Lucky Enough to Live

by flying feather scribbles

[Sequel to Explosive Energy] Emmaline has started her life over. Then she runs across a sudden fight between Superheroes and Super-Villains near Central Park and finds Danny injured. She takes him back to her apartment to find he is dying and there's nothing she can do, and his friends don't even know. Just a great new start of her final days to life.

6. The Eupnea

Thanks for the reviews:

Aniwolfgirl

TheOnyxDragon12

leggo lover 99

DannyLover99

I hope these last few chapters haven't been too bad... and that they make some amount of sense- there are some references to Explosive Energy, which might confuse those of you who haven't read it, so I apologize. I also apologize if any chapters have been a bit corny or dramatic or rushed.

DISCLAIMER: Yeah, you know. Blah blah blah don't own blah blah blah DO own OC, poetry & idea blah blah blah don't sue please blah blah blah.

Chapter 6: The Eupnea

"Cause sooner or later in life, the things you love you lose

But you got the love I need

To see me through."

-Florence Welch

Emma's POV

Ugh. Why am I so cold? Since when did the floor become so hard and metallic?

Wait- metallic?

Instantly, I sit up. I'm in a room, surrounded by metal walls. It feels as though I'm trapped inside of a giant iron cube. It's empty of anything other than me and, well, itself.

"Where am I?" I wonder aloud.

"The S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier," Nick Fury responds from the corner. Where did he come from? I make a mental note to myself of where he's standing so I can find a door later. (There is no way I'm staying here long.)

"Nick."

"Emmaline Carlson." He pauses for a long while, turns to me and asks wearily, "Do you know how long we've been looking for you?"

"Yeah. I'm not exactly an easy person to find."

"Hmph. We've certainly gathered that."

I look at him. "You weren't supposed to find me. I hide well, Nick. Especially when I have incentives. I know you just want me as a weapon. Plus, your cameras are way too obvious. I mean, look at how much energy they take- I was bound to notice."

Nick looks surprised, then says gruffly, "Well, you've become much more stable now. Stupid idea, it was Coulson's anyway. Didn't want to take you like that, yesterday. I was worried about what might happen, you know." He heaves a great sigh. "Government made me. I can't believe they managed to pass those laws. The president told me, he's trying to veto them. Til then I'm stuck following procedure. Doesn't mean I like it."

"Wait, Nick! Is... is..." I can't keep my voice from trembling. I'm losing the facade I had going with Nick- he knows me too well. I take a deep breath in, then manage to continue. "Is Danny okay?"

"What do you really think? He's on life support, but what would you expect. He'd have been dead in an hour if you hadn't take him. And you know that, don't you, missy? Anyway, they're going to surgically remove the rod. I would prefer to wait until this law's changed back, but we probably won't have any choice. You know the risks lung injuries like this."

All too well. I solemnly stare at the ground. "So, you mean, you're going to treat him? Legally, you can?"

"Well, you can't put somebody who's dead on trial, now, can you?" He takes a deep breath in. "Look, kid, I'm trying my best here. I can't promise you'll be okay, but I'll try my best." Nick waits for my answer.

I think. What have I got to lose? I was only trying to establish a life. The only person who's come to really matter is Danny, this past week. That's a sad statement, I know, saying that somebody who was a stranger a few days ago is the most important thing that's ever happened to me, but it's true. I've given up on seeing my family again. The only person who has made me care has been Danny. And he cares right back. "Just... just promise me Danny will me okay. Please," I beg.

Nick looks at me. "Kid, I can't promise anything."

"So- so you mean he's not going to live. You do. Don't lie." My voice is rising uncontrollably with anger.

He sighs. "The chances are slim. Trouble is, removing the rod will basically wipe him out. Leaving it there just drains his strength. If there wasn't this confounded law-"

"I could help him," I whisper, the tears starting to fall.

"Emmaline-"

"Don't call me that."

"Emma. You're only stuck here as a prisoner until the law's changed."

I turn away, curling up in the corner. Once Nick's gone, I let my sobs escape, howling my pain to the cameras in the corner. Eventually, my tears begin to slow, and my eyes droop as I fall into a tortured sleep, wrought with nightmares.

When I wake again, I resume crying. Just look at this. Everything I did for him will be for NOTHING because if some STUPID law that some IGNORANT insolent man made for HIS OWN benefit. He's just going to die. Die. Die. Die.

There are worse things than death.

I cling to his words, my final and only comfort.

At least I've lived this long. I mean, for someone born to destroy the universe, I think I've done pretty well. Kind of. Maybe. Not really. No. Not at all. I let Danny down. I'm useless, worthless, a freak.

What have I accomplished? Lots of bad stuff. Writing poetry. Letting Danny down. In other words, NOTHING. My life has been as waste, I'm just stealing precious time from other people.

