Chapter Ten
Gut Feelings!
Natasha's POV…
Natasha was doing everything in her power to get the girl out of here within the hour that she had promised but it was proving to be difficult. At first they tried to tell her that since she was a minor that they had to wait for her guardians to show. With a quick flash of her SHIELD badge everyone's mind changed. So someone was sent to start taking her statement down. Though it seems nothing was moving fast enough for Natasha's liking. She kept getting this feeling that a shoe was going to drop. She just didn't know why. To top it all off everyone seemed to be uncaring for the girl's situation. The girl was tugging on Natasha's heart strings. No matter how much she wanted to squash that feeling she just couldn't. Natasha wanted the girl out and she wanted her out now.
That poor child looked down right dead on her feet. If Natasha was to hazard a guess she would have to say that whatever was causing her to be as such obviously went further than today's event. Bella's eyes were bloodshot with puffy black bags underneath. Her cheekbones were slightly sunken in giving the girl a hunger pain frame. Not only that, the girl was really pale. Almost sickly pale.
Natasha didn't really know the girl's story. All she knew was that Sam's little sister was coming to stay with him for a little while. She was beginning to think she should have asked more questions. Her gut was telling her something was wrong and it had her on edge. The girl could not be older than sixteen at best. Way too young for the girl to be away from her parents seeing as how the school year was still going. Something isn't right. I just know it.
Natasha glanced up at the clock to realize that only 20 minutes had passed. She was ten minutes away from calling Tony. If anyone could get the girl out. It would be one of his lawyers. She also knew that if she did that she would have to deal with Tony's rapid fire questions. She was getting desperate but not that desperate. Not just yet.
"Hey Nat. How's the girl doing?" Asked Clint as he was rounding the corner.
"She is tired, Clint." Natasha signed. "Bruised to."
"Man! I'm not looking forward to explaining what happened to Sam. That boy just screams over protective big brother."
"We should have Doctor Banner look her over when we get back to the tower. Judging by the splint on her arm she may have worsened previous injuries."
"Whoa! Wait! Previous injuries?" Clint gasped as he pulled his sunglasses from his face.
"Yea." Natasha nodded as she pulled her phone from her pocket and began texting Banner to be on standby. "Between the baggy hoodie and the fresh bruising it is kind of hard to tell what is hiding underneath."
"Even so, shouldn't it be up to Sam to take her to the hospital?"
"No. It should be Banner." Stressed Natasha.
Clint stopped fiddling with his sunglasses to look Natasha in the eyes. His face held a confused expression. His bright blue eyes looked her up and down. Natasha knew he was assessing her. Trying to understand what has obviously gotten under Natasha's skin. She didn't shy away from his gaze. Not even as he stepped closer to her to place his hands on both her shoulders.
"What is your gut telling you Nat?" Clint asked.
"That the danger hasn't passed." Whispered Natasha.