The Los Angeles Operation

Three

The next day passed much the same as the day before, but with more anxiety. Natasha didn't understand why she felt so odd. She had never had a problem with anything before, so why would she now?

It was 5:15 when she heard laughing behind her. She turned from coaching the recruits in marital arts to the door behind her. Clint and Morse were walking side by side, smiling and laughing. A burning fury momentarily engulfed Natasha. She found herself staring at them. Quickly, she turned around and shook herself. She didn't understand why she felt like this.

Clint walked up to her. He was sweaty and had a smile on his face. "Hey, Nat. You decided about dinner yet?"

Natasha was on the verge of saying no, even though she had gotten Coulson to agree to fill in for her. She took a deep breath. "Yes, I have. I got Coulson to fill in for me, so I guess we're on for tonight."

"Awesome! What time's he coming?"

"Well, you need a shower, so I'll tell him to show up around 6:00."

"We're just going to be eating here," Clint said.

"Oh," Natasha replied. "I thought we were going out to eat."

"So did I, but I can't. Fury wanted a word with me tonight, so it looks like we're dining in."

"That's fine. I'll tell Coulson to hurry up, then." She pulled her phone out from her pocket and dialed Phil's number.

"Hello," he answered.

"Hey, Phil. It's me. Think you can get here a little early?"

"Sure. Are you OK?"

"Of course," she answered. "Why wouldn't I be?"

"I heard about the blonde...."

"It's nothing, Phil." Natasha glanced at Clint. "Just a headache."

"Alright, if you say so. I don't need to remind you that I'm here if you want to talk, do I?"

"No, Phil, you don't."

"Good. I'll be there in a few minutes." He hung up.

"Phil's on his way," Natasha told Clint, slipping the phone back into her pocket.

"Do you want me to take over for you tonight?" Clint asked. "Since you've got a headache."

"It's just a headache, Clint. I think I can deal with it." Natasha turned to Morse, who was taking her sweet time taking her throwing knives out of her duffel bag. "Morse, let’s go!"

Barbara rushed to pull out her knives and ran over to the targets.

"You don't have to be so hard on her, Nat," Clint said. "She's worked a long time for this."

Why did that bother her so much? "She can take care of herself."

"You're not jealous, are you?" Clint asked, virtually out of the blue.

"Yes, Clint, I'm jealous of the attention you're showing some blonde beauty who doesn't know one end of a gun from the other," Natasha said sarcastically.

"Okay, maybe not. But why are you mad?"

"I'm not mad!" Natasha snapped.

It was then that Coulson walked up. "Is something wrong?" he asked, knowing perfectly well that something was wrong.

"No, nothing," Natasha replied shortly.

Phil and Clint exchanged looks.

"Are you two going to dinner or what?" Phil questioned