I fall back into the treacherous dreams, thrashing across the cold floor. When I awaken again, I realize something. I can spend the rest of my time here beating myself up, or I can hope. I can dream. So I decide to hope and dream.

Maybe the law will be passed. Soon. Then Danny will live. If Danny lives... what then? This is making me think, for the first time, of an actual future. My life, up to now, has been misery and waste. But that was out of my control; now I can control myself. Who knows how long I have to live? Especially if I give myself a reason to live.

I have to do something with my life. I have to help other people. If I live for others, then I have nothing to lose- right? I'll... I'll join S.H.I.E.L.D. Be a hero. Finally accept Nick's invitation. I can still remember, when, after I'd just run away, when Nick caught up with me. Said he could help me. Then I caused a disaster or something, and ran, thinking Nick would hurt me for being unable to control it. He's been trying to convince me ever since. I broke up contact while I was at the Forgotten Place.

Now's time for a new start. That's my last thought before I fall into a blissfully dreamless slumber.

M.M.M.M.M.M.M.M.M.M.M.M.M.M.M.M.M.M.M.M.M.M.M.M.M. M.M.M.M.M.M.M.M.M.M

Pounding. What's that sound? I blearily open my eyes.

Peter's tugging my arm. "Hurry! Danny's heartbeat is slowing! He's almost gone!"

"WHAT?!" I run off after him, dashing through the passageways. "WHAT IS GOING ON?!"

Between breaths, Peter manages, "They- they revoked the law- temporarily- while- while Congress- de- debates- over- discrimination."

My heartbeat picks up. I can feel Danny nearby. He's almost gone- I can feel his energy leaving. "NO!" I yell, rounding the corner and skidding to a stop in front of a doorway. I bang on it, but before I can touch it, it crumbles up. Peter doesn't bother being surprised, and neither do I, as I run to the bed.

Danny's surrounded by machines. A monitor, with squiggly lines, shows his heartbeat. The line's nearly straight, and I dash over to his side. The others are there, and they are numb.

"He's gone, now," says Nick, as the doctor nearby shakes his head. Tears fall from my eyes, but I'm angry too. I look at those shut, deadened eyelids. There's only a faint trace of energy left. I'm angry- I can feel my whole body buzzing. In spite of myself, I lean down and give him one last gift- a goodbye kiss.

Oh... his lips are so soft. I slowly come up, crying silently. I see tears running down Ava's cheeks too. Nick's open-mouthed, though, staring at the monitor. Following his gaze, I see the lines picking up, faster and more frequent. The doctor's eyes are so wide that they seem as if they may pop out any second. "HE'S- HE'S ALIVE! HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE...?!"

Oh. My. Gosh.

M.M.M.M.M.M.M.M.M.M.M.M.M.M.M.M.M.M.M.M.M.M.M.M.M. M.M.M.M.M.M.M.M.M.M

What's that sound? What's the beeping? Where am I? Then the thought hits me: Danny is ALIVE! A horrible notion follows; what if that was just a dream? A fantasy?

"She's awake," I hear a boy's voice say. I blink, and Peter's face comes into focus.

"It- it was a dream, wasn't it?" I groan, turning over and burying my face in the pillow, overwhelmed by sadness.

"What was a dream?" I hear Nick ask.

Sam answers. "I don't know. She must be delirious."

"Oh, shut up buckethead," Ava snaps. "She's just waking up. I mean, who blames her for fainting?"

"Still don't understand how he can be alive," says Luke.

My head snaps up. "Wait- Danny's ALIVE?!"

They all nod in unison. I sit up. I can't believe it. "DANNY'S ALIVE!" I'm grinning from ear to ear, filled with joy and amazement.

" And you kissed him," adds Sam.

"DANNY'S ALIVE!" I scream.

"Shush, he's sleeping," Peter teases.

Wait, he's in this room? I look around me and realize that I'm in a hospital bed in the same area as Danny was in, except there are curtains around my bed. I'm wearing one of those white dresses. "WH- oh, where?!" I say, considerably quieter.

Nick steps forward. "You can't see him right now if that's what you mean. But he's right next to you kid- no! Wait!"

Too late. I've already jumped from the bed and turn the curtains aside. To the right of me are more curtains, and I quietly slip in. There is Danny. Alive and breathing.

By no means does he look healthy, though. He's pale, and has a machine helping him breath, not to mention needles pricking both arms, and various other things, but he's ALIVE.

From the place where I entered, I here Nick sigh. "She's gonna get it," Sam hisses to somebody.

"Grab her a chair," he says.

A S.H.I.E.L.D. officer brings me in a chair to sit in, and I sit there, just gazing at him. Danny is alive. I know that the others think I'm insane, but that's because they think I barely know him. Now I remember, though. I do know him. I'd just Forgotten him.

It doesn't matter though, because Danny's alive.

Danny is alive.

So...? :-)

-F.F.S.