A/N: So I'm back from Spain! Brown as a nut (no relation to Sherlock ;) – if you don't watch the BBC series, ignore that) I want to say a big thank you for staying with me during the break, and I promise to return to normal. I did tweak a few things in the last chapter, the hacking being one of them, I've discussed it with Rosalie Rowan, I am trying to keep everything about Natasha as realistic as possible; compared to the stories that humanise her more than she is (she's a cold hearted assassin and we have to remember that) but I wanted to include Tony Stark, and hey, it's a fan fiction. Anyway this is quite an important chapter, although it's slower than the others.

Chapter 5: Discussions

SHEILD felt different. Everything was the same, the grey walls, the metal barriers, the constant bleeping of some form of technology.

But it felt different.

Her strong strides seemed slower, than previously, like they had lost their confidence. The walls, grey as always, seemed duller now (if it was possible) than they had before. Everything; she had studied everything before, so carefully, so she knew every line and every pattern… yet it was like she hadn't studied them properly. The medics, the agents, everyone she had carefully depicted, making sure they were no threat, but she didn't know them. Not really. Then, she guessed, she didn't have the chance.

The Widow knew the reason behind her ludicrous thinking, although she wouldn't bring herself to admit it. It was part of her training, to analyse and discover the problem, so she did it to herself subconsciously. Yet she denied it, forced it out of her brain. She did not feel helpless. She did not feel weak.

She also denied that she was avoiding Agent Barton.

An agent passed her. The hand of the agent brushing against her side, she turned to look at the level five SHEILD agent, who nodded at her. It was the secret code all level fours and up used to indicate instructions to return to base, often used for a large scale mission when level threes and lower were around. Yet, she had a feeling this wasn't the 'typical' mission. (If ever there was one).

Agent Romanoff entered the main area of the facility, not to be greeted by Director Fury, but by the array of other agents. Hill, Carter, even Rodgers, who now worked for SHEILD, but no Fury. Instead, at his station, his screens all displayed the same address; a room located near the centre of the base, a room Agent Romanoff was unfamiliar with. She growled under her breath, he knew she hated unfamiliarity.

Despite the Widow had never before been to this room, she knew the layout pretty well, after all it was the same as every other SHEILD room. She cocked an eyebrow, of cause it would be the same; why did she expect anything else.

Two other men were in the room with her. One stood up, facing the wall, the other slouched across one chair; out of the eight surrounding the very large, very brown, table. He was turning slowly, spinning repeatedly in the chair.

'Remind me to compliment the person who designed these rooms to all look the same.' He laughed through his teeth, and Romanoff smiled; despite Agent Barton's humorous nature, even he was uncomfortable with the silent Fury that stood at the end of the room.

She took a seat, sitting neatly, in the centre of the chair. Only then did she realise that Barton was sat. Not crouched or stood like usual. She swallowed the guilt; she'd only really talked to him once in a week.

Fury, not impressed by Barton's joke, finally turned. His face looked casual, his figure still tall, but relaxed. 'Now that we're all up to date with the situation,' he started, raising his, one, eyebrow. 'Maybe you can tell me what you plan to do about it.' He finished, a ghost of a smirk on his lips.

Romanoff's face relaxed into a cocky grin, whilst Barton's creased into a frown. 'I don't understand.' He whispered, unable to admit defeat, but knowing he had to be honest.

'You're compromised Barton. I'd like to know how to change that status.' Fury leant forward on his hands, daring Barton to look him in the eye.

Hawkeye looked at Romanoff's face, turned to Fury's, and back to Romanoff's. 'Nothing.' He said, almost laughing. 'There's nothing.' His face turned hysterical.

The Black Widow's grin left, leaving a confused frown in its place. She had worked with Barton many times, and he was the last agent she knew that would give up.

'There are medicines.' she began, 'They're a bit extreme; I mean they might change your personality completely if you started taking them but it might be…' her sentence trailing off at the mocking expression on Hawkeye's face.

'What happens if I'm captured? Or get into a situation where I can't get the drugs? What if I'm hiking up a mountain and it's taking more days than I expected, or I have to abandon my possessions…?' He asked, talking frequently, a sneer on his lips. 'What then Tasha?' He emphasised as she cringed, 'What will the famous Black Widow do then?' He finished, his face calming down.

She kept her face cool, although inside she was panicking; shocked by how much his remarks had affected her. Their odd behaviour may look like that of people with schizophrenia. She repeated to herself, remembering her conversation with Stark. He's ill… he's ill… She forced herself to remember.

'If you two are quite finished with your domestic…' Fury muttered, and they both realised he had moved away from the table. 'The question is… Is this risk one we will take?' He confronted them both, although his gaze was fixed on Agent Romanoff, she felt as if he was trying to tell her something… trying to make her figure something out…

'No.' Barton snarled. 'There is nothing that can be done.'

They get latched onto an idea. They get latched onto an idea. She told herself, ignoring the niggling sensation that yearned for her to say something.

She glanced at Fury, who was now staring at her. She looked back at Barton, whose face hadn't changed but had cracks of sadness in his eyes. She was going to figure out what to do. She was.

He mind began whizzing, collecting all the information and subconsciously replaying it; they get latched… so she had to 'unlatch' him? … 'Not good in social situations' 'Don't feel comfortable near strangers'… She stood up. A smile curling on the ends of her mouth.

'I suggest we give Agent Barton a test run.' Her monotone voice relayed her plan to Director Fury, although she could tell he was expecting this. 'He tries the medicine,' She glanced at Barton, 'The weakest one, mind you, if his personality changes too drastically he might end up morally objecting,' Humour played on her words, covering up her feelings, deep down, that she didn't want him to change. 'Then he comes with me on my next mission. Hill was meant to assist but I'm sure she won't object when you,' She nodded at Fury, 'tell her there's a change of plan. We see how he does. I can keep him in check… if he's… coping… he can go on assist missions. I mean, I assume his state of mind doesn't affect his skills with a bow and arrow.'

Fury grinned at the Widow's announcement. Barton's hard face suddenly glazed over with… hope. And as Romanoff caught the sight of this emotion in his eyes, she couldn't help but feel warmth spread through her body, but not quite her heart.

'Very well.' Fury nodded, appearing to be analysing the information in his head, when the Widow knew he had planned for this to happen. He left, leaving the two agents alone in SHEILD's conference room. Agent Barton now standing, mirroring the Widow.

Usually he'd make a joke. She thought, annoyed by the disturbance of everything normal. She felt the silence turn awkward, as she racked her brains for something to say.

'Thanks Tasha.' Barton whispered, not looking directly at her and leaving quietly. She didn't mind, she knew it was hard for SHEILD agents to even say thank you. She grinned.

She later realised, that was the first time she hadn't flinched at her name.

A/N: I know Fury's meant to be this big over ruling guy and everything, but look at the Avengers; he's nice really :) So I thought he'd let Natasha and Clint work together. Tell me what you think; how've you responded to the twist that Natasha feels for Hawkeye first rather than the other way round, as you probably first expected in the second chapter? I tried to describe it as something other than 'happiness' etc… more 'warmth' etc like instead of 'how much it hurt her' I used 'how much it affected her'… because I wanted it to be through Natasha; a spy who was trained to not get emotionally attached; so she doesn't know what love is and it's new to her and she won't admit her feelings. Review please :)