One of many stories

Chapter 23

Steve got to SHIELD headquarters and his eyes searched for Natasha but no redhead was in sight. He had tried calling her cell but she didn't answer. He decided to run to Fury's office, he probably knew where she was. Nick Fury sat by his desk as Steve hurried into the room but tried to calm himself down. He didn't want Fury to ask any questions.
"Captain, I thought I gave you the day off." Nick said and Steve nodded.
"You did. I'm actually looking for Natasha. Is she back from her mission?" Steve asked and Nick looked at his watch.
"Actually, she got off work about one hour ago. She seemed very eager to get home actually." Nick said and Steve raised his eyebrows.
"Oh, sorry for bothering you then." Steve said, beginning to walk out of the room.
"In fact.." Nick said, making Steve turn around. "I think she was about to visit you." Nick continued and Steve nodded with a smile.
"Thanks." He said, feeling a bit frustrated. He needed to tell her now. She needed to know.
He was just about to walk out from SHIELDs as his phone started buzzing. He smiled, thinking it was Natasha. But as he answered he could hear Clint's voice in the other end.
"Cap, you need to get down to the hospital right now." He said and Steve frowned.
"What are you talking about? I'm busy." Steve said, walking fast towards his apartment.
"It's Natasha." Clint said and Steve stopped walking. "She's been in an accident." Clint continued and Steve dropped his phone to the ground as he began running to the hospital.

• • •

"You don't understand! Let me inside!" Steve shouted at a nurse that refused to let him into Natasha's room.
"Only family can enter, sir." The nurse said and Steve got even more frustrated.
"I am her family." He said as he got past the nurse and into Natasha's room. He stopped as soon as he entered the room, his eyes pierced at Natasha's body on the clean hospital bed. She had cuts and bruises all over her face and arms. That face that he had kissed the entire morning. Those arms that had been holding him tightly all night. Her right hand was covered in white plaster. She had needles and tubs stuck to her body and her eyes were shut close. She looked dead, but her chest moved up and down. She was breathing. She was alive.
Steve slowly walked towards her and realised Clint sat on a chair by her bedside.
"It's okay." Clint said to the stubborn nurse who walked out of the room.
Steve didn't take his eyes off Natasha. He grabbed a chair and sat down by her side, lightly touching her hand.
"The situation is critical, but I think she'll survive." Clint said, with his face hidden in his hands.
"Who did this?" Steve asked, feeling anger suddenly hit his body.
"No one did. It was an accident." Clint said. "A freaking car crash!" He said as he suddenly stood up and kicked his chair. "She can survive everything and then she goes and get hit by a freaking car?!" Clint burst out in anger. Steve was too angry to even do anything. He just sat there and held Natasha's soft, bruised hand.
"How did you find her?" Steve asked quietly.
"I didn't. They called me from the hospital. I'm her emergency contact." Clint said as he walked around in the room.
"Who drove that car?" Steve asked and Clint shook his head.
"It was a civilian. He.. It was an accident." Clint said again, closing his fists hard.
Steve took a deep breath. This was so much harder. He had no one to take it out on. This wasn't work related. This wasn't some villain that tried to take over the world. This was an ordinary man who accidentally ran over a woman with his car. This was fate. This was unfair.

"I need to clear my head." Clint suddenly said and left the room with heavy but fast steps. Steve sighed deeply and held Natasha's hand a little harder.
"Natasha." He said. "Natasha." He said again, feeling his voice crack a bit. He looked at her face but saw no sign of a reaction.
"Natasha, please." Steve said again. Her eyes remained shut. He bent down and kissed her hand five times. Her hand was ice cold, just like her arms. Her face didn't have any colour expect from the blood stains from the wounds. Nurses had done their best to wipe of the blood from her arms and face but traces of it still existed on her soft skin.
The door opened behind him and Steve turned around to look at the person entering.
"Mr. Rogers? I'm Dr. Davis." A doctor said as he entered, holding what looked like Natasha's medical records.
"Why isn't she waking up? Is it because of the drugs?" Steve asked, giving Dr. Davis a quick look before his eyes immediately went back to Natasha.
"Oh I thought.. Mr. Rogers. Miss Romanoff's condition was very severe. She have been through two surgeries and it sometimes have consequences.." Dr. Davis began.
"What kind of consequences?" Steve asked with a loud voice.
"I'm very sorry, but after the second surgery, Miss Romanoff went into a coma. We can not tell when or if she'll wake up but.."
Steve stopped listening. He closed his eyes shut as he squeezed Natasha's hand. It was as if he lost his hearing. Everything went quiet. Like after a bomb but without the ringing noise. Steve swallowed hard and began to whisper. "Natasha. Natasha, please." He repeated the words over and over again. Finally, he fell asleep.