Unforgettable

Part 2 - The Aftermath

Steve watched through the glass partition as the doctors and nurses worked tirelessly on Willow. There hadn't been any news on Bucky but he knew he was stable. Willow on the other hand wasn't looking too good.

The sounds of the machines beeping were deafening and although Steve didn't believe in god, he prayed to whoever was listening that she could be saved. Steve knew if Willow didn't pull through this that Bucky would be a broken man.

'Oh my god. Please tell me she's going to be ok. I can't lose my best friend. I can't.' Nat said as she barrelled into the same room as Steve, watching as the doctors worked on her friends lifeless body

Steve wrapped his arm around Nat and pulled her tightly to him 'They're doing all they can Nat. She's tough. If anyone can get through this then it's Willow'

'It isn't fair. They were about to start their new lives together. Away from the fighting and the hero saving. Away from the Avengers. They were going to get the life we all want Steve'

'I know' Steve sighed 'And they still can do that Nat. We have to believe that they'll both make it out of this'

Nat wiped away the tears from her cheeks that had fallen since she arrived in that god awful room 'I haven't even asked about Bucky. How is he?'

Steve looked away from the window, away from the doctors trying to save the wife of his best friend and looked at Nat for the first time since she arrived 'I'm not sure. Maria was going to check but the last I heard he was out of immediate danger. They were looking to stabilise them'

'How did this happen Steve? How did the accident happen?'

Steve braced himself for the anger that Nat was going to direct once he gave her this news 'It looks like it was a drunk driver. He was in a lorry and wasn't paying attention. Willow and Bucky were at a red stop light when it happened. The officers said that Willow wasn't wearing a seatbelt which was why she went through the windscreen'

Nat moved out of Steve's grasp feeling the bile rise up her throat 'Oh god, I think I'm going to be sick.'

'Hey. It's ok Nat'

Nat looked at Steve 'Do we know who did it?'

'No and I think we need to let the authorities continue their investigations into this Nat. This isn't something that we should involve ourselves in'

'How can you say that? Look at her on that table. Take a good look and tell me that you don't want to go out there and hunt down whoever did this and make them pay'

Steve turns sharply to look at Nat 'Of course I do. I would love nothing more than to make those responsible pay but where will that get us.'

Nat sighs 'I'm sorry. I didn't mean to take it out on you'

Steve 'I know and it's fine. Right now we need to make sure we're here for them both. And when they wake....'

'If they wake' Nat replies with tears in her eyes

Steve wraps his arm back around Nat pulling her closely to him 'When they wake, they will need us both. We have no idea how badly this accident will impact them both at the moment but I'm in no doubt that they're going to need us'

'You're right? Of course you're right. How much longer until we hear any news?'

Before Steve had a chance to respond Maria walked in 'I've just had word that Bucky is being moved to another room. He's stable and should wake shortly'

Steve felt his shoulders sag in relief, looking at Maria with clouded eyes through unshed tears 'Thank heavens for that'

The smiles soon disappeared from their faces as the machines beeped to notify them that Willow had stopped breathing. As the doctors battled to save her, Nat turned and fled from the room

'Nat wait' Steve managed to get out as he finally caught up to her 'where are you going'

'I'm going to find the son of a bitch who did this and make him wish he'd never been born'

'Nat, that isn't a good idea'

'Yeah well I can't just stand here doing nothing watching my friend lose her life in front of my eyes. You do whatever you need to Steve but let me be'

Steve watched with his hands on his hips as Nat walked away from him. Whilst deciding whether to follow or stay, Maria ran out to Steve in the hallway 'They've got a pulse. They've got her back'

And with that, Steve walked back into the room knowing that Bucky would never forgive him if he left her alone.