𝖢𝗁𝖺𝗉𝗍𝖾𝗋 𝖨.𝖨: 𝖭𝖾𝗐 𝖡𝖾𝗀𝗂𝗇𝗇𝗂𝗇𝗀𝗌

✈︎

The passing nurses looked to the two in shock, until Haelia speaks

"She needs help!"

The nurse run to them and gently take the girl from her arms. Hazel's lip quivers when she looks down and notices, for the first time, the blood pouring out from her stomach.

The nurse holding Hazel quickly rushes through the doors, E.R labeled atop of them, giving the other nurses orders and code names. Haelia paces silently as a woman approaches her.

The woman was a few years older than her, her hair was a natural washed orange and her blue eyes did not reflect her age. Haelia could tell instantly that she was a young spirit.

"Hi, ma'am? I'm Doctor Christine Palmer. Why don't you sit down?"

Haelia shakes her head slightly, looking into her eyes

"No, I huh- promised Hazel I would look for her parents."

Dr. Palmer frowned, placing a hand on her shoulder. She smile sad and remorseful

"The little girl you brought in. Hazel Smith. Her mother died while giving birth to her, and her father drank himself to death."

Haelia looks to the woman shocked. She takes a slight step back, unsure of how to feel.

"How do you know that?"

"Because they both died in this hospital."

After a few hours of pacing in the waiting room, Haelia finally decides to take Dr. Palmer on her offer to take a seat. She learned alot about the Doctor, and was surprised to see how quickly she opened up to her. Haelia thought about how nice it was to have someone to talk too, someone who didn't have an motive.

Haelia sips the coffee in her hands. The one Christine had handed her before going to check on Hazel's operation. As she sipped her coffee she felt her phone vibrating in her back pocket. She leaned against the glass window gently, gazing out into the dark city as she answered

"Hello?"

"Haelia! Where are you? And why haven't you been answering my calls?!"

Haelia rolled her eyes at her father.

"Don't you roll your eyes at me."

"How could you possibly know I was rolling my eyes?"

"Because you can practically hear it, and your my kid."

Haelia sighed before taking another sip of her coffee

"Now answer the question."

"Actually you asked me more than one question so which one-"

"Haelia Salem Stark. Cut the bullshit."

"I'm at New York Hospital, okay. There was a child under some rubble, and she was badly hurt. I'm waiting for her to get out of surgery."

Tony pauses before responding

"What about her parents? Isn't that their job?"

Haelia sighs at her father once more; looking back to the double doors leading to the ER.

"Her parents are dead Dad. She has no one."

Tony sighs, realizing his mistake.

"Okay kid, just call me when your on your way home. Please."

"Okay Dad, I love you."

"I love you too pumpkin."

As Tony hangs up, Haelia returns her gaze to the city below her. The Avengers efforts to 'rebuild the city in a day' seemed far fetched, but they had managed to almost pull it off. It looked alot better, Stark Industry was already looking into new and more energy efficient ways to replace the buildings destroyed. But Haelia is cut from her thought when she hears Christine's voice.

"Haelia?"

Haelia looks to her with a smile.

"I got news on Hazel. Her surgery went well. She's in recovery."

Haelia let out a breath and smiled

"But I have someone I want you to meet."

Haelia gives her a curious look, but Christine only motions for her to follow. As Haelia walked behind Christine as she quickly dodged passed the nurses and carts.

As Haelia re-entered the lobby, one man caught her attention. He was tall with dark hair. His pale skinned turned under the hospital lighting. He was leaned over the reception counter, filing out a chart.

"Stephen!"

The tall man turns at Christine's voice as she walks up next to him, giving Haelia full view of his face. He was incredibly handsome. His jawline was sharp and straight and his radiant blue eyes put Captain America's to shame.

As Christine stood next to Stephen, Haelia walked quickly over to the trash can near the corner to dispose of her coffee cup. She walks back closer to Christine, but keeps a distance. She felt warm and fuzzy inside; a feeling she was not used to.

"Haelia, this is Doctor Stephen Strange. He was the head surgeon for Hazel's operation." Christine says brightly

Haelia snaps out of her gaze to see that Stephen is smiling slightly at her.

"Stephen this is Haelia.... I'm sorry, I just realized you never told me your last name."

Haelia bites her lip slightly, before sighing.

"I'm Haelia... Stark." She says with a small smile

Christine looks to her shocked, while Stephen seemed amused.

"Stark, huh?" He says

Haelia gives him a look, but before she can say anything, he offers her his hand.

"Pleasure to meet you, Ms. Stark."

Haelia shakes his hand lightly, Christine seeming to snap out of her shocked gaze. Before anyone can say anything, Christine's pager begins to go off.

"I got to go. But Stephen, maybe you can bring Haelia to Hazel's room?"

Stephen doesn't get a chance to respond before Christine turns on her heel and heads towards the elevator. Stephen rolls his eyes at the doctor before turning to face Haelia.

He studies her for a moment. He had to admit, she was very pretty. From what he knew about her, she received a PhD and MD from John Hopkins at the age of 21. She also received her Masters in Education and Society a year later. The woman was a genius, and one who truly wanted to make a change.

But seeing her in person, moved his admiration a little further down the line. He coughs lightly when he realizes that he had been staring.

"Uh, follow me."

Haelia nods sweetly before following behind Stephen. He walks fast, but Haelia is able to keep with him. Once they make onto the floor above them, the hallway is clear. Haelia takes the opportunity to walk beside him, looking around the hospital curiously.

Stephen looks to her and smiles lightly, as he pushes through the Patient Recovery doors. He debates for a moment as the make it closer to Hazel's room whether or not to start a conversation with Haelia.

"So, how did you meet Hazel?"

Haelia smiles at the ground slightly as they turn the corner.

"I found her under some of the destruction a few streets down."

Stephen nods, unsure of how to continue the conversation. Thankfully that was Haelia's specialty.

"So, surgeon huh? This must be an exciting job."

"It has its days. But it couldn't be more exciting than being an Avenger."

Haelia giggles lightly. Stephen feels his heart beating out of his chest and his face getting redder.

"I'm technically not an Avenger. I'm just there to make sure my dad doesn't ruin the Stark name."

Stephen chuckles before he stops infront of one of the many doors along the hall.

"We're here. She should be awake by now."

Haelia nodded and smiled

"Thank you, Doctor Strange."

He nods, but before walking away he smirks

"Please, Ms. Stark. Stephen is fine."

Haelia reflects this look, but places a hand on her hip, tilting her body slightly.

"Alright, fine Stephen. But you have to call me Haelia."

"Alright, Haelia."

Haelia gives him one last smile before opening Hazel's door. She steps in, and closes the door behind her.