When You Saved Me

Chapter 25

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Thanks again and I hope you enjoy this next chapter!

Tony P.O.V

Thor is pulling himself out of the crater that Hulk slammed him into and I have half a mind to throw him back in there but I'll have to worry about that later. Right now my main concern is finding Callie, before the Hulk does.

I summon my suit and as its attaching itself to my body I start giving orders, "Cap, I'm going to fly up and try to see where she landed." I say lifting slightly off the ground, "Natasha, we are going to need your help bringing the big guy down so when I find him I'll call back in. And Thor..." I can't think of anything to say so I just lift my arm and blast him, sending him back into the pit that he'd just pulled himself out of. 

I place my arm back down to my side and propel myself up, soaring into the sky to arch over the woods that Callie had been catapulted in to.  My stomach is twisted into knots as I'm scanning the trees below me; and I can feel my chest tightening, making it difficult to breathe as I can't see any disturbances in the branches that would indicate Callie's location.

"Sir, you are veering off course." Jarvis' robotic voice echoes into my head set. 

"Right I just..." I struggle to get the words out, my anxiety is peeking and I'm finding it difficult to control it. 

"I advise you land, you are experiencing symptoms of an anxiety attack." 

"Fuck! Yeah Jarvis, I know." I say with mild hostility. My chest tightens significantly more and my vision goes blurry.

"I need to find her." I manage to whisper after a moment. 

Just then Cap radios in, his voice filling my helmet.
"Hey Tony, see anything?"

"No," I respond, clearing my throat, trying to rid the evidence of my emotional crisis. "I'm going go come back down, we may need to start on foot." I say, turning around and heading back towards the facility.

After I hear the click of Cap signing off I take a shaky breath in, and hold it for a moment before releasing. I repeat this process a few times more until I feel myself calming down.
"We're going to find her." I assure myself before joining my companions on the ground.
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Callie P.O.V

It's been what feels like hours and I haven't moved from my position against the tree. Everything feels cold and I can feel myself beginning to shut down; my eyes become heavy and I'm finding it difficult to keep them open.

A loud crashing sound pulls me from my slumber and I force my heavy eye lids to open. But what I see crashing through the trees towards me has me convinced that I must be hallucinating. It's a huge green man thundering through the forest, he is even bigger than the Purple Man; but his face is familiar though I can't remember where I've seen it before.

The creature looks around erratically, emitting a rage that both fascinates and terrifies me. When his eyes finally find mine a look of relief washes over his angry face and he steps towards me with an outstretched arm, "the baby." He mutters.

In a regular situation I'd probably try and escape, but since I can't move anyways, I'm banking on this being a hallucination--so I reach my own hand out to meet his. He kneels down and places his palm flat into mine, the difference in size is almost comical. My hand is about as long as his thumb and nearly as wide, his skin against mine is coarse and leathery, and it is indeed a deep olive green. His heavy brow softens as he moves his hand from mine, wraps it around me and lifts me into his arms, causing me to cry out in pain.

He quickly places me back on the ground angrily shaking his head and letting out a groan. I widen my eyes in fright, suddenly realizing that this is definitely not a hallucination.
For a moment we just stare at one another, I in the frightened confusion that only comes from realizing that creatures like this exist, and he with his brow knit in concern.
The big green man finally breaks our staring game, lifting his hand to rub his face in frustration, and that's when it hits me. I don't just recognize this face, I KNOW it. The features are bigger, and angrier, but those are Bruce Banner's eyes.

"Uncle Bruce?" I whisper through the lump in my throat.

"No Banner, only Hulk!" The creature raises his voice angrily.

"I want Uncle Bruce!" I sob, tears making silent tracks down my cheeks.

"No, Hulk!" He says again, this time a little louder but there is a hint of hurt to his tone that give me the impression I've offended him.

"I don't want Hulk," I say, the tears flowing freely now. "I want Uncle Bruce," I cry my voice hitching as I try to talk through my sobbing.

Hulk takes a step back and roars in anger, pounding his chest as he does so. I cover my ears and close my eyes to block out the creature. I feel bad for hurting his feelings, but I don't think he's what I need right now. I'm surprised by my own emotion though, I usually keep it together fairly well. But everything that has happened seems to overwhelm me in this one moment and I can't control it any more.

I don't know how long I cry for but I'm startled back in to reality by a hand grasping my shoulder,
"Hey, hey Callie it's okay, it's me."

I open my eyes to see I'm face to face with my Uncle, who is looking much more himself. He's breathing heavily and he is completely naked, save for the large piece of fabric he is clutching to his bottom half. I wipe my eyes aggressively, embarrassed that he's seen me lose control that way.

"Are you okay? He... the, the other guy, he didn't hurt you did he?" Bruce's face is filled with not only worry but shame as well, I guess this Hulk isn't something he is incredibly proud of.

"No, he didn't hurt me," I sniffle, "but I am hurt."

He nods backing up to look at me, and shifting the tattered fabric that is keeping him decent so he can sit down cross-legged. "Sorry," he says smiling sheepishly, "the big guy doesn't fit my clothes."

I shrug and look away as Uncle Bruce begins examining my injuries.

"Okay, so really you should be more hurt than you actually are so I'd say you'll be fine. But you are definitely going to need some casts and stitching." He explains professionally. Then he stands, tying the Hulk-tattered pants around his waist, then he grimaces apologetically, "sorry, I'm sure it feels like you just got all healed up." He says as he leans over to gently lift me into his arms.

I yelp in pain but wrap my arm around his neck anyways, "yeah, but at least this time it was kind of funny." I say smiling through the pain.

Bruce just laughs in disbelief, "funny... yeah sure." He shakes his head and begins walking out of the forest with me in his arms.