Chapter 5 – Starting to Heal
Natasha woke up on the old couch in the living room. Clinton had offered her his bed but she refused and took the couch. Her heart sunk a little as she remembered that she was away from Clint and everyone else and (at the moment) with no way back to her dimension. As much as she hated to admit it, she misses all of them. God help her she even misses Tony! Looking at the clock on the wall she was surprised to see it's 6am, thinking she must be the only one up she went and raided the cupboards. The door few open and Rose jumped into the apartment.
"Morin'" she panted as she grabbed a glass of water and downed it in one gulp.
"Morning, I didn't think anyone else would be up," Natasha leant against the counter top.
"I'm always up at half four," Rose shrugged, "You need into the bathroom?" Natasha shook her head and watched Rose disappear into the bathroom.
Minutes later a half asleep Clinton dragged himself out of his bedroom. Natasha watched him as he flopped down onto the couch. After a minute she walked over and sat down beside him.
"How are you?" she asked carefully. Clinton glared up at her.
"Shit. I fell like shit and I look like shit, altogether I'm shit. How could I be so fucking stupid!?" he grumbled.
"Stop beating yourself up over it Clint- I mean Clinton," Natasha corrected herself. Clinton just ignored her and started to stare holes in the coffee table. Natasha sighed just as an idea popped into her head. It was a long shot but it might just cheer him up.
"Right go get dressed, we're going out," Natasha stood up and when he didn't move she spoke again, this time firmer, "Move Barton or I will drag you out myself!" Clinton grudgingly got up before shouting at Rose to hurry up.
Five minutes later Rose walked out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around her and soaking wet hair. She shouted at Clinton about not rushing him when he's in the bathroom before storming into her bedroom and gave him the finger just as she went inside. Natasha laughed; they really were like brother and sister – at each other's throats.
Once they were both ready Clinton and Natasha walked out the apartment. She knew where her Clint would go if her was like this but it was still here, in this dimension was the real question.
"How did you know I owned the warehouse?" Clinton asked as they walked inside the small warehouse in one of the run down parts of Brooklyn close to Rose and his apartment.
"Clint owns it as well, a lucky guess," Natasha smiled. In the warehouse was a single target and some target dummies. Natasha watched Clinton carefully as he picked up the bow and quiver and started to shoot. Instantly he started to relax and Natasha sat down on the floor. After her was finished he put his bow down and walked over to Natasha.
"How do you know so much about me?" Clinton asked as he sat down beside her. Natasha looked over to him and thought about what to say.
"In my dimension Clint and I are partners," she said carefully. Clinton raised an eyebrow, there was more to it he could tell.
"What else?" he asked carefully.
"I don't know what you mean," she growled.
"You're not just partners are you? Are you-?"
"Yes. Clint and I are together."
"Married, engaged, boyfriend girlfriend or friends with benefits?"
"Boyfriend girlfriend," Natasha spat the words. Yes they were but she still hated the words.
"Wow I did good," Clinton whispered under his breath.
"What?" Natasha jumped. She knew fine well what he had said but she wanted to see if he'd admit it. Clinton blushed slightly.
"Nothing…" Clinton muttered. Natasha stood up and cracked her back.
"Right, if Rose is anything like Rosie we better get going now or she'll trash the joint," she said sill stretching. Clinton nodded and stood up before following her out of his warehouse.
When they re-entered the apartment they were greeted by Rosie having an argument on the phone.
"NO!" she shouted rubbing her temple, "Of course I'm sure it's completely safe!... It has the best defensive technology around!... Don't you even-!... Oh my god for the last time yes!... Me Mr Rogers, listen to me!... Yes! I wouldn't recommend it if I didn't think it wasn't safe! Dr Banner is already there!"
"Rose who you fighting with?" Clinton asked as he threw the door open. He was happy he was on this side of the phone.
"Mr Rodgers," she put her hand over the mike. Clinton rolled his eyes and went to the fridge. Natasha stared at the girl in front of her. Well she now knew Steve was alive.
"Trust me Mr Rogers it is a very safe place…. Yes….. Uh hu… Ok…. Right, yes of course…. Thank you Mr Rogers…. Yes I'll see you tomorrow at 1500. Goodbye Mr Rogers," she smiled. As soon as she hung up she chucked her phone on the couch and flopped down next to it muttering under her breath.
"So why are you fighting with the Captain again?" Clinton asked taking a sip of beer. Rose looked over at him and as soon she saw the beer in his hand stormed over and grabbed it out his hand.
"It's eleven o'clock in the morning Barton! Just because you found out about Bobbie doesn't mean I'm going to let you slip into the way you used to be!" she cried as she took it out his hand and pored it down the sink. Clinton stared at the murky brown liquid falling out of the bottle and down the drain. Once it was all gone Rose moved over to the fridge, took out two six packs, opened them all and begun to pour them out one by one. Clinton jumped forwards but Rose stopped him with her foot. When Clinton began to attack Rose's foot Natasha decided it was time to intervene. She grabbed his arms and held him backwards.
"Trust us Clinton; it's for your own good. Let her do it." Natasha whispered soothingly. Clinton relaxed and let Rose pour out the beer.
"Thanks Ms Romanoff," Rose nodded as she dumped the empty cans in the bin.
"Call me Natasha," Natasha stared at her.
"Widow as a compromise?" Rose asked. She hardly ever used Barton's real name let alone a stranger's.
"For now," Natasha smiled.
"But hopefully you won't be here for much longer; you have your own dimension to get back to after all. We will get you back Widow. I've got Dr Banner working on it as well as Dr Foster, Dr Lewis and Dr Ross," Rose leant against the sink. Natasha nodded. She'd give anything to get back to her dimension. With that Clinton walked into his bedroom. They both stared after him.
"Just you and me tonight. Barton, Hill, Coulson, Dr Foster, Dr Lewis and Dr Ross always go to their pub last Saturday of every month. I'm sure I can 'talk' Barton into letting you go." Rose cracked her knuckles and glared at his bedroom door.
Natasha stifled a laugh. Rose was only a teenager but there was no doubt in her mind that she couldn't beat up Clinton. Especially as she was trained by the Red Room and that she has the enhancers. Rose was pretty much living her life, just with another code name.
"I'll ask, thanks for the offer," Natasha smiled. Rose nodded before heading to her bedroom and closing the door behind her.
Natasha stayed in the kitchen for a couple of minutes before walking over to the window and staring out across the city. Not far away she could make out the tower, her home. The writing on the side wasn't the same; it wasn't the Avengers A. On the side of the tower was Oscorp. Natasha sighed. Even her home had been taken over by Oscorp here as well as her team, her job and her friends.