No reply.

"Richard..." I call again my hand moving up his arm to his shoulder. "Please answer me." I say tears filling my eyes making it even harder to see. I reach up to his face and instantly feel the hot blood pouring down his face. "Oh my god Rich! Please wake up! You have to wake up! I need you!" I call out in agony as I try to figure out how to help him.

"Ma'am are you okay?!" I hear someone call out from behind me and I grip tightly to Richard.

"Help him, please, he won't answer me!" I cry out as I cup his face in my hands.

"We need to get you out of the car," The random stranger says and I shake my head.

"No, I won't leave without Richard."

"If we don't get you out now you'll die with him."

"That's fine, we'll die together. I won't leave him. help him first!"

"He's already gone!" the guy cries out and my heart stops.

"NO! you're lying! He's just unconscious. I won't leave him." I cry out as I cling to him.

"Look the car is going to catch on fire, we have to get you out now!"

"NO LEAVE ME ALONE!!" I yell at them as I feel hands grip onto me pulling me away from Richard. "Richard! Wake up! Please don't leave me!" I grip tightly to the steering wheel as I try to stay with him but a sharp pain in my stomach causes me to wince and momentarily forget myself as I wrap my arms around my waist. The bystanders pull me from the truck and carry me away as I kick and scream through the pain to try and get back to Richard.

"Confounded woman, Roy, go back and get the boy. She won't calm down till he's here next to her."

"Sure thing Pa." The boy responds as he races back to the truck.

"Look at me little lady," The man I figured was Pa says but I won't take my eyes off the truck.

"Richard..." I say my voice becoming hoarse.

"My boy's gonna bring him to you. I need you to look at me."

"It's my fault."

"No, it's not sweetheart, it was an accident."

"If he hadn't met me he wouldn't be hurt." I say tears streaming down my face. "It's all my fault."

"I called an ambulance, but I don't think they'll get here in time to help the boy." A woman's voice says making more tears fall.

"Stay here with her Ange, I'll help Roy with the boy." The old man says and I instantly feel a soft hand take mine.

"I want Richard." I say as I reach out with a blood-stained hand toward the wrecked truck.

"Calm down sweetie. Roy and his Pa will help your friend. Calm down and look at me. I need you to stay conscious."

"It's my fault. It's all my fault." Is the last thing I said before the world went dark.

The bright light hitting my face caused me to open my eyes. Everything was blurry so I blink a few more times as I try to focus on my surroundings. As they slowly come into focus the events from that night come back to me and my heart clenches. I reach up to my neck for Richards necklace but its not there. Throwing the blankets back I go to stand up only to be pulled backwards by the IV and heart monitor. I glance at them for a moment before I rip them out of my arm and start for the door ignoring the alarm that was now going off.

"Richard!" I yell out hoarsely as I try to find my friend. He wasn't dead. He couldn't be. "Richard!" I cry again this time a little louder notifying the nurses that I was up and wondering around. "Where is he?!" I cry out as a nurse runs up to me.

"Where is who sweetie?" She asks her deep southern accent filling her words.

"Richard, my friend. Where is he?" I ask looking around only to freeze hen a familiar pair of icy blue eyes stare daggers into mine. "Bucky, where is Richard?" I ask ignoring his disgusted gaze.

"My brother," He says his voice cracking momentarily causing him to roll his lips before he clears his throat and adds, "You killed my brother."

"What?!" I ask not comprehending his words at first.

"He's dead because of you. If he hadn't been with you, he'd still be alive. It's your fault he's dead."

"Mr. Barnes, don't you think that's a little uncalled for?" the nurse chastises but I ignore her words.

"It is my fault," I say making them both stare at me. "I killed him."

"Yes, you did." Bucky replies staring into your eyes. "It should have been you instead of him."

"Mr. Barnes that is quite enough!" A male doctor yells out making the nurse holding me jump. "Miss Lopez, please escort our patient back to her room."

"Yes, Doctor Banner." Miss Lopez replies as she half drags me back to my room. On the way back, I remember the necklace and asks, "My necklace, where is it?"

"It's in your room with your effects." She says and I no longer fight against her. I let her lead me back to my bed and after she replaced the IV and hooked me back up to the monitor she reaches over to a small envelope and gingerly lifts the silver chain and key out of it and hands it to me. As I take it from her I grip it tightly and hold it to my chest. None of this seemed real. Richard, my loving and caring Richard was gone, and it was all my fault. I had killed him. He was dead because he was with me. Turning over on my side I start to cry. I cry so hard and so much that I pass out from exhaustion.

"Doctor, I can't get her to eat anything." I overhear the nurse saying to Dr. Banner just outside my room after I return the latest tray of food they had gotten me.

"There's no helping it, I'll talk to her." He replies before opening the door and walking inside. "How are we doing today (Name)?" He asks and I ignore him my eyes focused on the window. "Come on, let's get some fresh air." He says and without so much as another word throws my blanket back off my legs. I turn toward him anger in my eyes but he ignores me as he lifts me up into his arms and carries me out of my room and down the hall until he can find a wheelchair. He sets me down into the chair and then straightening his coat grabs the handles of the wheelchair and starts to push me toward the courtyard.

"What are you doing?!" I ask anger filling my voice.

"Getting you some fresh air." He says wheeling me to a bench.

"I don't want any." I reply as I try to stand up only to have him grab my shoulders and push me back down into the chair.

"Be a good girl, and listen to your doctor."

"No,"

"Don't make me angry, you wouldn't like me when I'm angry."

"I don't like you right now."

"Then we have something in common. You're being a stubborn child,"

"And you're overstepping your doctor boundaries."

"Let's agree to disagree."

"No. I want to go back inside."

