Red Winter: Timeline

Chapter Forty-One: Pain and Fear

Sometime in the night Bucky finally opened his eyes. Though the room was dim, he could tell there was someone beside him. As his eyes drifted down he saw Wanda asleep, her head resting on the bed as she leaned over near his waist. Surrounding her eyes was irritation and puffiness, Bucky lifted his hand to touch her arm, with a gentle swipe he got her attention. Wanda's eyes fluttered open, once she focused on him, she sat up and stood, leaning over him, "You're awake." She placed her hand on his cheek, "How are you feeling?"

"Tired, but better." He shook his head, "I couldn't get to him...I couldn't...
 Bucky shook his head, Wanda leaned down so their foreheads were touching.

"I know," Wanda nodded, "but Sam is tough. He will be ok."

Bucky shook his head, "I don't think he will." Wanda leaned back slightly and looked confused, "We...we weren't suppose to time travel again...we..." Bucky looked at Wanda, she was holding her stomach as he spoke, "...we weren't suppose to."

Wanda took a deep breath, "We will get Sam. We won't leave him behind."

Bucky's eyes drifted up to her face again, "Have you been crying?" He could tell something was off, something behind her eyes was stirring.

Wanda sniffed a bit, she grabbed the chair she had been sitting in and pulled it closer so she could sit near his head. Bucky sat up and watched her, nerves flaring, "I-I didn't know." She looked down, "I didn't know."

Two Days Ago

As they were on their knees watching where their team mates had disappeared Wanda felt a sting in her gut, she yelped in pain and hunched over more. Rouge looked over in horror as Wanda yelled out in pain again, the mutant that was holding her down let her go and Wanda fell to the floor. Before anyone could say or do anything, there was a large boom in the hall. Everyone turned to see the doors blast open and Rescue entered the room, immediately shooting at any attackers. When they were free, they fought off who attacked while others fled. Rouge crawled to Wanda the moment she was free, her gloved hand grabbing Wanda's head and pulling it to her lap, "Wanda...Wanda!"

Back at the school Wanda was laying on a bed in the medical wing, Rouge sitting beside her as Hank looked at Bruce to begin since he knew her. "Wanda...are you aware you were pregnant?" Wanda's eyes widened, she looked down at the end of the bed and took a deep breath, slowly shaking her head. Although she had been nauseous a bit and tired, she only attested that to the long training days. "Was there any...strain to your stomach?" Wanda remembered how hard Mystique had hit her stomach, she nodded, Hank nodded with a sad face, "Wanda you're having a miscarriage." Wanda's eyes filled with tears, "You need to pass the...the..."

"Fetus." Hank answered.

"Right." Bruce sighed gently, feeling helpless, "I need you to take some meds...to help pass it. Otherwise, you'll get sick. You could die."

Wanda felt her heart break, her stomach sink, and her throat burn. Rouge's gloved hand squeezed hers, "When?" Rouge spoke up.

"Today." Hank replied, "It's um..."

They explained the process to Wanda, how painful it could be. Bruce let Hank take over as he had more medical experience than himself. When they discovered what was happening, Hank contacted a friend at the local hospital, who explained everything and sent over the medication. That night Wanda sat in the shower with Rouge at her side and cried in pain and sadness. It was horrifying and scary and took so much out of her. When it was all over Rouge cleaned her up and lied in bed with her until she fell asleep. If they didn't have a bond before, they certainly did now.

Wanda looked up at Bucky, tears streaming down her face. Bucky was horrified, Strange was right all along and fear began to flood his mind. "Come here." Bucky held out his arm. Wanda got into the bed and Bucky held her as she cried, he took a deep breath in an attempt to keep his own tears only, only there was no amount of strength in any soldier that could stop them from crying, so the tears came.