AN: here we go chapter three!

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Chapter 3

It had been a week, the longest week of my entire life.

There was no activity on the satellites. I had come up with nothing on how to hack into the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement, and Logistics Division. (Which really needed a shorter name).

And I still couldn't remember anything from what had happened.

The only thing that was even remotely positive was that the physical trainer was coming today.

I was sitting in the front room; I had changed into a tank top and running shorts. I didn't put any shoes on but had them ready just in case. Peter was sprawled out on the couch with a book of college courses, laughing at how nervous I was.

"Shut up," I growled.

"Red, you look like a kid on Christmas," Peter said.

"I'm about to find out how long I am going to be in this stupid chair," I defended.

"And then he is going to give you a bunch of exercises that are going to hurt," Peter added.

"No, then he is going to give me the things I need to succeed and I'm going to do what I always do."

"Be your perfect usual self and excel, but this is different Red, this isn't learning a new language or solving a math problem. This is your body and your body works just like everyone else's which means you aren't going to heal faster because you work really hard at it. You're going to heal when your body is healed." Peter tried to say to me.

Deep down I knew he was right. What he said made sense to me, but I was Scarlett Stark and if I couldn't use my drive and determination to heal and get back to my normal self as quickly as I could, what was the point?

I didn't answer as I heard Pepper and the trainer head through the hallway into the front room.

"Scarlett," Pepper said. "This is Clint."

My initial reaction was that this guy was way too young to be a trainer; my second thought was that I was ok with that.

With arms that well defined and those gorgeous blue eyes I was ready to get started.

"Pleasure," I said as he approach, I held my hand out and he shook it.

"Ready to get started?" he asked.

I nodded my head. "Is this ok?" I gestured to what I was wearing. "This is kinda my first time in physical therapy."

Peter laughed and Clint's head shot over to where he was laying. "Ignore him," I mutter, "that's Peter my best friend, he wanted to be here to watch me make a fool out of myself."

"It's called moral support," Peter shot back.

Clint just chuckled and waved his hand. "Not a problem. So I read your medical file and I just want to see where your injury is actually at."

I nodded, that made sense to me. However the fact the creepy doctor gave him my medical file without my permission unnerved me. But then Clint shot a smile my way and that the very quickly disappeared.

What can I say, I'm a seventeen-year-old girl.

Clint brought out some bed-table thing and helped me up on to it.

He asked me about my pain levels, if I could move my toes at all. The normal doctor-y things that should be asked.

Then he went on to my level of movement, which required him to move my actual legs and back. Needless to say I was completely ok with that. Again, teenage girl.

Everything was fine, the pain was bearable until he had me lay on my side. He put a hand on my hip and very slowly stretched my back.

I yelled in pain as soon as he started, which he reacted to very well. He took his hands off of me and went over to my side where I could see him. Squatting down until he was eye level with me. In the background I could see Peter was standing up and Max, my ever-reliable guard dog, was growling at Clint.

"Ok, where did it hurt?" he asked

"Everywhere," I whispered

"Were you fine just laying on your side or was it hurting like that the entire time?" was his next question.

"Just when you actually started to stretch it," I say.

Clint nodded and very slowly helped me sit back up. I looked back and saw my guard duo still poised and ready for action.

"I'm good," I said to Peter.

He sent me a look saying that he didn't believe me but sat back down anyway.

Max took a lot more convincing.

"Max, I'm fine," I said. I guess he didn't believe me because he jumped up onto the table next to me. "Oh my God," I said looking at Clint. "I'm sorry, he isn't normally like this." I tried to push my enormous dog off the table but Max wasn't having any of it.

"Its fine," Clint said, "Plus now I know that you'll have someone making sure you're not pushing yourself too hard with this."

I could see Peter smirking in the background at Clint's comment but ignored him as Clint started to go over my injuries.

