Impossible Redemption (Resilience Book 2) (Avengers Fan-fic) [COMPLETED]

Chapter 20

Here we go! This is the big one! Are you ready?

Picture on the side, while not my best work, is Sam after the explosion.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sam

Beep-beep. Beep-beep. Beep-beep.

I groaned and took a deep, painful breath, only to end up having a coughing fit. A burning pain arced through my chest, stemming from my side. I was tired, too tired, even though I had only just woken up. Deep-seated fear flared through my mind, burning through my blood. I shouldn’t be this tired when just waking up. I opened my eyes, and calmed down somewhat to find myself in the familiar surroundings of a SHIELD recovery room.

I blinked furiously, my eyes adjusting to the bright light, and saw that I was hooked up to an IV and a heart monitor. I closed my eyes, trying to remember. I got nothing but black, and the sound of my still-erratic heartbeat, singing out from the monitor by my head. I took a few deep breaths, calming myself, until everything crashed back to me in a wave of swirling memories and emotions. Lexi and Johnny were in trouble, and SHIELD had no idea what they were walking into. I was the only one who could stop them from walking into this trap, because I was the only one who knew.

With difficulty, and fighting to breathe, I disconnected the heart monitor, and unplugged it. I also disconnected the IV, before throwing on a grey t-shirt and black jeans I found by the bed. Holding onto the bed with a vice-like grip, I swung my legs over the side, and stood up, only to crumple to the ground. I pulled myself up as I heard frantic nurses running about outside the door. As I stumbled towards it, they burst in, their hand’s up, like I would hurt them.

‘Agent Clarke...’ one began speaking carefully, fear in his eyes, though I couldn’t figure out why. I had to get to the control room before they did something stupid. They were trying to stop me, which was understandable, but what happened next confused me. Two guards followed them in, their guns raised, cocked and loaded. I scoffed and rolled my eyes, annoyed. Since when was a half-dead person a threat? Since when was I a threat?

‘Guys! Seriously?’ I asked, my voice raspy and hoarse. ‘I have to talk to Director Fury, now, before he does something stupid.’ I told them, frustrated, and feeling my strength draining. The nurses backed away, and the guards cocked their guns warily. I frowned at them, confused. Did I become a threat while I was unconscious?

I swallowed dryly, and took a deep breath, assessing the situation, before, regretfully, gathering my strength and sending a wall of energy towards them, knocking them back. I scrambled forward, and out the door, looking at them as I did. They called out to me as I scrambled, with difficulty, down the hall and to the elevator as black spots began dancing across my vision. But I had to get to Fury. I had to warn them.

‘Sorry!’ I called over my shoulder, sounding like a smoker who ploughed through a hundred cigarettes a day. I fell into the elevator, barely staying on my feet, and pressed the button for the control floor. The doors closed just as the guards got to their feet and began running towards the elevator, calling out to me.

As the elevator began moving up, I slumped against the wall, pain tearing through my body. What was wrong with me? I had been in explosions before, some much bigger and worse than that, and they had never left me like this; weak, quivering, helpless. It may not be how I seemed to others, but it was how I felt. I felt unsettled, out of control, like I needed a long stint in an army barracks to get me back on-track.

I gritted my teeth and stood with difficulty as the elevator doors opened, and I found myself surrounded by SHIELD agents with their guns raised. I rolled my eyes, tired of being treated like a threat. Agent Maria Hill stepped forward, her face stoic, but her eyes soft.