A Few Needed Repairs (November 2012)

8 hours later.

The biobed had repaired Natalya’s wound and injected her with antibiotics, fluids and pain relievers. She was doped up but the pain meds would not last long in her system. Logan held her left hand as he sat next to her. She was on the recovery bed unconscious.

Logan leaned forward and kissed the knuckles of Natalya’s hand. Isabella had gotten her stitches and been released. Kate and Steve had been examined and both had concussions but Kate’s was actually serious. The biobed gave her medications to help with that but there would be effects from this that would take time to heal. Logan, Steve and Tony were the only ones barely injured. Peter had a few small cuts but only one needed stitches. Tony had started making calls, he needed a repair team to come to the tower but considering what had happened, he was being particularly picky on who he chose to help make the repairs.

“Ok, so, I guess this is kind of the situation that makes me think that we should have gotten married already,” Logan said. “I guess...I don’t know. I guess I want the world to know that we’re just a normal, boring couple. That you’ve gone through hell and come out the other side,” He said as a few tears dripped down onto his cheeks. “I feel as if I’ve lived far beyond past when I should but when I look at you, when I think about you, I want to keep on living. I want to keep on...loving you,” he said. “You are everything to me Natalya. You let me be me...You let me be kind and affectionate and loving. You let me be angry and combative and a pain in the ass,” He said. “Do you let me be these things because you feel you owe me or because you really like who and what I am?” Logan said.

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Peter sat at the kitchen table, one of the few things that hadn’t been destroyed here. Serena was making...something though he didn’t know what it was. Frank was on his phone and stepped lightly near the doorwall. He felt at the large hole that was cut by the drone.

Natalya was extremely lucky to be alive. She had lost a lot of blood, but thankfully Tony and Isabella had had the foresight to have everyone give some of their blood every month to keep on hand in case transfusions were every needed. Natalya had certainly needed one. It was going to take a while for Natalya to recover from this, but her sacrifice had gotten them the chance they had needed with Hannah. Had Natalya not had the Super Soldier Serum flowing through her veins she would have certainly died within minutes. But the serum, combined with Logan's quick actions in getting her to the biobed had saved her life.

Natalya slowly became aware of something talking near her. At first, the voice was muffled and sounded far away, but then it eventually became clearer...it was Logan. She didn't hear another voice and as she focused on his words she realized that he was talking to her. He held her left hand in his and he sounded as if he were crying. She heard his question, and although she knew he wasn't expecting an answer she decided to respond to him.

"At first, it was...because I felt...I owed you," she said as her eyes slowly opened. "But then...I fell in love...with you." Natalya shifted slightly and winced at the pain.

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Serena had finally managed to make Peter understand that she was alright and she had him go down to get his wound stitched up. They had both then collapsed out of sheer exhaustion, but they both woke up the next morning quite hungry. Serena could hear her father in the office talking on the phone to someone, but their bedroom door was still shut which likely meant that her mother was still asleep. Serena wasn't a cook, but she decided to try to make French Toast. She knew it was supposed to be fairly easy, but Serena was struggling. She sighed when she burned the toast and threw it in the trash and then grabbed a box of pop-tarts and tossed Peter a pack and then took one for herself. She tore open the package and then broke off a piece and ate it as she watched Frank. Eventually, her curiosity got the better of her and walked over. "Find anything interesting?"

Logan listened to Natalya but did not straighten or release her hand. “The question of why I did it...I still think I don’t completely understand it myself. I saw that look in your eyes. Part of me felt that...if I could help you...help you become ‘better’ than maybe I could feel better about myself. And to forgive myself for the horrible shit I’ve done,” Logan said. “Why do I want to marry you? Well...so that the only thing you owe me then...is your love,” He said as he looked at her. “Because it is the only thing I want from you,” Logan said honestly.

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Frank had examined the drone already and now he was examining the hole in the ballistic glass that the drone had cut through. “Well, I’m no scientist but there is no melting to the glass,” he said as he traced a finger along the large, round opening in the glass. The edge of the cut was smooth but definitely not melted. “It was a kinetic beam, not a light based one,” he said as he straightened. “Someone had to be controlling that drone and Micro...my...assistant, may have found something that will lead me to him,” Frank said in an icy tone. He was still very angry about someone going after Serena specifically. It was wrong in his book and he would not give up until he found this person.

