A.N: Just a short chapter this time. I want to show what's coming from Natasha's POV so I'm breaking it into two smaller chapters. This just keeps pulling at my attention - I'm hoping to get the next part up in a couple of days.
Thank you for all your feedback and reviews, I'm overwhelmed by the response this is getting, especially since I didn't plan for this to be a longer story!
He woke to the sound of voices in the hallway outside, already aware that he wasn't in his own bed and that he wasn't alone. He didn't need to open his eyes to know whose body was curled into his own or whose head was resting on his chest, the scent of her had burrowed into his brain during the night meaning that he woke with a very clear idea of where he was.
Still sleeping, Natasha was curled tightly into his body, the tension of the previous night having eased from her features. He didn't want to disturb her but the need to stretch and move around, easing the stiffness in his muscles, had him gently repositioning her against the pillows. From the end of the bed he watched her as he stretched out his arms and shoulders. She had slept relatively peacefully but the dark circles were still there beneath her eyes, probably would be for a few days until she had once again established some sort of sleeping pattern. If he had to be here with her until she was back to her best, he would be - he'd let her down too many times already.
A firm knock on the door disturbed his thoughts, desire to let Natasha sleep a little longer making him move before he had given conscious thought to the time or the fact that the door he was about to open wasn't his own. He didn't consider the possible implications of his impulsive decision until he opened the door and met the surprised expression on Maria Hill's face, an expression that didn't improve when he stepped out into the hall and closed the door behind him rather than letting her inside.
Her surprise didn't last long enough to throw her off stride for more than a second."What are you doing here?" she asked, recovering quickly.
"If you're looking for Natasha she's sleeping," he replied, folding his arms across his chest, "she hasn't been doing a lot of that lately so I'd suggest that if this isn't of critical importance you let her rest a while longer."
She didn't care for his tone, he could tell by the change in her body language. He didn't care. Unless they had a damned good reason for waking her up, he wasn't letting anyone through the door at his back. "I asked what you were doing here Agent Barton," Hill repeated.
Clint knew what she was thinking, he could see the wheels turning in her head as clearly as if she were made of glass. It was still early, his clothing was sleep rumpled and he was pretty sure that he probably looked as exhausted as he felt, there was one obvious and incorrect conclusion that a senior agent would come to when faced with such evidence. "I'm watching over my partner," he told her, meeting her gaze squarely. He wouldn't back down in the face of her obvious disapproval. Maria Hill might have forgiven him for the events that he had instigated whilst under Loki's control, but she had never forgotten them, and while he had done everything he could to rebuild her trust in him he would not allow her to intimidate him now.
"That would be the responsibility of her doctors Agent," she informed him. "I'd like to see her."
As she moved to push past him, Clint put his body directly in her path, blocking the way into the room. He saw the flash of irritation that passed through her eyes and knew that he would pay for his actions at a later date. Hill glared up at him, but made no move to issue a physical challenge, no doubt aware of the curious glances directed their way as other agents began to make their way down for breakfast or training. Surely she of all people should know that you only barged in on a woman like his partner if you no longer valued the full use of your limbs.
He leaned in, keeping his voice low enough that none of the bystanders would hear what he was saying. "Natasha doesn't need this kind of attention right now," he told her, keeping his tone so reasonable that had there not been witnesses in the hall he was sure that she would have punched him. "She's sleeping," he repeated, "I'll be happy to give her a message when she wakes up or have her come and find you, but so help me God you aren't waking her now."
The look she gave him could have flayed the flesh from his bones but she knew when she was beaten. Natasha had told him that Hill had made a point of trying to be supportive, she could probably appreciate the need for subtlety in a situation like this one. That didn't mean she wouldn't hold a grudge however.
"Tell Agent Romanoff that Dr Carter will come here to discuss her test results with her at 10.30," and with that Hill turned on her heel and stalked off along the corridor. He didn't like the sound of the doctor coming to Natasha to discuss test results, it gave him an ominous feeling of dread in the pit of his stomach, but he would pass on the message as he had been asked – just as soon as she woke up.
He was still there when there was more tentative knock on the door a couple of hours later, sitting on the edge of the bed while Natasha hastily tidied away her scribblings and straightened up the room. He knew enough about her behaviour to recognise that the tidying was an avoidance tactic, keeping her hands busy stopped her from dwelling on what was to come.
She admitted the doctor, an athletic looking brunette who was considerably younger than he would have imagined, after the first knock, greeting her with a tight smile. At the doctor's shoulder Hill came into the room, offering a smile to Natasha and an icy glare to Clint. "You're still here," she remarked, hovering by the door, holding it open to keep his exit clear. "You need to leave while they talk."
Clint didn't argue with her, just rose from the bed and moved to leave the room. He had no interest in causing a scene that might make this meeting between doctor and patient any more difficult than it had to be. He would head back to his own quarters, grab a shower and something to eat and then catch up with Natasha later. As he passed her, he brushed his partner's hand with his own, drawing her gaze up to his so that he could offer her all the reassurance he could give without words. He caught the spiralling panic in her before it became evident to the women in the room, it was in her eyes when he began to step away from her.
Her hand wrapped around his, fingers lacing tightly with his own. "He stays," she announced, lifting her chin and turning her gaze to the doctor and Agent Hill, challenging them to argue with her. "I want him here with me for this."