Asylum (Steve Rogers AU) 18+

8

The screaming is what woke her at first. So loudly that Dinah thought it was her who was the one to be making such a sound, but instead it was coming from down the hall. She rose from her bed, darkness outside indicating that it was indeed the middle of the night, before padding over to the door and pressing her ear to it.

"Miss Maximoff! Contain yourself! You don't want to be making a trip to the Red Room now do you?" The voice of the matron sounded. There was muffled talk before she heard Superintendent Ross now give another order.

"She is a lost cause nurse, I have been saying this for months now! The isolation unit did her no favours, instead they simply enhanced her madness even more - take her".

Dinah's heart sank for the woman she had never met, but what made her feel even more sick was the voice that followed Ross's. Doctor Rogers. "I'll oversee her treatment there myself, and will report back once it is complete".

On this, Dinah pulled away from the door, the sound of the commotion echoing down the halls before it finally disappeared, along with 'Miss Maximoff'. Only then did she realise that she was shaking. She'd have hoped that Doctor Rogers would have been different in comparison to the others. But instead he also believed in these methods - and now if Miss Maximoff had gone to the Red Room then the outcome would probably be anything but good.

A tear slid down her cheek, before she returned to her bed and pulled the sheets over her. Sleep did not return until dawn, and even then an hour or so later, the nurse came in to wake her. "You look pale, Mrs Walker? Are you sickening for something?" The nurse now pressed the back of her hand to Dinah's forehead.

Death hopefully, but even that wouldn't be as kind enough as to happen to her. No, she would either be here forever, or would end up in the Red Room.

"I didn't sleep very well". She admitted.

"Ah, yes...we're sorry that Miss Maximoff was so disruptive last night. Poor dear needed some support".

Dinah swallowed. "And how is she feeling this morning? I thought I might sit with her if she was up to having company?"

The nurse's face changed on this. "Oh...well...unfortunately after her little breakdown, Miss Maximoff did not respond well to her treatment - she passed just shortly before dawn".

Dinah's stomach turned, but she managed to not be sick on hearing the news. "I see...that is most unfortunate. How long was she here for?"

"A year, such a shame too because she had been doing so well up until recently. However with some treatments, that can happen". Her look told Dinah everything. Don't end up being sent to the Red Room like the other unfortunates before her had.

But Natasha had come back? She said some people came back, however what she had seen and been through was most likely horrifying. "Would I be able to sleep some more? My head and eyes are hurting from the tiredness".

"I'll have Doctor Rogers come and see you, perhaps some caster oil may do the trick". The nurse replied and headed out, locking the door in the process. She needn't have worried though, because Dinah felt too tired to bother to cause a fuss.

The door eventually unlocked again and opened, closing slowly with the familiar steps of Doctor Rogers crossing the hardwood floor. "Dinah? The nurse told me that you are unwell today?" He couldn't see her face as she had her back to him while lying in bed. Instead he rounded the bed, now crouching down on the side she was facing.

"I am just tired. There's no need for medicine".

He now did the same as the nurse had done, feeling her head with the back of his hand before gesturing for her to roll on her back. "Let me take your pulse. You look a little pale". Taking her arm, he felt for her pulse and timed it, nodding to himself. "That all seems fine. Perhaps rest for today, I'll have the nurse bring you some breakfast if you're feeling well enough to eat".

"Not particularly".

He paused for a moment. "I've seen this before. I know you must be homesick, but I can tell you now that we'll do our best to ensure you don't feel it for much longer". He made a few notes on his pad. "Our session is scheduled for tomorrow morning - and your pelvic massage for the afternoon. But for now, I have an idea of what could help other than just that or talking. I'll be back tonight for evening rounds and we can discuss it then".

She nodded, just staring at the ceiling and trying not to think of Miss Maximoff's fate. This man was part of it. How on earth could she possibly trust him now?

Without another word, Steve walked out of the room and back to his office, sitting at his desk and sighing heavily. Dinah had quite possibly heard what had gone on last night, it hadn't been hard to. She'd been reluctant to speak to him, or even look at him. He had a way to make things earlier for her though. Lately she had become a little withdrawn, showing signs that she was homesick. Sometimes she would say very little in their session where they would talk about how she felt. Of course the only sounds she made during pelvic massage were small moans that were like music to his ears. She responded better during those, and it was proving beneficial. However Steve had become aware as of recent that it was beginning to affect him in some way too - and it made him begin to question his place.

That evening he headed back to Dinah's room. She was sat in her chair by the fireplace, having slept to her room all day. Steve took the chair opposite and smiled. "Now...I have something that may be useful to our talking sessions, and to you in general". He passed her a book. "I want you to write in this everyday. What you're feeling. Good or bad. I'm not here to judge or use it against you. If anything, it may help me to understand what more I can do for you".

"Do I write directly to you?"

"If you want? Whatever is most comfortable for you. This is for your eyes and mine only, ok? No one else will read it, but if you want to keep it in a safe place in this room then you can do that too". No one would question the journal if it was for the purposes of treatment. Not even Ross. He would simply see it as the drivel of a mad woman.

Dinah looked at the book and then to him. "Then I shall start tonight. Thank you Doctor".