Chapter 16
The rest of the tour went without incident. Everyone laughed as Morgan kept trying to climb into the monkey enclave. "Wonder how many times Tony did that at her age?" Sam asked.
"Need to know basis, Wilson," Tony said. "Come on, Morgan. I'll buy you your own monkeys."
"Tony," Pepper said, "our daughter does not need a barrel of real monkeys. The game will be enough."
"Fine, Pepperkins. Can't believe you won't let our daughter have pets."
"Tony, dear. Monkeys are not pets. If you want her to have a pet, we'll get a normal one, like a cat or dog."
"Pepper, has the word normal ever been used to describe any part of my life? I think not. You knew what you were getting yourself into. Face it, Pep, I'm fun."
"Yes, you are," Pepper replied, lightly patting his forearm. "Now, can we move the fun back to the tower? Morgan's getting hungry."
"Your wish is my command." Tony began returning to the tower, with most of the group also returning. "Coming, Legolas and Mrs. Legolas?"
Mikayla looked up from the wheelchair toward Clint. "Can we stay a little longer?"
The couple looked toward Bruce, who shrugged his shoulders. "How are you feeling?"
"I'm okay right now." Mikayla slowly flexed her fingers. "They're a little stiff, but other than that, I'm good."
Bruce looked at his watch. "You're not due for your medicine for another hour, so be back by then."
"Yes, Dad," Mikayla said, smiling. Bruce returned the smile, then went off with the others.
"So, where to now?" Clint asked.
"Let's go back to the leopards and pandas." Clint turned the wheelchair around, and the couple returned to view the animals again. "Why do I see Thor when I look at the pandas?" Mikayla wondered.
"It's the smile. Remember the quokkas?"
"Oh, yeah," Mikayla said. "We named one Thor, didn't we?"
"We did." Clint smiled, knowing that was more proof HYDRA didn't take her memories.
"I wouldn't mind returning to Australia someday, especially during AFL season."
"AFL?"
"Australian Rules Football. I started watching it several years ago when I stayed up late working on a project for a client." Mikayla went on to explain the rules. "I've always wanted to see a game live."
As she talked, Clint pushed the wheelchair through the different exhibits, trying to plan when he could make that happen. As they left the panther enclave, Clint had a strange feeling someone was watching them. He surreptitiously darted his eyes around but didn't see anyone. His phone buzzed with a text. 'Time to head back. Redwing's got you.' Clint slipped the phone back into his pocket. "I'm getting hungry. You okay to head back now?"
Mikayla nodded. "Yeah, temperatures dropped a little." She shivered a bit. Clint agreed, so the couple returned to the tower.
Clint took her back to the medical wing, where Bruce and Doctor Cho were waiting. "Have a good outing?"
"I did, Doctor Cho. Thanks for approving it. Felt good to be outside and not cooped up." Once Mikayla was settled, Doctor Cho restarted her IV. The medical staff allowed her to stay in her clothing, seeing no need to make her change back into a medical gown. "Thank goodness," Mikayla gratefully commented, "I hate those things. With all the technological advances, you'd think they could make a better hospital gown."
"Yeah, but there's no glory in that," Bruce said, chortling.
"Clint? Go ahead and eat. I know you're hungry," Mikayla said. "I'll be fine. I'm sure I'll get some nutritious and delicious liquid through the IV, along with some broth in a bowl. Unfortunately, not a bread bowl." Mikayla tried not to whine. She was thankful to be alive after all that she'd been through.
"In the next few days, we'll hopefully be able to switch you to a soft diet."
"Yay for small victories. I'll take it. Now, Clint," Mikayla turned her attention back to her husband, "go, eat. Don't want you wasting away from malnourishment."
"Yes, your majesty." Clint leaned over and kissed his wife. "I'll be back later to tuck you in."
"Looking forward to it, Barton."
"Love you, Mikayla." Clint had become more vocal in sharing his feelings with Mikayla. He knew how close he'd come to losing her, and as sappy as it sounded, Clint didn't want a day to go by without letting her know how much in love he was with her.
"Love you, too." Mikayla watched him leave her room, then sank back into her pillow. "Man, I can't wait to sleep in a real bed again. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the company, Bruce, and the service is first-rate, but – "
"I know," Bruce said. "Tony does what he can, but it's still not home. I'll tell you the same thing I tell Clint every time he ends up here. You work on what you can work on. Let us do what we do, and you'll be out of here sooner."
"What? My husband isn't patient? Who knew?" Mikayla chuckled. "Guessing he figures he uses all his patience quota for work."
