5,000 Miles & Only One You

The Nightmare

Authors Note: This is Natashas nightmare, not something that's actually happening; until the break (which you'll see) that's post nightmare.

Natasha was running so fast that her legs burned. The burning sensation traveled from the bottoms of her feet all the way up into her thighs. Her muscles were shaking. Her heart was pounding. Sweat began to drip off of her face, into her eyes, down her neck, and down her back. Her hair was sticking to her face and her vision was blurred due to the sweat. Her lungs were burning like a raging forest fire. Her body wanted to give out and fall to the ground. She needed a break to breathe, but if she stopped she was going to be dead. "I need to find shelter. I need to catch my breath. I need...oh shit!" Natasha turned as she heard the sound of a gunshot.

She couldn't see where the shooter was, but she kept running. Natasha started to run in zigzags hoping she could lose the person, but she heard another shot and then pain. Natashas hand went to her right back thigh and she felt warmth and a throbbing pain. "No...no no no." Natasha pulled her hand back and she saw a dark red. With fear creeping up inside her, Natasha pushed herself to keep running, regardless of the pain she was feeling. Eventually she saw a big boulder and she ran to it. Slouching down to one side of it, Natasha tried to catch her breath, but it seemed nearly impossible as she was in pain. Tears began to fill her eyes and she bit her lower lip to keep herself quiet. "I need to wrap this. I have to. I need to wrap this so I can keep running. I'm going to die if I don't run. I have to figure this out. I need to fight for my life." Natasha looked down at her shirt and she decided to take it off. Her body froze due to the drop of temperature, but she'd rather freeze than bleed out. Wrapping the shirt around her thigh, she applied pressure to it and tied it tightly. With a groan in pain, Natasha stood up and looked around. No one was near and that made her worry.

As she began to walk through the wooded area, Natasha heard a snap of a branch and she quickly turned in its direction. "Who is there?" Natashas voice was stern yet shaky. No one answered. Natasha turned around again and began to walk once more. She needed to find shelter, a town, something. She needed to rest, but rest didn't seem to be in her cards. Another snap of a branch and Natasha began to run once again. Her feet hit the ground so hard that she could have sworn she was echoing in the woods. Finally, she saw a light, no it was a cabin. With relief, Natasha ran to it and tried to open the door. It was locked. Branches continued to snap. Natasha was certain this was how she was going to die. Looking around she found a stone and grabbed it. Throwing it into the door window, she reached in and unlocked the door. She made it in and whatever was chasing her was now gone.

With a heavy sigh, Natasha fell against the door and she closed her eyes briefly. She finally was safe, for now or at least she thought. The sound of footsteps coming down the stairs and Natashas eyes popped open. "Oh God, please be someone to help. Please..." Natasha waited silently and when the footsteps stopped, Natasha looked at the figure. "Please help me. I was being chased...I got shot. I didn't mean to break in, I just needed safety. Can you help me?" The figure stepped closer and Natasha could finally make out a face. It was a face she had come to love and adore. Steve. "Steve! Oh thank God it's you. Please help me." But Steve couldn't help because, before he could a gunshot was heard and blood splattered all over Natasha. "STEVE! NO!" Natasha looked up and she saw Sharon standing there with a devilish look on her face. "Sharon...oh God...no. Please don't."

Natasha watched Sharon walk to a chair and grab another person from it. She dragged the person in front of her and she smiled as she removed the bag from their head. Natasha looked at the person and gasped. "Carol...oh my God. Sharon, please don't. Please don't hurt her. No...no no no." Warm blood soon hit her face again and Natasha screamed. "Please, just kill me now! Please! Take me out of this misery!" Natasha felt tears stream down her cheek and she began to shake. "Please..." Natasha looked at Sharon and she then felt her hands grab her throat and she choked her. Feeling her airways being cut off, Natasha wanted to die right there. But she soon could breathe again and she felt Sharon drag her by her hair to the fireplace and her head hit the bricks. She knew she was done for at this point. Natasha opened her eyes and she saw Sharon standing above her with the gun in her face. "Do it, just do it!" 3...2...1

——————————

Natasha felt sweat stick to her face and she quickly woke up, screaming. "No! No! Steve! Steve!" Natasha turned and burrowed her face into Steves chest and cried. "She...she killed you...I...oh Steve." Natasha sobbed and she felt Steve hold her close. "Shhh, Natasha it's ok, she won't get you, I promise." Natasha still continued to sob until she remembered Sharon killed Carol too. "C-Carol. She...oh God, where's Carol. Steve...I want Carol." Natasha looked up at Steve and could barely make out his face, but the sound of his voice calling for Carol, made her calm down a bit.

Carol heard Steve calling for her and she made her way back upstairs, little did she expect she would see Natasha sobbing. "What happened?" Natasha turned to look at Carol and she sobbed more. "P-please..." Natasha held her arms out and Carol knew at that moment Natasha needed her. The feeling of Carols arms wrapping around her body, made Natasha instantly calm. "I-I need yo-you." Carol slowly moved against the headboard on the other side of bed and she silently held Natasha while she cried out. "Pretty girl, it's ok...I'm right here. Steve is right here. You are so so so safe." Her fingers once again played with her hair to help ease her from her fears.

Glancing at Steve, Carol shrugged and joked a bit. "Looks like a love triangle is forming." With a playful wink, Carol rolled her eyes as she saw Steve scowl. "I'm joking! I wouldn't steal her from you...no way." But Carol knew that was a lie because, deep inside she liked Natasha and she liked how Natasha made her feel.