Chapter 3: The Value of a Life
In the front of the quinjet, a tense silence fills the cabin.
"It's the right thing to do." Sam firmly states.
"Huh?" Bruce snaps his head up from his computer screen toward Sam, questioning.
"Nat wouldn't want us to keep her alive or whatever she is with those stones, if she's not alive, alive."
"No, I mean yes, you're right. It is the right thing. I just can't stop thinking about what I missed. From a scientist's perspective. My research findings on the stones with Dr. Strange, the information from our work concluded it was fool-proof. The time stone would bring back her body, undo the injuries from the fall, the reality stone combined with the soul stone would connect her soul back to her body, and create a suspension of life until we could get her heart started. We just, we just needed a simple electric shock, and…. Maybe if we get Thor."
"Bruce, stop."Bruce glances at Sam, taking his eyes off his research.
"Can't you see how unnatural this all is? Don't get me wrong I want Her back, but at what point…at what point is this wrong? Where do we draw the line?"
"We all knew what this mission was going in, and we agreed to keep it secret for a reason."
"There could be consequences, you heard that wizard guy. He wanted nothing to do with this mission."
"Like side effects? It's very possible." Bruce considers the possibility.
"I'm not talking about a headache. What if it's not HER that comes back?"
"Who else would she be?"
"Y-You know like a zombie or something!"
"Zombies? Really Sam? There's no such thing. And my research shows…"
"Stop with the science crap, it's not perfect, it can't predict everything and you out of anyone should know how risky what we are doing is. How the life we are fighting so hard for may be better off left at peace."
Bruce didn't have a response to that and busied himself with the preparations for take off. Prepping the pym particles and checking the engines of the quinjet.
"I'm going to get Steve" Sam starts to walk towards the door.
"You know, Natasha never questioned the value of my life or any life for that matter." Bruse softly reminisces.
Sam stops while grabbing the door handle and winces at the sound of her name he hadn't dare say aloud, but doesn't dare turn to face Bruce.
"I-I know... I'm sorry. I-didn't mean... that was cruel."
"Do you though?...Do you know? She fought for every life no matter how small, insignificant, or even monstrous that life was. And she never batted an eye at what the consequences were."
Sam blows out a breath he didn't know he was holding. "Sometimes, I think that's what made following her and Steve so easy. On our first Op together, we needed to get information from this politician that Hydra had under its influence. So Cap and her take him up to the top of this roof, and Cap asks the guy what we need to know and threatens to throw him off the roof. The guy calls Cap out on his bluff," a chuckle escapes the falcon's lips as he remembers a far away time before he continues, " And you know what Cap says, 'You're right, it's her's and Natasha kicks him right off that roof, without even blinking. Ofcourse, I was there to fly by and grab him, but I don't think I've ever been that terrified of a woman so-so relentless, so breathtakingly fearless."
"She knew there were lives at risk, and that made it worth it to her. Because wherever she came from, whatever happened to her before the avengers, someone told her- no convinced her that her life didn't matter, that she was a monster and therefore, didn't matter. But somewhere along the line she learned they were wrong and made it her life's mission to prove it."
"Yeah, between her, being her and Steve's pep talks…I would have followed those two through the pits of Hell. Back then, becoming an avenger was the easiest decision."
"And now? Is being an avenger still and easy decision?"
Sam chooses not to answer and pulls the door open, re-focusing his attention on his current mission. Mentally preparing himself for the difficult task at hand, because deep down he knew that Natasha would want him to keep Steve in check, put him back together and help him move on, no matter how difficult that was going to be.