The Cold Of The Near-Grave

[Natalya Romanov]

Natalya, made as comfortable as they could figure out how, was in an environmental regulation bed in the center of the room. Her hair was a pure white. She was covered from neck to feet with a hospital sheet and it almost looked like they were one step away from moving the cover up over her face. She was fitted with a breathing tube, but it was heavily insulated. Several sizable windows allowed a view into the room itself and the whole canopy for the regulation bed was clear. The bed itself held a temperature warning, indicating that the bed was only to be opened by properly attired personnel. A screen on the side monitored her vital signs or rather the lack of an appreciable sign of them. Every so often, a nurse or doctor entered accompanied by another individual whose badge labeled her as a staff telepath. The nurse would make notes while the telepath confirmed the same thing, "Yes, she's still in there."

[Stan Bowen]

Stan looked on from across the room, his concern for his colleague obvious.

"What happened, Natalya.." He muttered to himself.

[Samantha McManus]

"I... I felt it," Samantha mumbled, standing near Stan.

[Stan Bowen]

He glanced Sam's way quickly, before turning back, somewhat relieved telepathy was something out of his sphere.

"What did you feel? Anything specific?"

[Samantha McManus]

"It woke me up. Cold, and shock, and pain..."

[Stan Bowen]

Stan nodded grimly.

"Something that did this, in addition to generating a psychic backlash hat reached you.."

He pursed his lips.

"We need more information. Quickly."

[Natalya Romanov]

As the nurse and the telepath left, a doctor, or so it said on his name badge, approached the two of them. "Ms. McManus. Dr. Bowen. I'm Dr. Ezra Lingstrom. I wish we could have met under better circumstances." He was a fairly average looking individual with short, dark hair and dark brown eyes that gazed through light-framed glasses.

[Stan Bowen]

"We feel the same, Doctor. Is there anything additional you can tell us?" He asked, glancing back Natalya's way.

[Samantha McManus]

"It... felt like she had her power turned back on her."

[Natalya Romanov]

"What we do know sketchy at best. Agent 13 wasn't very forthcoming when SHIELD dropped Ms. Romanov off here. She's sustained severe injuries to her abdomen, including a puncture..." He walked over to a large monitor on the wall and touched it several times, bringing up several images of various injuries. "A puncture that pierced her left side from back to front. We think that after she sustained that injury, she managed to place herself into some sort of cryopreservation state. The good news is, as long as she remains in that state, she's relatively stable. The bad news is, she's not healing with her body processes suspended. And even if we could thaw her out to get the healing started, her injuries might kill her."

[Stan Bowen]

Stan gritted his teeth, running through possibilities.

"Go tell Dr. McTaggart to open up the security locks on my spare office here. I'll be staying around for the immediate future. Sam, I think you better get in contact with Sharon Carter, get as many details as you can about what the hell happened."

[Samantha McManus]

"...aye. Keep us posted, Stan."

[Natalya Romanov]

Dr. Lingstrom picked up an electronic tablet and a stylus, offering it to Sam. "SHIELD left behind some paperwork for you to sign, Ms. McManus." He looked decidedly uncomfortable, "I believe Agent 13's precise words were 'let them sort her out'."

[Samantha McManus]

"I see Carter's people skills are improving with age," she smirked ruefully.

[Stan Bowen]

Stan scowled silently, flipping through the scan images on the wall.

"Bloody Supreme Headquarters bullshit. If we are on our own, it won't be the first time."

[Natalya Romanov]

The forms were fairly standard guardianship forms allowing Sam or another designee to make medical decisions for the patient. "I wasn't present for the actual hand-off so it's not for me to say. I didn't arrive until the SHIELD transport had left."

The images that Stan had immediate access to ran a fairly standard range from labeled images of the various injuries with measurements to thermal scans of Natalya.

[Samantha McManus]

Samantha frowned, but nonetheless signed the forms.

"I'll still need to talk with Sharon, after what I saw..."

[Stan Bowen]

Stan programmed the medical reports on Natalya to be sent over the network to his server in his office.

"Do you think it would be worth it to reach in, telepathically? Let her know we are here, and working to get her healed up?"

[Natalya Romanov]

"Our telepaths have confirmed that her mental defenses are still functional, if a bit sluggish. They've not attempted any more than a confirmation though."

[Samantha McManus]

"It'll have to do for now."

[Stan Bowen]

"I'm going to need to go over the files and sessions I have on Natalya and Bobby Drake.. I should be able to come up with a treatment plan with the Physicians on staff here."

[Natalya Romanov]

"If you need anything," Dr. Lingstrom said, "I'll be more than happy to get it for you. We'll get your office opened up for you right away. If you'll excuse me." He nodded to both of them and made a hasty exit.

[Stan Bowen]

"I guess he was in a hurry."

Stan turned back Natalya's way, and sighed briefly.