Sam: I'll go with you.

Steve and Sam rushed to the car and rushed to the hospital as fast as possible.

Once inside the hospital, Steve tried to get into the emergency room, the nurses and Sam prevented Steve.

- Sir, she's not there.

S: How not?

- She's at the ICU.

S: ICU?

Sam: What's wrong with her?

- The doctor will talk to you as soon as possible.

Steve saw the doctor who had treated Sarah the last few times they went there and ran up to him, the doctor was startled by Steve's approach.

S: Doctor, you said she was fine, that it was a simple flu. What is going on not?

- Mr. Rogers, it happens that some diseasdes has very similar symptoms, and when you brought her here, I treated her and she was fine, she was with a good color, speaking well, I saw no reason to keep her at rest or hospitalized.

S: So you don't know what she has?

- No. She's being taken care of by the doctor of ICU and they will examine her again.

S: But how is she now?

- I have no idea, you'll have to wait until the ICU doctor comes to see you.

Natasha arrived at the hospital running, she was also warned by the school about what happened to Sarah and she soon approach to Steve and Sam.

Natasha said nothing as she approached, she just punched the face of the doctor who was talking to Steve.

Steve and Sam had to hold her.

- What does that mean???

The doctor asked, putting his hand on his face.

N: It means you should do your job right!

S: Natasha, please.

N: Let me go, Steve!!! You said she was fine!

S: That's what he told me.

N: He did not examine her properly and she got worse. It's his fault! I should fucking kill him right now!

Sam: Natasha, calm down, they're with her in there, if you stay so exalted, they will forbid you from entering the hospital.

N: The hell they will!!!

Natasha pretended to be calmer. The doctor moved away to put ice on his face.

Natasha called Hill.

H: Hill.

N: Hill, I need to transfer Sarah from hospital immediately.

H: Hospital?

N: She passed out and they brought her back to this damn hospital that did not diagnose her right. Damn fucking idiots!

H: I'll arrange it right away.

S: How do you ask Hill to transfer her, without even consulting me first???

Natasha looked at Steve furiously.

N: Do you want her to stay here where she was released and got sick again??

S: I don't know what she has.

N: Exactly! I want to put her in the best hospital with the best professionals. Do you have something against it?

Sam: Hey, hey, guys! Are you crazy? Your daughter is hospitalized and you're fighting. This is no time for this. Steve, SHIELD can get the best doctors to take care of Sarah, it's true.

Sam looked at Natasha.

Sam: It doesn't mean that Sarah will be removed if she is in a delicate situation. Let's wait and please be calm. She needs you.

Steve and Natasha looked at each other and they decided to be silent. Everything Sam said was true and they know it.

Steve ran his hand over his face, trying to wake up from the nightmare. Sam leaned against Steve's shoulder.

S: Sam, I'm sorry, I need you to pick up James at school for me.

Sam: Sure, no problem, man.

S: Don't tell him what's going on. Take him to your house. I'll get him later.

Sam: Don't worry. Can I really go or are you going to start another fight?

N: You can go.

Sam retired and a few minutes later, Maria Hill arrived at the hospital accompanied by Dr. Cho.

Cho: What are her symptoms?

S: A few days ago she vomited and had a fever, I brought her here and the doctor said she was a simple flu. We medicated her right at home, when we came to check if everything was okay, the doctor released her to go to school. I still waited the next day to make sure she was okay.

Cho: And she was talking? Eating?

S: Yes, she was excited as always. She looked healthy.

Cho: I'll go upstairs to see her status and I'll let you know.

N: I'll go along.

Cho: You can't, Natasha. Let me learn her statu and I promise I'll let you know soon enough.

Cho introduced herself and had the entry authorized for the ICU. Half an hour later, Cho came downstairs.

Steve and Natasha ran to her.

Cho: All you need to know is that she's stable now.

S: I want to see her.

Cho: You'll see. She's coming down. I asked for a transfer to the hospital that I work, we will have a better look at her case

N: But what does she have?

Cho: So that's the problem. There's nothing in her exams.

S: How is this possible?

A male nurse appeared in the hallway, carrying Sarah's stretcher. Steve and Natasha approached her immediately and touched Sarah's hand, but she was unconscious.

N: You said she was stable.

Cho: She is, don't worry. You can come in the ambulance with us.

H: I'll follow you in my car.

Steve and Natasha entered the ambulance, along with Cho.

Cho: All the tests we did, didn't point out anything that might be causing this, but I have other suspicions that I can only confirm after completing tests.

