Chemical Knitting ; Howard Stark [Original]

c h a p t e r ; 0 1 9

m a n y     m o n t h s     l a t e r

Waking up to a sudden noise of a nurse screeching was not ideal to Anneliese Lorenz, nor was a bomb explosion from an uncle. She could hear nurses and doctors scatter around the room and the machines at work, she started breathing heavy as her eyes opened. The light was bright, the room was white and all the nurses were in fright. 

Wanting to get up, she was forced to stay on the bed, she was refrained to a bed, she struggled until she saw a familiar face. A familiar face with a needle.

"It won't go in here skin! I have already tried" cried a nurse.

The familiar face forced all the nurses and doctors out of the room, shutting the curtains and the door. The familiar face got out her gun and aimed, she stopped and started searching through it to find a sharp edge. Tearing at her skin, Ana screeched in pain, she could see her blood leaking from her skin when the needle entered her system. Her hearing became better, she felt alive.

"Miss Lorenz, its me. Colleen, do you want to stand?"

The idea of standing only hours being in a collapsed building was jumping all over her head. They did not have the technology, they did not have the medicine. Nodding, Colleen helped her onto her feet, the sudden stretch of her feet was painful, but she got used to it after a minute standing. Why was everything healing so fast?

"After the building collapsed, Mr Stark sent out for me to use my 'healing abilities' but it did not work, i then managed with the help of Mr Stark created a small sample of my blood into a needle. Your skin was too tough so i used the vibranium of my gun - well sorry about that part, to get the needle in. You will be better in a hour or so."

Her skin was never tough, she got cut by paper so frequently that she stopped feeling the pain. Her skin being as tough as vibranium was news to her, she would definitely subject herself to find what and how that had happened. Then she remembered what got her into this mess, her screwed up family.

She had plans already for her cousin, aunt and uncle, and Johann just started a full on war, she thought 'screw family and screw you'. It was clear now that if her family choose to follow him, that they will be the downfall of their lives. They could of left, they were more than loaded in money to leave, but that did not.

The door opened to see Howard, hair messy, eyes bloodshot and tie undone. He was a complete mess.

"It worked!" 

"Yes, now remove yourself from the room. Miss Lorenz needs to get changed and then she can go, she has some dignity you know"

Howard looked disappointed that he could not spend time with Ana, while Ana was simply happy to know Colleen wouldn't send her outside in the hospital gown. Colleen worked professional when she helped Ana out of the dressing gown, she only stopped address her as 'Miss Lorenz' when she got out of the room. Colleen told her it was beneficial to keep moving her legs and arms to help heal the damaged organs and the loss of blood, it was also said that even if she choose not to move around it would heal her at a very slow and painful rate.

Thanking Colleen yet again with her choice of clothing, no heels, no skirt and no dress. She clutched onto Colleens arm, walking stiffly.

"What is the date" asked Ana, "What have i missed?"

"1944, March 3rd. Missed 6 months, nothing much but Mr Stark going all out crazy at the American Military."

Looking at Colleen, she opened the door and not only was Howard there but so was her friend Guinevere and her aunt and uncle - thankfully the one on her father's side. Smiling weakly at the three, she could start to here her aunt going crazy.

"i told you joining Stark Industrials was a mistake, now look at you" she cried, while shuffling over to hug her, "all dirty and stinky, give Aunty K a hug"

Kissing her cheek, she waited for her Aunt to stop hugging her and telling her off when her friend quickly giving her into a hug, Colleen had to pull her off because her skin might be tough but she was still weak. 

"Miss Rogers" Howard said, looking at him he had obviously made himself look presentable in front of her Aunt and Uncle and  Guinevere. "How is Miss Lorenz doing?"

"Good enough to work" Colleen responded.

"My niece is not going straight back to work!" cried her aunt, "not after i flew to Italy to make sure she is doing fine"

"She will be going back to America, New York City in the next month." Howard said.

Her Aunt said goodbye and her uncle gave a swift kiss on the cheek, while Guinevere was getting plane tickets off of Howard, telling him he would be no gentleman for sending her off with no tickets. With just Colleen and Howard in the hallway, Colleen helped her over to hug Howard.

"i've got so much to tell" he said.

"and i have a few confessions to tell"