Chapter: 26

The steady beeping of the machinery was the only sound that filled the room when she walked in. She would say that she was surprised to see him there, fast asleep in the chair beside the bed, but she would be lying. Grant sighed as she stepped further into the room and carefully shut the door behind her. It didn't take long for him to stir. Years of training made it hard for anyone to be able to just walk in while he was sleeping without him knowing. Actually, the only person who has managed that feat was Coulson and only on rare occasions.

"You're going to hurt your neck," she said simply and walked over to the bed. He waved his hand in a dismissive manner. "Did you clean that," she glanced at a cut he had gotten while they were fighting off some guards in that hellhole. Clint rubbed his eyes and looked up at her.

"You've got better things to worry about." He said and not so subtly glanced at the unconscious redhead.

"Touché," she said and examined the machines. "I need to check the wounds." When she didn't get a respond she turned and stared at him. He just stared back and motioned for her to go ahead. "Clint Barton, you see that woman?" She asked, pointing, but not looking behind her. "Unless she just so happens to sit up right now and say it's ok, I'm not going to let you stay in here while I examine her." As if to make a point she broke eye contact with him just long enough to glance back at Natasha's still form. "Yeah doesn't look likely," she said as she turned back to him. "Out."

"Fine, fine," he said and slowly got to his feet. "Devil woman." He mumbled under his breath as he headed for the door.

"I heard that Barton," she said and he just rolled his eyes. "Why don't you go get something to eat or something while you're out there?" she said before the door shut. Grant shook her head slightly in amusement that turned completely serious when she turned to face her patient.

Natasha had been place in a way so that she was lying on her stomach instead of her back where she had the more extreme injuries. As Grant approached the table she felt something twist inside her gut. It was the same feeling she got with a lot of patients she had become close with, like Barton. It didn't really make any sense as to why she had this feeling with a woman she didn't know, who she hadn't even talked too, she was always unconscious when she had been around her. However, she couldn't help but feel pain for the woman laying before her. Sleeping, dressed in a hospital gown with IVs hooked to her, and bandages covering her exposed back. "You're an awful tough young thing." She spoke with a mixture of awe and sadness in her voice. "Let's see how we're doing." With careful and practiced hands she reached for the bandages that where put loosely around the wounds and pulled them back.

Grant didn't even flinch at the sight. She had been doing this job so long that she had seen just about all there was to see. The wounds were an angry red against her pale skin. It took many stitches to deal with them and they had to give Romanoff more drugs twice because she started to wake up before they were through. She sighed and then went about making sure that the wounds were clean and rubbed them down with a gel that was a mixture of medicine for the pain and something to help keep the wounds from sticking to the bandages. She then reached for the clean bandages she had brought with her but paused when she heard soft footsteps. "Freeze" she said simply, not even turning around to see who it was at the door, and the footsteps stopped. "Turn," she waited until she heard the shuffle of feet, signifying that her orders were followed, before continuing with her work. She started to loosely apply the new bandages to the wound. "Can I help you with something Agent Coulson?" She addressed him without even looking.

"I was wondering if she had woken up yet."

"Still out from the last injection but I suppose it won't last much long compared to how long the last ones did." Grant said as she checked and put clean bandages to the stab wound on her leg. "You're welcome to stay for a while," she said "I'm done here." She disposed of all the old bandages and the wrappers from the newer ones. She threw out her gloves then gathered up the extra bandages, gel, and other supplies she had brought with her then gave and halfhearted grin to Coulson as she left him.

Without Nurse Grant there the room fell back into its silence of everything but the humming and beeping of the machines surrounding him. Like anyone else, Phil Coulson had a healthy dislike for hospitals. With a deep sigh he put the file he had been holding on the small table that was next to the bed and awkwardly looked around before his eyes eventually settled on the woman in the bed. He eyed the bandaging on her back and involuntarily he heard her screams echo in his head. It still unnerved him to think about the one of the strongest woman he knew of to be hurt like that. He shook his head slightly and pulled up the chair that was sitting against the wall, next to the bed. Coulson sat down and prepared himself for the wait however it wasn't long before she began to stir.

"Ms. Romanoff," he said softly when he noticed her eyes twitching. He wanted to both help her focus on something and to make his presence known. Remembering how she had been the last time she had woken up in medical, he hoped she would recognize his voice and they could avoid a repeat of those past events. "Romanoff, can you hear me?" He saw her struggle slightly to lift her heavy eyelids, the last time she had started to wake up before they were ready for her to, the nurses had given her quite a bit more medication than a normal person would receive. After one or two attempts her eyes finally opened and instantly locked on his. "Welcome back to the land of the living." He said and noted that she didn't seem amused. "How are you feeling?" She stared at him for a second before glancing around the room then bringing her eyes back to him.

