Natasha awoke to Clint screaming. She bolted out of her bed and dashed to his room, flinging open the door. She strode over to his bed and shook him by the shoulders.

"Clint! Wake up!" she shouted.

His eyes fluttered open, focusing on her.

"Nat...?" he whispered. "What are you doing here?"

She sat beside him. "You were screaming. I figured.... that you were having another one of those nightmares again."

Clint sat up, pressing a hand to his face. "Not again...." he muttered. He looked at Natasha. "I'm sorry I woke you."

Natasha smiled and touched his face. "Don't be. I'm here for you, no matter what. Never forget that."

He managed to return her smile. "Thanks, Nat."

They sat in silence for a minute before Natasha asked, "You want to get some coffee?"

Clint sighed. "Might as well. I don't think I'll be going back to sleep anytime soon."

Natasha stood as Clint got out of bed. "I'll get changed and meet you outside your room in five minutes."

Clint nodded. "Okay."

Natasha smiled briefly before she turned and left the room.

Clint watched her go, a torrent of emotions washing over him.

---

Natasha and Clint sat in a Starbucks about two blocks from were they were staying. There was silence between the two, each caught in their own thoughts

It was Natasha who broke the silence. "Your nightmares have been getting worse and more frequent. Clint, things can't go on like this. You'll lose yourself at this rate."

He didn't respond right away. "I know you're right, but.... it's hard to stop and even harder to forget."

Natasha reached across the table and graspes his hands in her own. "I understand that. Really, I do. You know that. Let me help you. All you need to do is talk and I'll listen." her voice held a desperate tone, catching Clint off guard.

"Tasha..." the vulnerability in his voice shook Natasha to her core.

"Let me help," she insisted.

"Nat," Clint whispered. Just when it seemed like he would relent, he pulled his hands away. He stood, and started to walk out. He paused at Natasha's side, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Forgive me, but this is my burden to bear."

He let go, but Natasha grabbed his wrist. "Don't you dare leave me."

Clint gazed at her in surprise. He closed his eyes and steeled his resolve. "Goodbye, Natasha." he pulled his arm free and left.

It was the first time in a long time that he'd called her 'Natasha'.

---

Natasha sank into her chair. She glanced up at the cieling, recalling the time she and Clint had spent together. She wondered where it went wrong. When had everything changed?

And she wondered just what he meant to her.

She covered her eyes with her arm, blocking out the light.

Will I let him go?

---

Clint walked outside, standing on the sidewalk onlooking the street as cars passed him by. He glanced at Starbucks over his shoulder, wondering if Natasha had followed him, but sh hadn't.

He didn't know why, but that made him feel disappointed.

Clint turned away, refusing to look back.

No matter what Natasha meant to him, he wouldn't allow himself to make her suffer anymore than she already had.

A sharp pain stabbed his chest.

I will let her go.