"So the biggest problem I see is going to be your range of motion with your back, the fact that it doesn't hurt when you are laying on your side is good. It just means that your back muscles are sore from sitting in the chair for so long. We are just going to have to be careful until those stiches come out," he explained.

"Well it's not as if I exactly have a different option," I counter.

I saw the corner of his lips twitch in his attempt to not smile but he just continued on. "You said you used to do yoga, right?" he asked.

"Every morning," I replied

"So your muscles are used to being stretched and used every day," Clint said "With your injury you didn't cut back on the amount of exercise, you stopped. Not to mention all of the scar tissue that is building up on your back."

"So what do I do?" I ask.

"You trust me," Clint said. "I'm not going to lie I looked up your accomplishments and all of that and it seems to me you like a challenge."

I smirk at that. "Guilty, but I don't see how my competitive nature affects this,"

"This isn't a race," Clint put simply, "you cannot push your body as hard as you push your mind, because your body will just become further injured."

I nod, "This isn't some quick fix is it?" I ask, my tone very sober.

Clint shook his head, "I can have you walking with braces in a month and a half and by yourself in three, but running and the type of yoga you did is going to be at least six."

I remain quiet as I let this information sink in. Six months. Six months until I get back to normal.

"So the fastest way to recover is when I give you exercises you only do however many times I tell you to, no more then that," Clint warned.

I nodded.

"That's it?" Clint asked

"Excuse me?" I retort

"I've heard of the Stark personality and I was kinda expecting a bigger fight at being told what to do," Clint admitted.

Anger rose up in me. "You have heard of my dad's personality. I make it a point that my personal affairs remain personal, I could argue and go against what you tell me to do only to be stuck in that stupid chair for longer and be in even more pain." I snap.

I felt Max growl a little at the sudden change of my tone.

Clint held up his hands. "I apologize," he said, "I didn't mean anything by it."

I nod my head. "So what kind of exercises are you planning on giving me?"

Clint spent the next forty-five minutes walking me through stretches and such until I thought I was going to pass out from exhaustion.

"Ok, we are done for the day," Clint said. "Normally how I end the session is with a massage to the affected area to break up the scar tissue and to make sure that the muscles stay loose. Now I will totally understand if you would like me to get you a female for this part."

I held out my hand to stop him. "It's fine," I said. The amount of how much I was out of breath apparent. "Just be careful of the stiches."

Clint nodded, "I'm going to have to ask that you get your dog off the table then."

I roll my eyes and look at Max. "Off the table." I said motioning with my hand. Max just tilted his head at me. "Max," I said again, "Off." this time he complied and jumped off the table and trotted over to where Peter was sitting.

Clint helped me back on the table and to lay face down. "Ok I'm going to break up the scar tissue first," he explained. "I'm going to use this" I felt something on my back "Its going to feel a little bit painful but let me know if it becomes bad."

I nodded my head that I understood and he soon got to work. Boy let me tell you, did he get to work. Yes I know it was his job to massage me and that he was probably getting a ton of money for this, but it took every amount of self control I had to not moan at the feeling of his hand on my back.

What seemed like a way too short amount of time, but was actually almost thirty minutes, Clint was done and helping me back into my chair.

"Thanks," I said smiling at him.

"Not a problem, see ya in a couple of days." Clint said as he made his way out of the door.

I watched him go, appreciating the sight before me until the door shut and Peter started laughing out loud.

I spun (literally) around to face him. "Seriously?" I ask.

"Could you have been less obvious?" Peter laughed.

I rolled my eyes at him and started my way back to my computer lab.

I was embarrassed, I thought I had hidden it well if I do say so myself.

Its not that I craved the attention of the opposite sex, I didn't need a man. But for the next six months the only thing I'm going to be seen as is as the poor Stark girl who was stuck in a wheelchair. Or as some easy trophy for someone to take so they can get a piece of the Stark empire.

