Chapter 7
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AN1: Thank you for all of your report. Please leave a review/comment, it means a lot to me.
"AGENT MAY, REPORT." Steve orders once, after a few seconds, he hasn't gotten any response from Melinda, "MELINDA! TALK TO ME, MELINDA" Steve yells after waiting a few seconds, "Barton, Romanoff, Hill, can one of you get down there?" Steve asks, fearing the worse as he knows that if she could then Melinda would have reported in.
"We're already on our way." Natasha says, there being worry present in her voice too.
"Let me know as soon as you know anything." Steve requests as he continues to fight, only half paying attention to what he is doing.
"We will." Clint promises.
After the explosion from the basement the enemies that Natasha, Clint, and Maria stop fighting and scattered which allows Natasha and Maria to shot them and Clint to fire arrows into them; which gives them a clear path to the stairs that lead downstairs.
"I know this is Mel, but we've got to keep our heads, we've got to keep our eyes open." Maria says as the three of them rush to the stairs.
"We know, Maria." Clint assures her as they arrive at the stairs.
"Weapons hot." Natasha says as the three of them start to descend the stairs.
In a formation that they started to use many years ago Natasha, Clint and Maria make their way down the stairs. All three of them have their weapons ready to fire if needed. Once they reach the bottom of the stairs Natasha, Clint and Maria split up and head in different directions, all three of them having their eyes open.
As she makes her way in her direction Natasha notices a figure on the ground and the second she does she knows exactly who it is.
"I've got her, north side." Natasha says through the coms as she makes her way towards Melinda.
"How is she?" Steve asks, clearly worried.
"I'll let you know when I know." Natasha says as she checks to make sure there isn't any threats before kneeling down next to Melinda, preparing for the worse Natasha reaches out and checks whether Melinda is breathing and whether she has a pulse.
"Mel's alive." Natasha tells everyone as she hears footsteps and turns to see Clint and Maria rushing over, "She has a pulse and is breathing." Natasha reveals before gently rolling Melinda off her stomach and onto her back, "She's got shrapnel injuries." Natasha explains,
"How bad?" Sam ask as he knows shrapnel injures can be complicate and have veering levels of seriousness.
"Torso, I can't see the extent in this light." Natasha admits, not wanting to check in case she dislodges anything, "I think the force of the blow knocked her out, she has a wound to the back of her head." Natasha explains as Clint and Maria squat down next to her.
"If you can move May safely then do it." Tony says, "She needs to get to the Quinjet as quick as possible."
"The rest of us are on our way back to you, we'll meet at the stairs." Steve says, wanting to get to Melinda as quick as possible.
"I'll carry her." Clint tells Natasha and Maria, "Here." He says hanging his bow to Maria so that he can pick Melinda up.
"Be careful." Natasha says and being as gentle as possible, because they don't know what kind of injuries they are looking at, Clint picks up Melinda and stands up. As he does that Maria puts Clint's bow over her shoulder while looking around, ready to fight if needed.
Once Clint is standing with Melinda in his arms Natasha walks in front while Maria walks on his left side, both of them are in the perfect position to attack anyone who attacks. When they reach the stairs about a minute later Natasha heads up first, followed by Clint and then Maria so that she can watch their backs.
"How is she?" Steve asks the second Clint steps of the stairs, where Steve, Sam, Wanda and Pietro are waiting.
"I don't know." Clint admits, "She seems okay, but I don't know how much damage the shrapnel, or the head injury, has done." He explains and before anyone can say anything there is red energy over Melinda, the red energy that everyone knows belongs to Wanda's powers.
"What did you just do?" Natasha asks, looking right at Wanda.
"Made sure the shrapnel can't move, it will help her." Wanda explains.
"Good call." Sam says approvingly.
"Let me carry her back to the Quinjet." Steve requests and Clint gives a nod and so Steve gently takes Melinda off Clint.
"Let's move out." Natasha says and everyone does, all prepared to fight if needed.
A few minutes later Steve, carrying Melinda, Natasha, Clint, Sam, Wanda, Pietro and Maria arrive at the Quinjet where Tony and Rhodey, both out of their suits are waiting.
"I've already talked to Doctor Cho, she has a med team standing by, and they'll great us the second we land." Tony says as they approach "She wants to have everything ready just in case so she needs to know May's blood type."
"O negative." Natasha, Clint and Maria answer.
"I'll let her know."
"Someone get us in the air." Steve says, not caring who, as he carries Melinda over to where the stretcher is.