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Steve sat on the edge of their bed. Kate had no bandages on her but she did have an IV running medications into her from the injection point at her left wrist. Her concussion was severe but the biobed had no healing techniques for that kind of injury and had administered the treatment for this. She had to wear an eye mask because the medication made her eyes sensitive to light. There were no lights on in their apartments right then.

Steve said nothing as he looked at her. But he definitely did want to say something. Something he knew she would not like, necessarily.

Natalya could feel the pain medications trying to work, but her body had a very high metabolism and just couldn't keep up with what her body needed. As a result, Natalya was in quite a bit of pain, but her training at the SSB meant that she didn't really show it. Showing you were in pain was a sign of weakness. Even though she was no longer with the SSB, her training stuck.

She looked over at Logan. "If we marry...I need your promise that...you won't...try to take me away from what I do here with the team. I...understand the risk...and I know that I won't...live forever."

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Serena was fascinated by what Frank told her about how the glass appeared to have been cut. She ran her finger along the edge of the cut hole and realized that he was right. "What will you do with this guy when you find him?" she asked quietly.

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Kate's head ached...no throbbed. She felt slightly nauseous, but having the eye mask on to block any light helped some. She was extremely tired. Steve had let her sleep some, but had to wake her up almost every hour to ensure she could still awake up. As a result, they were both exhausted, but she could sense Steve sitting there on their bed looking at her. Even though she couldn't see him, she could tell he wanted to speak to her. She knew the man that well.

"I know you want to say something," she finally said as she broke the silence.

Logan looked at Natalya for moment before he answered. “At some point, you won’t be able to do this job. I want to be able to talk to you about that when that time comes Natalya,” Logan said. “I don’t think that much is unreasonable,” He said. “You are more than just our ability to fight,” Logan reminded her. “You could learn and do whatever you want,” he said.

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Frank did not respond but his look was neither kind nor gentle and it suddenly felt as if the temperature in room had just dropped. Frank was stuck in the tower for now. Until the elevator was repaired at least. He had climbed up and he did not relish climbing back down.

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“I don’t want another debate on what I or you knew when we decided to get married. I know what you said and I know what I said. You could have died today Kate,” Steve said. “I know that because of what we do it can happen at any time. I guess I just want more for you than just waiting around here, making the best of our lives while we wait for something to happen,’ he said.

Natalya listened to what Logan said and she slowly nodded. "I think that is reasonable. I just want to be able to continue to do this job for as long as I can. I love what I do."

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Serena looked at Frank and was quiet a moment before speaking again. "Thank you for saving my life. If you hadn't been there...."

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Kate listened quietly to Steve and did not interrupt him. She let him speak and was then quiet for a while afterward before finally breaking the silence. "Do you want to try and have a child?"

“If I hadn’t been there you would have found a way. You’re a Stark,” Frank said confidently. “I take it Tony made you that suit. Impressive design. I’ve never seen anything like it,” he said as he looked at her. Serena was half of Isabella. A beautiful young lady, he thought. “Is this Spider-Man...Peter Parker, a friend of yours?” He asked. He suspected, by Peter’s reaction that there was more there.

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“I know you do Natalya. And your very good,” Logan said. “If a little squishy,” he teased. Logan referred to humans, even super soldiers as squishy as a jest. The Red Rogue had stabbed Logan multiple times but she never was able to stop him. Logan was very difficult to stop or even cage for long.

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“For what we do...for the world and the people we fight for and defend...I do want that for us. I know you love what you do Kate. And I enjoy doing it with you but if you want honesty, I feel we have more to give,” Steve said as he took hold of Kate’s right hand.

Serena liked Frank. He seemed like a decent guy to her and clearly he was quite fond of her mother. She glanced over at Peter when Frank asked about him and then looked back at Frank and smiled a little. “He’s the man I’m going to marry.”

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Natalya looked at Logan was was quiet a moment before speaking again. “So, does this mean we’re engaged?”

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Kate felt Steve take her hand and she gave it a little squeeze. “I want to continue working as Avengers, but we can start trying to start a family.”