"Stark, Banner, would you exit the room for an hour or two?"
"Not happening, One-Eye." Stark flipped out now; posturing in Fury's face. "I'm staying right here until I take my Superstar home." The arguing commenced once again and Jiru felt utterly lost.
"Stark…" Banner's voice was low-toned; which did not cut through the loud, vociferous arguing. "Tony…"
Having figured out her body was unable to do anything but lie there in the hospital bed and grieve over Coulson's death, Jiru's sluggish mind did pick up on Banner's vibes: it was not good.
"Tony…if you would please stop argu-" Bruce's voice still didn't get through to the two shouting men. Seconds ticked by as Stark and Fury's wrath continued to grow in volume. The rising frackus between the billionaire and super-secret spy man made her wince. Too many emotions clattered around in her mind, pulling her to the brink of official insanity. Jiru panicked, beginning to hyperventilate.
"I WILL NOT ALLOW YOU TO TAKE HER JUST BECAUSE…" Tony screamed.
"As of now, Stark, anything you want is just not going to happe-" Fury's voice only grew louder.
"STARK!" Banner, who had been staring into her eyes, watching her freak out; launched himself off the seat and whirled to face the two arguing men. The tone of Bruce's voice instantly cut through and silenced the noise. When Jiru opened her eyes again, she saw that Fury had his gun out and aimed at Bruce's head. Tony, however, was back against the wall, hands up in the universal sign of 'unarmed'. Both of the men remained silent as Banner's ragged breathing was the only indicator of impeding green doom.
"Br…Bruce…" Jiru's voice was soft because of the shitty condition her body was in. Weakness pervaded all her systems. "Please…I don't know what's going on. Tell me."
The Gamma-radiated doctor slowly turned around – just as slowly as Fury lowered the gun. The room was very quiet, as if it were in a secured location. Normally, Jiru would have thought herself to be in a hospital – inevitable background noises, like moving nurses, equipment beeps and low-volume talking, would be audible. Here, there was nothing but the whisper of vent-circulated air.
Looking around as a silent Banner stood between her and the two other men in the room, Jiru became aware of changes. She was no longer hooked up to IV tubes, and monitoring machines. In attempting to lift both her arms, to physically check her surroundings, she became aware of something hideously wrong.
"Jiru…" Bruce's voice caught her attention. Banner was at her side immediately, grasping her right arm.
"I…Oh lord, Bruce…my arm…it's gone, isn't it?" She clinched her eyes shut; fighting back the tears of despair. "Duh."
"Ssshhh…Jiru, it's ok." Banner's soothing voice washed over her. "It's ok to cry."
"I'm so confused." Tears ran hot and heavy from her eyes, making it hard for her to keep them open. "Coulson can't be dead…I was just with him at a Halloween party. I was dressed as Pikachu and he was a pokemon trainer…My arm."
"That was one hell of a dream, Superstar…" Tony's voice now spoke again, the billionaire deeming it safe enough to speak. Banner glared over his shoulder; shutting the Man of Iron up.
"You've been out for quite a while now, Jiru." Bruce's now-in-control voice was something she latched onto. "Your body has been in a coma for the past four months. It's only natural that you're confused."
"Bruce…Tony. I don't understand." Lagoon-green eyes flickered between the physicist and the billionaire. "I was just with Coulson…"
"Easy, Sparkles." Stark's shoulders sagged. "Big Green is right; you've been out of it."
"No…" Jiru struggled to sit up, to vent her growing fear. "Don't…why am I not healed? What'd you do with my talisman!? Where is my diamond!?"
The three men in the room shifted uneasily. Banner shook his head and reached over her to pick up a stack of papers lying on the table to her left. "The starburst diamond…" He began saying.
"Kid, your diamond has been compromised." Fury stepped up and took charge.
"Director Fury…" Bruce glared at the man.
"Doctor Banner, I understand that Miss Star has just recovered from her coma; I highly doubt she wants to be molly-coddled from the truth." Did the black man really just say 'molly-coddled'? "But if she's to understand the depth of trouble she's in; I need to lay it out straight."
"Screw you, Fury." Stark scowled furiously. "She just woke up; I'll be damned if I'm letting you break her heart."
"She's got no choice, Stark." Fury glared back at the man. "The sooner she knows, the sooner she can get over it."
"Heartless *^&*%."
"Well, that's your opinion."
