CHAPTER 13

Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters except my own. The characters belong to MARVEL.

CHAPTER 13 FAMILY TIME

Natasha stared through the glass door. Tony looked smaller in the white sheets of the hospital bed than she had ever seen him. Tubes curled around him, keeping track of his every breath, heart beat and adding electrolyte to strengthen his body. He had enough energy left to chew Steve's head off over the whole Accords thing, but not enough to keep standing for a second longer.Natasha crossed her arms over her chest. And to think we were all so happy when Carol brought him back… Now it's just as before but with Tony fighting for his survival right in front of us.

The blue woman from space strode up to the glass front. She stared at Tony, almost as if dissecting his breathing. Or possibly Pepper, who sat next to the bed. "Unchanged?"

Natasha nodded curtly. Something about her doesn't seem quite right. She has the composure of someone used to fighting and killing. Constantly on the run even.

"Nebula," Rocket called from down the hall. The racoon looked happier than he had the past weeks. Or, well, as happy as a grouchy racoon could look. Still, he bounded up to the two of them. "Haven't seen you in forever, Smurfette."

Nebula looked back at him with an unreadable expression. "Fur-face."

They stared at one another for a moment before turning to walk back down the hallway. They didn't talk or even look at each other. Natasha followed their path with her eyes. There was some history there, no doubt, the two of them definitely knew each other from Rocket's own crew and or space adventures. Natasha turned back towards Tony's hospital room. For now, getting Tony to recover from malnutrition and generally the brink of death is more important.

Beyond the glass wall, Pepper looked both exhausted and worried. She was slightly bent over Tony's body, hands clasped around one of his in silent plea.It was pure luck she was here. Almost as if she could sense Tony would return to us today.Natasha's eyes strayed away from the couple to find Steve and Bruce engrossed in a quiet discussion a few steps away. Rhodey had left to get Pepper some food and drink as well as prepare a bed. I'll have to look after Carol. She looked worried and tired after this whole thing.

With one last look at Tony, Natasha turned and stepped up to her teammates. "So, what does the doctor say?" she asked, "Will he pull through?"

Bruce and Steve turned to look back at her with matching worried expressions. "Well," Bruce began, "his body is extremely weakened. Dehydration, undernourishment, exhaustion, sleep deprivation. Not to mention the general stress of this whole situation. Apart from that, I suppose the next days are going to determine how we go on from here." He scratched the back of his head awkwardly. "I'm still not that kind of doctor, so we should probably get someone else here to check him over just in case."

Natasha gave a nod. It wasn't the best option, but given their circumstances, there was really nothing else they could do. We'll just have to wait and see.She glanced back at the hospital room. Rhodey was back with full equipment for a second bed for Pepper. They were just getting everything ready. Let's hope Tony pulls through this. We can't lose someone else. And him we couldn't even bring back.

"I'll better get on with that. The sooner we can get one of our doctors to Tony the better." Bruce looked over his clipboard with scribbled notes of what he had been able to discern about Tony's diagnosis. His eyes flickered between Steve and Natasha, his whole body screaming sudden embarrassment. Without another word, Bruce turned and briskly walked off.

Natasha almost sighed. This is going to take some more time to become less strange.

"I just hope, we can find someone to look after Tony," Steve mused. "We certainly aren't equipped to deal with his recovery on our own. At least, not the entire way." He ran a hand through his hair. "How are you holding up? Any news from Clint?"

"No, not yet." Natasha crossed her arms across her chest. "There was no time after Carol brought Tony in to continue, although the software is still up to par." She shifted her weight. "Besides, we have Tony back, which is an important step into the right direction to finish Thanos off."

Before Steve could answer, someone stepped up next to Natasha. Their height told her it was Hayden. The teenager peered into the direction of Tony's room. "How is he?"

Natasha didn't say anything. There was not much to say. Not at the moment. Steve looked back and forth between them. "Tony is recovering. Bruce did everything he could. Now we're looking for experts to take over."

Hayden nodded his understanding. He didn't press the matter. And neither Natasha nor Steve said anything further. For a moment, they all hung after their own thoughts.

I wonder, if Clint will be in any better condition when we find him. Living on the run or more likely fighting some kind of enemy, Natasha paused. Yes, that sounds like Clint. Neither of us can live entirely without fighting no matter how hard we try. And if it's just the fight against stalemate in creating your dream home.A soft pang. Without his family, Clint would have lost that dream indefinitely.