Natasha was shaking without noticing and her skin was extremely cold.

Steve looked at Natasha's hands and put his hand over hers. Natasha looked at him and the anger that she was feeling for him, ended immediately.

Sarah began to tremble involuntarily.

S: What's happening???

Sarah opened her eyes, but they soon rolled over and she began to foam through her mouth.

Cho: She's convulsing!

N: Do something!!!!

Cho ordered the rescuer to apply a specific medication to Sarah, who soon calmed down.

Sarah closed her eyes and opened them slowly, blinking a few times trying to regain consciousness.

Steve took Sarah's hand, and she looked at him in alarm.

Sarah: Daddy? Why are you crying?

Sarah asked in weak voice.

Natasha looked at Steve and saw tears rolling down his face. Natasha laid her hand on Steve's back and looked at Sarah.

N: He's just happy to see you. Just that, baby.

Sarah: What are we doing here?

N: We're going to the hospital.

Sarah: Why?

N: Because you got a little sick again.

Sarah: I do not want to go, mama.

N: We'll be there with you.

Sarah calmed down to see her parents with her, but as soon as they arrived at Cho's hospital, Cho asked Steve and Natasha to wait in the waiting room.

Sarah tried to stand up and held out her arms to Steve.

Sarah: Daddy! Please, Daddy.

S: Sarah, honey, it's okay, we'll see each other soon.

Sarah: I do not want to go. Daddy, please.

Cho: She'll be fine. Don't worry.

Cho and the nurse took Sarah to the elevator. Steve put his hands on his head in despair. Natasha was nervous too, but she knew disguise better.

N: She's the best doctor in the country. Hill assured me.

S: I know, but no one knows what Sarah has and it makes me nervous. She's too young to go through with it.

N: I know. Why don't you sit down?

Steve looked at the chairs, sighed, and decided to sit down.

N: I'll get you some water.

S: No, Please...

Steve looked at Natasha.

S: Stay here with me.

Natasha looked at Steve, the affectionate and loving Steve was now asking her to stay after all that coldness of the other night.

Natasha sat down a chair away from Steve.

N: Since you're crying, you better cry everything you have to cry now.

Steve looked at Natasha.

N: You can't cry in front of her, it will make her nervous.

S: I'm fine.

N: You're a terrible liar.

Hill arrived in the waiting room. Natasha got up and hugged Hill.

H: She'll be all right. Cho's great, you'll see.

S: Thank you, Hill.

H: Do you need anything? I've already left an agent here in case if you need water, food, clothing, he'll arrange it.

N: Thank you.

H: I wanted to stay, but I have urgent matters. Keep me informed.

N: Right.

Hill withdrew, Natasha sat down again beside Steve. They waited three long hours, until Cho entered the waiting room.

Steve and Natasha stood up.

S: So? How is she?

Cho: She's stable for now. But she can collapse at any moment.

N: What?

S: Oh my God! Did you find out what she has?

Cho: I'm 70% sure that she's got an autoimmune disease, but it's not any disease we know of.

N: 70%?

S: Is it cancer?

Cho: No, we checked because it was my first suspicion.

S: So what is it?

Cho: I can't lie to you, guys. We've never dealt with a case like Sarah's before. You two have a superserum in your blood. But your serums are different and I suspect that Sarah's body does not quite match that combination.

N: What does that means?

Cho: I strongly believe that this is making Sarah's defense system attack her own body, so she keeps getting worse.

S: But... Are you not sure?

Cho: No, but I believe that's it. Otherwise, I have no idea what's going on.

N: Let's say it's what you suspect... How is that treated? Is there a cure?

Cho: I can't say I have a cure for that, understand that this is new to me too. What I'm thinking of doing to know if it's going to work is a blood transfusion.

S: That's it? You can collect mine. Collect it right now.

N: Mine too!

Cho: So it can't be yours, since it was what started this attack on Sarah's body. We need someone 100% compatible. Sarah is O-, and none of you are. We need someone from your family. And maybe only the blood is not enough, but the first test I'll do is that.

Natasha and Steve frowned and looked at each other.

Cho: I know you've been frozen, Steve and you don't have any relatives still alive, but I don't know if Natasha would have anyone.

N: I was left in an orphanage! In Russia! I have no idea who my Family is.

S: Oh God!

Cho: I figured. But you still have a relative in common.

S: Who?

Cho: James... He's Sarah's brother.

Steve sighed and ran his hand over his mouth.

S: James is just a kid.

Cho: I know. But if he's O-, he's more likely to be compatible with Sarah.

