The White Widow

Chapter 13

Yelena was zigzagging through hallways, peaking into meeting rooms, desperately trying to find Clint. He had to know where Kate was. Yelena was panicking. Her chest was heaving, her heart racing a mile a minute, and her whole body was shaking. The last time she saw Kate, Dreykov had threatened her. She offered herself up to save Kate, but he could've gone back for her. She would never forgive herself.

Yelena could hear Natasha yelling after her, but she ignored her and kept running. She needed to know if Kate was okay, that she was safe. She swiftly canvased hallway after hallway, room after room, until Yelena finally spotted Clint.

"Barton!" Yelena yelled as she came to a rough stop.

"Yelena?" Clint said, confused. "Why aren't you in your room? And where is Nat?"

"Never mind that! Where is Kate?" Yelena demanded.

"She is safe... Why?" Clint asked curiously.

"Where is she? I need to see her." Yelena demanded again.

Clint wasn't sure if he should've told Yelena Kate's whereabouts, but she clearly wasn't going to back down, and he knew better than to fight with Yelena.

Before he told her, Clint gave Yelena a quick once over and noticed how her hands shook, how her brows furrowed, and how Yelena hung on to every word he said. He figured there was more to this that he didn't know about.

"Take some breaths, Yelena," Clint suggested.

"I am not playing any games here, Barton." Yelena snapped.

"Okay. Okay, " He put his hands up. "I got a call after the whole, you know... situation -"

"My kidnapping, you mean?" Yelena interjected.

"Yeah. That." Clint scratched the back of his neck awkwardly. She could be so blunt. "After you were kidnapped, Kate called me. I found her at this rundown apartment. She was hysterical and paranoid that the Red Room was coming back for her. She wasn't sleeping or eating, so I spoke with Shield, and we decided that Witness Protection was our best option. She is at the Barton farmhouse." Clint finished.

Yelena's relief was visible. You could see the tension leave her body as she exhaled a breath she didn't realise she was holding. After a moment, Yelena dropped down to her knees and began sobbing. Natasha finally caught up with her sister, only to find her kneeling in tears. Natasha glared at Clint, confused.

"What did you do? What did you say to her?" Natasha scolded as she ran up to her sister. Rubbing her little sister's back, Natasha tried to calm her sister down, but before Clint could defend himself, Yelena spoke,

"I'm okay, Nattie. I'm not sad."

"Then why are you crying, little one?" Natasha wondered.

"I am so relieved. Clint saved Kate. She's okay." Yelena responded, tears streaking down her cheeks. They sat in silence for a few moments while Yelena caught her breath. Clint was the first to speak,

"Listen, Yelena, how about you go back to your room, get some more rest, and I will see about getting Kate back on the Helicarrier?"

Yelena's eyes snapped up to him, wide and hopeful. "Really?" Yelena asked in disbelief. Clint nodded in reassurance. "Okay." She agreed.

Yelena rose to her feet and began walking back to her room before she stopped abruptly. Clint and Natasha watch her curiously until Yelena turned back towards them, "I'm lost." Yelena confessed.

Natasha and Clint chuckled at her confession, and Natasha walked past her sister, wavering her hand, motioning for Yelena to follow. When they returned to the room, Nataha couldn't bite her tongue any longer, "So... You and Kate, Huh?"