Disclaimer: I do not own any Avengers characters.
"You're a disgrace and a mess!" Wasp shrieked.
"Wow, not exactly the best way to start my morning but thanks." Clint growled. He was seated in a chair by the hospital bed and holding one of Maria's hands as she continued to sleep, just as he had been all night. His quiver of arrows and bow was on the floor by his feet.
"Why don't you go upstairs and take a shower and wash up?"
"Why should I?"
"Come on Clint. I mean lets be realistic, she's not going any where."
"Not. Funny." he glared.
"I'm not trying to be. She's not going to disappear or leave. Hank and me will watch her while she's sleeping and you wash up. Then you can come back and watch over her again. Deal."
He didn't answer.
"She's not going to be that happy seeing you all dirty and a mess."
He sighed. "But if anything! Any little change happens, you guys have to come get me."
"Deal." She smiled as she changed and buzzed over Maria, examining her.
"Deal." Hank mumbled. He was looking through a microscope.
Clint looked back uncertainly but went to the elevator and then to his room where he showered and changed.
Last night they came back to the mansion and took Maria down to the lab. In a section Hank pulled out another hospital bed and had Maria set down there. He hooked her up to the EKG and worked over her again, rebounding her. He claimed everything was going properly but Clint still insisted he stay the night with her. He had hardly slept a wink. Now, the next morning Wasp saw that he actually was still there.
Wasp looked down at the sleeping girl with the bandaged head. Even under the bandages her thick brown hair waved loosely around herself contrasting with the sterile white pillow. She had nicely cut cheekbones and a slightly opened mouth as she slept breathing softly. It sounded a little ragged but still strong. Her face was pretty and she looked about fourteen or fifteen, but there was still something very young about her face. Something childish. No wonder Clint's going crazy, Jan thought to herself, Look at her long enough and she looks like she's six. Poor thing.
"You're oddly quiet." Hank commented looking up. He looked at Jan flying over Maria.
"Hhmm, oh just thinking."
"She's going to be fine Jan." Hank said walking over to the hospital bed. Wasp flew up to him looking concerned. "She's just sleeping, letting her body rest."
"But for so long?"
"She's tired. I examined her myself. She is heeling but needs to rest."
"Okay, I hope she wakes up soon. Clint looks bad-"
Then there was an explosion.
Everything was disoriented. She had no idea were she was or what had happened. Everything hurt but it got worst. She heard somebody talking about examining. Clint! Where's Clint!, Maria thought to herself frantically. Then a fragrance hit her. Anesthetics. She hated that smell. She immediately began to freak out. She felt like she was hyperventilating. She opened her eyes slightly against the lights and caught sight of a quiver with arrows. She dropped her hand limply and caught hold of an arrow. Then she threw it and it exploded.
Clint had taken a shower and washed up. He changed to a clean uniform and began to make his way to the elevator when there was an explosion.
He froze then frantically pushed the elevators button. "Come on, come on! No no no no no!" he cursed himself remembering he had forgotten his bow and arrow downstairs. He jumped out the elevator frantically.
He saw Jan and Hank coughing waving the smoke of.
"Sorry sorry!"
He turned around and saw Maria awake sitting up. She was looking apologetically at Jan and Hank, with wide brown eyes.
"Sorry sorry! I sorta freaked out a little!"
"A little? You threw an exploding arrow at us!" Jan teased.
"It was only a smoke screen one. I'm sorry!"
"I forgot to mention she's usually very disoriented when she wakes up." Clint sighed in relief. He chuckled to himself.
"Clint!" Maria cried. She smiled at him and he quickly came to her side and hugged her. "Where were you?"
"I had gone to wash up. I'm sorry, sweetie." Clint pulled back as he sat next to her on the edge of the bed. He kept an arm around her.
"And about time to. He was all dirty and a mess." Wasp said as she dust off some brown stuff from her costume.
"It's okay. And sorry about that again." she pointed at Hanks dirty lab coat sheepishly. "I guess I over exaggerated a bit."
"A bit." Hank tried to pat it off. "It's okay. That was very smart and quick of you."
"Thanks." She blushed slightly. "I was going to get up and attack but I'm not exactly in the best condition."
"You need to be more careful." Clint said slightly sternly. "Before you attack make sure they're your enemies. And you should act calmer. You could of hurt them or hurt yourself even worst. You just woke up from a freakin death sleep. Why would you even think about moving? You need to let your body heal. What if you had messed up your body when you did that? And what about stress? You should lie back down. You need rest. Your not a super human, you need to relax."
