Thirty One
It took a while for the chaos in the facility to settle down. McCoy's heart was racing for a whole different reason as he paced back and forth along the hallway. He hadn't even been allowed in the same room as her when he arrived. His father had sent him a warning that she was in bad shape.
He hadn't realized until arriving just how terrible of shape she was in. One of the nurses working with his father had finally left the room, shaking her head in disgust as she did so. McCoy's jaw clenched with cold dread as he guessed the reason behind the nurse's reaction. He couldn't shake off the feeling that this was only the beginning.
McCoy let out a shallow breath when he was finally given permission. He caught the wary look his father threw him. He knew his father had treated her numerous times… hell, probably too many times for his liking. But as he reached that room and finally got a good look at her, his blood suddenly ran cold. The moment he saw her for the first time in months was enough to leave his gut wrenching with pity.
Any exposed skin he saw was covered in scars. Despite being knocked out with heavy sedatives, her face was contorted in pain. What horrified him the most was that her hair had been shaved, revealing a scalp that was also covered in deep, angry looking scars. The tissue looked as though it had only recently been stitched back together by the dermal regenerator. McCoy swallowed hard when he finally looked from her to his father.
"We had to shave off whatever was left," his father shook his head, looking mentally drained from what he'd just witnessed. "She was still bleeding pretty heavily when she was brought in, and most of those injuries are burn marks from electrocution."
His jaw clenched when he realized what his father meant by that. Words were lost on him as realization finally dawned on him. Whoever took her had left her in this state. The thought of anyone inflicting that kind of pain on her was enough to send a shiver of rage through him. He desperately wished he could hunt down the people responsible and bring them to justice. Though even he knew what a foolhardy choice that was.
"She's in better shape than when we first found her," Coulson's voice suddenly cut in through the tense silence. McCoy couldn't help but shrink back when Coulson's piercing gaze flickered between him and his father. The older man had always intimidated him. But the moment they stood in that room was when he saw nothing more than a father caring for his daughter. "I only wish we could've found her sooner."
He didn't miss the fact that Coulson had shared a knowing look with his father. McCoy swallowed hard when they left the room, giving him time to be alone with her. The moment they were gone was when McCoy finally grabbed a chair and sat across from her biobed.
He hadn't missed the fact that chairs were placed in the room, or that 'get well' cards were also placed along the walls. He made a mental note to get one for her as well. But the thought left him just as quickly when his hand silently reached for hers. He was alarmed at how cold her skin felt compared to when she was normally awake. He let out a heavy sigh as he gave her hand a light squeeze.
"I know you probably can't hear me Em, but… I miss you," he admitted after fighting to find the right words. He knew he needed to say something. Even when she was out like a light, he knew she was likely listening. That was a trait of hers he'd almost admired. Her compassion and willingness to forgive was something he would always admire. "Hell, I missed you the day I found out you were going on another mission. I just wish you were here right now."
Guilt stabbed him in the chest when he recalled how close they had been to eloping. He often found himself wondering whether or not that would have changed fate. Hell, he'd spent a lot of nights when she was missing thinking of things like that. When he first found out she had been missing in action, he wasn't sure how to react to that bit of news.
None of his roommates in med school knew the truth behind her disappearance, other than the stories of a random heist that had occurred somewhere out of the country. And he desperately wished there was someone he could tell. He wanted to have that chance to pour his heart out and tell them what had happened to her. He realized with a start just how scared he was of losing her.
"Your father told me you were talking about wedding dates."
McCoy flinched visibly at the sound of Coulson's voice cutting through the silence once more. He glanced over his shoulder in time to see Coulson leaning against the doorway. The older man's arms were crossed over his chest as he eyed McCoy warily. And it only took a split second for him to register why. He reluctantly pulled his hands back, knowing full-well he was out of line.
"We had been talking about it when we were in Vegas with Barton and his wife," he said carefully. He knew Coulson was likely looking for an opening to have his ass arrested. Or something along those lines. Either way, he didn't want to give Coulson another reason to arrest him. "I know we've been dating for over four years now, but I didn't want us to rush into anything. I'm pretty sure Ma would've killed me if I'd eloped with her."
Coulson gave a nod of understanding. He was taken aback by the fact that the older man hadn't reamed him out yet for wanting to marry his daughter in the first place. He'd been terrified of the notion since finding out what the older man was capable of. Not to mention Coulson knew a lot of people who were trained to kill… unease swept through him at the thought of pissing Coulson off.
"I know how much you care about Emily," Coulson pointed out. McCoy rose an eyebrow in surprise when he caught the look Coulson was giving him. "You went out of your way to stop here even though it's against protocol." A lump formed in the back of McCoy's throat as he thought of the security detail he'd gone through just to be there. He'd been beyond irritated with the fact that they were questioning his presence, but a part of him understood the necessity for said detail. Outsiders weren't normally allowed anywhere near a SHIELD base, so it made sense for them to take extra precaution. "If you decide to take that step, you have my blessings."
