The Assistant

Part 15

I swam down, the cold water rushing against my body and sending chills down my spine.
I see the car sinking below me and I swim towards it. I knew I had to get them out quickly, they'd been in there a few minutes and after 8 minutes without oxygen, your brain starts to deteriorate.

I pull at the door but it won't open, I smash the window and push my arm through to unlock the door. I catch my arm on the glass but manage to unlock the door. Swimming in, I unclip Nat's seatbelt and pull her out of the car, i had to get her out first. Steve had enhancements to his body and Nat didn't so this would have a longer lasting damage effect to her.

Wrapping my arm around her waist, I start to swim up to the top. She needed oxygen as quick as possible, she was starting to come around and fighting me but I had to push through it.
We get to the top and she's coughing up a lot of water, I drag her to the embankment and place her down
Y/N- stay there and catch your breath
Nat- what are you doing?
Y/N- I'm getting Steve

I rush back into the water taking a few deep breaths before holding onto the last one and diving down again. I head back into the car through the open door and unclip Steve but he was stuck.
The cars front had been damaged and was pushed against Steve's legs. How the hell am I supposed to get him out?

I swim to the boot/trunk of the car and open it, most cars came with an equipment bag and I was hoping I could use something from there. By now, I was running tight on air but I couldn't leave him there, he was unconscious and who knew what injuries he may have.
I find a crowbar in the bag and grab that, taking it round to the Steve's door. I ram the door open and try to push the dash off his legs, he moves slightly as he wakes up.
He looks at me and understands what's happening, I push the dash with everything I've got and he pulls his legs out.
He edges out of the car but starts to fade away as I wrap my arm around him, swimming to the top again.

We push through the water boundaries and I gasp for air, the crisp cold air fills my legs as Pietro comes running into the water. He grabs Steve and starts to take him to the side.
I take a minute to get my breath back and I get moving towards the embankment when my head starts to pound
Y/N- ah Jesus
I raise my hand to my temple and suddenly, I'm dragged back underwater.

Nat POV-
I don't really remember what happened. One minute, Steve is talking and the next, Y/N has pulled me out of a river.

Y/N had gone back for Steve and was underwater for what felt forever. Wanda and Pietro had come running down to the side as Tony and Thor had flown in to defend the Truck.
Wanda- where is she?
Pietro- I see her, I'll go help
He dives in and grabs Steve from Y/N, dragging him to the side next to me.

Y/N grabs her head in pain and we all know what that means, I look around and see nothing in sight when Y/N gets pulled back into the water
Nat- NOO Y/N!
Pietro- where did she go?
Nat- I have no idea
Pietro runs back into the water and dives down, he spends a minute or so underwater before coming back up
Pietro- I can't see her
Nat- Wanda, go get Tony

She runs up the hill and a minute later, Tony flies down into the water and starts scanning.
5 minutes pass, 10 minutes pass and it's been 15 minutes since she was dragged under. Tony kept searching but couldn't find her, he scanned for life forms but found too many due to creatures in the water.
Pietro- I'VE GOT HER
He drags her lifeless body out of the water, her skin pale and cold to the touch.
Nat- is she alive?
Tony- there's a pulse but it's weak, she needs a hospital
Y/N- Nat?
Nat- hey I'm here
Y/N- I.. I'm dying
Nat- no you aren't, you are going to be okay
Y/N- tell Maria...
Nat- you don't get to die today, do you hear me?
Y/N- I'm sorry
Slowly, her eyes close.

The ambulances arrive and Tony gets Y/N into one straight away, just like that they were gone.
Wanda helped me up the hill as Tony and Pietro dragged Steve up.
Paramedics ran over and treated Steve, he was unconscious and he was taken to the hospital as well.
I'd got lucky, it shouldn't be Y/N like that, it should be me. She risked her life to save me and now, she might die.
Nat- what happened to her?
Tony- I found a gun and the scan, it shows she's been shot twice
Nat- someone else was in the water?
Tony- almost like they planned for your car to go in the water
Nat- this was highly planned
Tony- it was, let's get you checked out then we can figure this mess out.

We take a shield car and drive to the hospital, Pietro is wrapped in blankets as Wanda tries to warm him up.
We arrive and Maria is stood talking to the doctor who walks away quickly, tears fill Maria's eyes
Nat- is she okay?
Maria- emergency surgery, they don't know if she'll make it
Nat- I am so sorry
Maria- it's not your fault, it's the prick who shot her

A nurse checks me out and it's nothing too serious, because of the cold water they need me to stay in a while to make sure there's no serious damage once I've fully warmed up.
Maria sat with me, she didn't say anything and I'm not surprised
Nat- how did you know?
Maria- I'm her emergency contact, I make medical decisions if she can't
Nat- I didn't know that
Maria- she's my best friend, I can't do this without her
I sit forward and pull Maria into a hug, her tears soaking into the hospital gown.
Nat- she's a fighter, she will be okay.