Chapter 28

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Cassie held her head in her hands, awaiting footsteps, a voice, a smile. It had been twenty-four hours. Not long in the scheme of things, but still torturous. Her words echoed off the empty walls as she spoke to herself. Passing time.

That same room...the one where she'd practiced with Stark. She needed no more practice, and he knew that. So she was here. Waiting. Hungry...

Cassie didn't really move. It hurt too much. A doctor had taken a look at her and determined that yes, one of her ribs had cracked. Resentment had overwhelmed her right after the incident, but now she was really too mentally exhausted to process it. She deserved this. Deserved everything.

Her door opened, but Cassie didn't move, just let her eyes slide over to the gap.

"Hi..." The boy's voice was muffled by his mask.

"Hello," she responded calmly.

"Are you hungry?" he asked.

"A little."

He shifted uncomfortably, his gaze on the floor. "Um...Mr. Stark said that whatever you're hungry for is fine."

"Anything he has."

"No preference?"

"I'm too hungry to care," she sighed.

If guilt could be visible through a mask, Cassie could certainly see it now.

"I'm-I'm sorry," he mumbled.

She felt no anger toward him. He was young, impressionable. And he'd apologized ten times on their trip to the complex.

"It's okay..." she nodded. "I deserve this."

The boy nodded a little and closed the door. Leaning her hear back against a pillow, Cassie let her thoughts drift. Steve... Maybe he was wondering where she was or what had happened. Maybe he thought she didn't care and that she'd left. Either way, Cassie couldn't stand the thought.

The door creaked open again, and Spider-Man stepped inside, leaving the door ajar. "I brought you pasta..."

He knelt beside her, and she lifted her head, sniffing the air, mouth watering.

"You know," she murmured, reaching for the bowl with a grimace, "you sound familiar."

"Well I have a pretty common sounding voice." He shifted.

"It's not that," she smiled at him. "I recognized you, Peter."

The boy immediately stiffened and said nothing.

"Come on," she smiled.

"I don't know who Peter is," he mumbled, standing, leaving the room, and shutting the door behind him.

Cassie sighed and stared at the food. She was starving. Stuffing the pasta into her mouth by the forkful, she moaned in relief.

The bowl was discarded within moments, and she leaned back, cringing. Cassie was very certain that she could get out of here if she wanted to. Now that she knew she could control her abilities, the world had opened up to her. Literally. She figured that she would be able to open a portal once she was physically strong enough. But she wasn't sure if she could now with a broken rib.

She would wait.

**********

Peter had returned that night to her holding cell, mask off. He'd begged her to keep it a secret, pleading his case, trying to convince her. Cassie needed no convincing and assured him that everything would be fine. He came every day after that.

She saw nothing of Stark or Rhodes. Only Peter and occasionally Vision. Peter would come to talk, to tell her about school and the projects he was working on. He would tell her about his friends and his aunt. She would talk to him about her memories of high school and how important they'd been. After a week of nightly conversations, Cassie felt very close with this high schooler.

One night, he sat next to her, sharing a bowl of popcorn.

"You know...my aunt found out," he shrugged.

"Really?" She glanced over at him curiously.

He stared down at his feet and sighed. "Yeah... I tried really hard to keep it from her. To protect her."

Cassie didn't say anything for a moment. "Everything will work out, Peter."

"You know, I turned down a spot in the Avengers..." he mumbled, glancing uncomfortably at the door.

"Tony asked you?"

"Yeah..."

"I thought that's what you wanted."

He sighed, running a hand through his messy hair. "I don't know what I want..."

She glanced down at her own clasped hands. "Me either, Peter."

He looked up, surprised. "What do you mean?"

"Do I look like I have my life together?" she laughed, gesturing around the room. A quick grimace overcame her though as the laughter sent a stab of pain through her rib cage.

"Oh...right..."

"Peter, have you spoke to Stark? When will I be released? When will I see him? Will there be a trial?"

"I-I haven't asked."

She sighed, nodding. The boy got to his feet.

"I'd better go," he murmured.

"Bye, Peter."

He gave her a little wave, backing out of the room. When he had gone, Cassie struggled to her feet. Standing and facing the far wall, she took a deep breath and held her hands out in front of her. She completed the motions as Strange had taught her, using all of her focus to bring a portal into existence. Shimmering light shined before her, and Cassie squeaked in delight. Looking behind her at the closed door, Cassie rushed ahead through her portal.

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