The next day, Rhodey watched the Vice President be placed under arrest and escorted out of the White House.
Trevor was arrested and paraded through the press, much to his enjoyment.
Happy woke up, gasping for breath but calmed down once he saw Downton Abbey on the TV.
Laura put herself under quarantine in her penthouse at the tower.
Afraid to hurt someone or damage the tower itself.
Working with Tony and Bruce, who they employed in the R&D department over video chat.
They gave him his own secluded lab on the top floor of the tower so he could feel safe and work on his research with Stark funding and equipment.
It only took a few days for the three to come up with a solution to extract Extremis from Laura.
While also fulfilling her request.
It was an experimental procedure which required surgery with relative risk.
So shortly after New Year's she found herself in the medical wing of the tower.
Dressed in a hospital gown and propped up on a bed in a patient room.
Like the rest of the tower, it was ultra-modern with LED lighting.
Her legs dangling over the edge.
She was catching up on work emails before her extended leave from work after the surgery when she heard a knock on the door.
"It's open!" she said, placing her phone down.
Tony opened it, letting himself in.
"So Banner is prepping the surgeon. How are you feeling?" he asked while closing the door behind him, leaning against the wall.
"Nervous I guess. I just really don't like hospitals." she said, indicating her previous operations.
"We've gone over the procedure multiple times. You have Banner, a highly skilled team of trained surgeons and the most advanced operation room in the country. You're gonna be fine, Watson." he reassured her, putting a comforting hand on her shoulder.
She placed her phone down and clenched it. Giving him a warm smile and he smiled back.
"But I do believe having a certain someone here may help…" Tony hinted.
"Who?" she asked confused.
Tony smirked before reaching to open the door. Revealing the hallway before T'Challa walked in.
"T'Challa!" she smiled widely.
"Laura." he smiled back.
Tony noticing how Laura reacted once he entered the room.
"How are you here? How did…" Laura began to ask him but Tony interrupted her.
"He's been trying to reach you. Obviously seeing the house get hit by missiles on the news. He then reached out to me and I explained to him the situation. And so I invited the Prince of Wakanda here." he said amused.
"You reached out to Tony?" Laura asked T'Challa with a frown.
He was about to respond but Tony interrupted them.
"I'll, uh leave you two alone. Just let me know when you're ready, Watson." he told her.
"Okay, Tony." she said with a smile.
"Prince T'Challa." Tony nodded, shaking his hand.
"Mr. Stark." he nodded back.
"Princess." Tony joked to Laura.
"Don't ever call me that again." she groaned.
"Of course, Princess." he said with a grin before walking out to to her annoyance
He closed the door behind him, leaving the couple alone.
Laura self-consciously tugged at the hem of her gown, trying to get it past her ankles.
T'Challa frowned, seeing her discomfort, and leaned next to her.
"Laura, why didn't you tell me?" he asked sadly.
She sighed, giving up on the gown.
"I haven't even told my mom and I wasn't sure about… us. And what would I say. Hey T'Challa don't worry I only got struck by missiles, kidnapped, experimented on against my will but don't worry everything's fine." she said sardonically.
"I was concerned, Laura. Baba and I saw what happened to Mr. Stark's house. And then I couldn't reach you and feared the worst." he said and Laura saw the worry in his eyes.
"I'm sorry, T'Challa. I just, I just wasn't sure about us and of course Wakanda and all of that so I was kinda hoping to get this all squared away so I wouldn't have to tell…" she said awkwardly, just realizing how ridiculous that plan sounded.
"I want you to be able to trust me, Laura. I know I may not be able to do much considering…" he said and she nodded.
"But I do care about you. Since you left, all I've been thinking about was you." he said, surprising her.
"Really?"
"Yes. From that first moment I saw you in New York. I've realized how special you are, to me." he said while clasping her smaller hands into his large ones.
She arched up to kiss him and he leaned down so his lips met hers.
She cupped his face and he grabbed her waist.
Closing her eyes, she inclined her head to enjoy the moment before retreating.
The two smiled at each other in silence.
T'Challa climbed up on the bench to sit next to her.
"So, uh you met Tony." she smiled.
"He says he has stories about you that he'll tell me during your operation. Should I be concerned?" he joked.
"Don't believe a word he says." she joked back while jabbing her finger into his shoulder.
She looked up and down at his jeans and hoodie.
"You know, for a Prince you surpassingly blend in." she joked.
"I left Okoye downstairs. Only Mr. Stark knows who I am." he replied.
"I think I prefer you in the traditional outfits though." she smiled up at him.
"I haven't seen you in a dress yet." he smiled back.
"What? Does the hospital gown not do it for you?" she joked.
"You're still beautiful, Laura..." he said.
She smiled and the two kissed each other again.
T'Challa cupping the small of her back and he pressing her hands against his chest before they leaned away from each other.
"And King T'Chaka was okay with all of this I'm assuming?" she asked and he nodded.
"It was his idea that I be here for you." he replied.
She smiled and the two held hands.
"You should know that my life is kinda a mess. At the best of times. I'm barely keeping it together as it is. And that's on top of the rockets, aliens, people coming after me…" she warned him.
"You cannot scare me away Laura. I would like to be here with you and I would like you to be with me." he reassured her.
She smiled once again.
"There is nothing I want more." the two kissed each other again.
She sighed in content and leaned her head on his shoulder.
"I suppose I can't hide in here forever. Banner and the surgeons are waiting for me." she groaned.
"I will be here when you wake up."
Later that evening, Laura woke up in the medical wing.
Slowly opening her eyes that were blinking to adjust to the lights and groaned.
"Laura, it's me…" she heard T'Challa's voice.
She turned her head to see him sitting in a chair between the bed and the floor to ceiling windows.
Getting up, he grabbed her hand with his.
