Forever and Always

Chapter 7

I felt disconnected from reality. Work was draining me, Kyle was getting worse and worse everyday and I slowly started losing hope on whether or not to stay here in New York. I'd be homeless wherever I go but it's better than being in close proximity to Kyle. The bruises on my body looked normal at this point and the pain turned into a dull numbness. I've never felt so empty, feeling like there was no purpose for me to be here. Alice started showing concern as some bruises were too dark to cover up with just foundation. I would brush her off, telling her not to worry about me. It was harder and harder for me to concentrate long enough to finish assignments like I have so well in the past which led Kyle to hit me more and more after work.

It's been just over 2 weeks since I've seen Steve and almost a week since that last phone call we had. Slowly making my way into Kyle's office I put the manilla folder on the desk. I sighed, "I can finish the work by Friday but today I only got one assignment completed" I felt nothing as he stood up and came over to me, fist colliding with my face, as I fell to the ground, him kicking my stomach hard making the breath leave me. "I might reevaluate your position here. Don't come in tomorrow" my vision was going in and out. I didn't hear anything so I could only assume I was left alone in the office. I got up but hunched over as pain shot through my core. He hit my nose, blood was dripping down my face, tears falling non stop making my vision blurry. I slowly made my way over to my cubicle to get my bag trying not to hit any sore spots. I took one step at a time trying to get out of the office, my ribs protestesting with each step. I was trying to hold in my grunts.

I made it outside leaning against the wall. There was no way I was going to make it home tonight. I couldn't even make it to the alleyway as I slid down leaning my head back against the wall. 'I can't do this' my head was throbbing, my ribs protesting with every breath I took making me pant quickly. I carefully kept wiping my eyes to keep from blacking out but It was getting hard. Someone caught my attention as I saw a blurry figure in front of me. I knew they were speaking to me but with my heart pulsing in my ears and all the tears I couldn't pay attention. I let the darkness consume me.

I awoke sometime later, my eyes opening but closing quickly as the room was too bright. I groaned trying to sit up but a gentle hand led me back down. "You need to rest" I knew that voice. I opened my eyes again adjusting to the light and looked up to see Steve. He looked disheveled, his hair looks like he's been running his fingers through it non stop and his eyes had a hint of red under them as if he's been crying. I took a deep breath but immediately stopped and grimaced as my rib still hurt. Steve grabbed a cup of water that was on the nightstand next to the bed and went to hand it to me but as soon as he saw my hands trembling he helped me drink some water. "Where am I?" I questioned leaning back and closing my eyes. "The med bay in the tower" I heard a chair scoot closer to me and I could only assume it was Steve coming closer to the bed. I stayed quiet for a moment, "did you find me?"

There was another moment of silence and when Steve spoke my heart clenched hearing the hurt in his voice, "Yes, I got home from the mission and all I wanted to do was see you and ask you if you really meant what you said on the phone." I didn't say anything and he added, "you don't need to talk about it now, I'm just glad to see you're okay" I opened my eyes again just as Tony walked in. "Hey kid, glad to see you're finally awake." I furrowed my brow, "Finally awake?" he came to stand on the other side of my bed. "Well you've only been asleep for a day and a half" my eyes widened as I threw the covers off of me leaning to get up ignoring my ribs in the process, "I have to get to work" Tony put his hands on my shoulders and I flinched, he frowned and kept his hands up to keep me from getting up. "You're not going back there," Steve said behind me. I turned to look at him, "I have too" he shook his head as Tony chimed in. "You were sitting outside the office building looking like you just got the shit beat out of you, who did that?" I shook my head, "it doesn't matter, I'm behind on my work." I heard a scoff from Steve, he was clenching his fists, "Are you really going to go back to the place that abused you?" "You don't understand," I said quieter. "Understand what?!" he raised his voice and I flinched, sadness filling his eyes. "I need that job, without it I lose my apartment and that's the only thing I have left" Tony shuffled a bit, "There's always a room at the tower for you" I shook my head trying to get off the bed again, this time Tony moved to the side to let me up, Steve came to my otherside as I set foot on the ground and almost collapsed as my abdomen and ribs were very sore. He held me up from my arm but once I was adjusted I moved away and turned to look at both of them. "I don't want to be a woman that is just handed things for pity or in general at all. I need to finish my job so I can make it to the top on my own. I need this job otherwise I will lose my apartment and have nowhere to go." My eyes watered but I refused to let the tears go. Tony nodded, "okay" he walked out. Steve stayed silent averting his gaze from mine, he was having a battle in his mind. "Can I have a change of clothes?" Steve looked at me and nodded, "Yeah I'll get them for you" I went and sat in a chair by the bed. As Steve walked out Bruce walked into the room.