"Why? So, you can shrivel up and die from malnutrition?" He asks kneeling down in front of me.

"Maybe," I answer honestly.

"Why do you want to die?" He asks noticing my intent.

"Because it's what I deserve."

"Why do you think that? Because of what Mr. Barnes said?" He asks and my face pales. "He's just upset that he lost his brother. He doesn't mean the words he said.

"Yes, he does." I reply my eyes focused on Dr. Banners. "He would never say something he doesn't mean. Especially when it's the truth."

"It's not the truth. What happened to Richard was not your fault. You two were just in the wrong place at the wrong time."

"And we were there because he came to save me."

"Save you? What do you mean?" he asks and I shake my head.

"Doesn't matter now. When can I go home?" I ask knowing that if I went home Earl would most likely kill me. That's what I deserved and wanted anyway. Every one that loved and cared for me was gone anyway.

"About that," He pauses to sit on the bench beside my wheelchair. "Since there was no one alive in your records we were forced to call your biological father."

"No one alive?" I ask confusion filling my voice.

"Your stepfather, the police found lying dead from alcohol poisoning on your kitchen floor. I'm sorry for your loss." He says and I stare out across the courtyard completely devoid of emotion.

"And what did my birth father say?"

"He's coming to get you. He's going to take responsibility for you."

"Tell him not to worry about me." I say reaching up to run my finger therapeutically across the smooth metal. "No one else needs to get hurt because of me."

"You're not blaming yourself for your stepfather's death too, are you?" Banner asks and I shake my head.

"No, he did that to himself. He knew he drank too much."

"Then why are you worried about your father?"

"Cause the people who care about me tend to die around me." I answer honestly making him look away from me out to into the courtyard.

"I could tell you it's not true and that you just have bad luck but knowing you like I do now, it won't mean anything. You'll believe what you want to believe. No matter how wrong it is."

"Can you at least tell me what my real fathers name is?" I ask suddenly curious.

"Stark, Howard Stark." He replies and my eyes widen.

"What?! The billionaire? How is he my father?" I ask suddenly filled with denial.

"He was the father written on your birth certificate. He sounded surprised when I called him about you. I don't think your mother ever told him about you." He says looking from the courtyard to me. "And from your reaction, I take it you didn't know either."

"She would never tell me. I just took it as he was some lowlife that she regretted meeting. I left it at that." I say as the breeze gently moves my hair out of my face. "How wrong was I?"

"Since you are still a minor, if he doesn't take you in, you'll go into the system."

"And that would look bad on him if any reporters caught wind of it."

"Don't take it that way," Banner says taking my hand in his. "He may not be as bad as they say."

"Well it wouldn't be the first abusive parent I've had." I say as I reach up to rub the key.

"What do you mean?" Banner asks his eyes falling from mine to the key I was clutching to for dear life.

"Nothing," I say clearing my throat. "So, when is he supposed to show up?"

"He'll be here by tonight." Banner says, "But if you'd like, I can continue to be your doctor. That way you won't be completely alone in your new home. Plus, you'll need some physical therapy for your arm and legs since you refuse to exercise."

"I don't want to cause any more trouble than I already have." I say looking down at my lap.

"No trouble at all. I'll be with your every step of the way."

"Thank you, Doctor Banner."

"Please call me Bruce." He says gently patting my shoulder. I glance from him across the courtyard and a familiar face causes me to fill with fear.

"I'd like to go inside now Bruce," I say as I reach down to move my wheels myself. Bruce grabs the handles of my chair and starts to push me inside when a pair of black high heels step into our path. I keep my eyes focused on the ground as she says, "(Name) can we talk?" I ignore her my hand unconsciously moving back to the key.

"Hello, I'm Bruce Banner, (Name)'s doctor." Bruce says holding his hand out for her to take.

"Oh, hello doctor, I'm Rebecca Barnes." She replies taking his hand.

"Barnes? Oh, right, I'm sorry about your loss." He says putting two and two together.

"Thank you, doctor, but I came here to talk to (Name)." Rebecca says worry in her voice.

"There's nothing to talk about." I say not looking at her.

"(Name), come on." She starts her voice cracking, "I want to apologize for Bucky."

"Don't," I say finally looking up into her blue eyes. The sight of them instantly reminded me of Bucky's and I could feel the pain and accusation in them. "I know what I did. Believe me if I could change places with Rich I would."

"No, (Name), that's not what I want. Do I miss my brother, yes; but I wouldn't wish you to take his place. You're my friend too. I'm worried about you."

"Well don't be." I snap and she stares at me tears in her eyes. "You don't have to worry about me anymore. I'll be gone soon enough."

"What are you talking about?" Rebecca asks surprise in her voice.

"I'd like to go in now Doctor Banner." I say ignoring her question.

"Wait (Name), please, you're all I have left of Richard. Mom locked his room up, no one is allowed to go in there. All his pictures have been taken down. Please, I can't lose you too."

"REBECCA!" A familiar angry voice yells out causing my body to fill with fear as I grip tightly to the arm rests. I look anywhere but at him.

"Bucky, what are you doing here?" Rebecca asks moving to stand in front of me blocking his view.

"I could ask you the same thing." He asks nearing us. My body starts to shake from fear.

"I came to check on (Name)." she answers honestly.

"Why? It's her fault she's here." He says and I feel my heart clench.

"No, it's not Bucky, what happened was an accident." Rebecca retorts angrily.

"Keep telling yourself that." He goes to walk past Rebecca only to stop as he realizes I am behind her. I feel something wet drip down my cheek and I realize I was crying. He stares at me for a moment before I say, "Please take me inside."

"I think it's time the two of you left." Doctor Banner says to them as he quickly pushes me inside. "Ignore him (Name). You have a second chance at life. Take it."