FIC Hide and Sick
31/3/12 22:04![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shanachie_quillTitle: Hide and Sick
Characters: Clint Barton/ Tessa Monroe, Natasha Romanov, Isabella Teague, Steve Rogers, Jack Douglas, Olivia Donner, Darcy Lewis
Fandom: Avengers
Series: Avengers’ Assistants
Written For: illfindmyway
Prompt: sick!Clint
Summary: Clint does not react in predictable ways. Luckily Tessa knows him pretty well, but not even she could have predicted he would hide when he got sick.
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers: just for the rest of my series
Warnings: Clint acts like a child at times. You might want to cuddle him, but he’s still deadly.
Disclaimer: No one recognizable belongs to me and I am so not making any money. Nor did I win the lotto last night (yes I did buy tickets this time).
Author's Note: So a few weeks ago, illfindmyway and I got the idea of writing sick!Clint stories. And we both got to work. We’ve had a lot of fun the last few weeks sending clips back and forth to each other and now we’re getting ready to share them. If you want to read hers, its ?????? (sorry, still working on editing it so it’ll be just a bit longer).
Tessa shifted in bed, caught in that place between waking and dreaming. Something way too hot was pressed up against her, but every time she moved away from it, the heat followed her. Her eyes blinked open as her hand automatically stroked down the sweaty back of the man in bed with her. She couldn’t ever remember waking up sweaty. Going to sleep sweaty after a very pleasurable work-out, yes, but not waking up that way. Cautiously she turned in order to see him better and was surprised when Clint’s grey eyes didn’t immediately pop open.
Settling her hand against his forehead for a minute, she was concerned when he didn’t react at all except to shift closer to her again. His arm curled around her waist as he nuzzled against her. “Clint,” she spoke softly, trying not to startle him. “Hey, tough guy.” When he didn’t respond, she stroked a gentle hand down his side. “Now you’re starting to worry me. Come on, archer boy. Wakey wakey, eggs and bakey.”
He cracked one eye open wide enough to see her. “Archer boy?”
“Hey, it lives!”
“Bite me.”
“Happily. As soon as you tell me why you’re all sweaty and practically comatose. I moved…and you didn’t wake up.” She ran a hand through his hair, smiling indulgently at his almost purr at the action. “That’s not like you.”
He arched into her touch, wordlessly encouraging her to continue her ministrations. “Got up early,” he explained after a minute. “Worked out. Didn’t feel like showering when I got back. Wanted you.”
“Why didn’t you wake me then?” she asked.
“Just wanted to be here,” he murmured.
“Clint. You know I can tell when you’re lying. Right?”
He burrowed into the pillows and she just made out his response, “’M not lying.”
“You also sound about five.” Laying her hand on the back of his neck, she continued, “I think you’re running a fever.”
“’M not sick!”
“I think we should let Medical decide that, tough guy,” Tessa told him. “Just a quick check-up.”
“I’m not sick!” Clint tried to scramble away from her, but got tangled in the blankets and dumped himself off the bed.
Tessa peered over the side of the bed, watching him attempt to fight his way free. “I realize you haven’t practiced your acrobatics recently, but you’re normally more graceful than this. Medical, Clint.”
“I don’t need…” He glared at the blankets that were clearly defeating him. “Help?”
Tessa swung her legs over the side of the bed, reaching for edge of the blanket. “I want you to go to Medical and just get checked out. To make sure.”
“Don’t need to see those quacks,” he grumbled as she freed him. He kicked the blankets away, glaring harder at them. “Evil blankets.”
“I know they are,” she soothed him. “Come on. Up you go.”
“I’m not five, Tessa,” he complained.
“Well, you’re acting like it.” She eyed his nude body. “Much as I appreciate the view, you need some clothes to go to Medical.”
“I’m not going to Medical,” he protested.
“Do you really want to argue with me? Because that always ends so well for you,” she pointed out.
He sighed. “Fine. But only because you’re asking. And only to reassure you that I’m not sick.”
“I’m so happy you’re humoring me,” she said, pressing a kiss to his forehead.
“Would you get me some clothes?” he asked. “There’s a pair of sweats in the bathroom.”
“Yes. Of course.” She pressed a kiss to his lips, ignoring the way he tried to duck away.
“Stop. You’re going to get infested.”
“I think you mean infected and I think it’s a little late. Besides I thought you weren’t sick?” she called over her shoulder as she made her way to the bathroom.
He called back something indistinct and she had time to think that she should have been able to hear him clearly when she heard the sound of a muffled door shut. It took her a moment to realize it was the door to her room and not one down the hall. By the time she made the connection and made it out to the hall, there was no sign of the sick Avenger. “Damn it, Clint,” she groaned.
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Clint reached the first of his egresses into the ceiling and lifted himself up into the opening, closing the panel behind his body. He curled up in on himself as soon as he was situated, trying to muffle the coughs that racked his body. As soon as he was sure he could move without making too much noise, he began to slide along the infrastructure; bracing himself so he didn’t fall through the paneling. His habit of dropping down on junior agents was coming in handy now because he’d long ago marked the important corridors and turns. He had a goal in mind; he just had to get there without giving away his location. He knew Tessa would be looking for him within moments of him disappearing and he didn’t have much time to get to his nest.
He paused as he got to the one juncture, his head fuzzy as he tried to remember which way he needed to turn. His fingers brushed across the marks he’d gouged into the brick and he turned left, counting out the paces he needed. He’d drop down soon into the duct and be able to secure himself in the safe place he’d built.
Reaching the drop, Clint hung by his fingers until he was secure enough to let himself fall down into the first part of the ducts. He crawled through a series of narrowing sections until it widened again and he had to drop down again. This time he landed with a soft thump because he’d taken the last turn to reach his sanctuary. He checked the nest every so often to make sure nothing had been disturbed and had just been in a few days prior which was a stroke of luck.
Now he kicked the blankets into a pile and hunted through until he found the pillow he’d stolen from Tessa. Hunkering down, he burrowed into the blankets, pulling them almost over his head and settled in. He’d just rest here for a bit until Tessa stopped harping on him going to Medical. He couldn’t smell her on the pillow right now, but the comfort of having something of hers close to him lulled him into a doze.
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Tessa ducked back into their room, grabbing the first clothes she reached. As she pulled them on, she switched her radio to one of the private channels. “Natasha,” she said when the other Avenger answered. “I need your help and I need you to keep it quiet.”