N: But what if it's not just blood, what else would he have to donate?

Cho: I'd rather test the blood first.

N: You're making me nervous.

S: I'm going to ask Sam to bring James.

N: I'm not sure about that, Steve.

S: If it's just the blood, there's no risk for him, right?

Cho: Right.

Steve walked away from Cho and Natasha, he called Sam and asked him to bring James to the hospital.

Cho: We had to sedate her because she was very agitated, but you can come in to stay with her, I left her in an exclusive room. It has accommodation for two. The nurse will take you to her.

Steve and Natasha followed the nurse.

The nurse opened the door, Steve and Natasha entered and the nurse withdrew.

Steve moved closer to Sarah's bed and caressed her face. He just didn't cry again because Natasha was there and he didn't want to make Sarah nervous.

Natasha didn't approach the bed, instead of that, she came inside the room, but remained with her back to the bed and her arms folded. Steve looked at Natasha and was surprised by her attitude.

About forty minutes later Sam arrived in the room with James. James ran to Sarah.

J: Sarah? Wake up! Sarah?

Steve looked at James and shook his head.

J: What's going on? Why is she here?

James grabbed Sarah's arm and shook her hard.

J: Sarah! Sarah!

Steve walked around the bed and held James. Steve pushed him away from the stretcher and crouched, looking at James.

J: Is she dying?

S: No, no, James. She's going to be fine, okay?

J: Mom?

James looked at Natasha who was still on her back and arms folded. Natasha turned her face a little, but didn't let anyone look at her.

N: I'll be right back.

Natasha left the room. Steve looked at Natasha and felt something was wrong.

S: Sam, stay here with them.

Steve ran out of the room and saw Natasha heading toward the elevator.

S: Natasha!

Natasha didn't stop, nor did she look back. She pressed the button to call the elevator. Steve ran to her.

S: What's going on?

N: Nothing.

Natasha said dryly, yet withou looking into Steve's eyes.

N: I need space.

S: I need you. We need to talk to James together.

N: I can't! I can't do it, okay? All of this... This is too much for me. I can't go through with this.

The elevator arrived, Natasha came in and avoided any eye contact with Steve. The doors of the elevator began to close but Steve put his hand to prevent it. He looked at Natasha.

S: I know you're worried and scared. I know you, Nat.

Natasha sighed and ignored Steve.

S: Running away will not make you feel better. Believe me, you're worried and now you're blaming yourself for what Cho said. It's not your fault for not knowing your family, not mine.

N: It's who's fault, then? We shouldn't have children. I was not made to have children.

S: But we already have.

N: I can't, Steve...

Natasha whispered.

N: I can't be here, I don't want to lose her. I can't think about that, I can't do it...

Natasha was about to broke in tears, her lips were trembling.

S: Just because you're going away doesn't mean you can avoid the loss. Will you be able to disappear and ignore all this, to pretend that it's not happening? I'm suffering too and I can't do it without you. Please don't go away. We need you.

Natasha took a deep breath and looked into Steve's eyes.

It took Natasha a few seconds, but she left the elevator.

S: Come on.

Steve put his arm around Natasha's shoulder and led her back into the Sarah's room.

Steve talked to James about the blood donation and he agreed right away, he just wasn't too sure about the niddle, he asked Natasha to accompany him. They went to the lab.

J: Do you cry when you get injected?

Natasha shook her head.

N: No... I'm very brave. Are you?

James nodded.

The nurse approached with the syringe to collect the blood. James reached out to Natasha.

Natasha hold his hand and James closed his eyes, but didn't cry when the nurse pierced his skin with the needle.

J: Is it over?

- Yes, sweetheart.

James opened his eyes and stared Natasha.

J: I was brave, mom.

N: Yes. I am very proud of you.

James and Natasha returned to Sarah's room, after the procedure.

Cho returned twenty minutes later, claiming that James has the same blood type as Sarah.

Cho prepared everything for the blood transfusion. Steve and Natasha followed the process that lasted for some hours. Sam stayed to the end as well, he took James to his house when he finished.

Cho explained that James should return the next day for another session.

Steve and Natasha slept in Sarah's room.

At dawn Sarah woke up, calling Steve. Natasha woke up and walked over to her.

N: Hey...

Sarah: Mommy? Where is Daddy?

N: He's over there...

Natasha showed Steve.

N: Sleeping... we're here all the time.

Natasha stroked Sarah's hair.

N: Are you feeling something?

Sarah shook her head.

Sarah: I want to go home.

N: I know... soon, okay? Are you hungry?

