This is the last time I will do this to you guys, I swear! And we only have 6 chapters left *sobs*
######
44 : IT WILL RAIN**
They were two hours away from the nearest helicarrier. Clint and Thor were watching the sleeping super soldier. His wounds slowly healed themselves. They both could see that the Captain was shaking and mumbled something. Clint knew that gesture, Steve was having a nightmare.
"Cap, wake up!" Clint shook Steve's arm.
The soldier snapped his eyes opened "Where's Natasha?" was the first question that left his mouth.
Steve looked around in the plane and didn't find Natasha. Clint and Thor didn't meet his eyes. Something must have gone wrong.
"Where is she, Clint?!"
Steve didn't wait to hear the answer and got up to find his girlfriend but the world spinning under his feet. Thor had to grab his arms before put Steve to sit on the couch.
"Sit down before you injure yourself any further captain" Thor said.
"You should sit down, Steve. You lose a lot of blood"
"I will ask you again. Where is Natasha?"
"Tony put her in his suit and—uhh" Clint tried to find the right word "He turned his suit into a hyperbaric chamber to help keep her alive until we reach the helicarrier."
Tony walked into the living area. Steve turned his attention to the billionaire and could notice that Tony was covered in blood, probably Natasha's
"How was she?"
"Not good, cap" Tony said "Banner is not even sure that she will be alive by the time we get there"
"I thought your suit—"
"My suit only help keep her alive for 2-3 hours, if we kept her in there longer, she might have a permanent brain damage" The genius clarified "I don't want to say this but—you should prepare for the worst"
They arrived at the helicarrier. Fury and Hill already arranged the best medical team and everything Bruce will need to save Natasha's life.
They took her out of the Ironman suit and brought her into the surgery room. She stopped bleeding but lost too much blood. Everyone on the team was waiting outside the room, looking at her through the glass window.
Clint and Steve refused to get the medical care and kept watching over Natasha. Fury had to send another team of medical staff to take care of them.
Then they got another movement in the surgery room and everyone was jump to their feet. Her heart stopped beating again and the surgical team had to inject her with some medical serum and Bruce had to perform a CPR on her.
They were able to get her heart to beat again. Steve looked at her worryingly. Natasha was too pale due to loss of too much blood. Her body attached with life support machines.
Please wake up, Nat. Please pull through. Don't leave me, please. Steve closed his eyes to prevent himself from crying.
They say they won't let anything else come between them anymore. He will fight for her but this time he could not fight, he could not tear this wall down. Wall of death and despair.
The surgery went on all night and every Avenger didn't move from their position despite Fury and Hill urging them to get some rest before they collapsed. Within six hours, Natasha's heart stopped beating two more times.
Everyone knew how Steve felt. He didn't even bother to conceal his pain. Steve tried to endure as long as he can but he knew damn well that he will break down soon.
Finally, Bruce gave them some good news when the surgical team managed to stable Natasha's condition for now but they put her on high alert and will track every activity of her body closely. Fury prepared a quinjet to transport Natasha to SHIELD's medical facility in Switzerland. Coulson and his team will stay with the Avengers too.
Fitz and Simmons along with Tony when straight to the labs to analyze the bullet with Clint's help in recreate the scene to determine the shooter. Steve followed Natasha every movement with Thor followed him. The god knew that Steve will not rest until Natasha was conscious.
"Captain!" Simmons rushed into the waiting area followed by Fitz
"Miss Simmons, what can I do for you?" Steve asked
"We got an analysis of the bullet and it was coated with poison. Mr. Stark, Dr. Ross and Mockingbird are analyzing the poison right now." Simmons handed Steve a report
"And the ballistics report showed that the bullet was fired from John Garrett's pistol"
"About the poison, thanks to the serum in her body, it flushed some of the poison out but the bad news is that, she also lost too much blood that somehow weakening the serum. We don't know that it might affect her or not. Some of her internal organ are not functioning properly too so it maybe effect with the healing process."
"Can you trace this man?" Steve asked
"We can do that for you, sir" Fitz said
"Thank you"
Bruce finally came out of the surgical room and told Steve and Thor that Natasha is stable for now. They managed to recover and stabilize her heart, most external wounds were sealed shut. She might take some time to recover but he also warned Steve not to raise so much hope in this.
