Asylum (Steve Rogers AU) 18+

2

Dinah had no idea whether Doctor Rogers was mocking her. He had been kind, but it had been suspiciously kind in her opinion. She hadn't any idea of his thoughts as to whether she was sane or not, but his manner seemed optimistic.

Still, she could really be mad and not know it?

No. That wasn't possible. Her husband's act was messing with her mind. Perhaps hoping that sending her here would make her actually go mad. At least then he'd have a reason to keep her locked away there.

Dinah looked around her, some of the patients frequenting the room where she sat. There were more women than men, but then again she supposed that it was easier for a woman to be branded mad.

That was just how society worked.

She noted one woman with red hair dancing across the room, no music playing if only in her mind. She moved with grace and in silence, ballet so Dinah recognised. She looked sane enough, from the outside at least. There was nothing to say that everyone here was like her, for all she knew they could attack anyone without hesitation.

Once the red head had stopped, Dinah watched her, "That was beautiful" She said as she went to walk past.

"Thank you". The woman replied and looked around, then turning back to her. "They put you in here too eh? They say you're mad?"

Dinah nodded. "My husband..."

The red head took the seat where Doctor Rogers had sat sometime before. "I'm Natasha"

"Dinah - what did they commit you here for?"

"Probably the same as you, hysteria". Nat shrugged and sighed. "Been here for a year and there's no sign of me getting out any time soon".

Dinah nodded. "Who put you in here? Apart from the doctors".

"My guardian - Mr Dreykov, all I did was fall in love and he didn't like my choice of man. He had me put away in here - whether they see you as sane or not? They won't let you out. I've been myself and yet somehow that makes me the mad one?"

"It will probably be the same in my case then". Dinah replied. "My husband had me sent here - all because he wanted our marriage over and not the embarrassment of me exposing his affair - now I am locked away from everyone..."

Nat shifted slightly. "Beware of the red room...it's a place where they take some of the women who they believe are harshly inflicted with hysteria..." She looked gravely at her.

Dinah didn't like how she said it. The tone of her voice spoke volumes, almost as though she were warning her.  "What happens there? Have you been there?" She now asked. 

There was a grave nod. "It's...I...I'm sorry, I can't..." Nat said and quickly got up, hurrying out of the room.

It was clear that Nat had visited the red room, even though she'd had no need to. She spoke and carried herself with all the elements of a sane woman, and yet she was imprisoned here still, perhaps by her guardian. Who knew?

Dinah made a note to find her later and apologise, she hadn't meant to pry or upset the woman. She needed all the friends that she could get, even if it was Natasha then she'd be thankful to at least have someone to spend her days with.  

Watching the empty doorway that the woman had exited through just moments before, Dinah's eyes scanned the room again, now seeing an older man watching her with a clipboard to hand, then studying it and coming over. 

"Mrs Walker". He now greeted her with a smile. "I've not yet had the pleasure. Thaddeus Ross - superintendent of this asylum. I believe you've already met with one of my doctors earlier?" 

"Doctor Rogers? Yes...although I would not call my being here a 'pleasure' sir - not for me at least. I'm not mad. I'm perfectly sane". 

Ross nodded and wrote something down. "Exactly what most say when they arrive here. You are no different Mrs Walker - but I shouldn't worry, we'll have you feeling better in no time". 

Somehow his words nor expression were convincing to her. Whether that was intended was unknown. If he was trying to scare her then he needed to try all the more harder. Perhaps he hoped to give off a silent threat to her - that these walls were now her prison, and that she should simply accept the 'madness' she apparently possessed. 

"Do we have visitors here?" She asked. 

Ross chuckled. "God no! This is not a hospital that is allowed any, purely for the safety of everyone. I'm sure you can understand that". 

"I see..." She said. "So how will my husband know I am getting better?" 

"We shall correspond with him as we see fit Mrs Walker. Leave us to worry about that, but you? You are unwell, hence why you were committed here - we have a duty of care to you, and we will ensure that we do our best to get you back to your old self". 

Dinah wanted to tell him there was no 'old self' she was her usual self, but no matter who she would tell, they would not believe her. Instead she nodded, accepting there was no way of leaving unless they deemed it so - and even then the future looked bleak. 

"Thank you" She simply smiled weakly, giving up on the fight once more. 

"Doctor Rogers will be overseeing your care while you are here, all meals are taken in your room, Breakfast at 8am, dinner at 1pm and supper at 6pm. Evening rounds commence at 7pm, lights out at 9pm. I trust we will not be cuffing you to your bed?" 

She shook her head. "I hope not". 

Ross said no more and jotted more things down, telling her that when the bell rung, it would be time to return to her room for dinner. 

All she could do was sit and watch the world go by, well, until she was to meet with her physician again. The more she thought about it, the more she could not anticipate whether Doctor Rogers would believe her or not. 

Only time would tell, and at Vormir? It seemed like it was to pass by very slowly.