Monsters Inside Us (Winter Soldier)

What's Next?

     Natasha walked through the hospital hallways, a drink holder with two cups in place. The aroma of coffee filled the air around her as she approached hospital room 712. She paused outside the room, noticing the sound of music playing. As she looked she noticed that Steve was still asleep and Sam was drawn into a book he had brought with him. She raised her hand, letting her knuckles hit the door frame. Sam looked up and greeted the woman with a smile.

      "Hope you like expresso," she said, holding up the drink holder.

      "I like anything that keeps me awake," he said, standing up to retrieve his cup. He looked her over.

      "Still rocking the business attire? They must be giving you hell," he said. This was the third day that Natasha had to report to court in defense for SHIELD. The government officials weren't happy about the situation but needed to be reminded about all the good SHIELD had provided. Natasha nodded to him, taking her blazer off and sitting it on the chair.

      "You have no idea," she said, "you'd think they were Steve with how stubborn they are." Sam laughed at this. Steve definitely was stubborn when it came to something he was passionate about. Natasha sat in the chair and took a sip of her coffee.

      "Any word on Jess," asked Sam, hopeful that they had found something about her whereabouts. Natasha sighed.

      "No," she answered, "We haven't found her anywhere on radar nor has any agent spotted her. The last any agent has seen her was on the flight deck of the helicarriers before it crashed into the water...We're dispatching divers to hopefully recover her body." Sam sighed, shaking his head at the thought of Jess' body lying somewhere under the water. They were brought out of silence at the noise of stirring, they're eyes falling onto Steve. His he's fluttered open, squinting at the sun shining through the window. He turned his head and smiled at the sight of the two friends by him.

      "On your left," he muttered. Sam shook his head with a laugh while Natasha let a smile come through.

      "You look...horrible," said Sam cracking a smile. Steve returned it, happy to have a friend like him. Steve's mind drifted off to previous events that had happened. SHIELD, Bucky, Jess, the crash...Jess.

      "Where's Jess," he asked, his eyes scanning the room for any evidence of her being there. The two looked between each other.

      "Where is she," he asked, his tone growing more stern. Natasha sighed before meeting Steve's gaze.

      "Steve," she started, a sigh escaping her, "We haven't found her."

      "Haven't found her," he asked. His memories went back to the fight. He remembered Jess calling over the radio about Bucky heading his way. Her breath was shaky and exhaustion dripped with every word she spoke.

      Steve looked at them, "What happened to her?"

      "Nothing is set in stone," said Sam, "But the last anyone saw of her was her body on the carrier before it went down." Steve nodded, remembering the helicarriers going down and the sensation of someone pulling him from the water...but no one pulled her from the water.

      "Steve," started Natasha but Steve beat her to the chase.

      "She died because of me," he said.

     "No," said Natasha, "We haven't found a body so we aren't for certain that she died."

      "Then where is she," asked Steve. He got no answer.