“What can I do?” the Russian asked immediately.
Glad that she’d taken the time to get to know the other woman and that she wouldn’t have to work through all of the history between herself and the Avenger right now, Tessa answered, “Could you meet me at my quarters as quickly as possible?”
“Da. We will be there,” Natasha told her.
“We? No wait, I don’t want…” Tessa started, but she was cut off as the radio beeped.
A few minutes later, Tessa opened her door in response to the knock on it. She frowned to see Natasha, Isabella, Jack, Steve, Olivia, and Darcy crowding into the doorway. “The point was to keep this low key,” she said as she waved them quickly inside.
“That would be why we don’t have Tony, Bruce, Pepper, or Thor,” Darcy answered. “And no one wanted to attempt to pry Jane out of her lab.”
“What has you so worried?” Natasha asked, looking at Tessa. She glanced around the room. “Where’s Barton?”
“That’s my problem,” Tessa admitted. “I woke up today to a very sweaty…” She stopped and seemed to review her words. “Clint is not feeling like himself. I requested that he go to Medical to get checked out and I have a feeling he went to ground. I need some help finding him.”
“Why is it so imperative?” Steve cut in.
“Well, sir.” Tessa turned to face him head on. “The last time I saw him, he was naked. And feverish. So it’s probably a good idea to find him quickly.”
Steve blinked. “I. Don’t think I even want to know.”
“Well, I think even here a naked man running through the hallways would raise an alarm,” Olivia commented. “So let’s assume he grabbed some clothes. Where is he most likely to go?”
Tessa favored her with a dry look. “It’s. Clint.”
“So…up?” Olivia asked.
“I think rather than arguing about where he might be, we need to start looking for him,” Steve broke in. “Is there somewhere in particular he might have gone to ground?”
Tessa sighed, tugging on the ends of her dark hair as she tried to think. “He’ll have squirreled himself away somewhere. He’s not going to be somewhere obvious. So a hidey-hole or in something. Something defensible.”
“We should check the ceilings, the ducts, unused conference rooms, pretty much anywhere he can hide,” Natasha decided.
“Sounds like we need to split up,” Jack put in.
“Well, it would certainly make us more unobtrusive,” Darcy commented. “I mean…the group of you running around hunting for the archer isn’t exactly low key.”
Olivia waved to get their attention. “While you all run around creating chaos? I think I’ll duck down to Medical and get a kit. If you can’t get Clint down there, I can check him out here.”
Tessa nodded and reached out to squeeze the other Assistant’s hand. “Thank you, Olivia. I think it might be easier to convince him to come back here.”
“All right then. I’ll do that. And you all…” She looked around at her friends and co-workers. “Find our archer.”
Jack grinned, snapping off a salute that she batted away with a grin of her own. “Yes, ma’am. Right away, ma’am.”
Not sure whether she was supposed to laugh or not, Olivia settled for hugging Tessa quickly. “I’m sure Clint is just fine. And you’ll find him soon. Just call me if you find him before I get back.”
“Thanks, Livvie,” Tessa replied as she returned the hug. She turned to the others as the Vietnamese woman left the room. “So what’s the game plan?”
Out of habit, they all turned to Steve, who’s blue eyes flicked over the assembled group. “We’ll break into pairs. Jack and Isabella. Natasha with Tessa. And Darcy, you’ll come with me so I can keep an eye on you. If anyone other than the girls spots Barton, call them. If he’s as agitated as Tessa reported, he might strike out at anyone else.”
“What do you mean ‘keep an eye on me’?” Darcy demanded as the others checked their radios and decided on a frequency. “What exactly do you think I’m going to do?”
Steve favored her with a stern look. “Darcy, you aren’t trained to be out in the field. And I don’t want to face Jane or Thor if something happens to you.”
“Hey! Tasered a god!” Darcy retorted.
“Still not trained,” Steve returned. “You’ll listen or you’ll go back to your desk and wait for a report.”
“I can defend myself!” Darcy protested.
“Your only defense is that Taser. And we don’t know what’s wrong with Barton. You shooting him could make him worse. So this is the best way to do the search,” Steve answered.
Darcy subsided long enough for the group to finish gearing up. As Steve handed her a radio, she said, “You know. You could have just said that instead of just telling me you wanted to protect me.”
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Clint twisted in his sleep, reaching out for the person who was supposed to be curled up next to him. When his hand smacked into the metal of the air duct, his grey eyes cracked open and a noise anyone else would classify as a whimper escaped from his mouth. Shuffling around, he pulled the pillow closer to him, trying to catch any trace of Tessa’s familiar scent. When he couldn’t catch even a trace, he flipped it over, trying again.
Drawing the blankets up, he burrowed back into the pillow, breathing deeply as he tried to resettle himself. He could hear the muffled sounds of SHIELD going on outside of the duct, but he didn’t want to go back out there. As much as he wanted Tessa, he didn’t want her to force him to go to Medical.
After a few minutes, he rolled over again, curling in on himself and trying to fall back asleep. He’d feel better if he just slept long enough. He didn’t need anything. He didn’t need Tessa. Or a bed. Or anything. He was fine by himself.
Now if only he really believed that.
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Now SHIELD agents working with the Avengers were accustomed to madness, insanity, and the unbelievable, but even they were a bit thrown when pairs of Avengers and Assistants began to poke through HQ, clearly in search of something. Junior agents were quick to hop out of the way of the clearly driven group as they pried open grates and peered into closets. Offers of help were quickly waved off and persistent agents were threatened depending on who they approached.
“This does not concern you. If need be, consider it an order,” Steve told one overly eager agent. The agent ducked out of sight after an aborted salute. Steve’s command voice often had that reaction.
“I’ll kill you if you speak of this,” Natasha said, the press of her blade against the throat of the agent who’d been shadowing them. The man gulped, Adam’s apple bobbing under the blade, and scurried away when Natasha removed the blade.
Jack wheeled on the pair of agents that had been following them and growled, causing the two to jump and bang into each other. Isabella hid a laugh as they scuttled away.
One by one each group radioed back that they hadn’t found any trace of the missing archer until Steve called a halt, telling them to meet back not far from the residential level where they’d started. Tessa was pacing in a tight circle when the group finally made it all to the meeting place. Isabella tried to put a comforting hand on her arm, but the other Assistant shook her off. “He can’t have gotten far,” Tessa said. “He was weak and not moving with his usual ease.”