"On it." Rhodey says heading to the cockpit while Natasha grabs the med kit from underneath one of the seats and Steve lays Melinda on the stretcher.
"It's an hour and a half to the Facility, we've got to do what we can until then." Natasha says as she walks over to Steve and Melinda.
"Yeah." Steve confirms as Natasha hands him the med kit. As Steve opens the med kit to try and search for what they'll need Natasha undies the zip on Melinda's leather vest so that she can have a better look.
"Дерьмо . Не хорошо." (Crap. Not good) Natasha says once she moves the vest and has a look at Melinda's wounds.
"No." Steve says worried, "Barton help Rhodey, get us back as quick as possible, "Here." He says handing Natasha a handful of gaze.
"On it." Clint says as he hurries to the cockpit.
"See what you can do for the head wound." Natasha tells Steve who nods and grabs more gaze for himself.
"This is bad, this is very bad." Steve says, it being clear that he is terrified that Melinda is going to die.
"Shrapnel wounds always look bad." Maria says, speaking from experience, "it might not be as bad as it looks." She says, wanting to help everyone with the worry they are feeling.
"Let's hope you're right." Steve says as he presses gaze against the part of Melinda's head that is bleeding, "Hold on Agent May, please hold on, Melinda, please." Steve whispers, hating that he could be losing Melinda before they even had a chance to begin.
"What can I do?" Tony asks as he places his hand on Steve's shoulder, having walked over.
"Whatever you can to help control this bleeding." Natasha says and Tony nods before, giving Steve's shoulder a squeeze before letting go and picking up more gaze.
Over an hour later, what feels like a very long hour to the people on the Quinjet, Steve and Natasha especially, Rhodey and Clint land the jet at the Avengers Facility. The second the ramp opens Dr Cho, her team and Fury rush in.
"What happened? What do you know?" Dr Cho asks as she runs in.
"We were upstairs, but we heard gunshots and what sounded like a grenade. Mel's got shrapnel injuries, a head injury and has been unconscious ever since." Natasha explains, "We've been doing everything we can to stop the bleeding." She explains as Steve moves Melinda from the plane stretcher to the one Dr Cho and her team brought.
"Okay, let's move." Dr Cho instructs her team and they push Melinda, everyone else trailing behind.
A few minutes later Dr Cho and her team has Melinda in the medical area while everyone else is sitting or standing outside.
As he looks around the room Fury notices that everyone, Steve, Natasha, Maria and Clint especially, look worried and so exhausted so he decides to say the only thing he can think to help.
"May's tough, this isn't the first time she's had an injury like this, she'll be okay." Fury says, not realising that he is trying to convince himself as much as the others.
"Her Mom, we should call her, does anyone know how to get in contact with her?" Steve asks, looking at Natasha as he assumes she does.
"I do, but until we know more we should hold off on making the call." Fury says, looking directly at Steve, "its better that way." Fury says as he knows Lian May quiet well and knows that you don't give her bad news until you know for sure that it is bad.
"Okay." Steve says as he starts to pace back and forward. As he paces Steve finds himself thinking about how just a few hours ago he and Melinda were on a date talking and sharing stories, having a great time and now she's fighting for her life. They may not know each other that well, yet, but Steve knows without a doubt that Melinda May matters to him, and that he wants them to have a chance. He wants them to have a future together and he doesn't even want to think about what he is facing right now, the possibility, the very real chance, of that future being over before it even has a chance to start, nor does he want to think about the fact that he could be losing Melinda before he's gotten to really know her.
Across the room Natasha is leaning against the wall her eyes glued to the door that Dr Cho and her team went through. Logically Natasha knows that it will take a bit of time before Dr Cho has any news but that doesn't stop Natasha from wanting it right away as Melinda is her family, one of the few people that Natasha truly cares about, so all she wants is for her to be okay.
While everyone else is standing or sitting around, not really sure what to do or say, Clint, Maria and Fury are sitting together all hoping for good news, but expecting the worse, all three of them knowing that Melinda is tough and that she has survived worse, but that knowledge doesn't really help with their worry.
It has been over an hour since everyone arrived back at the Facility and they are still waiting for news on Melinda. Ever since Steve and Fury's conversation about calling Lian May ever has been silent the only sounds are those of everyone breathing and of Steve pacing.
"Dr Cho is coming." Wanda says, breaking the silence.
At Wanda's words everyone heads over to the door, Steve, Clint, Natasha, Maria and Fury rushing over, and they get there just as the door opens and Dr Cho walks out.
