Bobbi rushed in, her heart, pounding at the highest speed, trying to escape her chest. Her breaths were short and sharp, sometimes they would refuse to come out and she would struggle for air. The spy hasted down the hallways, leaning on walls and bumping into nurses. Her legs were weak and shaking, staying on her feet was a very difficult task. But what was more concerning was that she was unable to control herself. She saw her reflection on one of the windows, her eyes were bloodshot and watery, her face was pale and her hands shaking, she hoped - for the love of God - that she wasn't too late. She hasted down the white walls and froze instantly, when seeing Izzy sitting on the couch, her face buried in her hands.
"Please just be sleeping..." she thought to herself as she neared Heartly. Izzy quickly looked at her, eyes teary and cheeks stained with tears. Bobbi's heart stopped for a second, she feared the worst.
"Clint's fine." smiled Izzy, Bobbi let out a breath and looked over to see her partner stable in his hospital bed, flipping some TV channels. Then she realised her friend was still upset, her foot tapping on the floor frantically and her jaw clenched.
"What's wrong?" she asked. Izzy looked down at the floor, unable to speak and evasive to her concerned look. "Izzy." insisted Bobbi, "Is it Mack?" questioned the spy while concern grew in the pit of her stomach. Heartly took a deep breath and gathered the strength to look at Bobbi.
"It's Hunter." she stated. Bobbi felt as if the world was crumbling around her, "He might not make it through the night." and at that instant, Bobbi's heart shattered.
"Where is he?" she cried, "Iz, where is he?" she insisted. "What happened-"
"Stop." growled Heartly, "Just stop." Bobbi sat next to her friend who quickly started sobbing, "I didn't notice, I didn't do anything." she cried.
"He...?" Heartly nodded.
"Yes. He did." she trembled, "And it wasn't the first time he tried..." she continued, "And someone took advantage of that and... and we lost... we lost him." Bobbi couldn't hold back anymore, she too started crying and they both hugged. "We lost him." repeated Heartly. A nurse approached them.
"Um... Mr.Hunter is out, he's not conscious but you can visit him." she said.
"I can't." shook Izzy. Bobbi squeezed her hand as she stood up. She needed to see him.
***
The next day she woke up in a strange place, she looked around, her eyes adapting to the light. She then remembered where she was. Hunter, he... he was on the hospital bed and if he didn't make it through the night he would probably die. She was sitting next to the bed, too scared to look, she feared what she could find. But when she turned, the bed was empty.
"Hunter?" she called.
"Hey." he said stepping out of the bathroom, zipping his jeans. Bobbi didn't say anything at first, her energies focused on the scars and wounds on his bare torso. He quickly put on a shirt.
"You scared the shit out of me." she growled narrowing her eyes at him. He looked away, ashamed of his body and scars. He changed the bandage on his wrists - both wrists - and started packing a bag. "What the hell were you thinking?" she scolded standing up. "Really, I didn't think you were this stupid." she continued infuriated. She was quick to notice that one of his arms was supposed to be hanging from his shoulder, but it wasn't, he was just using it as if it was fine. "Hunter. What the fuck." she yelled. He looked up at her, his eyes cold and hurt, a fake smile plastered on his rostrum and Bobbi felt as if the air was punched out of her.
"I'm sorry, Bob. I'm sorry." he said with a shaky voice. He zipped the bag and put it on his shoulder.
"Holy shit, Hunter." she growled as she stepped towards him. She pulled the bag out of his shoulder, "What the fuck is wrong with you, your arm- this arm - is broken." Hunter looked down at the bag.
"Yeah, I'm broken too." he whispered hoping she wouldn't hear him, but she did. He struggled to get the bag and looked up at her, "It was nice seeing you. Don't die out there, yeah?" he said. Bobbi grabbed his healthy arm, preventing him from leaving her side.
"Where the hell do you think you're going?" she asked.
"I have a job to-"
"No. Hell no." she interrupted. He smirked at that slight sign of concern.
"Fine, I'm going back to my apartment."
"Wrong answer."
"I'm not staying here, I hate hospitals." he rolled his eyes.
"I know." she reminded him, "That's why you're coming to my apartment." she took his bag.
"I'm fine." he responded taking his bag from her.
"You're not fine. Don't bullshit me, Hunter. You don't have a choice, I'm gonna watch you-"
"I don't think so, love." he interrupted, "I'm fine, I'll be fine and I don't need your help. Don't ruin the moment, yeah? This could be a fond memory for us and you're going to turn it into an argument."
"This isn't a fond memory for me." she scoffed incredulously, "Hunter, I came to the hospital because you were about to die."
"Well I'm not dead." he shrugged, "And don't you bullshit me, sweetheart. You came here because of Clint - not me. Had I been in another hospital you wouldn't have known."
"Izzy would have called me and I would have."
"I told her not to, the only reason why you found out I was here is because she was unstable and she slipped." Bobbi let go of his arm.
"Why not." she said mentally slapping herself for letting her voice fail like that.
"I didn't want you to see me like this." he explained looking away, "I didn't want you to see what a huge fuck up I became after you left, no I couldn't let you see me like this. I couldn't have you knowing that you're the only thing that keeps me afloat. I'm sorry." and with that he walked away.
Bobbi remained in the room for what seemed like hours. He still loved her, she wasn't sure if he loved her as much as she loved him, or if anyone could ever love as much as she did, but he loved her. He loved her and that made her feel warm, it gave her something to hold on to. But he didn't know she loved him, he had no idea, he was lost in his sea of darkness and now he was also drowning. She couldn't tell him she loved him, she'd tried, but she couldn't. But she could show him. She turned to leave, but found him right there.
"Um, sorry. " he said walking by her, "I forgot my keys." he added while taking them to his pocket. The moment he turned around she wrapped around him, hugging him tight. He needed a few seconds to process what was going on, she hoped he would hug her back, not pull away. He took in her essence and closed his eyes, letting his head fall on her shoulder and his arms pull her in closer. She tightened the embrace, closing her eyes and wishing she could just stay there forever.
"I don't want to lose you." she managed to say.
"You can't lose me, Bob." he whispered in her ear, "I will always be yours." he said with a husky voice. She kissed his cheek and pulled back a little, her hands were still wrapped around his neck, and his arms had snaked around her waist. She tugged his hair and smiled, holding back the tears that had come when she was swept in the moment. Hunter cupped her cheek, his thumb gently brushing her cheek bone, and then he leaned in for a kiss. She kissed him back, her body and mind letting loose in his arms. No one could kiss her like him, no one could taste like him, no one else could ever be him. They pulled away and awkwardly looked around. Hunter coughed awkwardly for a moment.
"Um..."
"Yeah, you should get going." said Bobbi. Hunter pushed her against the wall.
"Wrong answer." he teased his breath warm against her skin. Bobbi rolled her eyes but couldn't help her smile. "We" he said lacing his hand with hers, "should get going." Bobbi squeezed his hand and they both walked out of the room. She didn't know where they were going or for how long. She didn't know if their relationship would work out or fail again. She didn't know much.
What she did know however, was that, no matter how broken he was, she would always love him. And now he did too.
