Week 374 – With Brandon still out there, Tony knew he would do ANYTHING to protect Natasha

It all felt surreal.

After weeks of being her brother’s prisoner, being beaten down and then built back up again in the image he wanted for her, Natasha could hardly get her head around the idea that she was free.

She was wearing Tony’s t-shirt and a pair of hospital scrub pants. She’d been allowed to take a shower at the hospital once the doctors had finished examining her and tending to her minor wounds. She’d been given something to eat and as much water to drink as she wanted.

She was mostly clean, no longer hungry, and dressed. It should feel wonderful, and it did feel good, but knowing that it could all be snatched away again at a moment’s notice tainted what should be a joyous day.

True to his word Tony hadn’t left her side. With Brandon still out there, Tony knew he would do ANYTHING to protect Natasha. That was the only thing stopping her from falling apart.

“Home sweet home,” Tony announced after opening the door to his apartment.

They hadn’t exchanged many words, but Natasha had found they didn’t have to. Things weren’t awkward between them, and once she learned he’d only been pretending to buy her and he’d been searching frantically for her the entire time she was gone there was nothing to be angry with him about.

“What do you need, honey?” Tony asked, his big body warm and strong beside her as he locked his door behind them.

Natasha knew she was supposed to feel safe now. She’d been rescued, Brandon’s men arrested or dead, locked inside an apartment with an armed man who would do anything to protect her, Garret in the lobby ready to eliminate a threat if one appeared, other cops watching the building.

But she didn’t feel safe.

She felt empty.

“I’m here, honey, right here.” Tony’s hands rested lightly on her shoulders, gently massaging the tight muscles there and she sighed and leaned back against him.

The one thing she wanted she wasn’t sure she could have.

She wanted Tony. Here now, but also in the future. Something in him called out to something in her, some unseen force drawing them together. For now she couldn’t think further into the future than the next couple of minutes, so she wasn’t going to try. If there was one thing this ordeal had taught her it was to live in the moment because your next moment wasn’t guaranteed.

Tilting her head back to look up at Tony she asked for what she needed. “Hold me?”

A smile broke out on his handsome face, not even the bruises and cuts marring it could detract from it. “Nothing I’d love more.”

The second his strong arms gathered her up and he carried her over to his couch, sitting down and settling her in his lap, Natasha finally felt safe enough to close her eyes and allow herself to drift off to sleep, safe in the knowledge that Tony wouldn’t let anyone hurt her ever again.