Susan Storm and Reed Richards are walking along the dark and empty New York streets at 10 pm. Neither of them are particularly worried about criminals who might try to mug them (or worse). Several shady figures lurk in the shadows of dark alleyways, but none do more than lurk– all they have to do is see how Reed's arm is wrapped several times around Sue's waist, and how, whenever he leans over to whisper something in her ear, she giggles and goes slightly transparent. Attacking this pair would probably not be a good idea.
As they approach the Baxter building, a streak of flame zooms up, and turns into Sue's brother, Johnny. He's wearing only his Fantastic Four suit and looks very pleased with himself. "Hey guys. How was the hot date?" he asks. Sue rolls his eyes, but she doesn't get a chance to reply because female voices cry, "Look, there he is!" Johnny turns to glance behind him and must see something that frightens him because he says, in a slightly panicked tone, "I gotta go. Catch you later!" He zooms off as Sue cries, "Johnny!" in a sort of half-hearted voice.
"He really shouldn't be going off like that," says Reed, staring at the empty sky.
"I know, but who's going to stop him?" asks Sue.
"Good point." Reed stops, looking into Sue's eyes. Softly, he says, "You know, I always thought that the problem with New York was that you could never see the stars. But I was wrong. All I have to do is look into your eyes."
Sue is so shocked by this un-Reedlike thing to say that she goes completely invisible. Wriggling out of his arm, she laughs. "Come on, Reed. Catch me!"
He sighs in a slightly exasperated tone. "You never get tired of this, do you?"
"Nope," she runs into the building, expecting him to follow her. Waiting for a few minutes, with no Reed coming through the door, she peeks out again. No Reed.
Opening the door and stepping onto the sidewalk, Sue almost stumbles on a prone form. At first, she figures that it's some drunk, or a homeless guy. But then she recognizes the suit jacket. Panicked, she kneels and turns him over, praying she won't see the familiar face.
I wake up, my face wet with tears and my heart pounding in my chest. Wincing at a crick in my neck, I turn in the chair that I've fallen asleep in to look at the man in the bed next to me. He's tossing and turning, drenched in sweat. I quickly get up and sit down on his bed, holding his had. I murmur, "It's okay, Reed, I'm here. It's Sue, I'm here."
He calms down, and his other hand comes to hold mine, stroking the gasket that I wear on my finger. "Sue?" he croaks.
"Yes, I'm here,"
"Was it the machine?" he asks, his eyes still closed.
"I think so," I reply.
"Oh," he sighs, and slips once more into unconsciousness.
I remain holding his hand and staring at his face. Please get better, Reed. Please get better.
A sound at the doorway like a strangled sob interrupts my futile prayers. I turn, and see Ben Grimm standing there, tears streaming down his rocky face. I conceal my surprise as I smile and say, "Hey, Ben. Want to come in?"
Mutely he shakes his head. Turning, he runs down the hall and down the stairs into the city.