Why me?

The Grief

"Jess I'm sorry, what do you need me to do?" I asked carefully.

"I'm OK, honestly, I just need some time to myself, a shower and some clean clothes. Could you take me back to Annie's place so I can pack some stuff up and – Wait, I can stay here, right?" Tony answered, coming to sit next to her and putting an arm over her shoulder. She surprised me by actually leaning into his embrace; she'd never really developed a bond with Tony, though I supposed at this point, she would take comfort from anyone willing to offer it.

"Of course. There are a few spare rooms upstairs, or there are some downstairs next to the lab. Your choice." He proposed.

"Thanks Tony." She said, wiping a tear from under her eye,

"I'll take you back to Annie's. Are you ready to go now?" Bucky said from where he was stood behind the couch. His sudden entrance into the conversation made Jess jump.

"For god's sakes Bucky! Announce your presence before you start speaking. Is there anyone else in the room I should know about?" She joked, pulling out of Tony's grip, turning around on the couch and scanning the kitchen. She saw that Bruce, Clint, Peter, Nat and Pepper were there, then turned back to Bucky. "Ok, let's go." She stood up and went over to the door.

She returned a few hours later with a few bags, a suitcase and a backpack. "I'll take one of the rooms upstairs, Tony. Thank you again."

"No problem, kid."

She never left her room that day, but I checked in on her a couple times. When I walked in around an hour after dinner, she wasn't sat on her bed where she had been all day, but her bathroom light was on. "Jess?"

"I'm in here Ste-" she cut herself off as she threw up. I ran through to her.

"What happened? Was there something wrong with the food?" I asked, panicked.

"No, no, the food was fine." She groaned, sitting back a little, but not settling fully. "It's just grief. The same thing happened after The Brooklyn Wreck. I'm just currently incapable of keeping anything down at the moment and for the next few days. Honestly, don't worry about me."

"Jess, in your current state, I don't think I'm capable of not worrying about you." I pinched the top of my nose and wincing as she threw up again. "Jesus Christ, Jess. You're gonna be the death of me. JARVIS get Bucky in here will you?" I'd never been good at dealing with anyone when they're sick.

"Of course, Mr Rogers."