Actually, now thinking about it the second part was pretty much a constant. Because I was Scarlett Stark, the heiress to the Stark fortune which clearly meant that I need a big strong man to take care of the business side. Because it may not be the 1940's anymore but I was growing up in very male dominated area. So I stayed away from it; the dating scene. Which killed me, but when I can't tell if someone likes me or likes my last name it's the only way to keep my heart safe, no muss no fuss.

No risks.

"I didn't mean it," Peter said softly from behind me.

I ignored him and went back to my computer.

"Scarlett," Peter tried again sitting next to me. "I don't trust him and I can't put my finger on it but it's the same as the creepy doctor you don't like. In fact creepy doctor employed him."

I nodded my head, "I know," I said. "It's just, he treated me like a person, like you do. Not like I'm helpless."

Peter nodded. "I know," he said.

Max came running into the room and sat next to my chair.

The three of us sat in silence as we watched the satellites search for my dad.

I tried to hide a yawn, but Peter caught me.

"Go to sleep, Red."

I shook my head. "I had like four hours of sleep I'm good," I defend.

"Go," Peter said. "You have three hours before your doctor's appointment, take a shower, get some rest, and I'll get you before its time to go."

The way he said it told me that I was going to have to take a nap and I knew I needed a shower.

"Fine," I groaned as I wheeled away to my room.

My shower/bath was slow but I was clean so who could complain. I dragged myself onto my bed and fell asleep before I even made it underneath the covers.

It was a high pitch whine, it was familiar; I had heard it before, I know I had.

Was I sitting?

Where was I?

I was with someone I trusted, in a car?

A truck?

No I was in a Humvee.

I was in a Humvee and I was with someone I trusted.

It must have been Rhodey, it only made sense but that whine it was coming from the west.

What was it?

Bright flashes of light, and that God-awful whine.

I shot up out of bed, breathing hard and covered in sweat.

What the hell was that?

"Scarlett," JARVIS said. "Mr. Parker has asked me to wake you, it is time for your doctor's appointment."

"Thank you JARVIS," I said. "Tell I'm on my way please."

"Will do," JARVIS replied.

I grabbed my hoodie and pulled my hair into a messy bun on the top of my head. Screw looking good.

I grabbed my wheelchair and made my way down to the living room.

Rhodey was sitting in the living room with Pepper and Peter.

Pepper looked a little guilty which struck me as weird but I filed it back into my think-about-it-later folder.

"What's up, Rhodey?" I asked. "Come to see me to my doctor's appointment?"

"Actually I wanted to talk to you," Rhodey said. "About what had happened."

My breath caught in my throat. "What do you want to talk about? I don't really remember much," I confess.

Rhodey nodded. "Do you remember anything at all?" he asked.

I thought about my dream I just had.

Was it my memories leaking through?

Or just a bad dream?

"Nothing," I said. "Just getting a flying lesson."

Rhodey nodded and walked closer to me and he squatted down. "When we were in the Humvee the Humvee in front of us exploded."

I nodded that I was following.

"You said that it was one of yours," Rhodey said.

"One of Stark's missiles," I repeated.

Rhodey nodded.

"That's ridiculous," I said laughing a little bit. "There is no way that could have happened."

Rhodey just looked into my eyes and nodded before standing up.

"I'll leave you to go to the appointment." Rhodey said.

"Uncle Rhodey," I call.

Rhodey turned back around.

"Have you heard anything?" I ask.

Rhodey shook his head, "We have scouts searching around where you found the last trace of his cell phone, but so far nothing."

I nodded and looked down; it's been a week.

A week since my father has been taken; there has been no ransom, not even a confirmation that a terrorist group has him.

Every day that passes that we don't get any information, the percentage of getting my father back alive goes down.

"Scar," Pepper said her voice bringing me out of my depressing thoughts. "Its time to go."

We arrived at the doctor's office just Pepper and I, Peter said he wanted to stay and watch the screens, but I think he just needed to sleep.

"Ah, Scarlett," Creepy Doctor (as I have dubbed him) said walking into our exam room. "How are you feeling?"

