The White Widow

Chapter 6

"Yelena? What happened to Yelena?" Clint asked.

"She's gone," Kate buried her face in her hands. "And it's my fault." Her voice was muffled, making Clint strain to hear her.

"Kate, what are you saying? How would it be your fault?"

Kate peered over her hands and caught Clint's gaze. Fighting the urge to scoop Kate up and hug her, Clint's eyes softened as he waited for her to continue.

"I led them right to her." Kate wiped away tears. "Dreykov was watching me, and now he has her!"

"Kate, listen to me." Clint paused, making sure he had her full attention. "Yelena is strong. She will survive this, and we will find her. I swear."

Kate wanted desperately to believe him, but she watched Yelena give up.

"l don't think so, Clint... Not this time. You didn't see her. Yelena gave up." Kate admitted dejectedly.

Clint was at a loss. If the Red Room did, in fact, have Yelena, they had a headstart. And if what Kate said about Yelena was true, then they were running out of time. He just prayed they would find Yelena alive.

Gently gripping Kate's shoulders, Clint hoisted her up to her feet. "Alrighty, baby hawk, up and at em'. "

The journey back to the Helicarrier was quiet. Neither spoke. Not knowing what to say, they drove in silence. Kate kept her eyes fixated on the window, trying to ignore Clint's worried glances.

As they finally boarded, Kate stopped abruptly.

"Kate? What's wrong?" Clint asked as he turned to face her.

Kate didn't speak. She stared past Clint with fearful eyes. Clint's gaze eventually followed hers, hoping to see what gave her pause. And then he saw it. Or really, who.

Natasha.

"She's going to kill me." Kate muttered under her breath as if the redhead had superhearing.

"Kate, look at me." The firmness of his voice startled Kate, and her eyes quickly met his. "She is going to be angry. That's a given, but not with you. Natasha is overly protective of Yelena. Nat will more than likely blame herself."

"What? Why?" Kate asked, finally looking away from Natasha.

"Because she wasn't there to keep Yelena safe from Dreykov." Clint sighed, looking back towards Natasha. He whispered to himself. "This is going to destroy her."

The pair exchanged apprehensive looks, then wordlessly approached Natasha. They stood by quietly. Natasha and Maria were engaged in a heated conversation about a mission. After a few moments, Clint cleared his throat, gaining both womens attention.

"Yes, Agent Barton?" Maria questioned, looking between him and Kate.

"I apologize, but we really need to talk to Natasha." Clint's use of her full name left Nat feeling uneasy. He rarely calls her that unless it's important.

Natasha's mouth opened to respond but was quickly cut off by Maria.

"Can it wait? We wer-"

"It's about Yelena." Clint interrupted.

Upon hearing her sisters name, Natasha's eyes snapped to his. Kate couldn't help but swallow nervously as Natasha's posture became rigid and defensive.

"What about her?" Nat barked as she took a threatening step towards Clint, who remained unfazed. Sometimes, Natasha unknowingly reverted back to her Red Room ways when it came to her little sister, but he knew she would never actually going to hurt him.

"I think you should sit, Nat,"

"I'm fine standing! Spit it out, Barton! What about my sister!"

Natasha's voice was loud and drawing several glances their way. Clint didn't answer, just motioned to the empty office nearby.

Natasha's eyes narrowed as she was led into the vacant room, Kate and Marie in tow. Clint shut the door and shifted the blinds closed.

"Agent Barton, what is going on?" Maria demanded.

Without sparing her a glance, Clint locked eyes with Nat. "Please sit, Nat."

"Clint! l am not going to sit." Natasha shoved Clint up against the wall. "You better start talking."

Clint knew he and Natasha were close friends. Honestly, he would even argue best friends, but when it came down to Yelena, there was nothing Natasha wouldn't do. There were no lines she wouldn't cross for Yelena.

Bringing his hands to gently rest on hers, his gaze softened. "I'm sorry, Nat,"

The tension was nearly tangible. Natasha leaned closer to Clint's face. "The next words out of your mouth better be about my sister." Natasha threatened in a low growl.

His eyes flickered to Kate and Maria, who have both remained silent thus far. Natasha roughly gripped his jaw, forcing him to meet her eyes.

"Clint, is my sister dead?" Nat's voice quivered, her firm grip relenting slightly.

"No, but you are going to wish she was."

A slap echoed through the room.

"Do not ever tell me to wish my baby sister dead,"  Natasha scorned through gritted teeth. "Or eIse they'll be the last words you ever speak."

"Yelena -" Clint was interrupted by Natasha's hands surrounding his throat.

"Do not speak her name!" Her Russian accent seeping into her words. Clint was getting nervous. As was Maria, who took a tentative step towards them but stopped when Clint raised his hand in a silent plea for her to stay put.

"Okay... okay." He agreed. "I'm sorry, but he has her, Natasha."

Natasha froze. Her shaky hands released Clint's throat, and she took several unsteady steps back. All eyes were on her. The blood had drained from Nat's face, leaving her looking sickly pale. The other three exchanged worrisome glances.

Clint hesitantly approached Nat, as you would a wild animal. Hands raised in front of him, he took slow, calculated steps forward. Natasha didn't awknowledge him until he wrapped his arms around her in a desperate attempt to comfort her.

Natasha immediately came to life and started to frantically writhe in Clint’s grip. Her hands reached up to grab her own hair to yank on it, and Clint quickly grabbed her wrists to stop her from hurting herself. 

Maria and Kate were taken aback at Natasha's behavior. She was Black Widow. She had one of the strongest wills they all had ever seen. Nobody expected Natasha to be able to crumble to pieces.

Clint was still trying to calm Nat, whispering soothing and encouraging words in her ear, but they all went unheard. Natasha began rambling in Russian and crying out for Yelena.

The sobs that racked her body were eventually reduced to painful hiccups until she went completely silent. Natasha's breath quivered as she spoke.

"I failed her." Before anyone could respond, Natasha limply looked into Clint's eyes. For a moment, Clint could still see the hysteria in her eyes, then in a split second, her defenses were back up, her eyes vacant. A similar stare that Kate had seen from Yelena.

Natasha stood abruptly, walked to the door, and paused. The doorknob clasped tightly in her hand. The words Natasha spoke sent chills down everyone's spines.

"You were right, Barton. " Her voice expressionless. "I do wish Yelena was dead."