Natasha may or may not wake up again. If she wakes up, would she be the same or not.
Bruce knew that it will cause a lot of pain to Steve but he better get the Captain ready for what might come. The doctor allowed Steve to visit her in the recovery room. Steve sat down next to her and put her hand gently in his. He looked at her face.
"Please Nat, if you don't come back to me, I have no reason to live. I love you, Natasha Romanoff, Please don't leave me. You are the best thing that ever happened in my life. Please come back, I love you" Steve pleaded, putting his head at her hand before he began to sob.
Everyone else who watched them from outside would felt the same to the heartbreaking scene in front of them
######
Pepper, Jane, Darcy and Dr. Selvig came to visit them at the medical facility. Fury granted them a special access. Pepper even brought little Anthony and Pringles along in hope they might distract Steve.
Pepper and Bruce convinced Steve to take a shower and get some rest.
"I don't feel like sleeping like now" He said "I want to be there when she wakes up"
"Steve, please get some rest. She will be upset if she wakes up and find you doing this to yourself" Pepper tried to convince
Strangely, Steve did as they said he took a shower and slept on the couch but only for two hours and he started to move again. Jane and Darcy brought Pringles to him after the medical staff cleared the feline. The cat whined sadly as she sat in Steve's lap.
"I know, Pring. I feel the same" He whispered. "She will wake up. I know she will"
Steve finally gave in to his exhaustion and fell asleep in the chair next to her bed. A nurse came in but didn't have the heart to wake the good captain up. They just quietly noted down Natasha's condition and checked the medical equipment before quietly leaving the room.
Pringles stood and guarded Natasha while Steve was asleep. Its amber eyes looking suspiciously at everyone who entered the room. Finally, Clint came in and woke him up for a meeting with Fury.
"Captain" Fury addressed "We are able to track John Garrett and the remaining HYDRA squad of his. They are currently hiding in Mozambique"
"I will hunt them down, sir" Steve quickly said
"Hold it, Captain. As much as I know that you want this revenge but I cannot let you go on a hunt for him. Agent Sitwell…."
"YOU LET SITWELL LEAD THIS MISSION?" Steve bellowed "He will fail again!"
"Thank you for your confidence in me, Captain" Sitwell chimed in from behind Steve.
The Captain quickly turned and slammed the Agent with the wall. His anger over this matter had arisen again.
"You shouldn't be here to talk about her anymore, Sitwell"
"Romanoff knew that there was a risk when she accept the mission—" Sitwell stopped because a fist landed next to his head, leaving a dent in the wall.
"If she dies, you will look like that wall"
"Soldier! Stand down!" Fury yelled and Steve immediately let go of Sitwell who looked terrified "Captain, I forbid you to go on a hunt for John Garrett by yourself but I will let you choose the team"
"Let Coulson and his team do this mission and have my assault team with them. Thor and Hawkeye will accompany them as well"
When Steve gave his order, he left before he couldn't control himself and punched Sitwell in the face. Fury turned to the terrified agent.
"Congratulations, Agent Sitwell. You just make an enemy out of Captain America"
A week passed and there was no sign of Natasha waking up. Steve never left her side and he prayed for her to wake up and whispered how much he loves her and how he needs to see those beautiful green eyes of her again.
Bruce scanned her brain again to check for any damage but the result showed that there was nothing wrong and her brain wasn't damaged at all. Her wounds started to heal. The small wounds already completely sealed shut.
Some of them began to lose hope and started to prepare for the worst. Bruce and Betty began to discuss alternative options which included take off the life support and let Natasha die in peace. The two doctors said if she does not wake up within one week they have to call it.
Tony and Pepper secretly started to plan her funeral. They did this behind Steve's back because they didn't want to add any weight to the Captain's shoulders right now. Just to cope with Natasha's current condition was extremely hard for Steve.
He didn't move, didn't eat unless someone forced him to. He didn't get any full sleep except for two hour nap. Even Pringles constantly whined on Natasha's bed and curled itself next to her. The cat always licked Natasha's hand and nuzzled it's head with Natasha.
