Unexpected Romance

Chapter 16

Natasha:
I didn't get one minute of sleep last night. I was stuck thinking about Valerie. I wish I knew what was happening to her or if she's okay. I'm beyond worried. I offered we should go find her to Tony but he shut that idea down really fast saying it was "too risky" and he doesn't want to risk the whole team. I've ignored him since and I plan to continue to ignore him until we find Valerie and bring her home.

I hear a knock at my door. "Go away, Tony."

He comes in anyway but when I look up to get mad at him for barging in, I see it's not Tony but Clint.

"Oh hey, Clint."

"How are you doing?" He asks walking over to my bed and sitting next to me.

I look at him with a "really?" look.

"Yeah, dumb question. Sorry."

"What do you need, Clint?" I try to push him away.

"To know if you're okay. I know you're clearly upset but I need to make sure you aren't going to do anything irrational."

"I'll be fine."

"Whatever happens, I'm here for you. Always. Please don't isolate yourself. The whole team is worried about you. Come out when you're ready." He gives me a tight side-hug then leaves my room.

I decide to only leave my room in case we hear anything from Val. I don't care enough to get ready, I just throw on some leggings and one of Val's hoodies. I go to Stark's lab.

"Hey," Tony says, thinking I came to see him.

I ignore him and take a seat in front of the monitor.

"I'm sorry Natasha. I really am." I ignore him again.

"Is there anything I can do?" He tries again.

I take a deep breath then turn to look at him. "You sent her there. You sent her to that place. You put her in harm's way. You sent her there without communication with us. If she's... if something happens to her, it's on you. There is nothing you can do except let me find her and bring her home," I snap at him.

"You know I can't let you do that."

"Then leave me alone." I turn back to the monitor screen, hopelessly waiting for her to give a signal.

-

Everyone has been taking turns bringing me snacks and drinks and occasionally sitting with me. I haven't moved from this screen all day, except for my rare trips to the bathroom and even then, I made someone watch the screen while I'm gone. I'm not giving up on her. She would do the same for me.

-2 days later-

"This isn't good for your eyes, sitting in front of a screen for days on end," Wanda says as she walks into the lab to give me a banana.

"I don't care." I feel bad for snapping at her.

"Nat, you haven't slept in days. You're hurting yourself. Please get some sleep." She places a hand on my back to comfort me.

"I can't. What if she signals and I'm not here? I want to be on the other side when she does."

She takes a minute to think of a response. "I'll stay," she finally says.

"What?"

"I'll stay here. I'll watch the screen for you and if not me, I'll make sure someone does while you sleep. You need it. We'll wake you up immediately if anything happens," she offers with a gentle smile.

"Wanda..."

"Please?"

"Okay, fine. Thank you. Please get me if anything happens."

"I will."

I get up from the chair and give her a hug then go to my room to sleep for the rest of the day.

-Next day-

Tony:
"I shouldn't have sent Valerie on that mission," I guiltily admit to Steve

"We had no other choice. We ran the numbers. The results we got said our best chance at success is from Valerie," he tries to reassure me.

"I don't know, Cap. Romanoff's real broken up about losing connection."

"We don't know what happened. She could very well be alive right now. We just have to have hope. She's a fighter."

I try to stay positive and think like Rogers. I've been trying to talk to Natasha but every time I do, she ignores me. The last time she said anything to me, she was yelling at me, blaming me for Val's disappearance. She's right to do so. It is my fault. I sent her, if I didn't, she'd be here right now. Valerie made me promise not to let Natasha isolate herself and I'm not doing such a great job, which makes me feel worse because that was the one thing she asked of me before I sent her away.

Wanda:
I'm really worried about Val. She's one of my best friends on this team and I'm praying she's okay. Natasha has been pushing everyone away these past couple of days and it's been so sad to watch. I have been trying to spend time with her and keep her company so she isn't stuck in her thoughts but it's hard to get to her. The tension in the tower has been high because of Nat, but I don't blame her, Tony sent her girlfriend to a dangerous place and now we aren't in contact with her.

"Hey, can I sit?" I ask Nat in the living room.

"Okay," she responds without looking at me.

"Clint's on monitor duty. We've all been taking turns for you. We're all praying for Val to signal."

I keep my eyes on her, watching her eyes slowly fill with tears.

"I miss her," she whispers as a tear falls down her cheek that she quickly wipes away.

"I miss her too." I bring her into a hug.

"I think she knew, Wanda."

"What do you mean? You think she knew what?" I ask confused.

"I think she knew something was going to happen to her."

"What makes you say that?"

"The day before she left, she was really affectionate, more than usual. I really just thought she was feeling extra loving that day. She took me out to dinner and we watched a movie when we got back. Like halfway through the movie, she starts... confessing her love I guess and she cried after saying I love you. I think she was saying goodbye."

"Oh, Nat..."

"How could I have missed it? Oh and to add on, I went to her training with Cap the same day and they were talking as they were sparring. Val looked so distracted, she was only holding him back, not attacking, which was weird because you know how she fights. She's a beast. Then Cap gets her against the wall and their conversation gets intense. She kept looking over at me. At the end of their fight, she looked at me a final time then burst out in tears."

"There's no way you could've known, Nat. No one knew what was going on. We were in the dark just as much as you were. We just have to stay positive, I know how hard it is. Please don't push us away. We're your family. We love you and care so much. We're here for you."