Chapter 4 – First steps
She slowly came back to consciousness, but her training kicked in and caused her to still appear to be sleeping. She assessed her situation from inside out. She didn't feel any real pain but her left arm was numb. She didn't hear any indication that she was in trouble either – all she really heard was the soft breathing of someone not too far away from her. After assessing that she was for the moment relatively safe, her eyes flickered open and she looked around. She was definitely not on a jet anymore. She was in a white room, in a white bed, with white sheets while wearing a white gown. Call her crazy but she thinks she's in a hospital. She looked out the window that displayed a busy hall of medical personnel along with many dark suits. Ah. She was in SHIELD medical. That was an even worst fate that being captured by the enemy.
She sighed and finally noticed the tired body slumped against the foot of her bed. That looked really uncomfortable. The head full of messy curls sunk deeper into the sheets as the man continued to sleep in that awkward position. She chuckled softly. He could have slept in his quarters on the ship but instead he chose to sleep here – probably waiting for her to wake up. She looked to her side and noticed a pile of get well soon cards and sitting on top of them was a tiny group of action figures. There was a little Iron Man, Thor, Hawkeye, Captain America and a Hulk. The first four were holding a sorry card – she smiled at their unconventional thoughtfulness. She picked up the Hulk toy. It wasn't even close to how scary the real thing was – but that was probably the point.
Her movements seemed to cause the slumbering figure to stir and sleepily looked up around him. Suddenly he bolted upright and starting apologizing frantically.
"Oh my god! I'm so sorry! You're awake! I was sleeping on your bed – did I wake you? Do you need anything?" He asked anxiously. She chuckled at his unsurprising reaction. She shook her head and smiled at him.
"Why are you smiling?" He asked cautiously. She shrugged.
"No reason." She said simply. He looked at her suspiciously.
"You're too happy for someone who just woke up in a hospital room a few hours after a near death experience." He said slowly. She rolled her eyes.
"You're a doctor and apparently a psychologist – why don't you tell me why I might be ecstatic right now?" She teased.
"Aside from the fact that you aren't a pancake?" He asked warily. She snorted.
"Yes, aside from the fact I'm alive."
He sat there and thought about that for a second. Then he groaned.
"You're happy because of our epic mission fail I agreed to your creepy graveyard trip." He said as his head fell back onto the bed. She rolled her eyes at his antics once more.
"Yes and no. I'm happy we are finally going to do something about these ghosts, but the mission was not a failure – the explosion definitely took out the files with it." She said simply. He waved her comment away with his hand.
"Details." He mumbled into the sheets. She raised an eyebrow but decided she would let that one rest for today.
"So Doctor Banner – in your professional opinion – what is my diagnosis?" She asked curiously. He looked up and gave her a bemused look.
"Not good. But not as bad as it could have been." He said vaguely. She stared at him as if to say – seriously that's it? He rolled his eyes and sat upright in his chair once more.
"Other than a million cuts and bruises you had all over your body? You actually didn't break any bones. You only seriously twisted your left arm – it will have to be splintered for a week at least." He said sliding effortlessly into Doctor Mode. She watched him in amazement. He really was so much more than just an enormous green rage monster. She unconsciously decided in that moment that she was going to make him one day see in the mirror what she sees in him right now – even if she has to die trying.
"What would you say if I suddenly decided to disappear from medical right now?" She asked suddenly. He watched her warily.
"Would I be able to stop you?" He asked in return. She simply grinned at him and he sighed.
"You would be discharged in the morning at the latest. If you want to run away sooner I won't stop you." He finally relented. She did a small fist pump before throwing the ugly white sheets off of her and standing up. She wobbled and grabbed on his shoulders. He steadied her and raised an eyebrow.
"Don't you dare say it! I had near death experience – you can't blame me for being a little unbalanced at first." She said sticking her tongue out at him. She looked around searching for something. "Do you know where my clothes are?" She asked curiously. He pointed to the side table. She opened the draw and pulled out a fresh set of clothes. She looked at him expectantly.
"Well?" She asked. He looked at her in confusion before realization set in and he turned beet red. He spun around and frantically covered his eyes. She laughed at his cute reaction once again. She started to change into her own clothes and discard the ugly white gown when halfway through the process she came across the problem of how to get her splinted arm through her sleeve.
"Um Bruce? A little help here?" She asked awkwardly. He turned around with his eyes still closed. She watched him in amusement.
"You're going to need to see to help me you know." She said dryly. She could see some red creeping up his neck as he opened his eyes slowly. She raised an eyebrow.
"Help?" She asked warily. He coughed into his hand before helping her get her injured arm into her sleeve.
"There – now you're ready to run away in style." He said staring anywhere but at her. She suddenly grinned evilly at him. Uh oh – that was never a good sign.
5 minutes later.
Bruce was decked out in a medical coat while pushing a large cart full of what looked like medical supplies down the hall and towards the exit.
