Chapter 5

Melinda stared out the window her two cats on her bed while Tony stood by her desk. Melinda was just tired of being treated like she was just a kid which she wasn't at all. She felt Tony's gaze and she rolled her eyes.

"This is the dumbest thing you've ever pulled, Melinda." He remarked as her head snapped up and her eyes landed on him.

"Excuse me?" she answered. "And who was the one who put that crap inside of them to become Ironman, huh?" she retorted. "I got these gifts from beings who said I was chosen and had a destiny to protect the innocent." She said.

"Do you know who these beings are? Do you know where they came from or their motives?" he demanded.

Silence...

"Lindy, answer me!" he shouted. "They could be evil with very hostile intentions for you." Tony replied.

Melinda felt tears fall from her face then.

"What about Scott Lang what about him?" she demanded out of the blue.

"What about him?" Tony asked confused by her question at first.

"He can communicate with ants hence his superhero name ant man." She explained.

Silence...

"Well, I can talk to animals, birds, insects and nature all of God's creatures and creations. They said I could turn into an animal too..." she started to say.

"I don't want to hear it, Lindy you are here now and we are going to remove those powers somehow." Tony warned as he left the room and the cats glanced at her.

"What am I supposed to do? I don't get it what's so bad about being able to talk with animals and help people?" she asked as both of her cats laid down near her.

She heard a knock at the door and Vision came in. She sighed then. She liked Vision he meant well but she was just tired of everyone not giving her some credit. The only one who trusted her instincts was Steve and she prayed her brother didn't take Steve away from her.

"He cares." Vision replied.

She glanced up at Vision then.

"I know he does, it's just I want him to see me as an equal." Melinda answered.

Vision floated over toward her and sat down.

"An equal as a superhero?" he asked.

"No, I mean as a person all the way around." She said.

Silence...

"You believe he does not care or respect you?" Vision asked.

Melinda glanced away.

"He cares more than you realize." Vision replied.

Melinda could feel her tears fall more.

"Then help me understand Vision what am I supposed to do? I don't get it what's so bad about being able to talk with animals and help people?" she asked. "He does it all the time all of you do he could let me be an Avenger. I mean none of you are perfect so everyone watches each other's backs, right? I...I just want to help people now that I've done it I feel like it's a part of me now." She explained.

"Do you know his greatest fear?" Vision asked abruptly.

"Huh?" she asked confused.

"Do you know your brother's biggest fear?" Vision questioned.

"No, what is it?" she inquired.

Vision looked right into her eyes then.

"Losing the last of his family... You. He couldn't save your parents but now he can save you if you let him." Vision said gently as Melinda started to cry harder then.

"That's cheating Vision I can't stay mad at him now." She whispered.

Vision merely smiled.

"I believe you should dry your tears Captain Rogers is here." Vision said.

She smiled.

"Thanks." Was her reply.

She quickly went into the bathroom adjoining her room and fixed her makeup and hair. She came out to find Steve there with flowers for her.

"Hey gorgeous," he said as she hugged him.

"Hey handsome," she said softly.

"These are for you..." he said through the kiss. "You are going to put me into the hospital with kisses like that." He replied.

She smirked then.

"I doubt it," she answered. "Do you know they plan on removing these powers?" she asked him.

Steve slowly pulled away his heart breaking as he knew Melinda was upset about that. However, suddenly Melinda keeled over screaming in pain as blood ran from her nose.

"Melinda! What's wrong?" Steve exclaimed as he tried to grab her. "Tony!" Steve shouted as Melinda abruptly fell to the ground taking Steve with her while Tony, James Rhodes, Vision and Nick Fury ran into the room.

"What happened?" Tony asked as he saw his sister unconscious on the floor blood gushing from her nose. "Oh, my God." Tony whispered dropping beside his sister.