A Lost Marriage|Romanogers AU

War Pt. 2

~~April 1944~~

Natasha had survived a lot of things, but running out of burning buildings was not something that she did often enough to be calm about it. As the Hydra base crumbled around her, she hoped that she could find an exit and get out before her luck ran out and debris hit her. 

Jones didn't go with her into the central operating room of the base because Steve wanted him to keep tabs on any aid that might be coming to the base while they were inside. That aid came in the form of destroying the base even further, causing it to crumble before she could get out. After pressing all the buttons that she needed to, she went in the direction that she always did when she was with Jones, but had to find a detour due to debris that had blocked the way. The smoke was fogging up her mind and she couldn't think straight, so she practically ran in circles trying to find an exit, and couldn't remember the next quickest way out.

She began to cough, and pulled up the fabric of her uniform to her face so she could breathe better. She ran and ran and ran. Just as hope left her, she heard voices calling for her. They were scared. She knew without a shadow of doubt that it was Steve and Bucky calling her. 

"Natasha!" They called frantically. "Where are you?!"

With a last burst of strength, Natasha ran in the direction of the voices, but collapsed from the lack of oxygen. Her vision blurred and she tried to keep moving in the direction of the voices. Eventually, she gave up, and resigned herself to the reality that she was out of strength. She hoped that they would find her before she died.

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"There!" Steve ran over and quickly examined her. Her red hair was matted against her forehead with blood. Her skin was pale against the grime all over her. He picked her up with ease. 

"Let's get out of here!" he shouted. He ran as fast as he could with Bucky towards the exit they had come from. When they broke through a door frame, the building came crashing down behind them. 

"We're safe," Bucky sighed in relief. Steve gently laid Natasha on the ground and the rest of the Commandos gathered around them. 

"Is she okay?" they demanded. Steve barely heard them. He checked her pulse. It was weak, but it was there. 

"She needs medical attention." He scooped her back up in his arms. "Move out!"

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The Howling Commanodos' medical tent was the only one they had in their camp that was tall enough to stand up straight in. They had done most of what they had needed to do in the area and were staying for a few days to rest a little bit. Natasha wasn't the only one that needed time to heal after the base was destroyed.

Natasha had been resting in the tent for a few days after her almost catastrophe with the fire. Nobody made too big of a deal about it. They all knew the risks of the job, and they had all had close calls before. The important thing was that she was alive and she was getting better. 

When Bucky entered the medical tent, he saw something that he did not expect. Natasha was out of the small cot, and she was dancing. He presumed that it was ballet. Her feet were bare and turning red, but she looked peaceful with her eyes closed. Her movements were small due to the limited space of the tent, but no less graceful than they would have been if she had the room that she needed. Moments later, she must have heard his breathing because she opened her eyes and stopped.