Starting Over

Ch 23

It's 2 am when Wanda wakes with a large gasp, her bed and other furniture crashing to the ground. She feels a hand reach out to touch her and panics slightly, pushing herself farther away until her back hits the headboard. Let me go. No, please, no... Don't touch her. Her vision still clouds with red and the swirls creep their way out of her shirt sleeves, that are currently wrapped around her as a form of defense. That was never enough to stop it, to stop them. She frantically gasps for air trying to control her breathing as she hears her name being called, echoing, pulling her from her thoughts.
"Wands...Wanda.... Wanda!" Sam yells, as he snaps her from her thoughts looking at her with concern. "Hey, you're okay, just a nightmare." He adds seeing her eyes register his presence for the first time.
Wanda shakes her head, managing to mumble out "Real." He reaches out a hand to touch her shoulder, she flinches in response.
"Hey, I'm not going to hurt you." He reminds her, he knows not to take it personal. His experience with both his own and others' trauma has let him know that PTSD is a serious issue. "Can I touch you?" He asks holding out a hand. Wanda looks over his form before moving to cross the bed towards him, grabbing his hand. She seems to calm a bit at the interaction and he pulls her into a hug when he notices she's back to her normal self. She leans her head onto his shoulder. "Think you can go back to sleep?" Sam asks, Wanda nods hesitantly. "Do you want me to stay?"
"No i-it's okay... thank you, Sam." Wanda replies trying to form small smile.
"Of course, little witch. I'll be right down the hall." Sam says giving her a hug before leaving.
Wanda still shaking from her nightmare looks around her room. The scattered books that had fell from the bookshelf that currently laid on its side, her lamp from her desk shattered on the floor, her bed leaning a little to one side. She struggles to find her phone among the mess, but she needs to hear their voices.

Meanwhile, Steve and Natasha sit gathered around the small kitchen table, sipping on coffee while Melina hums a song behind the counter. It's currently after lunch time and the family has been determining the best course of action. Files litter every surface. Everyone still in their lounge wear, faces filled with exhaustion from little nights rest and the weariness of looking into unwanted memories. Natasha feels her phone buzz from her back pocket and answers it quickly seeing Wanda's name flash on the screen. She frowns seeing as it would be well into the middle of the night in New York.
"Hey baby, what's wrong?" Natasha answers stepping away from the group. She sees Steve eye her with concern before she motions for him to follow her. They head into Natasha's bedroom, as Natasha puts Wanda on speaker.
"N-nothing... I just wanted to hear your voice." Wanda stutters and Natasha's heart hurts immediately knowing Wanda had a nightmare and she wasn't their to comfort her.
"Malysh..." Natasha starts and she can hear Wanda sniffling through the phone.
"I-I'm sorry, I know you're working..." Wanda sniffles
"Honey, talk to me. What's bothering you?" Natasha asks
"Will you just... can you come home?" Wanda asks, Natasha hears the begging in her daughter's voice. She's clearly shaken up. Steve notice's Natasha's face fall immediately reaching out to comfort her.
"Soon baby I promise, okay? just a few more days." Natasha manages to get out, tears pooling in her eyes.
"Okay." Wanda manages to choke out as her sniffles have increased to sobs. Steve listens tears glistening in his own eyes, as he speaks into the phone. "Hey, kiddo..."
"Papa..." Wanda replies
"It might help if you tell us what your dream was about..." Steve adds
"I didn't want them to... but they did...they always did. Pietro told them no. I told them no. but they wouldn't.... they wouldn't stop..." Wanda cries into the phone, close to hyperventilating. "I want the voices to stop...I want the dreams to stop..."
"You've got to breathe, baby. Deep breaths." Natasha says into the phone. She hears Wanda trying to catch her breath, mouthing to Steve. "We've got to go home or bring them here."
"I want you to come home..." Wanda says in a voice, they've never heard her sound so young. Steve caves first, which is surprising to Natasha but not really the girl has him wrapped around her finger.
"Okay, sweetheart. We'll be there soon, as soon as we can get a jet here." Steve says and Wanda's sobs stop so she can listen, mumbling an okay before the two adults say their goodbyes and rush to grab what little belongings they had with them.