Bad Ideas: An Avengers Fanfic

Disclaimer: Nope, still don't own anything.

Bad Idea #18: Never Leave Your Partner…

Part 3

Natasha and Hennessy's rooms were beside each other and Clint would try and divide his time between his dearest friend and his partner/girlfriend, not exactly a situation you would like to be in. Steve would be reluctant to leave Natasha's side but he knew that Clint needed to be with her too. Steve and Hennessey had never been very close and he often felt slightly uncomfortable so he began to talk to her family. Her sister, Ella, was four years older than Hennessy. She came off as a strong person but sometimes cried when she saw her sister lying motionless in the hospital bed, hooked up to different machines. Her mother's eyes were always red and puffy but tears never spilled over her cheeks. Hennessy's uncle never sat, he always stood by the window and gazed at his niece. Steve always stood behind the chair by the bed.

"So, umm, where in Ireland do you guys come from?" he asked one evening, folding his arms. Hennessy's mother turned around in her chair to face him and smiled.

"My husband and I came from a big town called Killarney, but we moved when our eldest was four," she said.

"I think I may know it," Steve said as he smiled back. His own mother came from Ireland and told him about her childhood when he was sick, and that was more than often. Hennessy's mother smiled again before turning back to her youngest daughter.

"I'm going to get a coffee. Does anyone want one?" Ella asked quietly. Her uncle raised his hand wordlessly.

"I'll have one," her mother said. "And bring one for that nice boy, Clinton," she added. Steve stifled a chuckle at the older lady's description of one of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s deadliest assets.

Clint jumped out of his chair when he heard the door open. His rigid back relaxed a little when he saw it was just Sparky's sister, and relaxed even more when he saw she was holding two brown cardboard cups of coffee.

"Sorry," he said sheepishly. "Just instinct." Ella gave a small smile and extended a cup toward him, which he took gratefully.

"Is that the lady who saved my sister?" she asked, moving toward Tasha's bed. Clint nodded and followed her.

"She's beautiful," she stated as she looked down at Natasha's pale features.

"Steve certainly thinks so." Clint smirked and sipped his coffee. It was not exactly barista style but it was acceptable. Ella raised her eyebrow at him.

"Steve?"

"That big, blonde oaf out there," Clint said and gestured over his shoulder with his thumb. She laughed quietly.

"I better go. See you, Clint."
He inclined his head in acknowledgement and raised his cup.

"Thanks for the coffee."

After an hour, Clint and Steve swapped places wordlessly. Steve had pulled his chair as close to Nat as he could without actually sitting on the bed. When he walked in, he considered closing the Venetian blinds over the window.

"Will I close the blinds or leave 'em open?" he asked as he walked to the window. He knew there would be no answer, talking to Natasha as if she would answer both kept him sane and broke his heart.

"Think I'll leave them open," Steve said as he crossed the room and sat next to her. Natasha loved sunsets, though she had never said as much. The orange glow in the room brought some colour to her bruised, pale face. Steve took her right hand in both of his and began talking to her about everything from the sunset outside to the food they had in the small shop by the hospital entrance. Suddenly, he felt something move between his hands, he glanced down then back at Natasha's face.

"Nat…?" he asked softly.

"Nat, can you hear me?" he repeated hopefully. Her eyelids fluttered open and her piercing green orbs searched the room frantically.

"Whoa! Nat, it's okay. I'm here, Clint's next door. You're fine, I promise," he said, stroking her hand. She turned her head toward him.

"…Steve?" Natasha croaked. He smiled at her.

"What…? Where…?" Steve shushed her.

"You're in a hospital, in Norway. There was an… an accident. The-"

"The roof caved, that guy exploded after giving Sparky a beat down. Yeah, it's coming back to me," Natasha cut him off. He smiled again and squeezed her hand.

"How are you feeling?" She closed her eyes and leaned her head back against the pillows.

"Everything from the waist down hurts and I have the mother of all headaches, so yeah, not bad," she said dryly. Steve smirked and let the wave of relief wash over him as he sat back in his chair and rubbed his face.

"I should get a nurse, tell them you're awake. Tell Clint, at least," he said.

"… No. I know it's selfish, but I just want some time to…to do nothing. For once…" Steve gently put a hand to her bruised cheek. Natasha's usually flawless face was now covered in thin cuts and coin-sized bruises. She flinched slightly and Steve withdrew his hand immediately, again taking her dainty hand in both of his.

"Good thing I didn't make that promise that night in Sao Paulo," she joked weakly. Steve smiled for the fifth time in ten minutes. His Nat was going to be alright.

"I love you," he whispered.

"I love you too, Rogers…"

Clint was sleeping in the chair beside where Hennessy lay, his caffeine boost had finally crashed. Sparky's family slept in the waiting room, on the large and comfortable couches. Her left hand was clasped in both of his, his head rested on their hands. It wasn't exactly comfortable but Clint was so tired, he could have been on a bed of nails and slept like a baby. He almost didn't feel it when a finger brushed against his stubbly jaw. His head snapped up immediately and saw Hennessey looking back at him with one eye open.

