Captain America: The First Avenger

Chapter 11

The body pain and soreness brought me into consciousness. My eyes flickered as I tried to open them. I took a deep breathe to relax myself and sat up straight up only to feel more pain. I should seriously stop getting these episodes of waking up with brutal pain or with an injury. It is becoming a pattern now. Ugh. 

A nurse walked in and realizing that I was awake now had informed me she was going to get a doctor to check up on me. In less than a minute, I see a group of people come running in with a worried look. The doctor came in first, then Steve followed by my brother and Bucky. Lastly, the same nurse walked in with syringes and charts. 

"Hello Miss Stark, how are you feeling now?" the doctor asked as he continued to wear his gloves. 

"I am fine. Just a little of pain and soreness." I replied faintly. 

"Yes I understand. You had a broken rib and an internal bleeding. I can't believe you had endured all those immense pain for a very long time. Don't worry. We have it all fixed but you will need to be on bed rest until everything gets better." he said and walked away after doing a couple of checks with my pupils, pressure, temperature and my wound. 

He then nodded and headed out. Meanwhile, the nurse shyly gave me an injection probably intimidated by the three handsome guys who stood in front of us. As soon as she left the room, Steve rushed to my side worriedly sitting on my bed. "Hey, how are you?" 

"I am fine Steve." I replied with a dry throat. 

"You had us all worried. Don't scare me like that." My brother said as he kissed on the side of my forehead. 

"I didn't want you all to be so worried." 

"Well, it sure didn't turn out that way." Bucky replied. 

I smiled at him acknowledging his concern for me. 

We all looked at each other silently not wanting to say anything. 

"Well, I think we should give you two some space." My brother said as he motioned Bucky to do the same. 

I looked at Steve who still had a worried look and we sat there in silence for sometime until he broke the tension. "I thought I lost you." 

I held his hand with mine and chose to remain silent. 

"I am so sorry Teresa. I failed to protect you. I should have done better. I should have been more alert when I saw you didn't look fine. If only, I wasn't acting stupid nothing would have happened to you. I thought the bullet hit you. This is all my fault." Steve apologized with so much regret and disappointment. 

It broke my heart to see him so deflated. "It is not your fault Steve. It was an accident. I should have asked for the medic immediately. So don't blame yourself. " I placed my hand on his cheek and softly stroking against his skin with my thumb. 

He placed his hand on mine and smiled sadly. "I like you. I really like you Teresa. If something would have happened to you.. I don't... " he sighed heavily and looked down. "I don't think I would ever forgive myself." he confessed as he looked right into my eyes. 

O.M.G. Is this real? Or am I dreaming? I am hyperventilating mentally. 

I was speechless not knowing how to react. His face looked so sad at this moment. We continued our eye contact as I scanned his face. 

"Say something. Please?" he asked nervously. 

I felt so stupid that I could not speak anything. I was flabbergasted!