Jane, Darcy, and Pepper were on the task to force some food into Steve's mouth. Bruce warned them that Steve's metabolism rate could be a problem if he didn't eat anything. His behavior will change drastically into his berserker instinct fueled with rage like the Hulk.
Fury started to plan a contingency plan with Hill. They both knew that if they lose Natasha, Steve will follow her or go rogue and must be put down before he cause any damage.
Clint and Thor came back at the end of the week after an unsuccessful mission of capturing the remaining HYDRA members. They both learned what they were planning for Steve and Natasha. Clint just acknowledge it but refused to believe that Natasha will die. The archer knew that she will pull through like she always does.
Steve noticed everyone around him started to act weird by the beginning of the second week. They always whispered something and when he appeared they stopped. He learned what it was when Coulson and Clint came back with a box contains her will and her letter for everyone.
Steve was the only one who refuse to open the letter and listen to what her will said.
"Why are you guys acting like this?! She not even gone and you mourning her dead! Natasha is not dead!" Steve yelled at them angrily and stomped away.
Bruce followed behind to talk to the Captain.
"I don't want to hear it, Bruce!" Steve said "She is not dead!"
"Cap, she might not wake up again"
"She will! I know she's in there. Just give her time to find her way back to us"
"Steve…"
"I'm so disappointed with you guys!"
This was the first time Steve stepped out of Natasha's room because he cannot contain anymore frustration and anger within him. It was too much, too overwhelmed and his friend made it worse.
"Pringles, watch over her for me, alright?" Steve said to his cat and patted its head gently. Pringles mewed and got back to curl up beside Natasha.
He went down stair to gym. Luckily, it was empty because Steve was so sure that he will cost an extensive property damage. Unbeknownst to the Captain, Tony had the security system track Steve in every move because he was afraid that Steve might gone rogue and went for a hunt by himself.
It began with six punching bags then moving on to practice dummy and every gym equipment in the room until Steve ended up destroying a concrete column.
"He doesn't look good at all, Tony. He destroyed a concrete column" Pepper said to her husband as they watched the Captain from the security feed.
"If we lose her, we will lose Steve too" Tony replied "He will go on with his self-destructive way until he really joins her"
"I want to believe that she will survive but it's been almost two weeks"
"Even Steve seems to lose hope too"
Tony watched as Steve fell to his knees and finally, after keeping it in for too long, the Captain brokedown.
Two days later, Steve was arguing with Bruce and the rest of the group whether they should stop the life support machine and let her die or not. Steve's yelling was echoing through the hallway while everyone tried to calm him down.
"There is no miracle, Steve! Wake up!" Tony yelled.
"Steve, if she didn't wake up by now, there is no chance she might wake up in the future" Bruce said.
Steve was about to bellow something at his friends when the security alarm sounded.
"Avengers and SHIELD agent, level 9 hostile at main lobby"
Everyone grabbed their weapons and Steve ordered Bruce to stay behind and protect Natasha. When they reached the main lobby, Steve noticed the man right away.
"Bucky?"
"Yeah, it's me, Steve" The man replied
"Everyone, Stand down!" Steve ordered and walked toward his friend "What are you doing here?"
"Heard that you might need some help with little Natalie" Bucky told "Rumor spread through the world of espionage that the Black Widow is in coma"
"Yeah, she hasn't woken up yet but her wounds almost healed themselves completely"
"I came here with a proposal"
The team led Bucky to the main meeting room with Betty, Bobbi and Jemma attending too. Bucky proposed that he will give Natasha his blood because they have the same blood type and the same super soldier serum in their veins.
"We don't know that it will have a side effect or not"
"Dr. Banner, do you have any better plan?" Bucky asked
"Bruce, you say yourself she might not wake up again. This might be our only chance" Steve said
Bruce stopped and analyzed more alternate option that he may have left until he decided "Let me draw your blood and I will run some tests before we began the blood transfusion"
Bruce led Bucky to his lab with Clint towed behind because he didn't trust Bucky. The archer had every right to feel that way because the last time, Bucky was trying to hurt Natasha.
Finally, after many tests, Bruce allowed the blood transfusion to happen. Natasha's body accepted the blood without any issue. They only waited for her to wake up again.
