Sorry for the delay. Reviews have been fixed so I can see them now! Yay! I was so happy to read the ones you guys left and I love each and every one as always!

Not going to say who - because spoilers - but someone guessed something that happens in the next chapter. Sometimes I think you guys are psychic because I've had that written for a while now.

Anyway, thanks you guys for reading! Hope you enjoy this chapter.

Words: 1,579

A sketchbook sits in Ada's lap. Mr. Stark had given it to her that morning. It's one of hers. That means he went to her apartment to get it. She tries not to think about it. He said he thought it would be good for her. Something to do while sitting there, something to focus on. An exercise for her mind. Anderson agrees when he stops by, says it will help her brain heal, find it's way back to where it used to be.

Physical and speech therapy were brought up. He thinks she'll be able to start soon. Ada had thought the idea of getting out of bed would excite her but...all she feels is unmotivated. Maybe a little scared. She can't even get up to go to the bathroom, she thinks with a little embarrassment, how was she supposed to do whatever she'll do in physical therapy?

But those are thoughts for another day. She looks through the few drawings that fill the pages but doesn't make a move to lift her pencil.

"Knock, knock," A familiar voice calls from the door and Ada's lips twitch. She sets the book aside, makes sure her hair is covering the right side of her head before looking up as Sam enters. "Ah, there are those crazy blue eyes." He notices they're not as bright he knows they used to be. But he can't blame her after everything. He's just glad to see them open.

"Tell me Katniss isn't about to walk through that door." Tony says with a nod towards the hallway.

"Uh, he's parking the car," Sam mumbles and Tony rolls his eyes. "Anyway, how are you?" He sits on the edge of Ada's bed, pretending not to notice the way she purposely sweeps her hair over her healing incision.

"Well," Ada clears her throat. "I re-r-remembered...y-your na-me...so." She never thought she'd be so proud of something so simple.

"I'm special," Sam shrugs casually, smiling when a little light appears in Ada's eyes.

"S-sure," The girl whispers. "You keep...t-telling your-self...that." She sighs in frustration and bites her lip. Yesterday with the others, they had done most of the talking, but now...

"It's alright, Princess." Sam nudges her cheek and Ada forces her lips into a smile. "I see you got this little guy." He leans over, picking up the Falcon themed bear.

"He looks...j-just like you."

"Don't you think?" He asks, lifting the stuffed bear to be next to his face.

"Definitely," Tony snorts, grunting when Pepper elbows him in the side.

"Why don't we go get lunch," She demands more than suggests, standing from her seat and stretching. "Come." Grabbing her fiancé's hand, Pepper pulls him up, smiling at Ada and Sam while she drags him from the room. Probably for the best if Clint really is on his way.

Watching them go, Sam sets the stuffed bear down and tilts his head to the side. "So," He sighs, lifting his hand to brush Ada's hair back but the girl moves before he can. "C'mon, little lady, what's up?" It wasn't like her to be like this. Ada was a confident person.

"It's u-ugly." Ada whispers, looking down so her hair falls over her face.

"And here I thought you were smarter than that." Ada lifts her head at Sam's words, eyebrows furrowing. "This isn't ugly," He moves her hair behind her ear and she lets him this time. "Nothing about you is. You gotta wear your battle scars with confidence."

"S-some battle," Ada mutters sourly.

"It was, what you went through. What you are going through."

"It wasn't a-a...b-battle...Sam." Ada raises her voice, sniffing while rubbing her eyes. "It was...j-just some...s-s-stupid accident."

"Accident or not," Sam says softly, setting his arm around Ada's shoulders, allowing her to lean into his side. "Everyone's fights are different, doesn't make them any less hard or any less important."

"D-don't go...all the-therapist..on me."

Huffing a laugh, Sam props once leg out on the bed in front of him and rubs Ada's arm. "I'm afraid it's a bit of a habit."

Ada sniffs again and picks up the stuffed bear, placing it in her lap. She holds his arms, moving them up in down until she hears a knock on the door, followed by it opening.

