Clint felt his heart pounding as he rushed after the medical team transporting Natasha, the rest of the Avengers on his heels. Natasha's heart stopped twice during the thirty minute flight to the closest S.H.I.E.L.D helicarrier, each time shaving years off of Clint's life expectancy. It was already short enough with his career as an assassin. He didn't know what Natasha had been exposed to, didn't think the doctors knew either and that sent him into a downward spiral of panic as he raced through the halls of S.H.I.E.L.D following Natasha's stretcher.

"No, Friend," Thor said, wrapping an arm around Clint's chest as he tried to walk through the doors of the medical bay.

"Thor, let go of me," Clint exclaimed, struggling against Thor's Asgardian strength to no avail.

"The healing room is no place for you to be while they tend to Lady Natasha," Thor said seriously, his voice filled with worry.

"He's right, Clint. You've got to let the doctors do their job and take care of her," Steve agreed.

"Take care of her?! She crashed twice, Captain," Clint said, feeling his tenuous grip on his emotions slowly slipping away like sand between his fingers. "They don't even know what's wrong with her."

"And neither do you," Bruce replied calmly. "Having you breathing down the doctors' necks won't help the situation. S.H.I.E.L.D has people gathering samples and searching the building as we speak. They'll figure out what's wrong with her."

Clint looked around at his fellow Avengers, his brothers-in-arms, his family and knew they were right. He slumped slightly in Thor's grip, the fight going out of him.

"Don't worry," Tony said, placing a hand on Clint's shoulder. "Our Tasha is a fighter. I'm actually surprised she hasn't shot me yet for calling her our Tasha," he said, stepping away from the doors to the medical bay. "You screaming bloody murder again won't help the situation."

"Again?" Clint asked numbly.

"Yeah, don't you remember screaming at the top of your lungs in the plane?" Tony asked, trying to lighten the mood. "I thought you were gonna make Bruce hulk out on us and then we really woulda had a problem."

Steve shook his head, "It really wasn't that loud; Stark's being dramatic as usual."

"Play nice guys; I'm gonna go get a first aid kit to clean up your head, Clint" Bruce said, walking quickly down the hall.

Clint leaned against the wall, slowly sliding down until he sat on the floor. "My head," he muttered to himself, touching his forehead. He had completely forgotten about his bleeding head wound in his complete and utter terror over Natasha's health. "I forgot all about it."

"Like I said, not surprising through all the screaming. Didn't know you had those lungs on you, Barton; I'm surprised I've never heard you and Natasha going at it in the bedroom," Tony said with a cheeky smile.

"If I have to get up from the floor to grab you Tony, I'll make you wish Natasha had gotten her hands on you first," Clint said, glaring at Tony. "I may not have my bow, but I've still got a lot of weapons on me."

Tony swallowed, his palms sweating. He wondered if he might have gone a little too far in his attempt to get Clint out of his worry. 'Always forget he's a master assassin with all the time we spend together,' he thought.

"Come on Tony, let's go look for some food before Clint feeds you your Iron Man suit," Steve said, walking away from the group.

"I shall remain with Friend Clint," Thor said, sitting beside Clint on the floor. "We shall await your return."

Clint and Thor sat in silence for a few minutes, only the sound of shuffling in the room filling the quiet. Clint clenched his jaw every time there was a sudden flurry of activity, resisting the urge to get up and rush into the room. He knew he wouldn't be any help; he would just get in the way and distract them from what they really needed to focus on, but god his heart ached to be apart from Natasha. To know she was sick and possibly dying from Fury only knows what and all he could do was sit in the hallway outside the room and wait tore him to shreds.

"You care very much for Lady Natasha," Thor said quietly.

Clint nodded. "Of course, she's my partner."

"Tis true that Lady Natasha is; she is a most fearsome partner indeed. But there is much more to you both, another relationship."

"What are you talking about?" Clint asked hesitantly.

"Have you confessed you love to her?" Thor asked bluntly.

If Clint had a drink in hand, it would have been the best moment to do a TV spit take. "Wh-what? Of course not."

"Why not? It is clear that you and Lady Natasha have deep feelings for each other; all have observed it. Is your love forbidden?" Thor asked, intending to have a talk with Fury if he was keeping two of his closest friends from being together. "Is that the reason you have not confessed your feelings to her? It is clear from your distress over her health that you care for her most deeply."

"Thor, it's not that simple," Clint sighed, running his fingers through his hair. "Natasha and I are both complicated people. We've finally found some kind of peace with each other, a home that doesn't have walls but no one can tear down and I don't wanna ruin that with her."

"But you do not deny that you have feelings for her," Thor said, smiling slightly.

"I-"

"Hey Goldilocks, I found you some poptarts," Tony said, tossing a package to Thor while he walked toward them.

"Do not hesitate to tell her of your feelings; time is not infinite," Thor said quietly. "Many thanks Man of Iron."

"And I've got a first aid kit," Bruce said, kneeling in front of Clint. "Let's get you all cleaned up."

What was Clint gonna say? Why did Tony interrupt them? What do you wanna see happen? Reviews please