“We clearly haven’t looked in the right place,” Steve replied. “But I’m sure he’s safe. And he hasn’t raised any alarms so he hasn’t tried to leave.”
“Olivia suggested ‘up’,” Natasha reminded them as she watched Tessa move in tightening circles. “Is there some place ‘up’ he could have gone?”
“Where would a birdy who needs to always see everyone make a nest?” Darcy asked.
“Air ducts!” Tessa, Jack, and Natasha blurted out in unison.
“Nobody checked the air ducts?” Steve demanded.
“You’ve gotta drop down into the shafts to get anywhere in them,” Tessa explained as they hurried down the halls. “I just assumed it wouldn’t be somewhere he could get to in his condition.”
“Clearly it’s where he felt safe though,” Natasha pointed out. “We just have to figure out which one.”
Tessa paused partway down the hall, her fingers finding the arrow notched crudely into the wall. “This is his closest egress into the ceiling to our quarters,” she commented. “There’ll be more marks inside, but it won’t tell us which way he went.”
“Can you find him? Track him?” Steve asked. “Do you have any idea where he went?”
Tessa shook her head. “I’ve never followed him. That’s Clint’s place. I just know about the marks.”
“Why?” Steve wanted to know.
“You really don’t want the answer to that, Cap,” she told him.
“Are you sure?” Steve asked.
“Yes, Steve, you do not want to know,” Natasha assured him. “Trust us.”
Tessa’s green eyes were tracing the ceiling as they talked and now she hurried towards the end of the hallway. “He didn’t go up!” she called back over her shoulder. “He went down! He’s at the bottom of a shaft somewhere!”
The others followed Tessa as she ran down the hallway, dodging SHIELD agents and pushing people out of her way when they didn’t move fast enough. After the first couple, Steve didn’t bother with helping them up, but simply called apologies over his shoulder. “Where are we going?” Isabella demanded as they tore around a corner.
“I’m not crawling through a hundred feet of duct work. I think I know where Clint would hole up,” Tessa answered over her shoulder. She skidded to a stop, pointing to one of the larger vents. “That leads to a drop that dead ends in a…” Her hands flailed as she tried to figure out how to explain it. “Never mind. The point is…there’s only one way in. And it’s defensible. The problem? There’s only one way in.”
“So it’s not going to be easy to get to him,” Steve said as he eyed the vent.
“I’ve been in there once,” Tessa explained. “If he’s where I think he is. Someone could crawl in from here, but it’s a straight drop down to where he’s holed up and there’s just enough space for him to curl up in there. Which means no space for anyone else.”
Jack considered what she said and then asked, “Is there room for a rappelling line?”
“Possibly? Do you have an idea?” Tessa responded.
“Rig up a basket and drop you down to pull him out,” Jack answered. “It’s Clint. He’s gonna have something in there to defend himself with and if he’s feverish and delusional, you’re the one he’s least likely to strike out at.”
“Is it safe to put Tessa in that situation?” Steve questioned.
“Safer for her than for anyone else,” Jack pointed out. “And I think?” He looked at Tessa as he continued, “She can tell once she gets in there if it’s a good idea for her to drop down on Clint or not.”
Tessa nodded as he finished. “Yeah. Should be able. I can at least tell if he’s completely locked in his own head.”
“Natasha and Isabella, go acquire the gear Tessa will need. No one will think twice about you two liberating it. And even if they do, they aren’t going to question you. Darcy, go tell Olivia that we’ve most likely located Clint and to be ready when we bring him in.” Steve waited until the three women hurried off to carry out their orders before turning to the two Assistants he was left with. “Jack and I will serve as your anchor points, Tessa. You need to tell me now if you can’t do this.”
Tessa took a deep breath. “I can. I trust Clint. He wouldn’t hurt me on purpose and I honestly don’t know what he’d do to any of you. He ran because he didn’t want to go to Medical. It wasn’t me he didn’t want.”
Quicker than should have been possible, Natasha and Isabella were back; both women weighed down with gear. Tessa stood still while they worked quickly to strap her into the rig. While they were working, Steve radioed Darcy who reported that she’d spoken to Olivia and then headed off Coulson who was searching for them. She was planning to keep on that until they got Clint safely to his quarters.
“Ready?” Steve asked as Natasha completed one last check on Tessa.
“Yes.” Tessa turned to look at the vent. “I’m not the acrobat Clint is…” she started.
Steve bent down before she could finish her thought, lacing his hands together to form a step. “If you’ll allow me?”
Jack pulled the cover off the vent as Natasha and Isabella went to run interference, blocking the hallways from curious onlookers. Steve nodded at Tessa and she stepped into his hand, allowing him to boost her into the duct. “I’ll let you know if I find him,” she said before starting to worm her way down the first duct.
Tessa reached the break in the duct and peered over the side, not really surprised to see a nest of blankets at the bottom of the shaft. After a minute she could just make out a slight rise and fall in them and then a shock of sandy-brown hair that could only belong to her archer. Triggering her radio, she said softly, “Found him. Lower me down in five…four…three…” As she counted, she wiggled around until her feet were pointed downwards and she felt the slack that meant she was going to be able to rappel.
Bracing her feet against the side of the duct, she slid down the wall, allowing the rope to play out so she didn’t land on top of Clint. She ended up straddling his waist, not able to find enough room to settle down next to him in the cramped space of the shaft. Kneeling down, she reached under the pillow (not really concerned after his reaction earlier about disturbing him) and found the knife she had been pretty sure was there. Tucking it away, she stroked the back of her hand down his cheek.
Clint jerked at the touch, one hand reaching out for whatever was touching him. “It’s Tessa,” she soothed. “Nothing’s gonna hurt you.” She continued to speak in a low voice, reassuring him, until his grey eyes blinked open and seemed to fix on her. “Hi,” she told him when she thought she had his attention.
“Tessie,” he mumbled. “Sleepy.”
“Yeah? How ‘bout we go topside and bed down in an actual bed then?” she responded.
“No Medical,” he told her.
“No Medical,” she promised. “Can you sit up?” She slipped her arms around his shoulders and tried to lever him into a sitting position. When he just flopped in her arms, she realized he wasn’t really awake. Tapping her radio, she reported, “He’s down for the count. Responding to my voice, but I’m pretty sure he doesn’t actually know I’m here.”
“Can you get him into the rig?” Steve asked.
Tessa surveyed the area, calculating the space she had. “Yeah, probably. It’ll be a tight squeeze to pull us both up, but it’ll work.”
