Hey y'all! I just tried typing something other than y'all, and it looked so wrong I had to delete it and type y'all. I just want you guys to know that. Anyways, here's Chapter 10! That's right, we made it ten chapters! Things are going to start picking up a little in the next couple of chapters, not like end of the story is coming up soon- because it isn't- but it'll pick up a bit. I hope you enjoy this chapter!
Has anyone else noticed, Ryan Reynolds played Wade Wilson (Deadpool) in X-Men Origins: Wolverine, and pretty much everyone hated that movie, and he also played Matt Murdock (Daredevil) in '03 and that was a major flop that some people refuse to recognize, and then he played Hal Jordan (The Green Lantern), which was another disappointment to fans. Is it just me or does Ryan Reynolds just need to avoid superhero films? I mean, don't get me wrong, I love the man, he's amazing, and I don't blame him, I know it's the studios/writers/producers, etc. But sometimes you just have to go "Yeah, no more superhero films for me". Plus, there's rumor that he's going to be in the Deadpool movie (God knows when that's actually going to happen), and there's also rumor that the Justice League film will come out in 2015. I'll give Ryan this- he is passionate about his roles, especially the Green Lantern, but I just wonder if he's right for superhero films?
Disclaimer: I don't own any Marvel (Or the DC character mentioned above) characters. All you recognize not from my universe belongs to Stan Lee and Disney.
Maggie was silent; she tried to make sense of what she had just said. Clint stared up at her as she stood there, slightly shocked, and unsure of what to say. He finally broke the silence by patting the side of his bed. He moved over, giving her room to sit down and she shook her head. "No, no, I'll take the chair." she said softly and moved the chair over next to the bed. She sat down and he sat up, waiting for her to speak. "I uh, Thank you." she said after a long moment and looked up at Clint. "I never got to say thank you." she continued and he nodded.
"You don't have to thank me Maggie." he said softly, looking away he then quickly added. "You know we're going to have to find out what you know about your father's whereabouts soon-"
"Clint," she cut him off and he looked back at her. "I don't know why I'm here. Maybe to tell you I took your advice- or I tried to."
"Which sibling was it?" he asked and she looked down, before looking back at him.
"Scotty." she told him and he nodded.
"He was your younger brother right?" he asked and she nodded. "He was the one that used to follow you around?"
"Yeah." she nodded again. "He looked up to me."
"What happened?"
"He was diabetic. Too much insulin." she said softly. Clint reached over and lightly stroked her cheek where he knew her cheek would dimple when she smiled. Maggie smiled softly and touched his hand. "It's a lot to take in." she muttered. "I mean my whole life I was told family is the most important thing, and then it turns out my family consists of people more than willing to kill me." she chewed on her lip for a moment before looking back at him. "And now I'm sitting here telling all this to you because you're the only person who really understands my family, even more then me probably, and you're only listening because you were hired to kill my father." she shook her head. "I'm supposed to hate you, and part of me does, and that part of me is telling me with every fiber of it's being not to trust you," she explained and Clint looked away. "But then all of your friends, and even my friend, have spent this time telling me the complete opposite of what you told me and I want so much to believe it. I want to believe them, I don't want to believe what you told me." she continued. "And I'm so confused." her voice cracked slightly and Clint nodded.
"I can't take back what I said at the time." Clint told her. "Because I wanted you to go and live your life and not dwell on the past- our past." he looked at her. "But when I heard about him resurfacing, I had to make sure you were okay. And, under strict order from Adele, if you weren't okay, I was to make you okay." he explained and she let out a small laugh.
"I still do hate you though."
"I deserve it." he laughed and she smiled.
"I did dwell on the past- A little." she admitted and he nodded.
"So did I." he sighed before the door opened.
"There you are." the night nurse said and Maggie looked over at her. "You need to come back to your own room."
"Edina, leave her alone." Clint sighed.
"Why is that off?" the nurse asked gesturing to the Morphine drip.
"Because I'm an active agent who can handle pain way worse than a few cracked ribs." Clint replied and the nurse shot him a look. "You know if you want to improve your scary look you should really talk to Director Banner." Clint said casually and Edina rolled her eyes.
"Talk to me about what?" a voice from the doorway said and they looked over.
"Director, Agent Barton is refusing his morphine."
"You know, do me a favor Edina, can you go get me a cup of tea please?" Minnie smiled at the nurse who sighed. "Get one for these two as well." she pointed to them and Edina walked out of the room. "Well," she smiled when the nurse was gone. "I never liked her." she shook her head and Clint chuckled, and then groaned.
