Chapter 9: Fear and comfort

Clint was sitting up in his temporary nest on the fourth floor, when he heard footsteps behind him.

"I heard you got pissed at a couple of ambulances," Clint said.

"How did you know it was me?" Banner asked.

"I could tell by your footsteps."

"Wow. I'm impressed."

"Thanks."

"Is this your temporary nest?"

"Yes. I come here whenever I am worried or can't think straight."

"Good for you. At least you don't have to worry about turning into a rage monster. Anyway, I just checked in with her, and she looked like she was crying."

Saying nothing, Barton leapt down from the window and ran down the stairs, with Banner close on his heels. This wasn't like the Natasha Romanoff he knew. She kept her emotions bottled inside, and only he had ever seen the emotions she showed when she felt like no one was watching. He ran into the room, and sure enough, he could see the tears in the corner of her eyes.

"Nat?" Clint asked softly.

"Clint?" Natasha asked.

"Yeah. I'm here. You aren't going to die."

"I don't know Clint."

"What's wrong Nat?"

"I don't know. It's just-"

"Just what Nat? You know you can tell me anything right?"

"I'm scared Clint."

"It's ok Nat. I'm here. Everything is going to be ok. Can you trust me?"

"I have always trusted you, and I will never stop trusting you."

"I love you Nat," Clint said trying to hold back his own tears.

"I love you too Clint," Natasha responded, finally beginning to weep.

"Nat, I won't let you die."

Barton was fighting even harder now to hold back tears of his own. He couldn't appear weak. Not now. Not when his partner was so emotionally fragile herself. He wanted more than anything to be strong. To be strong for her.

He put his hand on the side of her face, closed his eyes, and kissed her forehead. When he opened his eyes, he looked down and saw her smiling at him

"I'll be ok Clint."

"I have one quick q-" Chase began, stopping short when he saw what was going on and when Banner stopped him.

"Are you sure Nat?" Clint asked.

"I'm positive," Natasha replied.

"You think you're scared, I have had to find myself a temporary 'nest' just to get myself to think straight."

"Wow. Where is it?"

"Fourth floor, third corridor, last window on the right."

"Far away?"

"Best view of the outside."

"You do see better from a distance don't you?"

"Yes I do. Banner smashed a couple of broken down ambulances."

"He did?"

"Yes."

Natasha laughed and grabbed Barton's hand. She gently squeezed it and looked up at him, smiling. They had been together through pretty much everything. They had worked together ever since he spared her life. She honestly had no intention of leaving him now. They had fought together, trained together, even fought against each other when Barton's mind was being controlled by Loki.

"Are you crying Barton?"

"What? No."

"Don't lie to me Clint."

"I'm sorry Nat. I am trying to stay strong for you. It's just- I'm worried about you."

"I'll be ok Clint," Natasha comforted him, smiling.

"This is kind of awkward Nat. I am supposed to be telling you everything is going to be ok. I am supposed to be telling you that you aren't going to die. Not the other way around."

"It's fine Clint. I know how scared you are. Trust me. I am about ten times as scared as you. I am the one hooked up to a bunch of machines. I am the one who has to sit through a bunch of tests. Everything is going to be ok."

"I want to comfort you Nat. I really do. It's just- I don't know how."

"Just having you here beside me is comfort enough."

Clint took his hand away from hers, but noticed it did not move.

"Nat? You can relax now."

"I am. Why?

"Dr. Chase? Is this normal?"

Chase walked in and grabbed her arm.

"What's wrong?"

"Can you feel my hand at all?" Chase asked.

"No. I can't why? Is that bad?"

"Her right arm is paralyzed."