Steve didn't return to the Compound to train the team until Natasha was better.  Her stitches came out two and a half weeks after she'd returned and she was able to walk around without much pain.  Aside from her still healing ribs, she didn't have any major injuries. Her face was no longer bruised so Steve wasn't reminded of what had happened every time he looked at her, but she still had green and brown bruises on her abdomen and legs.  Nonetheless, she insisted she was fine and that Steve return to the Compound for work. He had only agreed to do so if Natasha came with him, still uncomfortable leaving her at home alone even if the alarm system would remain on.

"We're gonna be late, love,"  Natasha said, walking up behind Steve in the back room.  He was seated at his desk, writing something on a notepad hastily as Natasha rubbed his shoulders.  When he finished, he ripped the page off the notepad, folded it up, and slipped it in his back pocket as he stood up.  He wrapped an arm around her back and kissed her shortly.

"I'm ready,"  he grinned. She smiled back and they walked out to the car.  Steve opened her door for her then walked around to the driver's side.  As soon as they were backed out of the garage and heading down the driveway, Natasha grabbed Steve's hand and pulled it into her lap.  Steve glanced at her, making sure she was okay, then focusing back on the road.

"It's been a while since I've been to the Compound,"  Natasha murmured, looking out the window as they drove down the countryside.

"Are you okay?"  Steve asked, looking over at her.  She nodded and ran her fingers over the back of his palm.  Steve grabbed her fingers gently in his hand and brought her hand up to his lips so he could kiss her knuckles.  "Are you sure?" he asked. She shrugged.

"I'm going to the Avengers' Headquarters,"  she told him with a small grin. "I'm even safer there than at home."

"That doesn't mean you have to feel fine about it,"  Steve replied. She sighed and leaned back in her seat, looking at Steve instead of the passing countryside.  "I'll be nearby and Morgan will be the best bodyguard you've ever met."

"Yes, she will,"  Natasha laughed. Steve smiled and gave her hand a gentle squeeze.

She hadn't really been out of the house except to visit the medical wing at the Compound or visit for a short while.  Each time, Steve had been by her side the whole time. As much as they both refused to admit it, she wasn't as comfortable being alone as she made it seem.  After one morning a week ago when Steve had left for his run before she woke up and came back to see her on the phone with Tony, shaking and teary-eyed, they'd both silently agreed Steve wouldn't leave again for a while.

They pulled up to the Compound and climbed out of the car.  Natasha looped her arm through Steve's and they walked into the Compound together.  Everyone was already down in the training room, even Morgan who was shooting a nerf gun in the shooting range with Wanda supervising.  When they realised Steve and Natasha had arrived, everyone gathered in the middle. Steve pulled off his sweater, leaving him in a t-shirt and sweatpants, while Natasha went over to join Morgan on the shooting range.

"Auntie Nat!"  Morgan shrieked, throwing her arms around Natasha's neck when she knelt down beside her.  Natasha smiled and hugged Morgan back with minimal pain. Morgan pulled away quickly and showed Natasha her purple and green nerf gun.  "Uncle Sam got it for me!" she told Natasha.

"It's pretty cool,"  Natasha replied. Morgan nodded and turned to point it at the target.  She was only about a metre away from the target and hit it in the centre.  Natasha applauded her and made her take a step back. Morgan frowned but did as instructed and tried again.  While the team trained, Natasha helped Morgan shoot her nerf gun. Every time she hit the centre, Natasha made her take a step back.  By the time training had finished, Morgan was two metres away from the target and getting closer to hitting the target.

"We're done!"  Steve exclaimed, wrapping his arms around Natasha and burying his face in her neck.  She yelped, pushing his sweaty body off of hers and turning around to face him.

"You stink!"  she told him. Steve just grinned and wiggled his eyebrows at her.  She gave him a stern look, darting her eyes down at Morgan who was still focused on the target.

"Good job, Morgan,"  Steve said as Morgan hit the ring just outside the centre.  Morgan shook her head at him and hurried to gather her darts.  "What's up with her?" Steve asked, wrapping an arm around Natasha's waist.

"She's trying to hit the centre and get better than Uncle Clint,"  Natasha answered. Steve nodded, watching Morgan for a little while longer.  When Tony came over to get her, Steve pulled Natasha away and towards the training room showers.

"Hey!  Those are for cleaning yourselves!  Not other things," Tony told them, giving them a pointed look.  Morgan looked at her dad in confusion and asked what he meant. Tony told her not to worry about it, scooping her up in his arms and kissing her cheek.  "Auntie Nat and Uncle Steve like to make my showers messy."

"We clean up after ourselves,"  Steve told him. Tonny scrunched up his face and shook his head fiercely, carrying Morgan out of the training room while Steve and Natasha made their way towards the showers.  One of the many things they couldn't do while Natasha was healing was have sex and they'd both be lying if they said they weren't looking forward to when Natasha was completely better and they didn't have to worry about being as careful as they currently did.

~ The End ~