For the Love of a Patriot || 𝗖𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮 ✔️ [#wattys 2018]

7 | Double Two

Therapy. That was all I could think of as I kept my cheek pressed against Steve's back. We'd been on that bike for what seemed like hours. Neither of us had said one word. After what had just happened, I felt like I was slowly and surely losing my shit.

I was just all of a sudden bequeathed with powers to understand any language known to man and then some,

I was nearly kidnapped by an oversized beef basket who seemed invulnerable,

I was saved by a guy who I had only met this morning,

And worst of all, it had to be raining now, of all the times it could have today, and my hair was getting wet. Fanfuckingtastic.

My breath slowed as I tried to calm myself down. It felt like I couldn't function. Physically and mentally.

I felt the bike lurch forward and come to a stop. As a result of the sudden motion, I let out a quiet cry from the pain rippling through my chest and waist. My grip on Steve loosened as he stood. I looked up at the building we arrived at.

"Oh damn..." I muttered as I brought my leg over the seat of the cycle.

SHIELD. Figures.

I felt myself being lifted up bridal style and I flinched in his arms. "What are you doing?" I shivered, now realizing I was drenched in rain and soaking wet.

He didn't answer me as he began carrying me into the facility. "I think I'm capable of walking on my own..." I said slightly squeezing his shoulder and looking down at the ground.

"Two of your ribs are broken." He responded, adjusting his grip so I wouldn't fall, but I was hanging on to the fact that I broke my ribs.

I was pretty much unable to say much else besides giving a squeakish "oh".

We entered the large building and I looked up. The place was something hollow. Tall and showing every floor above.

"We're going to get you checked out." He said as we made our way to the elevator.

When the elevator opened we--he stepped in. There were only two other people in there, but they just looked at us like this was a usual thing. It probably was.

The elevator started going up and I slightly jumped. Being in an elevator was one thing, and it wasn't my most favorite thing in the world, so being in an elevator while being held was a definite no-no for me. "Steve, can you put me down?" I said quietly, trying hard not interrupt the casual silence of our little elevator quartet.

He glanced down at me and I gave a small cheesy smile. "Please?"

The elevator gave a ding and by what I could tell by Steve taking a slight step forward, it was our stop.

When he stepped out he set me down but made me hold my arms in a specific place so I wouldn't cause further damage. He led me into a white room that looked somewhat like a more advanced infirmary with people wearing scrubs walking around all over the place.

I felt like a timid child walking behind their parent in an unfamiliar place. I nearly bumped into him when he stopped.

"Dr. Yang, this is Rachel. The 07." He was speaking to an Asian woman who was wearing a white coat. She looked like the head of the place.

She looked at me and I gave a small wave.

She looked back up at Steve. "You pursued the Double Two?"

Double Two?

"She's got some broken ribs. Can you check her out?" He avoided the question.

What's a 'Double Two'?

Dr. Yang hesitated for a second before nodding. She looked at me. "Follow me, please."

I followed her, walking in front of Steve. I was instructed to sit on top of an examination table and I complied. They did things like take my blood pressure while Steve stood nearby observing.

"Can you remove your dress, Rachel?" Dr. Yang asked. From the corner of my eye, I could see Steve shift. I turned my face to see that he was blushing slightly.

I gave a slightly uncomfortable stare. No one could tell, but I was blushing too.

"I'm going to go wait outside." He pointed backward and without another word, he was out of there.

After a moment of awkward silence between me and Dr. Yang, she spoke up. "Well, that was somethin'."

I slipped my dress over my head, stripping into my bra and panties. "Sure was," I said, lying down like she had instructed to.

While she wrapped up my torso where I had large purple bruises, I turned my head to face her. "Dr. Yang?"

"Call me Cristina."

"Okay...Cristina?"

"Yes?" She replied, wrapping my waist.

"What's a Double Two?"

She chuckled at my question. "You are."

I creased my eyebrows. "Huh?"

She told me to sit up and I did. "It's your case number. 2207. I have to go. It was nice to meet you, Rachel." She nodded before leaving me by myself in a room in my underwear and confused as hell.