Chapter 3: Welcome Home

A/N: I am taking some liberties with Bobbi's character... she is very young in this, as in her introduction.

Recognition shined on Bobbi's face and she smiled from ear to ear. "Agent Barton, hello. My name is Barbara Morse, but everyone calls me Bobbi."

Natasha squinted her eyes and peered around Clint to get a good look at this woman. She was young, in her early twenties. She had that "smart people" air about her.

Clint extended his hand, "Welcome to the team."

Bobbi smiled at Natasha. "Agent Romanova, nice to meet you. I'm sorry, Tony gave me this room, he said they're under renovations..."

"Bobbi's been assisting Big Green on his research. She's smart, and sexy, and smart." Tony said.

Bobbi blushed, "I've known Nick a long time. He was friends with my father, and I've been consulting the past week. I think Nick wants to make me a permanent member."

"Do you work in the field?" Natasha asked.

"I just completed my training. I'd love to go on a mission or two."

Natasha felt a hand tap her shoulder. She turned and found Fury behind her. "A word, please, Agent Romanova."

Nick Fury stood in the common area of Avengers Tower, and stared out the plate glass windows overlooking the city. Stark did get prime real estate. He heard Natasha step softly up behind him. He glanced over her shoulder, and saw her staring at his back with tired eyes and a bloody lip. She was encased in Barton's jacket and she was barefoot, her mangled shoes dangling from her hand. She was a warrior returning from battle.

"First, let me congratulate you on a job well done. Prince Mayamid's intel was top notch."

"Thank you, sir." She whispered.

"I put you and Barton in the same room for the time being while Stark completes his uprades. I trust that won't be a problem."

Natasha had to hide her smile. The two of them had slept in the same bed before, but this would be different, especially after what had almost happened last night. This would be good, a real test. They'd practically be living together. "Not a problem at all."

"Good. You've earned a rest. Is there anything I can do for you for the time being?"

"No, sir, I'd just really like to shower."

Fury smiled, "Absolutely."

Natasha turned to go when he called her name, and she turned once more.

"There's one more thing." He said. He sighed, "I'm going to be sending Barton out in a few days to do surveillance for a couple weeks. He had it pretty easy this time. But I'm sitting you out on this one."

Natasha gave a small nod. That was okay. She and Clint had been sent on solo missions before.

"I need you here while we work the China case." He continued.

Natasha frowned, "You're not sending him with us to China, sir, he helped me with Mayamid..."

"At the time we're in China, he and Agent Morse will be doing surveillance Poland."

"Agent... Morse?"

"Bobbi Morse. I believe you met her."

Natasha threw her shoes to the ground in anger, and shouted, "Director, we have worked together for so long... you are taking away my right hand out there!"

Nick stared at her with his good eye. "Agent Romanova, please calm down. I am not replacing her with you. You two are still my top two duo."

Natasha felt herself flush scarlet, which was a rarity in itself. She couldn't believe she had gotten so emotional over the mere thought of losing Clint as a partner. "I'm sorry," She said softly, "I'm just tired and very dirty and..."

Nick gave a curt nod. "I am not sending you to China empty handed. Thor, and Cap will be accompanying you." He cleared his throat, "You're dismissed, Agent Romanova. Go take your shower."

Natasha opened the door to Clint's room, well their room for the time being, and found a king size bed covered in deep red sheets and gold pillows. She paused a moment. Before she and Clint left for their assignment two weeks ago, there had been a double bed, which they both would have fit in fine, and the sheets had been a dark blue. She thought back to earlier in the day and Stark's little nick name for them. She'd have to punch him in the gut.

"Looks like Valentine's Day threw up, doesn't it?" Clint asked her. He was relaxing on the bed, still in his dark sweats. He was propped up against the head board, and reading a book about Poland, probably going over the dialect.

She laughed, and walked to the closet. All of her clothes had been moved and neatly arranged on one side. She'd have to thank Pepper. Clint's mostly black wardrobe hung at the other end of the closet. She took a moment to mentally take a picture of how their clothes looked hanging together. You're getting soft, Romanova.

Time to shower.

She turned to the bed and hesitated a moment before sitting down beside him. He didn't acknowledge her, so she assumed that they were going to pretend that their almost kiss never happened. "Do you have any towels?" She asked, spying the bathroom through the room's only other door. Without putting down his book, he reached over into his bedside table, grabbed two towels and handed them to her.

"Thanks," She said with a hiss.

He grunted.

Natasha closed her eyes and let the steam and water rinse away all of the blood and dirt and last mission from her skin. She could still smell Mayamid's salami breath on her neck, so she scrubbed harder. She turned off the shower, pulled on her robe, and towel dried her scarlet hair. Her reflection looked almost normal except for her lip, but that would go away before she had time to miss it. She walked back into the other room, and found Clint had abandoned his book. He lay on the bed, arms under his head, staring up at the ceiling. She padded quietly over to her closet, and grabbed a pair of sweats herself.

Her movement brought him out of his trance, and he turned to her. "Sorry, I'll get out of your way..." He jumped up off the bed and walked to the door.

"I don't want to kick you out," She said. "I could change in the bathroom." She pointed to the bed. "Stay."

He laughed, and walked back to the bed. She grabbed her clothes and shuffled into the bathroom. "So, Poland," She called to him.

"Yea, Poland." He said, and then, "What did Fury want?"

"Nothing much, just to tell me about you and Bobbi."

"It's going to be a cake walk. It's a training exercise. Surveillance in Poland for a couple weeks? Piece of cake."

"How new is she?"

"It's her first mission in the field."

"Wow."

"Yeah,"

"So, you'll be showing her the ropes." Natasha said. Good, this was good. Clint was going to be off getting cozy with a pretty, young blonde.

"Are you alright, Nat?"

"Fine." She wasn't exceptionally pleased that Clint would be training with another attractive young woman. She'd prefer it be a dude. A big one. With muscles. But there was nothing she could do about it. He's living with you. She reminded herself. "How long?"

"Three weeks..." he said.

"I'll miss you in China." She said.

"Give them hell for me."

"You got it." She walked out of the bathroom, and laid down beside him. Though it still was early in the day, Natasha was exhausted. "I can not sleep well on choppers." She said.

"You never could." He told her, and wrapped the blanket around her. He saw her eyes beginning to droop, and he heaved himself out of the bed. "You get your rest. I'm going to work out."

"Okay." She whispered, her eyes already closed.

Clint reached over and kissed her forehead before closing the door tightly behind him.