"I can't believe you talked me into this." He whispered under his breath. She snorted from under the sheets.
"Just a bit farther." She whispered back while peeking out from the gap between the sheets. Once they were finally out of the medical bay Bruce stopped in an empty hall and helped her out of the cart.
"They have security camera's stationed everywhere you know." He said as they started walking towards the hanger.
"Yes – but it pays off to be nice to your fellow agents – they don't mind turning a blind eye when you're trying to make a hasty exit." She replied as they quickly made their way down the most unpopulated halls in the ship. He nodded clearly impressed.
"How do you plan on getting on a working plane and off the ship without anyone finding out?" He asked curiously. She held up a security pass and Bruce rolled his eyes.
"I nicked this from Agent Hill a while ago. Gets you access to all areas of the ship and clearance for takeoff. I'm a prominent enough agent in SHIELD where not many agents are above my status. And I'm helpful enough that all the junior agents absolutely adore me." She said as they enter the hanger. She nodded to some of the pilots there and they waved back.
"And why is that?" He asked curiously.
"I save them from the wrath and Fury and Hill whenever I am around." She said as she signaled to the control room to prepare for her take off.
"I have this feeling you've done this before." He said dryly. She smirked but made no comment. She walked up to one of the smaller jets and climbed in.
"So? Are you coming or not?" She asked from the cockpit. He looked at the aircraft warily.
"Me and small enclosed spaces don't go very well together." He replied. She rolled her eyes.
"As long as we're not attacked on our way down it won't be a problem right?" She asked. He nodded slowly.
"What if I reach the ground and suddenly need a doctor?" She said mischievously.
"Are you trying to guilt me into coming with you Agent Romanoff?" He asked incredulously.
"Is it working?" She asked starting up the jet and placing the headset over her ears. He shifted from one foot to another before finally making up his mind. He climbed up the side of the jet and took a seat beside her.
"You are a wicked, wicked lady you know that?" He said buckling in. She shrugged as they prepared for takeoff.
"I try." She said as she turned on the communication link. "Black widow and Hulk ready for takeoff. Clear." She said into her headset.
"Black widow and Hulk confirmed. Gateway open. Clear." An agent from the control room acknowledged.
"I hope you didn't have a big breakfast Doctor." She said as they pulled forward.
"Why is that?" He asked as he found himself pushed back against his seat by the sheer force of the jet. She smirked.
"Because of this." She said simply. She pushed the joystick up and they cleared the opening of the helicarrier just in time to fall through the sky for a few moments before shooting forward at high speed. Bruce grabbed onto the armrests as he lost complete control of his bearings. He didn't what was up anymore.
"Oh my god." He said as he tried to find his stomach - he thinks he left it back on helicarrier. Natasha smirked.
"That was my exact reaction the first time I rode in a small double jet as well!" She shouted over the wind noise.
"I doubt that very much! Where are we going exactly?" He shouted back. She had that creepy grin on her face again.
"We're going to Russia Doc." She said as she pulled them into a few acrobatic loops across the sky.
"Holy shit – I'm going to throw up!" He said as the dizziness from the rapid movement finally caught up with him. She quickly righted the jet and waited for him to lose the green tint in his face – no pun intended (mostly.) After a few moments of deep breathing he looked at her incredulously.
"Did you just say Russia?" He asked in shock.
"That's what I said isn't?" She said not so subtly avoiding the question. He narrowed his eyes at her.
"Natasha…" He said warningly. She deliberately chooses not to look at him.
"Why are we going to Russia?" He asked suspiciously.
"Would you believe me if I said some of the graves I want to visit are there?" She asked in response.
"Well after a comment like that no." He said squarely. She sighed.
"There's someone I promised I would see on July 1st and that's tomorrow." She finally relented. He tilted his head curiously.
"This someone is alive right?" He asked. She scowled at him.
"Of course! I don't only know dead people you know!" She said heatedly. He put his hands up in defense.
"Sorry - not judging." He said apologetically. She burned a hole into his head with a glare but had to look away to make sure they didn't crash.
"We're going to visit a little girl named Sophia – she was one of the girls that I helped escape from the Red Room program a few years ago. I visit her once a year usually on July 1st – the day she was free to live her own life on her terms." She said quietly after a few moments of companionable silence. Bruce sat there thoughtfully watching her pilot the jet with ease – even with an injured arm. He finally came to a decision and placed a warm hand on her shoulder. She looked up at him curiously.
"You're a good person Natasha Romanoff – no matter what darkness you carry inside of you." He said firmly. She felt his honesty radiant through his words and slowly nodded.
"Thank you." She murmured in response. One day he would accept those words geared towards him as well – she would see to it.
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That was 360 change of pace I know! I thought we could have a have a change from the super serious mission atmosphere ;) shameless fluff anyone? Let me know which one you like better (fluff or action) I can always just write it in a weird mix and match form :)
