Irritants
Insanity piled on top of crazy piled on top of busy. That was how the night in question progressed after Quinn examined Peter. She found herself continually drawn to the webslinger’s room on her rounds, his awkward humor acted as a balm against the barrage of patients and irritations around her.
The current irritant wasn’t even hospital related. Quinn was on her break, just trying to get a little nap in in the on call room when her phone buzzed and that name came across her screen. Of all the nights for her mom to call, it had to be the one where she had a superhero in training, three drug addicts, and a guy convinced he was going to turn into a werewolf any second. The temptation to let the phone go to voicemail was strong, but, on the other hand her mom would continue calling all night if she didn’t pick up. The decision was made for her when her pager went off. Break over. It had been five minutes.
“Tony, I’m sure he’s alright.” Steve Rogers put what he hoped was a reassuring hand on his husband’s shoulder. Truthfully, he was a wreck inside, but he put on a brave face for Tony. The doctor on the phone wouldn’t tell him much, just that their son was admitted through the ER with severe pain and that he was currently being monitored. Tony had called Happy, the head of security at Stark tower right away to find out what happened. It seems that Peter - the genius kid he was - overrode the system and sneaked out right under security’s nose.
They were on a mission with most of the Avenger’s, minus Thor who was with the Guardians somewhere in space, and Vis and Wanda who were holed up in Scotland, when the call came in. Originally, Steve tried to convince the team to stay and help with cleanup, but when they heard Peter was in trouble no one would listen to him. The q-jet cut the normally thirteen hour flight in half, but that was still nearly seven hours his boy had been alone in the hospital. Steve was well acquainted with hospital visits in his teenage years, but he had at least always had Bucky, the fact that Peter was alone tore him in two.
Speaking of, the former assassin was just as on edge as the parents. Even though he would never admit it out loud, Peter was particularly important to Bucky. Ever since they had returned from the Soul World together two years prior, the two shared a unique bond. Steve never learned exactly what happened while they were trapped in that place, but T’Challa informed him that Bucky had taken the teenager under his wing almost like his own son. Steve and Tony were eternally grateful for that, losing Peter was the most soul crushing thing they ever endured, and they had had to endure literal lightyears away from each other. The Wakandan prince was one of maybe a handful that actually remembered the events of the Infinity War accurately, the ancient flower gave him unique sight. Even the rest of the Avengers could only piece together the events based on the stories of Stephen Strange and the small team that had managed to jump time and dimensions.
Almost like he could read his mind Tony spoke up in a clipped tone while gripping Steve’s hand tightly. “I can’t lose him again. I won’t....survive that, babe.”
Ever the realist, Natasha spoke up when she overheard them. “If it was anything too bad the doctor would have told you over the phone.”
“We’re coming up on the hospital now.” Sam announced from his spot in the pilot’s seat. “I called ahead to clear the rooftop for us but I’ll need to move the jet as soon as possible in case a helicopter needs to land.”
Happy met them inside the building, instantly rattling off apologies to Steve and Tony. Steve tried to tell him it was alright and not his fault, Tony told him he was fired, then Steve told him he would have Pepper talk Tony out of that decision.
“Mr. Stark, Mr. Rogers!” A latin accented voice drew their attention, as well as Natasha, Clint, Bruce, and Bucky’s. “Your son is right through here.” The nurse motioned them through a set of double doors and down a heavily populated hallway. Seeing the team march through the hallway as if they were on a mission attracted a fair share of attention, but the nurse’s stern face kept anyone from intercepting them. “He’s on a lot of pain medication right now, so he’s going to be a little loopy. The doctor will come talk to you shortly, she’s with another patient right now.”
“The doctor will come talk to us now.” Tony raised his voice just before the nurse could open the door.
“No, sir. Sorry, but Peter’s not the only patient here tonight.” Nurse Alvedo crossed her arms and glared. Only two other women had ever stood up to Tony like that; Natasha and Pepper. The rest of the team was impressed. “Doctor Augustin will be in when she finishes.”