"Thanks, Buck" Steve said "We owe you" Steve meant both himself and Natasha.
Bucky seemed to understand what is the hidden meaning "If she does not make it, you will follow her…"
Steve nodded "She's the only one who matters to me. The reason I want to wake up everyday and spend everyday with her"
"I guess you are the one for her too, Steve" Bucky told "I never see her likes this. She is willing to kill me if I hurt you. I will go now before Fury wants to put me in jail again"
"Buck, you know you can stay with the rest of us. You can stay with me and Nat."
"No, I shouldn't. After everything…"
Steve put his hands on Bucky's shoulders "I'm with you 'til the end of the line"
"Thanks…but I should go. I still have to redeem myself from what I have done"
"Then go, but always remember that you always have a place with us."
"I know, buddy"
The two best friends hugged before Steve asked Tony to give Bucky a lift to wherever he wanted to be. Steve watched as they flew away and a moment later, Fury barged in and demanded to know where is the Winter Soldier's whereabouts
"He's gone, sir. He's a ghost, remember?" Steve replied "But one thing you need to know is that he saved Natasha's life"
That had an effect on Fury and the director ordered his agents to stop hunting down the Winter Soldier.
Steve came back to Natasha's side with Pringles greeting him from her bed. Steve noticed that her face regained a shade of red and her small cuts had disappeared. He sat down and held her hand gently.
"I know you're in there, Nat. Please come back to me. Try to fight it, sweetheart. Come back to us. Everybody's waiting for you" He gently whispered "I love you, Natasha."
Steve sat there and didn't know when he fell asleep again but when he woke up, he found a blanket draped around him and he was on the couch. Thor and Jane were sitting in the room with Pringles playing with Darcy who sat on the floor.
"Hey, guys" Steve greeted
"Hey" The three greeted back
Steve got up and stood next to the bed.
"How's she doing?"
"Dr. Banner said she's doing fine but it's up to her consciousness that will let her wake up. Her body is healing but her mental state is what we should be concerned about" Jane told
"She will wake up" Steve said
"Yes, I will wake up..." A tired voice sounded from behind them, startling them in process.
Steve turned and he broke out in a big smile. Natasha, tried to sit up, and was looking at him with a tired smile on her face. Her beautiful green eyes were half open but that's enough for Steve as he rushed to her. He helped Natasha sit up before he held her gently in his arms and kissed her.
"I thought I lost you" He whispered as they broke off.
"I'm sorry for putting you through this again, Steve" She said and noticed tears forming in his eyes.
"Don't worry, what really matters is that you are alive"
"I love you so much, Steve"
"I love you too, Nat"
Jane grabbed Thor and Darcy's hand to lead them out of the room and give the couple some privacy. Darcy snapped their picture as she was being dragged by Jane.
"You scared me, you know that?" He said "But Bucky's blood saved you"
"James?" She confused "He came here?"
"Yes, he heard that you were in a coma so he stopped by and offered his blood for the transfusion"
Steve began to tell her everything while she was unconscious but his hands never let go of hers, his eyes never left her. In his heart he knew, he will never ever let anything happen to her ever again.
A week after Natasha was released from the medical facility and an extensive checkup to make sure that there was no side effect left in her, Fury summoned everyone related to the incident in Afghanistan to his office.
The blood transfusion from Bucky did help a lot and Natasha's wound was perfectly healed except the big one on her torso which will take quite some time.
The Avengers, Coulson's team, Maria Hill, Victoria Hand and Jasper Sitwell were standing in the director's office. Fury spent a good one hour yelling at Sitwell before turning to the Avengers who tried to hide their laughter.
"All of you Avengers, from now on, people who authorize to give you a mission are Hill, Agent Coulson and me. If it's not catastrophic related matters, you don't have to listen to the idiots that just want the Avengers on their missions. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes, sir" Steve, Clint and Natasha answered.
"Aye!"
"Whatever you say, Director"
"Alright, big chief" Tony replied playfully which earned him a glare from Fury.
"And Romanoff, I will put you on leave until you are fully healed or Dr. Banner releases you"
AN:
- Thank you to my proofreader, RushmanNatalie!
- Please kindly leave a review!