Clint? Laura? Where are you? (Book 1)

Who is it?

Chapter 9

That night Natasha awoke with a fright, she shot up into defense formation. Rustling came from across the room.

"You alright Natasha?" Bruce asked from a chair near the window in Natasha's room.

"When did you-?"

"You were calling out names Russian I think, as Tony and I walked passed so I came in to make sure you were alright. Then I just sort of fell asleep in the chair" Bruce interrupted, "but that didn't answer my question." Natasha let out a sigh.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Night Bruce." Bruce stayed there watching Natasha trying to gage her emotions, she was like a locked book where the key was no more.

"Ok, if you say so."

"It was just... a bad dream, that's all" Natasha said.

"Don't try and playing the avoiding game with me Miss Romanoff."

"It was about Clint and Laura, and that we spend our whole lives searching for them, and then when we do..." Natasha stopped and took a deep breath.

"Go on it's alright" Bruce encouraged.

"I just don't want this to really happen to them. I couldn't bare it, never mind their children." She paused and looked Bruce in the eyes, they were full of fear, but determination too.

"I dreamt that they were tortured, cut up alive and then fed to creatures, what they were I do not know." Bruce stepped forward and sat on the bed next to Natasha, placing his arm around her she leant in and a tear seeped down her cheek.

"It's ok, I'm sure that hasn't happened." Bruce said.

"Yes but it might have, I mean I know who took them." Bruce stared at her.

"Who?"

"I.. I .. can't say, otherwise they would kill them."

"Ok I won't make you, but what do they want?" Bruce passed her a tissue.

"Me." Bruce pulled her closer.

The next morning the sun shined through the blinds waking Natasha up. She looked to the right of her it was empty. There was a note on her table. Making breakfast, Bruce. Natasha slopped her legs over the side of the bed and slipped into her slippers with Stark Industries written in white on them. She headed over to the door and picked up her grey dressing gown and left her room. What was that she could smell? Bacon, eggs, coffee, and porridge. Following the smell she found herself in the kitchen watching Bruce as he cooked away at the stove not noticing her presence.

"Oh, morning. It's not quite ready yet." Bruce explained.

"It's ok, thank you." Natasha said walking over and sitting at the bar. She took out her phone and flicked through the news of the day.

"Anything interesting?" Bruce said bringing two plates of steaming hot food over and sitting down, they had the same except for the bacon Bruce being a vegetarian.

"No same old same old, different countries on terrorist alert, immigration problems in Europe excreta. Bruce nodded.

"I'm going to take a look at the symbol again, see if the dust sample I took could help." Bruce paused when he noticed Natasha had stopped eating instead just pushed the food around on her plate.

"What's wrong? I know stupid question" Bruce said when Natasha looked at him gone out. Thor walked in and sat down next to Natasha.

"How's the searching of birdman and his wife going?" Natasha went silent. Then got up and left.

"Was it something I said?" Thor asked innocently. Bruce didn't answer.

Natasha reappeared that afternoon in the lab, Tony and Bruce were talking about some sort of particle. Bruce turned round expectantly.

"Hey Natasha" Tony said turning back round to focus on the science, "so if we add another electron it should help stabilise it, Bruce?" Tony said realising he wasn't paying any attention and was staring at Natasha.

"Sorry what?!" He said now aware of what he'd been doing. Natasha walked over and sat on the bench behind them.

"Watch the tech" Tony called out.

"Should we tell her" Bruce tried to whisper to Tony.

"Tell me what? You really need to work on your whispering Bruce" Natasha demanded

"We analysed the dust particles and we think we have a location." Tony explained.

"Where?"

"Mount Elbrus"

"Makes sense" Natasha said. Tony gave her an odd look. "Doesn't matter."

"Look Natasha if you're with holding information, you're not going to help" Tony said bluntly.

"Hang on a second Tony that's not fair, Natasha probably has her reasons, but you're right it does make sense."

"Wait you know what she's hiding?" Tony asks annoyed.

"Yes, but she didn't tell me before you get to mad, I worked it out" Bruce said.

"Where's Mount Elbrus?" A voice asked from the doorway. It was Cooper.

"Russia." Tony answered.

"Is that where my Mum and Dad could be?" He asked his voice full of hope.

"No, they just wanted to know what the highest mountain in Russia was, to prove one of their little debates" Natasha said placing a hand on his shoulder and turning him around and out of the door, "go and play with your sister."

"Actually I came to tell you there's a call from our school and they want to talk to an adult about why we're not there." Natasha nodded taking the phone from Cooper's hand and left the lab.

"Hello" Natasha said.

"Hello, this is blackwell primary, how may I help you?"

"I'm ringing about Cooper and Lila Barton, I got told to ring you back."

"Ah yes of course I'll pass you to the attendance officer." Natasha waited for a moment while the transaction happened.

"Hello Mrs Barton."

"Actually it's Miss Romanoff."

"Ok, who are you in relation to?"

"I'm their Auntie."

"Ok, I'll put your name down on their contacts. Can I speak to their parents please?"

"I'm afraid that's not possible at the moment, there's been a family crisis involving Cooper's and Lila's parents. I'd prefer not to share the details if possible."

"That's fine but you should of called us."

"Yes I know I forgot, with everything going on it's been a bit hectic."

"Do you mind if I ask, but who are the children staying with?"

"Me."

"And are you allowed to?"

"Yes."

"I mean have social services approved it?"

"No, but in this case that doesn't matter"

"I'm afraid it does Miss Romanoff, what is your address so I can send them round?"

"I'm a fully fledged lawyer, I think I know what can and can't be done. My address, well I'm currently not living at my house as it was destroyed but I'm staying with my friend Tony Stark, I'm sure you know where he lives." Natasha said annoyed.

"I don't think you're telling the truth"

"Ok then look me up, Natasha Romanoff and then get back to me." Natasha hung up and headed back to the lab.

"We're going to this mountain."