Drying herself off while Clint searched the kitchen, Natasha combed out her hair and left it down, figuring the warm air would dry it. She put on a little make-up, more out of routine and the desire for normalcy than anything, and dressed in a pair of linen trousers and a blouse. It was likely to be another hot day, but somehow shorts or a skirt just weren’t appealing today. She wanted to feel less exposed for as long as she could before the potentially invasive appointment.

At Clint’s call she tried to ignore how her stomach churned anew but grabbed the bucket and headed back out to the kitchen. “Just in case,” she said with a smile that did nothing to hide her nerves. Let’s get this done, she repeated in her head. She really hoped the wouldn’t have to wait long once they made it to the office.