Sarah: No.

N: Are you scared?

Sarah nodded. Natasha sat on her stretcherbed and took Sarah's hand.

N: You know, what? I feel scared sometimes.

Sarah: Do you?

N: Yes, baby, it's normal. But do you know what helps me?

Sarah: What?

N: Think of good things. Like, uhm... the kitten.

Sarah: My Kitty! I love him.

Sarah smiled.

N: I know...

Natasha smiled back.

Sarah: Bring him here for me?

N: I can't, but when we leave here I'll take you to see him.

Sarah yawned and Natasha smiled.

N: Are you tired?

Sarah: Yeah.

N: So sleep. I will stay here with you.

Sarah: Don't leave, mama.

N: I won't leave, baby...

Sarah looked at Natasha for a few seconds and then closed her eyes. Natasha kept holding Sarah's hand, she couldn't move away from her.

When Steve awoke in the morning, Natasha was lying next to Sarah on the same bed.

Steve covered the two and a few minutes later, Cho entered the room.

Cho: Good morning.

S: Good morning.

Natasha woke up with Cho's voice, she got up from the bed.

Cho: Look, after the transfusion we noticed an improvement in Sarah's clinical condition. But I don't think the blood transfusion is enough. It's a blood deficiency she has.

N: What do you mean?

Cho: I mean that what will guarantee her recovery is the donation of bone marrow.

S: What?? From who?

N: James?

S: Not from James, I hope.

N: Can't be from one of us?

Cho: No, James is more compatible. As I explained, it was your blood that caused this imbalance. James is the best choice for Sarah.

S: Sorry, I can't submit him to this.

Cho: We can try to find another donor, but it can take months, even years to find someone compatible.

N: We'll think about it.

Cho: We don't have much time.

S: How long?

Cho: One week at the most.

Cho left the room.

Steve paced nervously around the room.

S: I can't! I can't do that to him!

Natasha was silent and looked thoughtful.

S: He is too young...

Natasha looked at Steve.

N: I think he should decide.

S: He's too small to understand, I'm going to have to put him at risk to save her.

N: Do we have another choice?

S: We can try to find some donor.

N: One week Steve. From what I know about bone marrow, a relative has 35% chances of being compatible, as for not related only 0.1%. Do you know what that means???

S: Oh no, I can't think right now.

N: I think you need to talk to Dr. Cho, to know if this procedure will affect James's life in any way.

S: It's a piece of him, Natasha.

N: I know.

S: You don't care.

N: Of course I care. Don't be stupid. I'm using my head.

Sarah woke up with the discussion of Steve and Natasha.

Sarah grunted because she knew they were fighting.

Sarah: Daddy, why are you fighting?

Steve approached the bed.

S: I'm sorry, princess. We were not fighting.

Sarah: I want to go home.

Steve sighed.

Sarah: I want to see my friends from school.

N: You'll see them soon. You just have to get well.

Nick Fury knocked on the door and entered the room. He brought a stuffed bear with an eye patch on.

Sarah looked at the bear and smiled excitedly.

Sarah: Is it for me?

F: No.

Sarah laughed at Fury, he didn't even smile. He came over and put the bear on her bed.

N: Thank you, Fury.

F: No problem.

N: Can you stay with her a little? I need to talk to Steve outside.

Sarah: Are you going to fight?

N: No, I promise.

Natasha and Steve left the room. Fury sat on the edge of Sarah's stretcher and looked at her with a serious face.

F: You look awful.

Sarah frowned.

Sarah: You're not handsome either.

F: I'm more than you.

Sarah: Uh-huh. Daddy said I'm the most beautiful girl in the world.

Fury laughed sarcastically.

F: He is a terrible liar.

Sarah was still frowning.

Sarah: You're a very bad man.

F: Thank you.

Sarah looked at Fury, confused.

Sarah: Can you just sit me down?

Fury looked around, then at Sarah.

F: I don't think so.

Sarah: My back hurts.

Fury got up and took the control of the bed, he pressed a button that makes the bed bend in three. He managed to get the bed to on sitting position.

Sarah: I'm sick, you know?

F: So what?

Sarah: Well, I fainted.

F: I've already had three stab wounds. One in the eye. Fainting is nothing.

Sarah was amazed and startled, she was silente, thinking abou what to say.

Sarah: My nose bled. Like too much!! There was a pool of blood!!

F: I took three shots. One in the belly, one in the back and one in the leg.

Sarah: And I... I... I already grazed my whole knee, it broke and my bone was out and... and I also hit my head and my brain left my head!!!!

