Chapter 11

AN - Okay so another chapter here, this one is a bit shorter than usual but it kind of sets up to the next chapter. Than you to everyone who has reviewed and favorited and followed and all those lovely things. I love you all! Sadly I don't own any of the material it all belongs to Marvel and JK Rowling. I hope you enjoy the chapter! :)

Sighing Clint approached the runner at the door, "Can you tell me where Harry Barton is please, I need to speak with him." The team turned away and continued to work on whatever they happened to be working on at the moment. The runner nodded, not asking questions, he brought up the location and gave him the directions. Looking at the map Clint thought it looked like some type of break room.

Making his way through the corridors Clint finally found the break room and in it Harry, he was hunched over a table with a folder in front of him and a large mug of black coffee in the other. His shoulders were tensed and his face stern, Clint winced. He knew Harry was going to attempt to avoid this conversation but he had to force Harry to at least explain why he had disappeared.

Entering the room Clint poured himself a cup of black coffee when a voice came, "Get it from the pot at the end, the grind is better." Harry's voice was monotonous and void of any emotion, well at least he wasn't angry. Though one look at the glare he was currently giving him changed the statement to outwardly angry. Clint approached the chair opposite and sat down just as Harry closed the folder and looked up, "Undercover notes, getting to know the new me."

Clint looked at Harry uncertain where to start, "I'm sorry I didn't give you a chance to explain earlier and I'm sorry I humiliated you in front of that stuck up twat in the briefing room. I know I haven't seen you in 10 years and I have no right to dictate your life, but when I saw that guy looking so fucking happy about putting you on a mission that could easily get you killed, I just lost my temper. I now it didn't help in the slightest and I only made things harder for you." Clint risked a look at Harry at that point and seeing the slightly relaxed face he continued, "You're still my son, to both Lauren and myself, you still have siblings who love you and are dying to see you again. Not to mention the fact that you have yet to meet Nathaniel."

Harry looked up at that, he didn't know he had another sibling. One that he hadn't met and who only knew him by stories. Guilt washed over him, he may not have met him but he could have called. "I'm going to be honest with you too dad. After I finished my training I had the option to reconnect with you, but I'd just signed the contract to go to into deep cover, meaning I'd be gone from days to possibly years at a time and I didn't want to put you guys through that." He took a calming sip of coffee before he continued speaking, "I knew you would be in and out because of SHIELD and I didn't want to make the little guys," Clint smiled at the nickname that Harry used as a child for his younger siblings, "go through that with the only two male role models they had. I figured when I was done in MI6 and retired I could go home or make a new home somewhere if you didn't want me anymore."

By now Clint understood why Harry had done what he had done. And as usual Lauren was right. Standing he picked the younger man from the chair and drew him into a hug, not a common occurrence when Harry was a teen, but was currently being eagerly returned. Cupping the back of Harry's head, Clint whispered "You will always have a home with us, no matter what you have done or how long you are gone. It's what makes it home Harry." The two men then sat together in silence, enjoying just being quiet in one another presence.

It was an hour later, after the consumption of more coffee than necessary when a runner came to the break room requesting Harry and Clint for a meeting with M. The two men happily got up, having spent the time catching up and getting to know one another again, and exited the room. Following the runner they chatted quietly as they made their way down the hallway and into the waiting room for the call to alert them to enter.

Clint, seeing the faces of his team nodded his head causing the team to let out a breath of relief, meanwhile a similar exchange was occurring between Harry, Rowan and Sophia. Harry nodded to the rest of the team and took a seat next to Sophia, the two of them quietly conversing as they waited. Clint sat next to Nat and Steve, Steve quietly enquired "How did it go with Harry?" The team all turned to look at Clint, hoping that it had at least become less hostile and they were speaking to one another again. Otherwise it was going to be rather difficult to work the op.

Clint let out a relieved smile and ran his hand through his hair. "It went well actually, we had a good long talk and I think we both understand each other a little better. Turns out he was scared of what coming back and then having to leave again indefinitely would do to the family. Seeing as both Harry and I have similar demands from our jobs, he didn't want to keep having to leave and put strain on the family, so he cut ties completely." The team all nodded their heads, understanding suddenly dawning on them as they could all understand not wanting to put loved ones through the emotional strain.

Nat smiled "So he had a good reason to then?" Clint smiled and nodded again letting out a small laugh as he did so. They were all caught by surprise when they suddenly heard a voice over the intercom, announcing that they could all enter.

Harry nodded to the two agents at the door and waved the rest of the team through the large oak doors Harry, Rowan and Sophia brought up the rear and entered the room last, closing the door behind them. The agents stepped up into their usual places at the center of the room, directly in front of the desk as the Avengers immediately sat down on the chairs provided.

M sat and her desk and smiled, while she appreciated all her agents these three had a specific place in her heart. Not that she would ever admit it, entirely inappropriate as it was. They all respected her greatly even though she had, on many occasions, told them that in meetings behind closed doors – such as the current meeting they were having – they could be less formal than usual. Stilling the sudden urge to laugh at the agent she straightened her shoulders and waved the agents to the seats waiting behind them.