"What the heck is going on here? What are you all going on about?" Sam asked. He was having a nice run around the gardens just moments ago. He had come back to get himself a snack when he heard all the yelling in the living room. He was surprised to see Scott and Steve in a standstill and Wanda going on the defensive with the other two occupants in the room.

He saw Steve release his grip on Scott’s clothes. And Scott took that moment to shove the Cap away from him. He watched as Scott dust off imaginary dust on his clothes and stood beside Wanda. Steve scowled and took his place beside Barnes and Barton.

Sam waited a little bit for the two sides to collect themselves.

"What’s going on? Why were you fighting each other?" He asked once more.

Steve spoke up first. "The tower was attacked." He growled. "Bucky, Clint and I agree that we are needed back in New York. The others might still be in danger."

Scott scoffed before he too spoke up. "The others can take care of themselves. If we go now it’s going to cause more trouble! Why don’t you get that? It’s not only going to put us at risk it’s going to put the others in danger also."

"If we aren’t there they might be physical danger! I just witnessed Tony being strangled!"

"Whoa whoa! Both of you down!" Sam came in-between the two before they could get into another physical altercation. "Fighting among ourselves is not going to help one bit! It seems like there are different opinions going on. Steve before we jump the gun let’s see if we can get more information on the situation ok? Scott you are willing to follow Cap’s lead if you agree that the other’s or the world is in danger right?"

Scott nodded while Steve shook his head. "Sam, this might be a time sensitive matter. It already takes 13 hours for us to go back to New York. If we wait longer we might not make it in time."

Scott rolled his eyes. "Last time you thought it was time sensitive battle it turned out the whole threat were already killed and left us at the mercy of Ross."

"You’re the one who agreed to help us! We didn’t force you. You decided to act as the distraction!" Clint shouted.

"Yeah! I helped because I thought the world was in danger! But guess what? It wasn’t! Now I can’t see my daughter! And for what? Absolutely nothing! The Winter Soldiers were dead! If we didn’t jump to conclusions this all might not have happened! I wouldn’t have to be hiding half the way around the world!"

Sam watched with dread his team, once again, started falling apart. "Stop! Yelling is not going to help. Scott I don’t think it’ll hurt for us to be closer to New York if things does go south. So how about he hide out somewhere closer yeah?" Sam looked over his shoulders for confirmation from Steve who nodded in agreement. Scott looked like he wanted to argue more before he was stopped by Wanda’s hand on his shoulder.

"Sam, Captain. If we agree to go closer to New York can you both promise us that we won’t do anything reckless? I want to help the others as much as all of you. But I also agree with Scott that if we act reckless right now we will make everything worse."

"We will only act when we are needed." Steve gave her his word. Scott begrudgingly backed off.

Bucky watched the whole altercation silently. Maybe his new team wasn’t united as he first believed. He understood Steve’s point of view. But He also knew Lang and Maximoff was right also. If the government saw not just the fugitive Avengers but also him… He knew it would be a nightmare. It would be better if…

"I won’t go to New York"

Steve’s reaction was instantaneous. "Bucky!"

"If I go now… and the government sees me with you all… It wont be good for anyone. Besides, my trigger aren’t fully healed. It would be better if I stayed." Bucky watched as his friend shook with frustration.

"Fine stay. I don’t care if none of you come with me. I’m going so that I can protect my friend." Sam tried to stop Steve as he rushed out of the room. Clint glared and he too rushed out of the room.

Sam’s shoulder slouched. He almost had everything under control! He turned towards the others still in the room. "Well are you two not going to come either?"

Scott pouted as Wanda pleaded with him with her eyes. Without a word Ant-Man made his way out with Wanda close behind him. Sam sighed as the two of them left. He turned one last time towards Barnes. Barnes nodded and Sam made his way out.

Bucky was once again alone.

XXX

Hank was looking over the footages of Tony’s recording of the Other T’Challa. The man was awake now and was pacing in his glass cell. He watched the man as he vented his anger on the wall trying to break them. But without his vibranium suit the man was helpless inside. Hank fast forward to the marker Stark had inputted. Here the man started seizing. Hank watched Tony rush into the room and give him emergency medical care. The seizure stopped and the man was once again unconscious.

