Warnings: character death, minor language

Author's Note: movie-verse, operate under the idea that they all live in Stark/Avenger tower together. Post Avengers movie time wise.

Disclaimer: I sadly do not own Avengers or any of the characters involved on the show. :[

Going Home

Time was running out. She knew it and as much as she hated to admit it, they weren't going to make it. She coughed and blood dripped out of her mouth. She shut her eyes, willing the fear and pain away. After all, she was the black widow, fear simply wasn't an option. She could hear Tony hurling himself into the wreckage, trying to get to them, and Thor's mjolnir, shaking the very ground they were trapped on, and Hulk's loud roars echoing. Agent Romanoff strained her neck to get a glimpse of Steve, also pinned by wreckage next to her. He had silent tears running down his cheek, from pain or sorrow, Natasha didn't know. He was far worse off than she, a large metal beam jutting out from his stomach, and she knew he only had a few moments time...judging by her current breathing pattern and consciousness she didn't have much longer.

"Steve," she murmured. She reached her hand over and grasped his.

"Ma'am," Steve replied, his voice catching slightly.

Natasha locked eyes with him, "It'll be over soon," she finally said, deciding it best not to beat around the bush.

Steve nodded slowly, "Already living on borrowed time," he groaned, "70 years of it." He squeezed his eyes shut in an effort to control his breathing, "I'm sorry."

"No, this was no one's fault," she said fiercely. Natasha squeezed his hand, "we're all in this together." She pushed the tears down, "we won," she said softly.

Steve's breathing dramatically slowed and his grip slackened.

"Steve," Natasha prompted worriedly.

"I can see her," he said instead, barely above a whisper. "They're all there...they're waiting for me." His eyes closed, "don't worry...everyone's there," he breathed, and then there was silence, and she didn't have to check to know it was over.

...

The others were getting close; she could hear voices now, but she didn't try to scream out. They wouldn't be able to help, just watch her die, and she didn't want that for them, even if it meant dying alone. She felt strangely at peace, the pain had left her body, leaving a warm, tingly feeling. Not a good sign, but in the grand scheme of things, she was glad. And then Natasha saw what Steve had meant. They were all waiting, and in front was Steve, smiling, beckoning her.

A deafening crash echoed and in the distance Natasha heard the other Avengers rush into the building.

Someone, Clint Barton, slid next to her side and grasped her hand.

"Nat! C'mon, kid," he ordered, cradling her head with his other hand.

Her eyes fluttered open, "Clint," she smiled slightly.

"You've gotta hold on, we're getting you out of here."

" 's okay," she breathed.

"No, it's not. I can't lose you, Nat," he replied fiercely.

" 's okay," she repeated. "They're there, he's there...'n I'll wait for you," she reiterated, and with her final breath, she reached up and touched her partner's lips, "promise."

Agent Barton began to shake, brought back to reality by Stark, yelling angrily.
"God DAMN it, wake up you damn capsicle!" he roared, futilely performing CPR on Steve.

"My friend, he is gone!" Thor shouted, desperately trying to pull Tony back.

Stark, still in his full suit, tried angrily to deflect Thor, but to no avail. "Shut up. Shut the hell up! Don't say that," he snapped, but nonetheless he stopped compressions, "he can't be gone," he murmured.

"And Natasha, how is she?" Thor asked, somehow remaining the only calm one.

Clint shook his head, unable to speak.

Hulk let out a deafening roar before tearing out of the building they'd worked so hard to get into.

"Doctor!" Thor shouted, running to the hole.

"Let him go," Tony said, he fell back onto his knees and shut his eyes, "we failed."

…

A/N: Yes, I am aware Steve has the super serum healing power, and in the comics Natasha also has better healing rates, but for the purpose of this story, let's just assume they were too badly injured for it to do any good. Story is basically written so I'll be uploading once every day or two…don't worry, we'll see both nat and steve again.