"Natasha?" Hayden's voice broke her from her thoughts. Slowly, he laid a hand against her elbow to gain her attention. Steve blinked out of his thoughts as well. Natasha looked back at Hayden with raised eyebrows. "You know," he began haltingly, "I know this is not a good time with everything, but I just had a thought and wanted to talk to you." The teenager paused, visibly warring with himself to go through with it.

Steve stepped in, resting a hand loosely on his shoulder. "Whatever it is, I'm sure it's important, if you came to Natasha right away."

A small smile lit Hayden's face at the encouragement. Natasha however was not as optimistic as Steve. Whatever it is, if he came to me it has to be important to him. I could try to accommodate his idea right now between Tony recovering, searching for Clint and getting the first queries from politicians… It might work out.

"There are more like me. More orphans." The words halted her thoughts once more. She looked at Hayden. His eyes darted around her carefully blank face. Searching for any kind of reaction either good or bad. Unspoken words hung between them. A silent plea almost.

Natasha turned fully towards him, aware of Steve's ever-watchful eyes on them. He had opinions. She could practically read them off his face at the moment, but ever the gentleman he would only voice them when asked for it. "What about the other orphans?" Natasha challenged. She had a feeling she might know the answer already. But I need to hear him make the request. Ask it of me.

Blinking nervously, Hayden shifted his weight a little from side to side. He looked back in the direction of Tony's room, then to Steve, silently standing next to them. Natasha was the unspoken caretaker as long as Hayden stayed with them. That much had been clear over the past weeks. While the others were never cold or dismissive of him, Natasha was the one to invite him to stay with them and prolong his stay indefinitely. Ultimately, she was calling the shots for the teenager.

"I was just wondering," Hayden scrubbed at the back of his neck, "you know, I'm really grateful you saved me and took me in. And, you know, it got me thinking..."

"That you couldn't be the only one to find your parents gone and left on the street to fend for yourself," Natasha finished his thought easily. Her eyes strayed to Steve. He met her gaze with a silent question of his own along with quiet reassurance to help. Together, as a team, they would be able to calm the politicians, aid Tony with his recovery, find and recover Clint as well as help as many people as possible while searching for ways to defeat Thanos.

Natasha took a steadying breath. "I think, you are right. Give me some time. I'll figure something out. We'll need to search for a doctor anyway, so it shouldn't be too difficult to get a feel for the situation of the children in the city as well."

The hug was unexpected. Hayden wrapped his arms around Natasha tightly. It surprised them both given how quickly the teenager let go and stepped back. Next to them, Steve chuckled fondly. He reached out to tousle Hayden's hair. "Don't worry, we'll find a way to protect the orphans of the Snap. We're the Avengers after all."

Hayden's smile was blinding, and it took Natasha a moment to realise it was probably the first time she had seen the teenager so full of genuine joy. Even if the smile dimmed as quickly as it had appeared. "You don't have to begin establishing it right away of course. I know you have a lot of responsibilities at the moment."

"Hayden, would you mind meeting me down in the gym in about half an hour? We could train together?" Steve offered.

With another enthusiastic nod, Hayden turned and almost bounced off towards the kitchen. Natasha watched him go quietly. Hayden does have a point. A lot of children probably lost their families due to the Snap. Some of them might have family left but no way to contact them or get to them. We should help them. As we should help the government to rearrange and search for Thanos.

"We got Tony back," Steve said quietly, "Once he wakes up, we'll be able to specify our search for Thanos, he surely has valuable information."

Natasha nodded along, her mind tripping over several thoughts and responsibilities. "I think, I need to let off some steam after today." She turned away from Tony's room with a quiet sigh. "Let FRIDAY call me, if Tony wakes. He's strong, I trust his stubbornness won't allow him to stay down for long." A small smile curled the corners of her lips. "No matter how much the doctors might want him to." Without waiting for Steve's response, Natasha walked down the hall and turned towards the gym.

It took three days for Tony to wake up. Not even the doctor Bruce had found in DC and Steve brought over could hasten the process. "His body is weakened. There is nothing we can do, apart from wait," he had said, nodding to himself, "Doctor Banner did good work, considering his limited field of expertise."

