sleep, captive of her dreams. "No, no! Get off me! Get away, get away!"
Loki held her hand, desperately trying to rescue her from her nightmares. "My love, please, wake up! There is nothing here to haunt you. You're safe."
Loki placed a hand on her head, and Brigid awoke with a scream. "Noo!"
Loki held her in his arms, as if providing her shelter from a violent storm. "My love, you're safe, my darling. No one will harm you."
"Ross was here, he took me there to that prison," Brigid said, fear marking her voice. "He wants you and me. He won't stop till we're caught. He tried to...violate my body."
Loki held her tight. "My love, it was only a terrible nightmare, but it's over. Ross will never touch you again. He will die before he gets near you again, I swear it."
"He won't stop until he has us both," Brigid said.
"I assure you Ross will never touch you and he will die for what he has done," Loki said. "Let me put your mind at ease."
Loki disappeared into another room and reappeared with two bundles, one in a carrier, the other in his arms.
Brigid heart leapt. "Thor, Astrid!"
Loki smiled as Brigid held her babies. "They missed their mama. They've been waiting for you."
Brigid bounced Baby Thor in her arms and Astrid. "My goodness, they've grown! What have you been feeding them?"
"They have grown in the same strength as their mother," Loki replied.
"I've missed them," Brigid said.
Just then, Tony entered followed by Bruce.
"Well, look who's on the mend," Tony said.
"Well, you know, Dad, I can't let you have all the fun," Brigid said.
"Of course. Wouldn't dream of it," Tony said. "The kids missed you."
"I see they've been well taken care of. Thank you," Brigid said.
"Well, it wasn't just me. Barton had a hand in it, too," Tony said.
Brigid was taken aback. "Barton? He did?"
"I know, you're shocked," Tony said. "Turns out, he's not all about the sword these days. I think those kids gave the Tin Man a heart."
"Dad, you're the Tin Man, but I get it," Brigid said. "I think Barton has warmed to them, and how could you not? They are the most beautiful children."
"I cannot argue with that," Tony said.
Bruce smiled as he prepared a needle for Brigid's IV.
Brigid trembled as she stared at the needle. "Do you have to do that?"
"It's only a little fluids," Bruce said. "It's not going to hurt."
"Please, I'd rather you didn't," Brigid said.
"It's nothing to worry about. It'll only take a second," Bruce assured her.
"No, no," Brigid said fearfully. "Please don't!"
In that instant, Brigid saw Ross and she felt a tightness in her throat. She could feel him as he held her down in the tub for minutes at a time, the water strangling her, overflowing her lungs. Brigid began to feel the water coming into her lungs again, her breath tightening.
Brigid snapped and knocked the needle out of Bruce's hand. "No, get it away! Get it away!"
"Brigid, it's just a little fluids," Bruce said.
"No, no water!" Brigid cried.
Bruce picked up the needle again but Brigid knocked it away once more.
"Brigid, please, if you don't get these fluids, you'll dehydrate," Tony said.
"No water!" Brigid snapped.
"My love, it's alright," Loki assured her.
Tony took Thor as Bruce strapped down Brigid, who continued to struggle. "No water, no water!"
With great effort, Bruce managed to inject a sedative into Brigid before finally getting her fluids.
Everyone was shocked and horrified by what they had just seen.
Loki looked vengeful. "I'm going to murder Ross."
"I'd like a piece of him too, but that's illegal here. Besides, what do you mean?" Tony asked.
"Brigid is suffering from PTSD and aquaphobia," Bruce said explained. "Whatever Ross did to her, he's still in her head."
"She woke up screaming," Loki said. "Even then, she never woke up. I had to fight to rouse her from her nightmares."
"Okay, so how do we fix her? There's gotta be a way to fix her," Tony asked.
"There's no simple way to fix someone with PTSD and a phobia," Bruce said. "But there are ways to help them cope. Therapy, medication, etc."
"I doubt Brigid will go along with the last one," Tony said.
"Well, if we can get her to talk about what Ross did to her, perhaps we can help her," Bruce said.
As Brigid slumbered, she was greeted in her dreams by an old friend.
"Fenrir," she whispered.
"Yes, my Queen," her old friend replied.
"Why have you come?" Brigid asked.
"I think we both know the answer to that, my Queen," Fenrir replied.
Brigid looked away. "I assure you I am fine. Ross cannot get to me."
"My Queen, you are the strongest woman I know, but our greatest strength is admitting when we need others. You need me now and I am here."
