Better Love || A Bucky Barnes Fanfiction

- Medicine -

They had been sitting at the table when they heard it. The scream. One moment Steve and Delilah were talking with one another, Natasha listening silently as the older woman explained Thomas' significance in Elena's life, the next they were all running towards the source of the sound.

It had come from Elena's room. The sound of it rose and fell, a shriek of high octave cutting through the building. It was loud enough for the rest of their team to emerge from wherever it was they had been before, with Bruce, Rhodey, and the raccoon known as Rocket coming to investigate too. Even Thor had left his place of silent mourning and simmering anger, eyebrows furrowed. It was still coming when they all reached the door, Steve kicking it down without hesitation. There was no time for politeness, he thought, not when Elena was making such a horrific noise it was as if she were being murdered. 

It was like an imaginary figure was using Elena like a rag doll, shaking her across the floor and making her limbs flail wildly. There was a deep groan, a sharp gasp, and then she let out another scream, back arched. Steve was by her side in an instant, Natasha following quickly on his heels while Delilah stood beside Rhodey and Bruce. The old woman was staring with wide eyes at the scene before her, mouth open wide with shock, and when Elena let out another cry of agony, Delilah began to cry.

"What's wrong with her?!" she sobbed, taking a step closer before stopping, her shoulders shaking intensely as Elena let out another shriek. Steve couldn't answer her at first, hands grabbing at Elena's arms and trying to pin them to the ground. She was thrashing around too much, though, attempting to fight him off. There were times when she was almost able to do exactly that. With a frown Steve threw a leg over her torso, straddling her in an effort to stop herself from almost breaking her back with each painful scream. As Natasha struggled to pin her legs down, Rhodey and Rocket now coming to help as well, Bruce walked past the scene. With a frown he picked up an object that the others hadn't noticed at first, too preoccupied with Elena. With wide eyes he held it up, calling Steve's name. Looking over he froze, eyes narrowed as he took it in. The syringe was like a gun, the needle's end glistening with a mixture of liquid and Elena's blood. When he looked at the vial inside it, he saw that it was empty, dark purple streaks running down the insides. Feeling his face grow pale with fear he looked down at Elena who only shook her head, eyes wide and bloodshot.

"Elena?!" he gasped, and he could feel the tears beginning to sting his eyes. "What have you done?!"

"Get her to the med bay!" Bruce shouted. Only Steve and Thor could drag her out of the room without worry of her arms escaping their hold and smacking them in the face. When they dragged her into the new room they lay her down on a table. "Strap her down!"

They did as he asked, watching as she struggled against the restraints. Steve watched as Elena tugged on them so hard it left hot red marks against her skin, digging deep against her wrist. From the doorway Delilah cried out.

"What's wrong with her?! What's wrong with my baby?!"

"She's injected herself with something," Bruce said quickly, ruffling through the cabinets as the others watched, switching their attention between him and Elena's cries.

"With what?" Rhodey asked, wincing when Elena let out a particularly shocking scream. Beside him Rocket frowned, the raccon's whiskers twitching nervously.

"Whatever it was, it doesn't sound good."

"Get an IV," Bruce ordered, pulling out another syringe and vial and going over to Elena. Before anyone could ask he pressed the needle into her skin and let the fluid flow into her body. 

"What is that?" Delilah asked nervously, eyes fixated on Elena. 

"Ketamine," Bruce said softly, pulling the syringe out and letting it fall on the tray beside him. While it didn't make Elena relax fully - she still shuffled around the table and let out unconcious whimpers and moans of pain - it took away the worst of the thrashing that had begun to rub raw her wrists and ankles. With a sigh Bruce stepped away, looking at the syringe Elena had used that was sitting on the countertop nearest the door as Natasha approached him, IV in hand. With a murmured "Thanks," he hung it off a pole before sliding the needle into her hand, taping it down.