“Tell us when,” Steve returned.
She maneuvered him into the rig, making sure everything was snug, and grateful he wasn’t fighting her, before clipping them together. “Cap, we’re ready,” she radioed. As the rope went taut, she wrapped her arms around him, pulling his body close to hers and wound her legs through his. Even if he started fighting her, it would take him a few minutes to get enough leverage to do any damage.
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Jack and Steve reached out for her as their heads appeared at the opening in the duct. Carefully easing the two of them out of the duct, the partners helped them find their footing; bracing Clint so he didn’t topple the two of them over. Tessa kept up a steady stream of chatter, trying to keep Clint calm as the other hands touched him.
Natasha moved in and unsnapped the lines holding them together, allowing Tessa to back away a little and shake out limbs that had gone numb from hanging on to Clint. Steve took hold of the archer, lifting him up in a fireman’s carry. “Let’s get him to the room. He even feels hot to me,” Steve commented, shifting Clint to a better position.
Isabella and Natasha exchanged glances before Natasha spoke up, “I think Isabella and I need to stage a ‘training exercise’ to run interference for you.”
Steve nodded. “No damage.”
“Take all the fun out of it,” Natasha replied with a grin.
“No permanent damage then,” Steve amended. “We need to move.”
The women split off, quickly disappearing. Even though the others knew approximately where they’d gone; none of them could see the two. Tessa darted ahead of the men to open the door to the quarters she shared with Clint. Steve entered, dumping the archer on the bed when he neared it.
The change in position clearly jolted Clint out of his head and he lashed out at Steve, the Super Soldier blocking the strike easily. Clint struck out clumsily again, then rolled to his side; his left hand grasping for something under the pillow.
“Clint, no!” Tessa leaped forward, her hand grasping his wrist.
“I’ll kick your ass!” he railed, his energy already failing.
“Yeah, maybe when you’re not weaker than a day old kitten,” she answered, easing the knife out of his hand. “Now let Olivia help you feel better.”
“’M not sick!” he protested mulishly.
“Me thinks you doth protest a little too much, tough guy,” Tessa replied. She looked over her shoulder at Olivia, who’d backed off when Clint went for the weapon. “Ready?”
“Are you sure it’s safe?” she asked, beginning to approach tentatively.
“Well, he doesn’t have any more knives,” Tessa replied.
“No medics!” Clint’s grey eyes widened as Olivia got closer to the bed.
“No medics,” Tessa assured him. “Just Livvie. You like Livvie.”
“Tessie?” Clint’s head rolled sideways until he was looking at her. “I don’t think I feel so good.”
Tessa chuckled softly, rubbing the short spikes at the crown of his head. “Oh, so now you don’t feel well, huh?”
Clint nodded, the movement bringing a round of coughing and a miserable look. “Ouch,” he said when he was finished.
“How ‘bout you let Livvie take a look at you?” Tessa coaxed.
Clint eyed Olivia suspiciously. “No Medical,” he informed her.
Olivia held up her stethoscope to show it to him. “Not planning to take you anywhere, Clint. Just let me listen to your lungs? And take your temperature. It probably didn’t help that you ran away, but…” she stopped as he started to look panicked again. “Clint. Clint. It’s…” She looked at Tessa when he didn’t respond to her.
Tessa grabbed his shoulders, forcing him back down against the bed and shaking her head when Jack and Steve started to move forward to help. “Sergeant!” she snapped. “Hold! Or I’ll have to sedate you.”
Clint immediately went slack in her grip and looked up at her. “Tessa?”
“Last chance, Clint,” she told him. “You strike out again and we’re gonna have to take drastic measures.”
He nodded, clearly with them for the moment. “I understand.”
“Olivia?” Tessa looked over her shoulder. “Move slowly. But go ahead.”
The petite medic moved forward, watching him suspiciously, but clearly willing to try to help him. Her kit was mostly filled with Stark tech (Tony was nothing if not helpful in making sure they had the newest and most up-to-date) and she was easily able to get Clint’s vitals without disturbing him too much. She frowned at the readings she got and pressed the stethoscope to his chest again. Clint continued to eye her as she poked at him, but submitted to her with minimal protests.
Finally Olivia stepped back and stripped off her gloves. “I can’t be sure without running tests down in…” she stopped not wanting to set off Clint by saying the place he hated. “Anyway. I’m pretty sure he’s got pneumonia.”
“Pneumonia?” Tessa, Jack, and Steve asked in unison.
“Walking pneumonia most likely,” Olivia answered. “Or in Clint’s case, running away and hiding pneumonia.”
Clint rolled over as they talked, burrowing against Tessa’s thigh and passing out. Tessa carded her fingers through his hair as she asked, “So what can I do for him?”
Olivia looked up from where she was digging through her kit. “We’ll start him on antibiotics. Keep him quiet. Try to keep him in bed. Liquids and I’ll get you a list of foods he should be willing to eat that will be good for him. And I’ll monitor him. I’d like you to take a lower dose, too. Just to be on the safe side.”
Tessa nodded. “Not a problem. I’ll stuff the pills in his food if I have to.”
“Well, I’ll ground him. Until he’s not hiding at the first threat of Medical,” Olivia replied. “But if he doesn’t show improvement in a couple of days…”
“I’ve got a sedative and we can drug his ass and carry him to Medical if need be,” Tessa explained.
“I don’t think it’ll come to that,” Steve said. “He does obey orders…kind of.”
“We are talking about the same guy, right?” Jack asked. “The one that back talks at every opportunity?”
“He obeys,” Tessa pointed out. “He’s just gotta get his two cents in first and do it his way.”
Olivia chuckled as she carefully injected Clint with something. The pinch of the needle caused the archer to flinch and Tessa soothed him automatically, catching the hand that flailed out and kissing it. He turned towards her, nuzzling against her stomach. “I’m going to leave the pills on your dresser with the directions. Are you going to be okay with him?” Olivia asked.
“We’ll be fine,” Tessa assured her.
“Call us if you need anything,” Steve said as Jack helped Olivia pack up her paraphernalia. “You two are off rotation until Clint shows a marked improvement.”
Tessa nodded. “Thanks, Cap.”
After they left, Tessa wiggled out from under Clint and quickly locked the door, then headed back towards the bed; stripping off her clothes as she went. When she crawled back in bed with him, he curled back around her and rested his head on her breasts. Tessa lifted her tablet from the nightstand and ran her fingers through his hair, settling in to be there for him until he woke up again.
