See amid the Winter's snow
It was cold, when he awoke, but not as bitter as he'd feared. There were people around him, he realized, talking quietly, huddled close for warmth. Images flashed behind his eyelids as he rubbed the sleep from his eyes; scenes in slow motion and vivid color. Pictures of Hulk and of crowds of people screaming, the dark Elves encroaching on the faltering light produced by the Hospital's overworked generator. Bruce' heart shuttered and he jerked up, afraid; he couldn't remember what had happened.
A hand settled onto his shoulder. “It's okay, Mister Banner. We're all okay.”
Bruce squinted at the man, willing his eyes to focus in the dim morning light and allowed himself to be pushed back down to the cot, into a seated position. He was dressed in a set of scrubs and Bruce looked from himself to the man, asking silently what had occurred.
“Yes, I – well, it's cold. I didn't think you'd really mind.” The man smiled a little awkwardly and Bruce shrugged as he pulled a wool blanket closer around his shoulders. “It's alright.” Always better than the alternative, of course. “So what -” Bruce's voice cracked and he cleared his throat, it was scratchy and dry as though he'd been yelling. Jack poured some water from a plastic jug that he'd brought with him and handed it to Bruce. “Sorry, um. What happened...?” Bruce gestured around the rubble of what used to be the receiving section of the hospital's emergency department. He had a pretty good idea already, of course- Hulk is a destructive force.
“You saved us.”
Bruce stared at the man and then at the crumbling emergency department. “I'm serious. You or what you became, kept those creatures away from us, from me and my crew, so we could keep the power running through the night. Now that the sun has come up, they retreated back to ... where ever."
The sun was high in the sky, trying to burn through the thick winter veil that was still blanketing the city with snow.
"They'll be back, -" Bruce paused, realizing he didn't know this man's name.
"Jack. We met last night, briefly, before .. " He gestured around and Bruce nodded.
"Jack." They shook hands and Jack seemed amused. "It's kind of like Deja vu. You said you might not remember me and I didn't understand at the time."
"It's only because I don't really know you." Bruce said quietly and changed the subject; he didn't really like to share just how much his mind and body was relinquished to Hulk when he changed. "Is - no one was taken were they?"
"No, actually. We did a head count this morning and everyone is still here." Jack shifted, uncomfortable suddenly. "They- those things, tried to take one of the children. You, um, that's what really set them up for a fight, I think. You caught wind of that and man, I swear I never seen anyone get so angry so quickly."
Bruce's face heated a little and he closed his eyes against the groan of slight embarrassment that was trying to force its way out.
"- you-He took off like a rocket and those guys didn't know what hit 'em. They recovered though and tried to use some of the people here as human shields, but he lured them away from everyone. I mean, sure, we took some injuries but nothing serious. Everyone is accounted for and we have you to thank for it."
Bruce had no idea how to reply, except to weakly shake Jack's hand when it was thrust towards him, again.
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