Between Natasha and Nebula, the doctor would have almost certainly been thrown out as soon as he could utter those sentences. The tone alone suggested arrogance because of his profession as well as a blatant disrespect for Bruce's work. As it was, Steve stepped in with a firm rebuttal in his Captain-voice for FRIDAY to let the doctor out of the compound. It got the message across. Or maybe it was the fact that both Black Widow and an obviously cyborg woman stared him down with murderous intent. But how would Natasha know with the doctor skittering away as quickly as possible, two shades paler than before.

"Shit, this wasn't a dream, was it?" were the first words out of Tony's mouth.

"No, it wasn't," Nebula said calmly.

Seeing her seemed to at least somewhat ground him before his eyes caught on Pepper who was already close to tears. A fond smile lit up his still tired face. Tony tilted his head in her direction. "Tears for your long lost boss?"

Now Pepper was truly crying. Her hands were shaking as she clung to Tony's offered hand. Her other covered her mouth for a moment to compose herself slightly. With a wobbly smile she offered a, "Tears of joy. I hate job hunting."

"I was dreaming of you."

"A bit sentimental, isn't it," Natasha said. It brought the attention to her, standing next to the bed with an uncharacteristically soft expression on her face. "We missed you, Mister Stark."

Another grin, this time playful albeit slightly pained. We haven't parted exactly on the friendliest terms. Still, not as bad as him and Steve.She avoided looking back at the Captain hovering behind her somewhere. Unsure if he'll be welcome or not.

"Couldn't keep your nose out of my stuff, could you?"

"I helped Pepper decode it."

Tony shifted to sit up properly. Instantly, Nebula and Pepper helped him sit up in bed, despite his protests. Those died on his lips as soon as he caught sight of Steve. His eyes hardened, lips drawn into a thin line. "What are you doing here?"

"Tony, I understand-"

"No, you don't. You left us alone, disappeared to wherever." Natasha couldn't remember the last time she had heard Tony sound so bitter. "You, Captain America, didn't do anything to stop it, did you?"

"We fought in Wakanda," Steve replied quietly. "I'm sorry we lost."

Tony's heartbeat accelerated, the beeping of his heart monitor rising in volume. "Sir, you need to calm down," FRIDAY's voice said. Natasha turned towards Steve. The blond looked stricken. Downright sorry for everything bad that ever happened. But there was no denying it. "Steve," she quietly began, "you need to go. See, if Rhodey is finished with the conference with Okoye? We have to make sure we share our Intel."

Steve's eyes darted between everyone present. Tony's cold look, Pepper's worried glances as well as Nebula's carefully blank expression. With a small nod, he turned. At the door, Hayden met him. The teenager fought to keep the tray balanced on his arms.

"Oh, sorry." Hayden glanced around the room. No doubt he noticed the tangible tension in the air. "Doctor Banner asked me to bring Mister Stark some pain medicine and food. To help the healing process."

As soon as the door fell closed behind Steve and Hayden had handed his tray over to Pepper, he lingered next to Natasha. He seems curious about our newest arrival. Although he has gotten better at not being awestruck at everyone he meets in the compound.

Of course, Tony also noticed the lingering teenager, who didn't look like the usual SHIELD recruits. "And who is that?"

"I'm Hayden," the teenager replied politely, "It's nice to meet you."

A half-grin curled at Tony's lips. "Hello Hayden. And what brings you into our lovely hideout?"

Hayden's eyes snapped to Natasha then back to Tony in quick succession. "My parents disappeared in the Snap. Miss Romanoff found me in the street, saved me and allowed me to stay."

Natasha stayed perfectly still through the whole description. I still don't quite know, why exactly I took him in. Sure, he was in danger and saving him helped with getting out excess energy.She paused. I became attached. To this kid. Which is dangerous, though I don't want to change it.

"My my, Agent Romanoff," Tony drawled, "What a completely new side we get to see."

"She's competent especially for close range combat," Nebula added. Her eyes bore into Natasha's. "Why would it be strange, if she were good with kids as well?"

"I was trained to kill."

"So was I."

The two women looked at each other for another moment. Something like understanding passed between them. Both born and raised to kill, now on a different path because of someone else's the intervention.

"And what do you plan to do around here, Hayden? Come to join our little band of misfits?" Tony went on as if nothing happened. Something in Natasha reacted to the tone. He's not going to risk his life if I can help it.Subtly, she shifted so the teenager was half hidden behind her. For all the good it did.

"Calm down Mama Bear," Tony almost laughed. His eyes crinkled, but it was visibly putting strain on him. "I won't take your cub without consulting you both first."

