The Torn Soldier: The Untold Story

Late Night Talking.

The next morning they woke up in separate beds.

Karolina didn't sleep very well and sat up at around 4 A.M. A nightmare had gotten the best of her, she looked to her side to see Natasha sleeping peacefully after some rustling earlier in the night. In her own mind she was still a danger, a threat. She couldn't risk hurting Natasha because of a nightmare and the consequences being too grave for her to pay.

Karolina changed into some black joggers and a white t-shirt. She wouldn't say, but she'd been looking forward to getting some exercise in. It was her favorite activity back at the army base. Competing with all the soldiers made it something to look forward to.

Clint met up with her outside as soon as he could. He guessed she wouldn't get much sleep, new environment, and all.

So there they were at the crack of dawn chopping wood, mowing grass, and cleaning out the shed.

Karolina got the tractor working, so that's what Clint did. Meanwhile, she chopped wood doing what he could do in half the time and triple the results.

Laura watched from afar, a warm mug of coffee in her hands as a blanket rested on her shoulders.

"Okay, wow. She's hot."

"Laura."

Natasha shook her head with a smile, looking over at the woman from the dining table.

They talked for hours before Clint came into the house breathing heavily, sweat pouring from his body. He collapsed into one of the chairs as it rattled against the floor before it settled with his weight.

He grabbed one of the lemonade served into the glass cups and the two women to his right were very amused. Teasing smiles on their faces as they watched him down the entire thing in one go.

He tried to speak, but all that came out were some groans, and the movement of his hands moving around was all he could do.

He leaned his head back with a deep exhale as Laura shook her head, her smile widening. "Aw honey."

Laura chuckled as she gave him another refill, which he gratefully chugged down as well.

Laura looked over at Natasha, Karolina had kept going, and she handed her a lemonade, "Here."

"Thank you." The redhead gently got a hold of the cup before heading over to the brunette.

She held the cup in her right hand and stood on the front porch looking at Kar.

Karolina cut another log in half before feeling Natasha's gaze. She looked up to see her standing with a glass of lemonade.

She made her way up to the porch after setting the ax down and took the cup in her hands as Natasha handed it to her. "Thank you."

Natasha nodded as her gaze stayed on the freshly cut grass. She didn't want to mention the fact that she had woken up a few minutes after Karolina had gotten up and had gone to the other room. They both still needed adjusting.

They both hardly smiled at each other, the silence lingering.

Both of their walls were back up.

Karolina looked down and placed the halfway empty glass on the rail of the wooden porch.

Natasha was about to walk away before Karolina's voice stopped her.

"Heard you're going to the market?" Karolina lifted her head and looked up at the sky. "Would you mind trying to convince Laura to get some orange juice? Preferably some without a pillow to the face."