Out of time

[stephrogers]

She was getting scared. She was supposed to be back at the orphanage hours ago but a weird thunderstorm kicked up. Lightning streaked across the sky as the eight year old girl tried to make a run for it. Rain hadn't come down yet. But the winds were blowing every which way and she heard the rumble. She really hoped she made it back home before it really began to pour.

Comments

[msrogers.livejournal.com]

She rounded second but she started to gasp as she made her way to third and ran as fast as she could toward home. But there's a look of panic on her face. She started coughing violently and fell over. Steph kept trying to get to home base even as her face turned red and she started gasping.

"Aw, not again!" shouted the first baseman.

[spark-of-power.livejournal.com]

Tony shouted something that was probably not G-rated as he immediately moved towards Stephanie, Bucky darting ahead. Looks of panic were on both their faces.

[msrogers.livejournal.com]

Bucky was immediately by her side, helping her up. Steph was still gasping, trying ot breathe. "C'mon, Steph, let's go." The older boy hauled the girl on his back. "Looks like you're gonna take her place, Tony."

[spark-of-power.livejournal.com]

"Awesome. This will be a disaster." He shrugged flippantly. "Bucky, are you sure she's going to be okay? I could care less about a game compared to a person."

[msrogers.livejournal.com]

Steph began to cough and gasp violently. Bucky's face showed fear as he just began to run for the hospital.

[spark-of-power.livejournal.com]

"Oh, screw this game and everyone in it." And he chased after Bucky, terrified suddenly even though he knew logically she should live. "Bucky, if you held her upright instead of over your back her airways would be clearer!"

[msrogers.livejournal.com]

Bucky only stopped to fix her on his back. Except she wasn't moving. She'd become a dead weight on his back. "Shit," Bucky cursed. "Shit, shit, shit." He ran faster until they could get into the emergency room.

[spark-of-power.livejournal.com]

"Fuck. Why did you let her play if she gets like this? For the love of God, man!" Tony snaps, clearly hating every second of this. If only he had his lab...

[msrogers.livejournal.com]

Bucky managed to get Steph to a doctor because she wasn't moving. he was pacing in the waiting room. "You think I like seeing her like this?! I promised her mom that I wouldn't let her get hurt! But no. Stupid girls being stubborn."

[spark-of-power.livejournal.com]

"Then out stubborn her! For her own good, man." Oy. Sigh. "I need a drink."

[msrogers.livejournal.com]

Bucky snorted. "You and me both. That girl's trouble."

[spark-of-power.livejournal.com]

And now I succumb to sleep. Tags back later.

"Yeah, she's pretty awesome. But completely unaware she's not unstoppable. I don't know whether to be all 'yay you're alive' or 'WTF were you thinking'. Which reaction works best?"

[msrogers.livejournal.com]

[ooc: sleep well! <3]

Bucky snorted. "What the hell usually is what I say. She just says the same thing every time. Just because she isn't healthy, doesn't mean she can't do things. Which is dumb."

[spark-of-power.livejournal.com]

"No, she has a point. She's just taking it to extremes." Tony sighed. "Can't we distract her with something less intensive? Art, or knitting or something?"

[msrogers.livejournal.com]

Bucky rolled his eyes. "I've tried. She's gonna get herself killed. Or worse!" He honestly did try to persuade her to try ANYTHING else that didn't involve the risk of her dying.

[spark-of-power.livejournal.com]

"I think she's too stubborn to die," Tony noted dryly. "She doesn't really take no for an answer."

[msrogers.livejournal.com]

A doctor finally approached the two. "Your friend's okay. She had a severe athsma attack. Unfortunately, we can't keep her here."

[spark-of-power.livejournal.com]

"So what do we do now?" Tony looked between Bucky and the doctor, feeling helpless and not liking it. If only he had some tech, some kind of lab, he could fix this.

[msrogers.livejournal.com]

Bucky frowned deeply and just followed the doctor until he could pick up Steph again. "We bring her back and let Sister Agnes deal with it."

[spark-of-power.livejournal.com]

"Fantastic," Tony muttered, feeling defeated. "Remember what I said about holding her so her airways are clear."

[msrogers.livejournal.com]

The older boy glared. "I know how to take care of her more than some punk kid that appeared out of nowhere."

[spark-of-power.livejournal.com]

"I'm just worried! Is that a crime?"

[msrogers.livejournal.com]

"Shut up! You don't know her!"

[spark-of-power.livejournal.com]

"I'm allowed to care! She cared about me and she doesn't know me. I owe it to her to at least try to pull it together and be helpful!"

[msrogers.livejournal.com]

Bucky wanted to push this kid's face int he dirt. He couldn't because 1) Steph was on his back and 2) Steph would be mad at him for it.