"How is she?" Steve asks as soon as he sees Dr Cho.
"Agent May is stable." Dr Cho says, and everyone is relieved to hear that, "Agent May's abdominal cavity sustained most of the damage, though there was some shrapnel in her upper torso that we were able to remove and stich up easily. We were able to remove the fragments in her abdomen, but damage to both Agent May's spleen and liver was done."
"How bad?" Natasha asks, there being worry in her voice.
"Repairing the spleen was relatively simply and it was only minor, the liver on the other hand was more serious. We had to remove a lobe, but that will regenerate with time." Dr Cho explains.
"What about the head injury?" Clint asks.
"Minor. A pretty serious cut and a concussion, but that's all." Dr Cho explains.
"So she'll be okay?" Steve asks, as that's what it sounds like but he wants to be sure.
"Barring any complications she'll be fine, Captain." Dr Cho assures Steve.
"Can we see her?" Natasha asks.
"Of course." Dr Cho says stepping out of the way so that everyone can walk in.
When they enter the medical area everyone heads straight over to Melinda Steve and Natasha getting there first.
"How long until she'll wake?" Steve asks as he sits down right next to Melinda.
"An hour or so." Dr Cho answers and Steve nods and picks up Melinda's hand.
"I wouldn't." Natasha says, seeing Steve's actions, "Bad memories." She says as she sits down on Melinda's other side.
"Right." Steve says as he let's go of Melinda's hand, trusting Natasha, and if he would have to guess he would say it has something to do with Bahrain.
"We'll see you in the morning, there is no point overwhelming May by all of us being here when she wakes." Tony says.
"No, there's not." Sam says and along with Rhodey, Tony, Pietro and Wanda they leave, leaving Fury, Clint, Maria and Steve. Natasha and Steve are sitting either side of Melinda, both quiet close while Fury, Clint and Maria are sitting a little further back.
"I told you. May is tough, she'll be okay." Fury says.
"Yeah, she is." Steve says as he gently pushes Melinda's hair out of her face, not looking away from her for a second.
It has been almost an hour since everyone was allowed into the medical area and in that time Fury an Maria have headed to bed, needing to get a couple of hours of sleep, leaving just Steve, Natasha, and Clint sitting with Melinda, none of them having any intention of leaving until Melinda is awake.
Ever since he sat down next to Melinda Steve hasn't looked away from her, but remembering Natasha's warning Steve has made sure not to touch her. As he is staring at Melinda Steve notices when Melinda's eyes start to flicker.
"Agent May?" Steve asks at the same time Natasha says,
"Mel?" As like Steve she was watching Melinda closely, "Can you hear us?" Natasha asks her friend and Melinda opens her eyes.
"Ouch, I hate grenades." Melinda says after a few seconds.
"You really don't have the best recorder with them." Natasha say amused.
"Very true." Melinda admits, remembering all the injuries from grenades she has gotten, "Hi." She says to Steve, looking glad to see him.
"Hi." Steve responds with a smile, "How are you feeling?"
"Considering everything I'd say okay." Melinda tells Steve, "I had worse." Melinda says with a shrug, trying to make it seems like it's not a big deal.
"Yeah, no kidding, and that's not counting the injuries you treated yourself instead of going to medical." Clint says, knowing that Melinda doesn't like it when people worry about her.
"True." Melinda says in response to Clint, "I'm okay, really." Melinda tells Steve when she sees the look that is on his face, the look of someone who knows an evasive technique when they hear it, "Right, Doctor Cho?" Melinda ask when she sees the doctor walk up behind Steve.
"I wouldn't say that, I would say that you're stable." Dr Cho tells Melinda, "We had to remove a lobe of your liver and do some pretty serious repairing to your spleen, but you'll be okay in a few weeks. You're lucky that the grenade didn't do more damage." Dr Cho informs Melinda.
"I jumped back, tried to get behind cover as I fired my gun." Melinda explains, "It was a trap." She says looking at Steve, "But I wasn't the target, Avengers were." Melinda says, knowing that he needs to know just in case they try again.
"I'm sorry." Steve says, feeling incredibly guilty as Melinda was hurt on a mission he was leading.
"Don't apologise, I'm an Agent it's what I do, and I wanted to join the mission." Melinda tells Steve, "It's not on you."
"I'm still sorry that you were hurt." Steve says, "You shouldn't have gotten hurt, Melinda, and I'm so sorry that you did."