"He's always in my head," Brigid said bitterly. "How can I get him out? I cannot get him out of my head."
Fenrir clasped her friend's hand. "Your suffering will only make you stronger. You can endure this. You have before. And as before, you will not be alone. I will be with you. So will Loki, Tony, your children. We will all be with you."
"I wish you could be with me in this world," Brigid said.
"As do I," Fenrir said. "but I have never left you, and never will. I will be by your side, even if you can't see me."
"If that is true, I shall endure what I must," Brigid said.
"My love, my love, please wake."
Brigid was called from her dreams to find Loki once more by her side. Bruce and Tony sat by her side as well.
"Brigid, I think we've found ways to help treat your PTSD and aquaphobia," Tony explained.
Tony held up a bottle. "This is called Zoloft, it's an antidepressant-"
"I'm not taking that," Brigid said curtly.
"Fair enough," Tony said, tossing away the bottle. "We thought of just talking and going from there."
Bruce began slowly. "So, tell me, what happened when Ross took you?"
Brigid trembled but Loki held her hand. "It's alright, my love."
"He put a collar on me, so I could not use my powers. He had me bound to the ceiling."
"Were you afraid?" Bruce asked.
"No, of course not," Brigid replied. "I was more angry than afraid."
"And what happened next?"
"He...he proceeded to beat me for information to get to Loki."
"And how did that make you feel?"
"I was angry! I don't answer to that little man!"
"What happened next?"
"He...started to drown me over and over until I broke. When I refused to give in...he..."
Brigid turned white and her hands turned into fists.
"Banner, stop this," Loki said. "She's been through enough."
"No, Brigid, go on," Bruce said. "What happened? It's alright, sweetie. We're here."
"He stripped me and tried to violate me," Brigid said.
"Were you afraid?" Bruce asked.
"What do you think?" Brigid asked. "I tried to squirm away but he wouldn't let me. He was willing to do this to get to both of us."
Brigid wept as she recounted her tale and Loki held her close.
"I think that's enough," Loki said. "Wouldn't you agree?"
"Brigid, you did great," Banner said. "This is really good. How do you feel?"
"I'm functional," Brigid said."
"Good. We'll try some more later," Banner said.
"You're a tough woman. You'll get through this," Tony said.
"Brigid, I'm going to have to sedate you. I promise everything will be alright," Banner said.
Brigid nodded and Banner injected her with the sedative. Brigid fell into sleep for once untroubled by nightmares of Ross.
That night, as everyone slept, Brigid found an unwelcome guest in her bed.
"No, you're not real," she said fearfully.
"Oh, this isn't a dream," Ross said. "I got you where I want you. You'll tell me where your husband is, but first, let's continue where we left off at Raft."
Brigid spat in his eye and tried to get away, but Ross cuffed her to the bed. "I made sure we're not interrupted. Now, shall we?"
Ross sliced away her gown as Brigid screamed. "No, no! Get off me! No!"
As Ross continued to attack her, Brigid managed to bite down on his neck, drawing blood. Ross cried out and swatted her. Brigid kicked him in the groin, but Ross would not stop.
"Don't be so rude. I'm your guest," Ross said.
Ross continued his attack and Brigid continued to scream and scratch. "Get off! Get off! No, no, no! No! Ahhh!"
"Take your hands off my wife!"
Ross turned to find Loki standing behind him. "Well, looks like I finally coaxed you out."
"Not exactly," Loki said.
To Ross' horror, Loki vanished before him. "What is this?"
Just then, the real Loki burst through the door with Tony and Bruce. "Ross, I believe you're under arrest," Tony declared.
Ross stood frozen as the real Loki attended the bloodied Brigid. "My love, are you alright?"
"Fine," Brigid said.
"Secretary, for the assault of Brigid Odinson, you are under arrest," Tony said.
Suddenly, Brigid leapt up from her bed and stabbed Ross through the heart. "This finishes where we left off."
Brigid released Ross and he collapsed in a bloody heap. With her tormentor gone, and overcome by her trauma, the bloodied Brigid broke down and sobbed as Loki caught her, like a safety net.
"It's alright, my love. Shhh. It's over. He can't hurt you anymore," he whispered. "Shhh. It's over, my darling. You're safe, you're safe."
A/N: Poor Brigid! She finally got rid of Ross. This is for my readers, followers, reviewers, favorites, etc. This story is for you and would be nothing without you!