So this man was the one who had the aneurism. Hank fast forwarded once more. This time he watched as the Other T’Challa started having auditory and visual hallucination. He was talking non sense while he tried to fight off the imaginary people in his cell. The man became fearful begged fiercely to be let out. He yelled about the monster coming for him. He howled and growled and began acting like an animal and prowled around the cell on all four limbs.

This was much worse than Hank had thought. T’Challa had stated there was an aneurism in the cortex… But to show this much symptom, the aneurism must be affecting the temporal lobe of the brain. Hank was pulled from his concentration when he received a call from Stark.

"This is much worse than I thought." He answered without a greeting as usual.

Stark was sitting in the lab looking grim. "Yeah… It’s pretty bad. You said T’Challa told you it was aneurism? Well here are the MRI I just took." A different image filled his screen. "It’s not just the aneurism. His brain is deteriorating. Almost half the area of the Frontal Lobe has already deteriorated. His temporal lobe is highly affected also. He’s been having hallucination non stop after he woke up." Tony looked stressed. "This isn’t my area of expertise. I’m trying to help much as I can, but since T’Challa asked for this to be confidential I can’t bring in any doctors. What do you think?"

Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

Hank had similar diagnosis. No wonder Wakanda was looking for other cures. Surgery was almost impossible. "Do you think Extremis would have any effect?" Hank asked.

"Well it was built for the healing factor… I assume it might be possible. But whatever procedures he needs to go through it has to be soon. His Brain is dying in an alarming rate."

"Do you have any Cryobeds? Wakanda had him in Cryostasis to prolong his life." He informed Stark.

"Sadly no. I need to tell T’Challa that we need a surgeon. Even if we could use the Extremis, we’ve been focusing on it’s properties on non living organism. It will take months before any finish product will help him. He needs surgery to relieve the pressure that’s building up." Tony looked thoughtful for a moment. "I think I know someone who would be able to perform the surgery. But it needs to happen soon."

The older scientist nodded in agreement. "When’s T’Challa’s ETA?"

"He should be hitting New York in 5 hours" Stark replied.

"I’ll be there in 8."

"Ok. I’ll see you soon. If any change happens I’ll send you more footages."

XXX

When Scott and Wanda entered the Aircraft Hanger they were met with Steve’s yells.

"What do you mean we can’t leave the country?"

"I’m sorry Captain Rogers. His Majesty had specifically ordered us to not allow you and your fellow comrades to not leave the palace grounds." One of the soldiers meekly replied.

"Let me talk with T’Challa then!"

Another solider came forward. He stood tall and had a scowl as he tightened his grip on his weapon.

"Captain Rogers, know that you are here on His Majesty’s grace. If you continue to threaten we will treat you as a hostile." He stated coldly. Scott watched as Roger’s face became red. He acted quickly as he got in front of the Cap and the soldier.

"Hey! We understand. No need to be a grouchy grouch." He stated joyfully as he firmly place his hand on the soldier’s shoulders. And as quickly the soldier retaliated by grabbing his hands and twisting his body. Scott let out a soft yelp from pain before he stood his ground and rotated his body to flip the towering man. The Soldier fell heavily on the ground and everyone took action instantly.

The other Wakandan soldiers raised their weapon. Clint readied his bow and Wanda readied to fight. When the first shot was fired from one of the scared cadets, it signaled the battle. The secret Avengers pushed their way through as the army fell one by one. It was when all of them were nearly inside the Jet the reinforcement arrived. Scott watched them raised the heavy weaponry and He quickly closed the door to the Jet.

"Ok everyone seatbelts on because we’re going for a bumpy ride." Scott yelled as he brought out one of the shrinking disk he received earlier. "I never did this before so… Don’t blame me if we all die!" He yelled as he readied himself. Just as the soldiers outside started shooting at the jet he quickly placed the disk on the jet. Everyone inside the Jet gave a startled yelp as their surroundings began shrinking along with their bodies.

There was chaos in the Hanger when all the soldiers witness the jet disappearing. Commanding officers were yelling orders to find the Fugitives. And through the chaos the small jet left.

Sam was on wheel as he flew the Jet out of the Hanger and into the sky. He couldn’t stop the nervous laughter that escaped him. And soon he was joined by the rest of his company.

"I can’t believe it worked!" Scott yelled he plopped down on one of the couches. “I was so afraid we were just going to be crushed! When Hank told me the new disk application I was doubtful! Man that was great"

"It was great Scott." Steve answered for the rest of the crew. The two of them stared at each other for a moment. Soon Scott smiled.

