he who hesitates is toast

* * * * * * *

It's been hours since he arrived at the lab to find Shuri still there and already preparing a room. He hadn't even had to ask before she briskly ordered him to help. Most of what he's able to do is move equipment or clean and disinfect things with the light-emitting wand she gives him to work with, but it's something, and every little bit helps keep him occupied enough not to think.

The problem is that now they've done all they can do, and the others still haven't arrived. Shuri is bouncing up and down on the balls of her feet, checking things on her tablet, and Bucky has taken to pacing back and forth in front of the lab windows.

"How much longer, do you think?" he asks. "You're still monitoring, right?"