Heartbeat (Natasha x Wanda + One)

Ten

Coma.

The word echos in my head. I almost hadn't believed the nurse when she'd told me, not until I had seen Ash myself. Tubes and wires connected them to machines and the lights buzz overhead. Going to the bed, I stifle a sob as I look at Ash. Their lip is busted, half of their face is cut up and their left eye is swollen shut. All I want to do is hold them and never let go, but the most I can do is just hold their hand. And get them the best care possible.

Starting with a private room.

After Ash is situated in the best room money can buy, the doctor comes in to talk. "I understand this is a very difficult time," he starts. "But I'm afraid I have some questions that need answered."

He looks unsure of who he should be speaking to so I stand from my chair, "what kind of questions?"

He looks down at his file briefly, "it says here that Alice Mayhan was beaten by her foster father, is that correct?"

"No," I tell him, my anger boiling again.

"No?" He asks uncertainly as he checks his notes again.

"Their name is Ash," I seethed. "I told the nurse this and watched her write it down. So it must be in your little chart there. I highly suggest that you use their correct name and pronouns. Now, as for your question, Ash has been abused by their foster father for years."

"Uh right, yes sorry, I see it now." He clears his throat and continues, "do you happen to know his name and how we can get ahold of him?"

"His name is Gerald Branson and no, I don't have any of his information. Even if I did, why would I give it to you? So that you could call him to make medical decisions for Ash when it was him who put Ash in the hospital?" My voice got louder as I spoke and the poor man clearly didn't know what to do.

Natasha stands up and pushes me down into a chair, "easy tiger mom," she says gently. "He's just doing his job, I'll handle the rest of the questions."

Natasha takes the doctor outside, leaving me alone with Ash. She was back in a few minutes followed by Wanda and Allie. When Allie saw Ash, she crawled into my lap and cried until she couldn't anymore. We sat there together, the four of us, nobody knowing what to say or do.

I'm not sure when I started rocking Allie and singing the moon song over and over until my voice cracked. Wanda and Natasha stayed too. I'd told them hours ago that they could leave, but they'd refused. Occasionally they ask if I need anything, but my mind and body was so numb all I could do was shake my head.

It could have been hours or days later when the door slides open and the smell of alcohol fills the room. I know immediately who it is. I motion to Natasha, "take Allie."

She picks Allie up and Wanda opens her arms, cradling Allie gently. I turn to face the sloppy drunk man who was standing in the doorway. When he tried to take a step inside, I pushed him back out into the hallway. He stumbles slightly before rounding on me. "What the hell bitch?"

"You have a lot of nerve showing up here," I half yell.

"Hospital called me. Told me they had the kid and to come fill out paperwork," he slurs. "Don't know how they expect me to pay for that room, I'm not made of money," he grunts.

"Im paying for the room. I'm paying for everything because Ash deserves the best for once in their life," I say, stepping closer to him. Or I tried to at least. A hand on my arm stops me and I look at Natasha who was shaking her head slightly. I hadn't even realized that she had followed me, or that my hands were clenched in fists. It probably did look like I was going to hit the man. Taking a breath I manage to say civilly, "you need to leave and never come back. Forget about Ash. They deserve better than you."

The man glared at me, his eyes cloudy with drunkenness. "You can't tell me what to do bitch."

"Do you have any idea who I am?" I ask him coldly. "Any idea who's child you put your disgusting hands on?"

"A no good dykes," he laughs.

I take a step towards him, "look around, my names on every wall. Maybe it'll come to you."

He glanced at the neon STARK on the wall and I watch as his face pales. "You- you can't be. All the Starks are gone."

Shaking my head I tell him, "not all of them."

"Look... I only pushed your kid out of the way. The other one isn't your concern," he says as he backs away.

"Again you'd be wrong. Both of them are mine, and from this moment forward, you will never see Ash again and I will make sure that you never get another child," I tell him with deadly calm.

"You can't do that," he says, his voice shaking slightly.

I take a step towards him, "the name Stark still has a lot of pull in this town, and if you don't want to face the full wrath of the Stark name, you should leave. Right now and never show your face to me or mine ever again."

He looked like he wanted to argue until Natasha stepped forward, her gun clearly visible in its holster, "you should also know that I've been hired as Ash's personal bodyguard and I have been instructed to protect them using whatever means necessary."

He looks between Natasha, her gun and me and finally mutters, "screw this," before stumbling his way back to the elevator.

Once he's gone Natasha turns to me, "so what now?"

"Now," I sigh, "we wait."