Steve carried an unconscious Roxanne through into her room, laying her out flat on the bed, Bruce, who was on his tail, got to work hooking her up to an IV. Tony looked at the doctor as though to question why, "To keep her hydrated. I don't know how much she drank, but I know she's gonna need this," was his reply.

Tony scrubbed a hand over his face as he took in the sight of his sleeping daughter, her face cut and bruised, a band aid on her neck from Bruce's needle, and Steve couldn't help but notice, when looking at the billionaire, that this sight alone seemed to have aged him. Tony looked over to the door, seeing the other Avengers stood outside.

"Wanda?" The young woman stepped into the room, "I want you to look inside her mind, I want to know what she's thinking."

Her gaze was sceptical, "Are you sure that's wise-"

"I need to know!" He snapped, before taking a deep, calming breath. "Please."

Wanda nodded, walking past Tony to the side of Roxanne's bed. She sat down on the mattress beside her, resting a hand on the girl's forehead. All was quiet as the witch closed her eyes, her hand glowing red as her powers delved deeper and deeper into Roxanne's mind. Those outside the door decided that their place was not here, and so they departed, leaving only Wanda, Tony, Steve and Bruce to remain in the room.

Minutes passed, and eventually Wanda pulled back her hand gently, so as not to disturb Roxanne. She stood, turning to Tony. "She feels as if she is alone. The one person she had always relied on in her life is no longer here, Tony, and now she feels as if she has no one else."

"That's ridiculous," Tony muttered, "She has all of us."

"That may be," Wanda continued, "But she's known you for 10 days, Tony, she had Carrie her whole life. Right now, it is as though she lives with strangers. In a world, she does not know. And that scares her. Beyond that, she feels guilty. She was not with her mother when she died – she left her – and a part of her believes that it is her fault."

Tony sighed, and Wanda could see that he understood, he had lost his parents, he knew what it was like to suddenly feel alone. "Can't you do something? Get inside her mind and change…something…" he trailed off.

"I can't, Tony. Anything I did would be temporary. Coming to terms with all of this, the pain, the guilt – this is something that Roxanne must do for herself."

He nodded, "Thank you," and Wanda took that as her cue to leave.

"So, what do we do now?" Steve asked, looking between the billionaire and the doctor for answers.

Tony said nothing, but walking quickly from the room, only to reappear five minutes later with a pair of handcuffs in his grip. He headed towards the bed, sitting down, and carefully lifting Roxanne's wrist, attaching one cuff, before attaching the other to a link in the headboard.

"Is that really necessary?" Steve asked.

"Look, if she wakes up, and no one's around, this whole thing could happen again," he took another calming breath, brushing some fallen hair from his daughter's face, "I want her safe, Steve. And if that means I have to tie her to a bed, then that's what I'll do."

Tony looked over to Bruce, "How long before the sedative wears off?"

"Four, maybe five hours," Bruce replied, crossing his arms, "But, given the state she was in, it might take longer for her to wake up."

He nodded, and Steve could see that Tony was exhausted. "I'll stay with her for a while," he offered, raising a hand to silence Tony's oncoming protests, "Today has been a long day for you, and Roxanne isn't gonna be awake for a while yet, but when she is, I'm sure you want to be on top of your game. I'll stay with her for now, and if anything happens, I'll come get you."

The captain could see that he wanted to refuse, but ultimately, Tony knew this was for the best. "Fine."

Bruce and Tony left, and Steve pulled up a chair to the bedside. Looking up, he couldn't help but notice a shadow lingering by the door. He walked quietly over, "Tony, I told you I'd come get you if…" It wasn't Tony outside, but Wanda. "Something wrong?"

"She has fear for you too."

"What?"

Wanda's voice was low, as she looked over his shoulder at Roxanne, "I didn't think you'd want Tony to know."

"She's afraid of me?" Steve's brow furrowed.

But, Wanda shook her head. "No. But when she thinks of you, it makes her afraid."

"What does that mean?"

She shrugged, "I don't think she knows…and I'm not sure whether she's letting herself find out."

And with that, Wanda left Steve standing in the doorway of Roxanne's room, staring the woman inside, who was still an enigma to him. But, one that he would gladly try to solve, if only she'd let him in.

Rest felt good, as much as Roxanne hated to admit it. The previous day's events were somewhat hazy in her mind, but she knew what had happened – she knew what she'd done – and what she tried to do. So, it wasn't a huge surprise to find herself restrained when she woke. Tony moved, startled in his chair by her waking, and Roxanne looked between the cuff on her wrist, to the billionaire beside her bed.

"Isn't this a little old school for you?" she asked, voice husky and throat dry from sleeping so long.

"Needs must, kid. Don't want to lose you," and though he said it in a light tone, Roxanne could see the hurt in his eyes and feel the weight behind the words.

She didn't know what to say – what could she say? She couldn't explain it, she couldn't lie about it. Luckily, she didn't have to think of anything, as Tony was eager to speak. "I need you to speak to someone about all this, Roxanne. It doesn't have to be me, but I need you to speak to someone. I can't, and I won't, watch you destroy yourself. I promised your mother I'd take care of you, and I know that that might not mean much to you right now, but I'm a man of my word."

Roxanne struggled to sit up, the cuff biting at her wrist as she did so, "I'm sorry."

"No, you're not," Tony shifted in his seat, so he could lean closer to his daughter, "And I wouldn't ask you to be. But, I want to help you Roxanne, and I need you to let me. No more running off, no more drinking yourself to death…please. For your own sake."

"Tony, I-"

He lifted a hand to cut her off, "Don't say anything yet…" he stuck a hand into the inside pocket of his suit jacket, pulling out an envelope. "First, read this."

He handed Roxanne the envelope, and she took it, immediately noticing her mother's handwriting. It was addressed to her, and she traced her finger along the shaky cursive with a sad smile. "Where did you get this?"

"She gave it to me. She told me that I'd know when it the right time to give it to you," Tony stood, resting a hand on his daughter's shoulder, "I'll give you some time."

Taking a deep breath, Roxanne slipped the paper out of the envelope, and unfolding it, she began to read…

'Roxanne,

If you're reading this, I'm gone. Physically, anyway. You must always remember that there will be a part of me with you no matter what has happened to me. You're probably sitting there thinking that this is an easy thing for me to say, but know now that it isn't. This letter is the hardest thing I have ever had to write, but I do have to write it, sweetheart, because you need to hear it. You have always been stronger than you realise, so I have every belief that you will get through this, even if you don't think that you will. And it will be hard – for a long time – I won't pretend that it won't be, darling, but you mustn't feel that you have to numb your pain as you have in the past. The only way you can move through this dark time, is to feel. And I know that in your mind you must feel so alone, but you're not. You haven't known Tony for long, but like it or not, he's your father, and he'll be there for you every step of the way, if you can find a way to let him in. But, more than anything, I want you to promise me something – and don't think that I won't know if you lie – I want you to promise that you'll live the life I always wanted you to have, a life where you are happy, no matter what. I love you, Roxanne, more than words can say, and I will always be with you.

My love, forever and always,

Mom xx'