"That sounds like as good a reason as any."
As the teammates were talking, Doctor Cho had left the room, and when she returned, she was carrying a tray with, yep, a bowl filled with broth and a glass of tea, along with a strawberry smoothie. "Butternut squash soup and a strawberry smoothie," Doctor Cho announced as she placed the tray on the table and rolled it toward Mikayla.
"Aw, you remembered my request." Mikayla smiled.
"We do pay attention to our patients other than just their medical needs."
"I know, and I'm sorry I don't sound more grateful. I truly am thankful for all you do. I know damn good and well that I wouldn't be here if it weren't for you."
"We're happy to have a part in your healing journey. Now, we'll leave you to eat, then be back for your nighttime meds." The doctors left to allow Mikayla to eat in peace.
When Clint left, he headed toward the elevators. "Friday? Where's Sam?"
"In boss's lab, Agent Barton. I'll take you there." Clint stepped onto the elevator, which whisked him down to Tony's suite of labs. "Sam?" He called out as soon as he exited the elevator.
"In here." Clint heard Sam calling him from a couple of doors down. The sliding doors opened, and Clint walked in, finding Sam and Tony leaning against a workbench in the middle of the floor and watching what was displayed on a video screen. "Did I need to bring popcorn?"
"Nope," Tony said, "just your patience."
"Footage from the park?" Clint asked. Sam and Tony nodded. They moved apart so Clint could get the best view. "When does the video start?"
Tony answered. "Redwing was there the whole time, so all the trip is on camera." Clint nodded, settling in to view the footage. Everything appeared to be okay until the group returned to the tower, leaving Clint and Mikayla at the zoo. Clint saw his head move slightly on the film. "I remember that. I felt like someone was watching me, but I didn't see anyone. Guessing I was wrong?" Clint continued watching and noticed movement off to their left. "Can you zoom in on that person?" Sam maneuvered Redwing's view to focus on the approaching figure. "Damn that son of a bitch," Clint muttered through gritted teeth, clenching his fists. "Rumlow. Asshole's a futzing cockroach. Why can't he die? Hasn't he done enough damage? How did he escape the Raft, anyway?"
"That's what I'm going to find out," Tony said determinedly. "Don't think that place is as secure as Fury thinks."
"You can bet if Rumlow's out, Rollins isn't far behind," Clint said a little too calmly.
"I'll check on that, along with the others you two birdies have put there."
Clint's phone rang. "Barton." As he listened to the voice at the other end of the call, his other hand gripped the table's edge so hard Sam thought Clint would put a dent in it. "Shit," Clint slammed his phone down on the table. "Don't worry about checking for Rollins. That was Hill. He's gone, too. There was a prison break led by someone under HYDRA's thumb that was missed when we went back through SHIELD's files. Only people that escaped were Rumlow and Rollins." Clint glared at the other two men. "They'll be after Mikayla and me. It's personal for them."
"We'll get the team together," Sam, the voice of reason, spoke up. "We'll figure out how to protect the two of you."
Tony added, "If I know Hill, she'll ensure you're not sent alone on missions."
"Guess it's a good thing Mikayla's still healing and unable to travel much," Clint said.
"Friday?"
"Boss?"
"Have the team meet me in the conference room. We're going to have a planning session."
"And don't let the news get to Mikayla," Clint added.
"I'll text Bruce," Tony said.
Sam walked around the table to Clint, clasping his shoulder. "We've got this." Clint nodded; Sam left for the conference room.
"You bet your ass we do," Tony growled. "No one threatens our family and gets away with it." Clint was stoic; his attention focused on the figure displayed on the screen. "Talk to me, Hawkeye."
"There was always something about him, something I never quite trusted. Couldn't ever put my finger on it, so not surprised he ended up as a double agent. Makes me wonder about all the missions, you know. How many of them were actually for HYDRA? How many people did I take out on HYDRA's orders?"
Tony picked up a screwdriver and began tinkering with something on another table. "Like, how many of my inventions for Stark Industries were used by others to annihilate someone's enemies? Don't do it, Clint. Take it from someone who knows. You'll drive yourself mad with the what if's. We can't control our past but can control its effect on us."
"When did you get so wise, old man?"
Tony scoffed. "Becoming a father will do that to you, makes you realize something you can control." He turned around to face Clint. "The effect you can have on someone's future."
"Boss? The team is waiting for you and Agent Barton in the conference room."
Tony tossed the screwdriver into a tool bin. "Speaking of affecting someone's future, let's ensure Rumlow doesn't have one."