Hayden leaned slightly over Natasha's shoulder. "Oh, Mister Hogan is on his way to see you," he relayed. His eyes darted between Natasha and Tony a few more times before he quietly drew back and turned to leave the room. The door fell quietly closed behind him.

"You should talk to him," Pepper offered, "We'll be busy with Tony here for the time being. And I'm sure Nebula can keep an eye on potential dangers while she and Tony catch me up on anything that happened. I know you already got Nebula's report."

It was an offer, though at the same time the steely glint in Pepper's eyes suggested Natasha should not only talk to Hayden but Steve as well. We'll have to get those two pig-headed idiots to talk it out sooner or later.

Natasha gave the assembled a smile. "See you around."

"Bye bye, Mama Bear."

With FRIDAy's help, Natasha found Hayden in the kitchen together with Steve preparing some cake batter. It looked like they were making chocolate cake with some fudge as aside or décor. Hayden glanced over his shoulder as he heard her steps approaching. Steve on the other hand just continued mixing the batter. "So, what did he tell you?"

"Nothing much. He indirectly offered training Hayden as an Avenger or Agent of some kind." Natasha crossed her arms over her chest. She leaned against the kitchen counter to keep a close eye on their work. "He seemed tired from all the talking. Didn't shake much so that's good. With the food and Bruce's care he should be eager to leave his bed within a couple weeks – or days, if we're being honest."

Steve looked up at that. A small smile lit up his face. "If I know anything about Tony, he'll be straining to get his hands on any work as soon as he can stay awake for more than a couple minutes." The smile fell away just as quickly. Sadness and regret were back, for their friends both present and lost.

He seemed to be fine most days, but with Tony just returned and his fierce rebuttal. I just hope he doesn't revert back to the quiet brooding… They have to work through this. Maybe it's good that they are separated for now.Natasha turned to look at Hayden. The teenager was carefully pretending not to listen to them.

"Would you like to learn how to fight?" she asked. "You don't have to answer right away and I also don't have forgotten about the idea with the other orphans."

Hayden's head shot up. "But you… With Mister Stark still recovering…"

Steve chuckled. The smile didn't quite reach his eyes, but it was some kind of start at least. "Don't worry. Natasha said she'd do it. She wouldn't offer her help if she didn't plan to go through with it." He added a spoonful of cinnamon to the mixture. "And if you truly want to train, I'd gladly help you as well. Either for demonstration or partner."

Apparently, Tony's not the only one who wants to take Hayden under his wing. Well, at least Steve is slightly subtler about it.Natasha paused.And that might be a first. Steve and subtle… Usually not a combination I hear about.

"That, thank you, that's very thoughtful of you," Hayden said, "I'd love to learn from you. Whatever you want or can teach me to be honest." He rubbed the back of his head. With forced calm he went on to crumble the chocolate on his cutting board.

For a moment none of them spoke. Natasha even went around to help Steve with the batter. They had lived on the run long enough to be able to move around one another fluently. Soon, the cake was in the oven and the kitchen cleaned up. Happy had brought the dishes from Tony's meal back to the kitchen. Apparently, Pepper had decided to stay in the compound until Tony was less malnourished.

Rhodey called for a team meeting in the morning in Tony's room to catch everyone up on their gathered information from Wakanda as well as Tony's and Nebula's fight with Thanos in space via FRIDAY. He refrained from commenting on the situation with Steve and Tony. For now, it seemed they had a tentative truce about the whole ordeal. Especially since Natasha was the only one left from Steve's side of the conflict and she hadn't even started out there.

"We? Boy it must be hard to shake the double agent thing. Must stick in the DNA."

Tony's words rang in her head. They had hit a mark then and they hit a mark years later.

Not everything in this little family is as peachy as it seemed to develop the past weeks. Despite losing our friends, with Tony back and definitely alive – I really ought to find Carol and thank her for that.Natasha looked back at Steve and Hayden. Steve had hidden his emotions behind a pleasant mask. Only his tense shoulders belied his true feelings. Hayden on the other hand was quietly cutting up fruits for the others to arrange on a platter. Neither had been relaxed ever since Tony had reappeared with Nebula and Carol. This is going to take some getting used to. And at the moment I don't think I can give them any safe advice. I need a break from all this.

With a sigh, Natasha pushed off the kitchen counter. "I'll be in the gym," she said to no one in particular and left the otherwise silent room.