Chapter Two: Decisions And Memories

Clint's choice had been an easy one. He was going to bring Tasha home.

But he hand wanted to do this alone. The team didn't need to be brought in. They had fought too hard to finally be free from the cops chasing them.

But Fury thought otherwise…

Clint met Fury outside. "I'm going to need all the info you got," the twenty-eight-year-old told the older man.

"You'll get it when the rest of the team does," Fury responded, leaning against his car.

"No team. This has got to be me alone."

"It's not that simple," Fury replied. "The crew we're after hit like thunder and disappear like smoke. You go in alone… You won't ever touch them. I've been chasing this guy over four continents, twelve countries and believe me; the last goddamn place I want to be is on your doorstep, selling girl scout cookies."

Clint frowned, conflict obvious in his features.

"I need your help, Clint," Fury admitted. "I need your team."

Clint knew from those words that Fury thought Clint and his crew were the only chance he had to catch this new team. And that meant that it was Clint's only chance to bring Tasha home…

Clint bit on his finger as he drove to his sister's house. After she had Jack, he did not want to involve her in this. But he needed Bobbi and Lance to know that Natasha was still alive.

Lance and Bobbi were sitting outside with their son, enjoying a small family picnic. Jack wasn't particularly interested in his monkey as Bobbi tried to entice their little boy to play.

"I thought you liked this," Lance said to his son as the six-month-old let go of the monkey. He grinned at Bobbi as he reached over and picked up the blue Nissan Skyline GT-R R34. "Or this?" he asked, holding the car in front of his son.

Jack was fascinated by the car, reaching out to grab hold of it.

"Yes!" Lance exclaimed, grinning in triumph at Bobbi, making her laugh in response to his pride. Lance kissed Jack's head softly. "That's my boy," he praised.

Bobbi watched her two favourite men (of three, the other being her big brother) as Lance showed off the paper plane he had made to their son. "Now let's see if this things flies," Lance said to Jack, throwing the plane so it flew over to the driveway.

Just as it landed, Clint's Dodge Challenger pulled up in front of the plane.

"It's Uncle Clint, what do you know," Lance informed his son. Taking Jack's small hand in his much larger one, Lance waved at Clint for Jack. "You waving? Hi, Uncle Clint, what's up?" he mimicked.

"Hi, Jack," Clint greeted his nephew with a proud grin as he got out of his Challenger.

"Hi, Uncle Clint. What's going on?" Lance continued to mimic for Jack. "Are you excited to see him?"

"Are you already pushing imports on him?" Clint asked Lance, teasing the poor man.

"What are you saying? I'm not-… Dad's not pushing anything,," Lance replied playfully although defensively. "He chose that car," he informed Clint.

"Yeah we know he's a Hunter..." Clint started, pulling out a model of his 1970 Dodge Charger R/T from behind his back. Handing it to Jack, he informed his nephew, "I bought you something, Jack." He grinned when Jack reached out for the toy. "Yeah!" he cheered. "He's also a Barton," he finished, continuing to smirk smugly.

"Well luckily he has a couple more years to decide," Bobbi interrupted, moving her sundress over her knees as she moved to get up. "Right?" she asked her son, smiling at him when he blinked up at her sleepily.

"I think he's decided, Bobbi," Clint joked, making them all chuckle.

"I think it's time for his nap," Bobbi commented, watching Jack's eyes slide close with tiredness. She took Jack gently from Lance as she stood up. "Come on, Baby," she whispered to her little boy. "Say bye," she whispered to him, pressing her lips to her son's head as she headed inside to feed him before putting him to bed.

Lance watched the woman and their son as she walked them into the house. Clint smiled after his sister and nephew; he was proud and happy to see her happy like this.

While Bobbi was still inside, Lance grabbed two bottles of beer for Clint and himself; Bobbi was still breastfeeding so he grabbed her a bottle of non-alcoholic wine.

"It's weird, huh" Lance commented as he was nursing his beer, making Clint turn to him, confusion clear on his face.

"What's weird?" Clint asked, watching Lance carefully.

Lance moved his hands as if he couldn't believe the words that were running through his head. "We got everything," he started. "Down to the beer and the barbeque," he added, chuckling. "I. Just. I don't know. It just doesn't feel like home. Maybe it's because… Ah. You don't really appreciate something until somebody takes it away," he commented, looking up at Clint. "I don't know," he said resting his head in his hand. "You know you probably wouldn't recognise the place, it's changed so much."

"Yeah," Clint sighed, looking away from Lance. "Everything's changed."

"So what's up with you? What's going on?" Lance asked, eyeing the envelope Clint had brought with him.

Clint picked up the envelope and handed it to Lance. "Taken a week ago," he informed Lance as the former agent opened the envelope.

"Diplomatic Security Service," Lance read as Bobbi came out of the house, watching her brother and Lance with a worried look. Lance looked up at Clint. "Fury?" Lance asked but it sounded like a statement rather than a question. Lance couldn't believe what he was seeing. Natasha was dead. Because of him. The picture had to be a fake. "You know I used to pull this shit when I was a cop," he said to the older man. "This is exactly what cops do. He's messing with your head," Lance commented, dropping the file to the table. This had to be some sick joke. Sighing, he pressed his hands to his lips before saying one of his few regrets. "Nat's dead, Clint."

"I need to know for sure," Clint replied, watching Lance carefully; he knew Lance blamed himself for Natasha's death – but at the end of the day, Clint viewed it that Lance wasn't the one that pulled the trigger.

"Then I'm going with you," Lance decided.

"You said you were going to leave this life behind," Clint stated, thinking about Bobbi and Jack.

"We both said we were leaving this life behind," Lance replied, glaring at Clint; like Hell he was letting him do this alone.

"He's right," Bobbi interrupted. "We're family," she stated, resting her hand on Lance's shoulder. "You got a problem, we deal with this together," she added as Lance rested his hand on top of hers. "I'll feel safer knowing you're both out there together. Watching each other's backs. You're stronger together. You always were. Now go get Tasha. Bring her home."

So… You all liked first chapter… And you wanted more chapters. Thank you everyone :)

To answer the reviews from the previous chapter:

KittyCatChibi: Thank you :) I will :)

katara-zuko1714: Thank you :) I updated as soon as was possible :)

keerapark: Okay so :)

TinkStar87: I'm blushing. Thank you :) (This will have about thirty chapters ;)

Guest: Thank you :) Here's more :)

Ninja0404 is a fanfiction geek: YOU GOT MORE :)

ClintandNatasha: Haha, coincidence much :) Doesn't Dom find Letty in Fast and Furious 6 ;)

I was also in an accident this week – nothing more than an accident – so forgive me for taking my time with my other stories :)