Characters: Clint Barton/ Tessa Monroe, Natasha Romanov, Isabella Teague, Steve Rogers, Jack Douglas, Olivia Donner, Darcy Lewis
Fandom: Avengers
Series: Avengers’ Assistants
Written For: illfindmyway
Prompt: sick!Clint
Summary: Clint does not react in predictable ways. Luckily Tessa knows him pretty well, but not even she could have predicted he would hide when he got sick.
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers: just for the rest of my series
Warnings: Clint acts like a child at times. You might want to cuddle him, but he’s still deadly.
Disclaimer: No one recognizable belongs to me and I am so not making any money. Nor did I win the lotto last night (yes I did buy tickets this time).
Author's Note: So a few weeks ago, illfindmyway and I got the idea of writing sick!Clint stories. And we both got to work. We’ve had a lot of fun the last few weeks sending clips back and forth to each other and now we’re getting ready to share them. If you want to read hers, its ?????? (sorry, still working on editing it so it’ll be just a bit longer).
Tessa shifted in bed, caught in that place between waking and dreaming. Something way too hot was pressed up against her, but every time she moved away from it, the heat followed her. Her eyes blinked open as her hand automatically stroked down the sweaty back of the man in bed with her. She couldn’t ever remember waking up sweaty. Going to sleep sweaty after a very pleasurable work-out, yes, but not waking up that way. Cautiously she turned in order to see him better and was surprised when Clint’s grey eyes didn’t immediately pop open.
Settling her hand against his forehead for a minute, she was concerned when he didn’t react at all except to shift closer to her again. His arm curled around her waist as he nuzzled against her. “Clint,” she spoke softly, trying not to startle him. “Hey, tough guy.” When he didn’t respond, she stroked a gentle hand down his side. “Now you’re starting to worry me. Come on, archer boy. Wakey wakey, eggs and bakey.”
He cracked one eye open wide enough to see her. “Archer boy?”
“Hey, it lives!”
“Bite me.”
“Happily. As soon as you tell me why you’re all sweaty and practically comatose. I moved…and you didn’t wake up.” She ran a hand through his hair, smiling indulgently at his almost purr at the action. “That’s not like you.”
He arched into her touch, wordlessly encouraging her to continue her ministrations. “Got up early,” he explained after a minute. “Worked out. Didn’t feel like showering when I got back. Wanted you.”
“Why didn’t you wake me then?” she asked.
“Just wanted to be here,” he murmured.
“Clint. You know I can tell when you’re lying. Right?”
He burrowed into the pillows and she just made out his response, “’M not lying.”
“You also sound about five.” Laying her hand on the back of his neck, she continued, “I think you’re running a fever.”
“’M not sick!”
“I think we should let Medical decide that, tough guy,” Tessa told him. “Just a quick check-up.”
“I’m not sick!” Clint tried to scramble away from her, but got tangled in the blankets and dumped himself off the bed.
Tessa peered over the side of the bed, watching him attempt to fight his way free. “I realize you haven’t practiced your acrobatics recently, but you’re normally more graceful than this. Medical, Clint.”
“I don’t need…” He glared at the blankets that were clearly defeating him. “Help?”
Tessa swung her legs over the side of the bed, reaching for edge of the blanket. “I want you to go to Medical and just get checked out. To make sure.”
“Don’t need to see those quacks,” he grumbled as she freed him. He kicked the blankets away, glaring harder at them. “Evil blankets.”
“I know they are,” she soothed him. “Come on. Up you go.”
“I’m not five, Tessa,” he complained.
“Well, you’re acting like it.” She eyed his nude body. “Much as I appreciate the view, you need some clothes to go to Medical.”
“I’m not going to Medical,” he protested.
“Do you really want to argue with me? Because that always ends so well for you,” she pointed out.
He sighed. “Fine. But only because you’re asking. And only to reassure you that I’m not sick.”
“I’m so happy you’re humoring me,” she said, pressing a kiss to his forehead.
“Would you get me some clothes?” he asked. “There’s a pair of sweats in the bathroom.”
“Yes. Of course.” She pressed a kiss to his lips, ignoring the way he tried to duck away.
“Stop. You’re going to get infested.”
“I think you mean infected and I think it’s a little late. Besides I thought you weren’t sick?” she called over her shoulder as she made her way to the bathroom.
He called back something indistinct and she had time to think that she should have been able to hear him clearly when she heard the sound of a muffled door shut. It took her a moment to realize it was the door to her room and not one down the hall. By the time she made the connection and made it out to the hall, there was no sign of the sick Avenger. “Damn it, Clint,” she groaned.
Clint reached the first of his egresses into the ceiling and lifted himself up into the opening, closing the panel behind his body. He curled up in on himself as soon as he was situated, trying to muffle the coughs that racked his body. As soon as he was sure he could move without making too much noise, he began to slide along the infrastructure; bracing himself so he didn’t fall through the paneling. His habit of dropping down on junior agents was coming in handy now because he’d long ago marked the important corridors and turns. He had a goal in mind; he just had to get there without giving away his location. He knew Tessa would be looking for him within moments of him disappearing and he didn’t have much time to get to his nest.
He paused as he got to the one juncture, his head fuzzy as he tried to remember which way he needed to turn. His fingers brushed across the marks he’d gouged into the brick and he turned left, counting out the paces he needed. He’d drop down soon into the duct and be able to secure himself in the safe place he’d built.
Reaching the drop, Clint hung by his fingers until he was secure enough to let himself fall down into the first part of the ducts. He crawled through a series of narrowing sections until it widened again and he had to drop down again. This time he landed with a soft thump because he’d taken the last turn to reach his sanctuary. He checked the nest every so often to make sure nothing had been disturbed and had just been in a few days prior which was a stroke of luck.
Now he kicked the blankets into a pile and hunted through until he found the pillow he’d stolen from Tessa. Hunkering down, he burrowed into the blankets, pulling them almost over his head and settled in. He’d just rest here for a bit until Tessa stopped harping on him going to Medical. He couldn’t smell her on the pillow right now, but the comfort of having something of hers close to him lulled him into a doze.
Tessa ducked back into their room, grabbing the first clothes she reached. As she pulled them on, she switched her radio to one of the private channels. “Natasha,” she said when the other Avenger answered. “I need your help and I need you to keep it quiet.”
“What can I do?” the Russian asked immediately.