"Dammit Min," he said as he put his hand to his ribs.
"That one's on you Clint." she shook her head and looked at Maggie. "Hi, I'm Minnie, Bruce's wife. My husband says you're doing better."
"Your husband is a total sweetheart."
"Yeah I'm kind of fond of him." Minnie winked with a laugh and Maggie smiled. "Look, I just came to give these to Clint," she turned to Clint and handed him an envelope. "From the girls." she smiled at him and he smiled back.
"Ah, thanks." he grinned, then it quickly fell. "School didn't start yet did it?"
"Tomorrow morning." Minnie shook her head.
"Min, I've got to get out of here." he said quickly.
"You aren't going anywhere for a few more days, you know the drill with broken ribs." she shook her head.
"But I promised Kayla." he practically whined.
"She'll understand." she said sternly.
"Well, tell me this, did she get in the same class as that rude girl who calls her names?" Minnie's face fell slightly and he sighed. "Come on, you couldn't do anything about it?"
"What am I supposed to do Clint, there will always be someone calling other kids names. So long as my kid isn't a bully, I'll teach her how to handle it." she walked over and kissed Clint's cheek. "I'll bring her by tomorrow." she said before turning to Maggie. "It was great to meet you finally." Minnie smiled warmly at her and Maggie smiled back. The nurse came back with three Styrofoam cups of tea and Minnie picked one up. "Thanks, it's really getting cold out." she said and Edina glared at her.
"Don't you think someone should be getting back to her room?"
"Well I know you watch TV in there, but I don't think I'd call it your room." Minnie said with a small frown. Edina looked shocked and Minnie smiled. "Don't forget, performance reviews are coming up soon." she winked at Maggie and Clint before leaving. Edina left the two alone and Maggie looked back at Clint.
"Maybe I should go." Maggie said as she started to get up.
"If you're going somewhere, I know the perfect place to go."
"Oh really?"
"Yeah, three floors down, to the left of the elevator, go to the third room on the right, we'll go there and be right back."
"What?" she laughed as he pulled the IV out of his arm. "Oh, Jeeze, Clint!" she gasped and grabbed a tissue. She held it to the spot on his arm and he smiled at her before looking down at himself.
"I am way too obvious." he sighed. "Bring me that backpack." he pointed to a backpack sitting on the counter under the TV in the room. She brought it to him as he pulled the sling off of his arm.
"Are you sure it's okay to take that off?" she asked and he shook his head.
"Nope." he grinned. She smiled as he went to reach behind his head and stopped. "Maggie, I need you to untie this." he said referring to his hospital gown. She blushed lightly and he smirked. "Don't worry, I'm wearing pants under this." he said and she laughed lightly, but didn't say anything, she was still blushing. She untied the hospital gown and shook her head when she realized he was wearing a pair of athletic shorts under the hospital gown.
"Why are you wearing sports shorts?"
"For when I need to make a quick getaway." he told her and pulled a shirt from the backpack. "Thank you Nat." he said as he smelled the shirt and then slipped his arms through the sleeves. He started to pull the shirt over his head and groaned as he tried to lift his shoulder. Maggie moved in front of him and helped get the shirt over his head. He gave her a small smile before reaching into the backpack again and pulling out a pair of shoes. He dropped them on the floor and hopped off the bed, slipping them onto his feet. He looked at Maggie and then pulled a hoodie out of the backpack. "Put this on," he told her and she frowned as she looked down at herself, she had on a tank top and a pair of pajama pants.
"What's wrong with this?"
"People see the sweatshirt, they'll think we were just training." he told her and she shrugged before pulling it on. She regretted it instantly, it smelled like him. As she started to pull it off Clint grabbed her hand and pulled her to the door with him. "Do you trust me?" he asked and she hesitated.
"Ask me that later." she said and he looked back at her, before nodding and looking forward.
"Well, either way, the coast is clear." he said before he pulled her out of the hospital room with him. She shut the door behind them and he pulled her along to the elevator and hit the button.
"She's coming." Maggie whispered to Clint the moment she saw Edina the nurse exit a room and start walking to the nurse's station. Clint pressed them both up against the wall, trying to stay out of Edina's line of sight. Maggie's heart was beating in her chest; she was between Clint and the wall. He wasn't looking at her, he was watching Edina, but Maggie was looking at him.
