Why me?

The Intern

In the med room, I pressed an ice pack to her knuckles, supporting her hand in my own. I saw her flinch at the contact, and she didn't look comfortable with my hand on hers the whole time I was icing it. Another one of Clint's behaviours – non-con touch was a big no-no. "You're unlucky Jess. By the looks of it at least two of your knuckles are busted. You're gonna need a trip down to the ER" I said.

She was resilient, brave and downright stubborn at times, refusing to give up; exactly what I wanted of my own intern. "I'm proud of you Jess," I added, smiling. I pulled the ice off gently and examined the remaining areas of swelling. I gently pressed on each of her knuckles one by one. She winced when I'd barely touched the knuckle of her middle and ring fingers. I shook my head and began to wrap her hand in bandages to keep it secure.

"What? Why?!" She sputtered. "I couldn't get the ball in the net if I tried, I had to sit out for ages and I practically broke my hand. I'm sorry, but why on earth would you be proud of me sir?"

"You couldn't get the ball in the net because of the nerve damage in your legs, but you tried. I saw you get up after falling the first time, trying not to cry, but you carried on. And you sat out, but not for lack of trying, you know your own limits Jess. Even top athletes can't gauge when they need to stop." She squirmed out of embarrassment, then I remembered I needed to ask her about the internship. "Are you busy tonight?" that sounded bad. "Not in a weird way, I'm just thinking about something." She shook her head. I tied off the bandage and put the ice back on it.

"No, no I'm not sir. Probably just trying to get my head around the physics homework I've been trying to do for three days." She replied, smiling a little.

"Good. You can finish your homework at the Avengers compound, and I'm sure Tony would help you if you need it. I'll take you there straight after school" I said, smiling back. Her eyes widened in realisation.

"The Avengers compound." She murmured to herself. There it was again. "Are – Are you offering me the internship sir?" I nodded. "I'll have to call my Grandma, let her know I'm not going to be home until later, and-" I cut her off.

"No need Jess. I'll sort it. I'll call your parents and organise it myself, right now, you need to sit here and keep the ice on your hand." I knew I'd said something wrong them moment I finished speaking. A tear ran down her face and she sobbed once.

JESS POV.

My parents. I'd lost my parents, and my baby sister, in the car crash that left me with nerve damage. Captain America had been there; He's pulled me out of the wreckage, kicking and screaming, refusing to leave my mom, dad and Skye. Did he not remember? Tears spilt involuntarily down my cheeks. How could he not remember, I certainly did?! Every damn second of it.

The gasoline tanker tipping onto its side. 

My dad trying to swerve around it but failing. 

A van hitting us from behind. 

My parents smacking into the dashboard. 

The airbags not going off.

 My sister falling out of her seat and flying through the windshield. 

And me. Sat in the back seat, my seatbelt holding me prisoner, unable to do anything but scream. 

Scream for my dad, for my mom, for Skye, for anyone to come and help.

Captain America had been put out on a scout mission, checking for survivors. He'd almost declared the whole scene dead, then heard my screams. He pulled me from the car, being ever so careful not to move me too much.

Since that night, I'd barely gone a day without having a flashback or remembering. I hadn't gone a night without a nightmare. PTSD had taken over my life. I still won't go in a car without checking mine, and whoever else is in the car's seatbelts at least four times.

I came back to my senses and found Mr Rogers crouched in front of me instead of sat opposite. He spoke quietly now, not looking at me properly, but staring at his shoes. "Jess, what's your surname?"

"Surname. Peterson." I said in reply. Dammit! I thought. I'd repeated what he'd said, a sure sign to him that something was abnormal about me. He knew. He did remember.

"Jess, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I should have known. There was something so familiar about you and your name the moment I saw you in my class, but I just didn't put the pieces together. I'm so tactless." He apologised. "I'll call your grandma and settle everything out." He stood up to leave the room.