In Another Universe

FIVE

An hour and a half later, Sam, Wanda, Vision, Bucky and Bruce are storming down the brightly lit hallway of the Metropolitan General Hospital in New York City.

By the time Tony and Anastasia arrived, She was already unconscious. But thankfully because of how quickly he was able to get her there, She was able to be treated and shouldn't suffer any long term side effects.

Once the group reaches the waiting room just outside of Anastasia's private suite, They all rush to Tony as he greets them, Except for Sam.

He barrels past everyone and rushes straight into the hospital suite, His heart sinks heavy into his chest as he finds Anastasia laying peacefully in the twin sized bed.

Warmed IV fluids being pumped into her body, And a wall of beeping computer monitors at her side.

His mind drifts off to the very first day he met, When she was an innocent ten year old kid, Who's parents had just died in the same car accident that landed her in the hospital.

~

July 28th 2008
Metropolitan General Hospital,
New York City

"Riley! It's over here!" Sam calls to his somber best friend, as he rushes down the excruciatingly bright hallway. Finally finding room 232 in the ICU wing of the hospital .

They were in Syria yesterday, Enjoying a somewhat relaxing lunch on their military base, When Riley got a phone call that changed his life forever.

His world shook when the commanding officer told him his parents and younger sister had been in a terrible car accident, And only one person survived.

Sam fought to leave with Riley, Not wanting his hysterical best friend to go through what would inevitably follow, alone.

The typically chatty Riley, barely spoke two words the entire twelve hour flight back to NYC.

Too lost in thought over how he let this happen...

Why didn't he step in sooner?

Would his parents still be alive if he had?

Riley charges past Sam and into the room, freezing the moment his soft blue eyes fall onto his baby sister.

His heart sinking into his stomach as tears begin streaming down his freckles cheeks, her dainty body laying unconscious in the much too large for her, hospital bed.

Deep violet bruises are scattered on her face, Along with small bandages, Including one on her busted lip.

Her mess of frizzy red curls overflowing onto the neck brace that holds her frail head still, her left arm in a sling across her chest. With in IV hooked up to her right arm laying still at her side.

"Oh my god..." Sam gasps, Stopping beside Riley as nausea rises in throat.

Sam's seen many different horrors since joining The Air Force, But never has he seen a child in such bad shape.

There's not a single inch of her unscathed.

Swallowing thickly as he drops his gaze from the girl, His deep brown eyes falling to his typically out-going, loud and charismatic friend, whom is completely devastated.