It felt like forever, but the elevator finally reached their floor and opened its doors. Clint turned and stepped into it, pulling Maggie along behind him. She stepped away from him slightly, her heart still pounding; she looked at the side of the elevator and took a few deep breaths before the elevator stopped and the doors opened. Clint gestured for her to follow him which she did, and they walked out of the elevator.
"Act casual." he muttered to her as he led her down the hallway, and to the room he had identified as a kitchen. When they got there Clint shut the door behind them and grinned.
"How long do you think we have before they notice we're gone?" she asked as he used his left hand to open a few cabinets.
"We've got awhile. They're less likely to check on us, because aside from my shoulder I'm fine, and- Well, aside from you needing to gain some weight, you're doing a lot better." he told her and she frowned slightly.
"How do you know that?"
"Same way you do, I asked your doctors." he told her and she stared at him as he pulled a bag of popcorn from the cabinet. "Score." he grinned and went to the microwave. He opened the plastic around the bag with his teeth and threw the bag into the microwave before punching in the appropriate time. "What?" he asked and Maggie shrugged.
"Oh I don't know, just the fact that you ask my doctors about me." she said and he raised his eyebrows.
"It's not like I could ask you." he stated.
"Why? Why couldn't you ask me?"
"You didn't want to see me."
"No Clint, I wanted to see you- I just don't know how to process all of this, you know?" she asked tearfully as she put a hand to her forehead. He stood there for a moment before he walked over and put his hand on her shoulder. She looked at him and he wrapped his arm around her, pulling her into a hug. She wrapped her arms around his middle, but not too tight because of his ribs.
"Hey Maggie?" he asked and she looked up at him. "Did you change shampoo again?" he asked and she laughed, she couldn't help it. He smiled as she his hit left arm and let go of him, wiping her eyes with her hand. "So what do you want to do?" he asked and she shrugged.
"I don't know." she sighed, and then eyes the microwave. "I kind of want to eat that popcorn." she said and he smiled.
"There you are." he lightly tapped the bottom of her chin with his knuckle and she smiled. "I've been asking around, I thought I'd have a nurse or Bruce or someone tell you, but since you aren't trying to dismember me with a butter knife, I figured I could tell you."
"Don't be so sure, this could just me a momentary thing. I may dismember you with a butter knife yet." she said and he nodded.
"Noted, I was going to say, SHIELD has a pretty great counseling program." he told her and she looked away from the microwave at him. "It's just something to think about." he told her and she nodded.
"I'll think about it." she agreed before taking the bag out of the microwave.
"Good, now, grab a couple of the sodas from the fridge, and let's get out of here." he said nodding to the door. She grabbed a few cans of coke and stuck them in the pocket to his hoodie before she followed him out of the kitchen. They both walked with their heads ducked to the elevator and he pushed the button.
"Does it help?" she asked and he looked at her. "Talking about it I mean."
"Well, do you feel better after venting to me?" he asked and she nodded. "Then it helps." he said and the doors to the elevator opened. They stepped inside and he held the close door button as well as the number button. The elevator didn't stop until they got to their floor. "Police trick." he said when he caught her staring. They went back to his room and he sat on the bed, only kicking off his shoes. She pulled the cold cokes from the pocket of the hoodie, but left it on as she sat on the chair. "Come on, you can't tell me saying screw you to the establishment- and by establishment, I mean Edina, isn't fun." he grinned and she smiled lightly.
"It's fun." she nodded. He opened the bag of popcorn and caught her staring.
"Come on." he said patting the bed next to him. She narrowed her eyes and he held out the bag of popcorn.
"What are you luring me?" she asked and he grinned.
"If I have to." he replied. She walked over to the bed and sat down next to him before taking a handful of the popcorn. "Not so bad, right?" he asked with a wink and she smiled.
"Don't push it." she said warningly and he shook his head.
"I wouldn't dream of it." he said. She munched on a few pieced of popcorn while he watched and then looked at him, realizing he was watching.
"What?" she asked.
"Just... trying not to dwell on the past." he stated and she nodded. "Can I ask you something?" he asked and she looked at him.
"You just did." she said and he shook his head. "What?"
"Did you date?" he asked and she frowned.
"Yeah." she said simply.
"No, that's good." he said and her frown deepened.
"Didn't you?"
"Not so much date as I saw girls occasionally." he said, then thought for a moment. "Colin?" he asked.
"No." she smiled and he grinned.
"God I bet he loved it when you told him what happened."
"Oh he did." she nodded and he chuckled.
"How long did it take him to ask you out?"
