Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot.

A/N: I think there is one more chapter left, guys. Thanks for hanging in there.

"Not happy to hear from me?"

Steph remained silent. She knew no matter she said, Natasha was only going to give her what she wanted to.

"You didn't really think I was going to stick around, did you?"

"I could only wish."

Natasha continued on as if Steph didn't say anything. "How is my dear friend Clint?"

Stephanie couldn't help the small choking sound she made.

Natasha sighed. "Didn't make it then. Such a shame. Didn't the Captain and Winter Soldier get there in time to help?"

Steph couldn't respond. She just kept seeing that scene over and over again. The devastation on Steve's face, even while he continued CPR knowing there wasn't anything else that could be done. Looking down and seeing the arms around her tightening as her legs gave out and she was falling towards the floor.

"Oh, Little Bird," Natasha sang, "come back, Little Bird."

"What. Do. You. Want?" she growled.

"Nothing." she replied. Steph could hear the smile in her voice as she continued. "Just wanted to pass on my condolences and to let you know that you were the last person on his mind, if his whispering of your name as his eyes closed was anything to go by."

"You bitch. He was your teammate, if not your friend-" Steph began, only to be interrupted.

"Let me stop you there. He was a means to an end. You. You were all we were after. He was just collateral damage. Just like your father. We were going to leave dear old dad alone. He wasn't that important and he didn't know much. Until you came along."

Again Steph didn't know what to say. This time she was reeling, a whole range of emotions running through her body. Anger, sadness, guilt. GUILT was the most prominent. She knew he died because of her. No matter what anyone else told her, she knew he died because of what she knew, not just that he tried rescuing her when she was kidnapped.

"Now as much fun as this has been, I have a feeling your friends are on their way back to you, so I'll be seeing you soon, Little bird." And with that the line went dead.

Steph stared at her phone, willing it to connect to the one person who was with Clint when he alive. When she realized Natasha wasn't going to ring back, even if to taunt her more, she let out a guttural scream that was filled with so much hate and anger that she didn't notice the hurried footsteps coming towards her. She didn't lash out at the man whose arms swept her up and carried her away from the room where her heart was shattered.

She stared blankly ahead, making no more sounds as her voice died out when her screams did. She didn't notice Clint's body being carried behind her or being laid on a cot in front of her once the they reached the jet and the rest of her team. All she knew was that she wanted revenge. Revenge for the lives of her father and Clint. Revenge for trauma caused to some of her best friends. Revenge for the future that was ripped away from her.

Since Steph wasn't responding to any of them, the decided to forgo her secret hide away and head to Avenger Tower where hopefully Dr. Banner and Tony would be back from their trip to Malibu.

They all let out a collective sigh of relief when they landed on the roof and we're met by Tony and Bruce, who were standing on either side of a stretcher.

Steve picked up Clint's body while Bucky tightened his grip on Steph's, only offering a nod as he made his way past them and into waiting elevator. He held the door for those not helping either Steve or Bobby, who was trying to get Ranger to lay on the stretcher, and only removed his hand when everyone was on board.

Once they all made it to the medical floor, Bruce started barking orders to Bobby, whom nodded and did as he was told. Everyone was quiet as Steve laid Clint's body on a bed before covering him with a sheet. He hung his head and took a shuddering breath before composing himself and turning back towards the rest of the team.

Darcy was trying to control her sobs, not wanting to disturb Steph, who while was still quiet, had made her way to Clint's side. They watched as she pulled the sheet down to reveal just his face and bent to whisper something that not even Steve and Bucky could hear, before placing a light kiss on his temple and covering him back up.

When she turned, she spared none of them a glance before storming out of the room and into the treatment area where Bruce instructed Bobby to take Ranger. They all followed at a respectable distance hoping that her friends would be able to comfort her. They were all surprised though that after a short conversation with Bobby, that she stormed past them and none of the Rangemen ran after her.

When Steve gave Bobby a questioning look, it was Ram who answered.

"She is going after Romanoff."

"She should stay here. She needs to grieve, to be here for Ranger."

He shook his head. "Listen, Captain. There are things you don't know about her. Hell, we don't even know everything, but what we do know is that this is her way of grieving. She needs to do this."

Steve couldn't argue with that. It's not like he didn't know about avenging. Isn't that what this team was all about. Righting the wrong done to them? He still wished that he took a day or two to mourn the loss of his friend.

Steve sighed. "Alright."

Lester chuckled, even if it was humorless, before explaining. "It's not like she'll be alone. Bucky and Hector took off after her."

"That doesn't make me feel any better."

~~oOo~~

Steph was already in the pilot's chair when she heard two grunts coming from the back of the jet.

"Buckle up," she said without sparing them a glance.

They did as they were told and barely fast enough, as she set the jet to go as fast as it could. Once they were level and stable in the air, she unbuckled and made her way to the computer in the left corner of the jet.

"I don't need babysitters."

"We aren't here to stop you or to watch you, doll. I promised to take care of the Black Widow back at the compound and I plan on keeping my word."

She turned at that and gave him an empty stare. "She's mine."

Bucky had to suppress the shudder that her detached voice caused. "All the same, I am here to help."

She turned her eyes towards Hector, waiting for his reason for joining her trip.

He shrugged. "You're good, but I'm better."

She raised her eyebrow and he continued, "Technology, Estephania."

"Fine. You both follow my orders. Do as I say. When we find her, because I will find her, neither of you will interfere."

They both nodded their agreement, both understanding her need for revenge.

A few days had passed and Steph was frustrated. Slamming her hands down on the table in front of her, she glanced at the papers that hadn't led her anywhere but on a wild goose chase, with disdain. "We aren't getting anywhere. What are we missing?!"

Hector and Bucky exchanged looks and doing a quick game of rocks, papers and scissors to decide who was going to handle her this time. Hector smirked as he won while Bucky took a deep breath, knowing that he was going to have a fight on his hands.

"Doll, maybe we should head back to Tony's tower or even your secret lair and regroup."

Steph, who had been pacing, stopped just as he finished speaking. Not bothering to turn around and look at him, she spoke. "No." That was it. There wasn't an explanation, just a straight refusal.

He sighed and moved in front her, stopping her mid stride as she began to pace again.

"Look, I understand what you're going through, probably the best out of everyone you know, but I also know that we aren't getting anywhere and your mind is so clouded with hate and anger that you can't see a clear picture."

"You don't think I know this? I know I'm coming up short. I know that I am letting my emotions get in the way, but don't you understand that this is the only thing that is keeping me from falling apart?"

She took a shuddering breath, wiping at her eyes to keep the tears at bay. When she looked at him again, her eyes were filled with determination.

"Now, if you don't want to help anymore, you know where the door is. If you are going to stay, then I would appreciate it if you and Hector would drop trying to get me to go back home."

He nodded, it was all he could do.

"Thank you."

She walked back to where the papers were scattered and picked a few up off the floor, scanning them briefly before keeping one in her hand and laying the rest on the table.

"I'm going to check this address out one more time to see if we missed something, anything. I want the both of you to come up with another city we can check out because we are heading out as soon as I get back."

She didn't even wait around to hear their agreement, only moving towards the door to their room. Her need to get out of the oppressiveness was the only reason she didn't notice the person standing in the hallway on the other side of the door. Only when she ran into the body, did her eyes come into focus, only to roll towards the back of her head when she saw who it was.

"Clint," was whispered as she lost consciousness.