AN- I won't be able to post again until Monday, so hopefully this will be suspenseful enough to tide everyone over until then!

Ch. 10

A week after the kissing incident things started appearing outside Natasha's door. First it was small things, a tray of tea after a mission, one of the fuzzy blankets she loved after complaining that hers had lost its fluffiness. She originally passed it off as FRIDAY or Pepper being a dear but then there were the random gifts like sunflowers (her favorite), a box of ginger brew, and the latest one that she was holding in her hand, which she finally attributed to the team's favorite doctor, a large bowl of her favorite comfort food: broccoli macaroni and cheese.

The mission she had just returned from had been a rough one, a lot of her own personal demons had come up and she was a mess upon returning to the tower. She had texted Clint casually trying to find out where he was, she needed someone to talk to, but he had taken the weekend to return to the farm and spend time with Laura as the kids spent time with their grandparents, on the maternal side of course.

She wrapped her arms around herself and walked back into her room stabbing a bite of the warm meal and moaning as it practically melted in her mouth. The mission had taken place in Sao Paulo. There had been, dealings done there before. Before she had begun using her skill set for the good side. Tonight was a danger night and she knew it. She wasn't above deceiving herself about these things and forced herself to leave the oppressive silence of her apartment and go seek company, needing to simply look into the eyes of someone who understood what was happening inside. The only eyes she wanted to see, however, were the color of coffee and the soil after a gentle rain.

Giving up she called up to the ceiling, "Friday?"

"Yes Ms. Romanoff."

"Where is Doctor Banner?"

Natasha slowly walked into Tony's lab, for one of the few times in her life she was altogether unsure of herself and what she was going to do. Tony looked up from his experiment as he rounded the corner.

"If you've come in want of a punching bag go away. Try Thor. He probably wouldn't even wake up."

"Tony, where is Bruce, FRIDAY said he was in here."

He tossed some of the data away on the screen in front of him and made a few more calculations before answering.

"That's because I rerouted her system so that if you ever asked where Banner was she would direct you to me."

Natasha held back a wince at his words.

"Look I really..."

"You really don't get how much that guy is willing to sacrifice for you." Tony's voice increased in volume as he walked around the counter, "This man travelled practically around the world for you. Do you understand how much you mean to him?"

"I do now." She stared into his dark eyes pleading. "Where is he I need to talk to him?"

"There's just one more thing." Tony went on as though she hadn't spoken. "How much does he mean to you?"

"If he meant as little to me as you seem to think would I be trying to find him now?"

Tony stopped working and their eyes met.

"Now are you going to tell me where he is or not?"

Pursing his lips and shaking his head Tony looked genuinely apologetic.

"I'm sorry but I can't."

"Tony…"

"Because I have no idea where he is." He finished.

Turning on her heel she marched back out of the lab her curls quivering in renewed anger. If Bruce was determined to avoid her he might as well have stayed away.

"Well when the doctor deigns to present himself tell him that he can go right back to Fiji. He's of no use here."

-Clint-

He was laying on the couch with Laura as they listened to the sound of night roll over the farm. Clint loved being home, the tower with the team was home too, they understood his lifestyle and shared his demons, Laura knew that and he loved her all the more for never complaining when he stayed at the tower to relax between missions.

"You need to do this Clint." She murmured quietly in the growing dark. "It will hurt and she will be angry with you."

"Not the best sales pitch ever, honey."

Raising her head up from his shoulder she rolled her eyes and continued, "But she will thank you for it in the long run."

Rubbing her back gently she returned her head to his shoulder and they held one another close as the light of the stars peered in from the night sky.

"I know."

Clint was approaching. She could always tell, it was as though he created a new energy when he came near her that she always picked up on.

"What's up Clint?" She continued to flip through the channels on the telly. There was never anything of any quality on in the middle of the afternoon, which is why she typically went out and frequented small coffee shops almost drinking her weight in caffeine. This habit had increased as she was now also not welcome in Tony's lab after her outburst. He clearly had told Bruce for now the most she ever saw of him was his back as she entered a room.

"I'm sorry." He rounded the couch and sat down on the far edge which is back partially facing her.

She smirked and replied, "Well if I find my stash of sour patch kids messed with I guess I know who to blame."

"No Nat." There was pain in his voice. His hands were curled into fists against his leg and he was starting to cave in upon himself. Quickly she muted the television and moved herself closer to her partner. Placing her arm around his shoulder, for the first time since they had learned to trust one another, he pushed her away. Before she could protest she found a small bag placed in her hands. The kind that one would use to carry some sort of umbrella. Confused, she stared at Clint, waiting for an answer.

"Read. Then you'll understand." He gently pushed her again. Before she could argue he was gone.

She unconcernedly opened the bag and was greeted with the must of old paper. Clearly the bag had not been opened in some time. There were a myriad of different sized letters stuffed into the synthetic fabric. Carefully she pried one out from the others. It was a postcard from the looks of it, covered in exotic wildflowers of red and green. Turning it over she saw a handwriting that she didn't recognize at first.

Dear Natasha,

She skipped down to the bottom of the letter and stopped breathing for a moment as she read,

Wish you were here.

-Bruce

AN- I am so mean.

Review please!

-Anya