Reaching to put on her glasses with her other one.
"How are you feeling?" he asked.
She groaned again, shifting under the blanket.
"Fine. Just need to fight the after affects off anesthesia." she smiled faintly.
Feeling her queasy stomach.
Bruce walked in with his white coat and clipboard, getting their attention.
"Hey, Laura, uh Hi Prince T'Challa." he nodded awkwardly at them.
"Hi, Bruce." she said, using her arms to shift herself upwards.
"So, you're vitals are looking promising. We were able to remove Extremis from your DNA. But…" he said but grabbed the remote to turn on the Stark TV mounted to the wall.
She and T'Challa watched a graphic of a body spin and appear.
"As you can see here, Extremis has been removed and if we blow up you L5 Vertebrae…" he said while the holographic emerged from the TV and enlarged for them.
"With the procedure we have been able to keep the temperature under control so you don't get hot. To explain simply, the improved vertebrae has essentially been artificially attached to the rest of your spinal cord." he explained.
Laura self consciously rubbed her new scar on her lower back.
"So I should be able to walk then?" she asked hopefully.
"I'd like to keep you here for a few days for observation but everything is looking good, Laura." Bruce replied hopefully.
"Can I try something?" she asked him.
"Sure…" he said with an eyebrow raised.
She tossed the blanket aside, revealing her toes.
She wiggled all of them and lifted her legs up and down.
"I can walk!" she exclaimed.
T'Challa smiled.
"I would advise to take it slow. This was a very experimental procedure." Bruce warned.
"I plan on taking an extended leave of absence from work so I will take it slow." she said, giving T'Challa a knowing smile who smiled back.
"Well then I'll check in later on your progress." Bruce said.
"Thank you Bruce." she smiled at him before walking out of the room.
"The surgery worked." she smiled widely at T'Challa.
"I'm happy for you, Laura but remember you should be resting." he repeated.
"I will but maybe it wouldn't be so bad if I did it with you…?" she asked hopefully.
"I would like that." he said and kissed her on the forehead.
"At least for a little bit. I can't leave this life though. My job. The Avengers…" she rambled but he interrupted her.
"And I would never ask you too." he reassured her. She smiled but thought of something.
"Tony and Pepper know about the spear. I kinda needed it when we were attacks to take down the helicopters. But don't worry they don't know anything and I trust them with my lives. And they respect my privacy." she tried reassuring him.
"I trust you Laura."
After recovering at the tower, Laura was signed out of the hospital.
But before she left Tony revealed to her that he also was having a surgery.
To extract the shrapnel in his chest piece.
So she was there for him during his operation as much as he was for her.
After that though she spent the next few months in Wakanda with T'Challa.
Resting and recovering.
Spending time with him and his family in the palace.
The two acted like… a couple.
Which was a new thing for Laura.
But she found T'Challa to be extremely sweet and protective of her while she recovered and regained her strength.
And easy to love.
It was also suggested to her that she seek therapy for the trauma she endured since her kidnapping.
And she reluctantly went to a few sessions in Wakanda from a palace doctor.
And once she found herself sparring with Okoye with her spear she realized it was time for her to leave.
But before she returned to work she decided to spend a weekend with the Barton's.
Making up for the Christmas she missed a few months ago.
It was a late March day.
She surprised the kids with her presence when they returned from school who greeted her with hugs and excitement.
And surprising them by her newfound ability to walk again.
She gave them their belated Christmas gifts which were Stark Pads.
Reassuring Clint and Laura that they had parent modes and "bribed" them by giving them one each as well.
Nat wasn't there this time.
On a mission by herself for SHIELD but she still felt welcomed at the farm by the family.
Later that night, after dinner and helping the kids with their homework the kids were put to bed.
Laura was explaining them what happened in Miami and how she could walk again.
They were currently in the living room.
Sitting on the couch.
It was late at night and she had a glass of bourbon in her hand.
"God, Laura… I'm so sorry." Laura B said, putting a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"Yeah, at least I can walk now at least." she muttered.
"And it sounded like you kicked some ass at least." Clint joked, trying to lighten the mood.
"Natasha's training finally paid off." she joked back.
"Speaking of her, I do have news…" Clint began, grabbing his wife's hand.
Laura raised an eyebrow.
"I'm pulling myself out of the field." he revealed.
"Really?" Laura asked surprised.
"Yeah. Well, After New York, Loki, Fury gave us six months leave. And finally being able to spend some much needed time here, with the kids. I don't wanna leave that." he explained.
"So, you're retiring?" she asked.
"Not fully. I'll still be with SHIELD. Fury said he can find me something that will utilize my skills but officially I am no longer Natasha's partner." he clarified.
"How did she take the news?" Laura asked, sipping her drink.
"Not well at first. But after I explained my reasoning to her she accepted it." he answered.
"So who's going to be her new partner then?" she asked curiously.
Clint and Laura B shared a knowing look.
After she was told who Nat's new partner was, Laura was washing her glass in the sink before going to bed.
She heard Laura B walking up behind her on the wood floors.
"So while I'm extremely relieved to see that you're okay I can't help but wonder where you've been the past few months…" she asked.
Laura saw the amusement in her eyes.
She placed the washed glass on the rack, shut off the sink and draped the rag on it before turning around to face her.
"I was… away." she said, under her scrutiny.
"By yourself all this time?" she asked knowingly.
Laura sighed, knowing she couldn't lie to her.
"Not exactly…"
"With the mystery boyfriend?" she asked.
Laura smiled faintly.
"He wasn't my boyfriend then. It's kinda a new thing…" she explained.
Laura B smiled widely.
"I'm happy for you. Truly. So when are we going to meet him?" she teased her.
"You'd be surprised at who I'm dating so I'll keep it a secret… for now."
