Falling

Aftermath

Note: Content some might find triggering.

Alex POV

It is all chaos the moment the boat I am in lands back inside. Someone comes to take Pietro's body and Steve quickly pulls me away from the crowded cargo bay. The further we get, the more I start to panic. My brain barely catching up to what just happened.

I should feel relieved at some degree, my brain doesn't seem to process the fact that I am safe. I think it doesn't matter, how can I be safe, be alright, when Pietro just died because of me. His blood is still warm on my skin.

I can't breathe, I can't breathe.

I am shaking so bad my knees fail me. The desperation I feel has me clawing at my neck so hard I almost get my already broken fingers dislocated again.

"Alex, stop, stop." Steve takes my hands and for the first time in our time together I push him away with aggression. It is not something I want to do, I am not in possession of my right mind, of my body. I don't want to be in it.

This does not deters him, even if I had all my strength I wouldn't be able to move him a centimeter. He tries again, firmly grabbing them to keep me from harming myself further.

This is so different than when I found my parents bodies, so different from when Sam returned without Riley. Back then I felt numb, right now I feel like the pain will consume me, burns me from inside out. For all I know Wanda might be dead too. I shouldn't have listened. I should have stayed put. It was supposed to be me.

I am so nauseous and cold. Sick to my stomach.

"Love, breath, breath." He urges me.

My vision is turning blurry, I truly want to breath, yet the panic, the pain, the sheer horror of it all is keeping my throat close. I can't even scream.

Steve scoops me up from the floor and sprints out running.

"I need a doctor." He shouts as he barges into a room. "I think she has gone in shock."

Something punctures my arm and the darkness comes way to quickly to be any comfort.

.... ....

POV Steve.

The immediate aftermath of the events in Sokovia are far more devastating than what we could have managed.

The Czech Republic agreed to let Fury land the ship and take in the refugees. 50 percent of Sokovia as sustained damages from the debris, 25 percent as been completely destroyed. The kill count keeps getting higher as the days go by.

And Alexandra is kept under sedation at doctor's recommendation.

After a brief stop in Czech Republic, we make our way back to New York. Tony has a whole medical set up in the Tower where we make her comfortable. Natasha helps me bathe her and change her clothes.

We worked in silence as the sponges soaked in the blood. I washed her hair till it was clean and then brushed it, using all her hair products.

The doctor said she would be wind off the sedation little by little, and should be awake anytime today.

We are all here, waiting.

At least I have a good news to tell her when she wakes up. Wanda was rescued by Vision, and is now in the compound with him. She has come two times, and both times she only stares from the window with a curious and focused expression. I've been wanting to ask her if she could see if Alex is dreaming, if those dreams are good or bad, but I refrained myself.

Sam as been pacing back and forth. We almost got into a fight I was going to let him win, god, I actually hoped he would punch me in the face. Maybe that would make me feel better.