Aztecl: It's my new favorite thing too :)
Edit: Kerfluffle wanted more build up, so I've made this a little longer. I'm trying to bang these out pretty fast to catch up on the dates, so some of these may be edited or added to once Whumptober is finished.
No. 13. Delayed Drowning/Chemical Pneumonia/Oxygen Mask
Breathe In Breathe Out
Natasha was falling. Down, down, down, as chunks of oil rig followed. She hit the water forcefully, the impact clouding her vision. Water overtook her, filling her lungs and making her cough. A wave swept over her head, sending her spinning deeper into the black depths of the water. She flailed her arms wildly, trying to propel herself to the surface, grasping at anything she could. She broke the surface, thrashing wildly, and grabbing a piece of floating wreckage, but it sunk as soon as she put her weight on it. Another wave came crashing over and she was pushed under the surface again, spinning and flying in the current, whirling in all directions. It felt like every part of her was being pulled in a different direction from the conflicting currents.
She managed to right herself and throw her head above the oily water, gasping in the smoke filled air, inhaling irritating chemicals airborne on the smoke before being swept under again. The waves crashed over her and sent her tumbling head over heels in the spray. Fiery chunks of the exploding oil rig shot down all around her, making the churning waters darker with ash and oil. Natasha clambered up and gasped another bit of air, managing to grab onto a chunk of floating wreckage and riding out the choppy waters.
"Natasha!" she heard someone shout, and saw a blurry figure outlined in bright spotlights. She coughed, spewing water, oil, ash, and sand from her mouth. She blinked blearily and tried to sit up.
"No, stay there. We'll get you to a hospital," someone said gently, cupping her oil covered face in his hands.
"C-cl-in-tt?" she stuttered out, coughing oil from her mouth.
"Yes, sweetness. Don't try to talk, hmm? Just rest, okay?" Clint soothed as she felt herself being lifted onto a stretcher and carried away from the shore she had washed up on.
The next thing she knew, she was in a bright white hospital, smelling of cleaning chemicals and soap. The bright lights above her hurt her swollen eyes as she looked around, trying to get acclimated to her surroundings. Natasha felt the pressure of an oxygen mask over her mouth and nose, feeding her pure oxygen she needed to survive, as well as something else that left a funny taste on her tongue. She took a shuddering breath and glanced over to see Clint, collapsed uncomfortably in a chair, limbs spread out in all directions.
Natasha suppressed a painful laugh.
"C-clint?" She coughed, hoping to wake him although he looked exhausted. No matter how tired he was, she knew he wanted to know when she awoke. "C-clint?" she tried again. A snore was all she got in response. Glancing over, she noticed a glass of water on the night table. She reached for it, grimacing at a tight pain in her chest. She closed her fingers over it and pulled it towards her, tossing the contents at Clint.
"Natasha!" an indignant voice sounded behind her as Clint snorted and shot awake. Natasha turned in the direction of the new voice, seeing Coulson standing in the doorway, an admonishing look on his face.
"Whoops?" she tried sheepishly, before leaning back on her pillow in a coughing fit.
"Hey, easy, easy," Coulson said gently, coming around the side of her bed and taking the cup she still held, refilling it from the pitcher. He gently grasped her mask and tugged it down, offering her the glass while Clint went in search of a towel to wipe his face.
"Thank you," Nat whispered once her throat had been soothed. Coulson nodded, and sat in the seat beside her bed that wasn't wet. Clint returned, face now dry and a smile on his face.
"I'll forgive that little stunt," he began, "because I'm really glad you're awake." Natasha smiled weakly as Coulson replaced her mask over her face, and she took a gentle breath.
"What-?"
"No, don't try to talk," Coulson cut her off. He began to explain her injuries slowly, including her chemical pneumonia and delayed drowning. The oxygen mask was sending medicine into her for the chemical pneumonia. That explained the funny taste in her mouth. The water in her lungs had been surgically removed by inserting a needle into her chest cavity and drawing the water out of her lungs.
"So, in short, you almost died, but now you're okay and you're going to live!" Clint exclaimed joyously. Natasha smiled. "Now get some rest," he said, rubbing a gentle hand down her face. Natasha nodded, smiled, and closed her eyes.