Glad that she’d taken the time to get to know the other woman and that she wouldn’t have to work through all of the history between herself and the Avenger right now, Tessa answered, “Could you meet me at my quarters as quickly as possible?”
“Da. We will be there,” Natasha told her.
“We? No wait, I don’t want…” Tessa started, but she was cut off as the radio beeped.
A few minutes later, Tessa opened her door in response to the knock on it. She frowned to see Natasha, Isabella, Jack, Steve, Olivia, and Darcy crowding into the doorway. “The point was to keep this low key,” she said as she waved them quickly inside.
“That would be why we don’t have Tony, Bruce, Pepper, or Thor,” Darcy answered. “And no one wanted to attempt to pry Jane out of her lab.”
“What has you so worried?” Natasha asked, looking at Tessa. She glanced around the room. “Where’s Barton?”
“That’s my problem,” Tessa admitted. “I woke up today to a very sweaty…” She stopped and seemed to review her words. “Clint is not feeling like himself. I requested that he go to Medical to get checked out and I have a feeling he went to ground. I need some help finding him.”
“Why is it so imperative?” Steve cut in.
“Well, sir.” Tessa turned to face him head on. “The last time I saw him, he was naked. And feverish. So it’s probably a good idea to find him quickly.”
Steve blinked. “I. Don’t think I even want to know.”
“Well, I think even here a naked man running through the hallways would raise an alarm,” Olivia commented. “So let’s assume he grabbed some clothes. Where is he most likely to go?”
Tessa favored her with a dry look. “It’s. Clint.”
“So…up?” Olivia asked.
“I think rather than arguing about where he might be, we need to start looking for him,” Steve broke in. “Is there somewhere in particular he might have gone to ground?”
Tessa sighed, tugging on the ends of her dark hair as she tried to think. “He’ll have squirreled himself away somewhere. He’s not going to be somewhere obvious. So a hidey-hole or in something. Something defensible.”
“We should check the ceilings, the ducts, unused conference rooms, pretty much anywhere he can hide,” Natasha decided.
“Sounds like we need to split up,” Jack put in.
“Well, it would certainly make us more unobtrusive,” Darcy commented. “I mean…the group of you running around hunting for the archer isn’t exactly low key.”
Olivia waved to get their attention. “While you all run around creating chaos? I think I’ll duck down to Medical and get a kit. If you can’t get Clint down there, I can check him out here.”
Tessa nodded and reached out to squeeze the other Assistant’s hand. “Thank you, Olivia. I think it might be easier to convince him to come back here.”
“All right then. I’ll do that. And you all…” She looked around at her friends and co-workers. “Find our archer.”
Jack grinned, snapping off a salute that she batted away with a grin of her own. “Yes, ma’am. Right away, ma’am.”
Not sure whether she was supposed to laugh or not, Olivia settled for hugging Tessa quickly. “I’m sure Clint is just fine. And you’ll find him soon. Just call me if you find him before I get back.”
“Thanks, Livvie,” Tessa replied as she returned the hug. She turned to the others as the Vietnamese woman left the room. “So what’s the game plan?”
Out of habit, they all turned to Steve, who’s blue eyes flicked over the assembled group. “We’ll break into pairs. Jack and Isabella. Natasha with Tessa. And Darcy, you’ll come with me so I can keep an eye on you. If anyone other than the girls spots Barton, call them. If he’s as agitated as Tessa reported, he might strike out at anyone else.”
“What do you mean ‘keep an eye on me’?” Darcy demanded as the others checked their radios and decided on a frequency. “What exactly do you think I’m going to do?”
Steve favored her with a stern look. “Darcy, you aren’t trained to be out in the field. And I don’t want to face Jane or Thor if something happens to you.”
“Hey! Tasered a god!” Darcy retorted.
“Still not trained,” Steve returned. “You’ll listen or you’ll go back to your desk and wait for a report.”
“I can defend myself!” Darcy protested.
“Your only defense is that Taser. And we don’t know what’s wrong with Barton. You shooting him could make him worse. So this is the best way to do the search,” Steve answered.
Darcy subsided long enough for the group to finish gearing up. As Steve handed her a radio, she said, “You know. You could have just said that instead of just telling me you wanted to protect me.”
Clint twisted in his sleep, reaching out for the person who was supposed to be curled up next to him. When his hand smacked into the metal of the air duct, his grey eyes cracked open and a noise anyone else would classify as a whimper escaped from his mouth. Shuffling around, he pulled the pillow closer to him, trying to catch any trace of Tessa’s familiar scent. When he couldn’t catch even a trace, he flipped it over, trying again.
Drawing the blankets up, he burrowed back into the pillow, breathing deeply as he tried to resettle himself. He could hear the muffled sounds of SHIELD going on outside of the duct, but he didn’t want to go back out there. As much as he wanted Tessa, he didn’t want her to force him to go to Medical.
After a few minutes, he rolled over again, curling in on himself and trying to fall back asleep. He’d feel better if he just slept long enough. He didn’t need anything. He didn’t need Tessa. Or a bed. Or anything. He was fine by himself.
Now if only he really believed that.
Now SHIELD agents working with the Avengers were accustomed to madness, insanity, and the unbelievable, but even they were a bit thrown when pairs of Avengers and Assistants began to poke through HQ, clearly in search of something. Junior agents were quick to hop out of the way of the clearly driven group as they pried open grates and peered into closets. Offers of help were quickly waved off and persistent agents were threatened depending on who they approached.
“This does not concern you. If need be, consider it an order,” Steve told one overly eager agent. The agent ducked out of sight after an aborted salute. Steve’s command voice often had that reaction.
“I’ll kill you if you speak of this,” Natasha said, the press of her blade against the throat of the agent who’d been shadowing them. The man gulped, Adam’s apple bobbing under the blade, and scurried away when Natasha removed the blade.
Jack wheeled on the pair of agents that had been following them and growled, causing the two to jump and bang into each other. Isabella hid a laugh as they scuttled away.
One by one each group radioed back that they hadn’t found any trace of the missing archer until Steve called a halt, telling them to meet back not far from the residential level where they’d started. Tessa was pacing in a tight circle when the group finally made it all to the meeting place. Isabella tried to put a comforting hand on her arm, but the other Assistant shook her off. “He can’t have gotten far,” Tessa said. “He was weak and not moving with his usual ease.”
“We clearly haven’t looked in the right place,” Steve replied. “But I’m sure he’s safe. And he hasn’t raised any alarms so he hasn’t tried to leave.”