"You brought me back?" Her voice was raspy from not being used and tired sounding, but not sleepy, tired like she was just…finished.

"We did," he said softly and she broke eye contact and began to try and sit up. "I don't think that…" her glare shut him up but only because he could see that she wasn't really angry. She didn't want to have a conversation while laying on her stomach and he could understand that. He got to his feet without another word and helped to hold the blanket around her lower half while she sat up. When she was finished moving he sat back down in front of her.

"So, what happens now," She asked and Coulson shrugged slightly.

"Fury is talking to the Council again. If things go his way you'll be an official agent here." He told her straight up like he knew she wanted him to.

"And if things don't go his way?"

"Fury gave me a look before stepping into the conference room that I know all too well." He said and she arched a brow at him. "When he's not going to take no for an answer." He said and she nodded slowly as if hesitant to believe him.

"So then I'll be stuck here," she said and Coulson shook his head.

"No," he said "you have a choice Natasha." She scoffed at that comment.

"Yeah, work for you or be killed."

"You've avoided our agency for years Ms. Romanoff," he said "I'm sure if you chose to that you could slip away and start a whole new life." He said and then leaned forward ever so slightly and lowered his voice. "You might even find it easier than you'd expect it to be." That was all he was going to say on the matter and he knew that she got the underlying message he sent. "So you see, you do have a choice as long as you're willing to change your old ways and something tells me that you are." He said and then leaned back against the chair. She didn't reply to that but she didn't need to.

"I don't belong here," she said after a moment and he leaned forward again and gave her a serious look.

"As long as you're willing to change some of your darker ways you have as much right to be here than any of these other agents. There are few people here that don't come with a past."

"Petrovich is still out there." Natasha said suddenly and changing the subject.

"Yes," Coulson replied "he is, but I didn't come to talk about all of that."

"Then why are you here?" She didn't miss the slightest of smiles that formed on his lips as he reached for the file he laid down earlier.

"We searched an office of sorts that Petrovich had set up and found this." He said and passed the file to her. She took it in her hands and slowly opened it up. Her expression, in fact, her whole body froze with hat she was greeted with. "I guess he wasn't so against keeping records of his own." He said as he recalled the interviews he had given her when she first arrived. Natasha wasn't really paying attention though she was too focused on the picture staring up at her.

It was of a young girl, her eyes a sparkling green and hair a brilliant red. Her hair was long, curly, and hung in unruly strands around her shoulders. The girl was also smiling at the camera and her eyes were lit up with happiness. Beside the girl stood a man. He was well built, handsome with strong features and a smile that also lit up his dark brown eyes. He had his arm wrapped around a woman who stood on the other side of the young girl. Her eyes also a sparkling green and hair as bright as the child's. She was absolutely beautiful with soft features and a loving smile. The girl stood between the two, her small hands reaching up and grasping the free hands of the adults. Natasha felt all the air leave her lungs as she let her eyes scroll down the page to the words below the photograph.

Father: Eduard J. Romanova

Age: 27

DOB: June 5, 1974

DOD: July 23, 2000

Mother: Alena L. Romanova

Age: 26

DOB: September 15, 1973

DOD: July 23, 2000

Subject 000923

Name: Natalia A. Romanova

Age: 5

DOB: July 23, 1995

DOA: July 23, 2000

Natasha stared at the information before her not knowing what to say.

"You're eighteen years old." Coulson said and she looked up at him slowly. He ignored the tears that had begun to form in her eyes. "You're birthday is July 23." She wanted to say something to him but couldn't find the words. In that moment he had given her something that meant more than anything anyone had ever given to her. He didn't need words though. For once, Coulson could see everything the kid was feeling in her eyes and he was happy that he could give this to her. He then pulled something out of his pocket that finally had a tear fall. Without saying a word he passed her a laminated picture of the young girl and her parents. "Feel better Romanoff." He said then got to his feet as she stared at the photo in her hands.

"Agent Coulson," she said and he paused with his hand on the door and turned to her. She looked like she had so much to say but couldn't find the words. He let her know that he understood with a simple nod that she returned and then placed the file to the side, but kept the picture in her hands. "Where's Agent Barton?" Coulson smirked at that question.

"Please, that boy has barely let you out of his sight since you first stepped foot on this base." She looked confused then until Coulson smiled and pointed up. He then turned and left the room. Natasha could feel it then, a pair of eyes watching her and she slowly let her gaze travel up to find an air vent slightly to the right of the bed.

Wow, I'm sorry for the wait guys. I know it's an overused excuse but school hit me pretty hard. Anyways, I wanted to have kind of a special moment between Natasha and Coulson there, I hope you guys enjoyed that. I have one more chapter planned, the epilogue, then that's it for this one. Thanks for all who reviewed/followed/fovorited this story. I had a lot of fun writing it so I'm glad you enjoyed. You people are awesome.