"…Hi…" she whispered.

"Hey there. Though I'd lost you for a minute," he said softly, unable to keep the grin from his face.

"Please, you need me too much," Hennessy said flatly before coughing. Clint gave a small, worried smile.

"I'm so sorry, Jamie. This was my fault, I should never have left you. I-" He continued to ramble until she managed to shush him.

"Clint, you left because I said you could. I told you to and I got myself into this mess," she whispered. Clint lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it lightly.

"I am never leaving you again," he murmured.

"…Promise…?" Sparky sounded so small, so fragile that Clint's heart almost broke.

"Promise." Clint leaned forward and kissed her forehead.

"I should tell the others you're awake," he said.

"Others?" Clint took a deep breath.

"Your mother is here, so are your sister and uncle."

Hennessy still felt a little groggy but the mention of her family left a sharp feeling of panic in the pit of her stomach and her breathing quickened as she clutched Clint's hand tightly.

"They-They can't be… No, no, no, no. They'll want to know why. I can't-" Clint put his hand on her uninjured shoulder and stroked her hair with his other.

"Hey, hey. They are worried about you. Your mother held your hand every day. They're not mad, just a little confused." He was so busy trying to calm Hennessy that he did not hear the door opening.

"I thought I heard…" Ella's voice trailed off when she saw Hennessy awake. She ran to her sister and hugged her, carefully watching her right side. Tears began to roll down Sparky's cheeks as her older sister sobbed into her hair.

"I'm sorry… I've missed you so much," Hennessy said. Clint left the room quietly to call Hennessy's mother and uncle. Her mother leaped up and ran to her daughters. They hugged each other awkwardly until someone spoke up.

"So I can take it that ye missed me too?" Hennessy's voice was muffled but everyone heard it and smiled slightly. Her sister stood up and wacked Hennessy's left shoulder playfully before adopting a serious look that made Sparky stiffen.

"What do you think? I mean- in the name of God- Jamila Hannah Hennessy. Six whole years with no contact whatsoever, no texts, calls- nothing!" Hennessy flinched at her sister's anger.

"And then you wind up half dead in a hospital in Norway! I mean, Norway! Of all the Godforsaken places to collapse a roof…"

Hennessy opened her mouth to speak but was cut off when Ella launched into another tirade.

"Why were you even there in the first fucking place!"

"If you'd give me a bloody chance to explain, and shut up instead of firing another round of questions at me, I might get the bloody chance to tell you!" Ella fell silent immediately and glared at Sparky as the younger woman squeezed her eyes shut and inclined her head back onto the pillow. She said nothing for a minute Clint felt the need to give Hennessy a helping hand.

"She was doing her job, we all were," he said, folding his arms across his chest. Ella whirled around to face him.

"Job?" she asked. Hennessy shot a warning look at him, a look which he ignored.

"We work for the CIA." He smiled slyly. Ella's mouth fell open and formed an 'o' before she turned back to her sister and they began bickering back and forth. Even Clint couldn't get a word in.

"Will the both of you two shut up, you are behaving like five year olds!" The girls instantly fell quiet as their mother glared at them.

"Jamie," she said softly. "Why did you leave? You didn't even say goodbye."

Hennessy's mouth opened and closed as she floundered for a response.

"I-I had to, Mom. I-I-I'm… different now. I'm not the same person I was when I was twenty-one. I wish I could tell you more, but I know you could never believe me," she stuttered eventually. To her surprise, her mother did not ask for more, but then again, she was a wise woman and knew that Hennessy would tell her everything when she was ready.

*"Agus ceard eisean?" Hennessy's mother spoke in a flowing language that Clint could not determine as she scanned her eyes up and down the agent. Hennessy smirked.

*"Is é mo chara," she said in the same unusual language. Ella raised her eyebrows.

*"Do chara?" Her tone was disbelieving as she too eyed Clint. He began to get the feeling that they were discussing him.

*"Ceart go leor, tá sé mo pháirtí." Hennessy chuckled a little and the other woman smirked. Clint even heard the uncle smothering a laugh.

"What just happened?" he asked as he looked at the other people, bewildered.

"Did I not mention the fact that Ireland has its own language? One that kids learn from age five?" Hennessy asked innocently. Clint narrowed his sharp, grey eyes at her.

"I will remember this," he said with mock threat as he pointed his finger at Sparky.

"I'm certain of it, *saighdeoir," she smirked back at him.

Hey there! I wasn't sure how to throw Sparky back to her family but I hope I did okay. They will return for one or two chapters but I won't say why. How did you guys like Nat's waking? Let me know what you want to see next time. Whether you want Nat and Sparky talking for the first time.

I have finally found a use for something I've learnt for years!

Translations:

"Agus ceard eisean? "And what about him?"

"Is é mo chara." "He is my friend."

"Do chara?" Your friend?"

"Ceart go leor, mo páirtí." "Alright, my partner."

"…saighdeoir." "…archer."

Thanks for reading!

Love ya