"He tried to do the whole "I'm there for you" thing, and get close to me, and then make me his girlfriend while I was emotionally messed up." she explained and Clint scowled. "It didn't work."
"Of course it didn't, you're too smart for that crap." Clint said and she shrugged.
"It didn't work because he defended my father." she said softly and Clint looked at her. She popped a few more pieces of popcorn into her mouth and looked at him. "Yeah." she nodded. "He said that my dad was just trying to do right for the family and that I should respect his wishes." she explained. "Why did you-" she reached out to touch him and then stopped. She caught his eyes with hers and he nodded, she reached out and ran her fingers over the area where she knew her father's bullet had grazed his head.
"I'm sorry." he said softly and she shook her head.
"Don't be, we all knew Colin was an idiot." she said with a small sigh.
"No, Maggs," he caught her hand with his. She looked at him and he looked her in the eye. "I'm sorry." he said and she looked to the side before nodding.
"I want to tell you I forgive you," she told him as he let go of her hand. "And it doesn't hurt that you've saved my life- Twice." she laughed and he smiled before handing the bag of popcorn to her. She laughed and he smiled.
"You need it more than I do." he told her.
The next morning Maggie woke up in her hospital room to someone whispering her name. She sat up quickly and heard a very familiar chuckle. "Sorry," Clint apologized. "I didn't mean to scare you."
"What time is it?" she asked.
"Seven. I need you to come with me." he told her and she sighed.
"Wait- what?"
"We're going on a little field trip." he grinned. "Get dressed."
"Fine." she groaned and got out of bed. She grabbed some clothes from her bag and went into the bathroom He waited for her as she washed her face, brushed her teeth and hair and put on deodorant. She slipped on the clothes and stepped out of the bathroom. "God I'm so fucking skinny." she muttered as she stepped out of the bathroom.
"You'll gain weight, you're fine." he told her and she nodded as she slipped on her shoes.
"Even my shoes feel loose." she told him and he looked her over.
"Well, I think you look great either way." he told her and she nodded as she followed him. "Act cool." he muttered to her as they walked down the hall. It was a lot busier than it had been the night before when they were sneaking around looking for junk food. They reached the elevator with no problem and she pressed the button. When it finally came Clint did the whole pushing the close door button and the ground floor button at the same time.
"How's your shoulder feeling?" she asked and he shrugged the uninjured shoulder.
"I took some painkillers before leaving." he told her and she nodded. They got to the ground floor and Clint pulled a pair of sunglasses from his pocket. "They know I won't say in the hospital for too long so they won't pay me any attention, just act like you belong and they won't bother you either." he informed her and she nodded. "We'll grab a cab when we get outside." he stated as the doors opened. They walked through a lobby where people in suits were walking towards elevators, some who had been working night shifts were leaving, a girl with insanely curly blonde hair flashed Clint a huge smile and he swore under his breath.
"Who's that?" Maggie asked.
"Heather, she's Coulson's girlfriend."
"Who?"
"Oh you haven't met Coulson yet." he said with a shake of his head. "You'll meet him. Probably today."
"Agent Barton," someone said suddenly and Clint turned slightly.
"Agent Sitwell." he said awkwardly.
"I wanted to ask you about the incident in Virginia-"
"Yeah, we'll talk later, I've got a meeting." Clint said quickly. "See ya." he grinned before grabbing Maggie's hand and practically yanking her out the front doors.
"Oh my god." Maggie breathed. "We're in-"
"Time Square. Yeah." he grinned and she looked at him.
"How does no one notice this?" she asked, bewildered.
"People see what they want to see. Do you think they want to see a government building full of spies in the middle of Time Square?" she shook her head. "They think it's a very exclusive hotel." he explained as he walked to the curb and waved down a taxi. "Come on." he said and held open the door for her. She slid into the taxi, barely aware of what he was saying as he gave the driver the address, she was too busy looking around at everything there was around her. "You've never been to New York huh?" he asked and she looked at him.
"I told you I didn't travel much."
"Not even in the past few years?" he asked and she shook her head.
"No, I mean, I lived in Ireland, I came back, and then I was... Sick." she explained.
"Well if you want, after I've been busted for leaving the hospital early and dragging you along with me, I'll show you around." he smiled and she nodded.
"I'd like that." she said.
Yeah, sorry guys, no deceleration of undying love. Did you really think Maggie was going to just declare her undying love for the guy? I'm not going to make it that easy! It's like you guys don't even know me. ;)
Reviews are much appreciated and extremely inspiring.