"Like I was in an explosion," I said with as much sarcasm as I could muster. Seriously? How was I feeling?

"Scarlett," Pepper scolded me.

I shrugged my shoulders, I don't really care.

"Its fine," Creepy Doc said waving off Pepper's scolding of me. "Now Scarlett, let's have a look at those stiches."

Ah the stiches, those itchy pains in my ass. I slowly take my hoddie off and then lift the back of my shirt.

I feel his cold fingers check the stitching on my back. "They seem to be healing nicely," he said.

"They've been on for a week," I said wincing as I felt him press softly on one. "How much good could they have done?"

"You'd be surprised," was all he replied.

Well that was very ominous I thought to myself and then I felt a pinch.

"What!" I yelled turning around quickly, I cried in pain as the ripping sensation went through my back. "What did you just do?!"

"Easy," he replied setting a needle down on the tray. "Just some pain medication."

I shake my head. "I didn't want any," I replied. "Why didn't you ask?"

The doctor just gave me a small smile, like a you'll-thank-me-later look.

"You can't just inject me with stuff!" I yell again.

"Scarlett," Pepper said. "It's fine."

I felt it the drowsiness, creeping up on me, no! I didn't want to sleep.

The doctor just ignored my protest and slowly laid me down. "We have a few more tests to run on her, we got the results of her first physical training meeting and want to see a few things," he told Pepper.

"That was fast," Pepper commented and I had to agree. I tried to mumble the words out but it was all hazy and I closed my eyes.

Fear, pure and utter terror, that's what I felt and I scrambled to get somewhere safe.

I had to hide.

But from whom?

Why was I so afraid?

Who was chasing me?

Where was I?

There was sand, that's all I remember sand and the feeling of terror. Something I had never felt before, but somehow I knew what it was.

Where were the people I felt safe with?

My dad?

Pepper?

Rhodey?

Peter?

Happy?

Cory?

Anybody?

Finally I found something, a little hole in the wall. Literally.

I slipped into it and then the fear went away a little bit, but the pain came back in full force. And that was it.

I fell to my knees and let it take over me.

I opened my eyes, my heart was pounding and I could feel sweat sticking my hair to my face.

I moved my hand up to wipe it away when I saw that I had an IV attached to my arm. I followed the tube with my eyes and saw what they were putting into my body.

And it wasn't water.

It was pale orange.

I swear I'm going to have a stroke by the time I am thirty if I keep having panic attacks like this.

I sit up and groan as my injuries cry out in protest but I don't care, not now. All I care about is getting this creepy orange substance out of my body.

I had just managed to rip the IV out when a nurse came in.

"Oh no sweetie," the nurse said running over to me and pushing me back down.

"No," I grimacing. "I don't want it."

"Hush," she told me sternly. "You'll feel better."

"No," I said more forcefully. "Where is Pepper?" I slightly pushed her away and tried to get up off the bed. I stood up gripping the railing of the bed like my life depended on it; I wasn't going to last long standing up. I prayed to whatever god was out there to send Pepper in. And send her in fast.

I heard her call someone else into the room.

I turn at the sound of another set of footsteps.

He was built, that much was obvious but the only thing I registered was that this wasn't going to end well for me.

At all.

He and the nurse exchanged a few words and he started towards me.

"No," I said meekly shaking my head I tried to take a step back. It's funny how you forget things like you have no motion in your legs and things like walking are just not possible. But I did and I fell backwards, the guy hurried over to my side and grabbed my arm as I fell. He yanked one arm and I felt my stiches tear.

"Oh dear," the nurse said as the guy steadied me. I felt dizzy from the blood I could feel dripping down my back and the shortness of breath I was currently experiencing. Guess it was time to do my breathing exercises every morning again.

The guy brought a needle back to my arm and I watched as he pushed the liquid in my arm. "You need rest," he said his voice soft and sympathetic.

"You tore your stiches," the nurse said from behind me.

I fought tooth and nail to stay awake but I felt my head bobbing.

