Time Bomb

Chapter 18

-the next evening/the party-
I got myself dressed and made my way out to Tony's little get together. As much I'm really not feeling it, I did promise him that we could do this today since I wasn't up for it yesterday.
I didn't dress fancy, just jeans, a shirt, and a leather jacket.
"Ah, there's the lady of the night! What took you so long?" Sam asked as I got to the end of the hallway.
"Sorry I'm late, I didn't want to come." I smiled and patted his shoulder.
"Hey, what's going on? The guys always talk about how sweet and nice you are. Based on that, you seem a bit off." He asked, standing directly in front of me, blocking anyone else's ability to see me.
"I'm fine, Sam. Just tired. I've been go go go while I was gone and coming home to immediately go into one of Tony's parties wasn't something I was looking forward to." I said and pushed past him.
"Hey beautiful." Bucky said as he saw me enter the room. I hugged him tightly, in need of his touch.
"You alright, doll?" He whispered in my ear.
"I'm just not feeling all that great. Don't tell Sam that though cause he asked me the same thing and I told him that I just wasn't up for a party after being on the move all the time while I was gone." I said back and he nodded.
"You just let me know if you need anything, doll." He added and we went over to sit on a couch.
Everyone talked and laughed while I sat there leaned against Bucky. Truly not feeling well now. I felt hot. Like fever hot. But at the same time, absolutely freezing. My head felt like a ton of bricks and on top of that, extremely dizzy. Any time I moved too quickly, I felt like I was going to pass out.
"You alright, Dani? You're not looking too great?" Steve asked, sitting in a chair across from us.
"If I'm being honest, no. Not really." My voice came out quiet and weak.
"What's going on, maybe I can help." Stephen asked as he came to kneel in front of me. He had asked us not long ago to just call him Stephen as Dr. Strange or even just Strange seemed too formal now that we've all gotten to know each other better.
"Dizzy. Hot. Cold. My head feels like a ton of bricks." I managed to get out. I could feel myself starting to fade quickly. What is going on with me?
"Oh my god, you're hot. Like, I can't even keep my hand on your skin you're that hot." Bucky said after pressing his hand to my forehead.
It was after that when I couldn't keep my eyes open and I was out.

—Bucky's POV—
Dani's whole body went limp within a matter of a second.
"Get her to the med bay. Now!" Stephen said and I picked her up. Making sure to not touch her skin directly. I got her into the room quickly and laid her down on the bed.
"What's going on?" I asked, worried about the one person in the world I've found I love most more than anything or anyone.
"I'm not sure. I'm gonna need to run some tests and see if there's something going on internally." Bruce said, already working to get her jacket off without burning himself. Him and Stephen both talking doctor now and I'm not truly understand much.
"Nat said Dani passed out, what's wrong?" Clint asked as he barged into the room and came to my side.
"I don't know. They don't know. Said they have to run tests somehow but it's likely going to be difficult for them given how hot her skin is just to the touch. Do we need to tell them? About her.. you know..?" I whispered the last part. Not wanting Stephen or Bruce to hear if Clint says no.
"I think so. But only them. The others don't need to know yet. Hell, given what and who Stephen is, he likely already knows." He said went over to lock the med bay door so no one else would interrupt. He then turned back towards the doctors.
"I should probably tell you guys something and I know Dani won't be happy about it but I have a feeling what's happening now has something to do with it." He said and the doctors turned to face him. Clint came back to stand beside me .
"Have you heard of the guy who goes by Soldier Boy?" Clint asked, still looking at the doctors.
"I have. He's believed to be dead but there was never a body found. He, for all intents and purposes was a human nuclear bomb along with a few other common abilities." Stephen said.
"What about him?" Bruce asked.
"Well... he had a daughter. Who unfortunately inherited that main ability. It's unknown if Soldier Boy himself actually knows that she's even still alive or that she has those abilities. He left when she was 10. And uh... she's lying here on this table." I finally spoke up. Both Stephen and Bruce looked at Dani and then to Clint and I.
"I knew he had a daughter with his abilities but I didn't realize Dani was her. Being the holder of the time stone and sorcerer supreme comes with a lot of knowledge. Does she know how to control it? Has she ever actually used it?" Stephen asked, a slight tinge of fear in his eyes.
"No. She doesn't know how to control it. And technically she hasn't used it. As far we know, she's only exploded 2 times since knowing about it. It happens when she gets really pissed off or upset." Clint said. I could tell her wanted so badly to reach to his adoptive sister. Hold her hand. But can't risk burning himself doing so.
"I can make it go away though usually. I was able to make her calm down 2 maybe 3 times now. She wanted to learn to control it though in case there were ever time she needed to use it. Clint and I planned on helping her with it when everyone was out on the mission coming up in a few days." I said, taking a risk and reaching my metal hand over to hers and held it. I couldn't feel the heat and it seems the vibranium can handle it.
"Wait... your arm.. it's vibranium right?" Bruce asked, noticing me holding Dani's hand now.
"Yeah, wh... we need to take her to Wakanda." I said. Piecing together that the vibranium can handle the heat and we're gonna need it to figure out what's going on with Dani.
Immediately, Clint pulled his phone out and called someone. I can only assume T'Challa.