“Ma’am, can you tell us anything about Peter’s condition?” Steve tried for a more delicate tactic.
Alvedo shook her head. “Sorry, only the doctor.” She held the door open and gestured for them to enter.
Steve grasped Tony’s hand for support when they entered the room and saw Peter hooked up to a monitor with a tube in his arm. They had both witnessed the worst and scariest humanity had to offer, but seeing their son laying helpless in a hospital bed was almost more than they could endure.
Peter opened his eyes and waved to the group. “Hi everyone!” He slurred out. His dads rushed to the bed.
“Pete, we’ve been so scared.” Tony grabbed his son’s hand.
“How’re you feeling, kid?” Bucky came to the side Steve was and gave Peter a friendly pat on the shoulder.
“I feel...my tongue is heavy.” Peter replied.
“He’s high as a kite.” Clint snickered from his spot at the end of the hospital bed, Natasha elbowed him hard in the ribs.
“What happened tonight, bud?” Steve asked softly while running his hand through Peter’s hair, unsure if he was comforting himself or his son more.
Peter crinkled his eyebrows together. “I went out on patrol, had a stomachache, started home, then collapsed on the street, then was here.”
“Patrol?” Bucky asked, confused. “What do you mean?”
Peter’s eyes went wide, like he was just realizing what he said. “I, uh, I have something I need to tell my dads.”
Everyone in the room looked at him in confusion but before it could be cleared up the doctor knocked on the door to announce her presence.
“Knock knock.” She said in a sing-song voice. “How’s my favorite patient?” Quinn walked deeper in the room where she could see Peter. The fact that the Avengers were crowding the room was just slightly intimidating.
“You say that to everyone.” Peter laughed at Quinn.
“Only to my favorites.” Quinn turned to Tony. “I’m Doctor Augustin, I’ve been treating your son tonight. Gotta say, he’s kind of everyone’s favorite around here.”
“He has that effect on people. What’s going on with my kid, doc?” Tony crossed his arms and glared at the doctor but Quinn saw right through his bravado to the concerned parent underneath.
“It’s definitely appendicitis. We have him on pain meds and antibiotics, but he is most likely going to need surgery to remove the appendix.”
“Surgery?” Peter’s scared voice squeaked up.
Quinn turned to him and tried to pull off her most ‘reassuring doctor’ look. “Here’s what’s going to happen. The surgeon will come in and talk to you, explain the whole surgery. We’ll keep you under observation for a day or so, then you go home and your parents proceed to next level spoil you for you a couple of weeks.”
Tony looked like he had more to say, but someone in the hall started screaming for Doctor Augustin. Quinn curiously poked her head out the door and was then violently grabbed. She felt cool metal press against her temple.
“Doctor Augustin.” A menacing voice sounded in her ear, but she couldn’t twist to see who it was.
“Please don’t do this.” Quinn was trained in crisis management and tried to stay calm, although it was more difficult when she was the crisis.
“You killed my wife and baby!” The man holding her screamed into her ear. “You probably don’t even remember them!”
Quinn thought back. This must be Tim Reynolds. Last week his wife came to the hospital with eclampsia, it had progressed to the point that despite Quinn and a team of OBYN’s best efforts both mom and baby had passed. Reynolds had been so distraught he had to be escorted out by security.
“I do, Mr. Reynolds. I do remember them and I am so sorry.” Quinn continued to try and remain calm but heard her voice shaking.
The gun was pulled away from her head and Quinn saw someone tackle Reynolds. It was James Barnes, the assassin turned Avenger that everyone called the Winter Soldier. Barnes moved enough to drag Reynolds to his feet but somehow missed the small .22 caliber pistol hidden in his pocket. Quinn could barely react before she heard the loud pop of the gun and felt pain explode in her shoulder.