Well, we've said goodbye to little Clint and now it's time for adult Clint to deal with everything that's happened! This is the next to last chapter and it's not that long I'm afraid but I hope it's still good! Enjoy!

Clint's head hurt when he awoke the next morning. There were no windows and he was grateful for that. He didn't think his head could have taken the light. He winced and looked over at his brother sitting by the end of the bed. Barney was asleep, his head resting on his fist. Clint watched him for a minute before carefully removing the iv and sliding out from under the covers. He picked up a t-shirt and a pair of sweat pants someone had folded over the end of the bed.

With a last glance at his brother he crept out, taking the stairs. He crept into the living room and stood barefoot, looking out the window. It was night out and he felt hot. He had a fever. He leaned his head against the glass, cooling it.

His head hurt and God, he had made a fool of himself! He had cried in front of Captain America and pretty much all the rest of the team. He felt humiliated. His face was burning. He scrunched it up and swallowed hard.

A noise behind him made him check the reflection in the glass. It was Natasha. "Clint?" She asked softly.

"Hey." his mouth was dry.

"Are you feeling okay?"

"Yeah." he didn't want to see her. He had cried and asked her to sleep in the same bed. God, he couldn't think of anyone he hadn't embarrassed himself in front of. He turned to take a step but lost his balance. The fever was making him dizzy.

Natasha caught his elbow. "It's okay. Be careful." She lead him to the dark couch. "Sit down."

He did as he was told, putting his head in his hands. "God, Nat."

She sat down next to him. "What's wrong?"

"I-I just. . ." He scrubbed at his face. He felt an overwhelming sense of shame and he couldn't explain it. He had never meant to be so emotionally open with these people. He felt like he didn't have any secrets and now everyone was going to look at him differently. He shook and rubbed at his eyes with his palms.

She understood. Some primal part of her understood and she felt embarrassed too. "I'm sorry." She said softly. She watched him cry and it was so much worse. She knew everyone cried but it was so much worse to see a grown man cry than a little boy. It was raw and unnerving. She looked away. It was too personal.

He looked up at her, face contorted with misery. "You guys were so nice to me. . ."

She closed her eyes and let her face become impassive. She had to control herself, seeing him like this hurt. "Of course we were."

"You didn't have to be."

"Would you expect anything else?"

He looked down. He felt like he'd asked a stupid question. "No, of course not."

"No one thinks less of you."

"But they're gonna think differently about me."

"Probably for a while."

He hung his head. "What about you?"

"I can separate the little boy from who you are now, if you want."

He studied her. Of course she could. He didn't know anyone else that in control of their own mind. "I dunno."

"I think for now I will." She took his hand and held it. "It won't take long for the others to feel the same way."

"They know a bunch of stuff I never wanted them to know."

"Yes, and they won't forget. But eventually they'll think of it less."

He looked at her and it chilled her because he was looking at her like she was a life line.

She straightened her back. "Clint, you don't need to be ashamed. You were a little boy. You're a grown man now."

"I feel like a little kid." He said softly.

She sighed and rested her head on his shoulder, trying to convey that in no way was he a child. She tried to appeal to his size and physicality. She tried to make him understand without speaking. "It will be okay."

He cried into his palms. He felt so open and exposed. She leaned against his shoulder, sighing gently as she realized that there was little more she could say.

SO, again I got a lot of good ideas for stories and I did use one of them, I hope you'll all continue to throw out suggestions! Anyway, thanks so much for reading and keeping up with this story! I love you guys!