It took a few seconds for those words to sink in. For a moment, McCoy didn't know what to say when Coulson patted his shoulder and left the room. He suddenly thought back to the ring his father had given him a couple of years ago. And all at once, he knew that he was ready for that step. She meant more to him than anyone he'd ever met, and nothing was going to change that.
.
.
"She's coming to."
The announcement caught everyone waiting around off guard. Nearly two weeks had passed since Emily was brought in to the ICU. McCoy had been submitting assignments from the base since then, having gotten permission from his instructors to leave the campus temporarily. When they found out it was an emergency situation, they'd been more than willing to let him off the hook for a few weeks. Though he knew he would have to make up for it by working extra hours in the medical center once he returned.
For now, he was grateful to be there when she woke. She'd been in what seemed like a comatose state since she was taken in. The strange thing was that she would fade in and out of consciousness, causing the power to fluctuate with her sudden wakefulness. Because of that, she was given intensive medication to keep her powers from causing an energy surge that would make an even bigger mess.
It would be a waiting game for the next two weeks for McCoy. He was anxious to make sure that she was safe. More importantly, he wanted to be there for her when she needed someone the most. He knew full-well after going through that kind of trauma that she would need someone to talk to. Though he had a feeling with her being as stubborn as she was, she wouldn't want to talk about it.
He let out a sigh of relief after hearing those words. The doctors and nurses had been working around the clock to make sure her vitals were back to normal; he'd gotten used to sitting outside the hall when something went awry, though he'd often ask them for advice or even be included with whatever was happening.
"It's probably a good idea not to overcrowd her right away," one of the nurses suddenly warned them. Coulson had been waiting around as well, sometimes joining him or talking to some of the other agents that had stopped by. McCoy hadn't missed the fact that she had more visitors than he was accustomed to. Barton had stopped by a few times to ask how she was doing, along with a redheaded woman who ignored his presence entirely. Though he could feel those curious green eyes piercing through him every now and then. "There's no telling what state she will be in when she wakes up."
McCoy swallowed hard at that. He had been worried about how she would react upon waking up in the room. This was the first time she'd gone through something so traumatic... at least since he'd known her. He'd heard stories about how Coulson found her before she was adopted.
Apparently she had been found by random civilians near the desert. It was a wonder she had survived in the first place, and the thought left his stomach wrenching once again. Coulson was the first to step into the room. He knew it was only right… as much as he wanted to be the first, he had a feeling she wouldn't be in a state to talk.
"You really care about her." McCoy froze at the sound of a woman's voice. He turned in time to see the redhead from earlier giving him an emotionless stare. Though he could feel her scrutinizing his every move, telling him there was more to her than meets the eye. "The agency doesn't normally allow civilians inside."
"Yeah, I do care about her," he rolled his eyes and crossed his arms as he thought of everything he'd done just to get to this point. "At this point most of the agency knows that we've been seeing each other since high school."
That was an understatement. He resented the fact that so much time had been lost prior to dating her. Dating Emily had been one of the best choices he could have made. She meant so much more to him than just another pretty face. The redhead was ready to say something else when Coulson emerged from the room again. McCoy sat up the moment Coulson looked at him.
"She wants to see you," the older man warned him.
McCoy wasted no time in answering the call. He'd been waiting for so long. He needed to make sure that everything would be okay, though he had a feeling that was far from the truth. He tried pushing the uneasy thoughts surging through his mind the moment he reached the room in question.
His heart wrenched with pity once he reached her. For a moment, he didn't know what to say as their eyes met. The haunted look sweeping across her face was enough for him to wish he could take everything back. She hadn't done anything to deserve the treatment they put her through. She shouldn't have gone through that.
He couldn't speak the moment she suddenly pulled him into an embrace. The tears that followed were enough of a reminder of what had happened. It took a few seconds for things to settle down. He knew in that moment that she needed whatever comfort he could provide. And even that might not be enough.
"I'm sorry," he whispered after finally gathering the courage to speak.
"What are you apologizing for?" she let out a shaky breath, causing his heart to sink even further.
Truthfully, he wasn't even sure why he was apologizing. Maybe none of this would have happened if he'd been there. Though McCoy had a feeling she would have put herself in that position regardless of whether or not he was there. That was just the kind of person she was. She was willing to give her own life to keep everyone else safe.
"I was just thinking of what could've happened if I was there," he admitted sheepishly. "Though now I'm thinking that's a stupid idea."
