Because He Loves Me

Chapter 19: Survivors Can Die Twice

"Is she okay?!" Pepper exclaimed. Tony had just paid again for more advanced surgery, and Kassidy was coming out of it. She would have to heal for another two days - she would fail her tests. Kassidy walked from the room for the first time since she was shot two days ago. She was wearing a white dress and her hair was a messed up braid. 

"Peter?" Kassidy asked. Peter, his face wet with tears, ran to the girl and hugged her gently. 

Two hours later

"What do you mean I can't take the test?!" Kassidy demanded. 

"I'm sorry sweetheart, if you take it now there's an 80% chance you'll die. You have to recover, and then we're going home." Pepper said. 

"When could I take the test next?" Kassidy asked. 

"Never." Natasha replied. "You've seen the facility, if you leave without your degree you're never allowed back." Kassidy gasped. 

"No, no, no no no." she said. "I worked too hard to give up now. I spent a week and a half in this Hell, and I'm not leaving until I get what I came for." Tony might've reprimanded her for saying "Hell" but she wasn't wrong, and he didn't want his first words back to her to be criticizing her language. 

"Legally, she can take the test. Recovery is not mandatory here, if she takes the test and she fails she will still be able to go home." the doctor said. Tony glared at him. 

"I'm her dad, I call the shots." he snapped. 

"Actually, you signed the contract. She now has full control here." the doctor replied. "If you go against the contract, we have power to disregard the conditions you set. We'll sterilize her, keep her here for as long as we want, kill her..." 

"Okay, okay, I get it. Fine. Take the test, but if she's hurt we're taking her home and I want a refund." Tony snarled. 

Eight P.M. that night

Kassidy had nearly killed six people, but she could sense a seventh one was around. The sun had nearly set, and if Kassidy didn't bring back the unconscious bodies before it was dark, she would fail the test. 

She found the final man hidden behind a tree, where she smacked her unloaded gun to the side of his head, then pressed a nerve on his shoulder to set him half dead. Then Kassidy grabbed his arm and hoisted him across her back, letting his feet drag as she pulled him to the gates. She dropped him there, not surprised to find that the other six she had left at the gate had already been taken inside. 

Then, mysteriously,  Kassidy felt herself falling and darkness once again covered the girl's eyes. 

Morning

Kassidy sat up and found Natasha sitting next to the bed. 

"Nothing bad happened. You passed that test. They just couldn't let you see the way in or out. You have three tests today, the final two are tomorrow. If you pass you get to go home." Natasha said. And through the day, Kassidy fulfilled her tests and requirements without complaint or begging for a break. The next day was similar. Nothing seemed to faze her, much to the amazement of the instructors. 

Sergei handed Natasha a big, white piece of paper, which she gave to Kassidy. Kassidy unfolded the paper and smoothed the crease. 

"You need at least a 200 to pass." Natasha reminded her anxiously. Peter, Tony, Pepper, all the Avengers and some of the Russians were staring across the room from Kassidy. Her eyes filled with tears and her hand covered her mouth. Pepper gasped. Had she failed? Kassidy handed the paper to Peter, who had a similar reaction. 

"214!" he yelled. Instantly Kassidy was showered in hugs, kisses and congratulations. Only an hour later the entire group was on the jet again, and they flew back to New York. Stark Tower was gleaming, and Kassidy was amazed. She had never seen such a sight. 

"We're home." Tony said. And Kassidy finally felt like that was the truth.