"It was nothing Cap. Now let’s go save some people!"

XXX

Peter watched the dying man carefully. He watched as the man yelled, kicked and tried to punch his way out. He watched as the man cried in pain from hallucinations that tormented him. He watched and watched.

Peter watched as Mr. Stark ran around everywhere to help the man who had strangled him just hours before. He watched as he studied different medical researches. He watched as Mr. Stark tormented himself trying to find a way to help.

He could only watch.

He had absolutely no expertise in this area. He tried to read the things Mr. Stark had read. He tried to look at the MRI results. He tried and tried. But there was nothing he could do.

He had not felt this helpless in a long time. He had fooled himself. He thought he was important. He thought that there was nothing he couldn’t do. He thought with Mr. Stark’s acknowledgment of his intellect that he could help the future. He thought with his super powers that he could help the present. But now, He couldn’t do anything. He could only sit in the lab and wait.

When he heard the transmission from the Wakandan aircraft he was eager to do something.

"Boy. Where is Tony Stark?" T’Challa asked with fury in his voice.

"Ah, Mr. Stark is busy right now. He’s been running around looking for a way to help the other you." Peter replied sharply. He was already agitated by his feeling of uselessness and allowed his emotion to show through.

"Get him. We have a problem."

Peter felt his irritation crawl throughout his body. He wanted to punch something badly. But instead he stomped his way through the long rout to Mr. Stark. He could have just asked FRIDAY to notify him, but he needed to do something. It was in the lab he found Mr. Stark crouching in front of his table with papers scattered all around him.

This man was a true hero. He wasn’t like him who was running around the city causing more damage. He was the one was taking responsibility for his stupid actions. He was the man that was not only helping the present with his Iron Man suit. This man was the one who was preparing for the Future. He was the genius who was able to read couple of research and thesis papers and understand them perfectly. He was the one that Peter had strived to be. But now… he wasn’t sure if he would ever be good enough.

"What is it Peter?" Peter jumped a little bit when Tony Stark looked towards him.

"King T’Challa in on hold right now." He replied. Tony looked at him confused for a moment.

"You know you could have told me that through FRIDAY right?"

"I know. But I was feeling irritated with the Wakanda King and decided to put him on hold as long as possible." Peter answered truthfully. He expected to be scolded for his childishness but instead Mr. Stark smiled at him.

"Ah a man after my own heart! Don’t you just love the blinking red light? It really does appease a troubled heart!" The older man replied as he stretched his shoulders. "Let’s go tell some bad news to the Kitty Cat." Peter’s mood lifted just a bit.

The two of them intentionally walked slower and used longer route back to the communication.

When they finally entered the view of the camera T’Challa immediately began talking.

"We have a problem. The Avengers who were in my care left the country. I know that they will be coming here. I’m already being hailed left and right from different countries about the attack. I can not have it known that I was harboring wanted fugitives in my country right now." He ranted as the two in the room just quietly listened.

Tony had feared this. He knew this was going to happen. He was going to contact Rogers earlier but the Other T’Challa’s seizer had stopped him as he was about to dial.

"I’ll contact them to stand down. Don’t worry about them. I’ll take care of it."

"Right now I have Sergeant Barnes in house arrest in his room."

Tony cringed.

"So Barnes weren’t with them huh? Well don’t do anything to him. You’re only going to make Rogers more angry. Actually yeah don’t mention the house arrest at all. But right now that’s not the most important thing we need to talk about."

T’Challa looked at him for a moment before he understood his meaning.

"Is he dying?"

"Yes. He needs surgery right away. I know you don’t want his presence known to anyone outside this wall but he needs it badly. I know I’m a brilliant scientist but I’m no surgeon." Tony watched as T’Challa turned white. "I know someone that might be able to help. He is brilliant surgeon and I’m sure he won’t have any trouble keeping a secret if the price is good enough."

"Is he trustworthy?" The King asked.

"Stephen Strange… well he’s strange. His ego is bigger than mine. I’m sure he’ll be eager to perform a surgery that everyone else would say is impossible. And to him that’s the best price possible."

T’Challa nodded his approval.

Tony looked solemn and continued "Also one more thing you should know…"