p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;"Natasha rushed through the hallways of the hospital. James had a firm grip on her hand, otherwise she would have been running. The flight had taken nearly 2 hours, and the car ride from the private hangar took another hour. A nurse stopped her and James at the doors to the recovery ward./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;""Visitation hours will resume in the morning."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;"Natasha scowled, "I am family. I have family in there." She pointed down the hallway. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;"The nurse looked apprehensively at Natasha before checking a sheet on a clipboard. "What patient are you family of?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;""Laura, Cooper, Lila, and Nathaniel Barton." Natasha answered quickly and craned her neck to look down the hallway. James squeezed her hand and kept her grounded./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;""Name?" The nurse asked./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;""Natasha Barton." She said without hesitation. "Laura's husband is my brother. I live out of town, you see. I tried to get here as quick as I can. Can I please see them now?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;"The nurse looked over at James. "One at a time."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;"Natasha looked back at James as the nurse handed her a visitor's badge. "Go. Be with your family. I'll be right out here."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;"She pecked his cheek and left him in the waiting area. She followed the nurse down to the end of the hallway. There was a large room secluded from the others. Through the glass doors she saw the room. Clint was sitting on a bed with Nathaniel. The toddler was fast asleep and seemingly unharmed. She pushed her way into the room./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;""Clint." She said softly./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;"He rushed from the bed and embraced her tightly. She hugged him back and didn't budge when the hug lasted longer than normal. "Nat.." He said with such a desperation in his voice./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;""Hey now, I'm here. What can I do to help?" She stepped from the embrace only when Clint let her go. She instinctively moved towards Nathaniel. The one Barton child she had not bonded with as deeply as the others. He was nearing 2 years old. For such a severe accident he seemed fine./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;"Clint rubbed his face, "The doctors are saying Laura and Cooper need to be transferred to another hospital for rehabilitation."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;"She looked back at Clint, her hand stroking the little boy's tiny cheek. "Why can't they do that here?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;"Clint looked like he was going to fall apart, "Laura's back was shattered. They're still in surgery with her. They don't know if she'll be able to walk again. Paralysis is likely."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;"Natasha felt her stomach clench. "What the hell happened?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;"Clint swallowed slowly, "The rain. They were all going grocery shopping. An 18-wheeler slid through a red light." He choked over the words. "The SUV was obliterated. Nat I don't know... I don't know how any of them survived this. Laura and Cooper could still… They could…"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;"Natasha sucked in a deep breath, "Don't you even say those words." She moved towards him again, seeing Clint start to crumble again. She paused when a doctor entered the room. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;""Mr. Barton, I'd like to go over Laura and Cooper's relocation." The young doctor said and sifted through papers on his chart. Natasha took the hint as the doctor paused and looked at her. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;""I'll be in the waiting room." She said softly and left the room./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;"Natasha found James stretched back on a couch, his eyes shut in the darkened room. He stirred when she sat next to him, the cushion jostling him as she sat./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;""How are they?" He asked with a yawn./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;""The youngest ones are okay, I think. The baby is just roughed up, Lila's a little worse I think… She wasn't in there... Laura and Cooper are being transferred to another facility. They're in critical condition." She sighed heavily and leaned against him./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;"James sucked in a deep breath, his hand snaked around her back. "What can I do to help?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;"She squeezed his leg and shrugged, "I just want to rest my eyes."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;"James smiled, "That I can help with. Come here." He scooted towards the arm rest, angled back, and opened himself up to hold her./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;"Natasha tucked her legs under herself and leaned against his side. Her head falling onto his chest. Her hand rested against his stomach and instantly she settled down. She promised herself she'd only just rest her eyes for a few minutes. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;""Nat…" Someone said softly after clearing their throat. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;"Natasha's eyes shot open and squinted at the clock. It was just after 4 AM. Clint was standing near the end of the couch, his eyes pointedly on James behind her. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;"James murmured in his sleep as she shifted and got up slowly. His eyes opened reluctantly as her warmth and presence left his side. "I'll be right back." She whispered and urged him to keep sleeping. He eyed Clint for a moment before sitting up fully./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;""Didn't know you brought company." Clint said stiffly. She had hoped to explain everything that happened with James to him before he met him. All Clint had to go on was the Winter Soldier drama and how each year James seemed to haunt or hurt her. She knew Clint had her best interests in mind but given his current emotional state, she figured he'd come off uncharacteristically mean. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;"She gave Clint a stern look. "Things are different now. That's not the point we need to discuss right now. How's everyone?" She pushed Clint toward the door to the hallway./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;"James brushed past them in the hall, her focus pulled as James took a left down another hallway. Clint leaned against the wall, "We're coming back to that point shortly."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;"She rolled her eyes, "Laura… The kids... Out with it!" She demanded./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;"Clint glanced down the hallway that led to the rooms holding his family. "Lila and Nate have been discharged already. They're sleeping while I figure out the next step for them. Lila broke her arm and has whiplash. Nate just a few cuts and bruises. They were in the back furthest from the impact. Cooper's in intensive care, internal bleeding was fixed during surgery. Both of his legs are broken. They won't let me see him yet. He'll need extensive help with healing and therapy." Her hand covered her mouth in shock at the thought of Cooper being so severely hurt. The last time she had seen him he was running around like a normal boy. It would be a very long time before he could do that again. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;""Kids are tough, you know that. Hell… I know that. I survived worse than that as a child, Clint. He'll bounce back quicker than you think. Thank god, the little ones aren't in the same condition." She breathed and looked up at him noticing how he left Laura out of the details./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;""And Laura?" She nudged. Reading his demeanor for any sign that would point to her having to prepare herself for the worst sort of news. She prayed that Laura wasn't dead./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;""Driver's side impact. The doctors say it's a miracle she wasn't found dead on arrival." His voice waivered./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;"Natasha found a lump rising in her throat. Laura was so good, it wasn't fair that something so bad had happened to her. "What kind of condition is she in?" She pressed. She needed to know. She knew people could physically recover from accidents like this but mentally… that was a different story. Brain injuries… She let her mind wander to the potentially heartbreaking, life altering injuries./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;""They spent hours putting plates, pins and wires into her pelvis, left leg, and arm. They said there was bleeding in her brain. She's covered in cuts from the glass. Punctured lung, broken ribs. They put her in a medically induced coma to help her body heal. She'll be transported with Cooper in a few hours to a facility upstate who handles the intensive recovery they'll both need." He went on giving her the details she wanted./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;"Lila had whiplash like the others in the accident. A dislocated shoulder and a broken arm. Clint had to add that she was very proud of her hot pink cast. Natasha smiled at that. Cooper had emergency surgery for internal bleeding and pins and plates in his two broken legs. Laura's back was broken, her pelvis fractured, crush injuries to the left side of her body. Numerous breaks in her arm and leg. She was in a medically induced coma after surgery to manage her pain for transport. Nathaniel somehow managed to only have a few scrapes and a nasty bruise from his car seat. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;""They're all alive, and that's what matters now." She assured Clint as he finished talking about the horrific details./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;"He nodded and rubbed his face. She didn't have to ask to know that he hadn't slept a wink. He pulled out his phone and fired off several messages. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;""What can I do to help? Do the little ones need clothes? What about Laura and Cooper, do they need things for the facility they're headed too?" She said quickly./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;"Clint shook his head, "Tony, of all people, sent someone to the farm to get clothes for them and to bring a new car over." /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;"Natasha nodded, that must be who he was texting. "You can't be flown to the facility with them? That's rude." Natasha pointed out and craned her neck to see who she could go badger about that./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;""Calm down. I'm flying with them." He said softly. "The car is for you."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;""But I don't…" She started as Clint cut her off./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;""You're the godparent for all of the kids. We've got no family to send the kids off too. Nat… I need you to take Nate and Lila. It could be months upstate especially for Laura. Cooper won't need to be there so long, eventually he'll come home. I need you to take the kids home." He looked at her firmly./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;"Natasha sighed as a million things rushed into her mind. She had only ever been the fun aunt. Taking the kids for a few hours. Occasionally helping with homework when she was around. Bedtimes, meals, routines, diapers, school for Lila. She didn't know anything about cooking, she was shit at it. "Are you sure? Clint… I know nothing about taking care of the kids. I watch them for a few hours, sugar them up, and let you and Laura handle the rest."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;"Clint watched her visibly blanch at the idea, "You're the only one I trust to do this." The way he said only one suggested he didn't want James with her./span/p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;""He's with me, he has no where else to go. If you want me to watch the kids, he's going to be there too." She said pointedly. "Better come around to the idea of him quickly."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;""I don't like him."/span/p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;"She huffed, "You don't know anything about him."/span/p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;"He rolled his eyes, "I know plenty. How many times was it that he shot you? Choked you? Haunted your dreams for what.. the better part of 15 years? I know enough, he's not welcome around the kids. He's unstable."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;"She knew this would be coming. Clint was exhausted and he turned irritable under stress. He knew the worst things about James and that's all he had to go on. /span/p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;""That was fixed, he's healed, and the Winter Soldier programming is no longer part of him. His past is no worse than mine and you made me godmother to all of your kids knowing every bit of the monster I was. If anything he's kinder than me, and I am not turning him away now. There's so much you don't know about what went on in Wakanda with him and I." She fired back quickly, the fatigue driving her to speak snappishly when Clint didn't deserve her temper. He had every right to be like this. He looked doubtful, and she pressed on. "Clint… I'd never endanger those kids. You know that. If for one moment I thought he'd be a threat to them, then I wouldn't have brought him with to meet all of you. He's staying with me."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;"Clint looked at her for a long time before footsteps approached from behind him. Natasha watched James head her way, then look back at Clint. "He's coming back so make a decision, Clint."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;"Clint shut his eyes and sighed, "I want to talk to him alone."/span/p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;"Natasha groaned. She didn't want that to happen. She had no idea what Clint could possibly want or have to say. "Be nice, or I'll kick your ass despite everything that's happened. You don't get a free pass to torment him."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;"Clint shrugged his shoulders, "I just want to talk to him. Why don't you go check on the kids?"/span/p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;"She nodded and turned towards James who stopped a short distance away. He offered her a soft smile and procured a large to go cup of coffee. She sighed heavily and took the glorious liquid. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;""Thought you could use one. Everything okay?" He nodded towards Clint./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;"She grimaced, "He wants to talk to you alone."/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;"He didn't seem put off by the idea. "Alright. Any idea why?"/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;"She sipped her coffee and nodded, "The two little ones are being discharged now. He wants me to go home with them. It could be months before he's home with Cooper and Laura. I told him you are part of the deal then. He's acting like he doesn't like you, but he's exhausted, worried, and stressed. I've told him about our past." Clint was always the one who picked up the pieces when James had gotten under her skin and broken her down. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;""I can handle it, Tasha. He's got every right to be skeptical of me." He drank from his own coffee and looked over at Clint./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic', serif;""I'll leave you two to it then…" She said loudly enough for Clint to hear. She looked a James and brushed her fingers over his free hand before heading down the hall towards the room that held Lila and Nate./span/p