"What's the point of knocking if you're not going to wait for an invitation, Clint?" Sam questions the man as he and a redhead enter the room. Ada is secretly glad he used the man's name. She nearly hadn't recognized him. And the redhead, she knows her. Her name is on the tip of her tongue.

"Whatever," Clint rolls his eyes as he circles to the other side of the bed. "Hey, kid," He smiles, kindly ignoring Ada's red-rimmed eyes, and gives the girl a side hug. "That was some nap you took."

"Sorry,"

"No, I get it," Clint shrugs and makes room for Natasha. "These guys are exhausting, I'd sleep for two weeks straight if I could too."

Ada smiles at Nat, internally cheering when she remembers the woman's name herself. "How are you?" She asks, pushing hair from her face. The action used to be comforting, Ada used to like it. But she wished everyone would stop doing it. She feels guilty for thinking it, that's why she doesn't say it.

Ada shrugs in response, painting on her best smile. It wasn't that difficult, she's had practice, after all. They don't look like they approve much of her answer but let it go. "The others want to stop by tomorrow," Nat tells her and Ada straightens her brows when they try to furrow in confusion. Others. She knows there are others but she can't find names.

Mr. Stark and Pepper come back a little while later. Everyone talks but Ada keeps her answers to three words or less. Anymore was just to difficult. She gets tired and they leave her to rest. Peter, Ned, and Mj stop by after school as promised but don't stay long.

Ada isn't the only one with bags under her eyes. The teenager can see the ones Pepper tries to hide and the way Tony drinks more coffee than normal. She knows when one of them goes home every other night, they don't really rest. And the thing under the window can not pass as a couch. She hasn't even felt it and knows it isn't much more comfortable than the floor would be.

"Really, I-I'm..o-okay." Even if I can't form words properly, Ada thinks ruefully. "I'd a-actually like t-t-to...b-be alone...f-for a while." Pepper's unsure look turns sad and Ada almost regrets her words. But she can't take them back so she plasters on her best smile for them. "Pro-promise. I'll call...if I n-need you."

Sighing, Pepper walks to the girl and wraps her arms around her. "Are you sure?" Ada nods into her shoulder. Pepper pulls away and rubs her arms. "Alright. We're not far. Just call anytime and we'll be here as quick as we can."

Ada nods again, smile faltering when Mr. Stark takes Pepper's place. He has this look, she can't decipher what it is exactly. It's almost like he's seeing right through her.

He doesn't want to leave her but he understands the need to be alone. It's what she's used to. Before Peter and before Nathan started acting like her father again, that's how she spent most of her time. And maybe she hadn't liked it at the time, but it was familiar. Comforting, in a way.

"Alright, kiddo," He gives her a tight-lipped smile, cupping the back of her neck before placing a kiss to her forehead. "We'll be back in the morning unless you want us back sooner."

"I-I c-can han-dle...on-one night."

"Oh, I know you can," Tony nods, smirking in his normal fashion. "I'm not worried that." He was. "Just that you'll miss me too much." Snorting, Ada nearly rolls her eyes and shares a look with Pepper.

Taking a deep breath, Tony's face sombers and he tightens the hold he has on his kid just a little more. "You know..." It's like the words refuse to come out of his mouth. Why were they so hard to say? After all this time? He knows how he feels, but when he opens his mouth to say it, it's not what comes out. "We'll see you soon."

"Yeah," Ada whispers with another nod, waving weakly as they very slowly make their way out of the room.

The door gives a soft click when it closes. Ada's now blank eyes stare at the wall across from her. A few seconds pass until she's sure she's truly alone. Then the tears fall.

I'm sure you guys are ready to move on from this. The hospital stuff is probably getting old. Soon, my friends, soon.

Two teasers today because I liked them both and thought, why not?

Teaser: Maybe that's why she felt she was going mad

Teaser II: A shadow by the window, illuminated by the lights outside, catches her attention.