“Olivia suggested ‘up’,” Natasha reminded them as she watched Tessa move in tightening circles. “Is there some place ‘up’ he could have gone?”
“Where would a birdy who needs to always see everyone make a nest?” Darcy asked.
“Air ducts!” Tessa, Jack, and Natasha blurted out in unison.
“Nobody checked the air ducts?” Steve demanded.
“You’ve gotta drop down into the shafts to get anywhere in them,” Tessa explained as they hurried down the halls. “I just assumed it wouldn’t be somewhere he could get to in his condition.”
“Clearly it’s where he felt safe though,” Natasha pointed out. “We just have to figure out which one.”
Tessa paused partway down the hall, her fingers finding the arrow notched crudely into the wall. “This is his closest egress into the ceiling to our quarters,” she commented. “There’ll be more marks inside, but it won’t tell us which way he went.”
“Can you find him? Track him?” Steve asked. “Do you have any idea where he went?”
Tessa shook her head. “I’ve never followed him. That’s Clint’s place. I just know about the marks.”
“Why?” Steve wanted to know.
“You really don’t want the answer to that, Cap,” she told him.
“Are you sure?” Steve asked.
“Yes, Steve, you do not want to know,” Natasha assured him. “Trust us.”
Tessa’s green eyes were tracing the ceiling as they talked and now she hurried towards the end of the hallway. “He didn’t go up!” she called back over her shoulder. “He went down! He’s at the bottom of a shaft somewhere!”
The others followed Tessa as she ran down the hallway, dodging SHIELD agents and pushing people out of her way when they didn’t move fast enough. After the first couple, Steve didn’t bother with helping them up, but simply called apologies over his shoulder. “Where are we going?” Isabella demanded as they tore around a corner.
“I’m not crawling through a hundred feet of duct work. I think I know where Clint would hole up,” Tessa answered over her shoulder. She skidded to a stop, pointing to one of the larger vents. “That leads to a drop that dead ends in a…” Her hands flailed as she tried to figure out how to explain it. “Never mind. The point is…there’s only one way in. And it’s defensible. The problem? There’s only one way in.”
“So it’s not going to be easy to get to him,” Steve said as he eyed the vent.
“I’ve been in there once,” Tessa explained. “If he’s where I think he is. Someone could crawl in from here, but it’s a straight drop down to where he’s holed up and there’s just enough space for him to curl up in there. Which means no space for anyone else.”
Jack considered what she said and then asked, “Is there room for a rappelling line?”
“Possibly? Do you have an idea?” Tessa responded.
“Rig up a basket and drop you down to pull him out,” Jack answered. “It’s Clint. He’s gonna have something in there to defend himself with and if he’s feverish and delusional, you’re the one he’s least likely to strike out at.”
“Is it safe to put Tessa in that situation?” Steve questioned.
“Safer for her than for anyone else,” Jack pointed out. “And I think?” He looked at Tessa as he continued, “She can tell once she gets in there if it’s a good idea for her to drop down on Clint or not.”
Tessa nodded as he finished. “Yeah. Should be able. I can at least tell if he’s completely locked in his own head.”
“Natasha and Isabella, go acquire the gear Tessa will need. No one will think twice about you two liberating it. And even if they do, they aren’t going to question you. Darcy, go tell Olivia that we’ve most likely located Clint and to be ready when we bring him in.” Steve waited until the three women hurried off to carry out their orders before turning to the two Assistants he was left with. “Jack and I will serve as your anchor points, Tessa. You need to tell me now if you can’t do this.”
Tessa took a deep breath. “I can. I trust Clint. He wouldn’t hurt me on purpose and I honestly don’t know what he’d do to any of you. He ran because he didn’t want to go to Medical. It wasn’t me he didn’t want.”
Quicker than should have been possible, Natasha and Isabella were back; both women weighed down with gear. Tessa stood still while they worked quickly to strap her into the rig. While they were working, Steve radioed Darcy who reported that she’d spoken to Olivia and then headed off Coulson who was searching for them. She was planning to keep on that until they got Clint safely to his quarters.
“Ready?” Steve asked as Natasha completed one last check on Tessa.
“Yes.” Tessa turned to look at the vent. “I’m not the acrobat Clint is…” she started.
Steve bent down before she could finish her thought, lacing his hands together to form a step. “If you’ll allow me?”
Jack pulled the cover off the vent as Natasha and Isabella went to run interference, blocking the hallways from curious onlookers. Steve nodded at Tessa and she stepped into his hand, allowing him to boost her into the duct. “I’ll let you know if I find him,” she said before starting to worm her way down the first duct.
Tessa reached the break in the duct and peered over the side, not really surprised to see a nest of blankets at the bottom of the shaft. After a minute she could just make out a slight rise and fall in them and then a shock of sandy-brown hair that could only belong to her archer. Triggering her radio, she said softly, “Found him. Lower me down in five…four…three…” As she counted, she wiggled around until her feet were pointed downwards and she felt the slack that meant she was going to be able to rappel.
Bracing her feet against the side of the duct, she slid down the wall, allowing the rope to play out so she didn’t land on top of Clint. She ended up straddling his waist, not able to find enough room to settle down next to him in the cramped space of the shaft. Kneeling down, she reached under the pillow (not really concerned after his reaction earlier about disturbing him) and found the knife she had been pretty sure was there. Tucking it away, she stroked the back of her hand down his cheek.
Clint jerked at the touch, one hand reaching out for whatever was touching him. “It’s Tessa,” she soothed. “Nothing’s gonna hurt you.” She continued to speak in a low voice, reassuring him, until his grey eyes blinked open and seemed to fix on her. “Hi,” she told him when she thought she had his attention.
“Tessie,” he mumbled. “Sleepy.”
“Yeah? How ‘bout we go topside and bed down in an actual bed then?” she responded.
“No Medical,” he told her.
“No Medical,” she promised. “Can you sit up?” She slipped her arms around his shoulders and tried to lever him into a sitting position. When he just flopped in her arms, she realized he wasn’t really awake. Tapping her radio, she reported, “He’s down for the count. Responding to my voice, but I’m pretty sure he doesn’t actually know I’m here.”
“Can you get him into the rig?” Steve asked.
Tessa surveyed the area, calculating the space she had. “Yeah, probably. It’ll be a tight squeeze to pull us both up, but it’ll work.”
“Tell us when,” Steve returned.