"Here," the man said as he picked me up laid my on my side. "I'll go get the doctor," he said to the nurse and I felt his hands leave me.

And then I dipped back into the darkness.

I woke up blinking back the harsh lights of the doctor's office. "Pepper?" I ask as I sat up.

Pepper looked up form her spot on the chair and she set down the book she was reading. "Good afternoon sleeping beauty," she said smiling at me.

"Afternoon?" I asked. "How long was I asleep?"

"Almost three hours," Pepper replied as she sat on the bed. "The doctor said it wouldn't have been that long but your body needs to catch up on sleep."

I could hear it, the underlying question.

"Just ask it," I said licking my lips and reaching for the glass of water that was on the table beside the bed.

"Why haven't you been sleeping?" Pepper asked.

I took a drink and placed it on the table again before I looked her in the eye. "There are a lot of reasons," I say quietly.

"Do you want to talk about it?" she asked while she smoothed my bed hair down.

I pull my legs in closer, feeling the stretching of my back muscle but I don't care, I wrap my arms around them.

"Because when I lay down I can't do anything but think," I whisper. "And all I can think about is my dad."

Pepper scooted me a little and sat next to me.

"Scarlett," she began but then stopped.

"I don't remember the last thing I said to him." I said still as quietly; kind of hoping that Pepper couldn't hear me. "It was probably something rude or snarky," I continued. "I always say something rude or snarky to him."

I couldn't look Pepper in the eye afraid of what emotion might be reflected in them, so I looked at my hands instead.

Pepper grabbed my hand and I looked up at her.

"He's coming back," she told me. But I could tell she didn't believe it, no one believed it.

"What if he doesn't?" I ask looking her in the eyes begging her to tell me what to do. "Pepper, what if he doesn't come back?"

Pepper took a deep sigh and pulled me close into her side.

"What am I going to do?" I ask, my eyes watering.

"Get better," she said, kissing the side of my hair. "Focus on getting yourself healthy."

I nod my head, because that's all I could do.

There was nothing else to say.

Creepy Doctor walked back into the room to see Pepper and me sitting on the bed.

"Well look who's up," he said smiling.

Still creepy, I thought to myself again.

"Can I go?" I ask, "I have already been here longer than I wanted to be." Maybe because you decided to inject me with medication, my brain sneered at him.

He chuckled. "Still not over that, not even after you got a solid three hours of sleep?"

True, I did feel better that I finally had a dreamless sleep but still he could have asked.

"Can I go?" I ask again trying to keep my anger in check.

He nodded his head and Pepper helped me out of the bed and into my wheelchair.

"I'll see you in a month," Creepy Doctor said smiling.

Pepper smiled at him and pushed me out to the car.

"Hey, Pepper?" I ask as I pulled myself in the passenger side of the car.

"Yeah sweetie," she answered.

"Can I get a different doctor?" I asked.

"Scarlett, he is the best in the country," Pepper said.

"I'll settle for second best," I protested.

"What don't you like about him?" Pepper asked, curious. "You've been that way ever since you woke up in the hospital?"

"I don't know," I answered honestly racking my brain for specific reasons. "I just have a bad feeling about him"

"Do you think he isn't a doctor?" Pepper asked in disbelief.

I shook my head as I looked out the window. "No I know he's a doctor I just think there is something more to him."

AN: so I realized that i didn't mention it but the italicized text are Scarlett's dreams/memories that happen when she's asleep. if you were confused there you go

also i only got two review for last chapter :/ but i wanted to give a shout out to the two who did and reply

NicoleR85: Thanks for the review and i can honestly say that he'll try. whether or not it works however...

LilyMayRose: Hello :) I'm going to try and update once a week with this fanfic and a huge thank you!

this is something that i'm going to try and do every chapter so if you have any questions or theories then post them and we will talk about it (also if you want to talk about the future marvel stuff drop a comment and we will talk as well, including the photos form the set of civil war, hello chris evans abs :) )