Save Me

Chapter 26

Sam's POV

Tears started to cloud my vision. "W- what?" I notice the tears in his eyes as well. "Th- this is some sort of sick joke, right?" I ask with a small chuckle. Bruce looks down, avoiding eye contact completely. "Right?" I whisper.

He finally looks up as tears start falling down my face. "I tried everything but I- I couldn't do it. I'm so, so sorry." And for the first time in a decade, I sobbed. I sobbed. "I'll give you a minute," he leaves me alone to wallow in self pity. The second the door closes, everything is released. All the emotions I've tried to keep hidden for so long, the frustration, the anger, the pain.

Bruce's POV

I make my way up to the lounge where everyone is waiting at the edge of their seats. All eyes are on me as I walk through the door.

I stop and look back at no one in particular. I just shake my head and say, "give her a minute." They all grow concerned and try to bombard me with questions.

I see Bucky is becoming restless and he blurts out, "what's wrong with her, Bruce? Will she be okay?" I sigh and hand him the file, not trusting my words at the moment.

"Give her some time."

Bucky's POV

I take the file and open it slowly, scared of what I might see inside. The first thing I see are her basic facts, like her name, age, family etc. I notice there is no date of birth, but I elect to ignore that in this moment.

I turn over again and I see a couple x-rays, the first of her ribs. They were clearly broken even more whilst she was with them.

I see other photographs of her countless injuries before I get to another x-ray. I take a look at the original photo of her bone and the after one. The second is completely corroded. At least half the bone is missing. I realise that this is her spine. As in, the thing that allows her to move, is half gone. Everything becomes blurry as tears gather in my eyes. The last page is all of her injuries written down. I immediately find the one about her spine.

Spine is partially corroded. Appears to be caused by hydrochloric acid.
Result: paralysed from the waist down.

I drop the file as I start to cry. Steve immediately comes to my side to help me and Jay is sobbing (probably read it from over my shoulder). Peter bends down to pick up the file and only reads the last page. He also starts to cry and puts the file down on the table. Eventually all the Avengers have read it and we are all sobbing. Jay is sitting in my lap and I'm rocking him back and forth, Steve is holding the both of us. Peter is crying into Tony's shoulder who is trying to act as if he isn't crying, same as Nat. She leaves the room quickly and no one questions her. Clint and Wilson never really knew Sam that well, but they are also crying.

This girl, my daughter, has been through literal hell and back and now, she's going to be paralysed for the rest of her life. "Isn't there some sort of technology or medicine? Tony? Couldn't you help her?" I beg Tony. He looks so helpless as he shakes his head.

"It's not like anything I've ever seen before. If it was broken, I could've saved her. But corroded? There's no way I can save her," he's not even trying to conceal his tears now. "I wish there was a way, I really do."

Peter looks up, as if he's just realised something. "How is she gonna go on missions? This is her life, she can't give it up," we all bow our heads and consider this thought. She'll be so upset, she won't know what to do with herself.

"I've got to see her. I can't take this anymore," I get up hurriedly to go and see Sam.

I make my way down to the med bay, which I feel like I've been doing a lot recently. I enter the room to find my daughter sobbing on the uncomfortable hospital bed. "Sam?" I say, barely above a whisper. She looks up at me and starts crying even more. I rush forward to hold her, not even trying to reassure her. There's no point.

"What am I supposed to do, Dad?" She asks. She looks up at me and the look in her eyes breaks my heart. "I'm gonna be kicked off of the team, aren't I?"

"No. No, you won't. I won't let it happen. None of us will," I pull her closer into my chest. "You won't because you are family. And family help each other. That's exactly what we're going to do. Help you."

"Dad, it's pointless. I'm broken beyond repair. I'm useless. Nothing can save me."