Y/n's POV - At the hospital

It was about 2am when I awoke. I'd gotten around 3 hours sleep, which wasn't great honestly, but I decided to get up anyway. My eyes were still a little puffy and my nose was slightly blocked, sighing, I threw on Nat's jacket to keep me warm and put on some trainers with the laces still undone. Looking back I saw that Steve was still asleep, and I smiled softly knowing that sleep was providing him some relief.

Stepping out of the room I, pulling my hood up, walked down the corridor, opposite to Nat's room. I came to some more waiting rooms and another hospital ward, this one was full of old people. I frowned slightly at the dark room before moving on. Before long I had made my way outside of the hospital.

The parking lot lay before me and I sat on an old fence looking away from the cars and towards the hospital. Sitting there I thought about everything and nothing. What happened if Nat made it? What happened if she didn't? What happened if she did make it, but it took a year for her to wake up? Would I do missions, would I feel happy again, would I find someone new?

As all these thoughts whirled around in my brain, I became quite oblivious to the world around me, that is, until someone sat next to me. Turning my head slightly I caught sight of the unexpected visitor and tried to move away.

"Not so fast Y/n." Fury called after me.

Slumping my shoulders I turned around and looked at him, "What are you doing here Sir?

"Checking in on you." He raised his one eyebrow.

"Well as you can see, I am fine." I told him defensively.

"Yeah sure, we both know that is a lie." He got off of the fence and walked towards me. "You and Rogers have the next 2 weeks off of work, if Nat wakes up before then then you, Y/n, have as long as you need to help her recover. If she doesn't wake up in the next two weeks, you go back to work but can still visit her before and after hours if you wish and I will provide you transport." He paused and looked at me. "How does that sound?"

"Like I haven't got a choice." I retorted.

"That is probably correct, but I thought I would just let you know." He smiled slightly.

"Thank you, Fury, I know I haven't been easy recently." I apologised gruffly.

"You need to work on sounding sincere, but apology accepted Agent, now go and get some sleep. The team will visit tomorrow." Fury bid me goodnight and watched as I walked back inside.

***

Y/n's POV - at the hospital

I made my way back inside the dark and nearly silent hospital. Walking up the stairs I decided to go and visit Nat. It was stupid really, she was in a coma; but I thought that maybe, just maybe, something would be different.

Pushing open the door at the top of the stairs I walked down another few corridors, making a few wrong turns, until I arrived in front of Nat's door. The S.H.I.E.L.D agents, who by now knew who I was, stepped aside and walked a few paces away, allowing me some semblance of privacy, so I could talk to Nat in peace.

The heavy metal door creaked slightly as I walked in, and shut with a soft thud. I sat in the plastic chair, which hadn't moved since Steve had put it there, and took Nat's soft hand in my own. The monitors, which I had now learned to understand, showed no change. Which meant, at least, she wasn't getting worse. My gaze flickered over her features. In a coma she looked more relaxed and nearly at peace.

My eyes began to fill a little with tears but I let them, not caring if they fell.

"Please Nat." I whispered hoarsely. "You've suffered worse than this." I joked lightly. "C'mon this can't be the thing that beats you, you're way too strong for that."

"Nat? Nat. Nat." I repeated as if that was going to change anything.

"FOR FUCK SAKE." I yelled a little, letting go of her hand and stepping away, so that my super strength didn't hurt her. "WHY YOU? WHY NOW? OF ALL THE PEOPLE I HAD TO FALL FOR, IT HAD TO BE YOU!"

I didn't mean it of course, I didn't blame Nat for any of this, but I was too angry and I needed to yell something, anything.

"JUST FUCKING HELL, SMIRK AT ME. JUST LAUGH AT MY STUPIDITY OR SOMETHING." I broke down and kneeled in the middle of the room. Instead of just crying I began to laugh too. I laughed at the absurdity of the situation, me, an ex-hydra agent, crying over the one who was supposed to be my sworn enemy. The one who for years, I pretended to hate to hide my true feelings for them.

"Y/n?" A tired voice asked tentatively.

I wiped my eyes and turned to look at him.

He looked at me with his sad eyes and sat on the floor next to me. "Can I give you a hug?"

I nodded quickly and he pulled me into him, wrapping his large arms around my small frame.

"Let it all out, it's alright." He tried to soothe me as my body shook with the violence of my cries.

We stayed like that for a few minutes, before I pulled away and smiled at him a little.

"Sorry." I apologised shaking my head.

"No need." Steve replied instantly.

I looked at him and laughed a little. "God we need to get a life."

"You first." He laughed.

I chuckled and offered him my arm after I stood up. He took it and I pulled him to his feet.

"I think you need to go to sleep." I told him.

"You went to bed after me and woke up before me, you need it more." He argued.

"Probably." I sighed. "Just not tonight."

I looked away from him and back to Nat who lay there on the hospital bed. "Steve." I nudged his arm abruptly. "Look."

He turned his head to where I pointed. "Shit." He ran out of the room and yelled for a doctor to come quick. One answered his calls and ran into the room.

"What is it sir?" She asked.

"Her monitors, something isn' right." I said urgently.

"I need you both to leave the room." She said seriously.

I looked at Steve worriedly who nodded for us to do as she said. Taking one long last look at Nat I left the room, Steve shutting the door behind me.

A few minutes later, a team of doctors and nurses filed past us and into the room. Nat was quickly wheeled out of the room and led away.

"What is it? What's going on?" I asked the first doctor.

"She needs to go into surgery. Her bullet wound is infected and the infection could go to the brain, resulting in brain damage or..." She hesitated. "Death."

I stumbled back into Steve in shock. He supported me incase my legs buckled and nodded at the doctor to go and help her colleagues.

"Steve.." I looked up at him with salty tears in my eyes.

He looked down at me with a matching expression and there, in the middle of the hospital, we hugged tightly. Before moving to our room and falling asleep in our beds, exhausted from the crying and emotional pain.

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That was a bit heavy, sorry guys but it should get better from here, fingers crossed.

Here is your reminder to;

- Go for a walk or some form of exercise today.

- Go and get a glass of water, we all know you need to.

- Please try to eat at least one meal today, and no Coffee and Monsters do not count.

- Spend time with family or friends, if you are able to.

- Finally, I want you to congratulate yourself for making it this far. You have most likely been through some difficult shit, but you are still here. I am incredibly proud of you for that, and I don't think you give yourself enough recognition x