"Stark, I am not warning you again." Banner's voice was pure authority. "I am the residing physician here, and as such, I decide what's best for my patient."
Giving up the pointless struggle against Banner's strong, insistent grip in keeping her horizontal, Jiru sighed in defeat. Lying back against the warm, rather soft bed, she exhaled a frustrated breath and closed her eyes.
"Bruce…" His words brought a slight blush to her face.
"I'm right here, Jiru, no need to worry. Just allow me to run a few tests on you before I let Fury explain things."
"Fine…"
Watching Stark, Banner and Fury as Bruce checked her medical readings, Jiru fought stubbornly against the tide of jittery, frantic and confusing thoughts tearing through her mind. It was supremely odd to have feelings of long-time recognition for the three men; when it felt like it was the first time meeting them. Banner was a handsome as he was before, if she didn't count the slightly haggard look hiding beneath his face. Tony Stark was Tony Stark, regardless of his current state of agitation and death-glare stares at Fury. Director Fury…well he was a Black-American staring retribution at her. Jiru averted her gaze back to the comfort of Banner.
What in the cosmos was wrong with her!?
"Miss Star?" Fury's voice commanded her attention. "What's the last coherent thing you can remember?"
That was the trillion-dollar question here. What WAS the thing coherent thing her mind recorded?
"I…" She began.
"'I don't know' is not the correct answer, Miss Star." Fury's glare softened some, which made her feel slightly better.
"The Halloween party. At Stark's Malibu mansion."
"Holy Hell!" Tony barked out a sharp quip of laughter. "Superstar; I…I don't know what to say!"
"THEN KEEP YOUR GOD$^&*%# MOUTH SHUT, STARK!" Fury seethed at the billionaire. "One more word and I'll have Romanov…"
"Hay; I'm just as surprised as you are." Stark finally sat down and winked at her; causing her to smile.
"The Halloween party at Stark's." She repeated, starting to panic again. "Where's Coulson? Where's my diamond…"
"Easy, kid, easy." Fury's angry voice subsided as he also took a seat. "Let's start this again: your diamond has been compromised by the Tesseract. You remember the Tesseract, am I right?"
"The blue thing…" She whispered after thinking for a moment. "LOKI! Oh shit…"
"That's enough for tonight, Fury." Bruce exhaled in annoyance. "I'd prefer it if Jiru doesn't get riled up anymore." Then he shifted in his seat and stood; reaching for a syringe on the table behind him.
"No…I…what's going on, Bruce don't drug me…please…" Now she started freaking out to the max; screaming. "No!"
"Ssshh, it's ok, you need to relax. This is the last time I'm going to do this. I promise." Banner gave her a soft look and inserted the needle into the IV drip still connected to her right arm. "Your body is very weak now, and can't handle the stress."
"Bruce…" She heard herself whine. "Don't…"
"I promise; last time."
"…" Things faded to black as sleep over took her mind.
XXX
Sleep was so warm; comfortable and made her body heavy. She loved being warm and asleep; awake enough to know her body was on the verge of sleep…or awake. But, alas, her internal clock was (still not broken after a multitude of dimensions) a harsh master and released chemical impulses to her brain to pull her body out of that blessed warm sleep.
"Mmmmmmm…" Without opening her eyes, Jiru stretched out: lifting her arm above her head and pushing her legs away from her, not forgetting to turn her toes towards her face. (muscle cramp preventative.) Feeling the lack of her left arm made no difference, as she had been limbless for two months now. "Mmmmm…" Then she opened her eyes and stretched again.
The sight awaiting her vision was amazing: flowers. Flowers were everywhere in the room she slept in. Flowers of every shape, size and color; tulips, roses, daffodils, carnations, lilies, orchids, daisies, violets, pansies, buttercups, hyacinths, lupines, foxgloves, blossoms, snowdrops and a few others she couldn't put a name to at the moment. The colors stunned her eyes: reds, pinks, whites, magentas, purples, creams, oranges, yellows, greens and dark purples. All the flowers surrounded her with their beauty. Many of the flowers were in vases, bowls and buckets, a few were leaning against the wall and the rest, tied up in floral arrangements: black-purple tulips, red carnations, hyper-pink roses, yellow lupines and white-purple orchids; all of them a pretty vision filling her sight.
Tears came to her eyes as she stared at the flowers; so many blessed flowers. It just was amazing; pure floral beauty. There was a knock at the door; a door hidden by flowers. Somebody entered and grunted; as if surprised by all the flowers.
