They were staring at each other like two people drowning and only holding themselves above the surface with the power of their gaze. If it hadn't been so sad, Clint would have laughed, because it was so much not like them. They had seen things that could make people lose their mind, had done things that other people got life-sentences for, and here they were unable to look at a fucking monitor. Suddenly it was so hard even thinking about taking a life.
Only when that hard clench in his stomach returned, he realized that it was the first time he actually allowed that thought. Immediately all rationality and protective walls inside wanted to spring into action, reminding him that this was completely different, this was no life, not yet. This was all completely legal and they would only cut short what would happen anyway...
But knowing this and seeing from the corner of his eyes how the doctor searched Natasha's belly with that damn sensor and knowing what was there, was something completely different. This all... was different, this was them, not just another tragic story they could leave behind and try to atone for later. This was... His eyes fluttered close for a moment, for a second he thought that he would lose it right here and there.
Then the sensor was turned off with a quiet electronic sound, the doctor handed Natasha a few paper towels, and that had been that. Thank the heavens. Clint just hoped very much, Tomasini wouldn't have the silly idea of giving them that picture he had printed from the monitor over there. Probably he would have run outside screaming then.
He waited until Natasha was fully clothed again and had sat up, then he took his place next to her again and wrapped his arm around her, took her hand firmly in his while they waited.
It didn't take long this time.
"Alright, let's talk formalities first." Tomasini took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes for a moment after he had filed all that paperwork and that photo, fortunately without turning it in their direction. Without these horrible glasses, the guy looked younger than ever. "We've already talked about the legal time period on the phone. That one I can't trick, even if I wanted to. I can give you an appointment in exactly a week, that's the earliest possibility. You put your signature on this paper and I'll be here when you are." He shortly tapped his fingertips against the file but made no move to take out any kind of form yet. "I just think you should be fully aware of the situation before. I don't know your full medical history, Miss, and I'm not sure I want to. In any case it makes it difficult for you to conceive, but it's not impossible. A tubal pregnancy would have been very likable, but it hasn't happened. The fetus is fully healthy and growing at a normal rate for what seems to be a 10 weeks old. Now that conception is complete, neither your nor the fetus' health are more endangered than with other pregnancies. Unless there's something you haven't told me yet. If you want to, I suggest you do it now. Or we just sign that form and you come back in a week."
no subject
Only when that hard clench in his stomach returned, he realized that it was the first time he actually allowed that thought. Immediately all rationality and protective walls inside wanted to spring into action, reminding him that this was completely different, this was no life, not yet. This was all completely legal and they would only cut short what would happen anyway...
But knowing this and seeing from the corner of his eyes how the doctor searched Natasha's belly with that damn sensor and knowing what was there, was something completely different. This all... was different, this was them, not just another tragic story they could leave behind and try to atone for later. This was... His eyes fluttered close for a moment, for a second he thought that he would lose it right here and there.
Then the sensor was turned off with a quiet electronic sound, the doctor handed Natasha a few paper towels, and that had been that. Thank the heavens. Clint just hoped very much, Tomasini wouldn't have the silly idea of giving them that picture he had printed from the monitor over there. Probably he would have run outside screaming then.
He waited until Natasha was fully clothed again and had sat up, then he took his place next to her again and wrapped his arm around her, took her hand firmly in his while they waited.
It didn't take long this time.
"Alright, let's talk formalities first."
Tomasini took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes for a moment after he had filed all that paperwork and that photo, fortunately without turning it in their direction. Without these horrible glasses, the guy looked younger than ever.
"We've already talked about the legal time period on the phone. That one I can't trick, even if I wanted to. I can give you an appointment in exactly a week, that's the earliest possibility. You put your signature on this paper and I'll be here when you are."
He shortly tapped his fingertips against the file but made no move to take out any kind of form yet.
"I just think you should be fully aware of the situation before. I don't know your full medical history, Miss, and I'm not sure I want to. In any case it makes it difficult for you to conceive, but it's not impossible. A tubal pregnancy would have been very likable, but it hasn't happened. The fetus is fully healthy and growing at a normal rate for what seems to be a 10 weeks old. Now that conception is complete, neither your nor the fetus' health are more endangered than with other pregnancies. Unless there's something you haven't told me yet. If you want to, I suggest you do it now. Or we just sign that form and you come back in a week."