I'm in Wonderland Dad, and it's a Nightmare

by Cinderstorm

Tony and Steve's daughter from the future has fallen through time to meet her fathers twenty years before her birth. It's like a dream come true for the Avengers, especially Tony because contrary to his beliefs he has the capacity to be a good parent. This wonderland quickly falls apart though when it becomes apparent that his daughter's life in the future is a living nightmare.

11. Chapter 11

Disclaimer: I do not own the Avengers - Marvel does.

Author's Note: Please take heed that this chapter deal with the topic of suicide and depression.

Bucky and Nat burst into the garage to hear Clint trying in vain to reason with her. As they reached the car Clint threw a grateful look at Nat and he backed out of the space he had been occupying to allow Bucky access to the young woman. However, Bucky chose instead to open the side door near Carter's head – the flood of brilliant light caused her words to take on an even more frenzied tone. Seeing the glint of Bucky's arm coming toward her Carter recoiled trying to move away but the Winter Soldier was quicker and he pulled her into his arms despite her desperate attempts to free herself. Her litany of apologies continued factoring in Bucky now too, "Please, please let me go! I promise I'll be better. Please, I'm sorry, please don't hurt me anymore, please." Her pleas cut all of them deeply but they had to move her, and Bucky was the best option to control her in this state.

Once they were in the elevator Nat began to unlace one of Carter's shoes while Clint went to work on the other one. The minute the two assassins touched her Carter went still in Bucky's arms and she ceased to speak. Besides minute trembling in her hands she tried to keep herself from moving though her eyes were wide with apparent fear.

The journey to the living room never felt longer to any of the three assassins, "She's in a residual state, like shock but ten times worse," Nat told the room at large when they came into view. "Put her down," Bruce instructed Bucky who gently lay Carter's form in a large armchair where she promptly curled up again, keeping her eyes on the people in front of her. "Carter, can you hear me? It's Bruce," called the Doctor while Nat went over to Steve and Tony who were watching the scene unfold with pain in their eyes, "This one was about me," she confessed to them, "I'm sor…" Tony wrapped her in a hug, "Don't say another word Tash," he spoke in a fierce ton, "Thank you for bringing her home."

A terrified cry from the chair made them all turn around to see a sedative Bruce had been trying to administer to Carter broken in half on the carpet, "No, no, no!" yelled the young woman, brandishing her knife from earlier that had lain forgotten next to the armchair. She kept it front of her, "Stay back," she spat, "Please," as plea entered her voice. Bringing the knife back to her Carter laid its blade flat against her wrist, "I won't let this hurt me anymore," she muttered, a dark look in her eyes as she twirled the knife grazing it down her wrist. She pressed her lips to her pulse and room watched with baited breath, "No," whispered Steve as he went to walk towards his daughter intent on stopping her by any means necessary only to find his path blocked by Tony. His husband placed a hand over his heart and pushed back lightly, "Wait," Tony implored the Super Soldier.

Tony silently made his friends part so that he could crouch one foot in front of his daughter, "Carter," he called, 'Sweetheart can you hear me?" Carter stopped playing with her knife and froze at the sound of her dad's voice. "Daddy?" she said, her lip quivering as if she was a small child, "I can't do this Daddy. It hurts everyone too much."

"I know sweetheart," replied Tony as he inched closer to Carter, keeping her eyes on him, "Sometimes life is just a big black hole that wants to swallow you up. Sometimes you just don't want to fight it anymore. I remember what that's like," he continued ignoring the intakes of breath behind him as the team realized Tony was baring his soul to save his daughter's life. Carter nodded tentatively as Tony came close enough to touch her arm, "I promise you on my life that we will get through this Carter – you can't do this alone," and his hand wrapped around her hand holding the knife's handle, "and you can't do this either. Let go of the knife sweetheart." There was a moment when Carter pulled back from Tony and no one dared breathe, then her eyes seemed to clear and she dropped the throwing knife onto the floor. Tony kicked it away from them and took Carter into his arms where she started to sob into his shoulder.