"Clint...........what the...................?" Bruce tried to ask, as Clint burst into the medical room.

"Lady Hawk! Is she...........is she..............?" Clint tried to ask, as he made his way over to where the unconscious bird still lay.

"She's fine, Clint. She seems to be quite comfortable.........I think.........." Bruce told Clint, as he joined the archer. The doctor wanting to give the worried looking man as much reassurance as he could; but still having to admit that feathered creatures were not on the curriculum when was getting his degrees.

"Are you alright, Clint................?" Bruce continued, as he watched the archer gently ghost his fingers over the bird's feathers.

"Yeah..............I just...........I just had a dream................" Clint replied, as he now brushed his fingers through his messy hair, suddenly realising that he must sound crazy. That Bruce must think that he had lost his mind. He had had a dream, a fanciful dream where the bird that had save his life from a bear, had become a woman. The archer beginning to think that perhaps what he really needed was to get out a little more. Was to perhaps let his hair down a little and forget about everything for a while.

"Look, why don't you go and rest on the sofa, over there. Like I said, I'll wake you if anything happens." Bruce said, slowly guiding Clint to the sofa and helping him sit down.

                                                         >>----------------------------------<<

"Clint........! Clint..............!" The archer groaning as he was shaken awake. Clint slowly opening his eyes to see a confused, concerned............to be honest, he wasn't sure what, looking Bruce staring down at him.

"What? What's..............what's happened? Lady Hawk, is she...............?"

"I think that you better come and see..........." Bruce replied, Clint almost moving as quickly as one of his arrows, as he bolted for the bed on which he had insisted that his feathered friend should be laid upon. The archer stopping dead in his tracks, as he saw her standing up, and looking at him.

"How....................?" Clint asked, as he made his way over to the bird and crouched in front of her. The hawk screeching happily, before stepping a little closer to the archer.

"I.........I don't know. When the vet left, I have to admit that I thought there was little hope for her. Her injuries were.........well they were extensive. So, how she is not only alive, but up and looking as though nothing has happened, I have no idea. And even the injury to her wing that she originally had, is gone..............." Bruce explained. A part of him wondering if the archer would allow him to conduct a few tests on his feathered companion. But given that Clint seemed to have such an affection for the hawk, the doctor thought better of it. Sure, that it might sound as though he were asking the archer if he could experiment on a loved one.

Reaching into his pocket, Clint took out his leather arm guard, and pulled it on; holding out his arm for that Lady Hawk could climb on. The hawk doing just that, before nuzzling into his hand, as he stroked her head; Clint smiling broadly, as a sense of relief took over him. Not caring how or why any of this had happened, just happy that he hadn't lost her.

"Well, I don't care how she did it, all that matters is she did. Is it ok to take her.............?"

"Um...........well, as she seems to be fine............."

"Great...........thanks Bruce..............." Clint quickly replied, not needing to hear any more. The archer and his winged companion disappearing through the door.

                                                  >>-----------------------------------<<

"............I will find a great place, maybe somewhere near the lake, and build something that will be better for you than my rooms................"

"What are you feeding that thing.............?" A voice interrupted. Clint looking up, and Lady Hawk turning to see Tony coming into the kitchen.

"And how is it alive...............?"

"Firstly, she is not a thing or an it.......her name is Lady Hawk. Secondly, I don't know how she is alive; but she is. And thirdly............I am feeding her steak..........." Clint replied, as he offered the bird another piece of meat. The hawk taking it happily, before moving across the countertop, so that she was stood right by the archer's side.

"Steak...........my steak? My steak again.............?" Tony enquired, as he quickly made his way over to the refrigerator and threw open the door.

"You do know that I had that flown in especially from Japan, don't you? It is the best wagyu in the world with the most subtle umami flavour............."

"And I am sure that she appreciates that as much as you do. And stop complaining, she only takes a little. Its a bird we are talking about, not the bear that she saved me from. Now.........if you will excuse us.........." Clint retorted, having Lady Hawk jump up onto his arm before making his way out of the kitchen. Nat looking at the billionaire, as her friend and his bird passed her.

"You know....... Barton and that bird..........there is something weird going on............"

                                                   >>------------------------------------<<

Night once more had fallen, and she watched quietly as the archer slept. She had been in so much pain; more than she had ever experienced before, but she knew that she could not let any harm come to him. And if it meant that she had to die to protect him, then she would gladly to do that. But now she was fine, her body as it should be, and he was well; the hawk, the woman just glad to be back with him.

Slowly she made her way over to the bed, pulling back the cover and climbing under the sheets with the handsome man. His arms wrapping around her as if on instinct, as she rested her head on his chest, savouring the warmth of his body, and the beating of his heart. She knew that this would not last long, only until the rays of the new sun came to peak over the horizon; so, she would savour every moment of this. Every moment that she could spend with him as a woman. Every moment that she could forget the curse that kept her as she was, and pretend that she and her handsome hawk could be together.