Fury looked at Sarah and suddenly began to laugh hysterically.

Natasha was outside the room, and she never heard Fury laughing like that, so she opened the door and looked at both of them.

N: What's going on?

F: Nothing. This girl is very special.

Sarah smiled, looking at Fury. Natasha closed the door again.

F: You're not that bad.

Sarah: You too.

They both smiled.

...

Natasha and Steve were talking to Cho, who assured that the transplant process was highly safe, it wouldn't hurt at the time, just a little after the donation and that the marrow of James wouldn't be affected, in a few weeks, he would be fully recovered. That made Steve more relieved.

S: He has to decide.

N: I know. Let's talk to him after school.

...

Steve and Natasha explained to James as best they could that his sister was very sick and in need of his help.

J: If I do not donate, does she die?

N: It's likely.

S: But it wouldn't be your fault. You only have to do it if you want.

J: Okay.

N: Will you donate?

J: Yes.

N: You're a great brother, James.

Natasha kissed James's forehead. Steve hugged him next.

N: They will do some exams on you, to see if you really are compatible.

J: Will it hurt?

N: Just a little bit. I'll be there with you.

S: Me too.

James's battery of compatibility tests took 24 hours. And luckily he was compatible with Sarah. A day later, the two were sedated and operated.

At the end of the surgery, Cho went to the waiting room of the operating room.

S: So?

Cho: The surgery was a success.

Steve and Natasha breathed a sigh of relief. Steve couldn't contain himself, he cried right away, smiled and hugged Natasha, who comforted him by stroking his back.

Steve stared doctor Cho again.

S: Is she going to be Okay, now?

Cho: I hope so.

N: What do you mean, "I hope so"?

Cho: Guys, this was never 100% sure, I talked to you about it, but I'm confident that this will work. James is free to go home, but Sarah will stay with us for a few more days until we're sure it's working.

N: Can we see them?

Cho: Sure. They were taken back to the room.

S: Thank you, Cho.

Cho: It was nothing.

Cho smiled.

Natasha and Steve ran upstairs to the room. They found Sarah and James still anesthetized.

Steve and Natasha took turns all week to stay with Sarah at the hospital and stay with James at home.

Today, Cho came to the hospital to released Sarah and tell the good News, that the treatment worked. Cho pointed out that Sarah should make appointments periodically to see if everything is okay.

Natasha and Steve were in Sarah's room. She was ready to leave. Steve took Sarah in his arms.

S: Let's go home.

Sarah: Yayyy let's go home!

Sarah said, swinging her legs and hugging Steve's neck, excited. When Steve and Natasha left the room, the hospital corridor was practically deserted.

Sarah saw one of the nurses who took care of her.

Sarah: Bye Rosa.

- Bye, baby. Take care. I will miss you here.

Sarah: Me too! Send Julie a kiss!

- I will indeed.

Sarah: And to the broom's uncle too!

- Oh I'll certainly send your kiss for him.

Sarah smiled.

Steve thanked Rosa for the care and love that she treated Sarah, while she was hospitalized.

Steve got into the elevator with Natasha and Sarah.

Natasha stared at Sarah and smiled.

N: Are you happy?

Sarah: Yeees! But I miss my Kitty and Jamie and my teacher, and my friends Theo, Mia, Lola, Charlotte, John, Jack and the chinese one... I forgot his name!

N: Oh my! How many people!!

Sarah: But I'm not going to school today, am I?

S: No. Just tomorrow. Do you miss your friends a lot?

Sarah nodded.

N: Maybe you'll see them sooner than you think.

The elevator reached the ground floor, as soon as the door opened, Sarah opened her mouth shocked with the amount of people with balloons and gifts for her there.

All her friends from the nursery were there, along with the teacher and most of the Avengers.

In addition, most of the hospital staff were also present at the surprise party for Sarah, they all got used to Sarah during the time she was hospitalized.

Steve put Sarah on the floor and she went straight to hug James, then her school friends came to hug her.

Sarah looked at Steve and Natasha.

Sarah: I think this is the best day of my lif!!! Oh, daddy, is it my birthday today??

S: Not yet.

Natasha and Steve smiled at Sarah's happiness and went to greet the Avengers friends who came to support.

Natasha kept talking to Carol, Bobbi and Clint. Steve walked away to talk to Bucky, Sam and Tony.

Tony: I already knew that my kids would be fine.

Steve laughed at Tony, then felt someone poking at his shoulder. Steve turned and smiled to see who it was.

S: Elisa.