Devotion Book 4 ~ ON HOLD

13. AWAKEN

I'm like a child looking off in the horizon
I'm like an ambulance that's turning on the sirens
Oh-oh-oh, I'm still alive
I'm like a soldier coming home for the first time
I dodged a bullet, and I walked across a landmine
Oh-oh-oh, I'm still alive

-Still Breathing by Green Day

The team gathered while T'Challa had guards around Sophia.  Ramonda volunteered to watch Sarah as the Dora had heightened their protection around the royal family.  They sat in a conference room as Bucky and Steve explained what had happened.

"Sophia pulled us into her dreams or her unconscious.  She saw something that she was scared of.  The first time we thought it was a threat against Sarah until we were pulled back in again," Steve explained.  "The second time is when we saw him," he pointed to the Skrull.

Bucky gave the alien a hard look. "He claims he doesn't remember who hired him or who is orchestrating all of this."

Wanda let out a sob.  Her brother was dead and had been for months.  She hadn't felt him and she never realized it. Clint wrapped his arm around her as a comfort.  "Does he know what happened to him?" Clint asked.

"I can speak for myself," the skrull replied.  "My name is Fila. I've been hiding on this planet for a few years.  I was taken from my colony about a year ago.  I was placed under a spell that allowed me to watch but not react on my own.  I did not kill the young man but I watched as he was tortured for information on the fallen star."

"Do you know why she won't wake?" Tony asked.  "Are you doing this to her?"

"No, I do not have that kind of power.  But her dreams are real to her.  I can tell she is fighting for something."

T'Challa nodded to the guards and they took Fila away.  He turned to the Avengers.  "What do we do now?"

"We need to wait until she wakes," Shuri explained.  "I'm afraid our technology will not help her when its her mind keeping her there.  Perhaps she will allow Bucky and Steve back into her mind and they can convince her to wake."

Steve and Bucky nodded agreeing with the plan.  "Can you guys take turns with Sarah while we are asleep?  I feel like the worse parent in the world right now."

Nat touched his shoulder.  "You are trying to bring back her mother. She won't know the difference right now until she wakes up.  Sam and I will take care of her along with everyone else.  Bring her back to us."

Bucky and Steve settle back into Sophia's hospital room.  They made it as comfortable as possible so they could sleep.  "Bucky?"

"Yeah Steve?"

"Are you happy with the baby?"

"I'm over the moon Stevie.  She's perfect.  Our little girl is perfect."

Steve smiled.  "She is. She's ours. I didn't think I would feel this way but its like Sarah made everything perfect.  You know besides Sophia not being here yet."

"I know what you mean.  She didn't... she didn't talk to you about..."

"She did.  I'm glad you are taking it slow with her."  Steve looked at Bucky.  "I'm not mad.  We could have fun with this, you know.  When she's better."  Steve smirked on instinct.

"Keep it in your pants Rogers," Bucky said with a smile. His smile dropped.

"What is it, Buck?"

"I want to say something, but I don't know how you'll react."