Spiderman's Sister

Can't that wait Peter?

The next few days pass in slow motion and in a fog. The others are busy looking for James all the time, so far without success. But although everyone is busy looking for him, someone is always with me. Most of the time it's Wanda or Peter. In the end they just sit around in my room and somehow try to get me out of my lethargy. But I don't want to. I want to feel bad because I still largely blame myself for what happened to James. One morning - or rather in the middle of the night - Peter stormed into my room very excited. I can't stand it when someone wakes me up under normal circumstances. But now, in my current condition, I'm about to yell at my brother and throw him out of my room myself.

Peter: Vicky? Vicky, wake up!

When he turns on the light in the room, I really want to give him a piece of my mind. But because I know, somewhere inside me, that I'm overreacting, I just clench my teeth.

Victoria: What do you want Peter? And whatever it is, can't it wait until later?

Peter: It probably could. But I don't think you want to keep him waiting.

Him? Let him wait? Does that mean? I look at Peter hopefully and confused at the same time.

Peter: Bucky! We found Bucky. Come on!

Dressed only in my pajamas, I literally jump out of bed and follow Peter. We take the elevator to one of the upper floors. As soon as the doors open, it feels like you're in the hospital. Probably only makes sense that the Avengers have their own hospital. You definitely can't go to a normal hospital with some of their injuries. Tony is just coming out of one of the rooms and doesn't seem thrilled when he sees Peter and I coming down the hall.

Tony: I should have known. Peter, why don't you ever do what you're supposed to do?

Peter: I'm sorry Mr. Stark. But there was no way I could keep that from her.

When Peter looks down in contrition, Tony walks up to him and hugs him. His expression immediately softens and becomes less annoyed than it was a few seconds ago.

Tony: I get that kid. But...... I don't know if it's so good to let her see him now.

I don't care. I need to see him, need to convince myself that he is really here, that he is alive.

Victoria: Please Tony. I have to see him.

He seems at odds with himself, but after a few seconds decides to let me see him. He opens the door he just came out of and leads us inside. And what I see in the room is killing me. James he...... he's lying in a hospital bed. He is connected to countless cables and monitors. His face... it... it's swollen, bruises in various stages and cuts are everywhere. As far as I can see these spots continue down his neck. I can hardly see anything skin-colored on his right arm either, his whole body is covered in bruises. His eyes are closed, but I can tell from the rise and fall of his chest that he's at least breathing on his own. Thank God. Ignoring the others in the room, I pull up a chair next to his bed and grab his hand, it's freezing cold. As soon as I hold his hand in mine, i break out in tears.

Victoria: Hey...... please...... please wake up...... please don't leave me......

Peter comes to me, stands behind me and puts his arms around me. He also seems to be crying. He sniffs and, for once, doesn't say a single word. As Tony comes into view, I look up and notice that there are Bruce and Steve in the room with him. Even though all three of them seem very composed now, you can see that they were crying too. Their eyes are red and swollen.

Victoria: What happened to him? Where...... where did you find him?

Tony: He was in a warehouse at the port. Do you know a Miles Stewart? He was the one who held Bucky captive...... who did all this to him. When we got there he was out of his mind and ended up killing himself before we could arrest him.

I've never heard the name before. If Tony asks me like that, I assume that none of them know this Miles either. But why would a normal person kidnap a super soldier? And how was that normal person supposed to keep said super soldier in check.

Victoria: No, I don't know anyone with that name.

Tony: Then I don't know what to do anymore. It looks like Bucky was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Steve: Do you really believe that Tony? People like us are not in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Tony: I know that too Rogers. But you know yourself that so far there is no proof that anyone hired this Miles. And we couldn't connect him to Hydra or Vicky's former boss. Nor do we have any other traces.

To be honest, right now I don't care who took Bucky and why. All I care about is that he's back here and safe. Of course it has to be found out who did it in order to prevent him from doing it again. But the Avengers can take care of that. I just want to be with James right now.

Victoria: Will he recover?

I ask Bruce. From everything Peter says, Bruce seems to be the closest to a doctor.

Bruce: Yes, I assume so. I just can't say how long that will take. He has several gunshot wounds and broken bones that have led to internal injuries. He was also sedated with very strong sedatives for a long period of time. Without the super soldier serum in his blood, he would never have survived this long. But thanks to the serum, he should be back to normal.

Victoria: Thank god.

Bruce: From now on we just have to give his body the time it needs to recover. Once that happens, he will wake up on his own.

At least these are good prospects. Gunshot wounds, internal injuries...... and all because I was such a fucking coward. Whether he wants to see me or have me around when he wakes up or not, I will do whatever I can to help him recover. I just hope he doesn't hate me as much as I hate myself. Eventually the others leave the room, probably to give me a moment alone with James. Please God let him wake up soon.