Maria stared down at the blanket as he talked, her lips tight and slightly puckered to the side as if thinking. Jan and Hank whispered to each other as Hawkeye went off.
"It's so cute how he cares about her." Jan smiled "I never pictured him as the protective parent type."
"I never pictured him as a parent at all."
Jan elbowed him.
"Ow, what?"
Then the elevator opened and Tony walked in. He was in a silk button down shirt and nicely crisped pants, drinking a cup of water.
"Oh, she's up again." He smiled. He walked over to them. "So do you plan on staying conscious or are you going to knock out again?"
Clint frowned but Maria smiled. "Um, I think I'm good. Really cramped up but not that tired."
"Good. You're under Hank Pym's care. He's not the best brain surgeon but he can take care of you. You need anything; we'll get it for you."
"Thanks Iron Man."
"Tony."
"Tony." She smiled. "You'd think with S.H.I.E.L.D. that I'm used to super heroes but you guys are . . ." she shook her head.
"So your up top with S.H.I.E.L.D. and those guys?" Jan asked.
"You can say that." Then she remembered something and turned to Clint. "Did you call my grand-parents?"
"Yea, when you fell asleep again on the jet. I told them you were with me and that we'd explain what had happened when we saw them."
"And when's that?"
"I'm thinking once you've healed. You shouldn't really move around."
She nodded then looked at them smiling a little. "Sooooo, what now?"
"Now" Clint frowned as Tony and Hank crossed their arms. "You tell us exactly what happened."
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Yea you do." They stared at each other and finally she sighed.
"Okay, remember you gave me that quiver of arrows with the bow that I was supposed to use for emergencies, as a present."
"Yes."
"You gave a bow with arrows as a present?" Hank exclaimed looking at Hawkeye.
"Well yea. She asked for them."
"Any ways!" She said loudly then continued. "There was this group of guys that would go hitting cars at night and just mess around. They hit Mrs. Dandle's car, you know my neighbor."
"The one that always invites me to her house?"
"Yup. Well I got mad, used the look alike costume I made of you for Halloween, and went after them. They were doosh bags. So I found them, threaten to shoot an arrow thought their hearts and they apologized and promised to pay for some of the damage. They did. So then I thought, why I couldn't help others. So I started going out at night, and stop petty crimes, like a pursue snatcher or car jackers. I even bust a gang."
"And you were doing this on school nights?"
She stared, her face blank and mouth pursued. "Only sometimes."
"Maria, I've told you countless of times, school first!"
" I know I know but it's not like I ever missed . . . a lot of days of schools."
"Maria!"
"Only two. And one test. That's it I swear!"
"Okay, just continue!" Tony said. "We can talk about her attendance later."
"Okay, well, as I said, I would go out and stuff. Last night I was monitoring these two guys who, you know, 'conducted business'. I knotted up the first guy and chased the other one. By the docks but then I saw something else. A freakin Hydra agent walked by and holding two giant bags of Chinese food. Personally I thought that was hilarious. So I followed him into the warehouse and by then you guys had started your little siege. Then I saw Nata- er, Black Widow." You could see the pain in her face. "Then you guys know the rest better than me."
"Seriously, Chinese food." Jan raised an eyebrow.
"I know, right. Personally, I like sushi more, but." She shrugged.
'How could you be sneaking out? Nick said he would be monitoring you." Hawkeye frowned.
"Yea Nick says a lot of things that aren't true." Maria said suddenly furious. "But in case no ones noticed, he's been messing up big time lately."
Clint stared at her then shook his head. "I bet he doesn't even know you're gone. Well I don't know when you can get up." They turned to Hank who was thoughtful.
"Well, I'd like to monitor you to make sure everything goes good. I took X-rays of your ribs and head and they seemed to be healing nicely but just to be on the safe side. I honestly don't think you should go to school for another week at a minimum but your welcomed to stay at your home, though for at least a day or two you should stay here at the mansion. And by staying here I mean in bed.'
She frowned. "But I'm fine, really! I can walk around!" she tried to get up more but Hawkeye gently pushed her back own.
"Oh no you don't. You heard the doc, you're staying in bed."
"But I don't want to. At least not here, no offense. You know I hate hospitals and that smell."
"You're more then welcome to stay upstairs in a room. I already had D.A.R.V.U.S. prepare a room. Clint specifically said no pink." Tony smiled.
She was thoughtful. "Okay, thanks. When can I move?"
"When Thor comes." Clint said. "He can move you gently upstairs."
"Ugh, I can walk."
"No!"