"You're right about that," she rolled her eyes knowingly. McCoy was a little unnerved that she was acting as if nothing had happened. He could tell something else was bothering her. She was hiding behind a mask, trying to act as if everything was normal. "Papa told me that you were here when I was brought in."
He gave a nod in response, swallowing hard at the thought of returning to med school now. He wasn't in any hurry to leave her behind. She'd gone through hell, and something told him that wouldn't be the first time either. The thought left his stomach twisting in a tight knot. The last thing he wanted was for her to get her while on a mission. He knew it was selfish to think that she wouldn't go on another mission so soon after this one.
What bothered him the most was the fact that he'd been warned of what to expect when she started going out onto the field. It was only then that he realized what he had to lose. And he wasn't sure if he was ready to accept that notion.
"It took a while for me to convince them I needed to take time off," he explained as he took a seat beside her. "They let me off the hook when I told them it was an emergency."
Emily made a face at the mention of taking time off, though she didn't bother saying anything to that. Instead, she rested her head against his shoulder as they sat side-by-side. He knew this wasn't going to be easy for her. The fact that she had gone through something like this was just another reminder of how risky this field was.
"Thank you for being here, Leonard," she suddenly whispered. McCoy rose an eyebrow in surprise when he felt her shift a little. "The funny thing is, I could feel whenever you were in the room…"
Confusion swept through McCoy when he realized what she was implying. He wondered for a brief moment if it was the medication talking. But he also knew she rarely lied unless the situation demanded it. He didn't want to admit that he'd felt an odd sensation from the moment they first met. But if she was admitting it out loud, maybe he wasn't the only one to experience those odd sensations. His brows furrowed together at the thought.
"You were fading in and out of consciousness," he pointed out. "That might've been why."
Though he had a feeling it was more than that. The look written across her face told him that was the case. She suddenly took hold of his hand, giving it a light squeeze in the process. McCoy's jaw clenched when he saw how heavily scarred her arm was. The assholes had left nasty looking scars along her arms and even her hands. But the moment her skin made contact with his was when the familiar electrical shockwave swept through him.
"You felt it," she said bluntly. McCoy didn't say anything, suddenly aware of the raw emotions burning within him. The moment her eyes met his was when McCoy knew she was right. "I don't know how, but it feels as if there's a connection… almost like a bond."
"I'm guessing your powers have something to do with this," he muttered. He hadn't let go of her hand. He realized with a start that those raw emotions he felt were hers. He glanced at Emily self-consciously when he felt her eyes boring through him. It wasn't until she suddenly kissed him that the surge left his mind numb with shock. He was breathless for a moment, unable to take his eyes off of hers. "Good God!"
"You might be right about my powers," she murmured after smirking in amusement at his groan. Embarrassment swept through him the moment he realized that was the reaction she'd been anticipating. "I knew something was off the moment I was taken… I should have known before then. They were trying to run tests to see if they could control it."
McCoy's heart nearly skipped a beat as realization dawned on him. The anger from earlier suddenly came rushing back when he realized that those assholes had been trying to control her. He was grateful she had been found before they had the chance to figure it out. He had a feeling she would have made a dangerous enemy had they found a way to control her. He swallowed hard when they reluctantly pulled apart. He was all-too-aware that she was taking this better than he expected.
"Are you sure you're alright? Most people who go through something like that don't bounce back right away," he said warily.
"Leonard, I don't think I'll ever be okay after what happened," she admitted. McCoy's gut wrenched when her face fell. All too quickly, he was reminded of the fact that she'd only just woken up from the trauma. "My body's covered in scars now, and…"
She squeezed her eyes shut and couldn't finish. McCoy understood exactly what was happening. He let out a heavy sigh and suddenly took hold of her hand, ignoring the fact that she flinched. The moment he kissed her hand was when her eyes finally opened, and she looked at him warily. She knew he was terrified of what that 'connection' she mentioned earlier meant.
"Darlin', it doesn't matter what you look like on the outside," he reassured her without hesitation. "It's the soul that counts."
Her eyes seemed to light up for a brief moment. She let out a sigh of relief and kissed him once more. McCoy's heart sank when he realized she had been worried how he would react when he saw her scars. He knew it had to be bad if she was desperately trying to hide them. But at that point, he didn't care. He was grateful she was alive… that was what mattered the most to him.
"You really are amazing," she whispered.
If it wasn't for the fact that there were eyes and ears everywhere, McCoy's heart would have been swooning over those words. As it was, he allowed himself the rare opportunity to spend whatever time he could with her. He wanted to believe that what happened in that room was nothing. But it scared him to think that the bond between them was stronger than he first imagined. To make matters worse, there was a chance that their lives would forever change because of this. The only thing he could do now was hope that she managed to pull through this mess.