Aztecl: Well, I'm trying to catch up to the daily schedule of one update a day lol but I am a little late to the game as you can tell. Here's a follow up to that last chapter.

No. 11. Defiance/Struggling/Crying

Psych 101

The rescue and rehab had come and gone, and Clint was almost back to normal. His broken limbs had been set and were now healing in casts, and the external wounds had healed into scars. After a few blood transfusions and surgeries, the internal bleeding had been healed. But the trauma remained. The horrible memories of the torture remained vivid in his mind, being strung up with chains and beaten until he passed out. But he wouldn't admit he was struggling, despite having not slept in four entire days. The dark circles under his eyes were borderline black. He knew Natasha wasn't coping much better than he was, but managed to hide the pain better than he.

A knock on his door grabbed his attention, and Natasha poked her head in.

"Hey," she said gently, stepping inside and closing the door.

"Hey," he replied, rubbing the back of his hand over his eyes.

"You doing okay?" Natasha asked.

"Yeah," Clint replied.

"We both know that's not true," Natasha replied, coming and sitting beside him on the bed.

"I'm fine, Natasha," Clint replied defiantly, looking away.

"Clint, you know you can talk to me. And I've been through the same ordeal as you. And I'm not okay. Not in the slightest. So I'll ask again. Are you okay?"

Natasha was never so open with anyone, not even him. Clint had never seen her open up that much and tell him outright that wasn't okay. So he replied truthfully.

"No. No, I'm not," Clint whispered, tears springing to his eyes. "I haven't slept in four days, 'Tasha. I can barely function."

"I know. It's been the same way for me."

"I never thought that something like that would ever happen to me. I mean, I knew it was a possibility considering my line of work, but I just never thought it would happen."

Natasha sat there and listened gently, as Clint cried and poured his heart out. Once finished, he looked at her with teary eyes.

"What did I ever do to deserve a friend like you?" he whimpered, laying his head on her shoulder. Natasha wrapped him in an embrace.

"Rescue. You rescued me." Natasha kissed his forehead. "What would I do without you?"

Clint smiled. "Probably lose your mind."

"Clint, you're reason I'm losing my mind," she teased gently. And for the first time in ages, Clint laughed. A hearty, tearful, loud laugh. Natasha joined in, and the sound of both their voices was clearer than the clearest crystal. It was the sound of them letting go.