"She has awakened?" a voice came. The others turned around and saw Black Panther walking in with Captain America who was wiping off some sweat from his forehead. They walked over to them. Cap. smiled.
"How are you holding up, Maria?"
"Very good, sir." She beamed up at him. Her eyes were like everyone else's when they see Captain America, a living legend and a miracle.
"Where's Thor?" Tony asked.
"I believe he said he was meeting with the young lady, Jane Foster." Panther spoke.
"But he'll be back early." Captain America said. "He said he was going to work out with me in the afternoon."
"Can I watch?" she asked excitedly.
"You" Clint interrupted, "need to rest."
"He's right." Hank said. "Take it easy for a day or two."
She frowned and looked up at them. "Fine."
"I want to stay." The complain came from the pouted lips.
"No."
"Wwhhyyy?"
"Because we said so."
"But I don't wana?" he groaned
"Clint, you being worst then a kid." Jan scolded.
He just frowned. Maria was cracking up in the background with Hulk and Thor. Thor had come back and took her upstairs to her room and the others were in there with her. Her room was similar to Jan's. Big and open.
"Because we're the only girls." Jan had told her.
"Well I said you are." Tony said.
"But what if something happens to her?"
"Nothing will."
"I'll stay." Jan said. "I'll stay and watch her and I promise that I'll call if anything happens. Even if she gets a hangnail or sneezes."
Clint frowned.
"It's okay Clint." Maria said with a small smile. "You need to go because you know my grandparents and you can help explain. Jan will watch me."
"Are you sure?"
"Positive." She smiled again, her dimple making her look four years younger.
"Fine. I'll be back soon." He walked to her and kissed her forehead. "Rest up sport."
"I will. Tell them I love them and sorry."
The others walked out, Jan reassuring Clint. "Don't worry I'll take good care of her."
When everyone else left Jan turned around smiling ear to ear. "Girl time." She squealed.
Twenty minutes later Maria was out of breath. Jan had asked her so many questions. From what her favorite color was to her relationship with Clint.
"So who took care of you while Clint was . . . gone?"
"What you mean he was gone?"
"When he was locked up."
Her face froze and she looked down.
"What happened?"
"Nick Fury was waiting for me. I came home from school and he was there with Black Widow and my grandparents. They all looked sad, even Nick. I asked what happened. I thought he had died. But Nick told me what had happened. How he betrayed us all for Hydra. I leaned against the wall. It was impossible. Clint wouldn't do that I knew he wouldn't. I knew he was set up but Natasha said she saw it all. I was crying and I wanted to talk to him but they wouldn't let me. I wanted to hear it from him. She held me while I cried. She even stayed the night for me. But it was all a lie. It was her. She did it all. She betrayed us and let him take the blame for it. And Clint was gone and I couldn't talk to him. Till the break out."
"Wait what happened after the break out?" Jan asked. Maria looked lost in her memories.
"My grandparents were freaked out and didn't want me going out. I was home alone one day after school. My grandpa was at work and my grandma at the grocery store. I heard a knock on a window but didn't know which one so I walked through the house. I looked through the windows but didn't see anything so I thought it was a cat or something.
Then I looked down the hall and saw him. He was standing there still and quiet as if he didn't even know what was happening. He paused and turned and looked at me. We just stared. He looked surprised, then scared, then anxious then reserved. We just stared at each other.
'Clint?'
'Maria?' he took a hesitant step towards me and held out a hand. 'Yea, it's me Maria. It's Clint. I won't hurt you. Look, I'll put it down.' He slowly put down his quiver then took a conscious step forward. I ran, ran straight into his arms.
'Clint, Clint it's really you!' I hugged him, burying my head into his shoulder, crying a bit. He was surprised but then wrapped his arms around me and smoothed my hair.
'Sshh, sshh' he soothed 'don't worry it's me it's me. I'm back.' We were like that for a long time. 'But didn't Fury talk to you, and tell you what happened?'
'Yea, Natasha did to, but I didn't believe them. You'd never do that.' I noticed he frowned when I said Natasha. 'Clint, what happened?'
We sat down on the couch and I told him everything then he told me the truth."
"What about your grandparents?" Wasp asked, wiping tears from her eyes.
"They believed him. We loved Natasha but I was always closer to Clint."
"So where would he do?"
"He went hunting for Natasha but would come to our house like a little shelter for him. He even drove me to school at times." She smiled. "I'm sorry but can I have some water. I'm really thirst."
"Sure I'll be back." Jan flew out to the kitchen then grew back to normal size and stared at the table. She remembered her dad. A few more tears escaped.