"Huh?"
"Miss Star?" A masculine voice queried, as if the owner thought her to still be asleep. Jiru yawned once more before struggling to prop her body upright.
"Here, no need to move around, let me help you sit up." The voice's owner stepped into view: he was tall, well-muscled and blonde…with blue eyes. The man was wearing a blue polo shirt and grey sports pants. Jiru tilted her head as his strong hands assisted her into sitting up. The weakness in her body poked itself into her awareness; and because of that, her stranger-danger panic didn't kick in. Studying him for a few more moments, deciding she didn't recognize him at all.
"Who're you?"
"Ah, Dr. Banner mentioned you'd be slightly…out of it." The blonde man smiled sadly. "I'm Steve Rogers."
She stared at him intently, focusing on trying to read the sad look on his face.
"Captain America." Steve supplied further.
"STEVE!" Recognition lit up her face. "Oh my god, Steve. Oh. OH, geez…" her right hand went to her face and covered it. "I'm so sorry I…"
"It's ok, Miss Star; you've had it rough. I'm glad you're awake now." Steve smiled lightly. "How're feeling?"
"Like shit, honestly. Steve…I remembered you…"
"Easy, Miss Star." The blonde captain reached over and placed a hand on her right shoulder. "Dr. Banner suggests you take it easy for a while; no worries."
"Uhhhnn, easy for you to say." Jiru sighed gustily. "My mind has a mind of its own."
Rogers chuckled and leaned back, looking at the flowers.
"Did I ever tell you you're a quiet man. Thank god you're not Fury, Stark or Banner." She spoke up after a few, silent seconds. "Not that I'm trying to flirt with you, but I'm loving the calm you are right now."
"Um, thanks, I think." Steve cocked a brow at her and then smiled once more.
"What's with the flowers?"
"They're all Stark's idea, honestly. Fury had a hissy fit when the delivery people started showing up."
"They are pretty. I like the dark purple tulips and the violets." She chuckled, and then closed her eyes. Keeping them open was such hard work…what was wrong with her body? "Steve? Why am I here? Banner said I was in a coma."
"You were, for four months." Steve looked at her grimly. "Banner found you in his private cabin in Nevada and…"
"Big Green freaked out." Stark's voice cut in. The billionaire sauntered into the room, carrying a tray of food. "Seeing you there really surprised him, and he Hulked out."
"Stark…do you ever knock first?" Steve growled as he shot out of the chair next to her bed.
"Nope, don't need to." Tony brushed the other man off. "My place, my rules. You hungry, Super Star? I brought you food."
Being helpless in coma-weak body, Jiru only laid there as the genius maneuvered the tray onto her lap. The tray was heavy; as it held a plate of six bacon stripes, five sausage links, four muffins, a trio of watermelon slices, two plates of eggs, a pear, a donut, a glass of orange juice and a bowl of cereal; most likely Cheerios, with milk.
"Tony…" She looked at all the food and realized her mouth was watering. "What the heck?"
"It's food, Super Nova. Banner drugged you into La-La Land, but you're awake now, and I bet you're hungry."
"Stark, she can't eat all that!" Steve scowled lightly at the tray on her lap. "What are you thinking?"
"I was…I AM thinking she's hungry, Spangles, so I brought her food." The billionaire retorted, like it was the most genius thing in the world.
Unable to react in her normal ways, Jiru just laid there. Tony wore a navy-blue suit and pants, a white shirt underneath and a red tie. It was such a weird thing for a person to wear while being in a roomful of flowers. Staring at them as the two men spewed testosterone over her supposed eating habits; she felt more and more aggravated. Arguing voices did hell on her head.
"SHUT THE HELL ^*%^#$ UP, STARK!" Jiru screamed, something she rarely did. "If you can't be quiet enough to be here, then I want you to leave. Now."
"Supersta-" Stark turned to her and furrowed his face in consternation.
"OUT NOW!" Jiru screeched again, flinging her pointed finger at wherever she thought the door was. "Don't come back until you stop yelling."
Silence reigned between the three of them, as the awkward bug came in full force; landing in droves-waves-packs of moments. Unable to rotate her body to give the two men her back (cold-shoulder) Jiru covered her eyes with her right arm.
"Stupid arguments." Came her murmur before her body slipped into sleep.