She maneuvered him into the rig, making sure everything was snug, and grateful he wasn’t fighting her, before clipping them together. “Cap, we’re ready,” she radioed. As the rope went taut, she wrapped her arms around him, pulling his body close to hers and wound her legs through his. Even if he started fighting her, it would take him a few minutes to get enough leverage to do any damage.
Jack and Steve reached out for her as their heads appeared at the opening in the duct. Carefully easing the two of them out of the duct, the partners helped them find their footing; bracing Clint so he didn’t topple the two of them over. Tessa kept up a steady stream of chatter, trying to keep Clint calm as the other hands touched him.
Natasha moved in and unsnapped the lines holding them together, allowing Tessa to back away a little and shake out limbs that had gone numb from hanging on to Clint. Steve took hold of the archer, lifting him up in a fireman’s carry. “Let’s get him to the room. He even feels hot to me,” Steve commented, shifting Clint to a better position.
Isabella and Natasha exchanged glances before Natasha spoke up, “I think Isabella and I need to stage a ‘training exercise’ to run interference for you.”
Steve nodded. “No damage.”
“Take all the fun out of it,” Natasha replied with a grin.
“No permanent damage then,” Steve amended. “We need to move.”
The women split off, quickly disappearing. Even though the others knew approximately where they’d gone; none of them could see the two. Tessa darted ahead of the men to open the door to the quarters she shared with Clint. Steve entered, dumping the archer on the bed when he neared it.
The change in position clearly jolted Clint out of his head and he lashed out at Steve, the Super Soldier blocking the strike easily. Clint struck out clumsily again, then rolled to his side; his left hand grasping for something under the pillow.
“Clint, no!” Tessa leaped forward, her hand grasping his wrist.
“I’ll kick your ass!” he railed, his energy already failing.
“Yeah, maybe when you’re not weaker than a day old kitten,” she answered, easing the knife out of his hand. “Now let Olivia help you feel better.”
“’M not sick!” he protested mulishly.
“Me thinks you doth protest a little too much, tough guy,” Tessa replied. She looked over her shoulder at Olivia, who’d backed off when Clint went for the weapon. “Ready?”
“Are you sure it’s safe?” she asked, beginning to approach tentatively.
“Well, he doesn’t have any more knives,” Tessa replied.
“No medics!” Clint’s grey eyes widened as Olivia got closer to the bed.
“No medics,” Tessa assured him. “Just Livvie. You like Livvie.”
“Tessie?” Clint’s head rolled sideways until he was looking at her. “I don’t think I feel so good.”
Tessa chuckled softly, rubbing the short spikes at the crown of his head. “Oh, so now you don’t feel well, huh?”
Clint nodded, the movement bringing a round of coughing and a miserable look. “Ouch,” he said when he was finished.
“How ‘bout you let Livvie take a look at you?” Tessa coaxed.
Clint eyed Olivia suspiciously. “No Medical,” he informed her.
Olivia held up her stethoscope to show it to him. “Not planning to take you anywhere, Clint. Just let me listen to your lungs? And take your temperature. It probably didn’t help that you ran away, but…” she stopped as he started to look panicked again. “Clint. Clint. It’s…” She looked at Tessa when he didn’t respond to her.
Tessa grabbed his shoulders, forcing him back down against the bed and shaking her head when Jack and Steve started to move forward to help. “Sergeant!” she snapped. “Hold! Or I’ll have to sedate you.”
Clint immediately went slack in her grip and looked up at her. “Tessa?”
“Last chance, Clint,” she told him. “You strike out again and we’re gonna have to take drastic measures.”
He nodded, clearly with them for the moment. “I understand.”
“Olivia?” Tessa looked over her shoulder. “Move slowly. But go ahead.”
The petite medic moved forward, watching him suspiciously, but clearly willing to try to help him. Her kit was mostly filled with Stark tech (Tony was nothing if not helpful in making sure they had the newest and most up-to-date) and she was easily able to get Clint’s vitals without disturbing him too much. She frowned at the readings she got and pressed the stethoscope to his chest again. Clint continued to eye her as she poked at him, but submitted to her with minimal protests.
Finally Olivia stepped back and stripped off her gloves. “I can’t be sure without running tests down in…” she stopped not wanting to set off Clint by saying the place he hated. “Anyway. I’m pretty sure he’s got pneumonia.”
“Pneumonia?” Tessa, Jack, and Steve asked in unison.
“Walking pneumonia most likely,” Olivia answered. “Or in Clint’s case, running away and hiding pneumonia.”
Clint rolled over as they talked, burrowing against Tessa’s thigh and passing out. Tessa carded her fingers through his hair as she asked, “So what can I do for him?”
Olivia looked up from where she was digging through her kit. “We’ll start him on antibiotics. Keep him quiet. Try to keep him in bed. Liquids and I’ll get you a list of foods he should be willing to eat that will be good for him. And I’ll monitor him. I’d like you to take a lower dose, too. Just to be on the safe side.”
Tessa nodded. “Not a problem. I’ll stuff the pills in his food if I have to.”
“Well, I’ll ground him. Until he’s not hiding at the first threat of Medical,” Olivia replied. “But if he doesn’t show improvement in a couple of days…”
“I’ve got a sedative and we can drug his ass and carry him to Medical if need be,” Tessa explained.
“I don’t think it’ll come to that,” Steve said. “He does obey orders…kind of.”
“We are talking about the same guy, right?” Jack asked. “The one that back talks at every opportunity?”
“He obeys,” Tessa pointed out. “He’s just gotta get his two cents in first and do it his way.”
Olivia chuckled as she carefully injected Clint with something. The pinch of the needle caused the archer to flinch and Tessa soothed him automatically, catching the hand that flailed out and kissing it. He turned towards her, nuzzling against her stomach. “I’m going to leave the pills on your dresser with the directions. Are you going to be okay with him?” Olivia asked.
“We’ll be fine,” Tessa assured her.
“Call us if you need anything,” Steve said as Jack helped Olivia pack up her paraphernalia. “You two are off rotation until Clint shows a marked improvement.”
Tessa nodded. “Thanks, Cap.”
After they left, Tessa wiggled out from under Clint and quickly locked the door, then headed back towards the bed; stripping off her clothes as she went. When she crawled back in bed with him, he curled back around her and rested his head on her breasts. Tessa lifted her tablet from the nightstand and ran her fingers through his hair, settling in to be there for him until he woke up again.
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