This chapter is mostly a filler chapter, it doesn't add anything plot wise until the end of it. I want there to be some lightness to separate the first crisis that threatens Sue, to the bigger crisis that will threaten the whole team. Now please enjoy your reading experience.
Sue stood in the small bathroom that connected to her hospital room. She was allowed to leave today anytime after nine. A quick glance at her told her it was ten till.
A small duffel bag sat on the floor by her feet. It contained the clothes Reed had brought that morning for her to change into. After pulling open the zipper, Sue stuck her hand in the bag and pulled out the first garment her hand touched: a pair of khaki shorts. She grabbed the next item out of the bag and was surprised to be holding a pair of blue jeans. Sue stared down into the contents of the bag. There was a pair of sweatpants, a t-shirt, a sweater, a turtleneck, a button up silk shirt, socks, sandals, sneakers, and a black winter jacket.
A giggle rose up in Sue's throat and escaped. Obviously Reed couldn't decide what she would want to wear, so he packed multiple combinations. Still smiling, Sue shimmied into the jeans, chose the silk shirt, pulled the sneakers and socks onto her feet, and brushed her hair. She slung the duffel over her shoulder and held the jacket in one hand. Reed was waiting for when she came out. He rose to his feet when he saw her
"Did I remember everything?" Reed asked.
Sue didn't answer right away. Instead she walked up to Reed and wrapped her arms around the back of his neck. Sometimes she couldn't believe her luck in catching such a sweet, smart, caring individual.
"Perfect," she murmured before standing on her tiptoes to kiss him on the mouth. Reed responded by leaning into the kiss and lifting her into a hug.
After a moment the couple broke apart. Reed took the duffel bag from Sue and put his arm around her shoulder to lead her out of the room and check out at the nurses' station. The nurses all cooed to the Invisible Woman at how much better she looked. The couple then headed up to the roof where the fantasticar waited. The group liked to use roofs of buildings as parking spots wherever they could to avoid the constant mob of fans.
Sue reached out to open the exit when they reached it, but Reed stopped her.
"Put on your jacket, its cold out," he said. Sue obeyed and went to open the door again, but Reed stopped her again.
"There are gloves, a hat, and a scarf in your jacket pocket. Put those on too." When Sue gave him a look he explained hastily, "You still get chills honey."
After Sue had put those on she asked Reed, "anything else?"
"As a matter of fact, yes." Reed pulled dark sunglasses out of one of the duffle's side pockets. "You need to wear sunglasses too because you're eyes are still light sensitive." Sue put them on and went to open the door outside for a third time, and for the third time, Reed stopped her.
"What am I forgetting now?" Sighed Sue, kind of annoyed.
Reed smiled. "You're forgetting to let me open the door for you, darling." And with a flourish he threw open the door. Sue stepped out into the night air and gasped. Her eyes hurt even from the small amount of sunlight that filtered through the day's gray clouds. Not to mention the cold. Sue shivered and pulled her jacked closer around her, suddenly grateful that Reed had insisted on the extra winter protection.
"Husband knows best," she told him as they made their way carefully across the icy roof. Reed just smiled knowingly and leaned down to give her a peck on the cheek.
For the second time that night Sue gasped when she walked through a door. Only this time it was for a good reason. Standing in the Baxter Building's main living area stood a large crowd of people. A large banner spread from one end of the room to the other. The words 'WELCOME HOME SUE! WE LOVE YOU!' were brightly painted on. Music blared from the speakers.
Johnny danced up to her. "You're just in time for cake!" he shouted over the music. He gave Susan a big bear hug before man handling her across the room toward the food table. Along the way, friends and well wishers stopped Sue several times for hugs and greetings. Sue recognized Alicia, Ben, Johnny's newest girlfriend, and many friends from college and work in the parade of partiers.
By the time Sue and Johnny reached the food table, she felt a bit teary eyed. She partied the rest of the night feeling well loved and supported. She felt the same way when she retired t bed and snuggled with Reed for the rest of the night.
Two days later Sue found herself standing in the kitchen. Fruit… soup... leftover cake… chocolate… nothing sounded appealing. Finally she settled on an apple and slowly ate at it. She hadn't eaten much of anything since she got sick, and it was starting to show. Reed insisted that she eat something, even if she didn't feel like anything. This was why she found herself in the kitchen. As she ate her apple, Sue began to get unexplainably angry.
How dare that man tell her what to do! She was sick of it. Why did everyone just assume that Reed was in charge of everything? Nobody actually elected him leader.
A long, sharp knife sitting in the dishwasher caught Sue's eye. She slowly, delicately even, picked it up by the handle. How easy it would be to end her macho husband problem by simply ending his life! As she was considering the knife, a door slammed and Ben walked in.
Sue jumped as if she were getting caught with her hand in the cookie jar. She guiltily laid the knife back down in the dishwasher. Erasing the lapse of character from her mind, Sue continued eating her apple.
The next chapter is the chapter where Sue really starts to change for the eviler. Can someone tell me how Reed or Johnny or Ben can get hurt? If you shot or stabbed them, wouldn't that not really hurt any of them because one of them could stretch around it, one could burn it up, and one is pretty much invincible? Sue is pretty easy to hurt because someone could catch her by surprise. Does the element of surprise work with any other member of the team? Anything would be helpful.