"I was seventeen when I choose to be an agent and I knew what that meant, and I've never regretted it." Melinda tells Steve, as even though she has regrets about things she's had to do, things she has done, becoming an Agent, joining S.H.I.E.L.D, isn't something she could ever regret, "I made a choice to go on this mission Captain, you didn't make me and I don't regret it. You don't have any reason to feel guilty Steve, and I definitely don't want you to." Melinda tells Steve, calling him by his first name for the first time, there being no room for argument in her voice, "Got it?"
"Yeah, I got it." Steve says with a smile, realising that he isn't going to win that argument, and Melinda reaches out and grabs his hand, giving it a squeeze.
"Huh, you two do know each other first names, who knew." Natasha comments with a smirk.
"I was seriously doubting it." Clint comments.
"Same." Natasha adds.
"When can I get out of here Doctor Cho?" Melinda asks, ignoring both Natasha and Clint while never letting go of Steve's hand. Clint gives an amused snort at that because he knew that was coming and Natasha smirks.
"I want to observe you for at least a day." Dr Cho tells Melinda, not surprised that she doesn't want to stay in medical, "Then you can leave, but you'll have to take it easy for at least a few days."
"Mel doesn't know how to take it easy." Clint comments.
"Neither do you." Melinda says, without missing a beat.
"I'm not the one who used to carry sutures around with me after I got hurt because I used to pull my stitches so often." Clint argues
"No, you're the one who would just bleed through your clothes." Melinda argues.
"Okay, enough." Natasha says, "You're both as bad as each other." Natasha informs the pair and they both turn to look at her and as soon as they do Natasha knows exactly what they are both thinking, "And I'm no better, I know that."
"Well that's good to know." Dr Cho says, "Agent May, if you don't promise to take it easy then I will keep you here under observation." Dr Cho informs Melinda, "Is that clear?" Dr Cho asks, it being clear that she is completely serious.
"Yeah, that's clear." Melinda confirms, realising that Dr Cho isn't someone to test and that maybe if more of S.H.I.E.L.D doctors were like her then she wouldn't have snuck out of medical as much as she did.
"Good. Get some rest Agent May." Dr Cho says, "And you three should too." She says before walking away.
"You know I'm really glad that there wasn't more doctors like Dr Cho at S.H.I.E.L.D." Clint comments, thinking along similar lines to Melinda.
"She doesn't let you get away with much." Steve comments.
"But she was right about getting some rest." Natasha says, "I'll be back in a few hours, Mel, with something to help with the boredom."
"I'd appreciate that." Melinda says.
"Glad you're okay, Mel." Clint says, "I'll bring our med bay kit round in a few hours."
"You better." Melinda says, realising that she is going to need that.
"I will." Clint promises and he and Natasha leave.
"Med bay kit?" Steve asks curious.
"Yeah, it's something that helps you pass time when you're in medical." Melinda explains.
"I'm guessing that it's not appreciated by the staff in medical." Steve comments as from what he knows about Melinda and Clint, and what they used to do together he knows that.
"Not so much." Melinda admits, moving slightly winching as she does
"Are you okay?" Steve ask quickly.
"Yeah, I'm fine." Melinda assures him, "I'm sorry for worrying you." Melinda says, feeling bad about that as she can tell how worried he's been.
"No, don't apologise." Steve says quickly, "If I'm not allowed to apologise for you getting hurt then you're not allowed to apologise for worrying me, deal?"
"Deal." Melinda says.
"Good." Steve says, "But I am glad you're okay." Steve tells Melinda, "I thought I was going to lose you, Melinda." Steve admits, there being pain in his voice.
"Well you didn't, I'm a survivor, Steve. I can handle a grenade, I'm not that easy to kill." Melinda tells Steve, not wanting him to see her as weak.
"Yeah, I'm seeing that." Steve says, being very glad for that fact. As he and Melinda exchange smiles Melinda tries to move closer, but finds it very difficult to do so, "What are you doing?" Steve asks, standing up, letting go of Melinda hand as he does.
"I'm trying to kiss you, Captain, but I'm finding it slightly difficult." Melinda explains, being annoyed that she can't, which is why she was so blunt.
"Oh." Steve says surprised, "Well, I guess I better help you with that." Steve says before sitting down on the edge of the bed, as he sits down Steve leans down and Melinda leans up as much as she can, their lips meeting in the middle. At first the kiss is gentle, but then both Melinda deepen it, both giving in, but at the same time Steve is doing everything in his power to make sure he doesn't hurt Melinda.